Certainly not a gentlemanly comment

Good job I am not easily offended !!!    Met Dougie Wood and the Companions of Honor Concord and Fidelity at Loanhead last night where a new member was iniatiated into the Order, a good degree and lovely night.    Afterwards “young” Douglas told me his brother William had been reading the blog and had commented on the increasing size of my shadow!!   What a cheek,  mind you , I had lost  a bit of weight but since being ill and not able to be so active things have crept a bit up the scales, just need to do something positive about it.

Local by-election in Penicuik on Thursday to fill the post after the sudden death of the well respected Adam Montgomery,  place was filled by Joe Wallace, SNP,  former Provost of Midlothian,    But I Ma not so sure I agree with this fancy  1,  2. 3. Voting system, where figures are jiggled about. For me , one cross, end of story.     I am sure Joe will do his best for the community,   And having just received the latest Bill from Midlothian Council for my rates,  (blood pressure through the roof) I might have to start advising the numpties in the planning department of their crackpot ideas.      Mind you, I am so pleased that Midlothian have decided at long last to get their own traffic wardens and sort out these mindless morons who abandon cars all over the place,    I was coming through Roslin on Monday on the bus and someone had parked right opposite one of the so called traffic calming islands which are bad enough at narrowing the street, bus was stopped for a while and then driver had to mount the island and creep past the parked car (which had a disabled badge on it),  no excuse whatsoever for such inconsiderate behaviour.   Driver should have just sat and called the Police.

Next big “doggie” event at the Mercat Grill is a Sunday lunch on 8 th April, and one group have already booked a table for fifteen plus eighteen dogs,  should be fun!!

Well,   Sun is actually shining morning frost clearing and the forecast is good so I might tempt fate and have a wee run out on the “Time Machine”.

Cryptic Council Centenary and Canon Joe Morrow

Well,   having been at yesterday's installation ceremony at Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter , where around three hundred and seventy companions attended , it was just a bit different today at Dalkeith with only about thirty present for the Centenary Anniversary of the Hermitage of Braid cryptic Council No 395.   This became the first official duty for M.E.C. Joseph Morrow who led a team of Supreme Office Bearers through the ceremony.    What a lovely occasion, followed by an excellent meal and speeches.   As i am not a selfie person it was nice to be photographed with "the Boss".

Police Scotland, senior ranks doing no one a favour.

I keep forgetting to comment ,   but why, why, do we need to have the word police plastered on the bonnets of police vehicles in English and  Gaelic,  what did it cost to placate the interfering SNP types who were obviously behind this piece of nonsense.  Travel around the world and Police vehicles are marked up with  Police, Polis, etc,  I am positive the 100% of our Gaelic speakers understand the word police !!!     What a bunch o administrative Bampots.   And tonight on the TV News we hear that a whistle blower has been taken to task for disclosing that one of Police Scotland's ACC's , another import from south of the Border received £49000 as relocation expenses,  and even wanted it in cash to avoid tax !!!   bloody cheek, especially when we has some brilliant home bred  female senior officers who lost their jobs with the formation of the ludicrous single force. 
I see that Sir Stephen House, first chief who left to go to private industry, has picked up a new post in the Met,  they must be toiling there also.
Bottom line,  the beat officer is the backbone of the force, hard working, tolerant , caring, and a credit to the organisation.   What they must remember is that all officers are appointed as Constables and ranks are only administrative appointments.

M.E. Companion Joseph J Morrow, C B E, Q C; L.L. D., First Grand Principal Royal Arch

Quite an interesting day today when I attended the installation of  Joe Morrow as the new First Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland.   There were around three hundred Royal Arch companions present from all over the world to celebrate the event which was followed by a banquet meal.    Companion Morrow takes over the role from John Ian Fraser who has had to step down after nine very productive and exciting years, due to ill health.

The First Principal's , first formal function will be at the Hermitage of Braid's Cryptic Council Centenary rededication service at Dalkeith tomorrow. I look forward to seeing him there in a less formal setting.
Last night, Thursday, was ever so less formal when I attended a special meeting of the Mither Shed, Corporation of the Squaremen, held for this event at the Lodge Rooms , Roseburn, Edinburgh.  This meeting was held to allow sixteen Masons from France, over for the R.A. Installation today,  to join the "Squarries".  A really entertaining evening, no doubt most of it lost on our French brothers as it is held in the Old Scots vernacular.  I would suspect that they understood today's Installation much better!!

Nothing is ever simple, renewing my passport ,

I have discovered that I need to renew my passport as it just expires within six of the return date of a possible holiday.  So, methinks that I will try the automated application service,   no,  not so easy, do not smile, keep your eyes open, watch the background, etc, anyway, fist attempt rejected so will need to try again later.

Many moons ago I popped in a photo of the Knightslaw Tower, up in Penicuik Estate,  however it was not all that clever as it was totally surrounded in trees and shrubs.  Since then thee has been a massive clearance and the Tower os now exposed in its full glory to all and sundry, quite impressive I I have been using my wee Ixus camera for a while as it is a bit more portable than my SLR,   but while being off work and confined to the house have dug out the big camera, given it a clean, fitted a new UV filter, and used it for the above.  I much prefer it and being able to use the eyepiece rather than peer at a LCD screen.    I even found a monopod hidden away in the garage which I  can use as a walking pole as well.  Sorted. 

