Many a time my friends and I would spend time down the glen, long summer holidays spent there.   Some of it still remains the same as I remember it, the only real big change is the animal enlosure, now boarded up and closed down, which is a great shame.

At the bottom of the glen, which lies at the foot of the Old Dunfermline Palace, there are lots of caves and hiding places, some with historical interest... like Wallace's Well

Just along the path from Wallace's Well is this lovely bridge....

Pittencrieff Park or "The Glen" as it is known affectionately by the local populace extends to 76 acres and was given in trust by Andrew Carnegie to the people of his birthplace, Dunfermline.

Before it was purchased in 1902, by Andrew Carnegie, Pittencrieff Park formed the estate and grounds of the house, owned by the lairds of Pittencrieff. 

Pittencrieff House Museum

Pittencrieff House Museum is a historic house with a difference. The 17th century shell has a 20th century interior. Although there is no furniture, there are 3 display galleries with beautifully plastered ceilings. Here you can begin to discover, among other things, the history of "Dunfermline Toon", who was Dunfermline's giant and what clothes were worn in those days. The story of the house reveals a number of owners, the last of whom was Andrew Carnegie. He never lived in the house however, and eventually gave it to the citizens of Dunfermline.

Formal Gardens

Laid out, colourfully in front of the Glass Hall conservatory is a Formal Garden. In days gone by this area was used by Pittencrieff House as a kitchen garden and orchard. Now developed round the laird's walk with its own breathtaking vistas of the Abbey and Palace ruins, the garden is a kaleidoscope of colour throughout the spring and summer. It is a peaceful, relaxing setting in which to idle away the afternoon in the warmth of a summer sun.

Greenhouses

Completing the formal gardens is the 200ft Glass Hall conservatory. Built in 1973 on the site of the old conservatories the present structure is divided into three sections. The main area with its wooden bridge over the running stream and its regal display of flowers creates for the visitor an entire new world, the exotic plant world. Distributed throughout the three areas the visitor can see on exhibit plants from many countries. Look out too for the exhibit which features the fossilised trees.

We took a wander around the formal gardens which were full of beautiful flowers....

From the formal garden you can look over towards Dunfermline Abbey..

I enjoyed my trip down Menory Lane :-)

Back in the mid 1990s when I first started attending Pars matches home and away, we had a terrific core support. Now, currently we still have a good core support in terms of number, which can hover anywhere between the 4-6,000 mark. Back then though, the crowd were right behind the team from the off- and could act as the proverbial 12th man.

Manager of the 1995/96 First Division winning team, club legend Bert Paton, noted that, in reference to the 1-0 defeat of Dundee United in the penultimate day which almost assured the Pars of the championship, "anyone who doubts our support is a 12th man should have heard the volume that day."

Those days are still there for the big games, but Pars fans in recent years have taken on a new side to their persona, and it is one of prejudging players, or finding a scapegoat for if things don't work out too well on the pitch.

Why am I bumbling on with this? Well, manager Jim McIntyre finally secured the signing of his top summer target this week in the shape of Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker, Graham Bayne. The Athletic paid the Highlanders £30,000 to lure the Fifer back to the Kingdom to bolster our attacking options which had been left down to the manager and youngsters such as Iain Williamson, following the departures of Mark Burchill and Stevie Crawford, adding to Jim Hamilton leaving for St Mirren in January.

Having seen him play with Caley against us before, I know exactly the kind of player we're getting. Bayne, as McIntyre points out, will bring a physical dimension to the team. He will act as a player to link the play, bring his team-mates into it and create chances for them.

"He is strong in the air and can hold the ball up. He is good with his back to goal and his strength is his team play. He works hard, runs the channels- he is just a good all round team player," McIntyre commented.

However, despite this, some Pars fans have immediately dismissed him as "rubbish" and "a waste of money". Why? The only thing they have looked at is his goalscoring record- 33 goals in 159 games. Admittedly, strikers will always be judged on their goalscoring record and Bayne's isn't exactly prolific, but I can't get my head around punters immediately dismissing him as a no-hoper.

McIntyre is fully aware that he isn't renowned for hitting 15-20 goals a season, but he will be able to lay on chances for a more prolific strike partner, with the boss working hard to sign at least 2 strikers as well as a right sided midfielder before we kick off our First Division assault at Partick Thistle in August.

Instead of prejudging, I wish some Dunfermline fans would wait until they've at least pulled on the black and white before assessing the contributions, or lack of, a player can make to the team. What should count in the hitman's favour is that he's determined to come in and work hard- Pars fans love a grafter- and is a Fifer, which is another plus point when playing for the West Fifers.

I welcome Graham to the club and am sure he will be a success. It would be ironic if he went on to score 20 odd goals and have his most prolific net bulging season- the opinions of those already judging him would soon change.

I used to look in envy at former associates who had gone to work for the big name employers in the industry, as they seemed to enjoy an easy life (albeit having to be very well technically qualified), with fat pay packets and perks, and what then appeared to be job security. I know a lot of them found themselves floundering 15 years ago, panicking as their cushy life evaporated, and they had to up sticks and move to make use of their specialised knowledge, or start all over again.

I watched some as they hopped from factory to factory as they tried to avoid such a move, only to find that each new prospect was forced to go down the same route, as overseas manufacturing costs fell and fell.

Back in September 2007, Freescale (which took on the former Motorola plant in East Kilbride, set up back in 1969) announced it had appointed an agent to find a buyer for its East Kilbride factory. This process has failed to attract a buyer, and it seems that the factory will now have to be closed, with the loss of some 800 jobs by 2009. Reading further, it seems the company also had to dispose of a 150 acre site in Dunfermline, which was never completed.

In reality, unless they could have come up with some sort of radical plan to reduce costs, there was little Freescale could do. After all, they can hardly run a factory that loses money, and the politicians can't prop the place up forever, despite not wanting to have jobs lost on their "watch".

Nevertheless, I still find it strange to wander through industrial estates which once buzzed with an industry that the occupants I visited didn't seem to consider would all but evaporate, and didn't seem to see the rising star of reduced costs in the east threatening their future.

