Made it to the meeting at Gorebridge Dundas 1329 Lodge last night, turned out to be a celebration of their 110th anniversary . Good turn out with big deputations from Dalhousie 720 and No 10 Dalkeith, Very good degree worked by the Honorary Members, nearly faultless and well worth being there. Well done RWM Simon Fairley for your efforts.
Weather is not so good, just a tide too chilly to get the motor bike out, ended up at the Gyle Centre this morning then back at the Mercat Grill this afternoon where they had been really busy so new supply of deserts was required.
Last night the Scottish Parliament backed the next stage of a bill to control the powers the big brewers had over their leased premises, sadly not supported by the majority of the SNP members.
German Beer Festival at the Mercat Grill tomorrow night, good selection of beers and food to be sampled.
Friday, 9 February 2018
Thursday, 8 February 2018
Customer service costs nothing, but the lack of it !!
putting pen to paper so to speak, as steam coming from my ears following a trip to Cameron Toll Shopping Centre this morning. I was in to have a bit of engraving done by my friends in Timpson’s shoe repair shop. On my way in popped in to Clark’s shoe shop where a nice young lady(Lynsey) greeted me, however being set for other task I left. Saw Kevin at Timpson’s and organised his wee task for me, to be collected next week. On my way back through the store, spotted a Trespass Outdoor shop, and having made a purchase last week in their shop in Livingston I decided to go in and make a repeat purchase, oops, not to be the case as the two staff were far too busy talking to each other so both myself and a lady customer were ignored. I ended up walking out and they lost a possible £60 sale. from there I looked into Shoe Zone, that is all I did as the two zombies on duty stared right through me, Left there and went back into Clark’s where a second assistant (Nicola) greeted me. No fuss, no hassle and I made a purchase, leaving the shop a happy bunny with a new pair of shiny shoes. Three excellent staff who were a credit to the Company, just proves that good customer service does count.
Change of subject, lots of frustrated motorists about to be stuck in two sets of road works starting on the A701 next week, One set for three weeks at Ploverhall, by Bilston, and the other for a week at Captains Road. Not a journey to look forward to for a while. Our planners have once again shown how bad they are. Certainly will not be using that route or shopping in Edinburgh if I can avoid it for a while.
German Beer festival at the Mercat Grill this Saturday night, food and entertainment all organised.
Busy Masonic week, Star, Conclave, Lodge, Chapter and another Lodge so far !!!!
Change of subject, lots of frustrated motorists about to be stuck in two sets of road works starting on the A701 next week, One set for three weeks at Ploverhall, by Bilston, and the other for a week at Captains Road. Not a journey to look forward to for a while. Our planners have once again shown how bad they are. Certainly will not be using that route or shopping in Edinburgh if I can avoid it for a while.
German Beer festival at the Mercat Grill this Saturday night, food and entertainment all organised.
Busy Masonic week, Star, Conclave, Lodge, Chapter and another Lodge so far !!!!
Friday, 2 February 2018
Checked out the Steed at Border Bikes
yet another week passed without a scribble, just not like me. But despite previous adverse comments, today I was asked when my next epistle would be on line.
So, start simply, because I had to do my Costco run this morning en route to the Mercat Grill I was in the car and decided that time being against me I did not have time to go home for the Time Machine. I then headed east along the A1 and down to Duns to play catch up with Andy Mimms at Border Bikes. He has been caring for the Steed of Steel for me and now after 26 years the petrol tank has kind of sprung a leak, so a new one / second hand one is now required ASAP so I can back on my favourite pair of wheels. After my blether and cuppa I stoped off at the Black Bull Hotel, Duns , fo4 a quick hello with the Boss, who is a member of our E&SESALTA group, wee chance to meet personally rather than the phone calls.
Back onto the A1 where it became a case of “any speed you can do I can go faster”, I was certainly going fast enough, next someone would race by me, and within minutes someone else going even faster would pass both of us. Quite surprising the speeds some people travel at, AND are obviously watching their mirrors as they kept slowing down to check out the following faster cars, “just in case”.
