Bikes, Harley Davidsons and more bikes

Up and away early this morning on the beloved "steed of steel" heading for an appointment with my favourite surgeon at the Western General Hospital - usual brief and efficient examination - so it looks like another dose of x-rays in the pipeline.

Next stop - Uncle Walter's house to see how he was faring then load the panniers with his apples - so could be that there will be apple crumble on the menu on Sunday.

Work to do at King's Buildings, where on the way out I saw these two Harley Davidson biked decked out in Police livery, causing chaos as passing motorists stamped on their brakes. The two machines had been brought to the UK , decked out and for the past three years have been on loan to different Police Forces around the UK. The last use was by the Northern Constabulary when two of their officers were persuaded to ride them while escorting a massive Harley rally in the area - went down a treat. You tend to forget that Harleys have been used for years by the majority of the Police forces throughout the USA - remember the TV series, "Chips" ???

Could not resist the sight of the beautiful "patch" being worn by the "off duty soldier". The boss was looking through my photos and spotted his young lady receptionist - who had been at Newtongrange with the "Widow's Sons" a couple of weeks ago.

Yet another invite to have a test ride - one day - one day - maybe.

The last throes of Summer - maybe

Another day off - two in a row with nothing planned !!! Headed off, again o the A 702 and guess what, the "disruptive road works were still there, no sign of any workmen ( same again when we came home) so somebody in the Midlothian Council Highways Dept want their backside kicking for allowing it, and in my youthful days as a local Bobby I would have been on to the contractors myself and created merry hell - this is a designated Trunk Road - this kind of disruption should not be tolerated. More than once I shifted temporary traffic lights to open up a road, but of course our nonsensical health and Safety Regulations do nothing to help matters or progress.

Next - arrived at MacArthur Glen Factory Outlet, Livingston, where we met this "young lad" with his recently acquired Harley Davidson ( three weeks ago) but he did sell a 2000 cc machine to buy it - very pleasant member of the Caledonia Cruiser Club, and he has travelled extensively throughout Europe and the USA on his bikes, well done - hope he has enough time to keep the chrome clean and shining.

Homewards, a lovely day with the temperature peaking at 16 C, hard to believe that the forecasters are predicting Arctic temperatures of up to Minus 15 C . within the next couple of weeks !! - so I have just fitted a full set of snow tyres to my car - and the lad in Kwik Fit was saying he had already sold about one hundred full sets in October.

So homewards down Lowries Den which is splendid in its autumn colours with the trees about to discard their last leaves in the next high winds / frost - not quite the Teddy Bears picnic, may well have been the Meercats we spotted - but with their personalities they would not be hiding like the bears - but beech, oak, silver birch were lovely, just lacking a few rays of sunshine to add that bit of magic.

Sister Act on tour - a birthday treat

Off to town on Mr McEwan's anything but luxury coach - a great bus service, but anything not comfortable. We were even held up by so called emergency road works on the A702 just a short distance south of Hillend junction, but as usual the problem was so important that there were no sign of any workmen, just a queue at one stage which was three quarters of a mile long and taking fifteen minutes to get through. How do these utilities get away with causing such mayhem?

Off the bus at the West End so for a change we popped into the Caledonian Hilton for breakfast, which was lovely, we will certainly be back -it was nice to see the smiling Danny Fair on the door in his full regalia.

BUT we were heading for the Playhouse Theatre at York Place to see the musical "Sister Act", on tour and only in Edinburgh for a couple of weeks. Well, for me who is not really a theatre fan, it was absolutely marvellous, took a wee while to get into the story, but the music and performance was excellent - a lot of work to convert it from a movie to a stage play but well worth going to see.

More Birthday wishes

We all change over the years - but as much as this !! - I hope not.

What a terrible night, been struggling hard to hold back the hands of the clock - but inexorably, "Old Father Time" gains the upper hand - and - of course it is yet another birthday !!! not for me , but this time round, Mrs. B. - and also Willie, one of the customers from the Dolphin Inn - he has fled to London - not wishing to use his bus pass today.

I also failed to acknowledge Mr "B'Dunk" who also hit the "Big 60", yesterday - and will be more than delighted to use his bus pass - to all three a big Happy Birthday.

Sparky Mark arrived early this morning with his gift, very scary and in keeping with the Halloween theme - poor Mrs B. who suffers from Arachnophobia collapsed in a heap trying to get to her chocolate gift (only kidding).

Happy Birthday Sharon

Another one bites the dust, another year younger, wiser, but still smiling.

Another Tesco conundrum

Another little "I wonder why" from the shelves of Tesco, Penicuik, - sitting side by side on the shelf, same product, so how come one costs £2.66 and the other £3.20p per 100 gms - just does not seem to be any logic to this other than to diddle the customer.

There also appears to be a cartelling going on, especially when Sainsburys, Asda and Tesco are all offering to pay the difference if you spot it !!!

Green with envy !!!

What a job, publish a photo of a fine young chap, and the oyher oldies dive for the tin boxes under the bed and pull out their old black and white snaps - not that I am naming names, but Dan - thought you knew better!! Not enough time this morning to mess about with the photos.

Monday , back to normal - but it was a lovely day, mild and dry untill 9.30 p.m. when the heavens opened to water the lawns - but that was better than getting all the snow they have been having in the USA - we do not have to worry for a few days as the mild winds blowing from the south are keeping the cold air at bay.

Headed to Musselburgh last night for a meeting of Acheson's Haven Crytic Council, ( RA) named abter the old harbour which used to be sited at the east end of the bay at Musselburgh , between the Racecourse and Prestonpans, which served the pit at Prestongrange. Good turn out for the meeting, three candidates, excellent degree and congratulations to Glen Merrick on being installed into the Chair as TIM.

Popped into the Sportsman's Bar where their usual Monday night quiz was in full swing, nice to see Old Ian, jess and a few of the old faces once agin - just missed Mr Quilletti - but maybe next time. The Dolphin was busy with the dart team playing a home league game - they were at a nailbiting five all when I left.

Couple of days off in the pipeline, theatre tomorrow - Sister Act at the Playhouse - should be different.