The estates aren't empty, and I still see the premises of those that operate support services flourishing, provided they have moved forward. One in particular is a little photocopier and office equipment company which fell into good company with a larger operator in the same business. We used them because they went down the path of digital photocopiers and related hardware before anyone else even noticed such equipment was available. They went from a few contracts to covering most of Scotland, and the boss is able to indulge in the latest top end Jag every year, while the parent company's boss can enjoy Ferraris. No, I'm not going to give them a free plug.

I should have been a photocopier salesman!

He alluded to this himself, by saying " There are a lot of positive things happening here.

"It makes you want to come here and play for them and do well."

I wish him well up there, but hopefully not too well as we can but hope the Athletic will be chasing the title.

However, Alex Rae has been busy in the transfer market as well as signing Young. He is rumoured to be on the verge of bringing former Scotland goalkeeper Rab Douglas back to Dens. The 36 year old played for the Dee in the 1990s and his form won him a move to Celtic. Since leaving the Hoops for Leicester in 2005, his career has stalled. Loan spells with Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle have been unsuccessful and Douglas was released by Leicester following their relegation to League One.

Rae is clearly looking for experience and if he adds him, along with another rumoured target, former Kilmarnock and Nottingham Forest midfielder Gary Holt, then the Dark Blues could well be in a strong position to challenge at the top next season. A challenge which both Dunfermline and St Johnstone will look to match before the season kicks off.

But back to Dunfermline and defender Sol Bamba, who seemed to fall out of favour towards the end of the season, has been busy making a name for himself in the Toulon International tournament over the past fortnight or so. As captain of the Ivory Coast side, he has starred as they have marched all the way to the semi finals, where they narrowly lost to Chile. Bamba's side will take on Japan in the third place play off and commentators on Eurosport, who have been showing the tournament live, have been impressed with Bamba's play overall. During one match, and forgive me for paraphrasing, but a commentator suggested something along the lines of 'you'd have a very hard time getting around him'.

It is good to see Sol doing well while representing his country's under 21 side in France. Rumours have suggested that the Pars are looking to offload the big man, but if he can regain his confidence and given the right kind of coaching, he could become a good player. He has pace, is very strong both on the ground and in the air and can tackle but at times erratic play creeps into his game, leading to him giving away possession cheaply. If he works on his passing and composure on the ball, then he'll do a very good job for Dunfermline.

But, thats for the future. Well done to Sol on having what appears to be a successful tournament and he is all set to represent the Pars in this summer's Beijing Olympics by playing for the Ivory Coast in the football tournement. Could la Bamba have a gold medal in his pocket by September? Stranger things have happened......

To read more about Dunfermline Athletic, why not visit my Pars page? Click here to find out the history and fascinating facts about my great club.

It's a piece I wrote a couple of years ago following a trip to my home town in Scotland. Looking at it now it feels a bit self-conscious and wordy, and I freely admit it owes something to an article that appeared around that time in the Guardian which is a wonderful evocation of the 'Auld Grey Toon' where I grew up.  Its author, Ian Jack, was editor of Granta at the time, and I did approach them with Afterlife, which was unsurprisingly rejected, though I did get a polite note back (which as any writer will tell you is better than a curt standard rejection!) 

It all seems like a long time ago now (the trip, as well as my chldhood!) but it was a big part of the inspiration for my current W.I.P. which is taking off at last, and so maybe it's a good omen that the article is now, thanks to Pygmygiant, seeing the light of day. Here are the pictures of the fire at St. Paul's that are mentioned at the start of Afterlife. They are from the  Dunfermline Press  of July 9th 1976. 

This means that if Celtic win at Dundee United, the title is almost certain to be theirs unless Rangers somehow thump a few goals past Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Of course, it is not set in stone that either, or indeed both, will win their games but that hasn't stopped the conspiracy theorists, who only exist in our country.

The more paranoid Celtic fans seem to think Jimmy Calderwood's Aberdeen will roll over for Rangers and this train of thought goes back to 2003. Celtic had lost the UEFA Cup final the previous Wednesday, and went into a final day shoot-out with Rangers for the flag. Despite drubbing Kilmarnock 4-0, Rangers' 6-1 defeat of my Dunfermline (where they got a ridiculous penalty and their keeper made a great save to prevent us taking a 2-1 lead and getting back to 3-2) ensured the Ibrox club won the title by a goal.

This led to Celtic striker Chris Sutton accusing the Pars of "lying down" to Rangers to hand them the title afterwards. Bad feeling rightly ensued from our side as, not only was that idea ridiculous, he also forgets that Celtic missed a penalty in their game, which also had a massive bearing. So the Celtic contingent are worried there, even though Sutton retracted his comments.

Similarly, some Rangers supporters are questioning the committment of United, given they have "a few Celtic fans" in their squad. Again, this is nonsense. Craig Levein's men have had a superb season and will want to bow out in front of their fans on a high, and certainly will not want to see another team celebrate on their patch. Its sure to be a fascinating evening, and you can be sure Aberdeen and Dundee United will give it their all.

But the sad events of yesterday puts everything into perspective, and should make these conspiracy theorists stop spouting drivel. Celtic legend Tommy Burns was laid to rest, with famous names from throughout football there to pay their respects. Here was a man who bridged the Old Firm divide and the sight of Rangers boss Walter Smith and his assistant Ally McCoist, who was moved to tears, acting as pallbearers showed what a great man he was to both sides of Glasgow, and Scottish football as a whole.

Burns would know that there would be no team not giving anything but 100% in these final games. Perhaps it would be fitting if the Parkhead side could lift the title in tribute to their legendary former player and manager and first team coach. But Tommy knew that while football was a huge part of his life, it came behind his family and his faith.

The destiny of the Scottish Premier League may be important, but it isn't that important. To sum up in footballing cliches, at the end of the day, it's only a game.

Darren Young looks set to have played his last game for Dunfermline after rejecting the club's offer of a new deal. The midfielder, who has considered the offer for what seems like a millenium, will be off to pastures new in the summer, with rumour rife that he will re-join former club Aberdeen.

