Scarcely a week goes by without me asking you to support Mary’s Meals. This year, every school day, over 5,000 kids in Malawi or Liberia ate a meal paid for by CQN’ers, or ate in a school kitchen built by the money you raised.
By now, you know as well as I do, the impact this has. School attendance increased by an average of 30% where these meals were provided, as kids don’t need to work for their food. They are educated, learning skills, which will provide life-long improvements in earning capacity and opportunities.
Being better nourished also makes them healthier; mortality rates will improve as fewer succumb to the afflictions of extreme poverty. All because you donated a few pounds here and there.
Alzheimer Scotland were in touch after you raised an incredible sum for them after we learned of Billy McNeill’s condition:
“Thank you so much for supporting the work of Alzheimer Scotland by raising £3264.37 through your BT MyDonate page “Celtic fans for Alzheimer Scotland”.
Dementia is a major health and social care challenge in Scotland and there are currently over 90,000 people with dementia, a number that is expected to double within the next 25 years.
Our work includes:
• Provide our network of Dementia Advisors across Scotland to support people with dementia, their families and carers and work with local communities to make them more dementia-friendly.
• Support funding Dementia Nurses post in every health board in Scotland to lead vital improvements in dementia care.
• Provide our freephone 24-hour Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000)
• Fund the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre in partnership with the University of Edinburgh
• Campaign for the rights of people with dementia
Best wishes and thank you again for your fundraising support we really do appreciate it.
Gillian Dimmock, Fundraising Support Officer.”
For 13 years we have held the CQN Charity Golf Day in Aberdour, the summer focus of our fundraising. This year, CelticRollerCoaster wrote on behalf of the Walk with Shay campaign, who received £1300 from the CQN Golf Day. Shay (4) suffers from Cerebral Palsy and will need help, not available on the NHS, to sit, walk and lead as normal a life as most of us take for granted:
“Thank you for the fantastic £1300 raised at the CQN Golf Day and for the thousands more CQN’ers contributed to Walk for Shay throughout the year. The great news is that Shay’s development has really benefited. The impact you have made on one small boy is incalculable.”
After receiving a donation from the Golf Day, The Celtic FC Foundation wrote:
“Thank you so much for the wonderful donation of £1,100.00 which has been allocated to our 2017 Christmas Appeal.
“The Appeal reflects the very heart of the Club’s charitable and humble beginnings as it aims to follow in the footsteps of Brother Walfrid, providing comfort to those on our doorstep.
“This year, we want to help around 300 local families facing poverty, to provide a meal on the table and gifts for the kids. We want to bring the magic of Christmas to those homes. We are also looking to help vulnerable local pensioners to ease the financial burden at a challenging time of year plus a number of other local charities who support those experiencing homelessness or other disadvantage.
“The generosity and compassion of the Celtic Family is unique and unsurpassed and CQN’s gesture is a perfect example of that.
“Please pass on our thanks for Sharing the Spirit of Celtic this Christmas to all those involved.”
The Celtic FC Foundation is now an integral part of being a Celtic supporter. You did not just contribute at the Golf Day, on dozens of occasions throughout the year, you answered the call to get involved. Last week, we learned it wasn’t just 300 families who benefited from the Spirit of Celtic, Christmas campaign:
435 families in Glasgow and Lanarkshire in poverty and hardship were assisted. Aid also went to vulnerable pensioners in the city, hundreds of our homeless, vulnerable women and men, while gifts were given to the chronically sick children in our community. The Foundation reached those in need in London, Ireland and as far as Canada.
Being able to invest the emotional energy into supporting a football team is more than many in our communities can manage, as all their energies go towards survival. But this is how the Celtic Story began, among the destitute and hungry. How lucky we are to be anchored to this football club, to these values.
You did all of this and more in 2017. It is humbling to see so many great people do so much, so often. You are a constant inspiration. Thank you.
Have a peaceful and loving Christmas.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW! CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic authors, Stephen Sullivan and Stevie Murray for a special festive episode – Christmas Jumpers for Goal-Posts.
Stephen Sullivan is a former Celtic View reporter who wrote the much-lauded Sean Fallon biography, ‘Iron Man’. He is now the editor of FIFA.com.
