O'Kelly Isley III

Aye, Martial Law, it will be interesting to see how our Brave Boys could enforce that. I trust it will include a shoot-to-kill policy for 97- year olds driving without a seat belt.

I really don't know what to make of Mayduro's position right now. Like an Antarctic explorer of 100 years ago who knows the mission is ultimately doomed she ploughs doggedly on for no obvious reason other than, well, she's British. Surely she must know that the EU will not concede on the Irish backstop, so is she hoping that some (desperately hoped-for on her part) semantic gymnastics in the text of the Withdrawal Agreement will placate the lunatics ? I wouldn't bet on that, either way. Maybe more likely, she is crudely stalling it out for a Mexican standoff with these bams to try and force thro her deal, again a very high-risk strategy. I'd like to think that the biggest climbdown in British politics since Suez is the only realistic outcome in all of this, and those red lines will eventually have to move.

Well that all seems clear enough, and I'm beginning to wonder where that nice Mr Hammond is getting his ideas from. I think we can expect reams of 'vindictive Europe' headlines tomorrow, and it will be interesting to see what flat-earthers Marr has on tomorrow.

I attended a Burns Supper last night and the subject was raised (not by myself) at our table of seven people. There was a short, civilised discussion and the consensus was that this case requires to be treated as would any other involving such serious charges, but it was important to make the distinction that as things stand it is Alex Salmond who may face eventual court proceedings and not the SNP, the Yes movement, the cause of Scottish Nationalism per se or even the Sandringham Women's Institute. In saying that, no-one was in any doubt of the gravity of the accusations, with the likelihood that both plaintiffs and the defendant potentially face an extraordinary degree of public scrutiny, which the rabid media will attempt to exploit for their own ends - it was ever thus. Like Alex Salmond, we all of us need to retain faith in the Scottish justice system.

I think the Kyle Hutton thing has two sides; on the one hand he is steadily drifting down the football ladder, and most weeks we see the hard evidence of that, but against that I'm guessing that he's a very honest professional who turns up for training and does what's asked of him. When you are a Manager of a small part-time squad these qualities are considerable. He's probably also a decent guy personality in the dressing room, and we need to remember that he's been playing through an injury.

Perhaps, but the right-wing has an impressive record of whipping-up suggestible, reactionary and often poorly-educated people; Hitler, Mussolini, Mosley, Trump and now Brexit to cite five. The left tends to be more introspective and self-critical and applies greater rigour before reaching a judgement. Populism also has less influence. Just my opinion, but based on a lifetime of observing and being directly involved in politics.

Well, he might be deid by that stage !

This is going to be something of a novelty for this season, having a player in a Sons jersey who might actually be match fit.

Slowly the tectonic plates may be shifting...the guy who sits next to me at work told me today that his father-in-law, a No and Remain voter, has announced that should there be a second Indy ref he will be voting Yes this time. From small acorns and all that.

Three minutes in and I was reminded just why I no longer tune into this show, other than very occasionally. In that short time Suella Braverman spouted a stream of unchallenged Brexit dogma ; life is just too short for this myopic pish.

You don't need to shout pal, and no, I'm not suggesting anything like that, as you probably well know. I just think we should all caution against getting too get up over today's announcement - it will work its own path - and remain focused on all the other important stuff like Brexit, a game in which we all have a skin.

So, another day, another political firestorm. Unless any has anything factual to add to what has been announced today I suggest we all get back to the clear and present danger that is Brexit, in any of its manifestations. Because as sure as night follows day, whatever is the outcome of the charges now brought before Alex Salmond, they are highly unlikely to threaten my grand-daughters' life chances. Keep focused on the immediate task in hand, and let the QC's sort it out.

Surely 'Passport To Pimlico' ? We should hope so, because sense eventually prevailed.

Football nowadays is far too expensive full stop, however people care to pay. The original premise of the season ticket was twofold; firstly to enable a modest financial benefit for those supporters who attend on a regular basis, but secondly and perhaps more importantly to provide a cash injection for the football club as the season approached. Circumstances will dictate how people prioritise a season ticket purchase but two facts remain; they are unlikely to reduce in price and if the uptake at DFC remains as poor as it has been this season then there will be no professional football club left in this area to offer good, bad or indifferent value for money.

I don't think I'm missing any point, I asked you a straightforward question and you declined to nominate a sum. Good that we've ended the season ticket saga though.

Let me ask you - what would be a reasonable cost for an adult season ticket ?

I don't want to pour more gloom on an already depressing situation, but sometimes thoughts occur on just how fine the financial margins in football can be. Six seasons in the Championship was a huge blast but the hangover has come at a cost, and I note that Stevie Aitken is very cute not to mention the possibility of budget overspends during his time here. Some of these were perhaps financed by 'secret' loans made by previous Board members, which these individuals may have called in a later date. In that sort of scenario it would be very difficult for those officials who were not privvy to these arrangements to subsequently deal with any fallout. I'm just speculating, you understand, in the absence of clarity surrounding the club's financial affairs. And then there is the alarming drop-off in season ticket sales, and indeed attendances. Some of that was to be expected, but I think we also suffering form a syndrome which occasionally afflicts generally under-achieving football clubs; give the public a few years of relative success and many folk get quite giddy on it. Not only that, when the club reverts to type many depart - for years Aberdeen was a perfect example. I get a wee bit disappointed when folk start crunching value-for-money stuff re season books; if you want a professional football club in a town such as Dumbarton then it literally comes at a cost, especially when we are still shackled to Brabco. Finally, last Saturday showed how difficult the next few months will be; Airdrie trousered a packet at Celtic Park, and Stenny got a double boost from their tie. Forfar and Stranraer got a more modest turn whilst East Fife still have earning potential in Cup. We earned diddly squat. We are in a very difficult place right now and all we can do is get behind the club. I'm afraid drums are a juvenile sideshow.

It can only be a matter of time before the company which produces those annoying 'Keep Calm & Carry On' mugs ups sticks to Myanmar or the like. Don't expect read about any of it in The Daily Express, although you may get a Vera Lynn pullout.

Is that a bad thing ?

Er, that's my point.....

It'll be a hoot if Spencer turns out to be Josh Todd 2.0

I doubt anyone outwith the Tory Bam Tendency has ANY appetite for No Deal. The sooner May is boxed in, the sooner we can deal with this fiasco.

Corbyn with another contradictory performance today; correctly stating that May will get very little joy in trying to negotiate a better deal from the EU, but seemingly overlooking his repeated claim that he would somehow magic something on a CU and the single market. Glad to see Ireland and the EU publicly standing four-square on the backstop.

Hmmm...the Sonspools supporters bus got a couple of windows tanned as it passed through Buckhaven following that defeat at Methil.

I may be wildly off beam here but I'm getting more optimistic by the day. For two and a half years a wholly compliant British media has blown smoke up May and the Tories arses on the subject of Brexit. The result of that was a 'nanny knows best' attitude from May and a shitload of braying bravado from the likes of Johnson, Gove and Rees-Mogg, totally blinded from reality. Push is now coming to shove however; Paliament and Bercow are belatedly growing a pair; the b*****d Irish will no longer be lectured to, and to crown it all the Europeans will not do May's bidding. All of which makes it incredible, to me at least, that she is trying to reheat her deal today. Wev are now approaching her last stand, and a dawning realisation of that will further increase the shrill headlines and bitter utterances from the likes of Fox. In short, I think Brexit is about to be royally fucked over - here's hoping.