The great Scrapyard in the Sky - amongst other things

Sadly, it is yet another R I P that I have to write, this time the beloved fourteen year old Ford Escort which has served us well since we bought it new. A cracking little car, 1.6 LX and in its time a real flying machine. However, time and distance had taken its toll so in view of the amount of work going to be needed to get it through an MOT next week, and an expiring tax disc, it was with deep regret that it was sent to the "great scrapyard in the sky" yesterday. good job I have a bus pass !! But, the slumbering steed of steel might well be brought out of hibernation sooner than expected.

Monday was a quiet day, spent in in the locality, however, on Tuesday, a long day, over to Livingston where I was collected and taken down to Auchencruive Estate, by Ayr, to do some work. A beautiful estate, part of the ancient seat of the Cathcarts. Bought by a merchant from London, Richard Oswald, in 1764.

Richard Oswald was involved in the negotiation of the American Declaration of Independence, but less thought of because of his involvement in the African Slave Trade.

William Wallace often visited the estate, normally to hide in the Leglan Wood from the English soldiers and also Robert Burns - who found inspiration for his song "Scots Wha Hae" from his visits there. Burns was a friend of Oswald, however the wife was not so enthused by Mr Burns.

The current farm within the Estate is fronted by Gibbs Yard, which is now a nice little steading development with the clock tower, details of which are on the adjacent plaque.

The River Ayr runs through the estate and the local authority have managed to get consent of the majority of the landowners bordering the length of the river to form footpaths and form a walkway from the source to the sea at Ayr. However, a couple of landowners, have so far declined to participate in the project, one being Lord Strathclyde, Tory Member of the House of Lords, who got himself embroiled in the well publicised scandal with Lisa Cunningham in January.

One of the walkways near to the estate is named "Waggonway Trail", which follows the route of the old waggonway, built in the 19th century, serving the coal pits on its route where coal was transported, originally by horsedrawn wagons, and then by trains to Ayr Harbour.

However, I digress, work completed we headed back home via Livingston, the Strathclyde Police Traffic Officers were doing a roaring trade with speeders on the M77 Kilmarnock Road.

Quiet couple of days since then, still recuperating, but making use of my time to make further contact with the I P A ( International Police Association) , so I may even make their next Edinburgh Meeting on 5th April.

Thinking back to last weekend , I watched the final of Dancing On Ice, which Sam quite rightly won, but I thought it a bit odd !!! that they opened the phone lines to vote for the final two couples before either couple had skated - so it was obvious that the majority of the voters were voting on personalities rather than skill and ability. Looks like just another "conn" to get money from the gullible public - there should also be the facility to block repeat votes from individual phones. The other "scams" as I see it are the so called phone in competitions, costing £1 a call, etc. where you are given a choice of answers to the questions - normally so simple and ludicrous , i.e. "How many legs does a horse have? " , A. 2, B. 3 or C. 4 !!! please select.

I even tracked down a former colleague (JB) who is now based in Singapore, just a pity we are not jetting off for Rob and Caitlin's wedding in Brisbane next week, could have popped in for a cuppa.

Census day - and the clocks have "springed" forward.

Sun is shining, although it is a bit cold out- however as the clocks have just sprung forward an hour, we are one hour ahead of mother nature - so I will wait an hour before I go out to play. This will give me time to complete my Census Form and avoid arrest by the secret non- compliance police. Better write about the Rosemount buildings as photographed - this wonderful brick built quadrangle adjacent to Gardener's Crescent, Edinburgh, is part of the West EndConservation Area. They were designed by William lambie Moffat and built in 1860 using brick instead of the then normal stone.

They are really nice and you can enter the quadrangle through the corner towers and find peace and quiet in the heart of the city - well worth a wee look.

Looking at the sunshine reminded me of the two seabirds we were watching lying sunbathing on a rock when at North Berwick last Tuesday. The shot of Arthur's Seat was taken on the same day from the bottom of the matting at The Hillend Ski Centre, it was just unfortunate that the chair lift was not running - just a bit too much for me to try and get to the top of the hill for the views, in my current condition.

So, what else is new this morning ? Simon Vettel apparently won the Australian Grand prix "having led from the start as he was in pole position" - big yawns all round, very boring - I think it should be like the stock car racing where the fastest man is last and has to batter his way through the traffic in front - much more entertaining.

The Tarten Army has taken over London where Brazil - are acting as host team and taking on Scotland in a friendly match at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium - One thing is sure, the Metropolitan Police will have less trouble with the Tarten Army than they had with the yobbish anarchists who used yesterday's peaceful demonstration against government cuts to wreck havoc and cause mayhem in the city. For them it was just an excuse to cause damage - but they were not content with hitting out at Banks (who we know were the cause of the problems in the first instance - through the greed of the speculators wanting their bonuses) but smashed shops, hotels and therefore effected hard working staff there. Some 200 were arrested, just throw away the keys.