Young has had a bit of a stop start career at East End Park. In his first season, he was a mainstay in midfield and helped the club finish 4th in the SPL and reach the Scottish Cup final, scoring in the replay win over Inverness Caley Thistle. He also netted the penalty to take the Pars into the CIS Insurance Cup final in 2006 against Livingston at Easter Road and was man of the match in last year's Scottish Cup final loss to Celtic.

But he has had his injury problems this season and last, resulting in him missing a lot of games. I feel that he's a good player but we can't afford to keep carrying players spending more time in the treatment room than on the pitch, and Young's dithering over accepting or rejecting a new deal shows he was never going to stick around. Fair enough, no problems and while I wish him well, it frees up a significant wage and allows Jim McIntyre to bring new bodies in.

And to that end pre-contract signings Steven Bell and Austin McCann should formally complete their moves to East End Park today. 23 year old midfielder Bell has signed from Stirling Albion after an impressive campaign for the relegated Binos, scoring 6 times from midfield, including one against ourselves. A neat and tidy player with a good engine, we hope that he can provide creativity and energy in a midfield which has lacked both all season.

McCann arrives from English side Notts County having previously served Hearts and Airdrie. It is his spell in Gorgie that he will be most remembered for, and a screamer of a goal against Celtic to hand Hearts a 2-1 win in a league encounter.

Hopefully, he will bring experience and solidity to the left back spot for the coming season. The defence improved as the season has gone on, so hopefully we can continue working from a solid base and move forward next season.

A 3rd name to sign with the Pars is Airdrie midfielder Graeme Holmes, who played with boss McIntyre at Dundee United. The 24 year old has been heavily rumoured to have already signed on at East End, but director of football Jim Leishman refused to confirm this. He has played 87 games since signing for Airdrie, scoring 5 goals and is highly thought of by the Airdrie support. There is more available on the club's official website on all 3 new signings. A warm welcome to all.

And the club have announced that the Purvis Group will continue as the club's shirt sponsor for next season. Exciting stuff eh?

Normally at this stage of the season things are done and dusted and we'd all stand around in the pubs and clubs of Alba sipping our warm pint of Bellhaven discussing the season's highlights and lowlights. But there is still a lot of unfinished business to tidy up, not least Rangers' backlog of games which has them playing three games as well the Scottish Cup Final in two weeks, and of course whether or not Strachan will get the heave-ho at Celtic.

In fairness, there are only two games on this week that are in any way meaningful. The rest are just there because Setanta already had the outside catering (i.e. "Big Morag's Burger Van") booked up in Inverness and cancelling would have set them back literally hundreds of pennies.

Rangers go into the first of a series of away games that they must win (and hope Celtic slip up). And with the mighty Aberdeen not playing till the 22nd (against none other than Rangers), the only game worthy of note north of the Clyde is between my other Scottish team  Deveronvale and Scotlands worst team this season (and possibly ever) Fort William FC. We look ahead to this one and try and guess how many goals Fort William will concede in this, their last game for the season. So, lets get started.

Motherwell vs. Rangers

I said in an earlier article that this is the crunch game for Rangers, the one that I think determines whether they'll win the league or not. I've changed my mind on that, because I think they'll beat Motherwell tomorrow, and though Rangers still have to travel north to face Aberdeen in a game that's traditionally very fiery (to put it mildly) and which I also think they'll win, the banana skin game for them is going to be the St Mirren game on Monday night. A typical top vs bottom game, this is the one where, should Rangers lose the league, then its on the green, green fields of Paisley where it'll happen.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

So far this season it's been Rangers all the way, with three wins and a draw to show for their efforts. With the exception of a 3-1 drubbing in the Boxing Day game, these two generally don't go in for massive score lines. Only six goals in three outings (leaving aside again the Boxing Day game) is not much so I'm expecting much of the same. It was Rangers that knocked Motherwell out of the League Cup last October so it's a bit late for Motherwell to get revenge for that particular defeat. And anyway, in every subsequent chance they had to extract revenge they lost on both occasions.

With Rangers not reporting any serious injuries from the game in Manchester they'll be out to put behind them the disappointment of that Uefa Cup defeat. And what better way to do that than a solid thrashing of some SPL cannon fodder, right? But Motherwell have proven they're no push-overs this season, and even though they have nothing to play for (having secured 3rd spot when Hibernian lost to Celtic last week), I can't imagine Mark McGhee allowing his side to put in a sub-standard performance against their rivals from up the M74.

I cant see anything other than a Rangers win, simply because they have to win. Tomorrows game will be a typical Scottish affair (i.e. scrappy and lots of cards). Rangers to win 0-1.

Inverness CT vs St Mirren

St Mirren managed to draw 0-0 with basement boys (but not in an Austrian sense) Gretna last week in a game so devoid of anything of interest to note that I'm not even going to bother. St Mirren are third bottom, Caley just above them. The only thing at stake is a possible 9th place but with only 6 goals scored in 3 meetings (a win, a loss and a draw) between these two sides this season, dont expect either of these teams to surprise us with a goal avalanche. Hard to call really. 1-0 to Caley.

Kilmarnock vs Falkirk

Much to everyone's surprise, Kilmarnock managed to beat a very poor Hearts side last week giving them the possibility of not finishing bottom (forgetting Gretna for a minute) if St Mirren lose to Caley and Rangers in the upcoming games. It's worth fighting for right? Falkirk have had a good season by their standards and they'll be looking to continue that going into this game. The rebuilding has already started for next season with Jackie McNamara joining the Buddies from Aberdeen, and Dermott McCaffrey, Lee Bullen and Neill McCann joining from Hibernian, Dunfermline and Hearts respectively.

In terms of past results, rearrange the following to make a well-known phrase or sentence: "arse, duck, tighter, a, than". A massive three goals all season between these two gives you an idea of the sort of game we're facing here. A 1-0 win for Falkirk.

