zurich_allan

This is indeed correct, he could have been. I'm not sure exactly what training the police are given on offences of this type, but I'd imagine it's based on whether or not such an arrest would be worthwhile or pointless based on the expected eventual outcome? When a case such as this gets to the fiscal (and then subsequently to court), the test that is used is not a subjective one (i.e. it is not based on if anybody actually was placed in a situation of being in fear or alarm), rather an objective one, which looks at the likelihood of the 'ordinary' person who is neither overly sensitive nor overly immune to such fear and alarm. In my opinion, this type of case would have a close to zero prospect of any sort of conviction (or even getting past the first stage of the fiscal before being dropped), as it would be incredibly difficult to establish that an ordinary person would be placed in such a position of being in a state of fear or alarm for being called a fanny... Again, I cannot be certain as to the specifics of local police training on the issue, but I'd imagine they are told in general to overlook such an issue for these reasons.

This is what I find weird. I can speak from a bit of experience on this one as for a few years between about 1998 and 2002-ish I played in an annual exchange tournament with players aged 17 - 21 in both Copenhagen and Malmo one year, and then back in Scotland the next, alternating location each year. Every year without exception we utterly (and I mean utterly) destroyed the Swedes and Danes on the pitch. It was full teams of 11 and I'm talking scores like 10-2, 15-1 etc. They were all in general very fit, but technically they were all over the place. Has it really changed that much over the past decade? I don't know, maybe it has, as our game has certainly stagnated. But in general in my personal experience, whilst the top of the Scandinavian game might be decent, there is absolutely no depth at all. So in conclusion, I'm as puzzled as the rest of you!!

Aye, especially when the light's a funny red colour...

A couple of years ago, I'd have said that I could never read a book on something electronic. Then I bought my wife a Kindle for Christmas in 2011, and it is great. The charge lasts for 3-6 weeks, even if you are reading for 3 or 4 hours a day on it, the screen isn't like reading on a normal electronic device - no eye strain or glare at all. I bought a Kobo Touch (WH Smith version of the Kindle) about 6 weeks ago, and it does everything a Kindle can do, but goes further in terms of the formats it can read. I won't go into detail as to why that is desirable, but having both in the house, I would personally recommend the Kobo over the Kindle to anyone reading. So much better having one of these when going on holiday than lugging several actual books about.

It's all okay - they're getting a new bus, and the (service) history of the old bus is being transferred to the new bus, so really the new bus is just the same bus as the old bus....

Yup!

There was a shot in the second half that was difficult to tell if it sneaked in at the corner and went through the net, or if it went just wide as it was at pace (similar to the one in the first half which was given), but it wasn't given. Official score 16-0, but it could have been 17. We'll never know.... Just hope it doesn't dent the young lad's chances in the European Golden Boot....

Was a great showing from our youngsters (plus our experienced centre back pairing and Robertson). As above, Dillon was immense and ran the show in midfield. Reilly looked very sharp too. In fact, throughout the side there was a lot of very crisp one touch play, even when there wasn't much space. Also to confirm, the Port sending off was hilarious. Could hear the cursing at the ref a mile off, ref had absolutely no choice but to pull out the red card, and the immature runt of a player just completely lost it, had to be led away from the pitch (by his dad it looked like), and proceeded to kick and slam doors and walls on his way to the dressing room. He emerged dressed about 10 minutes later and just left with his car keys in his hands. Disgraceful attitute (problem), and didn't even wait around to leave with his team-mates. Was quite funny as I was there with my dad, who was a teacher at Port Glasgow High School for about 20 years from the late '70's until the late '90's when he retired though continued teaching supply until about 2005. He knew a few of the players (one of whom is actually also a teacher at the school).

Under the new surface on Seedhill road.... No need to thank me!

Cheers for that! Good to get a bit of inside information!!

Anyone got any recommendations for a good place to buy budget tyres (new or part worn size 225 70 16) in Renfrewshire. Going to get two new tyres for a 4x4 tomorrow and had a good look online. Cheapest new I can find two from are actually from Halfords (£138 for two). If anyone has had any positive experiences of anywhere else I'd be happy to hear?

