Big catch up - thought I was quiet

Did not realise that I had been offline for so long, how time flies when you are busy, and not necessarilly enjoying yourself.  I heard that we are no longer suffering from old age, just coping with diminishing youth,  HOWEVER, no matter how you look at it, it gets harder !!!

So, despite this , we are still soldiering on at the Dolphin Inn which continues to attract either new or returning custom each week, nice folks, who get well looked after.

Had a really nice surprise early in the week when Stacey, one of the animation team from the Coral Sea Resort, Sharm el Sheikh, wher we satyed in May, came in for lunch with her sister to see us - lovely,  so now she is away back to the sun - which we are missing.

So the *ankers in the Financial sector have been caught out yet again shafting the general populace; the question was asked by someone this morning is " Where is all the money?", it must be somewhere - in a bloody great big tin box under these greedy beggers beds - while the rich get rich the poor get poorer - and the rich do not give a toss - better stop before I get carried away -  nice to see that some of the fat cats are turning down their so called bonuses, but others like the boss of the Royal Mail is tucking yet another odd bucketful of cash under her mattress.

Wimbledon causing a bit of an upset, for a few of the stars, Nadal got well cuffed last night,  and tonight Federer has made a terrific comeback from two sets down.  Not sure how much of the final stages I will see when I am back in "doc" after the 9th.  But I might get peace to see the Olympics while recuperating.
Football has been good, Italy certainly gave Germany a good trumping last night, so all being well I look forward to a good final betwen Italy and Spain on Sunday.

Have been missing out on my massages recently so I went to see wicked "Cruella",  - bloody hell,  I was in agony - so much for the no pain , no gain, saying -  I was even promising that I would not call her Cruella again !!! -  but it did work,  and then - bit of a bonus, she stuck candels in my ear  !!!!!!  yes, this so called POPI  system,  very strange so I am now waiting to see if it worked.
Johnston's of Egham are no more,  now living is a wee village a few miles away - not sure what the equivelant of a "But ' Ben" is in the posher parts of England.

Spark Mark online ,  new excuse for not cutting down a tree -  "there are birds living in it" - better lie down and wait till they move !!!.

Was at the BNI - TGI (Cult) meeting at 7 a.m. this morning, great crowd as usual, very enthusiastic, and heard a brilliant comment from Ali at 9 Dots Communications -  he had been to see a client about her broadband and when asked how fast it was she said  " Slower than a week in Barlinnie !!!!" -  for those who are not acquained with our penal sysyem, Barlinnie ' "The Bar L"  is the big jail in Glasgow, run by the prisoners at the taxpayer's expense.
So as the weekend is now upon us, under normal circumstances for the majority is time off -  no way, jobs to be done - so as the Seven Dwarfs said , we work work work, etc. -  Bit of an ethic problem - some come to work to earn a wage, other just come to get paid !!!!      BED.

My McEwan's 101/ 102 at ris - and the rain, etc

So I have been busy over the past few days, never won the lottery, but there is always another week -  just think, there is a £61 million ticket sitting there unclaimed.

Well, the rains came down, and down, and down,  no more complaining about hose pipe bans - and on our own doorstep we have friends and family who have been flooded out -  but when the Gods are angry and the clouds are banging together watch out - and of course the Royal Highland Show was on this week which , like the cricket is a virtual rain making ritual.  I was going to the public relaunch of the new Musselburgh / Tranent Pubwatch at Musselburgh on Friday and while sitting in the car waiting for the rain to pass the car park slowly turned into a swimming pool.  BUT there were sufficient people there for the event and between downpours we had our photo shoot and speeches.  One of our customers had to stop and wait while massive hailstones turned the road intro a veritable skating rink.

England having a bit of a bash at beating France  - will see how this progresses, between the prima donas, divers, actors, etc.

HOWEVER,  most traumatic notification we have this week is that there is a possibility that our beloved 101-102 McEwans bus service from Dumfries to Edinburgh will be axed - this is a brilliant service for us, takes half the time to get from Penicuik to the West End compared to taking a Lothian Bus - but so far no one has put in a bid for the contract which expires on 14th July - apart from the fact that this is a good service for me it is a vitally important link for those who live on the A702 between Flotterstone and Abington - we cannot afford to lose these community links.

