No 7 shovel required.

Generally speaking, most of the UK residents have one major topic of conversation , other than the x- factor and I'm a Celebrity, etc., it is SNOW, and things aint got any better during the past couple of days.

From all accounts conditions in Penicuik are fairly mild compared to other parts of the country. AND we still have buses running on the main routes most of the time - BUT better than that, the McEwans wee bus has been sticking to its timetable and that is all the way from Dumfries to Edinburgh , well done Fergus and the rest of the drivers. On Monday morning Mrs B and self set off in arctic conditions at 6 a.m. and managed to get on a Lothian No 37, lots of praise for the driver who packed in as many passengers as he could and taking it nice and steady got us all into the City, a bit late, but better later than never - sadly the city was just as bad but with ice rather than snow, bad pavements and as the loony squad got out in their cars everything ground to a halt.

Heading home at night there was little evidence of any improvement and on part of the road there were large piles of snow in the centre of the road, which when frozen will be a real hazard and cause lots of damage as folks run into them.

My occupational therapy has been clearing the snow at the house which is now 14 inches plus deep, clear the snow, another blast , clear it again, another blast ,etc., never ending. The lazy bleeders driving around with their cars piled high - badge of lunacy get my dander up. I was quite happy blethering to the folks who were walking up the road from the shops, etc, and even the Council workers were out on foot with plastic shovels as the snow was too dee for their little pavement tractor to clear.

Good news of the week, apart from Wagner being voted off the X - Factor was the female fruitcake Gillian McKeith getting bumped out I'm a Celebrity - just a shame she is getting a fee for it - a chancer, I thought Stacy was great, especially when they found that she was boiling her knickers in the cooking pot last night!!! using her initative.

Should have been at the Scottish Security Association anniversary dinner in Glasgow last night , but sense prevailed and I stayed at home, I would never have got back home last night had I went - just a pity.

Friday is the 49 Club , x-mas dinner in the Trades Hall , Glasgow, so again fingers crossed that things improve a bit, although the forecast is not so clever so far.

Hospital called to confirm my X-mas booking - so guess who is going to have tinsel around his bed this year - bad news is that they will not let me have wi fi - dash and darnation, but the liaison lady suggested that this might be the last thing I would be thinking about for a few days.

So with the hailstones bouncing off the roof, I am having a quiet night as we have another early rise and hike to the bus stop in the morning - the show must go on, regardless.

Saturday night rant - not helped by the snow

Saturday night again, should have been at the R A Grand Sperintendant's Dinner at Bonnyrigg, but health wise, with a lot before me it was a night at home after a long day, -- so what's happening with the world? SNOW, tons of it falling all over the place and up till this morning it was everywhere but Penicuik, however at 6.30 a.m,. only an inch or so on top of the car, which I duly cleared off while the car was warming up (no ice though) and then headed off to Edinburgh. Even that early there were the usual numpties on the road, crawling along, and also those who refuse point blank to clear the snow off the car and suit there like silly works at traffic lights with all the snow sliding off the roof and blinding their windscreens. As the day progressed there they were passing by, cars out for the first time this week and the badge of snow on the roof, as much as to say, look at me - I am brave to venture out in this white stuff ( rhymes with aerosols) - should either stay at home or take the bus.

Edinburgh Trams - seems that with all the works having ground to a halt, the lawyers and so called consultants are making a fortune with their debate, and the headhunters getting £30,000 to find someone to front the project. There is no truth in the rumour that there is a tram up for sale on E bay.

Blood pressure going up, watching Wagner on X factor !!!!!!!!!!! I wonder if all these anarchists who are destroying the show by making their 10p phone calls would pay £40 to go to see him live ? Show was reasonable tonight and from her performances, young Cher could do well.

Blood pressure through the roof now - not far short of a heart attack - not the TV, but a crowd of imbecilic juveniles who threw snowballs at the front windows - and Mr Angry, not taking it went after them and had a bawling match as I followed then / was confronted, etc around the neighbouring streets _ I will not be surprised if the Police do not arrive at the door to see me as I was a walking Breach of the Peace !!! - Usual story, the Police are never there when you want them - so the odds are that I will be the one that gets nailed. I really was surprised how confrontational they were but being in a big group they were happy enough to bait an old fat man !!! BUT - BUT I did eventually get them to stop and once I got my breath back and calmed down - they actually stood and listened to me and then all but one apologised for their actions. One perceptive lad suggested that I might have done likewise when I was the same age - in all probability I was maybe worse ! but in those days I lived next to the Police Station at Currie and the Polis knew whose backside to kick, and if they did not, then my Mother gave me a serious whacking with a wooden hairbrush when she found out.
Reminds me of posters we used to distribute all over the place when I was in Crime Prevention, aimed at parents "DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE TONIGHT ?" Not many do, and in this day and age how many care ? The days of Social responsibility are long gone !! - no twitching curtains, no nosey neighbours, no calls to the Police, and this is a so called Neighbourhood Watch area. (and that is according to the Police). Looks like Penicuik High School need a visit to do a bit behavioural modification.

