Ships which do not pass in the night

A really unexpected tragedy is unfolding off the coast of Italy where the cruise liner Costa Concordia has been grounded ashore having struck an underwater barrier. Looks like the crew managed to get the ship aground before it rolled over onto its side, however with three deaths, a number of injured, there are still many people reported missing and possibly trapped in their cabins.
More disconcerting was the fact that with the ship listing so badly the lifeboats on the waterside were heading into the sea whilst the angle of the boat did not allow the launching of the boats on the other side. The Captain and First Officer have apparently been arrested for leaving the ship some four hours the final passenger was taken off. ( sort of reminiscent of the way some of the Italian Officers behaved during the war !!!)

No doubt this will have a bit of an adverse effect on the sales of cruises.
For me, who has a thing about high rise buildings, I also have a thing about ships which sit too high in the water - in this case it may have been fortunate that this happened so near the shore - had it happened in more open seas the death toll might have been horrendous.

I am not sure how this will be categorised by the Insurers - if it was with Lloyd's of London, then I would suspect that tradition would be that the "Bell" would have been rung as happens whenever there is a shipping disaster at sea.

HOWEVER the photos of the helicopter and seaplane were taken in the sky above Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow, this morning - not sure if the seaplane was going to land and disturb the ducks !!!! - or whether it was making for the River Clyde or wherever.

Changing face of Penicuik

I had a message from a gentleman living in Aberdeen, who formerly lived in Penicuik, so for him I have added these photos of Penicuik.

First two are of "The targets" where he used to play as a boy.

There is a long distance shot showing the south entrance to Pepper Lamb's Pend, in the High Street, which allowed pedestrian access to Valleyfield Mill, the Close still has the original wooden cobbles through the archway.

The sites of the old Valleyfield and adjacent Eskmill are now new housing developments.

For many years the old war memorial, erected in memory of the French Prisoner's of war who were held in the cellars of the papermill having been captured during the Napoleonic War - lay hidden. However with the transformation of the site, the war memorial has been opened up, and the area cleaned - so there are now regular visitors.

Not quite a walk in the park

Lovely day, sunshine, fresh and perfect for a walk so I ended up having a wander round Blackford Pond and part of the Hermitage of Braids walkway.
Very popular place today, and the birds were enjoying a great picnic supplies by both adults and kids.

Changing Times

Changing times - or how things change, or not - In town this morning and we ended up in Jenners Store, Princes Street, which was built / opened in 1895 - and as you can see from the attached photograph has not changed externally apart from the new street lights. This shop, to me is one of the most classic buildings in the city and a "must" for all visitors, just to see the internal architecture - a warren, little staircases, and obviously for me a treat to go see Suzanne and her staff at "Breeze", wander into the Pen Shop; drool over the whiskeys - and of course have a chat to the lovely Gillian ( of fragrant ladies fame).

While Jenners has not changed in one hundred and twenty years, the same cannot be said about Penicuik , where the latest closures include M & Co; and the shoe shop in the Precinct ( old John Street) - one by one we are losing our retail outlets, which, when released are being taken over as Chinese restaurants - so if you are hungry we now have five Chinese and one Indian restaurant within one hundred yards- add them to the rest of the "overseas style" food outlets in the town, looks like the populace have given up home cooking and traditional recipes !!!

Contrasting thoughts and experiences

Thursday evening, a bit tired and watching another episode of "Earthflight" , totally fascinating documentary on the migration of birds around our planet. The photography is brilliant but the sequences taken by the microlite pilots who spent months working with the birds is absorbing.
The story line by David Tennant is very good and the way they have linked the interactions between the various animals is clever, ie the brown bears, hares, fish - and the landmarks such as the Bass rock, Isle Mont St Michel, Loch Ness - hundreds and hundreds of hours of filming all condensed into a fascinating hour. There was an amazing sequence where several species of birds teamed up to drive off a marauding polar bear who was eating chicks.

