No dream - There were Twa totty wee motors -

Another restless night so it was up with the birds and in time to catch squirrilious fluffytailus breakfasting on the bird feeder full of nuts . So I have birds and squirrels in the back garden and last night even the "totty wee Smart cars" appeared to be breeding in the front street !!! we

From the weekends parade I thought I would add these extra pictures, struggling to remember the make of the old blue car "" ( from Mr Hamilton - it is a Sunbeam Rapier), the Police quad bikers did a great job leading the mounted cavalcade up into the hills and at one stage were appropriately joined by Officers from Lothian and Borders Police mounted section. The horses seen here propping up the rugby club.

The guest chauffeur doing his bit to help out was Mohammed the Proprietor of the much acclaimed Indian restaurant, the Award winning Clippers

Penicuik Hunter and Lass 2011 - cavalcade.

Penicuik folks turned out in their thousands to line the streets for the Hunter and Lass parade, braving the usual "four seasons in one day", with bright sunshine and alternating driving rain, much to the discomfort of the participants.

There were certainly lots of horses on the hills this morning and despite his best efforts Andy only managed to finish last in the races - but we all know that God loves a trier.

The little Shetland pony caught my eye, but it was even better when it stopped and the little chap looked as though he was about to doze off, the days exertions must have been too much.

After the parade passed and dispersed, folks headed to the public park where there were side shows, Radio Lollipop, archery, and of course the funfair was still up and running.

Of course, the motoring public did their usual and abandoned their cars causing problems for the Lothian buses trying to get along Bog Road and Carlops Road (that was of course after they were permitted back through the town centre again).

Time depending, will perhaps add more photos later.

Hunter and Lass 2011 - more pics (some odd)

Follow, follow,














I will let you off with a warning seeing as it is the Hunter's Parade this morning.









And from my hat I will produce,

Now listen to me - I'll only say this once.

A big boy did it and ran away!!!

Another day another horseshoe.

Shut up, I'm trying to sleep.

Motorists dilemma, go for a high score or just pull over.

Penicuik Hunter and Lass, 2011, sashing

More pictures to follow later, they did well last night in cold and wet conditions, or as the compare said " a nice Penicuik summer's evening".

New Security Guards on patrol, SAS trained - not!!

Lots of activities in the garden today since I filled up the feeders with seed, grain and suet balls. The wee birds are happy, pig fat pigeon is very happy as he is getting lots of droppings and squirrilious fluffytailus has tipped up with a pal, much to the chagrin of Mrs B. However, we have brought in a new security team, no other than the ever vigilant Team Meercat, who were looking for a bit extra work between their advertising duties on TV and assisting RGB at The Mercat Bar.

Perhaps if we are very lucky we might even get some visitors like these two fluffy chicks spied elsewhere.

PS - still no potential takers for the super new penthouse box.

Passing or even breaking wind

Definitely an improvement today, no wind internally !!! and none externally either, although there is still no sign of blue skies anywhere. Yesterday was a nightmare, so I just made it a duvet day (although I had to cause to take to bed and rest)- at one stage we were having four seasons every hour, rain, hail, sunshine and all accompanied by high winds. It reminded me of sitting on a side of a Dutch canal on a bright sunny day beside a large windmill, and as the blades passed in front of the sun there was a shadow cast over us, sun, shade, sun, shade, etc, although here it pouring rain and when the hailstones came on the sound within the conservatory was totally deafening, drowning out all conversation.
Listening to the radio and it seems that farmers in the South of England are praying for rain as their grain crops are weeks behind in growth, desperate for rain - on the other hand the strawberry growers in the Dundee and Perthshire areas have had crops devastated by the strong winds which destroyed acres of their protective covers.
However, this pales into insignificance when we hear of the terrible devastation wrought in the USA by the tornadoes which have flattened towns and killed at least two hundred people.

Looks like the Icelandic ash cloud has moved south into Europe for a couple of days allowing flights to take off again, but the threat of more chaos at the weekend hangs like the Sword of Damocles above our heads.

Back to the mundane happenings in Penicuik, (for the info of Ms Mackay in Italy), Sommerfield / Co-op has finally closed in the Precinct, looks like the construction of the new Asda store on the site of the old Sonny Swinton's Garage was the final straw for them. So we are left with the cut price store at one end and Tesco at the other. Makes for plenty parking at the new Dental Practice in the store car park.
The shows are in town gearing up to rip off the public for the the last four days of the Hunter and Lass Week. The public park will again turn into the meeting place for the feuding local youngsters who will doubtless do their best to spoil things for the peace loving public.

