The Tartan Army
Here we come...
Stottin' down the street...
We get the funniest looks
From everyone we meet.
Hey, hey, we're the Tartan Army
And people say we fanny around.
But we're too busy singing
To put anybody down.

We're just trying to be friendly;
We like to sing and play.
We're the famous Tartan Army
And we've got something to say.

Hey, hey, we're the Tartan Army
And people say we fanny around.
But we're too busy singing
To put anybody down.

Fair fa'your honest,sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding race!
Aboon them a'yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pours the dews distill
Like amber bead.
His nife see rustic labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an'strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like rive,
Bethankit! hums.
Is there that owre his french ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sonner,
Looks down wi'sneering, scornful'view
On sic a dinner?

When chapman billies leave the street,
And drouthy neibors, neibors, meet;
As market days are wearing late,
And folk begin to tak the gate,
While we sit bousing at the nappy,
An' getting fou and unco happy,
We think na on the lang Scots miles,
The mosses, waters, slaps and stiles,
That lie between us and our hame,
Where sits our sulky, sullen dame,
Gathering her brows like gathering storm,
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.'
(Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses,
For honest men and bonie lasses).
'She prophesied that late or soon,
Thou wad be found, deep drown'd in Doon,
Or catch'd wi' warlocks in the mirk,
By Alloway's auld, haunted kirk.
Ah, gentle dames! it gars me greet,
To think how mony counsels sweet,
How mony lengthen'd, sage advices,
The husband frae the wife despises!
'Inspiring bold John Barleycorn!
What dangers thou canst make us scorn!
Wi' tippenny, we fear nae evil;
Wi' usquabae, we'll face the devil!'
"Weel done, Cutty-sark!"
And in an instant all was dark:’
‘ Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man and mother's son, take heed:
Whene'er to Drink you are inclin'd,
Or Cutty-sarks rin in your mind,
Think ye may buy the joys o'er dear;
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mare’

The difference is that Blair has made one big mistake, Iraq, whereas Thatcher was one big mistake.

No often I agree with you Lounge Lizard - but I agree whole heartedly.

Here in the states, almost every day I read another Blair analysis, most in praise and admiration but with the big question (as I've heard in Britain), why did he go along with Bush in Iraq?

Ten years ago, Cathryn and I were visiting Ireland, heard Blair campaigning, were mightily impressed, and have been since until Iraq. Oh how we loved his oratory. He was our last hope to talk Bush out of war (our Congress was pathetic). His failure to do so will sadly be his legacy.

As Britons are still talking about Thacher 20 years later, so will they be talking about Blair 20 years from now.

Harold WIlson was in the same position in the sixties when the Americans wanted him to commit troops to Vietnam.Harold Wilson was a thinker and knew the impications of such a deployment so he distanced himself from it.It turned out to be a wise decision.The trouble with Blair is that he dosen't think,he talks in sound bites trying to tell people what he thinks they want to hear.At one point he was talking about invading Somalia,Sudan,The Congo,and just about anywhere else that took his fancy.It seems he is slighlty detached from reality and whilst he is genuine in his intentions dosen't seem to realise the consequences of making such rash decisions.

Michael Foot was the Conservative's greatest asset in the 1970s and John Major was New Labour's in 1997 as have been his annual successors ever since. The electorate votes more against one of the main parties rather than for one.

Originally posted by tonyk:
[B] That was in the eighties when he had his unilateral nuclear policy as part of his 1983 election manifesto.From what I can remember a certain Anthony Blair supported that policy.

I have always liked Micheal Foot,haven't agreed with everything he has said,but he has remained honest and stuck to what he believes in.

anyone coming for a walk?

madame cholet