Wednesday night I did make it to Esk 42 RA at Dalkeith, nice to see the companions again after the Xmas recess, a good attendance and instead of having a candidate we had an excellent lecture by Andy McKeen on the twelve banners of the tribes of Israel - never heard it before and found it very interesting. Could say that the highlight of the evening was the presentation of Honorary Membership to David Weir of Dundas Gorebridge, an extremely well deserved recipient. For once Davy had to accept praise instead of the usual off the cuff friendly "insults".

This morning we were off to town early and attended the funeral service of my Uncle Walter at Warriston Crematorium. There were a number of friends present and I have to compliment the Minister on a lovely service - he was very good with an excellent oratory - may you now rest in peace Walter.

On the surface - not much to show for it

They say that time flies when you are enjoying yourself - maybe, but it also flies when you are busy - and occasionally you can be very busy with little to show for it - that's how I feel at the moment. Few minutes ago realised it was already Tuesday night - and more busy days ahead. So - what's happening you might ask ;- me, I was happy on Sunday morning, started out on a nice morning, clearing up the garden after the "2nd blawbag gale" broken fence panels, etc - fired up my garden chimera and had fun watching the flames - BUT - short lived, as the heat was too much and my beloved fire cracked up. Next one will be bigger and better.

Pleased to see that the Upside Down adults (Roz and Rick) have made it safely back to the Land of Oz, I was getting worried that the prison flights had been suspended !!! and / or Oz was no longer receiving Deportees from the UK or France - only joking - I believe they had an amazing new Year in Paris to end off a journey of a lifetime.

Menu is ready for the Burns Dinner at the Dolphin Inn on the 28th, looks good, especially with the Iron Bru sorbet and the Deep Fried Mars Bars - but as I am off to Kia's wedding I will miss it - however, will make up by taking in the wine meal at the Mercat Bar on 21st.

Roads were busy today, two car smash on the A720 by pass at 5.45 p.m. eastbound near Straiton - chaos once again, with a big car park stretching all the way back to Hermiston Gait - not a good night for the motoring public. Possible tragic event of a Lothian Bus at the Commonwealth Pool - bus was stationary with an ambulance pulling up at 4.15 p.m. and a huddle of folks within - bus still there along with the Police at 5.50 p.m. - does not look good for somebody (unfortunately).

Esk 42 RA tomorrow night, first meeting of the Year and an Honorary Membership being awarded - should make it all being well.

Long lost memories - good and bad

The brain cells die, but many memories live on - very true.

Today we went to visit a neighbour who is now being cared for in a local residential home - I have known this lady for over forty years and it was sad to see her in her present condition,. Short term memory non existent but long term as clear as a bell with her remembering the time we met, her job, etc., She had a great recall and was able to give me details of things even I could not remember.
One of the other ladies, who was dozing, became alert and within minutes was relating stories of her youth in Leith, where she had lived in West Bowling Street. Another wee lady, listening to the conversations , got up on her feet and came round handing out sweeties, the little Wethers toffees, lovely - so of course we began talking about "Lucky Dips", sherbert dabs, lucky potatoes, etc - so in turn I thought of the old Beechnut chewing gum machines, which you popped in your penny, turned the handle and out popped the pack with four pieces of gum.
For me this brought back a recollection of Johnny Wynne's shop in Balerno, opposite the Primary School. One afternoon, after school, I was passing the shop, gave the chewing machine a bang, and lo and behold out popped dozens of packets of chewing gum - which I , as a "wild child " stuffed in my pockets and headed home, some two miles away. However, the said Mr Wynne, owner of the wee shop, found out who I was and by the time I got home my parents were waiting to deal with "the thief" - so a short time later the chewing gum, minus a few mouthfulls was returned to Mr Wynne and I was sent to bed with a red raw bottom.

So, as we age,brain cells die , assisted by alcohol in many cases , however, irrespective of circumstances and situation, their is an inevitability about life - we are born to die, one way or another .