A cold and sore nose

So, still on the go but not for much longer - a fine red liquid is beckoning and then it will be early to bed.

So this morning I spoke far too soon - seventy five minutes after they started work , our local hero's

found themselves in a flurry of snow - so snow stopped play, off to Greggs then onto their bums once again. Our lot outside had a wee problem with rain water filling up their hole in the road faster than they could empty it. Bit like the car park - needed a bucket to bale out. So after a short break they came back, then stopped again at 11 a.m. for another tea break , on their build up to the lunch break. A time and motion expert would have heyday.

Our Dutch lads reappeared this morning for breakfast before heading back home to Amsterdam this afternoon, seemed to have enjoyed the City, Edinburgh Castle, etc. Another couple had been to the Edinburgh Dungeons and said it was superb.

Had an appointment at the E.N.T. Dept at the hospital, little did I know what I was in for !! It was a Greek Doctor, very pleasant until he decided that he was going to stick a camera up my nose - not a good idea, and as he was struggling he squirted anaesthetic up my nose and into the throat, still no luck, so I had to wait for a while, dribbling terribly, however after ten minutes it all worked and he had a wee look down my throat - end result, no problems so still no reason why I cough and have a sore throat all the time. Suppose I will need to stick with the red wine remedy !!

So with a runny nose I set forth again , stopping off for a peer through the windows of the old fire station at Lauriston, which is now a museum and packed with old machines, pumps and all sorts in the exhibit cases I could see.

Too early in the day to pop into The Western Bar or Burke and Hare's for a drink !! Both are rebound for their lap dancers, etc. popular part of the City for stag groups. Mind you with me still dribbling from the Dr.'s ministrations I might not have looked out of place !!!!!

On the way down Morrison Street I spotted Martin who used to have the Indian Restaurant in Penicuik, I saw him in the local paper last week, fined £10000 for "inadvertently" employing illegal immigrants !!!

Popped into Murray's Tool Store, Morrison Street, which has been there for years, a real shop full of shiny toys for boys. I used to go there and buy a few spanners at a time for my old toolbox, the staff are right on the ball and the shop is never empty.

Back to The Mercat, then collected the car from the NCP car park where someone had attempted to fill in the puddle at the top of the steps this morning with the hardcore.

The ski slope at Hillend Park looked nice in the snow so I took a run up and managed a couple of snaps, one with three snowboarders in action. The ski slope, opened in 1966 is very impressive, really steep gradient and fortunately has the two ski tows which run all day every day. The views from the top of the hill over the Lothians and Fife are amazing. Then , on my usual run through Lowries Den, it was looking quite scenic - it's one of these stretches of road that changes every time you drive down it, and through the seasons can be very impressive.

Currently, Mrs. B. is watching America's Next Top Model, she cannot get over how much these girls cry, most of them are mediocre looking and were it not for the talent of the make up artists, hairdressers and photographers they would not get a second look in the street where there are hundreds of better looking young women, who have no wish to flaunt or expose themselves. This lot behave like immature adolescents and I reckon that our late dear departed budgie, Bluey, was brighter then they all are put together.

Laurence was saying this morning that our friends in the USA are far to involved with the inauguration of their new President , Barack Obama , to do very much about the 250th birthday of our National Bard, Robert Burns, coming up on 25th . Not to worry - Burns will still be remembered in another 250 years.