Watching TV over the lap top, and Mrs B commenting about the overpaid presenters, soaking up our license fees. Just because they are on the tele does not automatically mean that they have sensible opinions or comments. In their defence most of them earn less than some of our illiterate prima dona football types who can hardly sting a sentence together.
Masonic season underway so being a member of several different organisations mean s that I spend a lot of time out at the moment. Blues, RA, KT,s, Conclave , Squaremen, Corkies, and OES. New 1st Principle of the Royal Arch being installed next month due to the retirement of Iain Fraser on Ill health.
Things looking up at the Mercat Grill, excellent Australian themed wine night last week, next up a German Style beer festival on 10th Feb with funds going to Rotary International.
Good luck to Scotland in th Six Nations Rugby which kicks off tomorrow.
So, start simply, because I had to do my Costco run this morning en route to the Mercat Grill I was in the car and decided that time being against me I did not have time to go home for the Time Machine. I then headed east along the A1 and down to Duns to play catch up with Andy Mimms at Border Bikes. He has been caring for the Steed of Steel for me and now after 26 years the petrol tank has kind of sprung a leak, so a new one / second hand one is now required ASAP so I can back on my favourite pair of wheels. After my blether and cuppa I stoped off at the Black Bull Hotel, Duns , fo4 a quick hello with the Boss, who is a member of our E&SESALTA group, wee chance to meet personally rather than the phone calls.
Back onto the A1 where it became a case of “any speed you can do I can go faster”, I was certainly going fast enough, next someone would race by me, and within minutes someone else going even faster would pass both of us. Quite surprising the speeds some people travel at, AND are obviously watching their mirrors as they kept slowing down to check out the following faster cars, “just in case”.
Watching TV over the lap top, and Mrs B commenting about the overpaid presenters, soaking up our license fees. Just because they are on the tele does not automatically mean that they have sensible opinions or comments. In their defence most of them earn less than some of our illiterate prima dona football types who can hardly sting a sentence together.
Masonic season underway so being a member of several different organisations mean s that I spend a lot of time out at the moment. Blues, RA, KT,s, Conclave , Squaremen, Corkies, and OES. New 1st Principle of the Royal Arch being installed next month due to the retirement of Iain Fraser on Ill health.
Things looking up at the Mercat Grill, excellent Australian themed wine night last week, next up a German Style beer festival on 10th Feb with funds going to Rotary International.
Good luck to Scotland in th Six Nations Rugby which kicks off tomorrow.
Saturday, 20 January 2018
A kind of poke in the ribs.
Couple of days ago I was asked why my blogs had deteriorated over past year and I had to be honest and say tha5 I had been put off by a “friend” who was more than derogatory about mine. However, while I’ll i obviously had little to write about as I was not leading my usually active life, and in addition , I do not know how to get pics from this I pad into the blog so have to remember to take a camera with me and use another lap top to do the blog, and that one appears to have a virus.
Anyway, snow here has me suffering from PMS. [parked motorcycle syndrome), creeping into the garage and checking that the optimiser is still keeping the battery live.
Masonic season well underway, so this week it was the OES, Tuesday, missed the lodge due to a snowstorm, Wednesday, the OES was cancelled due to the adverse weather again, Thursday , made it to Castlepark RA at Bonnyrigg, bit chilly, but good meeting. Today was at a District event for the OES so congratulations to Martha and John Black for their appointments as WM and WP of the Eastern District OES.
Back to the snow again, just a bit annoying when I get home and have no parking* space because the folks up the hill behind us feel they hadve a greater need of getting to work than we do, so , in fear of being snowed in they discover that they have a pair of legs capable of reaching their car if it is on apiece of the famous black strip.
Mercat Grill has a couple of great nights coming up, 27 th January an Australian themed wine night, food and drink at £25 if precooked, and on the 10th Feb a German beer night (£15) food and beers as a fundraiser for the Rotary International.
Nice wee touch tonight by Ian Stevens one of my old Department, who put up a pic of a Vandalbuster ruler, which we designed and produces way back in 1988 at the start of our successful Schoolwatch programme. in those days I had a marvellous proactive team of guys working with me.
