Getting a bit forgetful !!

Now Sunday a.m. and I am struggling, looking out at the snow, to try and remember what happened on Saturday.

Weather was fine but my plans were scuppered when I had to get organised early and do a swift run into town , so having changed for my afternoon meeting I just took a run round by Bonnyrigg where I went to see Grant @ Photogenix and get some of the previous nights pictures printed off. His misses had a sore one when a set of French boules fell off a shelf while she was in a cupboard, landed on the top of her head and knocked her out cold. Fortunately she is now recovering - but as Grant said, you could not miss her for a couple of days - she had a bag of frozen peas on top of a bump the size of a policeman's helmet!"!

From Grant I nipped into the lounge bar at 720, where some of the chaps were attempting to recover from the previous evenings dinner!!

On over to Newbattle for a meeting of the Preceptory of St Bernard De Clairveaux, their annual installation followed by a lecture on the battle of Rosslyn which took place on 23rd February 1303, not far from here and where nearly many thousands of English soldiers were killed and left in the fields. one of the local fields is still known as Shinbone field after hundreds of bones were ploughed up at the turn of the Century. It was only recently that a memorial was set up on the site.
By the time I left for home the first wave of snow had fallen so the roads were a bit dicy.

Home, fed, nice bit of salmon with a beautiful sauce which Claire had sent out for us, then changed and into The Mercat, supposedly to work !! - but after a chat to Graham , Sir Christopher, Claire and Jamie , when I was given all the jobs that need doing I headed home and got my feet up.

At this precise moment in time there is a total whiteout , outside , so I am hoping it clears in time for me to head to Musselburgh where i am supposed to be going out for lunch with the Staff from the Sportsmans.

Got home early

Much to everyones surprise I arrived home early , about 11.40 p.m. having come up the road on the bus - I did describe it as a cattle float but that would be an an insult to cattle who are better behaved and have bigger brains than the are--oles who were on the bus. Even earlier I had to take to task youngsters who were trying to vandalise the bus shelter when I was going to Bonnyrigg.

Apart from that , we had an exciting day, playing at "asian shop keepers" as there were bargains galore at the cash and carry who were clearing out old stock. Seems that the word got out yesterday and they came in their droves for the bargains. Ann and I were there twice, in between I had to clear a choked toilet in the ladies loo- but fortunately did not start to do the dishwashing thereafter!!
Nice afternoon here but no chance to sunbathe !!

There was a murder in Bonnyrigg overnight, discovered today but the husband has been arrested.

Generally I get the feeling , like lots of folks that there is a breakdown of law and order, probably because of all these civil Liberty types, and it is about time we went back to zero tolerance - opened up the pit shafts and marched a few hundred or so off the plank.


Back to my night out - it was excellent , and I could have stayed there till the wee small hours, but then I would have had a long walk and been ill in the morning. the meal was nice, but the steak rubbish compared to The Mercat, infact it was rubbish compared to most places!!, however the entertainment was great with everyone having to either tell jokes or sing - benefit tonight was that Alex McBeth RWM was playing the organ and his brother in law Frankie Allison was singing.

I see that our lot in power are now publishing the expenses claimed by MP's which is tantamount to total theft - abusing the system, etc. It is no wonder they are queuing for jobs as MP's ; MEP's " etc it is the gravy train, screw the system and make your own rules.

Till tomorrow

So much for a rest day

Have been chasing my tail; since I got up - and am now running out of time before I head off to get the bus and go to the office bearers dinner at Bonnyrigg, 720. So unfortunately no time for notes today.

Regards.

last day at Muss - new horizons

Obviously the Rangers - Sporting game is terrible otherwise I would still be watching it.

Boob with the photos, Jeremy (Heiniken man) and Graham should have been down the story a bit, but I found out too late. Through Jeremy we bought tickets at ancharity auction which took us to the Rangers v Barcelona game where the UEFA people made a right mess of the hospitality at Ibrox and the Rangers folks would accept no responsibility - I am still waiting on a response from the caterers especially.

Made it to Musselburgh early , 7 a.m. to start preparing for the handover to Kristen. Met Ian Campbell at the bus stop off to see to his grandchildren who have been reading the blog for him. He has promised to pop up to see me at "The Mercat" - I thought all had forgotten as no one appeared till after 9 a.m. and that was our stocktaker (Russell). Kristen along with her Ma and Pa appeared ( see me posing with them) Anyway - got stuff sorted and everything happened as it should do. In the interim some of the guys appeared, Jackie, Jess, Keith etc, who were heading off abroad for a golf weekend, I did apologise to Keith for last nights episode with Geoge F. Also wee George the artist, retired lecturer in fine arts ( see my photo) and an artist but now hampered by his arthritis - turns out that the laid back Graham Allan who helps us at the Mercat Bar is an old friend who only recently met him in the Gordons Arms, Rose Street. So in the end I headed home via the Bush to visit SAC for one of my own jobs where Alan and Arlene were busy as usual . On reaching home I found that I was then needed to go to Costco for the Mercat, either Claire or Jamie being a bit dippit and need exrtra supplies.

Costco and then into the Mercat where, as a wee treat (now having finished my work experience at Musselburgh) I decided to stay for tea, and with Claire in the kitchen I had no option but to go for a nice steak on a sizzzzzling platter with the trimmings, and Ann followed her meal with a nice sweet prepared by Duhai, ( you will have to sort out the photos yourself.)

We had a visit to the bar from Jeremy and the Heiniken team (see the poser with Graham) doing a tour of the Heiniken outlets, and I then managed to get our own girls to give me a smile and cuddle.

