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A real treat this afternoon at the local swimming pool,  instead of having to zig zag through the other swimmers, avoid being dive bombed and generally get frustrated, I found myself all alone in the pool for thirty five minutes, supervised by two lifeguards -  not very often this happens, so I made the most of it.

Talking to a local shopkeeper who told me that one of our taxi drivers had charged a man in a wheelchair £40 for a fare from Penicuik to Dalkeith on Christmas Day -  and another today was saying that he could not afford to take time off on a Saturday in Edinburgh as he was earning up to £300 a day !!!   Pirates of the road right enough.

Last message now in outer space.

Second attempt at this post, back on the HP which went into the middle of nowhere last night.
Had written about the pleasures of having Penicuik  swimming pool to myself for forty minutes yesterday, what a treat compared to Monday and today when pool was busy and it was a zig zag around the pool to avoid being sunk.
Kind of stormy today, few wild squalls but nothing near as bad as our friends are having elsewhere in the UK - bit of a nightmare.  tend to agree with those who feel that money targeted for foreign aid should be invested in assisting with the flood damage here.  
Was at the ERI today when rains were at their  worst so had to wait in the car then make a run for it - so a second pre - admission visit, usual series of tests, so hopefully things will not be botched up this time when I take that slow walk again on the 11th Jan.
The  Lothian and Borders Police facebook page is superb,  brings back lots of memories -  pure coincidence tonight when I came home having popped a letter in to ABD - Andrew Donaldson, and a short time later saw him in a photograph taken on a gold outing in North Berwick

First post by an Apple

New toy to play with.  An I pad, so here I go again having to learn something new.
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and now Sunday roast day,  Mercat Grill has kept us all on our toes.  Once again we have been lucky with the weather, although plenty rain nothing as bad as the poor folks have been having down south. Seems that it will take years to make good the terrible damage caused by the floods.
Lot of flu about, fingers crossed that I do not catch it.
Edinburgh managed to beat Glasgow at the rugby today, full house at Murrayfield,  gives Edinburgh the chance to stay in contention in the super league.
Still no news as to when flights will be resumed to Sharm el Sheikh, what a shame for the hotels over there. Not even listed on the holiday sites yet - perfect example of economic warfare.

Christmas Day in the workhouse - for some.

Merry Christmas to everyone -  and I was right about the no more sleeps,  as I ended up dozing in my chair most of the night, perhaps fair excited at the prospect of seeing Santa !!  however, no such luck, must have sneaked in and out like a wee mouse.   Bit of a contradiction as I did end up back in bed at 6.45am and actually slept for a couple of hours.

Had planned on taking a full load of goodies down to the Mercat Grill early this morning, however young RGB saved me the trouble -  BUT  he did forget a couple of things which gave me an excuse to get out the "Steed of Steel" and have a gentle canter down to Whitecraig to see the "troops" who have done an exceptional job in treating a full house to a wonderful meal.   Unable to resist getting my hands wet so I did manage to help with the washing up for a bit.

Congratulations to Brenda Pryde and also Derek Dinse who got engaged last night - not to each other, but to their respective partners !!!!   Well done.

Now sitting patiently for dinner and then time to see if I have received any new socks, etc.

For some - no more sleeps till X-Mas

Christmas Eve again, and very soon X-mas day, the Boxing Day when we will be wondering what all the fuss was about.  There will no doubt be someone who has just remembered something they should have bought !!  too late - just need to eat something else, or swap the label from one of the other presents.   Shops were a bit quieter today, although Penicuik was gridlocked - no idea why,  big queues at the filling station - so no idea where folks plan on going before the next fill up .  Tesco shut for two days - panic - seems like the populace is stocking up just in case storm EVA strikes.

Probably a bit of Ba Humbug from me,  but is it not just a monumental marketing rip off - people paying well over the odds for items which will be on sale on Boxing Day - there was even a store in England selling x-mas trees for 1p just to get rid of them.

We all have our new food recycling pots, how much of the food bought in the last three days will end up being thrown out or wasted.

Great excitement as the men from "Leggoland" managed to get the Forth Road Bridge fixed and opened in time for all those trapped in Fife to get home to meet Santa -  Mrs B is still convinced that it will fall down soon !!   No faith at all in gaffer tape.  I wonder if all those who cancelled their Xmas dinner at the Hawes Inn have called to rebook.

Very busy at the Mercat Grill, (massive well done to the staff) just a pity I am not fully fit in order to help out in my usual style - just able to dodge about and take my time - perhaps in three months time - after the big fix and a period of recovery I will be my old self again.

So - for those in the land of upside down people - Merry Christmas,  and for those still waiting  - merry Christmas when it comes.

