Not the nicest of stories, Viv, but I couldn't help notice that your Sylvester the cat avatar appears to be grinning a tad more. Maybe the thought of flapping birds has something to do with it!

The people of Switzerland have decided that the Salvation Army will be their representatives at Eurovision this year. Don't know the name of the Salvationist's entry, but possibly a cover version of a previous winning song like Hallelujah, Take me to your heaven or Boom bang a bang! http://www.segab...

You're not wrong, Plum, regarding the country and western club. Maybe it was the American theme, but a few of their members were also in the CB club - and possibly the reason why the Westfield hotel was the original venue. Couldn't say how long before the club moved to the Commodore, but I do recall...

Unfortunately I don't have a date. Maybe one of the ladies can oblige, Tom - maybe even a wee jaunt to Australia. :wink: Joking aside, that's a cracking photo. No idea of the year - pity the billboard /poster on the right hand side of the image isn't clearer as It could give an indication as to whe...

'That Dulux dug might be top dog in the paint world - but he's nae use at fighting'

Ah, Jim Stewart - renowned in my memory for two things. Firstly, the goalkeeper who had to pick the ball out of the net five times when Celtic won 5-0 at St Mirren park to pip Hearts for the league title on the final day of the 985-86 season. For some reason, the passage of time has convinced people...

'a fellow called Bennett, originally from Stevenston' I don't have any interest in fishing, but I reckon that would be Matt Bennett. Matt was a butcher to trade, and I do recall that when I was an apprentice, he would nip into the angling club in Ardrossan on occasions when we were out and about. O...

Another in the long line of stars who've pressed the self destruct button. Where are all these so called friends and drinking buddies now, such as Danny Baker and Chris Evans? George Best did appear to receive a lot of help and advice during his illness and troubles, but I'm wondering If Gazza was a...

It's very unlikely as Richard says, that St Mirren will win the Scottish cup tie, but don't rule out the chances of another shock result for the following reasons. The same view was held in 2009, yet the Buddies dumped Celtic out of the Scottish Cup with a Billy Mehmet penalty. Celtic had no Europea...

I worked beside Paul Weir and his father at Rockware glass in Irvine. Paul would eventually leave to pursue a full time boxing career. His work colleagues ran a bus to most of his World title fights at venues such as the SECC and Kelvin hall - and likely nipped out of the factory to leg it round the...

On that theme, Jackie Kay's excellent poem 'Old Tongue' is worth posting. Old Tongue When I was eight, I was forced south. Not long after, when I opened my mouth, a strange thing happened. I lost my Scottish accent. Words fell off my tongue: eedyit, dreich, wabbit, crabbit stummer, teuchter, heidban...