Fort William FC v Deveronvale FC

Meanwhile, up in the Highland League, Fort William conceded 39 goals in a run of 4 games - that's one more than Gretna conceded all season!  The last time these two played, Banff based Deveronvale put 11 past 'The Fort', so expect more of the same. Deveronvale are currently lying fourth in the table, just outside the European places (only joking) and a win would have them leapfrog over Buckie and into third spot.

It's hard to predict anything other than another massive drubbing. For Fort William, the 11th season spent looking up the skirts of the teams above them on the league ladder beckons. Which is nice. A thumping 8-0 win for Deveronvale.

But sure, what do I know about football. My predictions this season have been pure gash, so don't go bet the farm on the basis of what I say, awright? If you think you can do better than me, then leave a comment and show us your mettle! A massive prize is at stake(*)

(*) not actually true.

Going into the penultimate day, United were top by a point from the second placed Pars. Victory for the home side would see them clinch the championship. Victory for Bert Paton's team though would see them claim top spot going into the final day of what had been an unbelievable season.

The match at Tannadice began in front of a 12,000 capacity crowd and an indication of its meaning could be heard via BBC Radio Scotland covering it live. United had moved the Dunfermline support from behind the goal to the dingy main stand in an attempt to swing the atmosphere their way, but the 2,000 black and white shirted hordes made their voices heard. And they got louder just 7 minutes in.

A foul by Maurice Malpas gave Dunfermline a free-kick just inside United's half. A high hopeful ball was flicked on by Allan Moore (the smallest man on the park incidentally) into the box. United keeper Ally Maxwell raced out to collect but he and United defender Grant Johnson got in each other's way and Stewart Petrie gleefully nipped in to poke the ball home for the opener. As Jock Brown famously proclaimed on Sportscene later that night, "Its a dream start for Dunfermline."

 The United crowd were silenced and, in truth, they really struggled to get going. Perhaps the expactation of the big crowd got to them, but a Gary McSwegan snap shot on the turn, comfortably held by Pars keeper Ian Westwater, was about all they could muster in the first half. Indeed, Petrie went through on goal again and although he appeared to be held back inside the box by Mark Perry, he got his shot away which was beaten around the post by Maxwell.

So, half the job done then but two minutes into the second half the Pars had a huge escape. A United free-kick from Dave Bowman found the head of Christian Dailly, whose header crashed off the crossbar. The United fans found their voice again.

Pars though always looked dangerous on the break and superb play between Andy Smith and Moore carved out a chance. Smith touched the ball over the head of Malpas, and a Moore head flick was met by Smith whose first time shot on the turn fizzed just wide of the post.

But then, controversy. Petrie, already on a yellow card, made a challenge on Malpas on the near side. Malpas made a meal of it, and referee Alan Freeland duly sent him off. Down to 10 men, the Pars would have to battle even harder. And they did.

They restricted United to very few clean efforts at goal, and even Andy Tod had an effort at goal for the Pars. As time wore on, Dunfermline had to defend and United forced a series of corners and, from one, Craig Brewster's delivery was met again by Dailly and, unbelievably, he hit the bar again.

The luck was out on United and when Westwater caught another cross ball, it was all over and Dunfermline went to the top of the First Division. An outstanding victory and an outstanding performance- one full of battling qualities and a never say die attitude. The title was won the following week, but this was the big result. The reaction in the video below is a joy.

Rejoice!

Dunfermline Athletic: Westwater, Miller, Millar, Tod, Den Bieman, Fleming, French, Robertson, Moore, Smith, Petrie.

They are a team totally knackered after a marathon European campaign, which began with a Champions League qualifier with Zeta in July resulting in a UEFA Cup final with Zenit St Petersberg on Wednesday week.

Walter Smith has been busy slamming the SPL in his spare time for not helping Rangers prepare for their biggest game since the 1972 European Cup Winners Cup win. A heavy fixture backlog will eventually see Rangers play 4 games in 8 days following the Manchester showdown.

The congestion has been caused by a number of factors, such as sodden unplayable pitches, dreadful Scottish weather and the untimely death of Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell.

So Smith wants the league season extended. While I agree that the situation is far from ideal, I don't see what more the league can do. A season extension would be a struggle, mainly due to the start of the European Championships in June and the fact the Scottish Cup final is on May 24. As Queen of the South boss Gordon Chisholm rightly says, you can't move the showpiece of our game. Queens season finished on April 26 at Dunfermline and they wouldn't be too happy at having to wait even longer for their big day at Hampden.

Indeed, Smith also forgets that the SPL agreed to let Rangers postpone an SPL match at home to Gretna on the Saturday before Lyon sent them crashing out of the Champions League in a bid to help them.

Smith's talk of the SPL and SFA conspiring to help Celtic more than his team is absolute nonsense. The fact that his UEFA Cup opponents have had games re-arranged prior to the final is irrelevent- they have just entered their season, while we are at the end of ours.

Its been a difficult season with regards the weather, pitch condition and tragedy all wreaking havoc with fixtures. As a Dunfermline fan, I remember in our First Division title campaign of 1995/1996 we had to play 6 games in 18 days and had to cope with the death of our skipper Norrie McCathie, injuries, suspensions and a car crash involving 2 of our players. We had the next game after our captain's death postponed before we defeated Clydebank 4-3. Games were cancelled due to the weather, but we didn't have any choice but to cram fixtures in. We responded in the right way and went on to win the title on the final day of the season.

It is unfortunate, but Rangers will simply have to get on with it. They boasted earlier in the season that they had a big enough squad to field 2 teams- now's their chance to prove that theory.

A second encounter was required after a 1-1 stalemate at the National Stadium. Paul Ritchie fired Inverness, then a First Division side, ahead against the Premier League Pars and then missed a golden chance early in the second half. But Jimmy Calderwood's team recovered and Craig Brewster's header from Darren Young's cross earned a Pittodrie replay.

I was still at school, but somehow escaped 10 minutes early from my final class of the day (Chemistry, which I was hopeless at anyway) to head for the match. Changing out of my school uniform into my Pars regalia in the car was quite a challenge, but I made it to Kincardine on time to make my supporters bus heading north.