Well done Andy Murray

Massive congratulations to Andy Murray and the Great Britain Davies Cup team for winning both the Sportsman of the Year Award and the best sports team of the year award run by the BBC - superb show tonight from Belfast, well worth watching.

Very busy week for all at the Grill, going hammer and tongs every day, certainly no rest for the wicked as they say, and despite my current health problems just have to keep going.    Word from the medics to confirm that next attempt at a repair will be 11th January . Happy New Year,  better be fit in time for some holidays.

Missed the final big bang at Cockenzie power station on Thursday afternoon, although I believe that there are still some internal pillars standing - looks like that will be a clean up job for next year.

Plenty X mas cards dropping in on the house - received a lovely wee one from Aaron Maynard made in the school .

Bookies still not sure if we are going to get a white X mas,  despite the chaos with the snow a few days ago,  we have had a really mild spell since then, although windy enough to keep the bird feeders swaying and tipping out the seed - on the plus side, there is still plenty of food about for our feathered friends.

Still not been able to get the Steed out on the road, bit annoying.

Getting hectic again.

Just think, I should have been on the mend by now,  instead, back at work in the Grill, helping out at this busy lead up to X-mas ,  just as well things were delayed for a few weeks.

Heard a bit of an understatement by a weather forecaster   " bit damp"  he said,   damp,  been pouring buckets and blowing a gale - my "Star Buy" greenhouse, which took days to build,  was demolished - same way that the big bad wolf huffed and puffed and blew the house down.

Been fun and games in the Grill with the Christmas dinners and parties leading up to the arrival of Santa Clause !!    We had sixteen Santa's all in costume for dinner on Friday night, great atmosphere with everyone having a sing a long, excellent food, and staff getting a real buzz from the crowd -  but as they say "you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all of the time" a table of three adopted my "Ba Humbug" attitude, just because things were jumping !!  Well, it is nearly X-mas I think and the majority of folks were wanting to enjoy themselves.

On the down side, spotted the "polis" out on Saturday morning at Milton Bridge, having a random go at drivers, no doubt looking for someone to breathalyse.     Pity they were not out at night stopping one eyed monsters or bloody cyclists without lights, and mobile phone users.

Back at the Grill, Santa Clause had made a couple of surprise appearances already this week, much to the delight of the customers, even wee gifts on hand.   BUT this morning it was the turn of Santa Paws to make an appearance for some of our four legged friends who arrived for doggy beer and muffins,

Santa even made time to cheer up the staff,   who seemed to already be enjoying themselves between customers !!!

Busy week ahead, just need to wrap up, wear oilskins, and keep taking the tablets.

Another NHS statistic

Sitting here at home this evening when I should have been lying in a hospital bed doped up to my eyes !!    Arrived at the ERI at 0700 this morning -  changed, all gowned and suited up when Dr arrived for a wee chat while the knives were being sharpened  !!  Discovered that I have been wrongly advised over the stopping of medications so decided that due to the increased risk element -  he would cancel the Operation while things were being sorted and then try again at a later date.  One "seriously miffed" individual headed back to work - good job I had not arrived in jammies and dressing gown as proposed.   BUT  BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

One consolation at least ,  I still have the Steed of Steel road taxed so I may even get out if the floods subside and the snow stays away.

Chaos and even more chaos - roads and bridges.

One more sleep , so to speak, and then time to get "cut up" once again- here's hoping they do a better job this time.

What a week we have had, traveled to Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday to join the family for the funeral of Stephen Boyd , RIP.
Returned home on Thursday and by tea time there was chaos with Penicuik under snow and everything  around this part of Midlothian ground to a halt, all gone the next  afternoon but  then the rains came bucketing down not just here but throughout the Borders and North west of England with devastation as rivers burst their banks and even more flooding than nine years ago.  Interesting that one area of serious flooding occurred along the course of an old river which was diverted hundreds of years ago by the Normans. Over the years a number of rivers have been diverted to make way for housing, etc,  but when the waters do come - they will always make for their original route.

Further chaos in the extreme with the Forth Road Bridge being closed to all traffic for an unspecified period of time, which could be months due to faults in the supporting trusses,  something first identified several years ago but ignored with the memo filed away. Could be a job for a really big roll of my gaffer tape !!!  Drivers face a forty four mile diversion, hours of slow moving traffic  - an economic disaster if ever was. So  now we have to wait for the next bridge to be finished - with Chinese made steel,  hope the SNP have more than a five year builders warranty on that one.

Have not checked out on the newest of the new build houses at Eskbank which have been built very very near to numerous massive trees - far too close I suspect,  but only time will tell.  I certainly would not be buying one !!!  even with a big lottery win - if ever, and they may also be lucky if they have a five year warranty.

Steed of Steel tucked up in the stable while I am out of action however, not for too long I hope.

Till the next time.