The Sky man called about the warranty, now the box is on the blink!!

Am I being cynical, suspicious or what? but when you get a call asking if I want to renew my warranty , said no thanks, and then the box starts to malfunction. In this day and age, and especially with a company who have so much control over these units through phone and internet links, why not have the ability to switch them off, which of course they already have if you do not keep up your monthly subscription.  Just a thought.

Terrible state of affairs in Turkey with the slaughter of innocents at the Istanbul airport yesterday, these fanatical suicide bombers have no respect for innocents, who they destroy along with the economy of the various countries they are choosing to attack.

On a happier note, managed a bit of a run out on the Steed of Steel yesterday, first in three weeks, so took the chance to frighten the motoring public with my latest high viz clothing (certainly will not be run over !!!).

Talk about being stupid!!

I am referring to the Scots drug mule, Melissa Reid recently released from prison in Peru after being caught with cocaine worth £1.5 million along with The Irish girl, Michella McCollum.   When arrested they were denying all knowledge, claimed to be innocent  and then eventually obviously plea bargained to get a lesser sentence.
Now that she has been sent home she has admitted that she knew what she was doing and did it as a challenge so she could boast to her friends in Ibiza about it.

Maybe I am wrong but now she has made this public, if I were in law enforcement I would keep this public admission handy and use it against anyone else caught in the future to rebuff any denials they may make.
She has just made life more difficult for others who might be as daft as she was.

Life's little ups and downs,

Never the less, still standing, however, occasional problems with balancing quantities of pills.
At least the sun has decided to shine again, so odd jobs around the house being done.

Saturday and Sunday we had Penicuik Archery Club out competing in the local playing field, certainly changed days since I was a lad.

So, yesterday while in town I dropped into Edinburgh Harley Davidson showroom for a wee wander and to give my mind a treat.   On the way in met three intrepid riders (all older than me) heading off on their grand machines.

Once again I was sort of Gobsmacked at the price of one of the bikes.  £40k if you took finance,  so to avoid any Queries I copied the attached.

 This might be bike in question.

Another day older , as they say, now just waiting to see where the next bill comes from.

Very pleasant weekend to celebrate the passing of yet another year,  now getting to the stage where I start wondering if it is worth buying a new pair of shoes !!!!!   having said that I did get a new pair of "dress" sandles for my birthday , just need to break with tradition and get a nice pair of socks to wear with them and show just how much class and style I have.
Dinner out on Saturday night, very nice,  even opted to take Bombay Saphire and tonic instead of my usual red wine.  Sunday, trailed over to Makro only to discover that hey are reducing the number of "lines" they stock, so a wasted journey, but when I did get home it was footie time, much to Mrs B's annoyance.
Still suffering from side effects of new medication so having to rest more than usual, real pain in the proverbial butt.
Last night spotted this lovely wee motor cycle on a trailer in Penicuik, 1954, DMW,  195 cc, which was bought by owners father and had been in a garage from 1961 till two years ago, now beautifully restored.

It has taken me a long time to get beyond switching my computer on and off,   so this morning, while resting I discovered some old photos which have been hidden away for six years, taken when our group from the South East Of Scotland Licensed Trade Assoc visited Avignon in 2008.   We took the chance then to meet up with our friends in L'Isle Sur La Sorgue so I have no hesitation in adding a couple of Francoise and Antoine (RIP) Nicolas, who have been such good friends.

Once again, time and tide, as they say -

Left Castlebrae last Friday night, two says early as I had had enough, or should I say that I felt I had not benefitted as much this visit as on my previous one.  Never mind, I had a few days rest and some lovely runs around the beautiful Scottish countryside.
Home, and back to my wee jobs, pottering about the house and garden, couple of ride outs on the Steed,  and generally keeping myself occupied.   Current problems being exacerbated by a new drug which makes me seriously fatigued at times when rest is the only resort.
Very fortunate with a few more days of super weather, however, we did get hammered by hailstones and flash floods mid week, not amusing, with a fair bit of damage in Penicuik.
Popped into the Mercat Grill several times for various reasons, place has been doing well, keeping everyone on their toes.
Today was a bit of a treat, afternoon tea at Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh, very nice indeed, setting is marvellous, and certainly the best we have had in the Edinburgh area, but not as nice as Claridges.
Tonight, a special meeting at Loanhead RA, Honour Concord and Fidelity, with two candidates, both members of the Widow's Sons,  (prolific charity fund raisers) good turnout, just a pity I had to leave early but having done my bit, and feeling iffy, it was home to rest.

Sun still shining, scenery wonderful, and it is Scotland.

Made it to the PTC at CAstlebrae, Auchterarder, on Sunday, although crossing the Forth Bridge was a nightmare with massive hold ups due to the road works.  However, the sTeed of Steel did the trick and I arrived in one piece which is more than can be said for a couple of scooters.  There had been a big rally down in Kelso and I passed two of a group who were making for Peterhead, a long run on the scooter. One had a puncture and before he could stop safely he had ruined his wheel, the other lost his exhaust due to the expansion joints on the road bridge.
Quiet night here on Sunday, physio , reflexology and some fitness work on Monday with a fifty mile ride out through and around Crieff on Monday evening. Today, a morning run through Crieff, then by the Sma Glen to Aberfeldy,  Taymouth, south side of Lock Tay to Killin, then Lochearnhead, St Fillans, Comrie, and then back to Auchterarder in time for lunch ( round trip of ninety five miles, beautiful weather and fabulous scenery).
More physio, a swim, lecture, and wee read in the sun this afternoon, perfect.

Bit of style in the sunshine

Still not getting any better on this computer, just lost the original post.  Never mind, today the sun shone for a change and it was back to the happy smile club once more. Thankfully just in time for the Hunter and Lass celebrations in Penicuik.    However, I had other plans in hand, attending the Celebration service and dinner to commemorate the Centenary of Acheson's Haven Cryptic Council.  An excellent service carried out by the Supreme First Principal, Ian Fraser and his team.  Very good attendance and afterwards there was a surprise presentation of Honorary Grand Rank in Supreme to one of the Council's long serving and hard working members, John Gemmell.

 Bit of a treat for me, being on the mend after all my recent happenings with the NHS, so I was able to dress up for the event and subsequent dinner.   So not only did I get scrubbed up, I treated the "Steed of Steel", my transport for the day, to a bubble bath, compliments of the biker lads who were running a fund raising car wash in the Mercat Grill car park ( back again tomorrow I think), for Marie Curie Hospice

Thought that it was also worth adding the following,  just to break the stereotype of your motorcyclist, wee bit class does no harm !!