Having a bit of a boring time these days as the old body is hindering me a bit - as the old saying goes the Spirit is willing but the body is weak, so the sooner I get things fixed the better.
Steed of Steel getting a bit of a rest although I will hopefully get out for a wee run some time over the next few days.
Bit of excitement yesterday with a visit to the cinema to see the new James Bond movie, "Spectre" which I really enjoyed - a bit deeper than previous movies in the series, however, it made sense to me - plenty of action at times, Lord knows how these stuntmen do it without ending up in shreds.
Bit of a record for me - despite the fact it is claimed that a glass of red wine or a wee nip each day is good for you, I have had eight weeks "without a drop" !!! even I am worried about me - but that along with several sessions in the swimming pool each week will hopefully stand me in good stead for the forthcoming surgery - maybe then !!!!!
Rugby World Cup coming to an end this weekend, it has been a remarkable sporting event, massive crowds, no trouble at all, unlike our football spectators who should take heed.
I see Ms Sturgeon and the SNP have now promised to keep another couple of Scottish businesses which are under threat open - .
Friday 30 October 2015
Sunday 25 October 2015
Heading into the dark times again.
Was in Edinburgh on the Steed of Steel during the week and came across what was obviously a major Police incident in Regent Road at Montrose Tce., lots of plain clothes officers. Subsequently discovered from the Evening News a couple of days later that it was a joint operation with police Scotland and Fraud Officers from Metropolitan Police who arrested a couple who were involved in a £million fraud / scam, however one of the accused managed to escape at the scene.
Edinburgh City Council plan to spend Nine Million pounds on a cycle route through the centre of the City, hope that they start to raise funds by issuing cyclist with fixed penalty tickets, Offences - no light on bikes; cycling on pavements; riding through red traffic lights, etc. Last night I was sitting in the car when a female passed me going the wrong way up a one way street in the dark, no lights on the bike and texting as she was riding, and in the morning while stopped at a red light a cyclist came up the inside and just totally ignored the red light as he weaved through the crossing traffic.
Nicola (take a selfie|) Sturgeon last week promised that the Motherwell steel works would never be closed, this week she has modified the statement to "we will do everything we can to try and stop the plant closing". Some recent surveys have shown that the SNP politics are dividing families and breaking down friendships - I know as it has happened to me with a couple of staunch SNP supporters.
I was form filling at the hospital mid week and one question asked if I needed an interpreter !!!!!!!!!!! simple answer should be No - apart from Gaelic and Welsh speakers and bona fide visitors to the UK, with tourist or work visas, everyone should be required to speak English in public places in the UK. English should be the only language spoken in schools, apart from the teaching of foreign languages.
Had myself an interesting couple of hours out on the Steed of Steel, exploring back roads between Penicuik and Biggar which I have not been on for years - there are some smashing wee places right on my doorstep.
Installation at RA Laird of Cockpen this coming Tuesday night, start of a new session.
With the clocks changing this morning looks like there will soon be lots of SAD individuals wishing they could hibernate for the winter.
Edinburgh City Council plan to spend Nine Million pounds on a cycle route through the centre of the City, hope that they start to raise funds by issuing cyclist with fixed penalty tickets, Offences - no light on bikes; cycling on pavements; riding through red traffic lights, etc. Last night I was sitting in the car when a female passed me going the wrong way up a one way street in the dark, no lights on the bike and texting as she was riding, and in the morning while stopped at a red light a cyclist came up the inside and just totally ignored the red light as he weaved through the crossing traffic.
Nicola (take a selfie|) Sturgeon last week promised that the Motherwell steel works would never be closed, this week she has modified the statement to "we will do everything we can to try and stop the plant closing". Some recent surveys have shown that the SNP politics are dividing families and breaking down friendships - I know as it has happened to me with a couple of staunch SNP supporters.
I was form filling at the hospital mid week and one question asked if I needed an interpreter !!!!!!!!!!! simple answer should be No - apart from Gaelic and Welsh speakers and bona fide visitors to the UK, with tourist or work visas, everyone should be required to speak English in public places in the UK. English should be the only language spoken in schools, apart from the teaching of foreign languages.
Had myself an interesting couple of hours out on the Steed of Steel, exploring back roads between Penicuik and Biggar which I have not been on for years - there are some smashing wee places right on my doorstep.
Installation at RA Laird of Cockpen this coming Tuesday night, start of a new session.
With the clocks changing this morning looks like there will soon be lots of SAD individuals wishing they could hibernate for the winter.
Monday 19 October 2015
Bad luck Scotland
Still standing !!! But waiting for a date to go back under the knife once again - not a pleasant thought.
Shame that Scotland were pipped at the literal post yesterday - twenty four seconds to go and what might have been a rash decision by the referee cost me the chance to poke a certain Aussie in the eye, who will no doubt be gloating when I was hoping he would be weeping in his beer.
