I was originally going to watch Tynecastle v St Andrews at Meggetland but changed my mind when I saw the Bonnyrigg had re-arranged their Football Nation Cup match with East of Scotland Premier League leaders Bo'ness United for tonight. Jim is just home from a holiday in Italy but he texted me to say he was also going and we arranged to meet at New Dundas Park. I caught a 31 bus at Haymarket to head out to Bonnyrigg at 18.5. It is normally a journey of just under an hour so I took my iPad to read to keep my occupied. I am currently reading a book about Borussia Dortmund called "Building the Yellow Wall" and it is a very interesting account about the rise of the club in both German and European football. My reading was interrupted by a couple sitting in the seat behind me loudly discussing items in a restaurant menu in the seat behind me. By the time we reached Bonnyrigg around 19.10 I was feeling hungry although I had eaten before I left home. I paid my £6 to enter the

Sunday and time for Hearts against Rangers. Ranger currently lie second in the SPL two points behind Celtic but with two games in hand and will be looking for a win today to maintain their title challenge. Had a busy morning but got home in time for lunch at 13.00 as Natalie left to go out to Craig's to watch their dog while he and Harper went to Tynecastle as Claire and Harmoni were away for a weekend in Newcastle for a cheer leading competition. After lunch I took Rufus for a walk and then headed down to Tynecastle arriving at 14.20 for the 15.00 kickoff. As I queued for my coffee and sausage roll I met Craig and Harper. With Harmoni away Harper had brought two of his friends to use her season ticket with Craig having bought another seat in the same row. I took my seat in the Main Stand about 14.40 in plenty of time for the kick-off. Hearts have been in the news this week with a lot of activity in the transfer market. On the departure side Glenn Whelan has now signed for

As Hearts match with Rangers has been moved to tomorrow afternoon for television I had a free day today. I decided it might be time to go to a new ground and I headed through to Stirling to watch Stirling Albion play Elgin City at Forthbank. I had been to their old ground, Annfield, to watch them against Hearts many years ago but despite the club moving to Forthbank in 1993 I had never been to their new ground. I left home just after 13.00 to catch the 13.25 train at Haymarket station. The train was on time and I arrived in Stirling round 14.05. I walked to Forthbank arriving around 14.30 despite stopping several times to check Google Maps to ensure I was still walking in the right direction. Bought a programme for £2 and paid my £14 entry fee. In a noice touch the turnstile operator had a selection of sweets beside her window and offered me one. After the Christmas excesses however I declined. The ground has stands down both touchlines although only one stand was open today with lo

Hearts are playing Ross County tonight but I did not fancy the trip of almost 170 miles on a January night. There is a full SPL programme tonight but but no other fixtures locally. As I do not, on a matter of principle, like giving my money to Hibs I decided to head through to Livingston to watch there match against St Johnstone. I bought my ticket online for £25 but as a bit disappointed to be charged a further £1 for both buying online and then for the ticket to be sent to me electronically. Do clubs not realise that fans can make a choice to attend a match and these additional charges, while minor, can be a niggle which will prevent  people  returning. I left home at 17.55 to catch the 18.03 X27 at the West Approach Road. That was a bad idea as the bus was late and did not arrive until around 18.20. Things got worse when driver stopped at Sighthill and said he was waiting for a relief driver. After five minutes he phoned the depot and was told he had stopped at the wrong stop. H

This is the first game for Hearts since the winter break and it has been an interesting time.  New manager  Daniel Stendel has started reshaping the squad to play the style of pressing football he expects. Aidan Keena has left to join Hartlepool while Glenn Whelan’s contract has been cancelled by mutual consent. Additionally captain Christophe Berra, Jake Mulraney, Craig Wighton and Colin Doyle have been told they can leave and are currently training with the reserves. Loanees Harry Cochrane, Anthony MacDonald, Connor Smith and Alex Petkov have been recalled and are looking for first team opportunities. I had arranged to meet Ivan for drinks after the match but he has also decided to come along. To allow us to sit together I have given up my season ticket seat and we have taken two seats in Section S of the Main Stand in row 7 which is nearer pitch level than I normally sit. After lunch I left home at just after 14.00 to walk down to Gorgie. Ivan was getting a 2 bus and I met him a

It was a miserable night in Edinburgh last night and the strong wind and heavy rain continued into today. I was intending to go out to Bonnyrigg to watch their match with Spartans but that was called off early due to a waterlogged pitch. Match cancellations quickly became a procession as Penicuik, Edinburgh University, Whitehall, Civil Service Strollers, Linlithgow, Tranent, Ormiston and Dalkeith were all called off due to the state of the pitches. This left three matches still on in the Edinburgh area, all on artificial pitches. These were Leith Athletic at home to Tynecastle on the Peffermill , Lothian Thistle v Craigroyston which had been  switched to the the Oriam and the game I went to, Edinburgh City  v Queens Park at Ainslie Park. Jim and I had been texting throughout the morning and we arranged to meet at Ainslie Park at around 14.30. As the rain had finally eased off I left home at just after 13.30 and walked to the ground arriving about 14.25. I got in for £10 rather than

First match of 2020 for me. I could have gone to watch BSC Glasgow v Bonnyrigg last night but we had already booked a meal out. As Natalie was away dog-sitting and child-minding I made my own lunch, walked the dog and headed out to Ainslie Park just after 13.30. As usual I walked to the ground arriving about 14.25. I Did not have to pay for entry as a Spartans season ticket holder but paid £6 for three programmes. I needed to get three as Jim was going to see Craigroyston v Leith Athletic which kicked off at 14.00 and then come to Spartans for the second half and had asked that I get him two programmes. I went to the cafe/bar for a coffee and a sausage roll and had a chat with the girl behind the counter about the holiday season and then, more importantly, Hearts. I left the cafe about ten minutes before kick-off and headed round to the grassy bank opposite the stand to watch the match. This promised to be an interesting game with Spartans fifth in the Lowland league with thir