Stevie Murray has now written two books on Celtic – ‘Ten Men Won The League’ and ‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – and he is a respected and authoritative voice on the club.
Treat yourself to a signed copy of Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and you will receive a copy of That Season on Paradise signed by Bertie Auld, just order the Jim Craig book at CQNbookstore.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
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PHILBHOY. that was the meeting place when i was a kid. my late mother used to love fountain cafe .dont start me crying again such happy memories of times gone by.hh.
Philbhoy
The Fountain Bar is my childhood
Plus our supporters bus was brilliant but they now leave from the Columba Club fae up the street
Evening all
Hope each and everyone of you has a blessed festive period that carries on through 2018, those of you who are going through trying times may you be granted the Grace to cope with it.
Just had my two daughters and my two Grandsons round my Christmas has come early.
Tontime Tim
I was going to say that that was a good point……then I had a wee check. Scotland , it would seem , still celebrates Christmas grudgingly .
I don`t think Glasgow is like that but it looks like many other areas of Fair Caledonia remain somewhat Puritanical in their outlook.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
PS MiT
Thanks again for your legal input re King`s appeal prospects.
GFTB
The Columba Club will do fine for the HOOT as long as they sell, err…..beer!
BMCUWP will know where that is!
Have a great Christmas and New Year!
BIG PACKY
Cyber hug to you!
Take care!
Hi Bhoys and Ghirls,
like many of you I always find this special time of year a period of reflection and Paul’s article today reminded me about the good this place brings to so many. Well done to all concerned. I’d probably be classed as a lurker nowadays due to a variety of circumstances but I do keep up to date with what is happening. It appears we have had a very difficult year in our personal lives and as ever CQN and Celtic Football Club provide consolation, relief and much need enjoyment. I’ve never re-posted before but this is to provide some humour and hope to those in need of it. Don’t be afraid of the dark:
“Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss”
It was even louder than that. This was the ‘heart ward’ as it was known in ‘The Monklands’ and this was the quiet hour when you rested after the so called lunch and awaited the Russian roulette of visiting hour…let it be somebody good!
More importantly Stephen McManus had just scored an extremely late winner to snatch a 2-3 victory for Celtic at Tynecastle in a cracker of a match that we looked like losing until the last few minutes. I could hear her feet coming along the silent corridor and the rhythm appeared to be in triple time. There was four of us in the ward: two auld fellas were still sound asleep despite my best attempts at waking ‘the dead;’ Rab the bluenose from Bellshill was sitting bolt upright just shaking his head at me and mouthing ‘jammy bastards’.
I regressed to childhood and feigned sleep however I could smell her ward Sister calvinistic efficiency standing over me.
“Your heart rate is through the roof” she mouthed disapprovingly. I’d forgotten about the Telemetry device I had to wear that was constantly feeding back my surf like heart waves to the Nurses’ station.
“Doctor will be here shortly.” Her clipped tones confirmed my suspicions-a crabbit bluenose!
“You better hide that radio.” She wasn’t all bad as there was a few games coming up and confiscation could necessitate the need for an escape plan.
“I take it your team won? Jammy as ever.” That’s what Bluenose Rab said I thought. He was still sitting bolt upright shaking his head and mouthing sectarian obscenities but as it was in the context of the match and I had more to worry about, I let it go. Rab wasn’t looking that good though and Sister’s attention was drawn to him for a precious few minutes as I wanted to hear the after match chat on the radio and enjoy our dramatic win.
The Doctor gave me a mild rebuke but reiterated when it was rest time, that’s what I had to do. I told him that I’d be far more agitated not knowing what was happening and the radio helped. He sympathised but then said the immortal words: “Do you want Celtic to be the death of you?”
It was a rhetorical question but in my racing mind I was now going through a catalogue of incredible Celtic highs and lows that may have answered his question on more than one occasion.
“Good chance they will be,” I mumbled…
Rab was now fast asleep after his scare and it appeared to me that he’d come off the worst after the late winner for Celtic. He was one of my longest companions in the ward and was good company. He had a warmth to him that led me to say during one of those never ending days that, “You could be a Tim.” He couldn’t stop laughing especially as I backed it up with the age old and still very apt retort, “But you’re not handsome enough.” With tears in his eyes from the laughter he asked, “would I need to give up the baun’?”
