Monday 03.09.01 - Lift Off!!!
It was an early start for some, with the chore of lugging the kilts to the airport.  Passers-by were certainly curious of the 20+ rugby players changing into their kilts by the check in desks.  Some of the team struggled with the task, putting their kilts on back to front.  A group of the boys certainly impressed Sky TV and a check in attendant - True Scots!!
The flight to Moscow was something of an experience.  Some of us weren’t sure if the plane would last the journey.  We were also welcomed to the delights of the Russian cuisine.  Some of the boys enjoyed the in-flight movie.

Arrived in Moscow - welcomed by the smiling attendant at the passport check-in.  Did anyone actually get a smile out of her?  However, got some smiles as we left the airport in our kilts.  We were then taken to the hotel with a guided tour through the city by coach.  The city was impressive but still evidence of great poverty with impressive, ornate churches and mosques situated next to ruins.  We eventually reached our hotel, and after dinner and a team meeting MOST of us had an early night.

Tuesday 04.09.01 - Sightseeing Tour and the Comfortable Train Journey.
After an early night most of us felt refreshed and ready for a day of sightseeing.  However, others had still not emerged from their bed - John MacDonald!  Robbie Clarke was faced with the awful task of attempting to wake him, and facing the lifts.
We got the full tour of every church and mosque, and the impressive Red Square.
John MacDonald was having a good day - getting mugged for his ice lolly, to Clint’s great amusement.  The real Slim shady had a different approach of handling the little blighters!!  However, Slim did manage to nearly get himself arrested for a different offence at the Kremlin.  Soupy was certainly mastering the Russian language - scaring a few of us as he was nearly fluent after looking at a few shop signs!!
In the afternoon, we were taken to the station to face our 12 hour train journey.  Of course there was lots of room for all the team and the kit!  Both the toilet and the restaurant cart were slightly dubious.  Robbie Clarke and Ryan were not too wise, choosing to play drinking games with Soupy and John MacDonald!  They were both appallingly bad at it.

Wednesday 05.09.01 - Arrival
We eventually prized our way off the train at 7.30 am to be met by our friendly interpreters.  Kazan was bustling even at that time of the morning.  We were taken through the city by coach, passing the Central stadium, to be told that we would be there tomorrow for the opening ceremony with 20 000 spectators.  Yeah, right!?

Thursday 06.09.01 - The Shock of our Lives which we will Never Forget.
It was our first match day, facing Russia.  The crowd at stadium Lokomotiv was full of children who had been given the day off school.  The hard fought match was extremely physical but was an eventual victory to the Scots, which was surprisingly, to the delight of many of the crowd.
After signing autographs, we were whisked off by police escort, to the Central Stadium.  As usual the Scots were slightly late so were hurried in the back of the Stadium.  We certainly did not expect what happened next - walking out of the green tunnel into a  packed Stadium accompanied by a tremendous roar from the 16 000 + crowd.  It knocked most of us off our feet!  The Scots flourished in the attention, making a lap of honour after the ceremony, to the delight of the crowd.  Hundreds of children ran down to shake our hands.  We tried to watch the match between Ireland and Tartarstan but got slightly distracted by ours fans.
That night we were a spectacle out on the town, all the teams fighting their way to the nearest MacDonald’s.  We certainly drew a lot of attention especially with Pipes leading from the front.  Massive got slightly too enthusiastic when pipes started playing “When the Saints come marching in”.  The boys succeeded in drawing a lot of attention from the girls in the night club.

Friday 07.09.01 - Churches, churches, and more churches!
After facing the delights of our hotel breakfast - meatballs and pasta smothered in chives - we set off on yet another sightseeing tour.  After seeing a number of churches and mosques, we arrived at a church where a wedding was taking place.  The couple appeared slightly shocked by our presence but the reverend seemed to enjoy it, having a giggling fit!  After a guided tour from Kov that had us in stitches, we stocked up at the local supermarket - Happy buying a years supply of Pot Noodles after not eating for several days.
That evening, we had a little celebration for Gulia’s birthday.  She was slightly embarrassed, being made to wear a kilt.  Art and Adel looked even less impressed when they were made to wear them as well.  Rizzo, Jack, Pipes, and Adel disappeared to the Arena that evening for drinks.  Jack was extremely grateful for his little interpreter.

Saturday 08.09.01 - Hospitals Certainly Live up to their Reputation!
It was the second match day, Scotland facing New South Wales.  It was certainly eventful and extremely frustrating for the team who were beaten by the Australians.  However, the greatest worries were for Logan and Jim Noble who were both injured in the match.  They experienced a hair-raising ambulance ride.  Jim was fractionally worried by the cobbled corridors in the hospital. However, that was the least of his worries -  the smell of
vodka on the breath of his nurse, who displayed about three teeth gave him cause for concern!  Both were eventually allowed to leave; the threat of going under the knife scared Logan off.  Jim now possesses a wonderful souvenir of his experiences in a Russian hospital - a corrugated cardboard neck brace.
The rest of the boys enjoyed a cultural trip to the Arena. Jim bob’s chances were spoilt on the way home when the boys decided to copy the exotic dancers!

Sunday 09.09.01 - Recovery Day.
A late start was had by all.  The day was spent strolling through the city centre.  Some of us were taken aback by the picture of well dressed ladies walking through the streets.
Massive was receiving rather a lot of attention for his rather short shorts.  Happy was meanwhile trying to charm the ladies by buying them roses - smooth!  Jack failed to impress one young lady with his phrase book - where is Adel when you need him!? Others had been successful, spending the afternoon out on a date - Jim bob.

