Even with the best of intentions, but Dubai was good.

I really had planned on a new frontal assault on this blog, trying to emulate the many who have thousands of followers,  fat chance !!      Still trying o sort out which direction I plan on going.
However,  since last entry we have been to Dubai for a weeks holiday. Certainly different this time, as we were celebrating a "significant" birthday, and I have to say that the birthday dinner in the revolving restaurant of the Hyatt Regency was wonderful, made even more memorable by the personal service of Chef Maner,   our expected buffet style meal turned out to be a unique experience, cooked and served by the head chef, assisted by the sushi chef,  just an exceptional evening.   Also spectacular in so much that we had ever changing views of the city as the whole restaurant slowly revolved.     Our birthday treat on behalf of RGB, who in cohoots with Alannah Doe (chefette exceptionalle), was a total surprise.  Picked up at our hotel by Alannah in her Ford Mustang, we cruised the length of Dubai and ended up at the at a remarkable hotel, (name escapes me),  then taken by a buggy to the jetty where we walked out to the Restaurant "Pierchic" , in the bay,   just enchanting for a couples romantic evening. It is one of these special places to visit, brilliant setting, and super staff.
I did meet up with my former colleague and motorcycling mate of the IPA,  Thomas McInallay Esq, formerly of Clermiston and now of the Le Pitite Pible, , south of France, where we motorcycled to three years ago.  Tom and Pam in good fettle and when contract finishes will be home in France next year. 
Just a pity I was ill while away but I have to say that the staff at the Regency Hyatt were so caring and helpful and helped make my under the weather day acceptable.
Finally, in this item,  I must comment on the differences in airports,  we flew with with Emirates and their terminal at Dubai is spectacular, ultra modern, spotless and so well organised, so arrival at Edinburgh must come as a total shock to first time visitors!!  What an embarrassment - totally, coming through those doors into the immigration area,   welcome to SNP Scotland , NOT>

Doggy Day at the Mercat Grill, overshadowed by the SNP

I apparently missed a smashing doggie orientated coffee morning at the Mercat Grill , Whitecraig, this morning.  Thirty pooches and owners, friends arrived, and from all accounts, only one of the four legged customers let the side  down.  With luck there will be enough good photos to produce a "doggy" calender this year.
Regulars should check the Mercat Grill web site to get news of future events, the Whisky Club, and wine nights.   

ENOUGH   -    trying to type this blog and the TV news is on, with more news of the Brexit  carry on, time it was sorted out, and even worse, the SNP  led by the paranoid Nicola is waging war to get another Independence Referendum, even if it means doing a deal with the Labour party led by the IRA and terrorist sympathisor , Jeremy Corbyn (sad state of affairs), and even making new legislation to allow convicted criminals in jail to vote!!    Dirty trick the name of the game.  Sad state of affairs when I am no longer proud to wear either of the Scottish flags.    Matters can only get worse. 

Back to New Lanark Mills

Just like the proverbial bad pennies we keep turning up at the reception desk of the New Lanark Mill Hotel.  Did try somewhere else for a change, however, not the same so back we were last week.     Listed as a World Heritage Centre the Mill complex improves all the time with the obvious intent of making all the buildings totally habitable.     The shop and cafe complex have been altered and a new exhibition centre has been opened.     This weekend there was a light show taking place on the history of the site.

As the weather was nice we had a shortish walk along the Falls of Clyde where the river was at the highest I have ever seen it.  STATISTICALLY  !!!    there is normally an average of  around forty tons of water per second flowing over the Falls,   however it must have been truly spectacular when the highest flow, of 575 TPS  were flowing.

Staff from the Hydro Board were working n
ear the power station installing new transformers, so the nearby hydro power station, which has been in use since about 1926 is still earning its keep.
Nice way to rest and relax for a couple of days where the staff always make you welcome.

