Monday / Tuesday - Stats and fatalities

Monday, not a lot to report - up as usual and headed into town but was stuck on the A702 at Hillend for fifteen minutes due to temporary traffic lights on the bend where a wagon had destroyed the safety barrier over the weekend. As usual with the Council, there was no consideration given to the motorist - there was a queue over a mile long heading North and only the occasional car heading south - normally the responsible organisations have the lights manned to try and keep traffic moving.
Had a steady morning and lunch time at the Mercat before heading home to get on with some of my own work - and an early night.

Tuesday - Up at 4 a.m. this morning after another of my usual restless nights, sorted and onto the road by 4.50 a.m. and for once not a single white van man passed me before I reached Glasgow where Bob the man was waiting. Mega quick handover and I was off and heading south.
The M6 is getting worse, three sets of massive roadworks all governed by Average speed cameras - so just about everyone travelling at 50 mph. With the cameras costing so much to install it has to be the case that they do work as it is a means they can recoup the costs.

My white van men did not let me down in the end - one elderly guy near the Morcombe turn off was sitting there happily at about 95 mph. in a wee van - wandering from lane to lane chatting to his wife and grandchildren on his mobile phone. For all it costs for a basic hands free system, perhaps it is time they started crushing the cars being used without a system in place. Do it on the TV before the lottery each Saturday and I am sure the sales of hands free systems would soar, a few range Rovers and a half a dozen white vans in the crusher - problem solved.

Arrived at Runcorn and met with Christine in Reception who is back from her holidays, AND a now a new grandmother, the new baby was born early and only 1lb 12oz, now up into the 2lb area and doing OK - well done, and all the best to the baby.
Kelly and Linda were ready with their paperwork, next stop to see Dick Turpin's sisters who were in good fettle, even trying to sell a fried egg which looked like a rubber doorstop.

Good run north, apart from getting stuck behind a couple of lorries on the two lane stretch of the M74 doing the 2 mph overtake, causing massive tailbacks . Friend Bob was still in the office waiting on Fraser.
Looking at the news tonight, there was a triple fatal accident on a railway level crossing in the North of Scotland near Wick / Thurso when a car drove onto a level crossing totally ignoring the red lights - having sat and waited at these crossings I can see how some folks get fed up and decide to take the risk. Anyway - big one like that, possible that Fraser might have had to go north to deal with it.

Home, out for the count so it was off to bed for a few power zzzzzzzzzz's and recover, which worked a treat - so feeling much better, nice bottle of Kumala Eternal helping with the process.

"GOOD NEWS" tonight according to the Scottish Government, crime figures are the lowest for many years !!!!!!!!!! and all thanks to the many more policeman (invisible) on the beat. I am quite keen to see the official breakdown of the figures as they have been laundering them for years - and this year will be no different, might even be worse.

One hungry spider

This greedy wee chap, a spider of some dimension was looking forward to his dinner arriving . Taken with the wee camera which is not as good as the big one, but a lot handier.

Two photos and more

Using the wee lap top, mainly to prove a point that Sandra's internet connection with Talk Talk is rubbish.

The wee statues were in the park at Staines, and Ann spotted ne outside Tesco's with her flowers and Willie's tickling stick.

Discovered this morning that some varlet had broken into William's garden shed earlier in the week, but hopefully they had been disturbed and took nothing - so it was down to Homebase and a nice new Yale padlock and hasp fitted (properly). So it is now time for the usual Crime Prevention advice as the dark nights draw in, make sure everything is locked up, even windows, get your outside lights working, and make sure that the local Neighbourhood watch Co-ordinator knows of any suspicious incidents. William and Sandra are very fortunate as their local NHW lady is a real gem , right on the ball and who has an excellent rapport with both the local Police and the London University who have many students renting in the vicinity.

Just had word from Mr Dunk, so it will be Runcorn or bust on Tuesday - still no word as to whether it is back to London on Wednesday though.

