Gordon Reid is enjoying life as an international rugby player with Scotland but says he will never forget his roots and where he has come from.
Reid featured for the last three minutes during Scotland's 24-16 defeat to New Zealand at the weekend, but is hopeful of having more of a run out when the Dark Blues close out their autumn Test series against Tonga on Saturday.
The game will be played out on something of home soil - or home plastic - for the 27-year-old from Ayr, with Kilmarnock's Rugby Park set to host the first ever full international to be played on a synthetic pitch.
The loosehead prop, who became Scotland's 1055th international cap when he made his debut in the first match of the 2014 summer tour against the USA in Houston, is finding it hard to believe how quickly things have gone.
"I'm probably one of the weirdest guys to talk about these sort of things," said Reid as he reflected on the journey that has taken him from Ayr's Millbrae home to facing the All Blacks at Murrayfield.
Tear to my eye
"Everything goes through my head. Everything. Things like 'Never forget where you come from', or the boys who got me into this position or the old guys who helped me at the club.
"It just brings a tear to my eye because I think about it all the time. I've got too much time on my hands. That's just me. I don't know if anybody else does it.
"Before that game with the U.S., I was just sitting there thinking about different things. About the people who got me there. Not even just in rugby.
"I've had a load of different jobs which were all geared to helping my game. I've been a French polisher, a barman, a roofer, a joiner. I've even worked in B&Q because I thought it would help my game.
"I can't believe how quickly things have gone since my debut. It was only a few months ago that I was winning my first cap. I've got a few more but it has flown by since the summer. It's quite scary really.
"It's like a drug. I've never taken drugs but I'm itching to get another cap. When I was sitting on the bench on Saturday I was looking at the minutes go by, just desperate to get out there. I was looking up at Vern hoping he would put me
on. I almost gave him a wee wave and shouted 'Get me on'.
"It's just a huge honour playing for your country. How many people get the chance to play against the All Blacks - even if it's for three minutes. Not many at all."
Some players may have seen being thrown on for the final few gasps of a game already out of reach as a slap in the face. Not Reid.
"I was happy to get on," he insisted. "Although it was three minutes it was probably the best three minutes I have played.
"Now I'm looking forward to this weekend. I have been bombarded with text messages, Facebook messages and calls from people looking for tickets. I've had to tell them 'No chance, buddy'."
Reid says there is very little chance of his new-found international recognition going to his head.
"I love rugby. I'm all about it," he added. "I don't really like football. When the season is done I'm just sitting there bored.
"I don't really see myself being a big superstar. I will just go and watch any game because I love the game so much."