It was a bit like the incident here at Newbigging last week when the so called (great unwashed) Eco warriors caused £100,000's worth of damage to earth moving equipment which was being used to reinstate a former open cast site. My friend "Uncle Jim" was saying that the same thing was happening all the time in his part of the world (Lesmahagow - edge of the Universe) where there is a very large and expanding open cast mine which is causing a great deal of anger in the community.

I know that it is not on my doorstep, but once they have been and then gone, the area is back to normal, unlike the forests of wind generators springing up everywhere - just drive down the M74 from Larkhall to Moffat to see these blights on the landscape.

Mrs B is away with friends in the quiet, picturesque village of Port William on Luce Bay, off the Solway Firth, where she tells me that the weather has been lovely - in the "days of yore" this area was smugglers paradise, so the ladies will no doubt be looking for a few bottles of "duty free" to supplement their supplies.

An IPA (International Police Association) day out

In 1966 as a new recruit to the then Lothian and Peebles Police, whilst at the Scottish Police College our class was given a talk on the benefits of the International Police Association ( IPA) after which I decided to pay my pennies and join up - and have paid my annual membership ever since. The IPA is now a worldwide organisation for Police Officers and it is possible through the National Headquarters to arrange holidays, meet new friends, pen pals, take part in the Police seminars, and use the many IPA houses around Europe (plus much more). Over the years I have had varied degrees of involvement and more recently very little. However, while I was in hospital over x-mas my son, RGB met two German Police Officers who came into the Mercat Bar for a meal, along with their dogs !!
On Sunday last, RGB told me that the two visitors were back in town again and by pure chance I met them on Monday morning in the Bar but only had a short time to talk to them before heading for an appointment with the medical folks. In conversation it transpired that Horst and Sylvia ( both detectives) were members of the IPA and even had their current (and old) cards with them.

I later arranged to meet them on Tuesday morning when we headed off eastwards from Leith Links and headed along the foreshore through Portobello and down to Fisherrow Harbour , Musselburgh.







Next, past Musselburgh Race Course, and our stop was at Prestongrange to see the big beam engine which was erected by a Cornish mining company who took over the Prestongrange mine in the mid 1800's. The miner had been operating since the 1400's when it was opened by the monks from Newbattle but then changed hands several times, however with the constant flooding 400 feet underground it was not until the beam engine was up and running that the mine became viable. The engine, with its wooden beam was only stopped twice in seventy years and that was only for maintenance. ( and my washing machine has broken down three times in five years !!!).

This site is now a museum and there are various items for the visitors to see, but in its time it was a very big and busy complex with the mine, railway yards, and a brick works.
In 1524's there was a record of a harbour there which eventually was filled in in the mid 1990's. The harbour, known as Morrisons Harbour or at one stage when owned by the Acheson family as Acheson's Haven. Acheson, a very keen mason formed a lodge in Prestonpans, and has the oldest set of records held, dating back to 9th January 1599.

Despite the land fill it is possible to make out the pilings , etc of the old harbour.

Next stop was the harbour at Port Seaton, but with the tide out it was a bit of a sorry sight, and also a reminder of the demise of the small shipbuilders who operated along the coast.

We then stopped at the "Bents" past Seaton Sands where I took the photo of the twin chimneys at Cockenzie Power station ( one of the chimneys which Grant @ photogenics has to climb up).






Our next stop stop was at the Green at Aberlady which looks over the Aberlady Bay, now a nature reserve - but way back it was the site of Luffness Harbour ( see old painting)

We then made our way through Gullane, home of Muirfield Golf Club, one of the Open Golf Venue's, to North Berwick most famous for the Bass Rock, home for millions of seabirds, Berwick Law, with its whales jaw bones on top, and a popular place for visitors. The visitor's Centre has live CCTV feeds to the colonies and is a very popular venue for tourists, bird watcher's and school children.

The once very popular open air swimming pool has been filled in and is now a car park, but with nice views of the harbour (tide out) and the Islands of Fidra, bass rock and in the distance the May Isle. North Berwick itself is steeped in history being one of the original Scottish ports, the site of the old St Andrews Kirk, etc - well worth a visit and more research.

With time running out it was homewards at a fast rate of knots, along the A1, stopping for a snack at The Dolphin Inn and then a quick detour via the Hillend Ski Centre before reaching the centre of the City.