Tremendous ill feeling within the local community about the relocation of Greens @ the De Vici rapist who was released early from prison into the community, and is now in Butlerfield Cottages  only six miles from the scene of his horrendous attack against a young foreign visitor where he left her looking like the victim of a road traffic accident.  BIG  QUESTION - why was he released from prison half way through his sentence.

My upside down friends did tell me about the horse Black Caviar coming to run yesterday and of course it "did the business",  but only by a nose -  however, the same upside folks were forecasting a defeat of the Scottish rugby team -  tough luck Phil,  we won all three games on this tour !!  BUT - as they say in another paradox  "one sparrow does not a summer make", or something like that.

Still looking for chocolates.

In the words of that famous saying "There's a moose loose aboot the hoose", still, and I just spotted it in the dreaded "mouse trap", where it got such a fright it jumped out and disappeared under an appliance. Time for the mouse hunter and big gun to arrive and put paid to this wee creater.

Now remember and keep your TESCO receipts, for everything, no matter what and have a big binder for them because if you have a problem, no receipt, no refund or exchange unless you are really lucky and are prepared to put up with a real song and dance.

Missed the 49 Club dinner today who were up in Stirling, however, neeeds must and I had to work.

Real chaos on the City Bye pass and feeder roads today with the start of the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston,  queues all the way back to Flotterston from Lothianburn, Sheriffhall on the Bye pass to the east and way up the M9 to the West -  not the right time to want to catch a plane, I wonder how many folks missed their flights this morning.

Watching Portugal winning the football tonight, awesome,  Ronaldo should have had about four goals - a one man show if ever there was.

Friday, a day off but I am heading to Musselburgh for the public launch of the new Pubwatch Scheme which incorporates the former Musselburgh and Tranent Schemes, so get into trouble in one pub in that area and you are out of the lot.

Mighty Man against the might mouse -

not wishing to appear cruel, however, we do have a little visitor who needs to be captured and removed - so a bit of ingenuity was called for to devise a cunning trap !!!!    So, the little chap has to appear, smells the chocolate and cheese and sets off up the plank, reaches the top, sees an even bigger bit of cheese, jumps into the pot  (which is about 12 inches deep)  and cannot get out - easy.

T.V.'s- five menus , but high tea was different

Not quite what you might expect here,  but during the week I received my umpteenth letter from the TV licensing people, so for the fifth time I called them back to get the matter resolved.  Bad mistake,  into the 1st phone menu, press button 3 etc., 2nd menu, similar, and so on and eventually took option 4 on menu 5 to speak to a charming young Welsh !!! lady who reassured me that I would here no more (till the next time).  You certainly cannot hide from the detector vans, nearly as bad as the fleet of Google Earth motors mapping our world for all to see.

Just looking at this computer keyboard and thinking of supper time last night - when I was apparently feeding it with crackers and cheese - will need to get out the vacuum and give the keys a bit of a hoover before they get clogged up.

BUT  , BUT then again there was afternoon High Tea at the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh, feast your eyes, nice neat little sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and top deck of fresh cakes,  too much to eat in one session , however the staff were on hand with the wee cake box to take the leftovers home for a midnight feast.  The Caley is being refurbished and will be rebranded the Waldorf Caledonian, very nice venue for a quiet afternoons munch - AND  the breakfast is also very good.

Much as I loved you !!!!

Now, here's a great lead in !!!!    - M A I L U -  you are talking a load of S**t;  MAILU - you are an A**e;  what a wonderful way to talk to relatives, family and friends -just for the knock back.  I am struggling to remember what it was that the late Kenny Everett did, dressed in drag, he used to kick his legs back and pass a comment about things being done in the very best of taste !!

So - guess what - the  surviving victims of the current outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in Edinburgh have managed to find ( or were they sought out) compensation lawyers ( greedy money grabbing tw*s), sympathetic to their predicament who, with no thought of personal gain, are seeking recompense for the unfortunate incident - NO WIN  NO FEE  - NO  DOUBT.

The thought of these so called legal types working the system for their own gain has just got my hackles up =  we have regular adverts on the radio, hourly, about folks being missold Insurance by the banks - claim your compensation now, perhaps rightly,  but who wins???  YES - our legal beavers.

