Now for something completely different!

 

Some of you may have picked up along the way, that I am a bit of a rugby nut and a Scotland fan. Now there are some who would claim that the two are not compatible.

None of them will be England fans, however!

Rugby has brutal artistry about it. It's poetic violence, but it has an ethos of respect. Respect the ref, and respect your opponents. But it has to be said Scotland was consistently rubbish at the game for a long period of time. Things began to change in 2014 when New Zealander Vern Cottor took over as Head Coach and Scotland started the slow march back to rugby credibility.

In 2016 the SRU announced his contract wouldn't be renewed and Gregor Townsend took over.

It has to be admitted that if you are a sporting glory hunter, looking for a team, with shelves heaving with trophies, then Scotland is not the team for you. We haven't won the World Cup, we have never won the Six Nations and we went 38 years before beating England at their ground, for the first time since 1983 in 2021. We have had our moments of glory, the Five Nations and Grand Slam in 1990, but precious little to celebrate since then.

Since the old 5 Nations, changed into the 6 Nations with the admission of Italy we have never won the opening two games of the competition.

But I like it this way. I'd hate to be an England or a France supporter, with the realistic hopes that this year they would win the 6 Nations or World Cup. And then real pain and desperate disappointment when they don't. With Scotland it's coming third you hope for. Or finally beating the Welsh. Or, at last, wiping the smug smile off the face of Joe Malloy and the Irish in general by beating them. 

If there is any justice in the universe, that final wish will come true. For a team that has yet to get past the Quarterfinals of the World Cup, they are awfully full of themselves. In an unpleasant way with regards Scotland.

At least Scotland has got to the Semi-Finals!

Being a Scottish fan your disappointments are small because your expectations are 'realistic'. We know we aren't going to win the world cup or the 6 Nations Grand slam, as much as we dream of doing so. For us, it's enough to occasionally beat England and not get the wooden spoon.

Although beating England has ceased to be an ambition, it has become an expectation. Out of the last six matches we have won 4, drawn one and lost one. And as contests, they neither lacked drama nor excitement.

You don't fall asleep due to boredom.

So perhaps it's time Scotland broadened their ambitions and there is one achievement that I hope for Scotland before I die. No, it's not to win the world cup, although that would be nice. It's to beat the All Blacks, for the first time ever. We first played them in 1905 and apart from a couple of draws, we have never beaten them. 

For those few who don't know, the All Blacks are Rugby Royalty. The most successful team in rugby history and like them or loath them, you have to respect them. 

Now England has beaten them. In the dim and distant even Wales has beaten them. Ireland in recent times has beaten them for breakfast. But Scotland hasn't. Not once.

The All Blacks say nice things before playing Scotland, but you just know they don't respect us, never mind fear us. And why should they?

Of course, if it was in the WC final that we beat them for the first time, it would be a month before I'd sober up. I'd probably die of happiness.

But the dream is silly, this is Scotland we're talking about.

So what has all this got to do with Parkinson's? Nothing, not a thing. But that's nice, life can't be all about Parkinson's. Or at least not only about Parkinson's.

It's can also be about beer, rugby and family and all these things can still be enjoyed.

Even watching Scotland - enjoy!