He had previously regaled me with tales of the Bellshill Baun’ and his role as a dummy flautist. This was comedy gold but he couldn’t see what I was laughing it. I imagined a book: ’Marching for Dummies.’ I felt this was oxymoronic perfection. Dummy drummers, dummy twirlers, dummy speakers…the list was endless. He even said most of his baun’ were dummies. That nearly ended me. Mischievously I enjoyed this guided tour of Bellshill ignorance and bigotry but I bonded with the guy in medically challenging circumstances and it was good for killing a couple of hours.
I’d been in the ward since Boxing day and watched everyone else around me come and go. The two old boys left on the Monday after the Hearts game and Rab and I looked forward to getting to know the next two inmates. Some guys were talkative and others-I understood why-were insular and tried to keep themselves to themselves. Difficult that in a room with 4 beds and very little privacy but you had to respect their wishes. Disastrously the bold Rab was released on the next Friday…I should change that to miraculously as this was the Friday before the Clyde cup game and that wouldn’t have ended well for either of us. I just hope he didn’t celebrate too much…
Once again I tried the old radio under the covers with one ear-phone in but I got rumbled early doors. My old friend the telemetry monitor and two early disallowed goals for Clyde ensured it was lights out for the remainder of the game. I struggled to sleep but eventually managed it albeit a very fitful repose. I must have sub-consciously known that a football catastrophe was occurring in Cumbernauld. The choirmaster’s team were convincing winners against a star-studded Celtic side with Keane, Hartson and even Du Wei in its ranks. I was gently awoken by a Celtic friendly nurse and I’ll never forget the look on her face; ignoring all heart issues and my current setting I asked, “Did we draw with Clyde?”
She never answered but the look said it all and I thanked God for one small mercy that Rab wasn’t here. The two new guys who apparently supported Airdrie-well they had the day before-were delighted for the small club and Scottish football as a whole. Aye right or Aye Ready springs to mind. I wanted to dig a hole to escape.
I hit the jackpot with visitors roulette as a posse from the Supporters bus came to see me. It was cathartic and I appeared to be consoling them far more than anything they were giving me. The three to the bed rule was smashed as this was an emergency and the crabbit bluenose Sister was off the weekend, no doubt toasting Clyde’s triumph as a smile cracked across her formidable coupon. The Bhoys and Ghirl from the bus seemed to replay the full match in front of me and all I could really ascertain was that Du Wei was crap; Keane was crap and Clyde deserved to win. Oh and Graeme Roberts is a…I’ll leave that there for common decency as they were awfy het up.
January came and went as did my various temporary companions in my ward. It appeared that I had heart failure and this was a lot worse than the heart attack boys who were turned around in about a week and released back into the community promising salad was the way ahead. The outlook was grim but I truly didn’t grasp the enormity of the situation until I was moved to the Transplant Unit in the Royal and I met the surgeon who would ultimately save my life…the very next morning.
Prior to the excellent Jubilee Hospital ward 67 was a nirvana for Scottish heart failure patients (although my new mate was from Australia on work experience). Again my Celtic DNA kicked in and the number 67 was sure to prove lucky. My room was amazing, a penthouse in the Royal infirmary with two sides totally glass. Straight ahead from my bed was the East-End and I could see the tops of the Celtic Park stands. Fantastic. To my right was the Eastern necropolis, Glasgow Cathedral, Drygate and the Barrowlands. What a location to die!
The Surgeon and I looked over the east-end late on the Monday evening as he tried to improve upon the intelligence gleaned from my Monkland notes. He admitted despite the numerous weeks in hospital he still wasn’t sure what was wrong. He was going to watch me closely and I declared for the first time my fears and my desire to take my son to a cup final. The big guy was into sailing and rugby and as I probed him further it turned out he was telling the truth. I had a multitude of cards/souvenirs from the Monklands and he commented on these. At 1130pm at night overlooking the Necropolis with a heart surgeon I felt he had to know where I came from. He was still into sailing and rugby so I trusted him; he listened to me wax lyrical about Celtic and acknowledged my passion. We hit it off. Sleep came easy for the first time in months.
