We live in a difficult world

Time just flies by -  10 p.m. several days later and this is "FREE TIME" -  so much for retirement - good job I did not book any holidays !!.

Thinking back - if that is possible,  "Sparky" Mark was installed as MEZ at RA 500, a superb night, well attended which went on way past my leaving. Nice to see a full team of Office bearers for the next year.
It was just unfortunate that the day was also the funeral of Malcolm Mcleod, a member of 720 -  the Lodge being host for the "wake" with nearly three hundred family and friends being present.

We also lost one of our regular customers in the Dolphin Inn this week, suddenly and on the morning of the funeral of his own brother - very, very sad - we will miss both him and his banter.

Watching an old episode of "Spooks" which just hammers home the fact that the UK,  USA and "The Western World" generally the are in a constant state of alert from attacks by Al Queda, from both external and internal sources. BUT having said that, we cannot anticipate the actions of the irrational independents who appear from time to time - no time to relax.

Not quite on the same theme, but our scrap metal thieves and tinky types are still active, even to to point of switching number plates on their vehicles to avoid detection -  nothing is sacred.

Tonight the Government announced that we were out of the recession,   what a load of rubbish,  the banks are making a fortune , the public are losing a fortune and major Companies are announcing job losses - just who do we believe -   it would be nice if everybody just told the truth for once and started working together.

With those few thoughts I retire for the night.

Lost in Space - and Hoaxers galore

What a grey day (so far),  and despite the forecast , not a bit blue in the sky -  no wonder folks are keen to get away to the sun,  the downside being the fact that we have to come back again - unless there is a bit of luck with the lottery.

So, busy as usual, but a couple of interesting snippits.
Lady calling herself Karen Kelly phoned the pub asking where her copy of the xmas  menu was, stated she had called a couple of times asking for it - which was news to me as there was no record.  As she had left no contact number I did the usual check and obtained the number 08006783393 - which I thought was a bit strange, so I did a "Google" search and discovered that there were lots and lots of entries regarding this number. It is a hoax / nuisance caller who is phoning all over the UK, leaving messages and the return calls seem to be going to a Hospital in Glasgow.  These is a list of similar numbers, all used by these pests - so be aware,   bearing in mind that there are also Premium Rate numbers which cost several pounds a minute when you call back, all going into scammers pockets.    If you do not know or recognise the number, IGNORE IT, they will call back.  Same applies to "E"mails.

I went to the "49 Wine and Whiskey Club" monthly lunch on Thursday at the Roxburgh Hotel, Edinburgh,.  My lunch companion was a lady from Bonnybridge, near Falkirk,  the hot spot  of UFO activity in the UK for many years, with numerous sightings reported over the years, including the alleged landing of a craft.   She was telling me that her Aunt filmed some activity several years ago, handed the film to the authorities for examination,  but when it came back to her, sections of the film had been deleted -  most suspicious.    This was the town who called a public meeting to discuss the sightings and sent radio messages into the "ether" inviting the Aliens to send a representative - sadly there must have been something else on that day, or they got lost, as no one attended.

Tramwork tensions

Quite a sad turn of events today, especially having had a nice start in the morning with a wonderful quiet, calming coffee in the refurbished Waldorf Astoria (The Caley Hotel), just perfect.   BUT  having left there en route to Jessops in Shandwick Place I passed two of the tramworks workies outside  the Coral Bookies shop who, from the telephone conversation they were having, had a hot tip for a horse,  further along the street I took the above photo.  This obviously was not a good move as the two chaps then followed me along the street, demanded to know why I was taking their picture and to put it bluntly things got a bit heated, with various comments about the lack of work and progress being done to progress the tramworks.  The blokes were certainly not happy about being photographed and said they were on their break.  At one point I thought they were after my camera, but I am getting past fighting in the street.
This is a multi million £ project, causing serious loss of revenue to all the businesses in the street, yet there were only four men, two doing pyhsical work and two with measuring devices - on this stretch of road -  there were more men standing with hands in their pockets and sitting in vans - WHERE WAS THE SUPERVISION.   The whole project has been a joke from start to finish .  One shopkeeper I spoke to in this section said that his revenue was down by 33% in the past year - but he was just managing to cope with the support of his parent company -  BUT what about the small businessman who, in some cases is taking home less in personal wages than the idle sods being employed!!!!! -  God help them if they ever considered being self employed.
 

Rambling of the Wyze One

So the rains came down and the time came up -  but being wise, my house is built upon the rock and will not budge, nor will I need an Ark like the late Noah!!!