A crowd of just 5,728 took in the game thanks to the ridiculous decision to take it to Aberdeen but we were rewarded with a fantastic match, one which showcased the beauty of the Scottish Cup throughout Britain. As always, Dunfermline never do things the easy way and despite looking in command early on, fell behind after 6 minutes.

Former Par David Bingham collected the ball and ran into the Athletic half, and his defence splitting ball found that man Ritchie and he made no mistake in slotting past goalkeeper Derek Stillie to give Inverness a dream start. Cue concerned faces from Fifers all round.

Although Inverness went close again through a Steven Hislop header, the Pars levelled on 24 minutes with an excellent goal. The fantastic Brewster sent the ball to Lee Bullen on the left handside, and his cross was met on the volley by Darren Young. Concern turned to joy as "Ole, Ole Ole Ole, We are the Pars, We are the Pars" was belted out from our end.

Dunfermline continued to press and went close through Gary Dempsey and Brewster as the half drew to a close. Though Hislop smacked the bar for Caley in the second half, unbridled joy was felt by the Athletic support as we hit the front. A superb reverse pass from Dempsey released Brewster, who fired past Inverness keeper Mark Brown from a tight angle.

2-1 up and edging closer to Hampden. The fans were becoming nervous, but that disappeared with 12 minutes left. A fantastic individual effort from Barry Nicholson, dancing past three Inverness players before slotting the ball past Brown, made the game safe, sent us Pars fans into ecstasy and drew comparisons with Archie Gemmill's legendary goal for Scotland against Holland at the Argentina World Cup in 1978.

Though David Bingham netted a last minute penalty for Caley, Dunfermline made it through to their first cup final in my lifetime and since 1968, as well as a European place for the first time since 1970 which was the end of the club's halycon period. A fantastic game and result, and the celebrations carried on all the way back home into the wee small hours.

Dunfermline Athletic were back, and a truely memorable game it was. It was night which summed up why I support Dunfermline- we may suffer more lows than highs, but when those highs come, they are absolutely fantastic. Although we went on to lose the final 3-1 to Celtic, that semi final was a phenomenal night and will probably live with me for a long time to come.

Match Stats

Inveress Caledonian Thistle: Brown, Tokely (Proctor 85), Mann, McCaffrey, Golabek, McBain, Duncan (Thomson 50), Bingham, Hislop, Keogh, Ritchie (Mackie 86).

Subs not used: Munro, Fraser.

Goals: Ritchie (6), Bingham (pen 89)

Dunfermline Athletic: Stillie, Bullen, Wilson, Skerla, Dempsey (Byrne 67), Da Young, Nicholson, Mason (Labonte 76), De Young, Brewster, Crawford.

Subs not used: Tod, Mehmet, S Y Thomson.

Goals: Da Young (24), Brewster (63), Nicholson (78).

Referee: Hugh Dallas.

Saturday's penultimate game of the season saw Dunfermline go down to a 3-0 loss at Greenock Morton, in a performance where the desire and effort of the team left a lot to be desired. With little to play for except pride, a lacklusture Dunfermline may have been expected not to play at maximum potential, but it is unacceptable, especially to the hardy band of diehards who followed them west. Morton needed the points in their bid to avoid a relegation play-off and were undoubtedly more up for it, but the way in which the Pars collapsed after going a goal down epitomised the season- one in which we've been pretty damn gutless and, quite simply, inept.

A rather damning verdict perhaps, but one which most Athletic followers would agree with. Changes are badly needed as the current squad simply will not take the First Division by storm and win promotion like Billy Reid's excellent young Hamilton Accies side have done this year.

And to start what will no doubt be an exodus out of the East End Park exit door, on Friday it was confirmed that Mark Burchill and Stephen Simmons will leave after rejecting new deals. Scott Thomson has taken a cut in wages to re-sign for another year, a decision I am happy with as he has been excellent since returning from injury and has helped shore up our shambolic defence.

But back to Burchill and Simmons. Striker Burchill is our top goalscorer with 13 goals, and in his first season with the club netted a significant number which helped ensure we beat the SPL drop and reached the CIS Insurance Cup final. Often he has been posted missing in action though and is a player we need focused and on the pitch- he's no use in the stand injured, which has happened throughout his time with the club. A loss he will be, but not irreplaceable.

But my biggest cheer regarding football this weekend was the news that Simmons will be leaving. Since joining the club, he has simply failed to deliver. Too often he is found missing in games as he is simply far too lazy. He does have some ability, but he isn't as good as he thinks he is and has simply decided not to turn up this season, in a campaign where we needed all of our squad pulling in the same direction.

A clear-out simply has to happen at East End, and we need to look at this season's deserving champions as an example. Accies have a lot of youth in their squad aided with some experienced pros, and they have played skillful, quick and entertaining football throughout.

Pars boss Jim McIntyre has to go down that road if we are to be looking at making a title challenge for next season, otherwise it'll be a long, hard struggle.

We await the summer with baited breath and see what changes McIntyre makes to a horrendously underachieving football club.

I watched the Masters Golf. I'm not sure I've watched it so much as I did this year for ages. For me the Masters seems to hold more appeal than other golf tournaments (except the Ryder Cup where we get to beat the Yanks - in a sporting and fun fashion of course). Perhaps because it is played at the same course each year. Perhaps because the course is Augusta National, perhaps the most beautiful course in the world. Perhaps it is because it never fails to surprise. Well done to Trevor Immelman on winning and to fellow South African Gary Player on his two rounds under 80! Not bad for a 72 year old!

The second thing rediscovered was a musical treat. I found an old CD.

Hats by The Blue Nile. I bought this album when I was at school I think. It is a beautiful collection of angst, hurt and hope. I love it. Perhaps the perfect album for listening to in the dark. The Blue Nile are playing in their hometown of Glasgow soon. I wonder if we could stretch to the tickets. They almost NEVER play and have only produced a handful of albums in 20 years.

I had stuff to do in an around Dunfermline and also I have some picture of the lovely scenery of Inverkeithen on my camera phone.