Took the BMI flight home today from T1 which was quiet with no delay at the check in and secuirty. BUT - just what goes through some peoples minds ? full plane waiting to shut the doors and five passengers failed to turn up so their bags were taken off while we waited - makes you wonder. Lady in front of decided she wanted to sleep so I ened up reading the paper up in the air as there was not enough room for my tum and the table, etc . Bought a bottle of red wine as I do not have enough points on my BMI card to qualify, but I should have had their prices been right and they flew out of London City. Wine was actually quite good compared to the paint stripper supplied by Air France a couple of weeks ago.

Despite everything we landed on time and went straight through and onto an airport bus / city shuttle with no wait at all, so now, believe it not, back in The Mercat Bar for dinner and to wait on RGB and Jo Jo

Pin cushion man

Saturday tea time, lots of sunshine both today and yesterday.

Friday, we headed off at 9 a.m. , took the bus up to Stains and had a nice wee wander. I left the girls to go "shopping" and took myself off to explore. The town of Stains is apparently famous due to the production of linoleum way back in the late 1800's and there is a sculpture commemorating the same in the High Street. Manged to find the local Wetherspoon's pub , The George , where we stopped for some lunch before heading down to sit by the River Thames for an hour. As I said, the weather was lovely, there were lots of folks about in the High Street , and it seems that the dancing programmes on the TV are making dance classes so popular as three different dance schools were out recruiting.
I even popped into the local community centre in the town , place was very busy, lots of different activities taking place, scrabble, massage, language classes, card schools, and a nice restaurant. Met the Manager, Sue, who runs the show along with a team of volunteers and seems to be doing a brilliant job.

Dropped into William's local club where I spotted this plaque for an English brew "Tea Beer" which will please Mr Allan Senior who is always asking for a glass of tea !!! but he generally is looking for a pint of Tennants.

Home, had a sit in the garden till William finished work, and we then took a light libation, with feet up in front of the TV.

This morning , again lots of sunshine, although it was cool early on - but we were off to catch the bus up to Windsor. Arrived along with bus loads of tourists, and the first tourist spot is the crooked house, which has been like this for a very long time, however, our ladies were more interested in the big shops - so that let William and I off the hook. Headed for the bookies so that William could do his forecast . Sitting listening to the Virtual Racing when I heard a dog's name being called "Swift Malcolm", which was one of the names Carolanne and Dennis use " Swift ---- followed by a name. Too late to put a bet on , and the dashed thing WON.

Up the street I saw a sign outside a Chinese Herbalists offering cheap massage , so I went in , the "Doctor" had a prod or two at my back and neck which were knotted and rock solid and without more ado, decided that I was needing acupuncture - me, I had no say in the matter - and within a couple of minutes I had needles in my neck, shoulders, back, bottom , legs and ankles !!!! he could not speak English , I had no idea what was happening so just had to lie still and hope for the best. After a while I could feel lots of heat generating in my back, a few electric shocks, a bit of muscle twitching, etc. When he did return he drew out the needles and gave me one of the heaviest massages I have ever had - BUT , it was brilliant and seems to have done me the world of good. looks like it was money well spent , although I did resist all his offers for various medicines.

Met the team and we took ourselves down to the Three Crosses Pub to see if Eddie Murphy was on duty, the ex policeman we had met on our last trip there, however he was elsewhere so all we could do was leave a message , after a couple of beers and our lunch.
Headed for the bus which arrived 35 minutes late, and then the driver GOT LOST - took the wrong turning and had to go round the block a couple of times - I think he was very new to the job and by the time we got back to Egham he was about 50 minutes behind schedule.

So , time now for dinner, a glass of wine, feet up and have a laugh at the X -Factor

Tickets now all organised to get home tomorrow.

Sun has got it's hat on, hip hip hip hooray

Just studying the photo in the paper of Sydney Opera house obscured by the terrible sand storms hitting that part of the world. those storms, plus flash floods and even more wild fires - just shocking, and over such vast distances. To think that the Australians have been so eco conscious for years, banning the nuclear powered ships, etc .

And here I am, sitting in lovely autumn sunshine, nice cool beer in hand , it is so pleasant and relaxing - which makes a change for me to sit tranquil and at peace for more than a few minutes.

