Despite the sun - couple of moans

Up before the larks this morning, lovely day and out early to go to the morning meeting of the TGI (Cult) at the Marriot Hotel, Maybury, where there was a really good attendance of about thirty three members and visitors. (great breakfast, poached eggs on toast with bacon) I was out in the wee Smart car, dotting about the town, but I think my car should be a taxi !!! these guys are a law unto themselves, using the bus lane when it suits them, in and out, overtaking, undertaking and as far as I can see are totally oblivious to the speed limits, the rules of the road just do not seem to apply to them at all - and now they want to put their prices up even more - just wait another twenty years (maybe) or so and when the trams are running beyond Princes Street, they will have to dispatch their cabs to join the old Escort up there in that scrapyard in the sky. So next stop was the Mercat bar where Aunty Claire made me a nice omelet (not on menu), and then later in the day I ended up at the Standing Order, which was quieter than usual with the big Pole Dancer being off on a few days holiday - again !!! Never mind, he was having a ball chasing his wee son around a holiday camp. My gripe tonight being that when we went for the bus, did the usual and checked the timetables, I was getting ever so annoyed as no bus appeared !!!!! EVENTUALLY - someone read the small print along with the adverts and discovered that the buses were being diverted - not amused at all as it was a wasted half hour, I thought they could have at least covered over the timetables of the cancelled services. BUT - the bus driver was excellent, having heard my moans and groans, he made a call during the journey and was able to say that he had passed on my comments - no gripes against the drivers who are really first class. Never mind - home, feet up and looking forward to a long lie in the morning, then I must water the lawn before the next hose pipe ban comes into effect ???????????????????? According to the paper we have had such a dry month in parts of the country that a hose pipe ban is imminent.

Wedding Day excitement in Redcliffe,

It must now be Saturday morning in sunny Redcliffe, by Brisbane, and the upside down boy and girl will be preparing for their wedding ceremony which will take palce in a few hours time. So to Robbo and Caitlin we wish you well and are really sorry we could not make it over to be with you on such a special occasion. Hopefully someone will send us some photos after the event.

Recycling the Midlothian Council way - or D.I.Y.

Just a bit peeved today with the staff on the Midlothian Council recycling lorry. Having diligently cut up some boxes I had had furniture delivered in a couple of days ago and packed it all neatly, I was seriously annoyed to find that the cardboard had not been lifted this morning. Bad enough when they make enough noise to awaken the dead first thing in the morning as the glass and tins are tipped into the truck - but when they said on the attached label that the cardboard was too big for the lorry !!! (it is a big massive lorry with room in the cab for three men to sleep) well that was a bit much, and then on the reverse I am told to take it to the nearest recycling centre myself. Will I do that, or should I just stick it in my neighbours sulu bin and get rid of it with the domestic waste. Last week I put a number of plastic containers out to be recycled but they were returned for general waste - yet in India (for example) plastic is taken from the tips, ground down and they reckon it can be recycled and remanufactured for up to fifteen times.

There are some parts of the country where I would be penalised for doing that - maybe even popped in the clink for such a heinous crime. There is good item about Somerset Council who are charging for every visit to the local recycling yard where they inspect what is being dropped off and vary the charges accordingly.

International Police Association - Lothian and Borders Branch

For a change (I should have been at the Regular meeting of Lodge Dalhousie Bonnyrigg No 720) I decided to attend the Branch meeting of the Lothian and Borders section of The International Police Association ( I.P.A.) which I joined in 1966. I say "for a change" which is not quite right as I have never been to a meeting for years although I am an avid reader of their magazine "Police World" and pay attention to their regular "minutes" and as happened recently entertained a couple of German Officers. It comes to mind that the former G.M. of the Eden Resort and Spa, Sri Lanka, Tilak, was a member also. He has since moved on to head up a special projects and development team for the hotel chain in Sri Lanka.

Anyway, I did go to the meeting held in the Police Club, 28 York Place, Edinburgh, and met up with a couple of former colleagues who I had not seen for a while. The Lothian and Borders Branch is the busiest section in Scotland for visiting Officers so the Reception Secretary is kept busy meeting officers from all over the World.

There was correspondence from Japan last night where we heard that two IPA members there had been killed in the recent earthquake and a further two member officers were still missing.

Similarly there was aid and assistance being given to the IPA Branch in Christchurch, New Zealand which also suffered from an earthquake.

Three of Edinburgh's Theatres

One again, out on my wanderings I learned something new !!! I knew that the Lyceum Theatre and the Usher Hall were adjacent to each other, but had not realised that the Traverse Theatre was also in the same complex - nearly as bad as the Strand Area of theatre land, London. It was a pity I was walking in the wrong direction otherwise I could have added the Filmhouse, Lothian Road, which is opposite the Usher Hall. The Usher Hall is a beautiful building, restored over the past fifteen or so years and a fabulous auditorium. I can even remember doing one of my search jobs when in the Police and ended up right on top of the copper dome on top of the building. In those days there was a great big hole in the ground, which has now been built up as Saltire Court, an enclave of the legal profession.

Edinburgh's Canal and harbour project.

Slap bang in the middle of Edinburgh there is a harbour, miles from the sea. It is at the end of what was the Forth / Clyde canal and was used originally to ship goods into the City by canal barge. At the Millennium funding was obtained and the canal, which had gone into disrepair, was choked with rubbish and blocked at places was opened up and leads through now to the amazing Falkirk Wheel.

On my wanderings today I was really surprised at the new developments at Fountainbridge, new apartment blocks, shops, offices and restaurants, etc. With the wee barges, it is all very bright - the little barge was on sale for £26,000 - a bit like the barge "Reckless" which is the star of the TV programme "The boat that Guy built"

Beggars Belief

Just a short one today, but while in town spotted three of Edinburgh's other disgrace, (after the trams) namely beggars, everywhere you turn there is another and at the moment they seem to be mostly from Eastern Europe. They are apparently part of one big group and are even taking the bus to get to some of the out of town "pitches"

These three were seen in the space of 100 yards, two being on the opposite side of the road to each other.