Had a morning in the house,  interrupted regularly by these offensive and intrusive cold callers -  I did think that once on the Callers registry they were all supposed to stop,  but it seems to be getting worse.  I have regular text messages on my mobile telling me how much money I am due with this PPI banking thingy,  however,   I knoiw I have nothing due,  and a friend in the financial world ( a contradiction in terms) was saying that these folks only have your phone number and no more information - just another "Ugandan" style scam,  run, like the others by predatory elements within our so called civilised society

Young Mr Murray had better get his finger out and win another major or he will be losing credibility - however, we did say that about Paul Lawrie when he won the British Open Golf a few years ago - and he has worked away at his game, making a good living and picking up some nice trophies on his way.

Craig Levine must be thinking his jacket is on a shakey peg after last Friday nights Scotland game against Wales ,  maybe that is why tonight's game is on "Council TV" as no one is prepared to pay the exhorbitant fees BSkyB are charging for their so called service.    Bit of a rip off - and each year they try to force a few more pennies from the household kitty.

Not too sure if I would like to emulate the chappie who just set the skydiving record over New Mexico, breaking the sound barrier in the process - good job he was tucked up in a sealed space suit - if it was me making that jump, I think the  saying "adreniline is brown" might be proven.

James Bond comes to the Mercat Bar on Saturday the 27th October,   a birthday party turned into a theme night with everyone dressing up, meal and wines - should be good.

Old acquaintances

Bit unusual,   even more time off so I headed to Lothian and Borders Police  HQ  this afternoon for the AGM of the RPOA meeting,      and was so pleased to meet one of my ex team,  Ben Kelly,  who I have not seen for at least four years.

Meeting was well attended with about fifty members present - very good,   but for me it was good to meet up with a few of the members, and then Ben, who along with Phil Cronin , Neil Forbes and Raymond Hall have organised a dinner for E Div officers at the Elco Club, Tranent on 15th November  - well done boys -  I look forward to seeing all there.

Two days of being on the loose

What a difference a couple of days make,  time off and into town on my travels I ended up on the first trip back at Ocean Terminal where some visitors were tied up at the quayside - the "Searcher" is one of our own customs ships, doing a great job stopping the smuggles, and flow of illegal immigrants,  however if the European Bureaucrats get their way we will soon be swamped with benefit scavengers walking through the front door with their blessing. 

The warship was the French Naval ship, FS Latouche Treville  D646, possibly dropping off a new consignment of onions at the local fruit market, although I not seen any "Onion Johnnies" out on their bikes recently.

Tied up in the foreground was the Norwegian diesel electric submarine S303,  it looked very small compared to the much larger British and US subs we regularly see on newsreels.

Now,  having driven past the Gogar tram depot on numerous occasions,  I stopped yesterday for a look at our gleaming fleet of trams, now out of warranty, probably rusted to the rails with seized wheels, while the tram workies in the City eat their Greggs pies, stand at the cashline, and drop their odd change into the "help me " buckets outside the shops and businesses which they are slowly strangulating out of business.

Still no sign of any recompense from the Edinburgh City Council;  the rates folks,  and the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has been conspicuous by their silence -  I just wonder what the true scale of personal loss is related to this project.

I spoke to one businessman today who has been getting rates demands which he cannot pay, he has asked for the City Councillors to take a walk through the West End to see the extent of the deprivation being caused and the empty premises  -  only thing being that the Councillors would benefit by additional allowances claims if they made the visit - probably more than the businesses would take in the day. 

Still in one piece and with my clothes on.

Contrary to all belief I have not expired,  just so busy that there are not enough hours in the day for me at the moment.

Last week I spotted the "Naked Rambler" as he headed southwards on the A701 at Milton Bridge heading towards Peebles, and I hear he has now crossed the Border into England with no arrests since leaving HM Prison, Edinburgh.  Had he been walking out from Penicuik in his naked state I might have assumed that he had been a victim of yet more of the Tesco daily diddles/ conundrums.  Which of course was fun when one of the young Tesco ladies decided to interview me for an in store survey - she soon learned why it is that I take ages to do my shopping as I try to fathom out what really is the best buy,  but I suppose the same would happen if I were to shop in any of the other big supermarkets, as they all operate to make a profit and the shopper is forever the loser. 
I did end up challenging staff about misleading labelling on the Fairy Liquid display, and he did admit that they did not have the goods for sale !!!  I see that the Fairy product has been toppled from its place as No 1 in the  market,   the company even changed the formula without letting the public know.
We have had some lovely customers at the Dolphin Inn, even a Ruby Wedding anniversary which went brilliantly well, while the Mercat Bar still suffers from the tramworks -  BUT, BUT,  there is a rumour going around that the present works might be completed in five or six weeks ( pigs might fly).