Faces at the Mercat Grill opening.

Open days are a perfect opportunity  to snap the visitors,  yesterday was no exception and here are a few faces amongst the crowds.

not sure what they were watching here,  maybe thsi young lady getting her face painted.

A cone is a cone is a cone, so stop watching me.

Seriously grim looking individual here -John  just waiting for a lull in the music before he rode off into the sunset on his Harley

Young Craig had borrowed a shild for the occasion, probably in order to get a Mr softee ice cream !!!

I seee no ships - obviously looking for the gin bottle.

Our young Star singer winner of Edinburgh's got talent

 Table dressings, pretty as a picture.

Poor bear - no sleep last night, and the headache complaint would be ignored..

Mayfield Pipe Band at the Mercat Grill

Launch Day at the Mercat Grill and the Mayfield Pipe Band came over to play.  Band were excellent, their choice of tunes first class and there were many tapping feet around the car park.

Within the band were four members of the same family,  Iain Dillworth, his son and two twin daughters - a remarkable achievement.

Official Opening of Mercat Grill and Bar

All official now,  the Mercat Bar and Grill was opened yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony - cut by the Depute Provost of East Lothian, Jim Gillies

After several weeks of hectic works , the refurbishment is completed and what a transformation of the premises.

We had a great day, starting off with East Coast FM on site, face painting, magician, singer, pipe band -  Tea time the hog roast made an appearance - crackling and apple sauce,  then as dusk fell, into the building where Kiera Murphy held centre stage for a while and handed over to our visiting jazz band.

In the course of the day we started off the fund raising campaign for CLIC Sergeant, with an ongoing raffle running till 15th December.

Memories of the Mercat Grill, formerly the Dolphin Inn

A really interesting conversation today with this gent who arrived for lunch with his daughter and grand daughter.  Home on holiday from Australia.  Ian Hackett is the son of the late Tommy Hacket who built the Dolphin Inn and moved into the flat above on 10th  May 1956 when he was 13 years old.
Tommy Hacket had also owned the Elphinstone Arms and the Central Bar, Leith.
For ages we have wondered why it was called the Dolphin Inn and he was able to say that he and his brothers and sisters had sat with a book of pubs names from throughout the UK and eventually they picked the Dolphin as the name -  easy as that.
He even had a wee look into the flat to bring back memories of his childhood. 

Things progressing towards the re launch on Saturday first - no panic yet  ( who says).

Back from my travels in Ireland.

Home again after my sojourn in Ireland,  managed to clock 502 miles on the trip, hence the sore posterior.  Many thanks the members of the IPAGMC for their invitation and making us so welcome.

Left at 11.45 a.m. this morning and took the coastal route through Warren Point and up to Newcastle, before cutting across country to Belfast and up to Larne for the ferry.
Made it there early enough , first four bikes on board, smooth crossing to Troon, and then a fairly rapid run back to Edinburgh , via Glasgow as group members peeled off.
Some more pics of the bikes,

This one was way out in the country as the croup were heading up into the Mountains of Mourne

 

Taken in the lay by at Narrow Water Castle where on 27/8/79  -  eighteen soldiers were killed by two remotely detonated bombs.

 

Our lunch stop yesterday was at Carlingford Sailing Club, much appreciated as we were ravenous.

 

Folks might have thought we were daft,  however we thought this chap was mad,  dressed as he was he strolled into the sea and swam off into the distance, apparently training for a triathlon

 

However,  now home and ready for a snooze before the rigours of the week commence again at the Mercat Grill, on the build up to the Opening Event on the 28th.

 

A ride out in Ireland with the Guarda.

Just back after a long day out on the road - although we only did 144 miles,  but with fifty two bikes in convoy (reminiscent  of the old mobile column that the Police ran years ago) -   bit of a bind for the motorists who were sitting at junctions or waiting to turn right across our path -  with all these bikes evenly spaced the line it was nearly two miles long - apart from the few times the line missed the markers and we were split up- that time it took half an hour to find the missing bods.