Then a nipped off to Ayr (Craig Tara caravan park) for a wee four day holiday, and also have some lovely photos which i'll add to my flickrs page soon, once I have gotten on top of the post etc at home.

I have gotten little plants on the window sill (i set up two heated based with capillary matting under them) while i was away and I have come home to find little seedling enjoying the sun from the window the next thing is i just need to weather to warm up and no frost or snow to come down (can someone tell nature that it is April up here please...................) Again i post some pictures of them once I have gotten myself organised.

Having been relegated at the end of last season and losing the Scottish Cup final in heartbreaking fashion while playing some good football, the feeling was that the Athletic would mount a serious challenge for an instant return to the Premier League with the hope that the experienced players we had, such as Stevie Crawford, Darren Young, Greg Shields, Scott Wilson and Stephen Glass, would enable us to fight our out of what could be described as the country's toughest division. On top of that, the carrot of UEFA Cup football dangled in front of the team so the opportunity for a memorable season was there to be grasped.

But by the end of August, we were out of Europe by BK Hacken and October saw us already way off the pace of leaders Hamilton Accies. Consecutive humilations in losing 0-5 at home to Hamilton, 0-3 at Stirling Albion and 0-4 to Livingston saw us embroiled in a relegation fight. By December, manager Stephen Kenny was gone, replaced by veteran striker Jim McIntyre.

Results have improved and Dunfermline now sit in mid-table mediocrity, with only 4th place and the avoidance of an extra round in next season's Scottish Cup left to play for. Its as low as we've been since I started watching the team back in 1994 but the focus is on a title challenge next term. McIntyre has signed winger Alex Burke, with the jury still out on him, as well as Stirling Albion's young midfielder Steven Bell on a pre-contract agreement. Bell has impressed against the Pars this term, and netted a good goal in the Beanos 3-2 defeat to Dunfermline at Forthbank last week.

But one of the biggest cheers of the season could be heard this week when it was announced popular goalkeeper Paul Gallacher had signed a three year contract to remain with the club. Gallacher, or Peter Barlow as he is affectionately known by the fans due to looking very much like the ex Coronation Street character, has impressed since signing for Stephen Kenny in August after falling out of favour at Norwich City.

Much like Dorus de Vries last year, Gallo has saved Dunfermline a lot of points this season, including two crucial penalty saves in a draw at Dundee and in the 3rd minute of stoppage time in a 1-0 win at Queen of the South in October. Capped 7 times for Scotland, Gallacher's form and general ability caused me to question Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall on Tuesday night. I went along to their game with Dundee at Firhill with the Radio Scotland team (my Beeb match report will appear at some stage on here) and in his programme notes, he described his goalkeeper Jonathon Tuffey as the league's best.

Undoutedly, he is a fine keeper but, come on Ian, Gallacher has won praise from managers and fans of our first division rivals all season. He is a goalkeeper with international experience and should be playing at a higher level than the Irn-Bru SFL. But it is great to know we have a top quality keeper on board for next season, and shows the club look like they mean business in putting this term's wrongs right.

We will have to wait until the summer to see how McIntyre rebuilds the squad, and it can't come quick enough. Roll on season 2008/2009 and hopefully a fresh, exciting new start for Fife's biggest club.

I'm always interested to see how ex-Canaries are getting on, so am going to spend a bit of time having a look (that's right, another new feature) starting with two recent evacuees: Paul Gallacher and Ian Murray - both of which have signed new deals north of the border recently.

Gallacher joined Dunfermline Athletic on loan in August after failing to nail down a place in first Nigel Worthington and then Peter Grant's Canary sides, and officially made the move permanent in January after Glenn Roeder cancelled his contract.

Pars Chairman John Yorkston is pretty chuffed with the news:

We are delighted that Jim (McIntyre) has secured Paul for three years. He's a first class goalkeeper and it shows our commitment to getting up next season.

Murray had his contract terminated "by mutual consent" in January and went back to the club where had started his career, Hibernian.

He said a few things that got under a lot of people's skin (including mine), but as Hibs fan WestStandDave was keen to point out has been in good form since returning "home".

Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen was delighted with the news:

I am delighted that the new contract has been agreed with Ian. He's a great player and has performed really well since coming back to the Club. Ian has a real determination to succeed and this allied to his great versatility will, I'm sure, see him play a key role for us.

So as two Roeder "rejects" make the grade in Scotland it does kind of beg the question: Were neither of them good enough for England and Norwich City, did the club fail them, or was it just one of those things?

I'm inclined to go with the latter in Murray's case, but for me Gallacher was never quite good enough to shift Robert Green or the deluge of 'keepers that followed him.

Let me know what you think...

I travel a lot and I have to be connected to the Internet for my work while on the road. This means that when I take accommodation, the first thing I look at is if they have Wifi or an Internet connection.

It can always be tricky finding what you need. Hotels often misrepresent the level of connectivity they can provide to you.

This week a business colleague and I were supposed to spend one week on a work retreat in Scotland. I had arrived from Canada in London, UK, and after a few days we set out by car from London to the city of Dunfermline to the north of Edinburgh. The trip was a long, boring run up the M6 that normally takes around 8 hours and 694 km (431 miles). That does not take in the mistake we made that cost us an extra 2 hours of driving.

Not a fan of chain hotels, we anyways booked accommodation at a Holiday Inn Express because the price was right and the Internet connection guaranteed. The most important thing was to be away and to be able to work online.

Arriving mid-evening, after checking in we quickly dropped our bags and getting something to eat, we came back to the hotel to check our Internet connection.

First of all we found there was no Wifi connection. In fact, as the staff informed us, there was not Wifi offered throughout the hotel, contrary to what we had been assured and what is advertised online, a screenshot we kept for proof.  

The only places you might catch a signal were in the lobby or downstairs (which we did not try). Not exactly conducive for our work if we had to sit in the public lobby for hours a day.

Anyways, all would not be lost if we could connect to the Internet by cable. Again, we were in for disappointment.

The hotel had run out of extra cables to give out, probably because the Wifi does not work. When eventually they did find two short cables, we found that the ends would only fit one of the wall slots provided to connect to the Internet. This would mean that only one person could be connected at a time (we were two people sharing a room with two single beds) when we both needed to work at the same time in the same room.

