Recalcitrant Camels

‘Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.’ - Vincent Van Gogh 1853-1890, Dutch Painter. No right ear.

Firstly Men, let us get the formalities out of the road. Happy New Year to all the regular ‘Friday Harangue’ readers.

Now men, lets get down to business....ITS ON!

After many a week where our even our great game, Rugby Union, has succumbed to the severe inclemency, tomorrow marks the first chance of this new year for the troops in Blue and Green to don the famous jersey and put best foot forward towards the field for a promising encounter of Braun and brain. This is how we like it.

No longer does time permit us to look back at what has gone before but rather, there can be no comfort. We must steel our spines and send a signal that is as inspiring to the man on your right as it should be frightening to our foes.
We are in the preliminary stages of one of the greatest battles in history which will see us in action in many green, and at times brown, fields all over Scotland. As friends, flat mates and confidants we will walk this road together. Whether creeper, player or former tourist, I ask you all not stand on ceremony. This is the time to inspire. I do not think it would be wise at this moment, while the battle rages and Chronos is in his infancy, to embark on elaborate speculations about the future shape of our dear club. We are still at the foot of the mountain; we have not yet reached the summit; we cannot survey the landscape or even imagine what its condition will be when that longed-for Sunday morning comes. The task which lies before us immediately is at once more practical, more testing and more stern. This group of Men have to deliver the victory. That is our detail.

There shall be no team update this week. We shall not pick out individuals, men laid out on the physio's table, men returned to the Land of the long white cloud or any new recruits. We have 18 young, spirited and primed Men. This shall be enough.

Padre Dunlop is still showing signs of the Courvoisier V.S. in the Christmas pudding and Assistant Adjutant General Shambilton need not look for that cleft-stick.

The Regiment for tomorrow’s game against Aberdeenshire at Woodside, 2pm kick-off, is as follows: 


15 D ‘The Stag‘ Whyte

14 S ‘Monk of Great Renown’ Murray

13 M ‘Compensating Double’ Horner

12 D ‘Morcambe’ Hoffman

11 R ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love
10 J ‘Fenchurch’ Shannon
9 A ‘Bike‘ Shedden

1 A ‘Magnificent’ Forbes
2 G ‘Still Single’ Reid

3 T ‘Doughnut’ Horton

4 A ‘Growing Support in Burniston’ Drummond

5 H ‘Race you to the next Lampost’ Parker

6 E ‘Wise’ Thow

7 M ‘XXXX’ Borthwick
8 R ‘Swedish Cross Country Skier’ McCormack



16 C ‘Cherry’ Garcia

17 A ‘e.e.’ Cummings

18 M ‘Was sick outside a horse arena’ Aird
[Apologies no C.McLay this week due to dissertation]

The theme for this week is Heroes and Villains.

Genuine best wishes and a thick slice of Dundee cake to all Anniesland teams this weekend.

Yours as always, running towards the gunfire in front row union, ball in hand and making ground, with a Samoan sidestep, handoff and correct presentation. Never beaten, its best Mizuno boot forward and onto the second phase. With thoughts of Ralgex jerseys and opportunities with armpit hair. Crouch. Touch. Pause. Engage. Heart in the fire. Head in the Icebox. Always look to the left in a photograph, mon frere. Take one for the columbarium-fanciers. Thames Rowing Club. Like the leader of a buffalo stampede.

Disco [Cpt.]


Supporting Note: Major Ken Cowan is on special ops in that oven-hot, ant-hill-dotted, thorn-bush-flecked territory, with Beau Geste to the west.

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This article was posted on 22-Jan-2010, 08:01 by Hugh Barrow.