Case of Oops, having read last nights blog which was written whilst a bit under the influence of the hospitality received at the masonic club where the meeting of the Squaremen went well. turned out to be the annual installation , so that was different because I have never been to one before. Andy McKeen went back into the chair again. Hammy from Sauchie was there, he being the man who was up at Crieff on Thursday and reminded me of this meeting - he has also agreed to run a meeting up at Crieff in February for a team up there who want to join, but I am away on holiday so will miss it.
When I got home I called on my neighbours, Mike and Jane and Mike forced me to drink whisky, so I will probably need to go over and apologise, the old story , I always go and visit folks twice, the 2nd time to apologise.
I thought I was having a quiet day today, especially as Mrs B was away overnight at the McDonald Hotel, Hollyrood. The girls thought that their luck was in when they opened the bedroom door and found a man in the bed !! True, Mrs.B. was so traumatised that she had to be fed strong drink to recover. So a good night was had by all (not because of the man in the bed)- however at £11.50 a time for two drinks, and £17 for breakfast - just a wee bit too steep.
I, on the other hand was up up and away with RGB this morning, and there they were again , the men from First Class traffic management - so it seems that the law does not apply to them, their motor sat unattended, engine running, in the no stopping area for over an hour with not a soul near it . The traffic was bad enough today and that was quiet, so there will be bedlam tomorrow , and thereafter.
Place was quiet a.m. but the weather was terrible, however by 11.30 a.m. we were busy, and it just got more hectic as the day wore on - Hearts beat Hibs 2 -0 so Jamie had a bit of a long face and then Manchester United beat Chelsea 3 - 0, with young Mr. Rooney getting yet another goal.
There will be a few events coming up soon , 17th Jan for a Hawaiian night and charity fund raiser; 23rd Jan a Burns supper, and a mardigras next month, plus Jeremy will be over on holiday with a karaoke party on Friday 6th Feb.
Managed to get a run home with Claire, just in time before Tam and Catherine arrived as he was fiddling with the computer for me and also needed some stuff from me.
RGB a happy chicken tonight as his American football team, the Philadephia Eagles beat the New York Giants, not sure who else he has a bet with, but he is hoping for a nice double.
For CeeJay , got your message, but no photographs so far sorry.
Enough.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Dammed busy Saturday
What can I say , made it for the 7.17 a.m. bus, driver was Fergus , one of my ex scouts who was telling me that his step daughter had had her seventh child yesterday, but had needed to be revived after the event and was rather poorly. But ????????? four kids in four years, rabbits and squirrels spring to mind and even although I hope she recovers words like "the pill", abstinence, the snip, etc, spring to mind.
So back to work, place a bit quiet , however with the lazy bastards involved in the Tram works causing serious grief outside, what can be expected. WE have read about it, heard about it , and now it is on our doorstep - THE TRAMWORKS - compliments of the numskulls of Edinburgh City Council - the phrase "Ripping the Heart out of a City" have been used on innumerable occasions relating to the works between Leith and here, BUT NOW IT IS ON OUR DOORSTEP and it is all true , this being our first weekend and so far we have had "eight men looking at a pole", a worn footpath to Greggs the bakers, litter being scattered by brainless labourers who do not give a toss (the benefits from standing at the door and watching whilst attempting to get custom). BUT these twats do not give a toss, they are being paid to stand around idle - and this is just the start of the event - you can look forward to a minute by minute blow )
BUT RGB has now called me away so I will follow this up when I get home.
So back to work, place a bit quiet , however with the lazy bastards involved in the Tram works causing serious grief outside, what can be expected. WE have read about it, heard about it , and now it is on our doorstep - THE TRAMWORKS - compliments of the numskulls of Edinburgh City Council - the phrase "Ripping the Heart out of a City" have been used on innumerable occasions relating to the works between Leith and here, BUT NOW IT IS ON OUR DOORSTEP and it is all true , this being our first weekend and so far we have had "eight men looking at a pole", a worn footpath to Greggs the bakers, litter being scattered by brainless labourers who do not give a toss (the benefits from standing at the door and watching whilst attempting to get custom). BUT these twats do not give a toss, they are being paid to stand around idle - and this is just the start of the event - you can look forward to a minute by minute blow )
BUT RGB has now called me away so I will follow this up when I get home.
Something else to get up to today
Up early , not quite as bright as a weebutton , but feeling not to bad - three dry nights, plus my cough bottle all aiding the cause.