In the course of the day I had an E mail from Rob and Caitlain who are now getting organised back in the upside down world with Caitlain now at work as a nurse again - which was obviously her job till our NHS decided to make a " cock up" of things and deprive her of her livelihood, Robbie is still being laid back and indecisive and waiting for the right job to appear, probably as a beer taster in a brewery - so with his fellow koala huggers he is about 1 million'th down the line.

Sparky has also checked in and obviously has not been eaten by Incas or other south American types.

Cookie and Samantha appeared back from their last few days sojourn in London, but I am not sure yet what their plans are.

Local news, they have identified the lady who lost the heid on the beach at Arbroath - cut up in Brechin by the look of things - Ann has suggested it might well be murder - so much for a Cluedo expert !!

The joke - What do the Starship Enterprise and toilet paper have in common?

a. They have both visited Uranus looking for klingons!! ( Sorry Brian - I hope your dughter gets this one)

Wee response late on from Canada where the photo of Jackie and ther layabouts had been received by the (un) intelli gent services. That is, anyone who thinks celtic are a team and not an ancient nation!!!

My comment of worry for the day was with regard to Real radio and Robin Galloway

doing an off take of Gunjid Singfh - a call centre operator for BT - the lady he calle d was prepared to curse and swear at the operator "Mr Singh) but apolgoised when she knew she was on air - I think he is treading on thin ice using this persona for his wind ups.

I presume from the background silence that the Rangers game was a draw.

It could have been a better day

Last full day at The Sportsmans, which should have been a carefree experience, pleasant with a bit of a laugh - however that's was expecting just too much for Musselburgh.

Arrived and was about to park when my favourite Traffic warden appeared soI had to seek a space elsewhere.

Chick had already started on his breakfast, Bottle of Bud, which was followed by a tea break of 2+ vodka ; then a light refreshement - 2+ vodka; and for lunch another 2+ vodka ; this despite the fact that he had not had anything to eat - so he got a row , but that meant nothing.

Moving on, we then heard that last nights carry on in The Stand was not a case of fooling about, but a good going barny with gary the owner getting assaulted, yet again. However as we no , no police were called.

But we then hear that the pub was broken into during the nightand property stole - being rather dubious about the incident, BUT , it turns out there are two supects, one local and the other from further afield and the Police are hot on their trail.

The assault on Geirge robertson took place outside his house when he apparantly disturbed someone trying to break in - irreveland as he is seriously crippled and it should bnever have happened. BUT - George appeared at the pub for a pint, sporting some bruises and a black eye - he was eventually sent home (sober) to await the Police.

Next appears the Gypsy girls, along with nmother and they were trying to sell "gold" rings, being a pest and I am sure she was delighted to get her photo taken - probably not as much as Paul and harry , seen here with Jackie MacNamara.

I had a phone call from Paul a few days ago trying to trace Jackie on behalf of his friend Harry whose sister used to to stay next door to Jackie as children. So today they met in the Bar and had a chat about old times as they are over here on a visit from Burlington, Ontario.

Had a few bodies in to see whoi was taking oiver but as usual it was a case of " you must be giving it away to day", etc, looking for a free drink, and not even regulars.

One of the professional "bandit" players came in - these guys can read the sequences on the bandit and know when the jackpots are about to drop.

Anyway - as I said I was looking forward to a bit of a laugh , however, my bosom pal George, after his 10th pint or so started to be a pain in the bum - so that was that, I just packed up as soon as Kerrin came in and headed up the road.

I know that Keith reads this so please pass on my best to Jimmy and Brian and my apologies for baling out so quick.

Brian's daughter has asked for a couple of jokes :

1. What goes quack, quack, boom? A duck in a minefield.

2. What is black and white, has a beak, likes fish and is very noisy ? A penguin with a drum kit.

3. What did one eye say to the other eye? Between you and me something smells.

Police and things that happened today

I saw this new bike sitting in Dalkeith this morning on my way to Musselburgh - it was being rigged out for the Central Scotland Police.

Real radio had a marvellous April Fool item on the radio about the space shuttle landing at Cumbernauld airfield - lots of folks made their way to see it land - good one.

Anyway - Wee George Robertson's brother came in and said that George had been beaten up outside the pub last night and was ill - George already being crippled this caused a bit of a stir. The Police were supposed to be reviewing the CCTV , anyway I checked and George left in a taxi, so wherever it happened it wa not near the pub. Tried to pass this information to the Police but no one seemed to know anything about it !!

Kristen was in all day getting things sorted for the takeover on Thurssday.

Mid afternoon chap came in, bit wide, and was talking to everyone - having come home from working in Holland, was acting strange trhen opened a bag of "hash" and proceeded to make a roll up on the bar - so I told him to pack up and go. He then got a bit loud called me names , etc, so I called the Police "999" and reported it. 25 mins later i had a phone call to say they could not see him on the street using the CCTV, I said he was in the dentist so 10 minutes later they went looking - but by that time he had gone!! hate to have been in a fight.

At 720 Bonnyrigg tonight and my friend was saying he and his wife had been stopped by the Police in Edinburgh and he was charged with using his mobile phone - he showed them his call log and his wifes which proved the phone had not been used - but it made no odds. he has since lodged a complaint against the Police and one of the officers phoned him to say he was getting them into trouble - BUT his records all prove that his phone had not been used.

And tonight , our wayward licensee next door is having a water fight and throwing tumblers about the bar. But that is allowed apparantly.

Had my gripe, now bed time and more to do tomorrow.

Two and a half days - but who's counting

About to head off to Musselburgh to start my final couple of shifts before the handover to Ms. k. Fraser @ Wee One, but there are still a few things to be sorted.

I see Andrea made it home safely and has been catching up with the blog. The wedding went well, nice family group and the weather was kind.

Looks like Lennie is going to be drinking elsewhere for a while as he has failed to show face and return that which he borrowed - like several others their "being barred" will not be lifted when the pub changes hands.