Palace of Carrom Excellence

 

 

Salam alaykum

OG Jim has proposed an idea for a Palace of Carrom Excellence. His plan involves illegality but could work. Essentially, it involves squatting and setting up a carrom dojo in a vacant industrial unit in Partick just up the road from where he resides. He has provided no detail of who would run this dojo nor how mosaics and maintenance would be financed.

His inspirations for the idea include the mumbais who built the Maharashtra Carrom Association; The Renaissance, Sir Christopher Wren and his vision for St Paul's Cathedral and the architects and engineers who created the temple atop Wu Dan mountain.

The Blog reached out to The Elders.

SMC "I'm not relocating to an abandoned shed in Partick"

Jas Y "This can jog the fk on"

Bruce "Nope"

Paul McCole "Southside Carrom League - the clue is in the name."

John McManus "It'd be like 1948 at the creation of the state of Israel."

Despite the doubts of The Elders, Jim will, of course, be given platform at the SCL Cathcart Conference in September. Whether his proposal will sway members, delegates and, crucially, the RBOs (Registered Board Owners) is uncertain.

SCL Cathcart Conference - motions tabled

 

Vote for additional Elder
The Elders group may be increased from five to six, to represent diversity. Paul Shep has thrown his hat into the ring.

 

 

 

 

Green Energy
SMC's green board has proven to be a success, exhibiting glide and rebound 8% up on the norm. For an outlay of approx £120 for that board, Conference is asked to vote positively for affordable social boarding.

Stop The Boats
Two canoes drifted up the River Cart and banked close to Linen 1906.  Folk disembarked and hurried to the venue, strikers wet and eyes mental. While this was not an issue on that evening for the SCL or the Linen staff, the question rises: how many canoes can land at High Shawlands before it is too many canoes?

Fringe events at Conference
Viva Cuba, Strikers carried in resin cases represent bourgeois individulism, Women For Carrom, Just Stop Carrooka.

Summerboard 2023 review

 

 

They sing songs around campfires. Of Summerboard 2023. 

In a twelve hours marathon of conviviality at The Cabin, the SCL proved itself once again the standard-bearer of Scottish carrom.  

The Wood
The featured boards at the event were SMC's vintage wood (running nice after its recent silicone spray maintenance) and his Green Board and Paul McCole's A-R. Right out the gate, the Elders were purring. James brought the Carrooka Board too.

The Tarp
SMC had sorted out a huge blue tarp to protect the boards and players from the forecasted rain and lightning. Much respect to OG SMC who is now, officially, the SCL Health and Safety Officer. The Tarp worked a treat. Thank you OG SMC SCL HSO. Thanks also to OG Jim Muir who was unable to attend, but had beseeched Kama for halfway decent weather for the crew: his prayers and praises were heeded.

The Gear
Good clothes sported by the attendees. Excellent hats. SMC glided around the event in a light cotton mustard top which brought admiring glances from Bruce who himself had brought a contemporary Mod look to the mood. Paul McCole went bold in a daring combination of dark blue Adidas top and brown cords. Harry styled a dandy shirt. And, gosh - when James unzipped his tracky top to reveal his T-shirt emblazoned "Big Dianne" - well.. RIP Coco Chanel and Vivienne Westwood - we've got this from here on in.

The Singles Champion
SMC took the trophy. He'll tell you himself. When James plotted the match-ups and we saw that SMC (quoted at 3/1) was paired against tourney favourite Paul McCole in the first round, the whole crew sat up like meercats. Board-side seats were like gold dust. Paul kinda smirked when that match-up was announced. Well, the rest is history. All hail SB23 Singles Champion Stephen MCole.

SMC also triumphed in the Doubles Tourney but, to be honest, I was mangled by that point and can't remember who his partner was but I think it was Tommy.

The Sounds
Impeccable from noon to tea-time to night. SMC, after many gold mixes, nudged James to get on the kit in the evening. Groove continued. Thanks, both lads.

