I too went by train to St James' Park to watch Scotland play, and my journey was almost an inversion of yours.
The Saturday before you, I came up from London on a train almost completely full of South African fans. Again, all the seats were booked, but not by me, and I spent the journey sitting on the floor.
When I arrived, I went to a pub instead of Chinatown, and may have forgotten to eat. But not to drink.
I didn't actually have a ticket for the game, but since I'd agreed to meet my new flat mate (who didn't have a ticket) and his girlfriend (who did) at the ground, I walked up anyway. We ended up buying, with some trepidation, tickets from a tout outside the ground. We ended up with great seats either side of the posts on the touchline.
I'm an old hand at the Stadium, from watching Newcastle, but wasn't used to a rugby crowd.
As the Proclaimers say (in The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues) "The day was bright and sunny, but the score I won't relay". I thought Scotland played well, but I was loftily informed by those who know better that we'd marched to the top of the hill and jumped off. Whatever.
I'm equally befuddled and gratified by this new sporting adventure. Going to the rugby isn't the same as going to the fitba. I don't get the rumbling excitement in the pit of my stomach (yet) but I also don't have to keep looking over my shoulder in case the police huckle me. Drinking at a game is a new experience. Drinking with the other side's fans is a completely new experience. Yes, I'm enjoying it.
If your Dad is 8 minutes walk closer to Summerhall, btw, that probably puts him equidistant 'tween me and thee.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2015-10-14 08:18 am (UTC)I too went by train to St James' Park to watch Scotland play, and my journey was almost an inversion of yours.
The Saturday before you, I came up from London on a train almost completely full of South African fans. Again, all the seats were booked, but not by me, and I spent the journey sitting on the floor.
When I arrived, I went to a pub instead of Chinatown, and may have forgotten to eat. But not to drink.
I didn't actually have a ticket for the game, but since I'd agreed to meet my new flat mate (who didn't have a ticket) and his girlfriend (who did) at the ground, I walked up anyway. We ended up buying, with some trepidation, tickets from a tout outside the ground. We ended up with great seats either side of the posts on the touchline.
I'm an old hand at the Stadium, from watching Newcastle, but wasn't used to a rugby crowd.
As the Proclaimers say (in The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues) "The day was bright and sunny, but the score I won't relay". I thought Scotland played well, but I was loftily informed by those who know better that we'd marched to the top of the hill and jumped off. Whatever.
I'm equally befuddled and gratified by this new sporting adventure. Going to the rugby isn't the same as going to the fitba. I don't get the rumbling excitement in the pit of my stomach (yet) but I also don't have to keep looking over my shoulder in case the police huckle me. Drinking at a game is a new experience. Drinking with the other side's fans is a completely new experience. Yes, I'm enjoying it.
If your Dad is 8 minutes walk closer to Summerhall, btw, that probably puts him equidistant 'tween me and thee.