QPStu

Graeme Elder scored for Queen's Park in a 1-1 draw against Queen of the South in May 1993 and didn't score again until over 5 and a half years later, in a 3-0 win over Montrose in November 1998. I hadn't started watching QP in 1993 but was at the latter game which was a league match played at Lesser Hampden. Compared to the examples quoted so far, he's relatively prolific.

Correct. It's the world's oldest trophy but the English FA Cup is the oldest competition. One of the previous FA Cup trophies got stolen and melted down or something in the early days.

Dunfermline- 1968 I'm sure I heard the BBC commentator say that Hibs have now won the cup the same number of times as St Bernards. Imagine taking 114 years to draw level with a team which went bust in the 1940s. Correction- Vale of Leven, not St Bernards, apologies. Still funny they took so long to draw level.

I guess just how to pitch it. The balance between serious and humour.

I'll try. It's what she would have wanted!

^^^^^ Professional mourner. PS south side of Glasgow since you asked

Over 12 years ago now, I was at my Granda's brother's funeral. It was a very poignant occasion, an appropriate memorial to him, until we got to the cemetery. After he had been lowered into his grave, I thought "well that was a nice send off" only it wasn't over. One of his nephews (my Mum's cousin) brought out a CD player and we all had to stand there for up to another 5 minutes while he played the Celine Dion tune "Because You Loved Me." I expected the deceased to jump out at any time telling his nephew to shut it. My Dad and I have a similar sense of humour and we were really stifling the giggles much to my Mum's dismay. Unfortunately my Gran (same side of the family) died on Friday so we have the harsh reality of organising her funeral. It's on Friday with the purvey at my brother's boss's hotel, soup, steak pie and tea and coffee for all. I'm one of the ones carrying the coffin and I'm doing the eulogy and really hope I don't muck either task up. If there are any significant highlights eg professional mourners or fights, I'll report back.

I'm glad Australia missed out. Forgive me for being old fashioned but, given it is called Eurovision, I'd much rather the winner was actually from Europe.

Exactly what I thought. He won his second championship and his football team have won the top flight for the first time ever and he has a face like his dog has just died. At least look happy.

Honesty goodness, if I was there, I'd bail out and go to the pub. To still be in the theatre watching that you have to be a total sadist.

It's now after midnight and they're still playing. Do the players, referee, commentators and audience not need to eat, drink, go to the toilet or sleep any time soon? Talk about a test of endurance.

Good stuff, I stand corrected.

Come to think of it I don't ever remember O'Sullivan on it. Terry Griffiths used to appear which must have been torture. 40 seconds to pot as many reds as you can and he'd be standing chalking his cue, checking angles, going for a shot then standing up again. Most of the players played in the spirit intended though. It used to be fun watching someone like Willie Thorne sprinting round the table for a pot with 5 seconds left on the clock.

Watching Selby v Fu on the red button, Virgo has come out with "where's the cue ball going" 3 times in less than 10 minutes!!

I was there last night as well. I thought all involved gave it their best but I felt the whole thing just lacked something. I can't say what, just something. Hearing Reigns getting booed by so many was quite uncomfortable. He's supposed to be the top guy in the company and a babyface to boot yet fans are booing him. Overall it was fun to watch. They really need to get the big hitters like Cena and Orton back though. They're suffering without them.

Great responses guys, thanks.

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I'll try to take in the main things, eg Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square. For a first visit, I'm reluctant to venture off the well worn tourist track. Final question, any reasonable cafes, bars etc in these areas to stop for tea/coffee, a beer and/or bite to eat (thanks for the food market suggestion).

What do we do if Queen's Park ever make it to a semi final?

Apologies if there's a thread already. At the end of next month I'm going down to Watford to compete in an athletics competition. Since it will be a holiday weekend, I've decided to stay an extra night and go a day trip to London on the train. Having never been before and knowing I won't see everything in a day, any tips on where specifically to go?

True, it happens in Spain as well, certainly in the hotel where I've been on holiday in the Costa del Sol. At the bar they give you a saucer with a receipt on it and you put your money on the plate and hand it back.

This was a pet hate of mine when I worked with Morrisons in one of their petrol stations. Taxi drivers in particular were terrible for it. My blood boiled every time it happened, especially when the money was just thrown down and you were left to count it. It doesn't take much to hand it to the person serving you with a polite greeting and a thank you.

Certainly not a record but Andy Millen played several games for Queen's Park a few years ago at the age of 45. What age did Graeme Armstrong play until? Also, I seem to remember Harry Cairney playing for what seemed like forever for Brechin at an advanced age.

As Hampden Diehard eludes to, the problem has nothing to do with Queen's Park playing there. We don't train on the pitch and only play on it an average of twice a month for 9.5 months a year, hardly overuse. The condition of the pitch has everything to do with Hampden Park Limited and their failure to maintain it properly. Someone told me at Saturday's Queen's game that there isn't a full time groundsman. If this is true, it's appalling. Surely employing a groundsman would be cheaper than constantly having to rip up and relay the pitch? It's false economy. rhliston makes a great point about Forthbank having two teams playing there and the pitch being in better condition than Hampden. Queen's are not the problem. Anyway, back on topic, has Hampden had its day? In its present form, maybe. The north, west and east stands are out of sync with the south stand, not surprising given they were built years apart. I agree that the west and east stands are too far away from the pitch. I was in the east for the Commonwealth athletics and couldn't see a thing at the other end. Ideally I'd keep the south and rebuild the others and try to get the capacity up to 60 odd thousand. I'd be happy with that. Funding it is another matter.

Whether people like it or not, Queen's Park own the stadium and have done since it opened in 1903 so why should we have to make way? Imagine you owned a house and someone told you that you can't live in it at certain times of the year because someone else wants to use it. Would you move out? Of course you wouldn't. Try chucking Rangers and Celtic out of Ibrox and Celtic Park in similar circumstances. No-one would dare but because it's little Queen's Park, it's alright. Queen's already do accommodate cup semi finals etc, eg we're given away games when those games are scheduled. I agree that the pitch is atrocious but it would be a lot better if the company who manage the stadium (Hampden Park Ltd I believe) actually took their responsibilities more seriously and looked after it. I do feel we'd be better served in a more compact home ground but Hampden is our home and we're entitled to be there.

An idea for a new thread? Barber Etiquette?