I was flicking through the channels the other night and came across that old rabble rouser Braveheart.

"C'moan we'll watch it," said Tommy. I said, "Watch it? I've seen it so many times, I know the lines."

Funny how it 'gets' you right in the patriot heart. All those 'Freedom' cries are classic. Mel Gibson's portrayal of the 13th century Scottish hero William Wallace was released in 1995 and earned five Oscars including Best Director, Best Picture and Best Make-Up, presumably for all that blue face-paint.

Alright, we all know the history was a bit dodgy but the fundamentals were sound.

There was a William Wallace. There was an attempt to free Scotland and there was, most certainly, betrayal by the nobles who valued their lands and riches above Scotland's freedom.

Tommy and I couldn't help remarking on how we knew four actors in the film. David O'Hara, Peter Mullan, Sandy Nelson and wee Davy McKay all had parts in the film. The coincidence was that two of them went to Lourdes Secondary, the same school as Tommy and I. David O'Hara and I were in the same school production of Snow White. He played a gallous dwarf and I was Snow White of course.

Peter Mullan was also a former pupil and in fact filmed scenes in Lourdes Secondary school when he directed and starred in the award winning and critically acclaimed film he wrote called NEDS. What a coincidence that two guys from the same school go on to star in the same film and become internationally renowned actors and directors. Well done David and Peter. And Sandy and Davie. Freedom!

Cate Blanchett's dress

Talking of films and awards, all the fuss about actress Cate Blanchett's dress at the Cannes film festival fairly intrigued me. I say intrigued because I thought it looked more like a T in the park tent than a rumoured £40,000 designer dress! Behave yerself Cate. Somebody was surely having a laugh there.

I'll be donning a 'long goonie' when Tommy and I compare an awards ceremony next month for The Lourdes Theatre Group. They are having their very own version of the Oscars and have asked us to compere the proceedings. I'll be the smart and sophisticated one. Tommy can be Danny Devito. And the Oscar goes to…

Catch-up with my pal Katie

Last Friday, my pal Katie and I visited our old colleague Michael who owns and runs McPhabb's bar/restaurant near to Charing Cross. He had been insisting that we pop in and see him. He won't be doing that in a hurry again! What he had obviously forgotten was just how much work we were. Michael has a wonderful, welcoming, city centre establishment and is a funny, charismatic host but having to entertain two eccentric non-stop talking ex-BA hosties all day was enough to send him home to a darkened room to lie down and get over it.

MP Tristan Hunt

MP Tristan Hunt is a reported contender for the leadership battle for the Labour party. Big Tristan is a pleasant on the eye guy who is their Shadow Secretary for Education. He also has another job as a historian lecturer. Last year, the front-bencher crossed a picket-line of striking lecturers to deliver a lecture on...wait for it… a history module on Marx, Engels and the making of Marxism. You couldn't make it up! This is a senior figure in the Labour Party who should have postponed his lecture and joined the striking lecturers rather than cross a picket line. Possible leader of the Labour Party? The founding fathers must be turning in their graves.