All the snow has nearly cleared from the garden, but I did find a couple of photos taken by Mrs B which just reminded me how bad it had been here.

Time for suntan cream !!! Better not speak too soon.

Well,  the snow is still melting away, but has had a big fright over the weekend,  and this morning has been the first day over 0 C  for probably nearly three weeks,  so folks had better be watching out for burst pipes.   Very poetic with birds singing, daylight, flowers showing again,  but as usual here we will not be planting out till late May.
Paralympics still on, and again I have so much respect for these athletes who certainly put our lazy yobs to shame.
Poor result for Scotland at the rugby, well thumped by the Irish who have dominated this years Six Nations event,   just a good job that I can switch off the TV when things are looking lost.    Hearts fell by the wayside and Rangers did put up a good fight against Celtic, who have now managed to give themselves a bit more of a points cushion.
After so much disruption by the snow it was good to see the Mercat Grill back to normal again over the weekend, a full house yesterday for Mother's Day, and so many folks leaving things till the last minute and trying to get tables.  Need to book early for these special days. 
Quiz night on Thursday raised some more money for the Prostrate Cancer charity.

Busy week ahead if I am up to it,  something on for the next seven days !!!  Just need to wait and see,  but fifteen French lads coming over to join the Corporation of Squareman on Thursday night,  then the Installation of the new first principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland on Friday;   Centenary of Hermitage Cryptic Council on Saturday; and a trip to IPA  No 1 Region AGM in Stirling on Sunday !!!!

Spies, nerve agents, etc, you could not make it up!!

Certainly a bit different from talking about the weather, which obviously has had a major impact on life in the UK,  however, we seem to forget that it was like this most winters many years ago and we just got on with it.  As a nation we are becoming softer and more a set of moaners.

Our ongoing spy drama, based in Salisbury, very interesting, with the former Russian Spy, his daughter, a police officer and several others affected by what has been described as a nerve agent. Lots of speculation that Mr Putin of KGB and Kremlin fame is behind the attack following previous public declarations that these traitors to his country would never be safe.     Bit of a coincidence that the first Police officer on the scene was a Detective Sergeant apparently from the Met.  Mind you the Ministry of Defence CBW training centre is based near to Salisbury, so he might have been out shopping!   anyway I speculate.

Coincidentally I have just finished a Dan Brown  novel about a scientist who threatened to release chemical weapons on the world,  but his intention was to cull the ever increasing World population in the same way as the Black plague did several centuries ago.   His managed  to release an agent which would make one in three people infertile and thereby humanely decrease the birth rate.     BUT, on the online Mail newspaper yesterday there was an item about a current scientist who is forecasting a new strain of avian flu which he claims will kill tens of millions !!!   again, fact or fiction.   

Annual reunion dinner for the members of the old E Div of L B P tonight at Dalkeith,  just sorry I cannot make it as I am again confined to barracks so to speak, Not quite handcuffed to the bed post, but near enough. Hope all enjoy their night and well done to the organisers for keeping the event going. 

Wee drop of the white stuff, and Londoners greet their eyes out.

Just a bit of a change from last week,  have come in after clearing the paths for the fourth time in two days, but at least I can get the car out provided the roads are safe too drive on. currently only a handful of cars, mainly four wheel drives passing but quite a few walks heading down to  one of the three shops which have been opened.  No newspapers available and no buses running,  but with a red weather alert in place everyone has been advised to avoid travel unless essential.

Yesterday, RGB had planned a Gentleman's dinner at the Mercat Grill, however, due to the weather only three plus RGB were able to make it.  Meal was excellent, just conscious of the fact I had to get home.   BUT , one of the new 140 service buses was running and managed to get me back to near Penicuik,  couple of diversions to avoid Lasswade which was a nightmare on the hill.  Dropped off and started the three mile walk,  but fortunately a Lothian Region  No 37  driver took pity and stopped for me. Probably one of the last buses  into and out of Penicuik last night.
The bus and other traffic were held up by a stupid cyclist on the road,  and this morning several have been seen passing the house.     
Probably worse than them are these idiots who jump into their vehicle, do not make any attempt to clear their windows , or pile of snow from the roof , etc and set off with only a wee gap to look through.  This is supposed to be an offence, but I have never seen it enforced.   Time I was back in uniform!!!  for a couple of weeks.

The Brexit saga soldiers on, several gobby M.P.s giving Therea May a hard time,   John Major and Tony Blair,  take a hike !! Time that the disfunctional MP's were given a pair of boots, a shovel and sent off to the West Country to help the folks suffering from the storm conditions.  A few shifts in the snow ploughs or stuck for several hours in a trapped vehicle might calm them down.   Fat chance, probably a waste of time as most of them are so far up their backsides they have lost track of the reality of real life.