Saturday was eventful - and a long day

Now Sunday p.m. and trying to play catch up once more.

Saturday a.m., both off for once at the same time so it was off on the McEwans rattly bus, driven by Fergus, my ex scout leader, to the west end. Popped into Frasers to see the smelly girls, but Gillian of Guerulin was rushing off for breakfast so my lovely young lady at Clarins dabbed my eyes and then sent us off into the sunlight.

However we headed along to the Standing Order for a late breakfast and annoyed Archie @ The Pole Dancer, who had eventually arrived back at work after his holiday with Tracy and the children. Sorry to hear that Alan, his father in law had suffered a heart attack a couple of weeks ago - he even drove himself up to the hospital where he was admitted for treatment - keep recovering Alan.

Thought we might do something different so we headed for the National Gallery of Scotland at the Mound

Outside the Art Gallery there was the first signs of the free fringe, with a bloke doing circus tricks with a young couple. Very good. We took the chance to go into the Gallery (free admission) where there were some beautiful pictures on display, artists such as Peter Paul Reubens; Titan; Thomas Gainsborough; Nicholas Poussin; Paul Cezanne; William Mctaggart, and many others - very peaceful, tranquil and a nice way to chill out for an hour or so.

Outside the sun was shining, the East Princes Street Gardens were busy with tourists, nice backdrop with the Scott Monument and the Balmoral Hotel, whilst only yards away the tram lines were being laid and the new transport system was taking shape.
I had a wee thought to myself , "lets do a touristy thing - we must go on a City Tour in an open top bus" - WRONG - I discovered that the tour cost £12 each - which I thought was far too expensive - and will continue to say so. Not sure what we paid in Dublin a few weeks ago.

Up into the St Andrews Square where the various Scottish Banks have their headquarters, and the buildings, interiors, are really beautiful - well worth a look, especially the main hall of the Royal Bank of Scotland which has an incredible ceiling.

Took ourselves along to Jenners and spoke to the "smelly girls" there ( whose picture was on a few days ago), before going along to see Miss Talk a Lot @Ailsa, on duty at the Cafe Andaluza, which was very nice but as far as I was concerned, overpriced - but it was busy with all these folks eating little dishes of Tapas, everyman to his own.

So we crossed back over to the Standing Order again and managed to find a seat outside in the sun.

Shame that Edinburgh's other disgrace - the many beggars who seem to conveniently seat themselves outside pubs and beside "cashline" machines - total embarrassment, offer them work and they do not want to know !! Sad thing is that there are genuine cases, however, we have recently had cases where the "professional beggars" have been exposed by the media - coming through from Glasgow for the day and making a lot of money. I even watched a shopkeeper offer one bloke a job washing windows, but he refused and left the area.

So we started to chat to another couple, Colin and Janet, from Livingston -over for the day, and we talked, and (and talked)talked and talked, for the next five hours or so !!!! Lovely couple and we have arranged to meet them at The Mercat Bar in the near future.

In the meantime, on one of my trips to the bar, I bumped into a young Police Lady, WPC Stuart , from Whitburn, who had recently had a new baby, Morrin - congratulations. Pub was very busy with stag and hen parties, all colourful, dressed up as gorillas, pensioners, bright colours - all sorts, and we even met some of the young lads who had breakfast with us at The Mercat.

Eventually took the bus and headed for home, but the journey was very slow due to the masses of folks blocking the High Street area after the days events of the "Forthcoming Gathering" in Hollyrood Park.

Sadly our trip home was marred by the verbal rubbish being spouted by a couple of the local yobs on the bus - certainly not a good example or an advertisement for Scotland. Well worth a poke in the eye at least.

So, Sunday has been much quieter, busy morning in the pub, and have spent the last couple of hours packing a bag as we are off a.m. for a few days in the sun - so watch this space.