Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Service Through Friendship - the IPA
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Contradictions
Sunday again, time flies, and an entertaining day - wee walk, then visits from friends to see how we were doing.
Currently reading a fictional thriller based on the Knights Templars, which takes place in Rome and the middle east and has lots of references to the historical events leading to imprisonment and execution of the Templars in the 1300's. The Templars we know are well respected and part of a thriving Christian masonic brotherhood.
However, there is currently another self styled band of drug running criminals in South America who have called themselves the Knights Templars. BUT these ruthless criminal, who have been kidnapping and murdering for several years are no longer having it their own way as the local populace have formed themselves into vigilante groups and are forcing this group and others out of their communities by taking the law into their own hands as the military and Police seem powerless to act.
Nearer home we have the case of a Welsh farmer, who having been subjected to several thefts from his property caught two culprits in the act, and in the ensuing struggle to defend himself broke both legs and an arm of one of the thieves. So the thieves were fined £75 and the farmer was charged with assault - but after ten months awaiting trial, the Jury sensibly found him not guilty of the assault. It is about time a few more people adopted this attitude.
Changing attitudes and now we have the Government telling us that we drink too much so publicans are now having to offer customers even smaller glasses wine. So here we have the licensed trade, publicans and staff who are all trained properly and who ensure that customers drink sensibly - on the other hand the supermarkets and off sales will sell as much to anyone as they care to purchase!!
So alcohol is safe, but on the other hand the Canadian authorities recently seized a consignment of Barr's Iron Bru - costing an expat Scot a lot of money.
Currently reading a fictional thriller based on the Knights Templars, which takes place in Rome and the middle east and has lots of references to the historical events leading to imprisonment and execution of the Templars in the 1300's. The Templars we know are well respected and part of a thriving Christian masonic brotherhood.
However, there is currently another self styled band of drug running criminals in South America who have called themselves the Knights Templars. BUT these ruthless criminal, who have been kidnapping and murdering for several years are no longer having it their own way as the local populace have formed themselves into vigilante groups and are forcing this group and others out of their communities by taking the law into their own hands as the military and Police seem powerless to act.
Nearer home we have the case of a Welsh farmer, who having been subjected to several thefts from his property caught two culprits in the act, and in the ensuing struggle to defend himself broke both legs and an arm of one of the thieves. So the thieves were fined £75 and the farmer was charged with assault - but after ten months awaiting trial, the Jury sensibly found him not guilty of the assault. It is about time a few more people adopted this attitude.
Changing attitudes and now we have the Government telling us that we drink too much so publicans are now having to offer customers even smaller glasses wine. So here we have the licensed trade, publicans and staff who are all trained properly and who ensure that customers drink sensibly - on the other hand the supermarkets and off sales will sell as much to anyone as they care to purchase!!
So alcohol is safe, but on the other hand the Canadian authorities recently seized a consignment of Barr's Iron Bru - costing an expat Scot a lot of money.
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Back on my high horse again and grumpy
So, as they say in one of the Sunday Schools songs, "the rains came down and the floods came up" what a carry on, weather is shocking - not so bad for us here in the hills but for the poor souls down south who are still under water after two weeks, and with no immediate respite in sight.
Nearer home, West End of Edinburgh about to get a tanning again, the NCP Car park at Morrison Street closes this weekend so where five hundred odd cars a day go now ? This will certainly affect the local business once again as the new hotel, shopping and housing development gets under way. If the tram works are anything to go by, folks will just go somewhere else and not come back later, and even if they do there will be nowhere to park. NCP offered alternative parking, but at an inflated price !! law of supply and demand, less spaces, the higher the price.
So the Edinburgh Council's next party piece will be the construction of a cross city cycle route, we will be like Amsterdam or Beijing soon - AND , then they plan to bring in a blanket maximum speed limit of 20 mph across the City - coffers will soon be awash with speeding fines - no speed bumps though to damage cars or slow us down, the roads are so bad that that is deterrent enough. Looks like the fastest vehicles in the town soon will be the trams, so anyone wandering about the road texting or listening to their radio is likely to become a victim of the "silent silver menaces".