Eastcoast FM, the new local radio station based in Haddington ran the first of a series of promotions for The Dolphin Inn, Whitecraigs, with vouchers for meals being on offer as prizes for the winners. Thanks to Big Ian Robertson for his support and we hope to get down to the radio station and perhaps even do a live interview.

Word from Andy McKean for the Companions in the R.A., to say that Duncan Gemmell has been admitted to hospital for fairly major surgery, we wish him well and a speedy recovery, and Simon Fairly has reminded members of King David of Ballantraddoch that there is coach leaving on Saturday heading south to take part in a meeting in Northumberland, do not think I will be making it.

Rugby Sevens are taking place in Edinburgh at Murrayfield over the weekend so we can look forward to a busy weekend at The Mercat Bar

Hunter and Lass Celebrations 2011 - rain makers or what.

For years I have taken note of the various methods and rituals adopted around the world to produce rain and try and affect or control climate change. We have Red Indians doing their famous rain dance, aircraft dropping chemicals into clouds; chickens being slaughtered, and of course the English play cricket !!!

However, here in Penicuik this ritual is tied into the annual Hunter and Lass celebrations which run this year from 21st to 28th May.
I do not think for one minute that this year's Hunter and Lass ( Andrew Murray and Adele Munro) would have expected the fantastic results
taking place.
I can see that the poor inhabitants of London are still suffering from relatively hot weather, with an impending hosepipe ban, and flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show having to be "kept back" by refrigeration - I feel sorry for them.

Never mind, while the residents of Penicuik set off on their bike rides on Saturday, the volcano was erupting in Iceland; on Sunday while we had intermittent rain and strong winds for our Custom and Classic Car show, there were tornado's in the USA, and today as a build up to the ladies football tournament, mother nature is throwing everything at us here in Scotland. Needles to say, chaos reigns, trains have stopped running north of Carlisle, the ferry's are stuck in the harbours; the M9 is blocked in three places, M8 partially closed; planes disrupted firstly by the gale force winds and later in the night probably by the volcanic ash from the Icelandic eruption !!!, part of the roof at Edinburgh airport even blew off - Not bad so far for local ceremony, there is even fresh snow falling on the Munro's (mountains over 3000 ft) in the highlands.( And my fence blew over) I cannot remember this much meteorological chaos when RGB and Kristy Browne had these roles way back in 1995.


Never mind, the "Flying Scotsman" rail service was reintroduced this morning, running from Edinburgh to London in four hours, and waved off by Graham Obree our own cycling Flying Scotsman. I can even remember when the original steam train of that name ran down the east coast in the same times. If I get a call from "Floodline" to my mobile I can always head for sunny Eagham by train.

But back to Hunter and Lass Ceremonies, tomorrow night Andy and Adele take part in their mid week ride out on horseback, no doubt aided by gale force winds., and on Wednesday I just cannot imagine what might happen.

Irrespective of the vagaries of the weather I was fortunate or unfortunate enough to have undergo another examination by the "Dynorod" man at St. John's, but the good news is that I have two years grace before the next one, unless something untoward occurs

49 Club dine in the Merchant's Hall, Glasgow.

Despite having to take the "slow train" to Glasgow last night, which reduced the price of the tickets from £178 to £67 !!!! (for nine) and we beat the fast train which was affected by signal problems - We arrived at the Merchant's House in time for a glass of rose bubbly before we sat for dinner in the Merchant's Hall which is one of the many historical buildings in the City. They have an open day once a year when the public can come and view the premises.

There were fewer present than normal, mainly to business commitments / holidays, etc., however the absentees missed a lovely meal which was accompanied by very good wines.

There was w wee birthday surprise for one member when his cake arrived accompanied by communal singing.

The guest speaker, a Messenger at Arms, gave a very interesting talk on his work and the history of the post.

One of our Mercat Bar customers (John) recognised Jeff Palmer who is one of the world's leading experts on brewing and they had a chat about the occasion when an Edinburgh pub was renamed "Palmers" in recognition for his work for the brewing industry.

Jeff is the "Visitor" for the Prestigious ancient Guild of the Maltman.