Gold mining in Scotland

Having had an early run down to The Mercat Grill to do my Friday chores, home by 12 md and the sun shining  time for a run out on the Steed of Steel.  Bit of a change today as I headed West, through Biggar, to Abington, then off the beaten track to Elvanfoot where I found a former colleague busy in his front garden. Quick cuppa then over the moors to Leadhills and then onto Wanlockhead, the highest (coldest and wettest) village in Scotland.   BUT also massively interesting with a lead mining museum, a lead mine to visit and also a place where you can book a days training at gold panning> Way back in the late 1700's they were finding the purest Scottish

Gold  (used to make the Scottish Crown)  and producing gold which at modern values would be worth around £500 million.
Local narrow gauge railway in the nearby Leadhills was closed as it only runs on weekends,  so maybe a return visit soon to go into the mine and also try the wee train.    I have a sort of hazy memory of going into the mine a long time ago.    I also had a geologist friend who used to go to Wanlockhead every other weekend with his wife when they would pan for gold and reckoned they could could cover their costs with  what they found.

Having started off much later than expected I had to head homewards but even so detoured towards
Lanark , and cut back over to Biggar, then cut south onto the A 701, through Blyth Bridge, and eventually back to Penicuik.

Downton Abbey

Take the saying " grey skies are going to clear up", but not quick enough so when I saw the overcast skies this morning, and feeling a bit iffy,  an appropriate answer to what shall we do today ? was  - The CINEMA !!!   no idea the last time I was there.   So off we went and took ourselves to see the movie version of the long running TV series, Downtown Abbey,   personally, I thought it was excellent, had a nice feel good factor, some sad bits as well,  but enjoyable enough for both of to be prepared to go and watch it again.  The settings are marvelous with the location for the Abbey being Highclere Castle, Carnarvon, Welsh Wales.   Just stunning. lots of period vehicles including a number of trams which seem to be more efficient than the current fleet running (at great expense) around Edinburgh.  If successful enough, the story line left enough scope to produce a follow up. 
Pleased to discover that the sun was actually shining when we left the cinema, so a chance for a bit of fresh air before heading off to another RA installation tonight at Currie, my old stamping grounds and only yards from one of my previous childhood homes.

Representing the people, or just blowing their own trumpet.

I  know it is difficult enough when the ballot papers appear to try and decide where to put my lowly X,  mind you, for years it was pretty straight forward, you just voted for the person who had been put forward to represent the party whose politics were in line with yours.
But nowadays, our elected MP's appear to please themselves what they do as soon as they are elected into whatever Parliament they were running for.
Mind blowing, but how do a minority of MP's decide they know better than the public who elected them in?   Maybe pressure from heavy hitting financial lobbyists,  I do not know,  I just think that future elections will be very interesting and there will be a few ex - MP's around.     MEP's  just scunner me,as does the whole EU set up, run by a few folks who are feathering their own nests !!!     BUT   today I see an item about one of the "Green MSP's" who, out of the blue ( maybe out of the Green),  has decided that once Scotland becomes an Independent country, after the next referendum, he is going to suggest that the Queen is removed from Hollyrood Palace, which will become an annex to the Scottish Parliament and used for meetings and the additional admin staff needed to run our Independent State.    In all probability, the current parliament building will be falling to pieces and flooding due to the existing building faults.           Kind of losing the line of thought,  but I just thing our MP's no longer represent the People.    End of today's rant, 

Iceland is green and Greenland is mainly white

Despite health issues we did manage to get off on holiday at the end of June, again cruising with Fred Olsen on the cruise ship Balmoral ,  from Rosyth which was very handy. This was the same ship we traveled on last year to the Baltic States, so it was nice to meet a few familiar faces on board. Just unfortunate that I was not fit enough to really enjoy the trip / holiday fully.  One of the bits I do remember was during one of the talks on Iceland was that when the Island was first discovered the explorer returned to Norway and told the king of his discovery and described it as being green, so when he later went off on his travels and discovered the large mass covered in ice and called it Greenland, no wonder the King was displeased. 

  

But we went there, originally with the intention of visiting the air base where my father served with Coastal Command, but that turned out to be impracticable at this time.  

Shame the weather was so iffy, we had days when it was teeming down, other days were beautiful, and we found beautiful botanical gardens at one of our overnight stops. 

More photos and notes for another entry.

A sort of old memory comes to mind,    Many years ago one of the best carpet manufacturers in the country was based at Bonnyrigg,  Henry Widnell and Stewart, who made superb pure wool carpets.  One of their carpets was named  "Tundra" and was produced after one of the designers had flown over Greenland on his way to North America, and on looking out the aircraft window saw the barren terrain below.  Turned out to be one of their most popular products.