Spotted an "App" in my computer magazine, just for cyclists, giving advice on what to do in the event of an accident and a rough idea of compensation that cyclist may claim for!!! We are getting more and more like the USA each day.
I needed batteries for my home cordless phones, did a web search and ordered three from "Batteriesplus+", somewhere down south, paid my money, plus packaging, etc - so was a bit surprised when only one battery arrived - not amused, especially when they do not answer their phones or reply to e mails - watch this space.
Nearer home, West End of Edinburgh about to get a tanning again, the NCP Car park at Morrison Street closes this weekend so where five hundred odd cars a day go now ? This will certainly affect the local business once again as the new hotel, shopping and housing development gets under way. If the tram works are anything to go by, folks will just go somewhere else and not come back later, and even if they do there will be nowhere to park. NCP offered alternative parking, but at an inflated price !! law of supply and demand, less spaces, the higher the price.
So the Edinburgh Council's next party piece will be the construction of a cross city cycle route, we will be like Amsterdam or Beijing soon - AND , then they plan to bring in a blanket maximum speed limit of 20 mph across the City - coffers will soon be awash with speeding fines - no speed bumps though to damage cars or slow us down, the roads are so bad that that is deterrent enough. Looks like the fastest vehicles in the town soon will be the trams, so anyone wandering about the road texting or listening to their radio is likely to become a victim of the "silent silver menaces".
Spotted an "App" in my computer magazine, just for cyclists, giving advice on what to do in the event of an accident and a rough idea of compensation that cyclist may claim for!!! We are getting more and more like the USA each day.
I needed batteries for my home cordless phones, did a web search and ordered three from "Batteriesplus+", somewhere down south, paid my money, plus packaging, etc - so was a bit surprised when only one battery arrived - not amused, especially when they do not answer their phones or reply to e mails - watch this space.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
In and out like a Yo Yo.
Getting fed up with popping on and off the screen, however, circumstances decree that this has to be.
There I was, back home last week, doing well minding my own business when I had a rather rude awakening on Thursday night. End result a nocturnal trip to the hospital compliments of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Must compliment the Penicuik First Responder and the officers who followed a short time later, During the trip I impressed my escort by being able to tell him exactly where we were at one point - right on the button. The kind of thing you read about in books where hostages are blindfold in the back of a car trying to remember all the twists and turns en route so they can relate later where they went. Anyway, back to hospital I went. Bumped into my pal Jock in the A & A who had also had an early rise !!! I ended up in a bed, and had pains for twenty four hours, and long story short, another bash at the procedure where they discovered that the stent inserted in the original op had been "underdeployed" !!!! Nice choice of words, open to interpretation.
So after a few days of hospital meals I am home again, not quite to square one, but well on the mend thank goodness.
So I need to catch up with the Saturday episode of the "Voice" even if it is just to see Kylie again, and this morning saw Andy Murray lose in Melbourne - up to him to fight another day.
Talking of Andy, my mate at Border Bikes, Duns, called to say he had worked the oracle on one of our bikes. Once again proving that it is far better to make use of a first class independent motor cycle mechanic rather than a High Street name whose prices are inflated and who would rather write off machines as their prices are so high they cannot justify some repairs.
Have been watching the workmen at the ERI laying out the new car parks, roads and mono blocking these past four days!! will be interesting to see the state of the place in a years time when everything starts to settle.
So I will settle down again also.
