Shoes Off!

A glorious day; blue skies after a week of rain and wind. Up to the City Chambers to see the team get on the open topped bus and off we set in our thousands, the walk up the High St and then down past the Castle to Haymarket. A replenishment of the beer supplies was called for at Haymarket - finest German wheat beers - and then the walk to White Park beside Tynecastle where we stood in the sun, listening to some of the hardcore who had camped out with flags and songs. A fine jovial atmosphere until the police arrived and decided that the fans should move back off the roadway (despite the roads being closed). Of course, there was some reluctance and a bit of banter so they brought along four horses and it began to get a bit uglier. They were just itching to try a bit of crowd control and practice their tactics. Luckily, the stadium started emptying (the official cup shenanigans had ended inside) and with the crowds filling the streets the plods had to beat the retreat. Bloody clowns.

Of course, we couldn't go straight home. Time for just a pint or three and a final singsong. Shoes off, if you've won the cup!