5:35pm

17:35 is a bit early to start really - especially when you're meeting three blokes all over 6' and two them are known as 'big', as in 'big John' who was still turning out for Leith Accies until recently. Still, I matched them drink for drink, round by round. And we were joined by four others as the evening wore one. Much laughter - yes the Shandon 'boys' as we used to call ourselves (aka the Senior Service Crew) were having a wee Christmas nosh out of area. Festive fish and chips. And then festive beers. And festive bloody whisky.

Thanks to whoever rang the telephone at 8:30 or I'd still be in my kip.