There I was, back home last week, doing well minding my own business when I had a rather rude awakening on Thursday night. End result a nocturnal trip to the hospital compliments of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Must compliment the Penicuik First Responder and the officers who followed a short time later, During the trip I impressed my escort by being able to tell him exactly where we were at one point - right on the button. The kind of thing you read about in books where hostages are blindfold in the back of a car trying to remember all the twists and turns en route so they can relate later where they went. Anyway, back to hospital I went. Bumped into my pal Jock in the A & A who had also had an early rise !!! I ended up in a bed, and had pains for twenty four hours, and long story short, another bash at the procedure where they discovered that the stent inserted in the original op had been "underdeployed" !!!! Nice choice of words, open to interpretation.
So after a few days of hospital meals I am home again, not quite to square one, but well on the mend thank goodness.
So I need to catch up with the Saturday episode of the "Voice" even if it is just to see Kylie again, and this morning saw Andy Murray lose in Melbourne - up to him to fight another day.
Talking of Andy, my mate at Border Bikes, Duns, called to say he had worked the oracle on one of our bikes. Once again proving that it is far better to make use of a first class independent motor cycle mechanic rather than a High Street name whose prices are inflated and who would rather write off machines as their prices are so high they cannot justify some repairs.
Have been watching the workmen at the ERI laying out the new car parks, roads and mono blocking these past four days!! will be interesting to see the state of the place in a years time when everything starts to settle.
So I will settle down again also.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
My Heroes
Nice to be able to relax a bit, not been running up and down to the pub, but then again I am not supposed to!!
Anyway, our staff at the Grill, not content with doing their best to save me, had another adventure on Sunday night, when , having smelt smoke and realising that it was not from the Grill went to investigate. They spotted smoke coming from an open window of a nearby house and on checking saw flames in the kitchen - they roused the next door neighbour who gained entry and rescued the householder and then with one of our extinguishers managed to put out a blazing chip pan before the Fire Service arrived - well done all.
Looks like Edinburgh Council, not content with the mayhem caused by the tram works are about to inflict yet more disruption within the community by starting a £10 million cycle route right across the centre of the City. Need to wait and see how much more damage they cause to the business community!! not that they will ever admit to be responsible for losses, etc.
Andy Murray off and running again in a very hot Melbourne, total contrast to the freezing conditions in North America, what a complicated world we live in.
Anyway, our staff at the Grill, not content with doing their best to save me, had another adventure on Sunday night, when , having smelt smoke and realising that it was not from the Grill went to investigate. They spotted smoke coming from an open window of a nearby house and on checking saw flames in the kitchen - they roused the next door neighbour who gained entry and rescued the householder and then with one of our extinguishers managed to put out a blazing chip pan before the Fire Service arrived - well done all.
Looks like Edinburgh Council, not content with the mayhem caused by the tram works are about to inflict yet more disruption within the community by starting a £10 million cycle route right across the centre of the City. Need to wait and see how much more damage they cause to the business community!! not that they will ever admit to be responsible for losses, etc.
Andy Murray off and running again in a very hot Melbourne, total contrast to the freezing conditions in North America, what a complicated world we live in.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Not quite the best 10 days in our puff
Sunday now, been a week and a half since my last ode - and one we could have well done without.
Mrs B home after her sojourn with the NHS - and little I did realise what was going to happen next - took ill at the Grill on Tuesday morning, staff called the Ambulance who were on the spot a short time later - and had me wheeked away to the ERI, Edinburgh, where after a few tests was trundled into the angiagram lab where Dr. found a blood clot in the heart which was removed and replaced by a stent - simple, no problem , so back on the road to recovery.
Sounds simple, however, the staff are remarkable, working in a hospital which is far to small for the demands, not enough beds so there is a constant coming and going as folks are shuffled about, admitted, discharged, etc.
A & E is a real nightmare , not helped at all by the idiots who come in drunk, with minor ailments, etc, tying up valuable resources - speaks volumes when there has to be a near permanent Police presence to cope with the trouble makers.
Night time on the wards, where you would hope to rest can be mega stressful with monitors bleeping, alarms going off, staff running to calls and beds being moved around - the same applied in the Western last week - so it is little wonder that the recovery process does not start till you get home.