Well in that case, multiple contractors have either been using poor materials or doing a poor job ever since I moved into my flat just off Seedhill road nearly twelve years ago. In that time I've seen them do various things from resurfacing lengthy sections, to repairing (!) potholes (read - dump some tar in the hole, don't level off, walk away), to complete resurfacing, with each of these being done many multiples of times, since literally every time the road starts to break up within 6 months - a year. The amount that must have been paid to do all of this is frightening, not to mention the inconvenience each time they do carry out some sort of major work rather then just filling in the holes. So as I said, in the long term they'd have been (and still would be) better off just lifting the cobbles and starting from scratch since they're clearly not interested in doing the job properly with them there.

The new surface on Seedhill road is great. For now. Unfortunately it will all fall apart again within the year given that every time they resurface it, they do it directly on top of the old cobbles. Complete waste of time and money doing this every couple of years when in the long run it would be more cost effective to lift the old cobbles. Either that or completely remove the surface and just leave it as a cobbled street as that would force cars to go a bit slower (some eejits go far too fast there).

As Poz said, I'm at Old Ranfurly. I know a few members at Renfrew though and usually play there a couple of times a year.

Haha, pretty much sums up the rounds!! And Drew - indeed, you definitely shouldn't think of yourself as shite. Golf isn't an easy game to pick up, I think I perhaps take it for granted since I started playing when I was about 8, but there really is a lot to try to take on board and practice before you can gain any sort of consistency. The positives though, are that as you are no doubt realising, you can really begin to see your own improvements with that little bit of practice, and it's a game that you can take up at any age as long as you're able to walk a couple of miles. Keep it up!

I did really enjoy the tour when I did it, would likely go again if I had friends or relatives staying who aren't local. If for nothing else then to play 'chap door run away' multiple times on Neil Doncaster's office door...

Did you have a go at the shot speed recorder in the warm up area? I was proud to have the hardest shot in the group I was with on the tour a couple of years ago. Couldn't have cared less about that really - I just wanted to beat my brother!!

Midge Ure alert.....

It's all good - we know the information will come out in the end. After all, we have hoverboards by 2015 don't we?...

It does have a good chippie / pizzeria!

Youth hostelling with Chris Eubank.

Alternated between Rothesay and Aberdeen for me. My aunt and uncle owned the old Clarks shoe shop on Rothesay from about 1975 until it was demolished around 1992-ish and stayed on the island in Port Bannatyne, we frequently stayed with them and spent days at various spots around Bute throughout the 1980's. Aberdeen as my mum's side of the family are from there and we used to take the caravan and stay in Hazelhead campsite in the summer, and with my grandparents in the winter. With the campsite we sometimes went round other places like Elgin, Lochgoilhead etc. and for a couple of summers we toured round various places in England with it for 3 or 4 weeks. Finally went abroad (to France) for the first time when I was about 12. Happy times!

Would have been funnier if she hadn't noticed, and just bought and paid for all your stuff while you stood there gobsmacked, realising you were going to have to go back round the shop again!

Some stupid b*tch nearly ran me over in there just before Christmas at the wee bit you're talking about when you turn right. I was walking back to my car, which was parked in one of those spaces, and another one a car space down was empty, though tight as the car next to it was on the line. This woman went to go into the space forward, then appeared to change her mind (it looked like she thought better of it and started to drive on). As she drove on I walked behind her car (she hadn't indicated), before she slammed on the brakes and immediately started to reverse (without checking her mirrors). So obviously she had actually changed her mind and decided to reverse in. Clearly I was supposed to be a mind reader - as I say, it was very much a speed, turn in, change mind charge forward, slam on brake and reverse in, driven in quite an aggressive manner - no indication throughout. As she swooped toward me I had to jump back to avoid my impending death, and said out loud "Jesus Christ" - at which point she threw open her door and proceeded to shout abuse at me, asking if there was a problem. I calmly said back, without raising my voice, "well apart from you nearly knocking me over by driving so aggressively, without indicating and clearly without checking your mirrors, no, not really...". She continued to give me abuse at which point I just shook my head, made the short walk to my car and thought "Merry bloody Christmas!"

This arrived in the post today!