Despite the late night ? early morning , we were up reasonably early and feeling fine, but tired. So - we had a lazy couple of hours with me sorting through all the photos of the ball and picking a few to use in the last blog. ( Still loads to use ) I see that Scotland managed to hold up well at Hamden park against Argentina last night , with the visitors winning 1 - 0.

Being a nice fresh morning , sunny but getting cold, with a forewarning of the Arctic blasts soon to hit us , we thought we might take the big red bus to town, good having my bus pass. nice quick run into town , stopping off at the new park and ride facility at Straiton which is getting busier and busier. We eventually got off at the South Bridge and had a walk up the Royal Mile/ High Street, by the Tron Kirk, St. Giles Cathedral, City Chambers , passing the site of the last public execution in Edinburgh at the corner of the Lawnmarket.

Into the National library on George lV Bridge where they have an exhibition on the life and works of Robert Burns. Lots to look at, his books, several portraits and group pictures relating to his poems, and even his masonic apron, which was specially made for him.

On leaving we ended up going into the Bank of Scotland museum on the Mound where they have a remarkable exhibition on the histroy of the bank, and banking in Scotland. there are two display cases each filled with £1 million in £20 notes , each bundle weighs about nine stone. there is a Robert Burns poem on money, written on the back of a one guinea note. The story about Robert Watkins ( I think) who was a forger , also from Muachline, Ayrshire, who instead of being executed was sent to Botonay Bay, land of Oz. He, being a superb artist produced some remarkable paintings / drawings of the local life out there and was eventually returned back to Scotland, but went back to his forgery.

So then it was a trip along to The Mercat for some lunch, and then back via the shops so that Mrs. B. could "touch" things in the sales.

Have just been sitting watching the TV over the top of the computer to see the young girl, Pamela, from Glasgow win the final of the "Dirty Dancing" competition - well done.