A Birthday Princess

We found this one in the folder, just on for the great Pole dancer, who was still in good form today.

War time with the WRAF or was it the WRENS

Now this is a real mind bender for me,  the first photo is of my Aunt,   Dorothy Pewther ne  Blaikie

who I presumed was in the WRENS like my mothernear the end of the war, around 1943 / 1946,  but from the photo looked like the WRAF, and I have no idea where this was taken.    Her brother Bill was certainly in the RAF as that was where he met my father.   Anyway, Dorothy later married and lived in Yarmouth, where I visited her, and was remember seeing the water marks on the wall in her hall whee the house was flooded at the exceptionally high tides.

She later had two sons, David and Michael,  the photo is of David at his passing out parade with the RAF, where he became an airframe engineer - however he sadly died at a young age and we have lost touch with the family.

The right time, the place to be.

Once again the Big Pole Dancer @ Archie shows just how charming he can be. Seen here this afternoon in the Standing Order with two young ladies,  the one on the left, a young journalist from Spain who works for Coca Cola and was staying nearby - the lady on the right , all the way from sunny, Loanhead, Midlothian, and out celebrating her birthday with a friend.
The Standing Order was looking well, bedecked with flags of the countries taking part in the European Cup tournament.

Mercat Bar in the public eye.

Thought you might like to see that The Mercat staff are always being progressive,  they had a stand at an exhibition held at a trade fair in Centrex, Livingston, did well and made a few friends

Grand Master Mason beats the Olympic Flame to Bonnyrigg

It was a seriously long day yesterday, not just for me but for many others also.  Cutting a long story short I ended up at Lodge Dalhousie Bonnyrigg No 720 in the evening where a special meeting was taking place.  The RMW Craig Gordon had organised for a Degree to be worked by all the reining Masters from within the Province of Midlothian. 

It is a fairly long time since I have seen so many people in the Lodge, and in addition there was a Deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian and yo make the evening extra special the Grand Master Mason, Ian Charles Woolridge Gordon of Esselmont, was present with two members of Grand Lodge.

An excellent Degree was worked by the reigning masters and afterwards, before leaving the Dias, the GMM commented on the excellent work by RWM Craig Gordon whose  £4,700.00 which he raised personally by running the Edinburgh Marathon had swollen the total donated by the Province to £60,000.00p to this years charity,  CLASP.

Bit of hilarity as the official photographer tried and eventually managed to get a group photo.

The GMM had travelled South to Edinburgh in the afternoon and had managed to miss the chaos caused by the Olympic torch bearers and support. A few of the members had been delayed in town by the procession, and we will hopefully get the chance to see it this morning somewhere between Dalkeith, Lasswade (Bonnyrigg) and Loanhead on our way to work - maybe !!

Happy Birthday (late as usual) Camryn and Collette

At least someone was sad that I was up and away this morning at whatever "*odforsaken time" "
Yesterday two of my other young lady friends had birthdays, Camryn and Collette;  Camryn had a wee bash with pals at Frankie and Benny's diner with friends and Collette ( a teenager now) insisted on taking the family to the Dolphin Inn -  and I just missed her as I got held up on my way there.

White van men eat your heart out,   last night i had a loan of a friends "silver" transit van - what a machine for a turbo diesel - and learned later that he had tweeked the engine a wee bit !!!  shame I do not have that for my Risley run today.   My friend Jim has visions of me doing my "Olympic torch / flame" impression in the Smart car (complete with flux capacitor) as I toodle down the M74 / M6 ,  however it will be old faithful today - gets me there and back in comfort - just in case there are some summer squalls en route.

Whistle blowing in the work place - or Loanhead Gala.

This photo popped up in my Electronic mail box yesterday, taken by a friend in 1969 at Loanhead Gala Day, or as the banner shows, the Children's Day.  She only found it in her glory box yesterday morning - so what a nice unusual birthday present.     In those days Policemen wore real uniforms, (note the whistle chain), and i see that I was wearing one of caps which had been "doctored" -  when they were issued they looked like penguin beaks, but we used to cut the side stitching to drop the peak  known as "slashed".
Quite appropriate with Loanhead holding their annual gala this coming weekend.

