Blink and summer has just passed - maybe?

What a hellish year we have had ( here in parts of Scotland),  rain, snow, rain, more snow and yet more rain.  Was looking out the window into the rain and my poor bulbs in the garden were sitting in three inches of water. Ground is so sodden that bulbs are rotting.    However, so far, no hurricanes, and nothing we cannot cope with apart from the escalating gas and electric bills -  just how arre some folks expected to manage. Use more energy, bigger profits for the energy companies and their shareholders,  but can we just keep switching left right and centre.

What use a drone?

I was working in the garden during the week and spotted a remote controlled wireless drone hovering not far from my house.  It was obviously fitted with a camera and seemed to be watching all that was going on, and when  I photographed it with camera it shot off .  I had a look around the local park and no sign of operator etc, so called Police Scotland  who have a set of questions for such an incident.  Where it was hovering was above a local primary school at playtime,  peadeo ??  someone watching nearby houses or kids in gardens, who knows,  but certainly an invasion of privacy.    Just gto be on the safe side I spoke to the school staff who were certainly concerned.

Yesterday, heading south on the A1 at the Cement works , Dunbar, spotted another drone hovering over the main road.  Why ?   

Wedding day for Claire and Darren at the Three Kings

Obviously been out and about this last week, between Star, Masons and Royal Arch, and things not helped by snow and even more snow.
However, Mrs B and myself made it through to a wedding venue, called The Three Kings at Shieldhill, near  Falkirk.   Mkind you,  when we arrived the car park was deep with snow and the owner had to call in a tractor to clear the place,  so we had piles of snow for a snowball ficht after the wedding !!!    Lovely service and reception, only down side was that there was no non alcoholic lager in the bar,  just booze and lots of fizzy drinks.  \I had to make do with cups of tea and water, being the designated driver (again).  The happy couple, Darren and Claire had a great day, certainly helped by the maddest minister I have ever come across, he was excellent and certainly had all the guests singing their hearts out.   So to the two of them, have a wonderful time,

Certainly not a gentlemanly comment

Good job I am not easily offended !!!    Met Dougie Wood and the Companions of Honor Concord and Fidelity at Loanhead last night where a new member was iniatiated into the Order, a good degree and lovely night.    Afterwards “young” Douglas told me his brother William had been reading the blog and had commented on the increasing size of my shadow!!   What a cheek,  mind you , I had lost  a bit of weight but since being ill and not able to be so active things have crept a bit up the scales, just need to do something positive about it.

Local by-election in Penicuik on Thursday to fill the post after the sudden death of the well respected Adam Montgomery,  place was filled by Joe Wallace, SNP,  former Provost of Midlothian,    But I Ma not so sure I agree with this fancy  1,  2. 3. Voting system, where figures are jiggled about. For me , one cross, end of story.     I am sure Joe will do his best for the community,   And having just received the latest Bill from Midlothian Council for my rates,  (blood pressure through the roof) I might have to start advising the numpties in the planning department of their crackpot ideas.      Mind you, I am so pleased that Midlothian have decided at long last to get their own traffic wardens and sort out these mindless morons who abandon cars all over the place,    I was coming through Roslin on Monday on the bus and someone had parked right opposite one of the so called traffic calming islands which are bad enough at narrowing the street, bus was stopped for a while and then driver had to mount the island and creep past the parked car (which had a disabled badge on it),  no excuse whatsoever for such inconsiderate behaviour.   Driver should have just sat and called the Police.

Next big “doggie” event at the Mercat Grill is a Sunday lunch on 8 th April, and one group have already booked a table for fifteen plus eighteen dogs,  should be fun!!

Well,   Sun is actually shining morning frost clearing and the forecast is good so I might tempt fate and have a wee run out on the “Time Machine”.

Cryptic Council Centenary and Canon Joe Morrow

Well,   having been at yesterday's installation ceremony at Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter , where around three hundred and seventy companions attended , it was just a bit different today at Dalkeith with only about thirty present for the Centenary Anniversary of the Hermitage of Braid cryptic Council No 395.   This became the first official duty for M.E.C. Joseph Morrow who led a team of Supreme Office Bearers through the ceremony.    What a lovely occasion, followed by an excellent meal and speeches.   As i am not a selfie person it was nice to be photographed with "the Boss".

Police Scotland, senior ranks doing no one a favour.

I keep forgetting to comment ,   but why, why, do we need to have the word police plastered on the bonnets of police vehicles in English and  Gaelic,  what did it cost to placate the interfering SNP types who were obviously behind this piece of nonsense.  Travel around the world and Police vehicles are marked up with  Police, Polis, etc,  I am positive the 100% of our Gaelic speakers understand the word police !!!     What a bunch o administrative Bampots.   And tonight on the TV News we hear that a whistle blower has been taken to task for disclosing that one of Police Scotland's ACC's , another import from south of the Border received £49000 as relocation expenses,  and even wanted it in cash to avoid tax !!!   bloody cheek, especially when we has some brilliant home bred  female senior officers who lost their jobs with the formation of the ludicrous single force. 
I see that Sir Stephen House, first chief who left to go to private industry, has picked up a new post in the Met,  they must be toiling there also.
Bottom line,  the beat officer is the backbone of the force, hard working, tolerant , caring, and a credit to the organisation.   What they must remember is that all officers are appointed as Constables and ranks are only administrative appointments.

M.E. Companion Joseph J Morrow, C B E, Q C; L.L. D., First Grand Principal Royal Arch

Quite an interesting day today when I attended the installation of  Joe Morrow as the new First Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland.   There were around three hundred Royal Arch companions present from all over the world to celebrate the event which was followed by a banquet meal.    Companion Morrow takes over the role from John Ian Fraser who has had to step down after nine very productive and exciting years, due to ill health.

The First Principal's , first formal function will be at the Hermitage of Braid's Cryptic Council Centenary rededication service at Dalkeith tomorrow. I look forward to seeing him there in a less formal setting.
Last night, Thursday, was ever so less formal when I attended a special meeting of the Mither Shed, Corporation of the Squaremen, held for this event at the Lodge Rooms , Roseburn, Edinburgh.  This meeting was held to allow sixteen Masons from France, over for the R.A. Installation today,  to join the "Squarries".  A really entertaining evening, no doubt most of it lost on our French brothers as it is held in the Old Scots vernacular.  I would suspect that they understood today's Installation much better!!