No snow in St Peter's Square, but there is here.

Tuesday a.m. and the snow has reached Penicuik once again , so today, no heroics, no joining the convoy of snow clad motors (owners too lazy or stupid to clear them) to try and get to the Mercat Bar and Grill,  will just wait for things to quieten down a bit and clear up before heading out.  11.30 a.m. still falling lightly, and when I went to clear the paths it was four inches deep out the back,    even had a lady photographer stop and take my photo while clearing the cars -  another of my obsessions.
    
It is  giving me the opportunity to watch the inauguration ceremony of the new Pope, St Francis,   in sunshine (very jealous), and from the fabulous St Peter's Square and Basilica.  We visited the Vatican a few years ago and it is certainly a wonderful place to see, irrespective of ones religion. We were lucky enough to get booked on an early morning visit, so made it in before the crowds and without having to queue,   the Sistine Chapel was awe inspiring and the guards were doing their best to try and stop folks taking photos, but all you heard was the clicking of camera shutters.  Anyway,  I hope he is able to bring a bit of stability to the Church after the recent upheavals.
Interesting to note that there are no aircraft or helicopters buzzing around Rome this morning to disturb the proceedings, plenty digital cameras in action though, even by members of the choirs.   Spoke too soon, just heard a helicopter.

Mercat Bar and Grill was nice and busy over the weekend, couple of big groups in for meals on Saturday which kept us all on our toes,  just what I  needed after a full day's training course,  and on Sunday we had a lovely group in for a family gathering using their daughter's (Megan) 18th Birthday as an excuse.    The majority of the family and friends arrived around 5p.m. as planned, however, there were a couple of car loads, from the Glasgow area,  who became very geographically embarrassed (lost) and did not arrive till 9 p.m.    Sounds a bit like the lady who thought she was on the M25 and four hours later stopped off at the Washington Services, Durham, for directions !!!!

Just as well I did not put my bet on over the weekend , would have lost my pennies, with both Hearts and Scotland losing their respective games,  but it might have been a good double if I had gone the other way.

49 Club having lunch this week at the Whisky Heritage Centre, somewhere new and different - might manage to make it, but then again !!