IPA (International Police Association) still active, next regional meeting for me is in Stirling on 11th February, work being done now for Friendship Week in 2019.
The E&SESALTA Now has a countdown on the trip to South Africa in January 2019, a week of visiting wineyards, with the option of an add on holiday.
Anyway, snow here has me suffering from PMS. [parked motorcycle syndrome), creeping into the garage and checking that the optimiser is still keeping the battery live.
Masonic season well underway, so this week it was the OES, Tuesday, missed the lodge due to a snowstorm, Wednesday, the OES was cancelled due to the adverse weather again, Thursday , made it to Castlepark RA at Bonnyrigg, bit chilly, but good meeting. Today was at a District event for the OES so congratulations to Martha and John Black for their appointments as WM and WP of the Eastern District OES.
Back to the snow again, just a bit annoying when I get home and have no parking* space because the folks up the hill behind us feel they hadve a greater need of getting to work than we do, so , in fear of being snowed in they discover that they have a pair of legs capable of reaching their car if it is on apiece of the famous black strip.
Mercat Grill has a couple of great nights coming up, 27 th January an Australian themed wine night, food and drink at £25 if precooked, and on the 10th Feb a German beer night (£15) food and beers as a fundraiser for the Rotary International.
Nice wee touch tonight by Ian Stevens one of my old Department, who put up a pic of a Vandalbuster ruler, which we designed and produces way back in 1988 at the start of our successful Schoolwatch programme. in those days I had a marvellous proactive team of guys working with me.
IPA (International Police Association) still active, next regional meeting for me is in Stirling on 11th February, work being done now for Friendship Week in 2019.
The E&SESALTA Now has a countdown on the trip to South Africa in January 2019, a week of visiting wineyards, with the option of an add on holiday.
Friday, 12 January 2018
Bloody road works everywhere
I now join the hundreds of commuters who on a daily basis are delayed by the many roadworks taking place throughout the county and country. From recent personal experience all three roads between Penicuik and Edinburgh were restricted by traffic lights on the same day. Worst being the hole in road at Milton Bridge where there has been little or no activity for the past week, yet the traffic lights have been causing delays all the time. Looks like they intend to power up the new speed camera at the Golf Course , so be warned. ( I remember the days when on the nightshift we just turned off the lights removed the cones and let the traffic flow when it was sensible and safe to do so - current H & S Regs are just a licence for folks to print money which could well be used elsewhere) Just more annoying is the fact that the Council Highways folks seem perfectly happy to allow these cowboys to dig up the roads and cause chaos as and when they feel like it.
The late Adam Montgomery would have had this sorted out toute suite.
On a cheerier note, something to look forward to, a wine night and BBQ style meal, Oz theme, at the Mercat Grill on 27th January from 7 pm. £25 up front or £30 on the night. AND also a German Beer night in aid of the Rotary Club of Musselburgh on 10th February. £15. Beers and sausage included.
Adam Montgomery RIP
One of these strange events, when I was thinking about Adam Montgomery and ten minutes later I heard on the radio that he had died in hospital after a short illness.
Like many others I had known Adam for many years, mainly through his various positions with Midlothian Council, and the various and many things he did for his own community within Penicuik.
He will be greatly missed by family, friends and the community, a sad loss.
Like many others I had known Adam for many years, mainly through his various positions with Midlothian Council, and the various and many things he did for his own community within Penicuik.
He will be greatly missed by family, friends and the community, a sad loss.
Sunday, 7 January 2018
Now into 2017, what’s new.
Firstly, according to tradition , I need to wish one and all “all the best for the New Year”, And despite being a grumpy old so and so I genuinely do.
New year and this following week has been as hectic as usual at the Grill, so I am pleased to say that I did manage to eventually get a day off on Wednesday.
For those who have fled our native shores for sunnier climes, they will be pleased to know that weather here has been crap, wet, windy and cold . BUT despite that I have been able to get out on the “Time Machine” and had a wee run down to see Andy at Border Bikes, But the bad news being that the Steed of Steel is still in Dock, now waiting on a new tank as the original is now weeping fuel like a sieve.