I am told that this was a good year for me,  I got engaged  -   and i must say that the people of Loanhead were very good to me, they were the good times.

Day went well, and with a bit of a bang

Day out in town,  big red bus into George Street where we headed into the George Hotel for breakfast,  which I must say was very good  - staff were on the ball , friendly and attentive, enjoyed it very much and would certainly go back. 

Duly fed and watered we headed off round the shops, not that I was buying, however, as we walking along Princes Street, there was a 21 gun salute from the Castle ramparts - in my honour!!!  maybe not.

Next stop was the Ghillie Dhu bar for a coffee and beer ,  visited the toilets where not only was i allowed to "pee alone", but to pee in a bucket - most unusual. 

Passed some time in Jessops and Jacobs the two photo shops in Shandwick Place, before we took ourselves into the Caley Hotel, (soon to be a Waldorf Hotel) once all the alterations are finished.  Afternoon tea, sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and a selection of cakes all designed to add hundreds of calories.  A very pleasant way to while away the afternoon - once again, the staff were first class, attentive and chatty.  There were some lady visitors present from the USA, whose husbands were playing golf at Archerfield, then off to St Andrews and Turnberry,  "playing around" in style.  The youngsters could not quite get their tongues round  "if you can say its a braw bricht moonlict nicht, your OK ok aye"

Homewards in time to watch the England  v France  football match, minus the hours inane chat before the game and at half time.

Another day older - and probably deeper in -

trouble, unless I behave myself today -  but I am sure the Meercats will keep tabs on me.

Usual early rise, but having a day off so heading for the big City for breakfast, etc.

Olympic rings mounted on The Mound

Looks like the Olympic flame will be going up Edinburgh's famous Mound next week as the road closure signs are in place and the Olympic rings are in situ in the gardens in front of the General Assembly building.

With time to spare this morning I had a walk up to see the rings being installed and managed to get some shots of a couple of Edinburgh's iconic landmarks.

A second chance at the To Do list

Van Gough. Picasso and Turner,  eat your hearts out -  there I was  6.30 a.m. brush in hand, lovely early morning light, out on my steps and painting my fence - first of today's "to do's", not even deterred by the light drizzle.      Finished that task and had to head into town for a while, even ended up at the Dolphin Inn, then back home where with a new paint brush in hand it was on with the Hammerite this time, treating metal instead of wood.
Enough - long day so feet up with a glass of wine to watch Germany and Portugal playing football, or is it amateur dramatics, certainly plenty of rolling around and diving going on so far. Germany won, but a very average win, even so they have been plodding along and are looking to win the tournament.

Last week there was something on the radio about the English team and their new strips, which apparently are the least breathable of all the strips being worn during this competition -  looks like they might be looking for an excuse already for not winning - "too hot sir" -  however  Boogie and Dingo" on Radio Forth 1 were suggesting that they might just use body paint or tattoo the strip on - big down side of this is that they could not cheat by pulling at the shirts !!!  These days there is far too much cheating going on.

One good thing about the panel of so called pundits who rabbit on before, during and after the game, gives me an excuse for switching on at the last minute,  going for a cuppa at half time and changing over as soon as the final whistle goes.   What a waste of money.

Next week, we have the Olympic torch coming our way, through Dalkeith, Lasswade, Loanhead, Bilston and Penicuik, so hopefully I will be somewhere on the route - so providing I get my run South on Wednesday I will be home for this event,

The outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease centred on the Dalry area of Edinburgh is still claiming victims although the authorities expect he numbers to peak today,   we heard from a lady this morning that her husband had been affected and hospitalised,  a co worker of the man who unfortunately died earlier in the week.  So far, no trace of the source.   Not sure if it is any consolation to me, home because of the outbreak, but I need to go through the waiting process once again.

Neil Sedaka - mystro

Totally uplifting - my spirits raised as I watch and sing along with Neil Sedaka,  apart from the Golden Oldies , he is one of the most prolific song writers of our time.   Speaks volumes when an audience can fill the Albert Hall to listen to man playing a piano and singing.





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A Singer with four wheels - what !!!