Plans today are to get the McEwans bus into town shortly, walk along to Haymarket and open up the Mercat, where hopefully we will have a few folks in for breakfast and lunch . Then 'nother bus down to the masonic Club at Shrubhill and make a rare appearance at a meeting of the Corporation of the Squaremen this afternoon. The Squaremen are one of the more social and less formal sort of side orders which freemason can join and are linked back to the various Craftsmans Guilds which were in the City. they raise a lot of money for Charity and have an annual service in the Magdallean Chapel in the Cowgate, a facinating little church which is well worth the visit. All the crests of the many Guilds from Edinburgh are around the walls, it is one of these well hidden little nuggets . It is normally a bit difficult tomake these meetings as we are working , but the times have been changed till 3 p.m. instad of 12 md.
There are several groups, or "Sheds" in Scotland but only one in England, so we occasionally get blokes coming up north to join.
That should take a couple of hours, bar might be open for a light libation, and afterwards depending on how the mood takes me , or what way the wind blows I can please myself and later get another bus home.
Mrs. B is meeting up with a couple of her friends, Irish Christine, etc., so she will not miss me for a few hours or so !! She will be having one of those sessions where ladies breath through their ears whilst their tongues and mouths are in action !!
Plans today are to get the McEwans bus into town shortly, walk along to Haymarket and open up the Mercat, where hopefully we will have a few folks in for breakfast and lunch . Then 'nother bus down to the masonic Club at Shrubhill and make a rare appearance at a meeting of the Corporation of the Squaremen this afternoon. The Squaremen are one of the more social and less formal sort of side orders which freemason can join and are linked back to the various Craftsmans Guilds which were in the City. they raise a lot of money for Charity and have an annual service in the Magdallean Chapel in the Cowgate, a facinating little church which is well worth the visit. All the crests of the many Guilds from Edinburgh are around the walls, it is one of these well hidden little nuggets . It is normally a bit difficult tomake these meetings as we are working , but the times have been changed till 3 p.m. instad of 12 md.
There are several groups, or "Sheds" in Scotland but only one in England, so we occasionally get blokes coming up north to join.
That should take a couple of hours, bar might be open for a light libation, and afterwards depending on how the mood takes me , or what way the wind blows I can please myself and later get another bus home.
Mrs. B is meeting up with a couple of her friends, Irish Christine, etc., so she will not miss me for a few hours or so !! She will be having one of those sessions where ladies breath through their ears whilst their tongues and mouths are in action !!
Friday, 9 January 2009
Footsteps in the snow
There was an article in the paper tonight about two youths in London being captured after the Police followed their footsteps in the snow.
Way , way, back, in the late 60's I was night shift at Loanhead when there was a call about 1 a.m. from a bloke who had seen lights flickering inside the then Miners Welfare Club ( the Casino) at Nivensknowe, Loanhead, which was the biggest Miners Club is Scotland at the time. Along with my old sergeant, Willie Wood we made our way there, on what was a clear frosty night with five or six inches snow on the ground. Out the Landrover and we saw new footprints around the building , we were joined by a couple of Traffic Officers from Dalkeith and due to the size of the building which had dance halls, swimming pool, bowling alleys, etc, we took corners to watch while a dog handler was called for. Doggie man and unhappy Alsation dog appeared ( having got it out its kennel), we stuck the dog in the broken window and a short time later one chewed up chappie was heard shouting for help and surrendered quite happily.
By this time the Manager and one of the key holders had arrived, and as the Casino was bang on the beat boundary, the Sgt called out Bill Baxter , the Seafield man whose area we were in, and got him out his bed. Baxter, being seriously annoyed at getting called out when all these other Polis were about , lost the plot when he got there, and sent the prisoner off to Loanhead Police Station with the traffic crew.
We then got down to business, and with a bottle of whisky to quench the thirst took statements from the witnesses. (sort of frowned upon these days)
So, a couple of hours later and a bit cheerier we headed back to the office, charged our man, sent him off to the cells at Dalkeith, and Baxter and myself got down to typing the Report, old style - two fingers and no spell check !!! (while the Sgt went off to bed !!!!).
Our man went to court later that day and was fined for the break in.
Way , way, back, in the late 60's I was night shift at Loanhead when there was a call about 1 a.m. from a bloke who had seen lights flickering inside the then Miners Welfare Club ( the Casino) at Nivensknowe, Loanhead, which was the biggest Miners Club is Scotland at the time. Along with my old sergeant, Willie Wood we made our way there, on what was a clear frosty night with five or six inches snow on the ground. Out the Landrover and we saw new footprints around the building , we were joined by a couple of Traffic Officers from Dalkeith and due to the size of the building which had dance halls, swimming pool, bowling alleys, etc, we took corners to watch while a dog handler was called for. Doggie man and unhappy Alsation dog appeared ( having got it out its kennel), we stuck the dog in the broken window and a short time later one chewed up chappie was heard shouting for help and surrendered quite happily.