National news, despite buying three papers a day, I tend to look at the births , deaths and marriages, and provided my name is not in print I am quite happy. TV news also brings on bouts of depression so better that I pretend to be like an Ostrich and bury my head in the sands. I do that Andy Murray has ha down to return home from upside down land tohave some real work done on his hip, it was pretty obvious on the T. That he was suffering from his bad hip and should never have been away and playin* so perhaps he was doing what his sponsors wanted.
Trip into Edinburgh last week, visited two of Weatherspoons finest establishments, and sadly on these occasions not impressed. Caley was understaffed so food was being left overlong on the gantry, and on this occasion mediocre. Standing Oder, and with my long history and association of the place, so disappointed with the state of cleanliness, especially down in the toilet area which was badly I need of a deep clean!! Bit smelly.
Princess Street, home to however many beggars, many ho can earn a tidy living sitting there looking miserable, probabaly doing better off than me !! Just a shame that the con men and chancers do spoil
it for those who are genuinely in need . Already documented by journalists who have tailed several of the so called beggars and know that they are making a good living from their con.
Much as I would like to help, no way am I being taken as a mug.
Along the same lines, there were the usual folks trying to get members of the public to sign up to the big charities, so much a month direct debit, etc. So the recruiters get a bonus which I believe to be 70p in the £. next on this theme we have a former MO who is earning £400k plus as CEO of a major charity receiving hundreds of millions in Foreign Aid!!! Again an example of big charities being run as commercial enterprises to the benefit of the few. Add the corrupt payments to foreign officials and the beneficiaries get very little of the original donations.
Bit like the pressure advertising on the TV for these £3 a month donations, Leopards, Polar Bears, Water purification, homeless, and so on, when you subscribe to own your name gets added to a data base and then you get hunted. hence the number of folks who have signed up for multiple donations to several organisations.
Maybe next time
New year and this following week has been as hectic as usual at the Grill, so I am pleased to say that I did manage to eventually get a day off on Wednesday.
For those who have fled our native shores for sunnier climes, they will be pleased to know that weather here has been crap, wet, windy and cold . BUT despite that I have been able to get out on the “Time Machine” and had a wee run down to see Andy at Border Bikes, But the bad news being that the Steed of Steel is still in Dock, now waiting on a new tank as the original is now weeping fuel like a sieve.
National news, despite buying three papers a day, I tend to look at the births , deaths and marriages, and provided my name is not in print I am quite happy. TV news also brings on bouts of depression so better that I pretend to be like an Ostrich and bury my head in the sands. I do that Andy Murray has ha down to return home from upside down land tohave some real work done on his hip, it was pretty obvious on the T. That he was suffering from his bad hip and should never have been away and playin* so perhaps he was doing what his sponsors wanted.
Trip into Edinburgh last week, visited two of Weatherspoons finest establishments, and sadly on these occasions not impressed. Caley was understaffed so food was being left overlong on the gantry, and on this occasion mediocre. Standing Oder, and with my long history and association of the place, so disappointed with the state of cleanliness, especially down in the toilet area which was badly I need of a deep clean!! Bit smelly.
Princess Street, home to however many beggars, many ho can earn a tidy living sitting there looking miserable, probabaly doing better off than me !! Just a shame that the con men and chancers do spoil
it for those who are genuinely in need . Already documented by journalists who have tailed several of the so called beggars and know that they are making a good living from their con.
Much as I would like to help, no way am I being taken as a mug.
Along the same lines, there were the usual folks trying to get members of the public to sign up to the big charities, so much a month direct debit, etc. So the recruiters get a bonus which I believe to be 70p in the £. next on this theme we have a former MO who is earning £400k plus as CEO of a major charity receiving hundreds of millions in Foreign Aid!!! Again an example of big charities being run as commercial enterprises to the benefit of the few. Add the corrupt payments to foreign officials and the beneficiaries get very little of the original donations.
Bit like the pressure advertising on the TV for these £3 a month donations, Leopards, Polar Bears, Water purification, homeless, and so on, when you subscribe to own your name gets added to a data base and then you get hunted. hence the number of folks who have signed up for multiple donations to several organisations.
Maybe next time
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