The logistics surrounding this match were quite special and at times difficult to arrange due to the importance of the date rather than the match. Attending this fixture all depended on ICT beating lowly Alloa in the second round of the CIS Cup (Things didn�t look at first as ICT went a goal behind but won quite convincingly in the end by 6-1) I then had to rely on the luck of the draw and kept everything crossed for a home draw.
The significance of the date was, quite simply, the occasion of our 25th wedding anniversary and a trip to Scotland, especially to Inverness was always on the cards and to be able to take in a football match on the very day would be just perfect. Mrs G and me spent some time in Scotland during our honeymoon all those years ago and it would have fitting to return again.
The Gods must have been smiling on us during the match against Alloa and the following third round draw.
So, with all �if�s� �but�s� and �maybe�s� out of the way I got started on planning the trip up. Now, Mrs G knows me perfectly well enough not to go to Inverness for this occasion so I arranged a wee surprise in our travel arrangements. Over the past couple of years we�d been travelling up by air using the Flybe budget airline from Birmingham International airport to Glasgow or Edinburgh (whichever was the cheaper � tight git that I am!) and she was expecting the same. I kidded her on that I could not get a suitable flight on this occasion as the prices went through the roof for such a late booking � the lateness being a result of awaiting the outcome of the draw. She was then informed that we�d have go by rail and suffer the wretched new smelly and uncomfortable Virgin Train up to Edinburgh and change there for Inverness. This wasn�t so bad on her as she was really looking forward to heading �home� and didn�t really care how we got there.
We left the house early on the day and headed for the local station without any great hitch for the first leg of the journey to Birmingham New Street station. Upon our arrival I thought my plan had been scuppered when the PA system was announcing a train for Edinburgh which was leaving in a couple of minutes and I made no rush to catch. I thought, shit, what�ll I do now? But my quick thinking mind reacted by saying �Oh we�re not booked on that one, we�re catching the 0930 � we�ve got seats booked on it� Phew! Whether there was a 0930 I don�t know but it didn�t matter as it put her of the scent of my cunning plan. I perused the departure board for the platform of my (our) intended train � the 0907 service to Plymouth. Yes, that�s right Plymouth.
Standing on the platform Mrs G was starting to look puzzled and asked,
�Why are we going to Plymouth?�
�We�re not� I said, �We�re going to Bristol�.
�Oh, right, - are we getting the train from there to Edinburgh then?�
�No � we�re getting the bus�
�BUS?�
�Yes, the bus�
�Why are we getting a bus?�
�Because it�s cheaper than a taxi�
I could see the puzzling looks beginning to turn to anger so I decided now was the time to come clean and prevent a visit to Birmingham�s A&E department.
�We�re getting the bus from Temple Meads station to Bristol, where our EasyJet flight direct to Inverness would be waiting on the tarmac�
With that news I was chased around platform 9 whist being hit over the head by a free, rolled up, copy of the Metro newspaper much to the amusement of our fellow travellers. Her look of anger turned to tears of joy at the surprise and hugs ensued. Aah!
We reached Bristol bang on time and had to endure at 10 min minute wait for the bus conection out to Bristol airport, The journey was painfully slo as it negotiated the congested streets of Bristol but it did eventually get ust o the airport in plenty of time for the flight. This was the first time I�d flown with Easy Jet and was well aware of the likely for dotting the �I�s� and crossing the �T�s� so far as their on-line booking is concerned. I�d seen so many folk be disappointed at the check in because they�d missed some kind of detal off their booking, however, I�m pleased to say we had no such problems.
The flight was bang on time and we arrived in Inverness at around 1330.
I�d told Mrs G that we�d have to get a bus from the airport to our B&B as our host was not available to pick us up. This too was a white lie � he was waiting for at the main door. More tears ensused.
The day went perfect in all aspects and even the boys on the park did the business by beating Dundee Utd 2-0. The other surprise for Mrs G was a wee article in the match day programme. I�d informed Brian Munro (Programme Editor) of our special day and a few words were printed.