Old crocks together,  me and three vintage cars spotted in my travels this afternoon - a Bently, Riley and a Singer, a wee bit of work being done on the carburettors -  although when I saw it a couple of days ago it seemed to be running well.

So, I am back home which is a bit of a shock to the system considering that I was supposed to be in "dock" for a week or so,  however this is another aspect of the Legionnaires Disease outbreak whereby all hospital beds in the City are being utilised for emergency cases.  just have to make the best of it, although the "to do" list has been brought back out and being worked on again. Just have to wait and see what happens and when.

In the meantime, my opinion of Orange's communications has not improved - nor has their service in the town.

Haggis eaters - indeed not

This is like watching paint drying - sitting here in central Edinburgh using a dongle because I cannot get Wi Fi and it is so slow because the Orange signal here is literally non existent.  BUT beggars cannot be choosers so I have to make do for the next few days of internment with what I have.

Today Andy Murray lost out in the French Open,  not been playing so well due to a back injury, however he will try harder for Wimbledon I am sure - bit dashed unsporting of the French to boo him the other day- no class.

Phil the upside down man, (father of upside down Robbie / Scott and Grandad of recently born son of Caitlin - young Jack) hopefully choked on his beer when Scotland scored the winning penalty kick in extra time - so much for "the Wallabies stuffing the Haggis eaters" -  might think twice next time, but maybe not.

Late and sleepless night for me last night and again tonight, with a few painful days ahead, but no more work for a couple of months, sorry.

Really bad case of Legionaire's disease in the Dalry area of Edinburgh, one death and forty plus affected,  it will be interesting to see where the source was and whether or not they had been following procedures - bet somebody's little "botty" is twitching.

Missed my friend Graeme's birthday this week, he is now a lot older than me !!  Good one Grumpy.

Better settle for the night before I get a ticking off.

Boo the dog my newest wee pal.

New visitor to the Dolphin Inn today, accompanied by two adults !!  Boo, the dog, a name which apparently causes heads to turn when the owners are chasing after the dog shouting "Boo" to each other .   Nice little soul, but despite being told she loved posing for the camera, just remember the old adage, don't photograph animals or children.

What a night, Buckingham Palace was really rocking.

At this time of the morning, I amaze myself by achieving results on this computer, after an hours efforts, that a young child would have managed in minutes.  Once again Google and Blogger have changed the format - however, thank goodness I  sussed things out before I go into the hospital. Not sure that pain killers and computers go together.

However, despite what the philistines are saying I enjoyed the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert last night, totally amazing, and a remarkable window on the UK, what an advert , where else in the World can you get such a setting and with such supportive crowds.   We, probably like thousands of others applied for tickets in the random draw - just to be amongst that crowd - fantastic.  Very disappointed they never arrived in the post, but we never thought of just going and joining the crowds for the atmosphere and the fireworks, etc.   I am sure that Queen Elizabeth appreciated the efforts of the many acts, well done.
Prince Charles tribute at the end hit the spot, and it was lovely the way the crowd responded by shouting for Prince Philip who was taken to hospital - a speedy recovery -  but he should not have been out in the cold for so long on Sunday.
 Coincidentally,  on the radio news, a few minutes ago, I hear that the Prince's Trust has just received another more funding to help with its work with young people - it is now one of the most successful programmes in the country and a model used by other countries. I will never forget the many years I had on the Committee and the annual projects which I was part off - some remarkable young people, who just needed a bit of genuine support.

Two more shifts at the Dolphin Inn, then a bit of enforced R & R, need to see what I can find to write about !!!.

Jubilee weekend

Saturday was a busy day, headed for the City on the big red bus, and took the photo of the Castle from Libertontraffic lights, just imagine how travellers felt over the years as the approached the City on foot and by stagecoach to see the castle in the distance.

Jumped off in George Street and into the Standing order for the big breakfast, just to keep the wolf from the door, so to speak,  then pottered about before heading for the Mercat Bar for the Scottish themed wine lunch. Brilliant, a really nice crowd who thoroughly enjoyed themselves - excellent meal accompanied by fine wines.

Sunday, Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations taking place around the Country, with the main event on the River Thames,  however, with the sun shining here and lots to do on the "To Do" list I spent the afternoon and early evening in the garden.