Back to the TV, "I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of there", firstly I think it is time that Ant and Dec had a go at all of these trials - there should be a campaign by the public, and we could even have an "Ant and Dec Special" to put them through there paces.
We have a blond bimbo model (Kayla) from the USA sitting here who has not done a trial, but is scared to do a trial - so why the hell is she there other than to get a fat fee - get them out and give their fee to charity - there are braver little kids suffering from serious illnesses out there who put these folk to shame. Better not forget Gillian McKie, who hopefully will never benefit financially from her deplorable attempt to make money - tells lies Dr of what??), cheats, drama queen - is this a public role model - sorry but there is no way now she gets to check out my "poo".
I believe this whole thing is shot on a film set, with non venomous beasties, plastic reptiles, little likelihood of any harm to the "contestants" - so it is all in the mind, (but not mine I am afraid). Yet another money making venture for the TV company - because we are obviously paying for the show with phone calls - ( Mrs B could do this standing on her head - or so she says) Go Stacy, Go. Cheryl got £95,000 of our money - for what ?????????

Bit disappointed during the week, we have a wee Romanian "Big Issue" seller who has a pitch near the pub, he has been coming in the Bar for weeks, using the loo and having a wash, and I have been giving him coffee's, rolls, etc. He was even asking for work !! so what does he do ? arrives one day, parks himself at the bar drinking "nips, on his mobile phone, etc, then turns up in the evening and was caught with a bottle of his own booze "topping up" - exit stage right one Eastern European ( Euro visitor) - all things being equal it is probably his relatives sitting on their idle buts begging along Princes Street and the Bridges.
I think I am beginning to agree with the Daily Express campaign to get us out of Europe, sack all these bureaucrats sitting in Brussels making up laws to justify their existence, no pensions, no pay offs, stop the gravy train right here -

And today I spotted a story about a number of Polish criminals being arrested in a joint exercise by Irish and Scottish Police and were extradited on a military flight back to Poland to face trial - we now need a serious number of similar fights in the same direction - namely - out of the UK, or am I O T T

Trams running - but to where (and when) in the snow maybe

Rather chilly outside with snow forecast tonight - however we did miss out on yesterday's heavy falls which affected the Borders and some wider areas further north.

The lads over from the Bar have a new poster on display, with an astute observation and some words of wisdom about the tramworks !!!!!!

The tram in Princes Street, our tourist attraction has been removed, at considerable cost to a storage depot in West Lothian as the new Depot at Gogar is not finished yet - another unplanned expense, would not be surprised is someone does not nick it for scrap .

I was in the Chemist's shop today and spotted on one display a number of packets of dental floss sticks, half the packets priced at £1.99p and the remainder at £2.49p - Inflation a bit over the odds or daylight robbery !!!!!

Talking of which, I have had an alert regarding a scam being run in a Sainsbury's Store (not local) where a checkout operators was sticking a £20 cash withdrawal on the customers bill without telling the customer - serious lesson to be learned, always check your bill thoroughly before you leave the checkout and challenge the staff if there is a discrepancy.

Jimmy Mason RIP

Tuesday night , in the house, missing the RA meeting of Laird O'Cockpen 500, but had to get on with work which came in this afternoon - although I had planned on a night at rest before my visit to the Western in the morning.

So Sunday had a nice wee wander to the big boys toy shop at P C World, some wonderful new computers to play with if I had the time and the money, and the staff were very helpful with my problem phones, as always.

Topic of discussion being Scotland's latest disgrace, namely Gillian McKie, who is a total drama queen in this latest "I'm A Celebrity, etc" she has never stopped moaning and winging since she joined the programme. But she has made it clear that she does not want to break her contract as it is worth a lot of money to her - not sure if it is doing her profile much good. On the other hand Stacy is doing really well.

Monday I attended the funeral of Jimmy Mason at Warriston, it was the first Humanist service that I have been to and I thought it was very good - big crowd for Jimmy who was a real man's man and a character. We met him originally several years ago when he started to come to the SODS meetings ( Standing Order Drinking Society), with his wife and Brother in law.
Popped in to see Cousin Walter and collect a batch of his lovely cooking apples which we will use in the Bar.

Up to KB afterwards to meet up with young Mr Cowan, so that has led to a few more jobs to do- keeps me out of mischief.

Another disgrace for the Edinburgh City Council

Despite the fact it is a Saturday and Scotland managed to beat South Africa at Murrayfield - well done lads - I thought you might have been put off by the rain !!

Just catching up and thought that I would pop in a picture of the plaque for the new houses for hero's at Penicuik.

I had a closer look at the stained glass panel in the Scott monument, a wonderful piece of art work and certainly well representative of the beauties of the City as it was.

It is just very sad that with the ongoing humongous debacle between TIE and our farcical "City Fathers" who planned their revenge on those who voted against the Toll Charges by driving us so deep into debt - anyway, where there was once a beautiful war memorial in the form of the Haymarket clock ( removed by TIE and in storage somewhere for god knows how long) they had the audacity to erect a panel of security fencing in the middle of the Haymarket junction, in place of the war memorial, to place the wreaths for Remembrance Sunday - what a bloody disgrace - hang their heads in shame - a total lack of respect.