Monday 10.09.01 - Full Monty, Well Nearly!
We faced Wales on our third match day at the Stadium Rubin.  It was a disappointing game, losing to the Welsh but injury had certainly taken its toll.  Unfortunately, Logan had been flown home that morning which had upset Gulia a lot.
The disappointed team did not let this affect their performance at Arena - Pipes leading the way with ‘the flower of Scotland’.  Our opposition weren’t too impressed with us receiving the limelight.
It was an exhilarating taxi journey home for some of us.  Soupy, Clint and Kate thought they had done exceptionally well opting for the BMW, laughing at Al and co. facing a Lada journey home.  Who got the last laugh?  After half an hour of attempting to jack the car up in sinking mud, the taxi driver eventually decided that two rugby players help, lifting the car might be useful.  However, Clint, Kate and Soupy remained slightly concerned when the driver did not replace the breaking pads.
Simon - Shaving foam is all that needs to be said!

Tuesday 11.09.01 - Kev met his Long Lost Brother.
We all made the most of doing nothing.  After receiving the wrong information about the trip down the Volga, we managed to miss the boat.  However, we were compensated by visiting yet more mosques.  Kev was reunited with his long brother or father, which ever way you like to see it!
A quiet night was had by all preparing for the semi-final.

Wednesday 12.09.01 - Semi-Final Day.
A day that none of us will ever forget.  Such a close fought match that shocked the English who had not anticipated how tough the Scots would actually be.  An extra time drop goal brought devastation to the Scots who had certainly earned a place in the final.  However, it was not meant to be.  The crowd were amazing - full of banners for the Scots and they were assisted by the Irish, Welsh and Aussies singing  “Flower of Scotland” at the top of the voices throughout the match.
We made the most of the evening after a fining session - as usual Kev enjoyed his whisky immensely.

Thursday 13.09.01 - Walnuts!!
We were all taken on another tour.  However, this was a tour with a difference, visiting the famous Blue Lake.  We were all a bit sceptical about why it was blue.  However, it did bring quite a few laughs.  The boys couldn’t stop making admiring glances at the extremely attractive woman who was diving in the water in her sexy underwear!?  It was another chance for the boys to take their clothes off, all of which was caught on video. 
Shockers and co. got rather a shock from Cocker’s revealing; so did she!
After our little dip, we were taken to the University for dinner.  Most of us, for some unknown reason, were quite reluctant to drink the vodka that accompanied our meals.

Friday 14.09.01 - Veterans Victorious.
Early that morning Pipes and Kate made their appearance on breakfast TV (an average day at work!?).
The afternoon was spent at Stadium Lokomotiv, spectating the veterans match and the Great Britain match.  The veterans were victorious against the Tartarstan veterans - what do they expect with the likes of Slim, Butek, Rizzo, Kev, and Cockers, on the pitch.  Mind you there were about 16 of our players on the pitch at one point.
The rest of the day was spent relaxing in the hotel pool, chatting to the masses of fans, or being pummelled by the Russian masseuse.

Saturday 15.09.01 - The Mayor Loved Us!
An important day for us as we faced Wales again in the placing for third and fourth place.  Both teams put every ounce of energy into the match.  It was visible that both teams were so fatigued.  However, the Scots hung on for a well earned victory, securing third place in the European Championships and second place in the Home Nations.  We left the Stadium Lokomotiv, leaving many tearful fans waving goodbye.  Paddy, Massive, Simon, and Ryan broke a lot of hearts (to the rest of the team’s disgust!?!).
We were whisked off to the Central Stadium to watch the final and the closing ceremony.  England were victorious over Tartarstan.  Some of the crowd got a bit too involved when a fight broke out on the pitch!  We had all brought our drink supplies.  Of course, it was water to re-hydrate the bodies!
We were escorted on to the pitch for the closing ceremony and the mayor came round to greet all the teams.  Jack gave the mayor an extra special greeting which he certainly appreciated!  The drink had obviously got to Clint who had absolutely no clue why he was on the podium receiving an award but still loving the applause.  The Mayor’s speech seemed to concentrate a lot on the Scottish team - the team of the tournament.  It must have been Jack’s kiss.
After the ceremony, we attended a banquet.  Of course the Scots, the Mayor’s favourites, were at the head table with him.  Meanwhile, Shockers was being kidnapped by the opposition - not such a traumatic experience as he first thought, entertaining them with a few of his ballads.  What a night.  I think the memory is very hazy for most of us so I think you will have to fill in your own details!

Sunday 16.09.01 - Our Sorrowful Departure Day.
Most of the morning was spent packing and saying our good byes to the tearful fans outside the hotel.  A crowd had formed to wave the coach off, to the embarrassment of many of us.  We also said our good byes to the interpreters Gulia, Adel, Art, Alex, and Mina who had come to see us onto the train and thanked them for their help and hospitality.  The train set off on another 12 hour journey.  Some of us were feeling slightly the worse for wear, Tom Phillips.  We eventually arrived in Moscow the next morning and were taken straight to the airport.  Our last scenes of Russia were three children’s bare feet peeping out from a pile of clothes on the pavement.
Slight problems at the airport - all our luggage was too heavy.  Sam had the great initiative (?) of putting on as many layers of clothing as he could.  After squeezing his way through the passport check-in, he looked triumphant.
That look didn’t last when we eventually boarded the plane.   Mr Michelin was suffering from heat exhaustion.  It was an eventful flight home.  Some us were a bit concerned about the collapsing seats and the people who insisted on smoking.  However, we had not prepared ourselves for the landing.  Many of us thought that the plane would snap in half and vowed not to travel by Aeroflot again.  A loud applause was given on landing on
British soil!

This trip was an experience of a lifetime that we will never forget and still struggle to comprehend.  The two weeks will stay in our memories - the country’s culture, the matches that took place, and most of all the astonishing friendliness and hospitality we received.  Memories that we will always cherish.