Candidly, I hadn’t planned to continue the blog for this World Cup.

There was something rather satisfying, rather complete, about wrapping up the story after our adventures in Brazil, Russia, and Qatar. In my mind it was so “done” that I drew a line under it and actually printed the book of the blog : What! Scotland Didn’t Qualify? I’m currently accepting offers to make the film of the book of the blog.

It wasn’t published, you understand, and you won’t find it in your local bookstore or on Amazon. No, I simply finished it up and had a few copies printed for my own satisfaction and to share with friends—not least Dave, as it’s as much his story as mine.

Sadly the e–book file was too big to publish here but you can still get the blog by scrolling back in time on here. And if, inexplicably, anyone would like a hard copy of the actual book, let me know—although I’d have to charge for it. It’s not cheap to print a dozen books at a time.

No, I wasn’t going to continue the blog.

But then some of you kindly started asking if I would, saying how much you enjoyed it.

Thank you!

It’s never going to go viral—not least because I don’t put in the time and effort, nor do I possess the skills, to actively promote and grow it. But it’s nice to know that a few friends pay attention.

So, as the World Cup starts to appear over the horizon, I will once again put fingers to keyboard and b-log my observations of the carnival of nations at the greatest sporting event in the world.

However, I do feel terribly old-fashioned.

Does anyone b-log anymore?

No one has time to read a blog entry these days, let alone an entire book. Would I be better off doing a video log—a v-log—on TikTok, hoping to hold the audience’s attention for ten seconds at a time?

Maybe.

But I’ve always felt I have the perfect face for radio—or, in this case, for a blog. With my Scottishness, I’d be more akin to Rab C. Nesbitt than a social media influencer were I to start vlogging. (Google him, Americans!)

So, wrapping myself in a blanket of nostalgia, I’ll be continuing with the blog.

Surely, if you can give TikTok ten seconds, you can spare a minute for a blog entry. 😊