Yesterday we dragged young Stuart out his bed and headed for his "local!, the Forrester's Bar , about 10 minutes from the house and upset the tranquility of the English countryside - good fun, however the session continued right through till the "wee sma hours" with the obvious knock on after effect this morning.
BUT not to be daunted , we have had a lovely walk out in the sunshine, looked at several of the local "sights", of which there are many as the new term has started at the nearby campus of the University of London - and eventually had a nice wee seat in the sun at the Red Lion in Egham High Street. It was all quiet until the Police arrived with two folks who I presume to be licensing officers and then there was some shouting and bawling going on.

So now, out into the sunshine again, content in the knowledge that I did manage to get a couple of seats on a BMI flight to Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon.

Going to miss the wine tasting tonight.

Up and off and out the Chair.

All excited this morning - up early , bag sitting at the door, just waiting for RGB to get out his bed and take us to the airport - short hop with British Airways to T5 London , this should be fun !!! And will certainly hang onto our bags. Off to sunny Egham to see Sandra and William for a few days , and it looks like we will be hitch hiking up the Motorway at the weekend.

Busy day yesterday , headed for Bonnyrigg to see Mr Photogenix,@ Grant, who was megga pleased to print off the photo of myself and Ali Mcoist - back up the road and had to help make up the buffet for my "Greeting Meeting" last night.

Not sure what was on , or where, but we had a poor attendance at RA Laird O Cockpen, No 500 , however, those who did come were made more than welcome and enjoyed the meeting.
So that was my last full meeting , next one is the installation on 27th October when Douglas Neil takes the chair. One of our older members Jock Hunter died earlier in the morning after a fairly lengthy illness - our thoughts to the family. His son in law, Ray Watson, was a friend of mine for a few years when he was working in the Penicuik area, but we have since lost touch

Going to miss the wine tasting tomorrow night at The Mercat Bar , nice selection of Argentinian wines up for a "gurgle" or "wee swallow", accompanied by some nice food.

Subliminal thinking there - just a flash as I though of one Derrik Mills, but never seen or heard of for ages - he is still owe Mrs B . and Lillian a lunch, knowing him it would be in Lydl's snack bar, if they had one.

Nice to meet Globetrotting folks.

Yet another night with little or no sleep - gets a bit annoying to say the least !! So after a couple of restless hours it was up about 5.30 a.m., and eventually took a ride in the dark into town. The motorbike I photographed yesterday had been knocked over during the night by vandals, so with a little help I got it back onto its stand again.

All set up up nice and early, and then my customers started to arrive, not many locals as this was a holiday weekend, but all parts of the Globe, starting with Spaniards ( five of them); three girls from the Netherlands, one being a mountain climber ( no mountains there but she climbs in an indoor centre and flies over to Scotland to climb) She had not heard of the National Climbing Centre at Ratho, but was going to give it a look - the other two girls worked at the Raddison, Edinburgh.

A number of visitors from the USA, firstly two "young " ladies from Dallas Texas, Norma Farris and Barbara Archibold, who were part of a group of forty nine good folks from the Dallas area who had joined a trip organised by their local radio station, FM "K Luv", to tour Scotland. We even listened into their morning show on the computer and the ladies sent them an E mail with an update of their holiday.

A short time later another couple, John and Joan, from Olympia, Washington State, arrived after a long day on foot exploring the City - looking for the two pints of Guinness promised this morning as a reward for their efforts. Due to leave in the morning at 4 a.m. so they decided to go with a real treat, a nice couple of steaks, made by the fair Claire which they thoroughly enjoyed. I hope they have a safe journey home.

There were another couple in who were over for a conference at the University on stem cell research.

Back to my tramworks theme, we had three gents in, two had flown up from the South of England for the day to examine a broken sewer in Princess Street - damage caused by the tramworks. An expensive little jaunt at the City taxpayers expense.

Looks like my plans for the coming week are all changed, course has been rearranged for the 1st and 2nd Oct. So it looks like Mrs B and I will be heading home whenever!!!!