By this time the Manager and one of the key holders had arrived, and as the Casino was bang on the beat boundary, the Sgt called out Bill Baxter , the Seafield man whose area we were in, and got him out his bed. Baxter, being seriously annoyed at getting called out when all these other Polis were about , lost the plot when he got there, and sent the prisoner off to Loanhead Police Station with the traffic crew.
We then got down to business, and with a bottle of whisky to quench the thirst took statements from the witnesses. (sort of frowned upon these days)
So, a couple of hours later and a bit cheerier we headed back to the office, charged our man, sent him off to the cells at Dalkeith, and Baxter and myself got down to typing the Report, old style - two fingers and no spell check !!! (while the Sgt went off to bed !!!!).
Our man went to court later that day and was fined for the break in.
Bathgate - intersting and diverse.
Had my trip to Bathgate and after a quick bite in the local JD Wetherspoon's ,took a walk down to the town centre where these three plaques were up on the walls round the "Steelyards" which I take to be the site of an old steelyard, the place haveing had a history of coal and iron mining. However there was also a sign indicating that the steel yard was a measure used by weavers.Princess Marjory was the daughter of Robert The Bruce who married a Stewart, but having no children ended the Stewrt line.
On the tropical theme , one of the oldest fossils found in Scotland , dating back 340 million years was found in the hills outside the town.
In more recent years the town had the British Leyland plant which employed 7000 folks, and Motorola, when BL closed the town had the highest rate of unemployment in the UK.
In more recent years the town had the British Leyland plant which employed 7000 folks, and Motorola, when BL closed the town had the highest rate of unemployment in the UK.
Thursday turned out to be intersting.
Met up with Andy Mc. (ex KP) who is now working for a firm suppluing workwear, uniforms, and all sorts of personalied clothing, ties, hats etc. and we left the City about 4.40 p.m.
Surprisingly we managed to get out through Corstorphone, passed the zoo, and then the Gogar Roundabout, and Newbridge with little or no delay and were soon scooting northwards towards Stirling. There were no hold ups and at a steady pace we reached Crieff at 6.10 p.m. , in nice time which allowed us to stop for a cuppa and a blether in alocal cafe - food was very good.
Over to the Lodge at 7 p.m. and the members were already arriving , met up with the Principle Andy Nicol, and my pal Kenny Jack from Pitlochry, who took us back up to their wee museum to let Andy KP see some of the old artefacts.
Chatting with Andy Nicol and it turned out he had ben in penicuik earlier in the day, Bonnyrigg and around the area picking up new accouts for tyre sales at our local garages.
Anyway, very good attendance for the Chapter meeting, with the annual visitation by Provincial. After the formal bits, Andy Nicol and John McMillan did two excellent lectures on the RA Jewels and the alter. Although I had read the lectures in the book I had never heard them presented on the floor - they were both first class and very well received. All being well I hope to bring them down to bonnyrigg on the 27th to give my members something different and instructive.
We had a cuppa afterwards and a plate of crinkle chips!! the two "venerable chefs" were good, a chat to some others I knew from Fair City Perth, OSM, RA , and even No 1 Mother shed of the Squaremen ( who meet this saturday in Edinburgh).
Anyway it was a great night, we had a good run home with time flying by as we chatted away and having dropped Andy KP at the Mercat I popped in , another cup of tea and then home to bed.
So it is up , still coughing (dammmm and blast) and now heading for B & Q to get a new seat for the "great white thunder box" which broke when I sat on same this morning , and some other bits and bobs. Then through to Bathgate for lunch.
Met up with Andy Mc. (ex KP) who is now working for a firm suppluing workwear, uniforms, and all sorts of personalied clothing, ties, hats etc. and we left the City about 4.40 p.m.
Surprisingly we managed to get out through Corstorphone, passed the zoo, and then the Gogar Roundabout, and Newbridge with little or no delay and were soon scooting northwards towards Stirling. There were no hold ups and at a steady pace we reached Crieff at 6.10 p.m. , in nice time which allowed us to stop for a cuppa and a blether in alocal cafe - food was very good.
Over to the Lodge at 7 p.m. and the members were already arriving , met up with the Principle Andy Nicol, and my pal Kenny Jack from Pitlochry, who took us back up to their wee museum to let Andy KP see some of the old artefacts.
Chatting with Andy Nicol and it turned out he had ben in penicuik earlier in the day, Bonnyrigg and around the area picking up new accouts for tyre sales at our local garages.