The Bonus Points
John and Harry and Tommy showed up bringing additional friendly vibes and good board style. Flagboy Paul's flags and banners festooned the arena. Good grub was provided by host SMC. James organised very cool trophies. And when **** * ended up totally fkd (having even asked the DJs if they "do requests"), he got looked after and cared for by the fellas. Gently persuaded to a sofa indoors, our man fell sound asleep and was resurrected in the morning with coffee and a bacon roll.

SCL

's how we do.

 

Best night out

 

 Salam Alaykum

 22 June at Linen.

Top class meet. The regulars, the curious and the hopeless sat, played and chatted demented stuff about DMT trips and women and the price of car insurance these days. Excellent friendly vibes from all involved. Good tunes too.

James Young expertly guided the play schedules which saw many fall to humble gutters while Paul McCole and Bruce Morton battered their way through the rounds to a thrilling finale which went right to the wire until the wee man stroked two exquisite deciding shots which saw him take the June trophy, roam around the venue talking to people he didn't know and then stagger down the road with memories which can hardly be counted in numbers nor chronicles.

The much anticipated match-up between McCole and Jim Muir was akin to a flat-tyre rolling into your kitchen and flopping to a stop when it bumped against your cat. McCole won. Posted an eight and a seven. And took the trophy. What scheduler James Young had described as The Group of Death turned out be The Group of Dismal Pish. Jim, to his credit, was sanguine.

T***** the Ukrainian  - who served years in the military as a sniper - has shown that he is probably better with a rifle than a striker. Fraser J is a dark horse. Given his day job as a masseur for dancers in Scottish Ballet there is little doubt that the man has hand and finger skills. And he bought a handsome board at the turn of this year. Given all that and his recent style, Jasbet puts Fraser as Evens to take the next Linen trophy.

Bonus at the meet was when OG Yati Mayor showed up, sporting a dandy shirt and exhibiting decent board style and his famous conviviality.  Also, wee Gillian showed up  - showing off her man Stu's sunburned face that led some to mutter that he has been volunteering in the still ongoing clean-up at Chernobyl.

At the end of the night, beaten finalist Bruce cautiously accepted Jim's invite to ride on the back seat of his electric bike to go doon the road. It was, said Bruce later, "thrilling and terrifying."

All in all, a fkn great meet. Good hearted disputes about rules, loud shouts about drops or misses, the board ambience high. Much love to y'all.

Pakistani Streetfood on Victoria Road is happy to stick a SCL poster in the shop. Kamrin who runs the joint is a connoisseur (albeit of the Pakistan version of the game), a super cool gent and content to have our signal displayed.

Respect, as ever, to James Y and Paul M for keeping the flag flying.

Hail. Mail. The postie's here.

 

 
Salam Alaykum

In tents; sleeping bags; camper vans, tin foil and cling film, revellers have been arriving on the streets of Rutherglen for the SCL Summerboard 2023 festival, staking their front row seats for the boutique carrom event of the year.

Reveller Lou Brown has travelled from Pollokshields to Rutherglen. "I've been revelling for years but this is a whole other level. I'm a huge fan of Paul McCole and to see him play live is a dream come true."

Liam Sweeney rowed from Oban with his wife Orla and one of their children to be at the event. "Paul McCole is the goat. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the short man get big. It'll be like seeing Gerry Adams in the flesh."

Fraser J and John McManus have pulled out of the event, citing overseas commitments and Palestine. Big Dianne was scheduled for a spoken word piece but contract talks for her appearance have stalled, pending investigation into a shag-on clause. 

Associate promoter Jacqueline Hennessy (director of popular Glasgow venues Left Bank, The Bungo and 13th Note) states that there is no mice problem at Summerboard and that all staff for the event will be paid appropriately and that talks with Unite are ongoing and positive. And says that there are definitely no mice and that hygiene will be thorough.

Merlin Stu's controversial application to be on the bill was accepted after he stood before the panel, ate a Rubik's Cube and vanished. Paul Shep is bringing some of his SCL artwork to the event: our man's banners and flags and colour gonna be flying!

Dependent on July 15th weather outlook, Morty may be sporting Mod gear (inc a legit Harrington jacket). Hopefully, the rest of the SCL will be properly attired. SMC reports that if weather is inclement, we can retreat indoors at the venue and set up undercover.

Which sounds about right.

Gantin'