An unnecessary defeat

Just what do we have to do, Scotland were beating South Africa 10 - 0 at half time at Murrayfield, missed four penalty kicks and then lost 14 - 10 !!! A blooming shame, and they wonder why the fans stay away , apart from the price of the tickets. And then Andy Murray played like an old man , and was given the runaround in China - he will have to waken up his ideas again.

So, it was on the road early, into Bookers and then to see Brash the butcher to get the Sunday roast and the special sausages for the fans today. into the Bar by 0830 with the place beginning to show signs of life.

Things began to pick up and we were busy, so much so that Claire and I had to go back to see Mr Brash and get a second helping of sausages, and later on Graham Allan had to go back again !! Plenty of bangers getting scoffed.

While at the butchers I spied a statue across the road and it turned out to be in memory of Robert Louis Stevenson , and depicted Alan Breck Stewart and David Balfour , two of the characters in Stevenson's book, "Kidnapped" who had apparently parted at a point near to the site of this statue. the statue was unveiled in 2004 by Sir Sean Connery.

Having decided to stay on a bit longer I went to put some more money in the meter at the Morrison Strret car park, and spied a wandering city fox standing at the back of the car - it stood and watched me long enough for me to get the picture, then just strolled off.

Back at base , "Buckethead" was busy serving up assisted by young Lauren, our student chef - not that he is camera shy !!!

Our staff were kept on the go but did have time to pose for a moment. In the meantime I had taken a seat and kept bumping into folks I had not seen for ages, Elaine and Jim, formerly of the Countryside Inn, where Graham started his apprenticeship in the pub trade, Willie Kerber, who we went to Sri Lanka with for the wedding of his daughter Louise - an Ann Lowe, from Loanhead, who I knew as young child many years ago, out on a hen night with her friends; the boss of the St.Andrew's Brewery, Bridge of Allan, Kai Monk and a few others.

Got home and found the most beautiful medallion in the post from Mr McNair in Muchline commemorating the forthcoming 250th Anniversary of Robert Burns in 2009. I will need to try and get a good picture of it, being a limited edition jewel - so very many thanks to him.

Anyway, watching the results of the "X-Factor" and again would dispute the results, but, so what. The show celebrating Prince Charles's 60th Birthday is better entertainment, with Robin Williams in great form, fronted by John Cleese - HRH certainly looks as though he , Camilla and Harry were enjoying it.

Up sharp again a.m. to get the show back on the road again in by.