The one connection we had made dial-up look good. It was so slow it was essentially unusable. It was anything but the high speed being advertised. The hotel staff told us this was normal when there were a number of users in the hotel accessing the Internet.

We could not loose anymore time looking for a new place to stay and making sure that we had good access to the Internet. We left right away the next day back to London where we knew we could be connected. We lost two days, with nothing to show for it; we lost 100 GBP pounds in petrol driving up and back and we even had to pay for the one night we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Dunfermline.

It was not a particularly nice place either. It was clean and comfortable in a "cookie cutter" way that is familiar, with all hotels looking the same no matter where you are. No character whatsoever. The breakfast included with the accommodation was boring and limited. The view from the dining area was awful. Large wall windows overlooking a sprawling ASDA complex, the UK branch of Walmart.

A big thumbs down to staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Dunfermline.

The Red Devils' manager was reflecting on the Portuguese star's incredible season as he continues to score goals at will and earn all the plaudits.

Ronaldo has already re-written the record books as he beat Best's tally of goals for a winger at United when scoring his 33rd of the campaign against Bolton recently.

"There are certainly similarities [between Ronaldo and Best]," Ferguson told Manchester United Radio.

"When George played as a winger I don’t think he ever stayed still. He roamed from side to side – he played on the right, the left and through the middle.

"I’ve looked at Best’s goals and a lot of Cristiano’s are similar. He starts from wide positions before cutting inside. The boy’s in tremendous form right now."

Ronaldo is still some way off overhauling the United club record for goals scored in a season, an amount that still belongs to Denis Law after he scored 46 times in the 1963-64 season.

"Denis was a fantastic player – he was my hero – but I didn’t know that," Sir Alex said. "That even beats my record! I scored 45 in 51 games for Dunfermline back in 1965/66," Ferguson concluded.

The building has lain empty since the demise of the Cold War, when its 2 ft thick concrete walls, self-contained facilities such as water, heating, air-conditioning, and secure construction with no windows and steel entrance would have been expected to protect the communication facilities at its core secure for up to three months in the event of an attack.

The Inverness UNITER building can be seen in this aerial view.

Two further UNITER buildings are known in Scotland, one in Dunfermline, next to Knockill Racing Circuit, and the other in Prestwick, next to the airport.

UNITER is not an acronym, but a name chosen to reflect the original project's aim of replacing disparate comms systems used throughout the RAF, which caused compatibility and continuity problems, and providing a united system which would have been robust if war had broken out.

thought I'd kick off the Christmas cheer by playing the fool a little and just go to prove that we Independent Financial Advisers are not as boring and fuddy duddy as some would like to make out. Hope this does it for you! Happy Christmas!

See you all in the New Year!

Figured you're only really going to get to know me if you know my football.

Hence the potted history of a Fife boy to man and his football which follows below...

I went to my first Dunfermline Athletic match with my dad in 1972. It was against Dundee and we won 3-2. It was the beginning of a tortuous and rarely rewarding relationship that continues to this day.

At the time of writing we have just been beaten 1-0 by the same opposition and now sit second bottom of the First Division having spent the last 7 years in the top league. It has been a dire season for everyone associated with my club and no-one is suffering more than the poor fans who trudge along more in hope than expectation these days.

Recent seasons have bought us 4 national cup finals and although in time honoured fashion we lost the lot of them, we tasted the big time and the limelight and how we loved it. I suppose then that it is with an air of inevitability that we have been brought crashing back to earth with such a bump.

Still supporting the Pars was never going to be about glory hunting.

For me it's about community, local identity and above all loyalty. Dunfermline are my team and always will be. Oh and I'm lucky enough to still have my dad sitting beside me like he was all those years ago!

David Sands born about 1604 at Gellat, Carnock, Fife, Scotland.

Bessie Christie or Chrystie born about 1608 at Dunfermline, Fife.

David and Bessie’s Marriage was celebrated 12-2-1629 at Carnock, Fife.

Children:

(1).   Margaret Sands christened 1-2-1631 at Dunfermline, Fife.

(2).   Janet Sands christened 28-4-1633 at Dunfermline, Fife.

(3).   Thomas Sands christened 16-1-1638 at Dunfermline, Fife.

(4).   William Sands christened 14-4-1640 at Dunfermline , Fife.

(5).   John Sands christened 3-4-1641 at Dunfermline, Fife.

(6).    Katherine Sands christened 30-4-1643 at Dunfermline, Fife.

(7).   Adam Sands christened 24-4-1649 at Dunfermline, Fife.

Adam Sands married Katherine Thomson 3-7-1674 at Dunfermline, Fife.

Children:

(1).    David   Sands christened 18-4-1680 at Dunfermline, Fife.

David  Sands married Cathrin Stewart 30-7-1708 at Torryburn, Fife.

(children):

(1).   Magdalene Sands christened 18-3-1716 at Torryburn, Fife.

Magdalene Sands married William Murray 9-11-1746 at Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Children:

(1)   Charelton Murray, a daughter, born 25-7-1747 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(2)   William Murray born 20-2-1749 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(3)    David Murray born 30-11-1750 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.   This child died young.

(4)     JEAN MURRAY born 14th May 1752 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.    Jean is my gt.gt.gt grandmother.   (see Cowie Familytree, and her Marriage to John Cowe) later their name changed to Cowie after they moved down to London.   Jean also became Jane!   Jane Murray Cowie died at Lea Bridge, Hackney, London 18-3-1818.

(5)    Helen Murray born 20-5-1754 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(6)    David Murray born 17-10-1755 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.    David Murray married Katherine McKay.   (our family remained in contact until the late 1880’s with this branch of the Murray Family).

(7)   William Murray born 30-9-1758 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(Because of 2 entries in my grandfather Harry Talbot Cowie’s Birthday Book I am continuing the Murray familytree to highlight these entries).

