different post

I can't ready an image to post because of the shite that is our IT department. They have worked for 2+ years to prepare computers for the monkeys that work in this company. Completely locked down, employees cannot write anything to their c:\ drive. Every box is supposed to be identical to every other. On the surface it's probably a good idea, but underneath where the real work gets done, it's fucked me. Now, I can't even open my copy of Photoshop to work an image. Yeah, great job, IT, you ball-less wonders. At least some good news on the footy-front. Bergkamp & Ljungberg could be back for weekend action against Fulham. Robbie van Persie remains out, though and it's looking like Cygan will be ready in 1 week, Sol Campbell in 2 weeks (year, right) and Ashley Cole in 3 weeks (prat!). Ashley Cole is suing News of the World because he's not included in an article about gay footballers. Go figure. Robert Pires was offered the Dennis Bergkamp formula in terms of his contract. That is to say, one year, plus one year, plus one year ad nauseum. Alexander Graham Bell, that famous Scot what invented the Telephone, was born on this day in 1847. Did you know that the Decibel is named after him, too? It's Friday. I'll soon be Off to drink healthy beer, then play some Mah-Jongg Wastrel On! (Listening to: Delcicate by Patrick O'Hearn)

Bed & Breakfast in Melrose, Scotland

Here we have arrived in Melrose, Scotland home of the Sevens Rugby Football Club. We are staying in this wonderfully old building that has been most thoroughly modernised. It used to be the school house for the nearby Melrose Abbey, but is now privately owned. The morning we left this location, I spied on their wall a tasteful watercolour of a Rugby match. I enquired of the town's infatuation with Rugby having seen numerous strips while out & about the night before. Apparently, Melrose is known for having created the 7-a-side Rugby phenomenon. So, I had to have a shirt; I just had to. The B&B owners are apparently tight with the club, so they rung down the arena and arranged for someone to go and open the gift shop that I might purchase my shirt. Not a cheap thing, it was £70 (iirc), but I have my black & yellow hooped rugby shirt that I now wear frequently. Hell, if I'm going to pay $130 for a shirt, I damn well should wear it every day! In footy bits, Djourou did indeed get his debut in the second half of Switzerland vs. Scotland (which the Swiss won 3-1). By all reports both Senderos & Djourou made good accounts of themselves. Spain vs. Ivory Coast ended 3-2 to Spain with Cesc (the youngest player in 70 years to make his debut) setting up a goal and Reyes coming on as a sub to net one for the team at 17 minutes til time. Well done, youngsters! And here we have yet one more reason to continue our long-standing boycott of Domino's Pizza. What a maroon! Rocky 6? You've got to be kidding me. and, whoever did this has WAAAAY too much time on their hands and far too manyLegoss. Wastrel On! (Listening to: The Silken Whip by Afrocelts)

Unknown Tower Ruins

Just down the road and on the other side of the Tweed from Neidpath was this structure. We're unsure what it was, but considering it's very definite non-strategic placement, we presume it to be an abandoned croft or farm building of some sort. We were driving along and it just appeared out of the mist in the middle of field. We could get no closer than perhaps 200 yards due to fencing and there were no signs anywhere to tell us more. Nor was it listed in any of our maps or guides. But, ruins of any type generally fascinate me. I'm positive that were I someday to get over my anal-bit concerning clean hands, I'd make a fine archaeologist. But, until then, I'll just admire the ruins from afar. Talked to my Magic 8-Ball this morning. These are the Oscar winners as predicted by my trusty ball.

• Best Picture - Brokeback Mountain
• Best Actor - Joaquim Phoenix
• Best Actress - Reese Witherspoon
• Best Director - Paul Haggis
• Best Original Screenplay - Crash

If I'm wrong, remember it's the Magic 8-Balls fault, not mine.

