Sun still shining, scenery wonderful, and it is Scotland.

Made it to the PTC at CAstlebrae, Auchterarder, on Sunday, although crossing the Forth Bridge was a nightmare with massive hold ups due to the road works.  However, the sTeed of Steel did the trick and I arrived in one piece which is more than can be said for a couple of scooters.  There had been a big rally down in Kelso and I passed two of a group who were making for Peterhead, a long run on the scooter. One had a puncture and before he could stop safely he had ruined his wheel, the other lost his exhaust due to the expansion joints on the road bridge.
Quiet night here on Sunday, physio , reflexology and some fitness work on Monday with a fifty mile ride out through and around Crieff on Monday evening. Today, a morning run through Crieff, then by the Sma Glen to Aberfeldy,  Taymouth, south side of Lock Tay to Killin, then Lochearnhead, St Fillans, Comrie, and then back to Auchterarder in time for lunch ( round trip of ninety five miles, beautiful weather and fabulous scenery).
More physio, a swim, lecture, and wee read in the sun this afternoon, perfect.

Bit of style in the sunshine

Still not getting any better on this computer, just lost the original post.  Never mind, today the sun shone for a change and it was back to the happy smile club once more. Thankfully just in time for the Hunter and Lass celebrations in Penicuik.    However, I had other plans in hand, attending the Celebration service and dinner to commemorate the Centenary of Acheson's Haven Cryptic Council.  An excellent service carried out by the Supreme First Principal, Ian Fraser and his team.  Very good attendance and afterwards there was a surprise presentation of Honorary Grand Rank in Supreme to one of the Council's long serving and hard working members, John Gemmell.

 Bit of a treat for me, being on the mend after all my recent happenings with the NHS, so I was able to dress up for the event and subsequent dinner.   So not only did I get scrubbed up, I treated the "Steed of Steel", my transport for the day, to a bubble bath, compliments of the biker lads who were running a fund raising car wash in the Mercat Grill car park ( back again tomorrow I think), for Marie Curie Hospice

Thought that it was also worth adding the following,  just to break the stereotype of your motorcyclist, wee bit class does no harm !!

In this instance the virus is not within my system,

Indeed, this lap top has been acting up for a wee while, so this week it was taken to the Exorcist who cleared out the evil spirits and now , touch wood , it is in better nick than me.

It has been a while since I last wrote, although being realistic, I have not had a particularly exciting time.  I made it through my episode of "cold turkey" which I would not really like to repeat, so in future I will be avoiding addictive substances.   Not sure if that will include my tipple of vino tinto, but even that has lost some of its pleasure recently.

On the positive side, I have been out and about on both motorcycles this past two weeks, had the Steed of Steel down to Duns and brakes serviced, the Time Machine has new tyres, but for me, a happy bunny to be out and about.  

Off to Castlebrae Treatment Centre on Sunday for a week of treatments, physio, etc., bit of much needed R&R to get me on my feet again, even so, this current escapade (still ongoing) has caused much more grief than previous events. Taking the Steed with me , so depending on my schedule I may get a few miles under my belt around the Perthshire area.

Centenary service at Acheason's Haven Cryptic Council tomorrow, chance to dress up for the occasion, but due to driving duties, it will be yet another "dry" session.

Members of the motorcycle touring group are showing the flag. couple off to Eastern Europe,  others meeting in Germany, another group off to Austria, and tentative plans for a trip to Italy in September. All of them have been covering many UK miles honing their riding skills and conditioning their "botties" for the longer runs.

Still not able to spend very much time at the Mercat Grill,  however it is doing well without me, which just goes to prove that no one is indispensable.

Nice to have a bit humour in life, and especially the Police

Thought it was a brilliant item on the TV news of the Police Scotland officers taking up the international challenge set by police in New Zealand. Our officers in Edinburgh were great, and I see that the recruits at Tulliallan did a bit as well. Just hope the new chief constable sees the funny side of it, and the good PR exercise it has turned into.  well done .

Whilst being relatively inactive for some time I have been doing lots of reading , and as I am still waiting on Peter Ritchie,s next crime thriller, someone told me to try reading novels by Stuart Macbride. Excellent crime thrillers based in and around Aberdeen with his main character being Det. SGt. Logan,  so far great reading .  Well recommended.

I try to be a bit cautious about some things I am involved in , however,

Following my surgery in February I was put on a pain control regime using Tramadol tablets.  I obviously needed them as I had a great deal of pain at that time, and although I I did try on my own to cut back the medical folks insisted that it would help my recovery if I was pain free so I stuck with it.  However , on Monday, after thirteen weeks time to stop, but no one warned me of the side effects of Tramadol withdrawal. Turned out to be a real nightmares, not very pleasant at all, with everything I had read proving to be correct.    On the plus side  I seem to have managed to work through it reasonably well, although it would have been easy to take a tablet and try again later.  I can certainly now sympathise with anyone who has become addicted to these Tramadol tablets or anything similar. Now have a period of time while body detoxes completely.

I think that these Bank Holiday weekends should be kept a secret.

Then it might not rain!!!!   Not that I do not like rain, saves us from having hose pipe bans, helps water God's little plants, and gives the ducks somewhere to practice their paddling !!  But - give us a break, at this rate it will soon be winter again. Just finished on Friday with a real flurry,  snow here , five inches in Innerleithen and even some in London.
Just spoken to Mr J. from Chobham, where the village fair takes place today, so at least it is not raining there at the moment.

Talk of the devil,  there he is with his good lady on the "Time Machine" when they visited us last year,  Mrs J., has exchanged helmets these days as she has taken up with a group of wild "horsey" ladies in her village. Not sure what they get up to in their barn, but I do know that they were recently involved in rescuing some abandoned horses and foals - well done ladies.

Not being "fair weather" bikers, the Time Machine will be on the road shortly as RGB is heading out to the Grill, however in view of my current ongoing situation I will give it a miss today and wait for a dry day to try out my bike legs.   I have already suggested elsewhere that it might be appropriate to get High Viz life jackets and waders for use on the bikes if it does not stop "peeing down" soon.