Very interesting as we passed through lots of the towns which featured regularly in the news during the IRA troubles.

We stopped at Warren Point which was the scene of the biggest massacre of British troops by the IRA , and at the end of the run stopped to lay a wreath at the scene of the most recent murder of a Guarda  Officer  Adrien Donaho, at the Credit Union, Lordship, near Dundalk.

Dinner set for 8pm   should be fun
 

The Tain Tour 2013 - IPA motor bikes

Been a long day so far,  heard RGB getting up at 5.30 am for his meeting with BNI , then I was up at 6.30 and off on the road at 7.15 -  met Tom at the doughnut place at Hermiston Gait,  cannot believe how many folk are eating them at that time of day -  obviously topping up on E numbers.
 West on the M8 - weaved by the scene of an accident at Eurocentral,  picked up next rider at Showcase,  then on to Barrhead for next one before heading to Troon to meet five and six.   Onto the 11 a.m. ferry from Troon to Larne,  bit choppy but did not sit down so I was fine.  Went out to the observation deck -  bit of a joke as it is the smokers corner, so no fresh air, just nicotine and squealing kids.
Weather at Larne was lovely so onto the steeds once again for a fairly fast run South by passing Belfast, Newry and into Dundalk for the Rally / convention.   About 177 miles so far and we did think of meeting the northbound convoy but as the nearest meeting point was about 50 miles south we just settled for a quick spin into Dundalk town centre, bank, and top up Irish style  with petrol -  guess how much you might need, pay first then fill up.

The other group has arrived and a quick count from the window shows about forty bikes ion the car park.    Wee reception shortly, then tomorrow we have a 140 mile ride out around the area, the Mountains of Mourne  and eventually back to the hotel for a dinner and soiree.  All organised by the IPAGMC  North Eastern as their end of season rally/

Couple of senior moments -  brought my camera but left the memory card in the computer last night,  and also brought the wrong phone charger -  God help me if I decide to join the No 1. boys on their trip to Corsica and Sardinia next year.

In the meantime,  I hear from the Grill that things are going well -  even had a couple of old friends in for lunch, from Bonnyrigg,  lady worked with Mrs B when they left school, and husband worked with me at Dalkeith,  so nice to see Esther and Ian again,

Time for drinkies.

Big changes at the Mercat Grill

What a carry on,  trying to pack the bike for three days away-  the bag holding the clothes was heavier than the clothes themselves -  anyway, all done and ready for the off.

Bigger carry on and  even bigger transition is the change at the Mercat Grill as the makeover progresses,  painting about finished,  wallpapering in progress and flooring going down. Big change and that is for certain.

Very much a case of watching this space, even more sensible  come along and see for yourself.

 

Going to be a treat for me on Monday to see what else has happened.

 

In the meantime , I hope the rains stays away whilst we are off on our run with the IPA Motor Cycle Section to Ireland. 

 

Count down to open day

Been a busy, busy time,  chaos reigns  at the Mercat Grill with decorators, gardeners, and not enough hours in the day till the relaunch party.  In the meantime our clients have been very patient, dining and allowing us to carry on working around them -  I suppose it is a bit of entertainment when I am covered in paint from one job, and blood from another due to a slipping saw -  always a talking point.

Better still, today the curtains were really flapping and no doubt tongues a wagging when our friendly remover, Peter Illand brought along a furniture removal van, so that we could store the furniture while flooring guys could get on with relaying the new floors after lifting our somewhat dated carpets.

Project is taking shape, and a hell of a lot faster than the tramworks up town, however Edinburgh council have declared that all works will be completed by mid October  -  two months ahead of schedule, !!!!  the rescheduled schedule that is - and six years after the start of the job - God knows how many more tens of £millions have been lost over and above the  cost of the tramworks - taking into consideration the numbers of businesses who have stuggled and failed as a result of the incomptence of the management and "co*k ups" by the workies -  no doubt stretching out the job for the inflated wages.