Andy Murray well and truly whopped the other day - not on form - an understatement.
Had a run in with a white van man this morning at Milton Bridge - angry man behind the wheel, so that is one decorator I will not be offering work to.
Back to mobile phones and texting at the wheel - when will drivers ever learn - nearly got swiped coming home today (by yet another white van man).
Had the Steed of Steel out for a quiet meander around some local back roads, one I had not been on for over twenty years, massive old rural hospital building , now vacant and falling down, what a shame.
Living opposite the school playing fields, which are now hired out to local football clubs, both adult and youngsters - the adult teams and support certainly need to learn how to shut their mouths - if they used the foul language I hear from the field and touchline down the street they would be reported for it. Add that to the rubbish left behind for someone to collect - disgusting.
RA Installation at Tranent on Saturday night - excellent degree, good attendance, just a pity I was not able to stay for the meal and social.
Shame that Scotland were pipped at the literal post yesterday - twenty four seconds to go and what might have been a rash decision by the referee cost me the chance to poke a certain Aussie in the eye, who will no doubt be gloating when I was hoping he would be weeping in his beer.
Andy Murray well and truly whopped the other day - not on form - an understatement.
Had a run in with a white van man this morning at Milton Bridge - angry man behind the wheel, so that is one decorator I will not be offering work to.
Back to mobile phones and texting at the wheel - when will drivers ever learn - nearly got swiped coming home today (by yet another white van man).
Had the Steed of Steel out for a quiet meander around some local back roads, one I had not been on for over twenty years, massive old rural hospital building , now vacant and falling down, what a shame.
Living opposite the school playing fields, which are now hired out to local football clubs, both adult and youngsters - the adult teams and support certainly need to learn how to shut their mouths - if they used the foul language I hear from the field and touchline down the street they would be reported for it. Add that to the rubbish left behind for someone to collect - disgusting.
RA Installation at Tranent on Saturday night - excellent degree, good attendance, just a pity I was not able to stay for the meal and social.
Saturday 10 October 2015
Coco Black - Flying Scotsman.
While in Peebles this afternoon popped in to see Ruth Hinds at Coco Black. Her feature pieces, made completely of chocolate are stunning. Apologies for the background glare in some of the photos.
The chocolate model of the Flying Scotsman train was made to be displayed to the Queen at the one of the events related to the recent opening of the WaverleyLine between Tweedbank and Edinburgh - however as HRM's schedule was altered she did not get to see it - instead a video of its production has been given to her.
Nice enough to eat - but "who dares" ? - well done Ruth, magnificent.
Nice enough to eat - but "who dares" ? - well done Ruth, magnificent.
Friday 9 October 2015
Once again catch up time.
Just where does the time go these days ?
Anyway - big congratulations to the staff at The Mercat Grill who won the top award in two categories at the Annual East Lothian Food and Drink Dinner on Tuesday night at North Berwick. Thanks to everyone for their hard work.
Was at Crieff last night for the R A Strathearn No 34 installation to see Kenny Jack back into the chair. Good night apart from the problems with traffic both ways. Coming back I got stuck on the by A720 city by pass late on due to a diversion for road works, however things were not helped as there had been a fatal hit and run accident on Comiston Road, near the Water Works and the Police had closed that road off also - no consolation for the family of the deceased, a 54 year old pedestrian.
During the week I eventually made it across the fields ( despite there being a footpath !!!) to have a look at the Ramsay Monument close up -
Anyway - big congratulations to the staff at The Mercat Grill who won the top award in two categories at the Annual East Lothian Food and Drink Dinner on Tuesday night at North Berwick. Thanks to everyone for their hard work.
Was at Crieff last night for the R A Strathearn No 34 installation to see Kenny Jack back into the chair. Good night apart from the problems with traffic both ways. Coming back I got stuck on the by A720 city by pass late on due to a diversion for road works, however things were not helped as there had been a fatal hit and run accident on Comiston Road, near the Water Works and the Police had closed that road off also - no consolation for the family of the deceased, a 54 year old pedestrian.
During the week I eventually made it across the fields ( despite there being a footpath !!!) to have a look at the Ramsay Monument close up -
Kind of overgrown around the site, however there are plans to tidy it all up and make it another feature point on the paths through and around Penicuik Estate.
Becoming obsessed with drivers using mobile phones in their vehicles, this morning, three who were texting with phones balanced on the steering wheels.
Just had yet another automated cold call wanting to tell me about the government scheme to replace my old boiler , time these so and so's were all shut down. Homes under siege with folks afraid to answer their phones, which is really frustrating especially when you are waiting on specific calls.
