Coldstream Country

Now I will get sad. It really is time to leave Scotland. This is the bridge in Coldstream Country that stretches over the River Tweed to England. Just below the flowers in the photo is a wooden saw horse with the words "Coldstream Country" burned & carved into it. This is the last view of Scotland we were to have, although we did spend quite a bit of time here. We walked midway across the bridge, actually entering England before deigning to make the drive over. Farewall Scotland, home of my heart. I will see you again. Arsenal have drawn Juventus in the next Champions League round. That means we'll be seeing that fat bastard Vieira again. After he abandoned us for Juvey I've really just ignored his career. I guess I should pay some slight attention to what he brings to Juventus. For the fixtures on the weekend, Arsenal host Liverpool. Let's see if we can put those 'Scousers in their place. With Liverpool sitting two spots ahead of us and their eye on second place we need to ensure that we secure all three points. At the same time we need to pray that those Russian prats in the South of London Chelsea put the Sp*rs in a full nelson and rob them of all three. We still have the option of fourth place, but need to win every game while the Sp*rs lose. Right then, it's Friday and time for a beer. Wastrel On! (Listening to:

Cemetery at Coldstream

Alright, we're still not out of Scotland at this point. We're headed toward Coldstream which is a true border-town. We actually adjusted our trip to swing through Coldstream because I was looking for a contact I had established there for braces manufacturing. While there I tried to locate them to no avail. I sometimes despair of every finding that company again. During the trip I'd been carefully & studiously avoiding graveyard photos because I consider them ubiquitous and somewhat cliche. However, the lighting for this one was just so nice I couldn't help myself. So, there you have it. I also have one in black & white that's nearly as nice. Well, although I didn't get the opportunity to see it, I hear tell that Arsenal v Real Madrid was the best nil-nil game you're ever likely to see. Yes, nil-nil, which means that 9 time Champions League winners Real Madrid fail to pass the test and went home losers. Apparently the officials tried their damnedest to give RM the boost but the Arsenal were more than equal to the 12-man team that were Real Madrid. Liverpool lost on the day to Benifica and with Chelsea having lost the day before, Arsenal are the only English team to move forward in the competition. Up the Arsenal! Oh, and styromfoam can be recycled. Groovy. And that's that for today. Wastrel On! (listening to: Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by the Animals)

The Ship Inn in Melrose

I had a difficult time leaving Scotland phyiscally, and now I'm having a hard time leaving it figuratively. So, I'm writing about Melrose again. This is a photo of Marita Beth sitting next to a window in an overstuffed chair in a charming little pub called the Ship Inn. Whether it's really an Inn or not I don't know, but it's definitely a pub. A pretty young lady & and an old publican behind the bar, regular patrons on the stools, football on the telly & Belle & Sebastian on the jukebox. It was home, at least for the duration of a McEwans & a cider. Marita Beth spent some time while here to write in her travelogue while I drank the stout, watched the footy & soaked up the atmosphere. I could've spend hours here. I suppose maybe tomorrow, we really will leave Scotland; but until then Wastrel On! (Listening to: Horizon by Enya)

Melrose Abbey

It's time to leave Scotland behind and enter Merry Ol'. However, not before visiting the Abbey. We'd already picked up my 7's jersey (sweater, strip, kit, shirt?) so we headed on up the road to the Abbey signs. What a beautiful place. I'm sure it was even more beautiful in its hey day. There has been an Abbey of some sort in Melrose (Mailros as it was once known) since 650AD. The first one being founded by St. Aidan of Lindisfarne about two miles east of Melrose at a little spot in the crook of a River Tweed bend that is now called Old Melrose. The Cistercian's built the current abbey in its location in 1136 at the behest of King David I. Apparently they needed more farmland than the other location afforded so negotiated for this new tract. It was closed to the public, or we couldn't find the entrance I don't recall which, on the day we went. So we walked about the grounds, climbed on walls and took photos. Then off we headed to England. Our trip to Scotland was over & I was sad. Wigan hosted ManU at the JJB today. At the half Wigan had played the better football with 7 shots on target, however it was a draw at nil-nil. Second half saw each side put one in the bag until the 90th minute. Than the unlucky sod Chimboda dropped one into his own net sealing a lost for the valiant Wigan. How great would it have been for Wigan to steal 2 points from ManU! Very, very great is the response you're looking for. Chelsea have trotted off to Barcelona for leg 2 of the the Champions League tie with Mourinho being spat at for his troubles when the bus arrived at its destination. Real Madrid, however, found no such behaviour greeting them when they arrived trouble-free in London to play the Arsenal in their second leg. Let us hope that that historic win at the Bernabeu a fortnight ago followed by this weekend's romp at Fulham's expense (4-nil the score) will boost the confidence of our red-currant players to famous levels. Madrid deserves the dousing, so up the Gunners! That's all for now, kiddies. I'm tired & I want a beer. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Bossa Nova by John McLaughlin, Al di Meola & Paco de Lucia)