David Murray married Katherine McKay on 17-11-1779 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

Children:

(1)   Katherine Murray born 8-10-1780 Edinburgh, Midlothian.   Catherine McKay Murray married James Captain McDonald 27-10-1815 Edinburgh Parish.

(2)   Charlotte Murray born 23-2-1782 Edinburgh.

(3)   William Murray born 7-4-1784 Edinburgh.

(4)   James Murray born 17-3-1786 Edinburgh.

(5)   David Murray born 8-11-1787 Edinburgh.

(6)   Sarah Shade Murray born 10-5-1789 Edinburgh.

(7)   Elizabeth McKay Murray born 10-5-1789 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(8)   William Forrest Murray born 8-4-1793, christened 19-4-1793 Edinburgh.

(9)    George MacKay Murray born 27-11-1794, christened 1-12-1794 Edinburgh. (twin)

(10)   Hugh MacKay Murray born 27-11-1794 Edinburgh (twin).

(11)   Jean Murray born 31-10-1796 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.       (The Marriage of Jean (or Jane) daughter of David Murray, to Alexander McKay 2-11-1819 Edinburgh Parish.           Alexander & Jean (Jane) set up a newspaper in Belfast, and their daughter Agnes Mckay married James Alexander Henderson.     Both James Alexander Henderson,  and his son Sir James Henderson, were Lord Mayors of Belfast.      Sir James,  in 1898).

(12)   Mary Ann Murray born 24-8-1798 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(13)    Charles Hope Murray born 17-10-1806 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

Mary Ann Murray,  and Charles Hope Murray,  were at their father David’s home, The Towers , when Henry Charles Cowie visited them with his two little daughters, Katherine and Florence Cowie.    They were very tired after the long train journey from London and wouldnt eat their tea.   Gt uncle David roared at them   “Eat your food you little devil!   Little Katherine  replied.  You eat yours you big devil!   As the Family was in awe of Old David,  they waited with baited breath for his usual outburst, instead he roared with laughter!   (Details from an old family letter).

Charles Hope Murray married Agnes Cooper Mitchell.   8-12-1828 Saint Cuthbert’s Edinburgh.

Children:

Robert Mitchell Murray born 27-9-1829 St. Cuthberts Blotter, Edinburgh

Agnes Murray born 4-1-1835 Saint Cuthberts, Edinburgh

Catherine Murray born 21-5-1843 Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

Charles Hope Murray born 7-9-1845 Glasgow, Lanark

David Murray,  son of David Murray and Katherine McKay, celebrated his marriage to Margaret Halliday, 4th July 1809, St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh.

Children:

(1)   Catharine Elizabeth Murray born 30-6-1810 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(2)   David Murray born 16-10-1811 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.    (See entry in Birthday Book, as mentioned above).

(3)   Alexander John Murray born 13-1-1814 Perth, Perthshire, Scotland.    Death 1-8-1837.

(4)   Margaret Isabell Murray born 2-8-1817 Greyfriers,Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.   Death 15-2-1823.

(5)   James Charles Murray born 17-1-1816 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(6)   Richard Wharton Murray born 3-1-1819 Greyfriers, Edinburgh.    Death 20-7-1823.

(7)   William Murray born 4-7-1820 Perth Guiana, Midlothian, Scotland.   Death 21–6-1855.

(8)   Catherine Isabella Murray born 8-6-1823 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.

(9)   Matilda Jane Sands Murray born 18-2-1825 Edinburgh Parish, Edinburgh.   (An old letter states that this cousin was often visited by the London Cowie Family).

(9)   Margaret Elizabeth Murray born 14-12-1830 Greyfriers, Edinburgh.   Death 24-1-1841.

Charles Hope Murray son of Charles Hope Murray and Agnes Cooper Mitchell celebrated his marriage to Isabella Adam Gemmell 12-6-1873 at Govan, Lanark Scotland.

Children:

Charles Hope Murray born 14-3-1874 Govan, Lanark, Scotland.   (see entry in Birthday Book of Harry Talbot Cowie as mentioned above).     Charles Hope Murray died during the Great War, aged 40 years.   Not married.

This completes our record and known connections to the Sands,  Murray,  families.

Era domingo y como había hecho compra el sábado, solo tenia dos artículos de ultima hora en mi cesta: espuma de afeitar y una botella de vino tinto.

Pongo mis dos artículos en la cinta de la caja registradora y saludo al cajero con la educación habitual.

Entonces salta la sorpresa el cajero me dice que he de esperar un minuto, uno, para pagar.

Le miro extrañado y le pregunto la razón de la espera y me mira como si yo fuera marciano… ‘son las 12:29 y como debería ud saber, hasta las 12:30 no podemos vender alcohol’

Impresionante. Las leyes en el reino unido no dejan de sorprenderme.

Dejan que sus jóvenes se empapen en alcohol por las noches y se líen a gritos y bofetadas a las mínimas de cambio ¡pero un adulto no puede comprar alcohol hasta pasado el mediodía del domingo!

En fin, parece que esto es parte de una ley de 1979 que supongo que querría evitar que los párrocos fueran cocidos a las misas del domingo.

(Vale, esto último es de mi cosecha)

Bueno, si viven en escocia y quieren cocinar lago con vino el domingo, recuerden comprar la botella el sábado o no ir a l supermercado antes de las 12:30

Una vez al mes un puñado de granjeros escoceses van a Dunfermline a poner sus puestos y vender su mercancía directamente al público.

Vimos puestos de carne, de fruta, de verdura, de cordero, de mermeladas, etc.

Como llegamos tarde no había ya mucho genero disponible, pero lo poco que vimos era de mucha calidad.

Compramos bacón, que estaba riquísimo, huevos y una mermelada de uvas blancas que no probamos, ya que la llevare a La Coruña como regalo.

Desde luego me gusta la idea de comprar directamente al productor, me gusta la idea de comprar algo más barato que en los supermercados y me gusta ver que la calidad de los productos era muy alta.

El mercado va rotando por los pueblos de la zona, así que estaré al tanto de cuando vuelva a Dunfermline para madrugar un poco y hacer una buena compra.

¡Una ventaja de vivir en el campo!