What else happened today (Saturday)

So,  who gets the occasional day off -  me !!!   and what did I do,   watered the wee flowers who were so pleased,   then took myself for a swim.  Later took the bus to town and went  to the Cafe Rouge for tea !!!  meal was Ok but not that great that I would go back there again -  however, thanks to Sparky for the treat.    Crossed  over to the Standing order,   no great Pole Dancer,   fgass of wine and a blether to a young German lad en route to Newcastle.

Up towards the Festival Theatre and had a drink at the Captains Bar,  good, with live folk singers in situ.

Up to the theatre (already reported on) great seats as a gift for my birthday and enjoyed the show.

BUT - we had three ladies sitting in front of us ( who would not have fitted into standard airline seats !!!)  and who kept phoning friends and letting them hear parts of the show.  Totally ignorant , and certainly not amused at being told to turn off their phone.

After the show we managed to catch a 62 Bus for home,  complete with drunken eejit singing in back seat, and even worse, Scottish version of  Essex girl who somehow believed, that even in this hot spell, that the bus driver still had his heater on !!!!!

What a day -  but what a great day

Susan Boyle, SuBo - Mega Star - Edinburgh Concert 13th July

What can I say,  Susan Boyle was totally wonderful, a brilliant evening at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh.

A full house of totally adoring fans,  who, if transmitting good will while hugging a tree would have transformed a sapling into a 100 feet full grown tree.

She was amazing,  no airs and graces,  no Diva antics, just a really nice ordinary girl with a fabulous natural talent.

During the concert she mentioned Simon Cowell as being her saviour,  however, she was her own saviour when she applied for B G T.    Might well be the case that he did help her, to his and his company's own financial gain,     but as time passes she must become more self confident - and remember that apart from the clowns in her own village who treated her like rubbish when she was younger,  the remainder of her fan base only wish her 1000% well.

I believe that fans have been flying in from all over the world to see her,  so Susan,  believe in yourself, because your fans believe in you.

IPA ( International Police Association), No 1 Region (Scotland) Motor Cycle ride out, 10th July 2013.

A night out with a difference,   I have been riding motorcycles since 1965 and that was the last time I had a run out with more than one person.  However, last night I joined ten other members of IPA No 1 Region (Scotland) for a ride out.  Met Tom McInally at Newbridge and we headed up to Aberfoyle where we met two others from the west, (big surprise for my friend Fraser who did not know I was going to be there) and then up and over the Duke's Pass between Aberfoyle and Callander to meet the remainder of the group at The Lade Inn, Kilmacolm.    We should have all met at Aberfoyle, however the others had misread a road closure sign.

Took ourselves into the pub for a bite and cuppa, (very nice tea)  before deciding to head back over the Duke's Pass again,  quite impressive seeing ten touring bikes winding through this complex of hairpin bends, along the side of Loch Vennacher and Loch Askay, back to Aberfoyle where we pulled into the Rob Roy Hotel for a Kodak moment before splitting and heading for home.  There were three bus loads staying at the Hotel and many sitting out in the warm evening air -  must have wondered what was happening.    Not a Hells Angel's Chapter,  worse,  just the IPA group.

Heading for home, where Tom ground to a halt,  faulty fuel gauge said he had half a tank,  wrong  - zero -   so,   I popped into a nearby pub, The Unicorn and ?? where I was able to get a length of hose from their cellar,    Tom had the pleasure of "sooking petrol" from my tank and we were soon heading for Stirling where we both filled up  - as said,  he rode 27000 miles round the World without running out, and this happened -  sods law.

Eventually arrived home at 1115 p.m.,  shaken, and also stirred.

 

Maybe it is an age thing, or a bike thing,  but we eleven (one pillion) had a great run out, caused no fuss, generally stuck to the rules of the road,  however,  that cannot be said for a number of other blokes we saw on sports bikes - a few real nutters -  it is no wonder the area is a hot spot for the Police who are just trying to prevent accidents.    BUT - earlier in the day it was the pedal cyclists in the City who were worse than anyone on the road, -  might as  well tear up the Rule Book, Highway Code, or write it in Gibberish - name of the game being "Anything goes, please yourselves - and ignore everyone else on the roads and pavements". 

