A bit of a ramble for Saturday

Need to do some catching up as Lawrence was devastated this morning - no news for since Thursday - just because I was busy last night.

Friday I was back in The Mercat, a bit late having nearly slept in , which is not like me and kept busy most of the day, once again with an assortment of visitors to the City from all parts of the Globe, San Francisco; where the bridge collapsed during the earthquake - France - from a small town near to basle - and in my absense Lawrence did a bit of translation and "parley vous'd" very well with the gentleman - who reminded me a bit of Hercule Poirot with his twiddly moustache. Foursome in from Acrington, Lancashire, who came back again today for more porridge and black pudding.

Lunchtime was also busy , and in between we were having the Bar videod by a professional photoghrapher so that the web site can be updated.

Eventually headed home, and with the sun out - spent a few HOURS tieing up the sweet peas which are shooting out the ground and their pots.

Quiet night with a couple of glasses of "The Glenrothes" Speyside, single malt whisky, very nice with just a small dash of water to open the bouquet.

Up early again this morning, miserable outside, dry and overcast with signs that we had had heavy rain overnight. Took the motor bike and as I headed up Lowrie's Den, which was like a long dark tunnel, with the dark green of the leaves, the canopy overhead cutting out the light and the very dark clouds above, it was really foreboding. So as I headed into town there was a massive dark black cloud moving westwards, and it reminded me of the sky in the movie , "Independence Day", really strange so I took the photo over George Watson's cricket ground, but at the same time, from another angle I had a nice shot of Craighouse, a magnificent building which was until recently a mental hospital, but is now part of the University Campus. We were at a wedding there a few years ago and the interior is beautiful, lovely staircases, ornate panelling and ceilings. Now used very successfully as a venue for weddings.

Into the bar, No Tramworking today at our doorstep which made a change.

Very busy for breakfast once more, but a new pair of hands on the job, Lorna, who used to work for us about three years ago has come back. Stag groups, and hen parties, all sorts to keep us going , and then around 11 a.m. I had Stacey and her Team in from Barnsley / Liverpool and parts for their breakfast - all enjoying themselves and hoping to make her weekend memorable. So we had Becky; Tamsin; Devinia; Stacey; Jodie; Clair; Christy; Sue; Lois; Jess; Jill and Julie - and hopefully they will be back in the morning to give me their gossip. She is getting married in a hotel in Thirsk , but one her friends is also getting married soon , in "The Hard Day's Night Hotel" , in Liverpool, and afterwards getting her photos taken in the streets around the cavern Club , a real Beatles fanatic.

From Ireland , we have just heard that CarolAnne and Dennis have been made redundant from their job at the greyhound kennels as their Boss has gone bust - not so good, but they seem confident that things will work out OK .

Headed homewards via the Bush where I had a wee chat to my Subaru specialist mannie - he is a real dab hand with them , and manged to get one of the sports cars up and running - depite being messed about by suppliers down south, so that car is heading south to race at Snetterton next weekend.

Home, and could not believe my ears, despite the fact that the Craigiebield Hotel has a massive function suite they are having bands outside in a marquee - what a bloody racket, the Police will have been inundated with complaints as you can hear it for miles - but it is apparently going to be stopped at 8 p.m. - IT HAD BETTER! When we did a similar thing a couple of years ago we were stopped within half an hour , and even the Summer Ball at the barracks was stopped for the same thing and the locals were even further away than we are.

So to drown out the noise I am listening to a composite CD of relaxing Classical music !! which nicely ties in with the story about the supermarket in Cove, Aberdeen, who were being pestered by gangs of youths - so they fitted a music system and blasted out classical music to chase them away. BUT - the kids actually liked the music and stared to ask for special requests and when it was turned off asked for it to be put back on -and they were serious.

Still no news about the missing Air France Plane - the plot thickens, do we have another Bermuda Triangle ? I realise the ocean is a ginormous place, but surely with all the so called modern spy technology, etc, they should be able to do something quicker than this.

I see Gordon Brown , our beloved PM is not taking too kindly to his back being stabbed - nice example of what goes round, comes round - however, despite losing all his red seats in England to the blue wig brigade, he has gained some in Scotland - much to the embarrassment of Mr Salmond.

Enough for the meantime.