BEGGARS Belief.

Great excitement in Penicuik, we have a new shop in the Precinct - it is a bit like my Matalan, however there are still several closed premises around it - so it will take a lot more to liven the place up.

Thursday was a bit hectic eventually, headed into town on McEwan' s finest coach - it turned out t be one of the bigger ones so it did not rattle as much.

Off at the Caley hotel and spoke to an old beggar who was sitting with his dog, dog had the cap in its mouth and seemed to be catching the eye of passers by. BUT round the corner in Shandwick Place there was one of the Romanian girls who has set up a semi permanent pitch outside Pound stretchers, every time I pass she has that real pained and sad expression and "whines2 as she waves her begging cup at people - I was standing outside Jacobs, the camera shop on the opposite side of the road watching her in action, when a young man (Romanian) appeared a few yards away from her, gave her the nod, and next thing she was up on her feet, left her cardboard bum warmer behind, and then crossed the road and the two met up, and left holding hands, big smiles, laughing and joking - a total transformation - A PROFESSIONAL BEGGAR.

This morning I was talking to a friend who regularly does the night run round the city with the soup kitchens for those sleeping rough and he was saying that he never sees any of the "beggars" who litter the West End and Princes Street, so they obviously have homes to go with their mobile phones. We even have an imported "Eastern European" who gets the bus out to Penicuik touting for "mugs".

Headed for The Mercat, via St Mary's Cathedral,( see other item), sat for a bit in the peace and quiet, then popped in to see Jani in the Italian Restaurant next door to the Mercat, had a wee glass of wine and a long chat before heading into the Mercat for my dinner. Place was very busy, full on both floors, good buzz, atmosphere and my steak was lovely. Good night had by all.