 

A pub with a view - not !!!!!!!

Headed for the Mercat Bar yesterday to find that it is certainly a pub with a unique view - thanks to the ******* tram works and their intelligent leaders.

Note the strategically placed container, used by the workies for a fly smoke and storing their tea cups -  even worse and rubbing salt into the wounds,   the traders all pay to park at rates of up to £12 per day, whilst the workies park free of charge within their private domain !!!  Whilst traders struggle, there are a few nice motors paid for by ratepayers.

Andy Murray - King of the court, Duke of Dunblane.

Well done, Andy Murray, Champion of Wimbledon after a superb match which he won in an edge of the seat three setter.   At long last he has proved the doubting Thomas's wrong, all those negative comments we have heard over the past years.
Physically there are very few sportsmen who can match his fitness, he puts the prima donna footballers to shame -  so add his win to the win by the British lions we have a great excuse for a feel good factor.
I will be very interested to see what the TV viewing figures are for the game,  certainly cost us a lot customers who obviously stayed at home to watch the match and celebrate the victory,  hopefully they will be back to see us soon.

Hash Harriers and a Harley Davidson

10 p.m..not long in,  but in time to see Andy Murry make it through to the Wimbledon finals,  despite the best efforts of his opponent who attempted to disrupt his concentration by having the game suspended while the roof was being closed.

Last night we had the Hash Harriers  out at the Grill to meet up for their run, and on return have a meal and a few beers.   Brought in a keg from Steve Stewart's brewery at Loanhead, and some specially produced bottles from the Alchemy Brewery, Livingston.    They had a good run around the Carberry and Whitecraig area,and many are staying in Musselburgh for a couple of days with runs to raise funds for one of their charities. Red dress run tonight !!!  so hopefully none of them get stopped late on -  and another in the morning.

Once again we had several new customers in the grill for meals,  even one of my former colleagues who I had not seen for about seven years, what a nice surprise.

 

Our man (John) with the new motorcycle arrived to see me on his Harley Davidson, nice and gleaming,  made mine look a bit dated beside it.

Better get the polish out and give mine a wee shine up,  even considering heading out with the No.1 IPA Region motor cycle section on Wednesday evening.

 

British Lions are playing their final test in Oz tomorrow morning,  they had better win otherwise certain folks will not be letting us live this down for a while. 

 

HLI of Canada visit Edinburgh.

Been a very busy boy,  the Mercat Grill , Whitecraig, has become the regular evening dining stop for members of the Highland Light Infantry from Cambridge/ Kitchener, Waterloo County, Canada.   The HLI is one of the biggest TA Reserve Regiments in Canada, and made up of all trades and ex servicemen.   The band are here in Edinburgh for four days taking part in many of the parades for Armed Forces celebrations,  and we were fortunate enough to have them drop by for a meal and a drink.  
The Pipe Major turned out to be be a serving Police Officer from Waterloo County, and also a member of the IPA,  so missing the No 1  Regional committee meeting tonight was not all that bad as I did manage to pop in an apology.

Tom McInally and his cohorts from No 1 Region now back after  their trip to the Black Forest region of Germany,    not allowing grass to grow under his feet, next ride out for the Region will be on 10th July, making for Callander.

Andy Murray still doing well at Wimbledon, next game tomorrow, while Laura Robson has ground to a halt.

John, out motorcycling client  has taken delivery of a new Harley Davidson,   but I am still waiting for the chance to see it.

British Grand prix, punctures galore,   me I have a problem with the wee Smart Car,  flexi pipe on the exhaust has burst,   so because it needs a genuine  Mercedes spare part, it will only cost £519 to repair !!!!!   You must be joking -  yet another example of a bargain not being a bargain,  but as the mechanic said, the cars were not designed for UK roads -  too many potholes  -  already had a burst spring after hitting a pothole - should have claimed Edinburgh Council,   but of course they have no money as they are pouring it down the great tramworks drain.
Contractors are really taking the mickey now - poor cement, wrong rails - economic disaster for the area - and as the man on the TV just said,(coincidentally)  nobody gives a s**t.  Councillors, MP's and MSP's.

Busy few days ahead.