Toppled trailer load of bales

Bit of a spill today,  RGB heading into Whitecraig when a tractor coming towards him, loaded with bales of straw, toppled and shed his load on a bend  -  this was always a nightmare of mine, the size of these bales would have done serious damage to a car had they gone the other way.

Took quite a while to clear the mess with a bit of traffic chaos,    technical insecure load.

 

Had a run into town this morning for some essentials,  but popped into Two Wheels for look at the bikes and give my mind a treat - plenty of machines with  "sold " tickets on them.

Looks like I might be joining the No. 1 Region IPA Motor Cycle Section trip to Oban on sunday - here's hoping for a nice day.

Quick trip "down South"

Feet up, watching "New Tricks",  just like the old days,  pity they are writing out most of the cast and bringing in new faces.

Had a wee day out, quick run to Runcorn via Glasgow and back -   weather was nice up here, but shocking down south with mist and heavy rain.  Lots of middle lane hoggers so it will be interesting to see what happens when the new Legislation to fine them comes into effect later this month.

New car is "quite quick", need to be careful or I will end up with another speeding ticket -   few changes on the motorway, new bridge and exits on teh M8 at Whitburn, and more speed restrictions on the M6.  The average speed cameras are a real pest.

Talking of pests,   TV tonight was making a big thing about the cycle routes around the UK, and getting more folks back on their bicycles -  however, it is time they got them off the pavements -  nearly got "whapped" by two girls (about 18 yrs) passing my house . on the pavement at high speed - and they rode all the way to the shops (3/4 mile) without using the road.  Came out the shop myself and another one scooted by.   Unexpected here,  but even worse and a major nuisance in West Maitland Street outside the Mercat Bar where they ride along the pavement rather than take the vehicular detour.  

Few more ramblings, on a nice day

Think I will need to get some membership cards for my Tesco Diddler's Club,   my beloved sister in law was nearly caught out in her local Tesco when she bought veg, marked as two for the price of one,  but at the check out the system would not credit the offer,  so after a slight dispute   the veg went back on the shelf -  how many customers did not spot the diddle.

So back to the tramworks -  looks the enthusiastic workers made a real hash of the job breaking up the faulty concrete - they have smashed the original sleepers - so the job has been delayed another three months.

And at Edinburgh Zoo,  staff think that Lady Panda is pregnant - so now we await confirmation of whether she is, and who the father is  !!!    big debate as the staff used two different samples from two male panda's, her mate here in Edinburgh and one in Berlin zoo  (where they have just had a baby panda born).

Andy Murry,  not firing on all cylinders this week,  crashed out in the Montreal tennis tournament - bad luck.

Last night went to a party at the Hibs Club in Edinburgh,  nice club, good party with lots of good music -  had a read at their history board, fascinating -  did not realise that Jackie Macnamara , Snr., joined the club as part of a deal when Pat Stanton went to Celtic,  but it was a good move for Hibs.  Also remember when Georgie Best signed for the club in 1979,  scored in his first game, which they lost,  but the next week there were 20,600 spectators at the game - brilliant attendances to see this remarkable player.
Just have to see how they get on against Hearts in the first of the local derby games tomorrow.

Mercat Grill did well, as did the Mercat Bar -    just a shame they do not have the same access to the crowds as the City Centre venues -  more people missing out on the good things in life.

World athletic championships have started in Moscow,   very poor crowds for this event - and in the midst of the latest controversy about Russia's attitude towards Gay's, and the falling out between Russia and the USA, about their giving refuge to the soldier who has  been leaking military secrets, it will be interesting to see if there is further repercussions

Edinburgh, place to be - if you can get there.

Cannot say this is a retraction -  no way - just that Tesco seem to enjoy messing their customers about.  Called at the store today and surprise, surprise,  the Lurpak butter deal was back on again,  down to £4 again.    I asked the checkout lady what was going on and she told me that prices go up and down all the time for no reason!!!    just to skim us.

Anyway, had a bit of a day off so headed into town on the bus, and found the City beginning to buzz with all the activities in the Festival.  We were a bit early so not many of the acts were out on the Royal Mile yet -  but things were looking good and of course the pleasant weather helped.
Had a wander down the Mound and took a couple of shots of the world famous "floral clock" in the gardens,  the design changes twice a year and at the moment it is to commemorate the centenary of Edinburgh zoo.