There were only 5 rooms in Ward 67 and we all had our own dedicated nurse. I felt invigorated on day one and pushed for a shower on day 2. Happy days.
As I left the shower room around 20 yards from my room…
That’s all I remember. My hero was on the ward and operated on me as I hit the deck. A cut to the groin, a pacing wire and several thumps to the chest brought this Tim back into the game, Some man. He had his answers though and I couldn’t have been in better hands.
By this time the season had marched on and the unrealistic goals that I had set myself had come and gone. Nightly I’d debate with John Knox out of my right window as I glorified in the Celtic Park Stands straight ahead. Knoxy wasn’t for listening but the green on the Cathedral roof cheered me up as did the flashing lights from the Gallowgate and the deer in the Necropolis at 6am in the morning.
As the season progressed it looked like we were on for a League and League cup double. The League cup final was my aim to take my Bhoy-his first Celtic cup final-but it was not to be. However his uncle (Lymmbhoy) and my cousin Tony ensured the wee mhan had a day to remember. He visited the ward that night bedecked in a scarf and flag and oh how the tears flowed.
Mr Surgeon worked wonders with me and after several procedures a transplant looked less likely and I was taken off the list. The final procedure was a cardiac ablation and I was informed this would be exceptionally painful’ and you would be awake. My new aim was to witness Celtic winning the league and to celebrate with my family. In Surgery the big fella informed me that I could not be knocked out due to the volatile nature of my viral dilated heart but they would provide pain relief and music provided by the Surgeon. I tried to laugh. He told me the pain would come in waves lasting 45s of intense pain and 15s of relief over a period of 35-40mns. I asked about the music…
I was sedated.
It was agony.
The first song, ‘You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul’
I smiled. Bring it on…
5/4/2006
I made it to the Championship winning game and my defib didn’t activate. I’ll never take Celtic or family or life for granted again.
Well done the Surgeon for his skill and his music…although I have a couple of musical suggestions!
YNWA
WeetWeetWeetCSC
Auldheid
” I saw Tony Green, who was a Mungo boy and went on to play for Newcastle and Scotland ”
I was at St Mungo`s at the same time as Tony but while I was at Duke St and Parson St, Tony, I think , was at Rigby St. nevertheless, there were occasions when we played as one St Mungo so I had the opportunity to play with this very talented footballer.
Anyway, the point of all this is that, whilst on a September Weekend trip, I went to see him play for Blackpool but I have obviously forgotten his Newcastle connection.
JJ
Please give your answers to this question on Monkey media
Who would you rather have running us? 1 2 3 4
By Bad Robot, 6 hours ago
Mike and Bernie Winters
Big Packy
:-)
No grumpiness in this household these days, happy days indeed
Fellow Cqners, lurkers and even the Sevs who look in too see how good life really is ….. God bless and I wish every one a terrific 2018…. we live in beautiful Celtic times, for some who are going through sad times get on here and a problem shared is better than a problem not shared
Take care & God bless ….
Hope you all have a magic Christmas
PHILBHOY. cyberhug to you god bless.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG. likewise hail hail.
Wayside CSC
Roy Croppie
Good to read your stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1s9l9R0EJE
James
Tomorrow
Glasgow’sgreenandwhiteCSC
GFTB
God bless pal
HH
ROR CROPPIE-funny,sad and magic:-))
roy croppie
Thank you for that post and for being you. HH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzZcmQ2byc
Rock n Roll Star
Oasis
BrendanRodgersherefor10inarowCSC
ROR??? ROY Obviously:-))
It’s the hope that kills them :))))))))))))
“That something more is going on.
Its been posted on here and elsewhere and seemingly mentioned on Scoreboard (don’t laugh) that there might be some other investment being made sometime in the New Year.
It seems strange that the board handed the job to Murty at this time, they didn’t need to, it’s as though they just want to tread water until something comes along later in the season, new investors might want their own management, so it would make sense for the present board to sit on their hands.
Probably all s***e but we have to have something to give us hope, because the present lot will have us on suicide watch before long if things don’t improve”.
Cheers troops, means a lot.
HH
HOT SMOKED on 24TH DECEMBER 2017 7:45 PM
Tontime Tim
I was going to say that that was a good point……then I had a wee check. Scotland , it would seem , still celebrates Christmas grudgingly .