Anyway, very good attendance for the Chapter meeting, with the annual visitation by Provincial. After the formal bits, Andy Nicol and John McMillan did two excellent lectures on the RA Jewels and the alter. Although I had read the lectures in the book I had never heard them presented on the floor - they were both first class and very well received. All being well I hope to bring them down to bonnyrigg on the 27th to give my members something different and instructive.
We had a cuppa afterwards and a plate of crinkle chips!! the two "venerable chefs" were good, a chat to some others I knew from Fair City Perth, OSM, RA , and even No 1 Mother shed of the Squaremen ( who meet this saturday in Edinburgh).
Anyway it was a great night, we had a good run home with time flying by as we chatted away and having dropped Andy KP at the Mercat I popped in , another cup of tea and then home to bed.
So it is up , still coughing (dammmm and blast) and now heading for B & Q to get a new seat for the "great white thunder box" which broke when I sat on same this morning , and some other bits and bobs. Then through to Bathgate for lunch.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Too good to be true
The greatly awaited pleasant surprise failed to materialise - arrived at Morrison Street , pride of NCP , to find the piles of hardcore sitting like grey sand dunes in the surrounding lakes, mud everywhere, and not a shovel to be seen - perhaps they have all gone off sick with sore backs, blisters on their hands, etc.
My mate Danny reckons that the man with fag in hand was traditional with the Royal Nay in days of yore, unfortunately I thought he was an idle bugger with too much money to spend.
On the way in this morning I popped in to see how George the Handyman was faring at The Bush in his quest for clear water !!! No half measures here, the small hole was five feet deep , and the broken 4" water pipe had been traced and fixed. I had a look at the section of this pipe which had been cut off ( photo later) and it was quite well lined with sediment, now hardened over the years.
The girls in the main building were horrified at the thought of their drinking water coming though this dirty old pipe - so they are off to buy wee water purifiers.
Typing this in The Mercat, while waiting for Andy KP to arrive as we are off up to Crieff to a meeting of the Starthearn RA, couple of lectures on tonight that I have never heard before - so we will have a nice steady run up around 5.30 p.m. or so. Had we been able to get away sooner I had thought of going up either via the Falkirk Wheel, The St Andrews Brewery at Bridge of Allan or even popping into the Glenturret Distillery Visitor centre for a wee look.
Eleanora, or Italian student is working today ( sorry about the shaky photo), she is going back to Milan in a couple of weeks to try and resit her English language exam at University , then back for more practice. David and Jamie are experimenting in the kitchen with bread and butter pudding. - tastes lovely .
I see that Princess Kerrin is off on her travels with her new job on the Cruise Liners and is having a farewell bash on 30th January. at the Wiremills Club , Musselburgh . I am sure she will have a good time.
Just checking out my tracker and I see that our Sri Lankan friends, Chandana and Chandrika , presently living and working in Liberec, near Prague have been on site , so they obviously received their X-mas card. From the bits on the news recently it looks as though the troubles in Sri lanka between the Tamil terrorists and the government may well be coming to a head with some discussions taking place. it can only be good for the country.
My mate Danny reckons that the man with fag in hand was traditional with the Royal Nay in days of yore, unfortunately I thought he was an idle bugger with too much money to spend.
On the way in this morning I popped in to see how George the Handyman was faring at The Bush in his quest for clear water !!! No half measures here, the small hole was five feet deep , and the broken 4" water pipe had been traced and fixed. I had a look at the section of this pipe which had been cut off ( photo later) and it was quite well lined with sediment, now hardened over the years.
The girls in the main building were horrified at the thought of their drinking water coming though this dirty old pipe - so they are off to buy wee water purifiers.
Typing this in The Mercat, while waiting for Andy KP to arrive as we are off up to Crieff to a meeting of the Starthearn RA, couple of lectures on tonight that I have never heard before - so we will have a nice steady run up around 5.30 p.m. or so. Had we been able to get away sooner I had thought of going up either via the Falkirk Wheel, The St Andrews Brewery at Bridge of Allan or even popping into the Glenturret Distillery Visitor centre for a wee look.
Eleanora, or Italian student is working today ( sorry about the shaky photo), she is going back to Milan in a couple of weeks to try and resit her English language exam at University , then back for more practice. David and Jamie are experimenting in the kitchen with bread and butter pudding. - tastes lovely .
I see that Princess Kerrin is off on her travels with her new job on the Cruise Liners and is having a farewell bash on 30th January. at the Wiremills Club , Musselburgh . I am sure she will have a good time.
Just checking out my tracker and I see that our Sri Lankan friends, Chandana and Chandrika , presently living and working in Liberec, near Prague have been on site , so they obviously received their X-mas card. From the bits on the news recently it looks as though the troubles in Sri lanka between the Tamil terrorists and the government may well be coming to a head with some discussions taking place. it can only be good for the country.
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