Friday 2 October 2015
Time to vent the spleen
Builders - there is an extension being added to the garage at Whitecraig, the brickies are taking so long that I suspect the new third Forth Bridge will be finished before the garage. Only folk who must be happy are the scaffolding company who have the scaffolding up around the site - they are getting plenty of advertising. but it might be that their kit will be rusted over by the time it comes down.
Midlothian Council have had Rullion Road, Penicuik closed for months while they resurface the road, buses are diverted and many are having some distance to walk to the nearest temporary stops - they are even laying on taxis for those who cannot walk. HOWEVER , not content with this closure they are shutting Mauricewood Road on Monday for five weeks to do the same thing, again with diversions and inconvenience - with a cold winter forecast, at this rate the new surface will be damaged as it gets laid !!!
Cyclist are doing my head in - on the main roads, no lights and no Hi Viz clothing, in Edinburgh it is a free for all, just not safe to drive at night for fear of hitting one of the many eejits on two wheels.
Dalkeith to Whitecraig at the weekend, a nightmare with the local cycling clubs taking over the road as they travel in big groups holding up the traffic - no road tax, Pavements and roads used by all and hey even have the cheek to pull up at traffic lights, onto the pavement, hit the "green man", cross wih pedestrians and then back onto the road again.
Mobile phones - now a daily occurrence to count drivers using their phones while on my way to work - cars, buses and lorries - one bloke followed me from Dalkeith to Rosewell last week with his apparatus firmly stuck to his ear. Heads down you can spot those texting at the wheel.
Cold callers - house is now under siege , no point in having a phone at home as 90% of calls are now either PPI; home insulation, etc. We had three calls in one morning from the same firm, started off as an innocuous call and just escalated as they elicited more and more details until we found out the true nature of the initial call - should be banned.
Midlothian Council have had Rullion Road, Penicuik closed for months while they resurface the road, buses are diverted and many are having some distance to walk to the nearest temporary stops - they are even laying on taxis for those who cannot walk. HOWEVER , not content with this closure they are shutting Mauricewood Road on Monday for five weeks to do the same thing, again with diversions and inconvenience - with a cold winter forecast, at this rate the new surface will be damaged as it gets laid !!!
Cyclist are doing my head in - on the main roads, no lights and no Hi Viz clothing, in Edinburgh it is a free for all, just not safe to drive at night for fear of hitting one of the many eejits on two wheels.
Dalkeith to Whitecraig at the weekend, a nightmare with the local cycling clubs taking over the road as they travel in big groups holding up the traffic - no road tax, Pavements and roads used by all and hey even have the cheek to pull up at traffic lights, onto the pavement, hit the "green man", cross wih pedestrians and then back onto the road again.
Mobile phones - now a daily occurrence to count drivers using their phones while on my way to work - cars, buses and lorries - one bloke followed me from Dalkeith to Rosewell last week with his apparatus firmly stuck to his ear. Heads down you can spot those texting at the wheel.
Cold callers - house is now under siege , no point in having a phone at home as 90% of calls are now either PPI; home insulation, etc. We had three calls in one morning from the same firm, started off as an innocuous call and just escalated as they elicited more and more details until we found out the true nature of the initial call - should be banned.
Signs of respect Bill Hermiston and Allan Black
Yesterday was kind of sad. Initially I had planned on being on being either on Skye or in Crieff at one or other of two IPA events.
However, that grim reaper who waits for us all at some stage - had other ideas.
Bill (Hermie) Hermiston, former Sergeant at Musselburgh and Prestonpans died after a period of illness so I joined many former colleagues at his funeral service in Mortonhall, Edinburgh. Large attendance , fine service with three different ministers doing different bits of the ceremony. Bill had been a long time church elder at Gorebridge and a member at Heriot also - very well respected in his community.
At the same time another service was taking place at Prestongrange Church and Cemetery for Allan Black , well respected member of a number of masonic orders who died in hospital following a heart attack last week. Allan, a Past Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Royal Arch Chapter of Mid and East Lothian will be sadly missed - he was another of life's characters.
Just a shame I could not be in two places at once, but my thoughts are with family and friends of both Hermie and Allan, R.I.P.
However, that grim reaper who waits for us all at some stage - had other ideas.
Bill (Hermie) Hermiston, former Sergeant at Musselburgh and Prestonpans died after a period of illness so I joined many former colleagues at his funeral service in Mortonhall, Edinburgh. Large attendance , fine service with three different ministers doing different bits of the ceremony. Bill had been a long time church elder at Gorebridge and a member at Heriot also - very well respected in his community.
At the same time another service was taking place at Prestongrange Church and Cemetery for Allan Black , well respected member of a number of masonic orders who died in hospital following a heart attack last week. Allan, a Past Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Royal Arch Chapter of Mid and East Lothian will be sadly missed - he was another of life's characters.
Just a shame I could not be in two places at once, but my thoughts are with family and friends of both Hermie and Allan, R.I.P.
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