Cesc Fabregas gets his first call up to the Spanish side to play against Kolo Toure & the Ivory Coast today. Senderos & Johann Djourou were both called up for Switzerland with Djourou making his first senior team appearance. Robbie Van Persie was exonerated yesterday of the rape charges that have been hanging over his head for most of a year, due to a lack of evidence. Lehmann is optimistic about a new deal, but rumour has it he wants 4 years, while Arsenal's policy is 1 year at a time for the over 30 players. Sol Campbell is out for another month after a scan revealed that he's got some sort of bone thing going on that could result in broken bones were to suffer a collision of any merit. That leaves Rio Ferdinand & John Terry in the centre for tonight's game against Uruguay. Theo Walcott debuted on the England U-19 squad last night and marked it with a goal helping England to a 3-1 win over Slovakia. Freddie Ljungberg bows out of the Sweden v Republic of Ireland friendly with a calf injury, possibly opening the door for a Walcott debut in the domestic charge to the finish. Last week Arsenal entered a $350,000 agreement to use Israel as the official & exclusive tourist destination of the Arsenal FC. This will be an interesting arrangement as Fly Emirates are the official sponsor of the team stadium & kit. This will likely set the club & their sponsor at sixes and sevens. In fact the Emirates are so strongly anti-Israel that in order to obtain a visa for entry into any of the seven emirates you must satisfy "The three entry requirements of obtaining a visa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah) are that you are not a citizen of Israel, that your passport doesn't contain Israeli stamps, and that your passport is valid for at least 6 months before your arrival." Look for further argy-bargy on this one. The England squad face Uruguay in the first national-side game since Eriksson announced his intent to leave his post immediately following the World Cup. Lampard has pulled out of the squad with a "tight hamstring" giving Michael Carrick another cap. Up front, Darren Bent will have a debut alongside Rooney. Since both Alan Smith & Michael Owen out, I see this as a very logical choice. At the back Ashley Cole will be replaced by Wayne Bridge and as mentioned earlier, Sol is out giving Terry & that over-priced hack Ferdinand a chance to cement their partnership which can only be good for England. England have a VERY strong squad and stand every chance of winning the World Cup if they'll play as a team. Under Eriksson, however, they have played more as eleven individuals and that has hampered them. The FA announced yesterday that they have compiled a short-list of six to take the position of England Manager, but won't reveal who's on that list. The sooner the better I say.

Wastrel On! (Listening to: Low by R.E.M.)

Neidpath Castle

Our visit to Neidpath Castle was one of those serendipitous moments you read about but are positive never happen, at least to you. We were on our way from Peebles to Melrose where we intended to stay the night, when we rounded the turn on some small road we were travelling and espied this (I presumed) Peel tower. We stopped. I took photos; lots of photos. Neidpath Castle was originally built by the Fraser family in or around the 14th century. At some point it passed into the hands of the Earl of Tweeddale who owned it until the end of the 17th century. Currently, it is owned & cared for by the Earl of Wemyss & March and in the process of being slowly restored. It is a typically shaped L-Tower (not a Peel tower) overlooking the river Tweed. This was an astonishing discovery that we explored & enjoyed thoroughly. Unfortunately, we were running a bit short of time, so we didn't prowl the grounds as we might otherwise have done, but we'll be back. It's family after all. Well Ashley Cole is well & truly buggered, I fear. The boy's been out of action since October when he broke his foot in a match. He's played portions of games but not started since that time. Thus, he has only played a total of 7 games since the start of the season. Last night in a Reserve game against the shite-heads up on Whitehart Lane, he fell victim to an overly reckless tackle and is out again after playing only 7 minutes of that game. His World Cup hopes (and England's) are looking slimmer by the day. No official word yet from the Arsenal, but I'm not holding out hope. The Black Death caused the Little Ice Age. Who knew? And just in case you need it, here's a list of the cleanest restrooms in America according to the Cincinnati Enquirer: All Seasons Bistro in East Lansing, Michigan Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey Hemenways in Providence, Rhode Island Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois Wendell's Restaurant in Westerville, Ohio Wastrel On! (Listening to: Eyes of a Stranger by Queensrÿche)

Many's the time I've wished I'd taken more care to document my photos as I take them. None more so than now. The only thing I can tell you of this bridge is that it lies somewhere between Roslin & Melrouse, for it is during that stretch of our trip that I took this photo. The rest, you will have to glean & judge for yourself. Arsenal, on the heels of a fantastic victory in Madrid fell to the antics of Mark Hughes' team, Blackburn on Saturday. That sets Blackburn ahead of Arsenal in the table and on a collision course with Tottenham for that coveted fourth-place finish. There's still some 10+ games in the season, so anything is possible in this funny ol' game with the exception of Chelsea NOT winning the title. That's already a wrap, so it's 2-4 places that are the prize now. Papers in Madrid are claiming that theres a swap deal on the table, Ronaldo for Thierry. Are you kidding me? A Ferrari for a Yugo? Has to be a crank and the Arsenal would be fools to even think about following up on it. Manchester United took the Carling Cup victory yesterday with a 4-Nil win over Wigan. Wigan's had a purple season, but when it came to it, the team didn't show. Sounds like our Arsenal season, wot? Oh, hey, did you know that Henges are older than the Pyramids? I'm not sure I did, but I'm not overly surprised that the aliens went to Great Britain before they went to Egypt. Really. Verdant green hills and forests or Sand. Which would YOU choose? Ok. It's Monday, which means it's time for a beer. The liver be damned. I'm off...down the Psycho Path. Wastrel On! Listening to (The Tell-Tale Heart by Alan Parson's Project)