Headed up into George Street which has been partially pedestrianised and the closed off area now hosts the Speigal tent and a number of alfresco style cafe / bars.  All very nice and I

am sure George St is really lively late at night -  just a pity we cannot do likewise / or ave been able to do so in the Haymarket area for the past three years - so while one area really coins it in, the other is decimated by the tramworks.

Joke of the day was published on the front page of the Edinburgh Evening News,  seems that Edinburgh City Council commissioned a survey and 91 % of those polled thought the city was a beautifull place - seems that they may have been looking at post cards and had not seen any of the tramworks -  unless !!!  methinks they were all inmates of HM Prison for more than the past four years ?    Winston  Churchill, former Prime Minister (not Direct Line doggie) once said, "there are lies, dammed lies and, statistics"   - looks like Edinburgh Council PR Dept have been doing their homework -badly.  

Had a coffee in the Standing Order,  spotted Thistly Cross cider on sale, one of the locally brewed ciders (from Dunbar) which we sell and which is proving to be very popular.

Thought about heading home, but had to play "find the bus"  as the routes have been changed due to the various festival venues blocking the roads, so we had a bit of a walk till we found the diverted route -   nothing is simple these days.

Late sports news being that both Motherwell and St Johnston's attempts to get anywhere in Europe sadly ceased this evening -  good job that Glasgow City ladies appear to be better at the game than their male counterparts and won 7 - 0 to progress in their European competition.

The long way round.

Cannot complain about the weather so far,  been out on the "Steed of steel" the past two days,  even took a forty mile detour to work ( via peebles, Innerleither, The Grannits, Pathhead) just for fun - very good.

Even managed to pop in and see Bertie Baa at Edgehead yesterday which was a bit of surprise for him -  nice coffee from his good lady.

Annoyed  at Tesco after my last visit,  they bumped the price of their Lurpac up from £4  to £5  !!!   so much for it being "a shopper's favourite"   -   it is the same old story,  if you get a good deal on one item, they compensate by hiking the price up on something else  i.e cut the price on a Litre bottle of Vodka but were £4 dearer for a bottle of Morgan's Spice   (professional interest only).

Con men extraordinaire on TV this morning,   the energy companies,  who can spen £200 million improving their systems and still make massive profits .  Same with the Banks,  interest rates staying low for savers yet Banks all showing increases in profits - sadly for the punter , a no win , no win situation.

Edinburgh Fringe and Festival underway, so might have a wee run into town to see the fun.

Reflections from last week

Photos from the Harbour at Old Nessy Bar, World Heritage Site, Bulgaria,  which is a total contrast to Sunny Beach at the other side of the bay.   Big contrast with fishing boats tied up next to the Hydrofoil ferry, old and modern side by side.   And just a bit of a change to Sunny Whitecraig!!!

Mercat Grill has been busy,  things picking up, each day brings in more new faces - and with the refurbishment about to start shortly - our customers are taking an active interest in what is taking place.

Big takeover at the Mercat Grill / accidents and metal thefts.

Back to normality, busy at the Mercat Grill,  which, is now officially privately owned by RGB - so from now on we have no option but to make the business work.   Again, pleased to report that we have more new faces on site, and not only that, they have been back again for follow up visits.

Yesterday, heading home on the back road, arrived only seconds after a car accident occurred at Pomathorn Cross Roads. Both drivers had to be removed from their vehicles, one injured sufficiently to warrant a trip in an ambulance.  There was me in the middle of the road directing traffic, and it brought back memories of a couple of quite serious accidents at the same cross roads,  and my medical expert who helped the injured was a young lady vet who was passing on her bicycle !!!  well done her. Number of people stopped to give assistance, and when the Police arrived, the young lady officer, recognised me as being a friend of her family !!

Quite a lot of interest in the thefts of copper cable from the main line near Aberdeen,   thefts of scrap metal as we know are on the up and up.   We had a minor one at one of my sites  a couple of weeks ago.     Again, old memories of me walking the old railway line from Roslin Castle Station to Rosewell / Bonnyrigg in the late 60's,  it was a regular detail to walk the line during the nightshift, no torches trying to catch the local villains.

Cracking photo in the Edinburgh Evening News of the so called workmen employed in the tramworks lying sleeping in the sun-   nothing like rubbing it in !!   where were their bosses -  "waste of time and lack of motion".

Terrible tragedy down south with the death of wee Danial, subjected to terrible treatment, assault and neglect by his mother and her boyfriend - hopefully the story and photos will be passed to their fellow inmates of the respective jails they are now in.  Did not help the immigration situation with them both coming from Poland.