There is something deeply satisfying to me when the fogs of December come rolling in, especially in the early evenings, and the street lights flicker into life and cast the scenery with eerie punctuations of light and shadow.

I am also at my most reflective during these shadowed evenings, especially with all the dramas of life at the moment.  Sometimes just stopping by Abington Park, after karate, pumping up the mood music, opening the doors and taking a calm moment before continuing the journey, is required.

There’s probably a hundred reasons why it’s not a good idea, but there’s just as many as to why it is.  I think next time I try it I’ll source a good cup of java from somewhere.

A trip up to Scotland, especially at this time of year, has been too long a time coming and my batteries are in sore need of some recharging.

I think I am starting to get the DT’s from too many shots of Latte’s whilst waiting in a nearby hotel!

For months I have been looking in sporting outlets all over England (OK slight exaggeration, just the parts of England where I live), looking for a Scotland Rugby Shirt. The problem; none of these places ever seemed to stock ‘em!

There would be plenty of England (of course), Ireland, Wales, Italian (huh!) and French (tuts!) Shirts – but no Scotland! It’s racism is what it is, why no Scotland?

Thankfully some colleagues over in the auld country were kind enough to get one for me, so now I am the happy owner of one white ‘official’ Scotland Rugby Shirt, and yep I am wearing it as I type

Now Scotland have just got to do their bit in the competition, just to make sure I don’t get yet more ribbing from my friends, colleagues and complete strangers. Being a Scotland supporter sure exercises ones optimism muscles.