But on a different vein, I spotted Mike from KP on his travels in Prince's Street - while I was recovering from my mountaineering exploit up the Scott Monument.

Looking back through the pictures, and doing a bit of zooming around, I was amazed at the detail our old builders put into the buildings around the city. I have shown the rooftop detail of Jenners and also an unusual shot of the figure on top of the column in St Andrew's Square ( I did a wee feature on it previously)

But back to tonight, I am supposed to try and keep stress free, not get agitated, etc. bit like the time when my father, a fanatical rugby fan took his heart attack and the Doctor had to forbid him from going to the matches and watching the games on TV - so he used to be sent out for a walk while the games were on.

BUT - my causes of excitement are via the so called entertainment system called TV - between the BBC and ITV. Firstly, we have Strictly Come dancing, where the bodies are "heavenly", except for poor Ann Whitticome, so I suppose the dancers who are voted off while the public keep her, have to accept that they were second worst.

NEXT - X-Factor, w had Mary who was totally brilliant, streets ahead of the rest of the competitors and about One million miles ahead of Cheryl Cole, the rest were well behind her and that idiot / asshole Wagner, being supported by the anti Simon Cowell brigade was so appalling - just what do we have to do to get rid of this fruitcake and put him back where he belongs?

NEXT - I'm a Celebrity , etc - becoming a farce also as Gillian continues her quest to starve the rest of the competition - if she had any integrity at all she would pack her bags, head for home and donate her ill gotten gains to charity - but Stacy , she is dead brilliant, a real character.

Yet another farce - Dr Gillian McKie

Now getting into this years I'm a Celebrity Get me out of Here, several of the competitors, have been superb, however, we have this so called Dr Gillian McKee taking part, obviously to earn soem money and also to raise her public profile - wrong - she is very rapidly losing all credibilty by her incessant "winging", the public are voting her into all the tasks knowing fine well she has set herself up to fail by a totally negative attitude , and a drama queen to boot- so her fellow jungle folks are starving due to her pathetic performance . Do not consider me harsh in this comments, I would never do what most have done, but then again I did not put myself forward to do it. The answer to her problems is simple - just ask to go home.

I think that Stacy Soloman is amazing, a real character, Nigel Havers, very good, Britt Eckland -lovely Linford Christie - good Shaun really first class.

So on we go.

Monument to Sir Walter Scott , Author.

Fine weather today in Edinburgh, so after my visit to the Dr at the hospital I returned to town, armed with camera (an oxygen mask) and headed for the 200 ft high Scott Monument in Princess Street.

Built in the four years between 1840 and 1844 at a cost of £16,175 in memory of Sir Walter Scott, writer.

The monument is really beautifull and to reach the top viewing platform there are only 287 steps to climb, and up a tight spiral staircase.

At the first level is the Scott Gallery with the four stained glass panels, and thereafter a long climb up through the next viewing gallery and eventually to the top. Huffing and puffing is a mild description of how I felt, however, from the top gallery the views of the City and environs is truly spectacular

I will not try to describe the various photos, many of the Balmoral, Caley Hotel, Castle, Calton Hill, , Salisbury Crags
etc.

At the base of the monument the new ferris wheel, carousel, new ice rink and all the stalls for the winter wonderland are under construction for the forthcoming festivities.

So, Saturday, back to the Mercat for another will day as we will hopefully be inunated with the fans heading for the Scotland - South Africa match at Murrayfield.

Ocean Terminal, the harbour and ships.

Thursday a.m. headed for Ocean terminal where, despite the cold wind, i had a wander around the top floor of the multi story car park and managed a few snaps. The Salisbury Crags and Calton Hill were a bit lost in a haze lying over the city.

In its usual berth was the royal Yacht Britannia, a lovely old ship and well worth a visit.

Not much going on in the harbours, only the three merchant ships.

In the shopping complex there is a glass display case and this fine model of the Great Michael, the largest wooden warship to be built in Scotland, in Newhaven on what is now the Ocean terminal complex.

Visitors from Horsham, West Sussex

Promised to blog this young couple, Don and Dorothy Hubert, from Horsham, West Sussex, who were in the Mercat Bar on Tuesday night while visiting family here in Edinburgh.

Hope they enjoyed their visit.

Birthday and Forth 2 Awards

Great excitement for RGB who is aging fast, today he attended the radio Forth Award Ceremony in Edinburgh where he collected the Best Bar / restaurant Award presented to the Mercat Bar. A great achievement for the team.

And yesterday the aging RGB had a wine dinner at The Mercat where a nice wee group enjoyed an evening of fine wines, fine foods and took part in a quiz on wine knowledge - sadly there was a serious lack of knowledge as the participants seemed to be a bit like me, happy to drink the bottle and not so keen on reading the label.

With copious draughts of wine, and latterly a nice dram of Drambuie, heads began to spin a bit and the long suffering "designated driver" had to cope with the antics of exuberant friends.

Happy to get home to bed.