Mrs B home after her sojourn with the NHS - and little I did realise what was going to happen next - took ill at the Grill on Tuesday morning, staff called the Ambulance who were on the spot a short time later - and had me wheeked away to the ERI, Edinburgh, where after a few tests was trundled into the angiagram lab where Dr. found a blood clot in the heart which was removed and replaced by a stent - simple, no problem , so back on the road to recovery.
Sounds simple, however, the staff are remarkable, working in a hospital which is far to small for the demands, not enough beds so there is a constant coming and going as folks are shuffled about, admitted, discharged, etc.
A & E is a real nightmare , not helped at all by the idiots who come in drunk, with minor ailments, etc, tying up valuable resources - speaks volumes when there has to be a near permanent Police presence to cope with the trouble makers.
Night time on the wards, where you would hope to rest can be mega stressful with monitors bleeping, alarms going off, staff running to calls and beds being moved around - the same applied in the Western last week - so it is little wonder that the recovery process does not start till you get home.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Chaotic times.
What a life, busy as ever, but life a bit complicated having to scoot in and out the hospital for the past few days - certainly think Mrs B deserves a medal for all the running about she did on the two occasions I was there. However, things not as bad as expected so home tomorrow I think.
Fed up with the chaos caused by the so called public holidays, still not able to get my puncture repaired at local garage, and adding to that, also now needing a service for the car.
No point in waffling for the sake of it.
Fed up with the chaos caused by the so called public holidays, still not able to get my puncture repaired at local garage, and adding to that, also now needing a service for the car.
No point in waffling for the sake of it.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Happy New Year 2014
Not been asleep, just working and whilst doing so the New Year, 2014 sneaked in, so those who come across this entry, All the Best and a Happy New Year.
What can I say, just been working, sorry no tripple time for me or the good lady, just get on with it, busy period and nice to meet so many lovely customers, some new and many returning to the mercat Grill. Even met one of my former colleagues yesterday, who has become a regular over the past couple of months, but never in when I am there.
Never won the lottery so looks like so sign of a holiday on the horizon.
Open borders now for our latest influx of new immigrants, no shortage of job seekers, unless they head straight to the Benefits office.
Had planned on a wee run on the Steed of Steel, but tyre was a bit flatter at the bottom than it should be - and of course garages and other trades people are still closed for business, another opportunity for those prepared to work to charge exhorbitant prices - taxi drivers certainly did well while the busses were not running.
Hogmanay in Edinburgh, City was jam packed, so I have to admire Sparky and Carol who headed for the top of Allermuir Hill, with hip flasks, and sat and watched the amazing City vista erupt at 12mn as the various firework displays heralded in the New Year.
Stormy weather once again, caused by the extra fast jet stream over the country, bit of a nuisance gale force winds and more flooding expected.
What can I say, just been working, sorry no tripple time for me or the good lady, just get on with it, busy period and nice to meet so many lovely customers, some new and many returning to the mercat Grill. Even met one of my former colleagues yesterday, who has become a regular over the past couple of months, but never in when I am there.
Never won the lottery so looks like so sign of a holiday on the horizon.
Open borders now for our latest influx of new immigrants, no shortage of job seekers, unless they head straight to the Benefits office.
Had planned on a wee run on the Steed of Steel, but tyre was a bit flatter at the bottom than it should be - and of course garages and other trades people are still closed for business, another opportunity for those prepared to work to charge exhorbitant prices - taxi drivers certainly did well while the busses were not running.
Hogmanay in Edinburgh, City was jam packed, so I have to admire Sparky and Carol who headed for the top of Allermuir Hill, with hip flasks, and sat and watched the amazing City vista erupt at 12mn as the various firework displays heralded in the New Year.
Stormy weather once again, caused by the extra fast jet stream over the country, bit of a nuisance gale force winds and more flooding expected.
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