I don`t think Glasgow is like that but it looks like many other areas of Fair Caledonia remain somewhat Puritanical in their outlook.
*This is my 43rd Christmas over here and they do a good job of it with lights and trees everywhere, however, one of my favourite memories was when I attended at Stow College which was only for 1 term, that year George Square as usual was brilliant and we would wander after classes down tae Argyle Street, all the shops, Lewis’s, C&A, Arnott and Simpsons etc all lit up. As Barbra would say “memories in the corners of my mind”.
Roy C
I will be up at St Joseph’s on the 2nd of January ….. easily the best graveyard I have ever visited
I used to ask my mum why my dad was up there…. only graveyard that was blessed, my mum is now beside my dad am gutted as there is only one other space in the plot and my big oldest sister has first dibs as she paid for the plot :-)
BBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 24TH DECEMBER 2017 6:38 PM
TURKEYBHOY
Sadly,I don’t think it is. Yes,it’s much improved,but we still come from one very sectarian village.
Its mibbe only when we leave that village that we realise how sectarian it is. But being away from it for half a lifetime ,that’s no excuse to forget what it i
I have to disagree.Its only a small village if you want to stay there.In my group of friends,all bitter Tims,one is head of the SSEB,one is Fire Chief for Glasgow North,one is,Head of Ambulance services GlasgowAnother is head engineer of the biggest builders in Glasgow,John Laings.We have people all over the district councils,so many in Parliament,c,mon,how good has it ever been.And will only get better.
Not long in from dinner with my stepdaughter,son in law and two granddaughters.There all coming to ours for dinner tomorrow along with my stepson and grandson.Hated Christmas for a long time,now I love it:-)))
ROY CROPPIE
CQN AT ITS VERY, VERY BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you and take care and God bless!!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRolDxkW4AE0lsW.jpg
Leigh’s just tied a scarf to ‘Oul Lizzie’s’ portrait
CalvinistclownsCSC
HOT SMOKED
I knew Tony well!
We were alter bhoys at St Mungo’s Garthamlock!
We also ran onto the park at Kirkcaldy and touched FRANK HAFFEY after a Scottish cup tie around 1961.
(My memory is pish)
He shoulda bin a Celt!!!
Gerryfaethebrig
There’s room in mine mhate…CQN ETERNAL!
Phil
thank you YNWA
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRokHgIW4AEBR98.jpg
Aqua Bhoy
olelawwellcuttingcostsCSC
Well,Mrs TB,is moaning at me to get ready for Midnight Mass at Marys House.I have heard the road up the mountain is very bad with the cold.I tried to make that excuse,but not having it.”Drive slowly,when you get to the bad bits”.Never seen so much belief from a Presbyterian.8,20 here at the moment,so a wee drink,and a wee bite,and we are off.
God Bless to all.
Fairhill Bhoy
My good lady loves Christmas she works all year to make sure Christmas is as good as it can be, I totally appreciate it these days and realise how lucky we are
Roy C
I might take you up on that offer :-)
FAIRHILL BHOY on 24TH DECEMBER 2017 8:12 PM
Not long in from dinner with my stepdaughter,son in law and two granddaughters.There all coming to ours for dinner tomorrow along with my stepson and grandson.Hated Christmas for a long time,now I love it:-)))
Very merry Christmas to you and family.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRzNxNlX4AArRzu.jpg
Wispy
HH
HAMILTONTIM
Roy Croppie has just posted a wonderful story about his time in hospital!
CQN at its very, very, best.
It made me think about the last post that moved me so much.
You posted once in the middle of the night, if my memory serves me, about your lovely family, about 6 or 7 years ago!
If you ever feel like it, please post it again.
That one was the very best, ever, of CQN!
Hope you and your lovely Minx have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
TURKEYBHOY-you do what your told and drive safely,I mean who else will I argue with next year:-))
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRzGhFeX0AE6z3m.jpg
Big Shot showing off his ball control
HH
GFTB-my wife just calls me ba humbug,but the last few years have been good again,and I appreciate what I have.Hope the wee yin has you up at 5 tomorrow:-)))