Hopefully Horst and Sylvia enjoyed, their day out, have had a safe journey home and we look forward to seeing them again in a few weeks time when they return.

Thinking of Jimmy and Sandra

By chance I found the attached photo of Jimmy and Sandra Mason. I had written a RIP for Jim after his death in November 2010 - so it seemed reasonable to add this picture as he will forever be in our memories.

On the road again - at last

Thursday night and I have lacking in my duties on the blog for a few days, however I have been busy - so more will follow later.

Today it was back to do some of my own work (possibly against others better judgement) so it was up early as usual and out onto the motorway. Not disappointed as the first vehicle to pass me was a white van man !! I was showing a bit of sympathy for the white van men as my fiend had his ford Transit stolen at the weekend from outside his house and full of his wares. It turned out that there were another two similar vans stolen in the area about the same time - and in the wider vicinity there have been even more. This reminded me of a spate of similar thefts a few years ago throughout the Glasgow / Edinburgh and Central Belt which were being taken to a yard in Shotts, Lanarkshire, where they were professionally cut up and stripped within a matter of a couple of hours .
Heading south from Glasgow I was surprised to see the progress being made in the construction of another wind farm in South Lanarkshire in the valley north of Moffat - the towers are massive and will soon be fitted with the new turbine blades.
Passing by Carlisle our "Thrifty" white van man shot down a slip road and out in front of me - now - it would appear that the driver was under the impression that the 70 MPH signs were a minimum speed for him !!! I decided to sit on his tail working on the principle that if he got caught for speeding I might not - I followed him all the way to Penrith and he did not do any less than 80 mph.
Anyway - weather was lovely, roads relatively quiet and I had a good run south to Risley, had a chat to the folks in the office, a cuppa, and then back home via Glasgow.
However, I did make a slight detour and stopped off to see "Uncle Jim" at Lesmahagow. It was a bit of a surprise for him as I usually pass by his house on the M74 at breakneck speed. He is however looking for a new home but his current dwelling, beautiful as it is, is just a bit too big for me.

I have added the photo of the Hillend Ski Slope

as I was there on Tuesday with two German visitors (to be blogged) but there was an item on the BBC (Scottish) news tonight saying that there had been new funding made avaliable today to continue with the development of the ski centre - well done. I obviously have an affinity with the centre it being on my "Beat" when I first joined the Police at Loanhead.

Not sure what we are going to do for the next couple of weeks, peace and quiet, as Sparky Mark has headed off on yet another adventure hike, this time out via London to Kathmandu and then up to do the hike to the Everest base camp. I am sure the locals will recognise him, wearing a bright red "T" shirt emblazoned with the Laird O' Cockpen and Lodge Dalhousie names - he might well meet a Sherpa who recognises "the knocks".

Not to be overshadowed by the Co-Operative Cup and Glasgow Rangers Football Club

Bit of a weekend for awards, so rather than keep you in suspense, it was the great "Pole dancer",@ Archie and staff who picked up the Pub of the Year award 2010 for their efforts in The Standing Order, George Street, Edinburgh, one of the bigger J D Wetherspoon pubs in the country.


However, there was a fairly important football match taking place in Glasgow between Rangers Football Club and Glasgow Celtic. With all the carry on after the previous games between these teams all eyes were on them.
For the final of the Co-operative Cup it was a good game which went into extra time and Rangers eventually winning 2 - 1. For Walter Smith and his Manager designate, Ali McCoist it was a very emotional ending to the game, now giving them a boost with their eyes on the league cup and the Scottish Cup.

I am sure that Walter and Ali will be buying the team a couple of beers tonight, now they need someone to buy the football club and get it back on a viable financial footing.

Apologies for the poor quality of tonight's photo's.

49 Wine and Whisky Club in the Carlton Highland Hotel

Saturday evening and so far I missed rugby so I never saw Scotland win their game against Italy and thus avoid the dreaded "wooden spoon". Home via another visit to B & Q and by then England being taken to task by Ireland - so much for the "grand slam" - not this year anymore.

Back to Thursday I made it to the monthly lunch meeting of the "49 Wine and Whisky Club" held for the fist time in the Carlton Highland Hotel, Edinburgh.

There was a very good attendance, however, for some reason we were set up in the smaller dining room, which, although cosy and private was not really suitable for our group due to the numbers of pillars in the room and the layout of the tables.

There was a surprise appearance by one of our friends who entertained the group on the piano in the pre lunch session, a nice touch.

There may well be some more photographs available, especially the group one on the stairs.

Another blast from the past - Dibbs.

It has certainly been my week for meeting up with my past !!! This morning I had to make a hasty visit to B & Q at Craigpark, Edinburgh, for some items needed in the Dolphin Inn.

