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| View of Criffel from home, August 2009. |
Last Saturday we set out with the travel club buses
for Dunfermline, it was a lovely sunny morning and although there had been an overnight frost we were not concerned as there
is undersoil heating at East End Park. We had just arrived when the news came through that the game was off as the pitch was
frozen. Back home a little earlier than usual. The game was then rearranged for Tuesday night but as I was working I could
not go but what happened next was unacceptable, the travel club were up there again when the game was called off for a second
time at short notice after being assured that the match was safe. Dunfermline Athletic have made some real blunders over the
last few weeks and seem to be getting away with it !
No game this weekend as we are out of the cup,so Gordon Chisholm
has arranged a friendly at Palmerston against a Celtic X1.
The cold wintery spell of weather has now been with us
for a month, there is a thaw started here now but the ground is still pretty frozen under a blanket of snow. I have made the
most of the weather by getting Craig out at home for a few ski lessons and also having a day up at Glenshee last Friday when
conditions were excellent. I was also up Criffel in deep snow last week when my TLS snowshoes came in real handy.
Pictures
from both days are on my smugmug website.
On the football front tommorows game up at Dingwall v Ross County has
been called off this morning because of the weather and the state of the victoria park pitch. When we meet leaders Dundee
at Palmerston next Saturday it will be a full month we have gone without a competitive game. The good news this week is that
Manager Gordon Chisholm will be staying at Palmerston for the time being as the vacant Kilmarnock Managers position went to
Jimmy Calderwood.
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| Skiddaw viewed across the Solway from Criffel. |
We have went from heavy rain and severe flooding to lots of snow and ice, we have
had temperatures dropping as low as -16.7c in some parts of Scotland and there has been chaos on the roads.
Queens had
to postpone the home league game v Raith Rovers at Palmerston because of a frozen pitch
We have had 2 away league games
played, we won 2-1 at Greenock v Morton and on Boxing day came away from Firhill after a 2-2 draw with Partick Thistle. The
game at Palmerston on 2nd Jan must be in doubt already because of the continuing cold spell.
I managed a days snowboarding
down at Yad Moss near Alston and Craig has been having a few ski lessons at home as well as getting out on his sledge.
All 5 Scottish centres are up and running over the Xmas/New Year holiday period.
Welcome to my website.
On here will be pictures and reports from our trips, both summer and winter and news and reports on my football
team " Queen of the South".........and some other things we have been up to.
Down at Helshaw Grange stables where Nicky now
has a stable of around 15 Horses under his care at present. The new website is now up and running and looking good.
Check
out the link below.
nickyvaughanracing.com
Knocked out of the Scottish Cup before Xmas , thats twice in 2009 we have been
put out of this competition at the first attempt ! The game at Airdrie was as poor as I have seen Queens play in a very long
time and when they went 2-0 down they made no real effort to get back into it and suffered an embarrasing 4-0 loss. They had
to then get themselves sorted for the league visit from Dunfermline, the game rearranged due to the flooding the week before.
We played much better and had the right attitude in this game but despite taking the lead with a fine goal from Davie Weatherston
we found ourselves losing 2-1 to the Pars with ex Queens winger Willie Gibson netting the winner from the penalty spot. Some
poor refereeing cost us a point in my view.
On Saturday we got the chance to bounce back when Inverness Caley Thistle
were the visitors but this one ended 1-1. ICT lead at the interval despite Queens having the better of the game but a stunning
free kick from Bob Harris won us a point. This was a tough physical game with 3 players plus the ICT manager Terry Butcher
being sent off.
Next up is a trip to Greenock on Saturday to face Morton.
Rain,Rain and more Rain.....The last two weeks
have seen this region suffer from severe flooding. The River Nith has burst its banks onto the Whitesands and a lot of the
surrounding countryside has been covered in water with communities cut off,Greenhill,Heck and Hightae were particularly badly
hit.
The game at Palmerston on Saturday against Dunfermline was also called off and it has been rearranged for next Tuesday
night. This Saturday we hit the Scottish Cup trail once again with an unglamerous tie up at Airdrie.
On Guy Fawkes night we saw the arrival of Anya Elizabeth
Margaret McWilliam, a wee Sister for Craig. She arrived in the world at Cresswell Maternity Hospital,Dumfries at 15:12 weighing
in at 7lb 7oz.
On the football front Queens have had 3 wins and not conceded a goal since the game at Kirkcaldy.
We had a 3-0 home win over Airdrie then another home victory over Ross County (2-0) then on Saturday we went to Somerset park,Ayr
and a header from Derek Holmes gave us a 1-0 victory, this sets us up for a top of the table clash with Dundee at Dens park
next weekend.
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| The Terregles Street end v Rangers. |
Pictures from this years Wickerman Festival can be seen on
the link below.
My Wickerman 2009 Pictures.
Helvellyn pictures July 2009.
The SFL fixtures have now been released for season 2009/10. Queens start with a home game against last seasons
Div 2 Champions Raith Rovers. We have made some decent signings this summer and I am hopeful for a good season.
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