AyrTroopMajor

They were very prominent in Cadiz, but I was there only 2 days after the vote. The day after I was in Barcelona, on what felt like a normal day, there was apparently (according to the BBC...) a massive pro-Spain rally. I found that very surprising given the complete absence (from what I saw) of anything pro-Spanish when I was there, but you're right. If you ignore the political side of things, it just seems like a colourful, flag-filled city, you really wouldn't know what had happened in the days before.

Just back from holiday, went into Barcelona as well as stopping in a few Spanish cities. Barcelona was, on the face of it, quite quiet but there were a huge number of Catalan flags and 'Si' posters on balconies etc as well as graffiti over anything that said 'Espanyol'. Felt a bit weird actually, the city was carrying on as normal but it just felt like there was something bubbling. It was also quite evident in other parts of Spain that any house, flat or shop that owned a Spain flag had it on display for all to see. Asked the local guide if it was in response to the situation in Catalonia and he responded 'What is Catalonia? There is only Spain.' Ooft.

Watched the King of Queens, The Sopranos and Elf within the space of a day and all I seemed to see were people in NY Jets jerseys, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. It's f****** crap.

Seaworld

Little walkway along the river was excellent on Friday night (just beside that weird building mentioned above), visited the Captain Morgan's pirate ship for a few rums and the atmosphere was excellent. The rain then started lashing down and over 300 people tried to shelter under a wee bridge, few folk in our group got the Scottish football chants going and then the Czechs started with theirs. Brilliant place with plenty to do and very nice people. Would highly recommend hiring a beer bike if you have a good sized group (8-14), great way to see the city, get smashed and have a laugh.

Just saw Lorna from River City (7.5/10 and yes) on Ayr High Street and I'm feeling quite starstruck.

Not many clubs around these days where you can just phone the chairman! Wondered as I was standing behind the goal on Saturday, when was the last time that covered terrace where the dugouts are was used? Is it just permanently closed?

Doesn't matter what she has on her hand (whether it be dust, water, paint etc), I just know that she'll use whatever clothing I happen to be wearing as some sort of replacement wet-wipe. Aye nae bother, just you use my new jumper as your personal towel. F*** sake.

Mark Yardley

Apparently it has different 'compartments'...

Apparently the fact that it retails at an absolutely incredible £180 means that we got a 'great deal'. My arse.

That's her went and bought a £100 bin. A BIN.

Chuddy is all I've ever known.

Can completely understand both sides of the argument here, the main thing I'd say is that I am stunned Edinburgh City have come to the conclusion that this one player is worth the absolute circus that his signing will bring with it. There is no way Craig Thomson is worth losing lifelong fans for, short-sighted, bizarre decision in my opinion.

Ayr United Media produce match highlights for each game, usually over 5 minutes of it, plus post-match interviews with both managers (Aside from a perma-raging Neil Lennon, furious that a band of part-time diddies have just left Easter Road with 3 points). Whilst these highlights are great and are now part of the modern game, the club actually have nothing to do with it. Those who produce the highlights do so out of a love of the club rather than 'for' the club.

As much as I disagree pretty much entirely with every single thing you said, kudos for replying to the grilling you're getting here

That's fair enough, in the spirit of the thread, I'm not gonna hit you with a meme or anything like that. I do have a question though; Does it not bother you that we, as a nation, are voting predominantly on the opposite end of the political spectrum as those down south? Its not a new argument and I appreciate that, but are you okay with the fact that, even if every single person in Scotland voted for the same political party, it still wouldn't make a damned bit of difference to the result of a general election?

I trust they all enjoyed themselves...

Never been to Somerset?

An absolute howler again for Sunderland at the weekend. Won't be long before its reflected in the home attendances. People, however passionate and loyal, have better things to do at a weekend than watch an absolutely spineless attempt to grab a 0-0 draw against mediocre opposition. Absolutely sick of it. As stupid as it sounds, I look at Newcastle with envy at the moment. When you're scoring goals, pulling in the crowds and winning games, who really gives a f*** what division it's in.

Somerset stil has a couple of enclosures at the front of the stand, one for home fans and one for away fans, depending on numbers.

The old Black and White Shop from the Somerset Road End. RIP.

I just don't see the point in his ownership to be honest. Why own a club if he has no ambition to see it progress? There is no reason that Sunderland as a club should be languishing as much as they are, everything is in place bar the team on the pitch. The recruitment in recent years has been absolutely pathetic, and it all stems from Short's unwillingness to make a proper go at it.

Ellis Short really needs to either properly invest in Sunderland or sell up to someone who will.

Sunderland's population is only 270k, and manages to average around 43k crowds, which is pretty decent already. There's no need to expand the stadium at the moment, and I can't ever see it happening tbh. Glad to see that the club are replacing the pink seats though.