Just through the door and I met Eric Monteith, former Town Councillor in the Burgh of Loanhead and his wife, and then received a tap on the shoulder from the "very illustrious" Stewart Watt and his effervescent daughter, Pamela. Stewart, better known as "Dibbs" worked with me in the Crime Prevention Department at Dalkeith and has now been retired for nearly twenty years. he spends his time golfing (a good walk wasted) along with three other "retirees of E Div". As we were pressed for time I never found out if Pamela was still a serving officer with Lothian and Borders Police.
Dibbs was one of the worst tellers of jokes I have ever met, he just could not get the timings of the punch lines right. I was just thinking that although there were many stories I could not tell, one did spring to mind !! Dibbs along with a couple of others in the Department were doing a community education course, run in a hotel in Melrose by the then SESTA organisation which later became AIM. Dibbs and his "pals" were in a lecture, sitting at the back of the room and had a bottle of wine and cups with them - but no cork screw !! So Dibbs, never to be outwitted used a biro pen to force the cork into the bottle, however he used just a bit too much force and showered the clothing of the student in front with red wine - what a waste of wine.

Due to the "wee panic" at the Dolphin Inn I was unable to attend the funeral service for MEC John Wright, Esk 42, however I did eventually make it to the "wake" held within the Lodge premises of No 10 at Dalkeith. There was a full house and Mrs Wright was telling me that the Main Chapel at Mortonhall Crematorium had been packed to the doors with friends paying their respects. The Esk 42 Chapter laid on a lovely buffet and also produced a silver claret jug which is to be presented in John Wright's name at Royal Arch bowling competitions.

My former "baby sitter" - rolling back the years.

Following on to the previous blog - " a funny thing happened to me". So, having arrived at Currie yesterday with lots of time to spare and having an old document relating to my former home in Lanark road West, I dropped in to see the previous owners who I had previously met about two years ago. They were very interested in the paperwork which I had found and took copies for a file which they had on the property. However, they said that there was a local lady who wanted to speak to me and took me across the road to meet Judith Murray nee Brown who I had not seen since my departure south in 1963. Mrs Murray used to babysit for me and my sister when we were youngsters and she, along with her parents were close friends of the family. She was delighted to see me and we spent some time chatting before I had to leave for the funeral service, but not before I had to promise faithfully to return.

William Jim Perrett - late of Currie, Midlothian.

See following text as photo is out of sequence.

last week whilst reading the Edinburgh Evening News I spotted an Obituary to a Jim Perrett of Currie and realised that he was an old friend of my parents and a gentleman who regularly had to keep me "sorted". His eldest son Robert was in my class at Currie Senior Secondary School and brother Jim was in mys sisters class, and a keen scout with me. Jim Snr. and his wife Edith assisted my parents with the Scouts, were members of Currie Kirk, keen golfers and Jim was an expert bridge player. He died at the age of 95 yrs in the Erskine Home, a loss to the family and friends.

Although a bit out of sequence, I eventually found the black and white photo, taken in either 1962 or 1963 when Jim ( 3rd from left) along with myself and the other helpers ( I can only remember Jack smith, Jimmy Dunbar, Jim, self, ??; Geoff White; and ???,) acted as waiters for a dinner evening run as a fund raiser for the 42nd Midlothian, Currie, scouts. Obviously we dressed smart for the evening and those without facial hair did a bit of theatrical dressing up.

The present Currie Kirk is built on the site of a previous church building which dates back to 1296 where there is a reference in the history books to St Kentigern. There are the remains of the original buildings visible on the site which is well worth a visit.

Adjacent to the Water of Leith which runs only about 100 yards from the Kirk is an old tower, which I cannot find a record of and cannot remember what it used to be used for, no doubt I was told at one time but have forgotten - sign of old age perhaps.

The Church service for Mr Perrett was very nice and afterwards he was interred in the local graveyard. The family and friends then headed off to Baberton Golf Club, where I was reunited with the Perrett family who I had not seen since 1963. possibly not the done thing under the circumstances, however we did pose for a photo together along with Jim Millar, Jim Leishman and Tom Wilson, who were all at school with me . There was a comment about my lack of red hair and the fact that I was shrinking ( having lost about two inches in height - true).

An interesting day, with another incident in the next blog.

I did manage to make it to Bonnyrigg in the evening to attend a Special meeting of Lodge Dalhousie Bonnyrigg, No 720, organised by RWM Craig Gordon. The meeting was extremely well attended by the members and a healthy discussion took place. It was nice to be back in the fold and to be able to thank the brethren for their support and best wishes whilst I had been off ill.