Long restless night, heavy rain outside and feeling totally frustrated that I cannot get up, out and on with a normal life yet.
Sitting listening to Bob Malcolm on Forth 2, smooth as ever, at least he has not changed and still manages all these early rises and that daily run into the City from Carlops (home of Alan Ramsay). His prize for the quiz today was a DVD on "Executive Stress" , which obviously would be of no use at all to me, I would probably end up eating it !!
Thought I would have heard from mailto:Grant@Photgenix, but he is a busy boy these days with his new job which has seen him going up in the world, literally, he text me the other day from the top of the chimney at Cockenzie Power Station - downside has been that so far he has lost two phones which have fallen out his pocket and dropped down chimneys he has been inspecting - I am sure his insurance company find it a bit mysterious.
After the last two defeats at rugby, the Scottish team have enlisted the aid of Scott Hastings to advertise this Sunday's match at Murrayfield against Ireland. He is suggesting that if the supporters turn up in their droves the team will respond and try even harder. I was under the impression last night that we had five players with injuries to contend with so far - and if I was fitter I might even have got my old boots out. Sorry chaps, nearest I will be to Murrayfield will be in an armchair looking at the "box" provided Mrs B does not want to see the Eastenders omnibus.
Bad news coming out of New Zealand with the death toll in the earthquake rising as the hours go by and people remain missing or trapped - not sure if Christchurch is one of the venues for the forthcoming rugby world cup.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Disaster strikes in New Zealand
Must be on the mend, managed two trips down the street today, but was puffing a bit by the time I got back.
This has been a terrible disaster on the outskirts of Christchurch in South Island, New Zealand with yesterday's earthquake. It started just before noon with the big quake which everyone is suggesting is an aftershock of big 7.1. bump last year, however I see that so far there have been another six or so aftershocks around the 6. mark over a period of ten hours. This will have made things very dangerous as each aftershock will have caused more damage to the already weakened buildings.
I had actually been on the "Most Recent Earthquakes" website earlier last night as I regularly check out this site out to see if California is still attached to the USA !! and see where else in the world cocktail waiters are being saved a bit work.
I note that the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of the lady who fell down the disused mine shaft (Alison Hume) is taking place. It was ridiculous that the emergency services were standing by doing nothing restricted by current Health and Safety Regulations. What did interest me was that evidence was given by Alan Jeffreys of the Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation who would have been down that mineshaft at the double had they been called out to assist. I have known Alan for about thirty years and he is a very remarkable chap, ex policeman, playwright, thespian, collector of weapons and uniforms and fanatical speleologist who has, with his team exposed and mapped most of the Scottish caves which are mainly situated up in Sutherland.
Latest revelations in the long running tram saga, the Edinburgh City Council have not even managed to purchase all the land needed to complete the route, should they ever get to that stage !! and even worse, they caused chaos in Princes Street on Saturday afternoon when squads were brought in to repair damaged track (by bicycles !!!) which has yet to be run on - what a joke.
Everyone was warned that that there was likely to be trouble after Sunday's Old firm match ( Rangers v Celtic) at Parkhead which Celtic won 3 - 0 after a woeful performance by a lacklustre Rangers team. Strathclyde Police ran out of cell space in the city, with over three hundred arrests they were using cells sixty miles away - and to date there are no figures available about the expected increase in domestic violence after the game.
Missing the regular meeting of Laird O Cockpen RA 500 tonight due to my current health situation, but hopefully I will be back to rights for next months meeting.
This has been a terrible disaster on the outskirts of Christchurch in South Island, New Zealand with yesterday's earthquake. It started just before noon with the big quake which everyone is suggesting is an aftershock of big 7.1. bump last year, however I see that so far there have been another six or so aftershocks around the 6. mark over a period of ten hours. This will have made things very dangerous as each aftershock will have caused more damage to the already weakened buildings.
I had actually been on the "Most Recent Earthquakes" website earlier last night as I regularly check out this site out to see if California is still attached to the USA !! and see where else in the world cocktail waiters are being saved a bit work.
I note that the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of the lady who fell down the disused mine shaft (Alison Hume) is taking place. It was ridiculous that the emergency services were standing by doing nothing restricted by current Health and Safety Regulations. What did interest me was that evidence was given by Alan Jeffreys of the Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation who would have been down that mineshaft at the double had they been called out to assist. I have known Alan for about thirty years and he is a very remarkable chap, ex policeman, playwright, thespian, collector of weapons and uniforms and fanatical speleologist who has, with his team exposed and mapped most of the Scottish caves which are mainly situated up in Sutherland.
Latest revelations in the long running tram saga, the Edinburgh City Council have not even managed to purchase all the land needed to complete the route, should they ever get to that stage !! and even worse, they caused chaos in Princes Street on Saturday afternoon when squads were brought in to repair damaged track (by bicycles !!!) which has yet to be run on - what a joke.
Everyone was warned that that there was likely to be trouble after Sunday's Old firm match ( Rangers v Celtic) at Parkhead which Celtic won 3 - 0 after a woeful performance by a lacklustre Rangers team. Strathclyde Police ran out of cell space in the city, with over three hundred arrests they were using cells sixty miles away - and to date there are no figures available about the expected increase in domestic violence after the game.
Missing the regular meeting of Laird O Cockpen RA 500 tonight due to my current health situation, but hopefully I will be back to rights for next months meeting.
Monday, 21 February 2011
49 Club AGM - February 2011
Just a bit late in the day and not up to my usual standard having missed the dinner !!! However young Sir Christopher took a few for me at the AGM luncheon of the 49 Wine and Spirit Club which took place last week in the Green Room, Glasgow.During the AGM the Presidency changed hands and RGB took on the role for the coming year, so I had better not miss any more dinners !!