Our wee Pub is looking better every day, and at the weekend we had a a few good groups in,  including a young lady and family celebrating a birthday,

Young lady made a wish, and there was her lucky coin,

Happy Birthday,  congratulations.

Been too busy to get the "steed of steel" prepared for Friday's trip to Dundalk to meet up with the Garda's IPA motor Cycle section,  but I suppose three days of dirty cloths, whisky or wine , will not do me any harm !!  nothing a good wash will not cure.   Looking forward to the tri

But in the meantime, plenty to do before the off.

Long and Busy week

Been a busy week, far too much to do in too little time.

Even the steed of steel has been brought into service by the staff !!!

Big changes in the Grill, with even more taking place this coming week -  we had a lovely young couple in,  Jamie and Caroline (from the US of A) who booked up for a buffet last night, beofre they got married at Carberry Towers today -  when they booked the place was in bit of a guddle (understatement),  when their parents came in, same sate of upheaval, however, just before they arrived last night it looked pretty good.

 and that is without it being completed.

Only time will tell how successful the project is.

Two weeks now till the official opening of the Mercat Grill, lots to do and in the interim I need to rescue the bike and get set for a few days in Ireland next weekend with the IPA bike club.

ran the show today while RGB and Go Jo headed off to a wedding in their finery.

 

 

 

Happy Bunnies - smiley faces

Back in one piece and as good as new, the Steed of Steel reappeared last night with Dr Mimms stating that it should be good for a few more years on the road.   So much for having an excuse to upgrade.

No rest for the wicked, been busy as hell with clients coming out our ears at The Mercat Grill,  nice to see so many coming back , but just as nice to see so many new faces, and from various parts of the world.
Last week,  I think  - we had the Hash House Harriers in -  so here they are

Our regulars have many and varied talents,  Willie has been growing vegetables for years, and they are immense -  he was winner at the Horticultural show in Dundee over the weekend with his cabbage

and of course, being the charmer that he is he wanted to present it to Amy,  however, we have acquired it and looks like cabbage soup, coleslaw, etc will be on the menu for a while.   But well done in getting your prize - good luck with your sortie to Canada with the carrot.
Young Jim, seen here contemplating his next tipple, keeps us on our toes with his daily visits,

Eejits and. obscenities

Time flies when you are enjoying yourself - so they say!!!   also flies when there is far too much to do and not enough time to do it !!.

Renovations in the Mercat Grill progress, lights going up, paint on the walls, me cutting cables which should not have been cut,  RGB bashing holes in walls - perfect recipe for a great job getting done - which it must if we are having the opening Party on 28th.

New beer in today, "Heverlee", brewed in Belguim, very nice - premium and imported.

Steed of Steel still with Dr Mimms at Border Bikes, but should be back very soon and running well. Better be as I am off to Dundalk on the 20th and need the wheels beneath me.
Should have been at either the IPA (Edinburgh Branch) ;  East Lothian Licensing Forum or Degree at 720 Bonnyrigg tonight -   however - having arranged to go to the IPA  it was cancelled at last minute as we had some visiting Officers in from the USA and receiving hospitality tonight - meeting rescheduled next week.   BUT with far too much work to do I took the chance to play catch up.

Scottish Parliament back to school again -  even Mr Walker  who with twenty three convictions is certainly a role model for our leaders - nice pension - no wonder he does not want to resign.   Next fun project is the upping of the recycling programme -  lots of boxes to fill each day, tins, bottles, card, paper, plastic and even food - sounds like a good idea for the domestic user,  but think of the work for commercial kitchens, especially the big ones - they will need to employ someone just to recycle properly -  BUT - bet your bottom dollar it will cost us dear.

Most obscene bit of news this week  (for me)  is the sale of a footballer for £80 plus million, now earning £330 K  per week -   what madness - when there are so many good causes in need of that kind of money - time we got our priorities right.