This young "birthday girl" had a wee surprise when Mr Harris presented her with a cake during the lunch.
Fine dining - questionable, but I did not starve
Just thought I would share my hospital memories with you, meals were generally not too bad considering the numbers of folks being catered for, however, yesterday my baked potato and cheese 
, with supposed carrot and coriander soup was NOT what I expected !!!! - But I suppose that after so long I was becoming institutionalised and thought it was not too bad, however I did (latterly) when mobile sneak off in the morning for a bacon roll in the canteen and had a hoard of biccies to dunk in my tea.
, with supposed carrot and coriander soup was NOT what I expected !!!! - But I suppose that after so long I was becoming institutionalised and thought it was not too bad, however I did (latterly) when mobile sneak off in the morning for a bacon roll in the canteen and had a hoard of biccies to dunk in my tea.My bed, which was moved from ward to ward with me in it was quite comfy and adjustable but not as good as my own wee scratcher at home - so tonight will be a real treat.
Sadly my views from the ward were not the most awe inspiring, although on a clear day from Ward 23 I could see the Hillend ski slope at Lothianburn, and knew that home was not that far beyond it. BUT I cannot complain about the standard of nursing treatment I received throughout my three stays at the Western General, so a big thank you to the staff, all of them from the Consultants, nurses, cleaners, etc.
I would also like to thank my friens who managed to get in to see me (bringing red X parcels) and also those who managed to helpme improve my texting skills by sending a steady stream of messages to reply to.
3rd time lucky
Well , I am now sitting comfortably in my own chair once again , having eventually been considered fit enough to be discharged from Hospital for the third time. So in total I have had 42 nights in a hospital bed since 21st December '10 when we were under the impression that I would be away for 6 to 10 days ( wrong). So hopefully things will pick up and life returns to normal - AND BLOGGING WILL RECOMMENCE LATER.
Monday, 7 February 2011
Superbowl - cracking results
Monday and it is snowing once again in Penicuik, but hopefully the forecasters have it correct and it will melt away again this afternoon.
Missed out on Sunday as I am still sore and need to spend time sleeping or resting etc. BUT having said that I was up and down to bed all day, and eventually went to settle at 10.30 p.m., then awoke at 1.15 a.m. this morning so I got up and sat and watched the Superbowl Final between the Green Bay Packers and the Steelers. It turned out to be an exciting game, and have a had a lesson from RGB on the rules during the semi's I was able to follow the play a lot better. The BBC commentators were very good and filled in during the adverts with lots of information - an excellent win for the Green Bay packers who were able to hold on till the end.
Watched the cup semi final between Rangers and Celtic , end to end stuff, very good and I suppose a 2 - 2 draw was a fair result, however I am not sure when folks are going to get bored with these "old firm" matches as we now have another three or four in the next few weeks.
I see that Ally McOist is voicing a bit concern over the appointment f the new owners of Rangers who might not be so keen to make him the next manager.
Down south, Kenny Dalgleish seems to be doing well with Liverpool, a bit of egg on the chin for Chelsea being beaten 1 -0, and Torres being taken off mid way through the second half !! £50m. more money than sense - it is totally obscene - but still not as bad as the deal Wayne Rooney managed to get for himself.
I spotted an item in the paper a few weeks ago where one of the NFL players had returned his fee of $7.5m to his team as he had hardly been playing and when he did he was not performing !! What a difference in the mentality.
It is a bit like the bonuses being paid to senior Police Officers here in the UK, some have been accepting them whilst other have been pocketing the loot and retiring behind closed doors to shuffle papers and dream up more idiotic schemes.
Time now for another wee rest.
Missed out on Sunday as I am still sore and need to spend time sleeping or resting etc. BUT having said that I was up and down to bed all day, and eventually went to settle at 10.30 p.m., then awoke at 1.15 a.m. this morning so I got up and sat and watched the Superbowl Final between the Green Bay Packers and the Steelers. It turned out to be an exciting game, and have a had a lesson from RGB on the rules during the semi's I was able to follow the play a lot better. The BBC commentators were very good and filled in during the adverts with lots of information - an excellent win for the Green Bay packers who were able to hold on till the end.
Watched the cup semi final between Rangers and Celtic , end to end stuff, very good and I suppose a 2 - 2 draw was a fair result, however I am not sure when folks are going to get bored with these "old firm" matches as we now have another three or four in the next few weeks.
I see that Ally McOist is voicing a bit concern over the appointment f the new owners of Rangers who might not be so keen to make him the next manager.
Down south, Kenny Dalgleish seems to be doing well with Liverpool, a bit of egg on the chin for Chelsea being beaten 1 -0, and Torres being taken off mid way through the second half !! £50m. more money than sense - it is totally obscene - but still not as bad as the deal Wayne Rooney managed to get for himself.
I spotted an item in the paper a few weeks ago where one of the NFL players had returned his fee of $7.5m to his team as he had hardly been playing and when he did he was not performing !! What a difference in the mentality.
It is a bit like the bonuses being paid to senior Police Officers here in the UK, some have been accepting them whilst other have been pocketing the loot and retiring behind closed doors to shuffle papers and dream up more idiotic schemes.
Time now for another wee rest.
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Missing week - back in bed.
Saturday night and I am home again having made a quick "exit stage right" last Monday morning back into the Western General Hospital for further treatment and ended up being kept in till today - so hopefully I will have no further problems, only time will tell.
Probably had a relapse this afternoon having watched the Scotland and France international in Paris, enough said !!
Back to blogging tomorrow.
Probably had a relapse this afternoon having watched the Scotland and France international in Paris, enough said !!
Back to blogging tomorrow.
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