Part 3 Robbies Doo

This should have been a longer episode, however Graham has just appeared and wants to use the machine, so remember to read Parts 1 and 2, and then look for Part 4.

The mature gents were Ian and Jim( folk singer) who gave a great rendition later on.

By the way, the little chubby person with the Scottish attitude is Jess @ Murphy, renound for tolerance ( not) to anyone who is not Scottish or a Hibs supporter. He, however, later failed the attitude/ behaviour test by flinging a can across the bar at Rob who by this stage was winding him up.

The likely lads, Neil . Ian and Paul were, at this stage of the evening surprisingly sober and for Hearts and Hibs fans sociable with each other.

Sunday Part 2. Robbies surprise

So, to continue, provided you have read Part 1.

Robbie is gobsmacked by the assembled crowd who gave him a resounding welcome and many were up and handing over farwell gifts.

Our young piper, cousin of Princess Kerrin was excellent and played several tunes much to the delight of everyone, but had to leave as a) she was a bit young to be in the pub, and b) it was past her bedtime !!

So the night unfolded with Karaoke Ann lining up singers ( or would be singers) to entertain or mortify the folks according to their ability. Me , I have no room to talk as I left my bar to give an absolutely devastating rendition of " Little old wine drinker me", for which I received a standing ovation from those who had remained in the bar. Robbie managed to get the same response but I am sure they were just being kind to him as he was going away !!

The bar was decorated with Scottish flags, food was plentiful, and I had no shortage of posers looking to have their photos taken - I am not sure if Jackie MacNamara was giving Robbie a present or getting one from him for agreeing to have his picture taken.

It is a bit like the Robbie Burns story of Tam o Shanter, as the night went on the music skirrled, the singers sang, the dancers danced ( Lennie and Gary!!) and the drunks got drunker, etc.

See part 3 for more.

Part 1 of Sunday

A bigger day ahead of me than I had expected. which started with a quick run to Bookers to get some emmergency stocks for the pub, then into the Mercat to collect trays of sandwiches and eventually having fought my way through terribel traffic in the City down to Musselburgh.

Our day had been planned by our team of scheming bar staff as a surprise for Robbie, having taken Caitlin into thier confidence for some of the events.

My first shock was to find him in the Sportsmans when he was supposed to be waiting along in the Coach and Horses, but that turned out to be no problem and we made our way along the street to meet the girls, and Derrick. ( Now 2 p.m.)
One drink later we were driven along to the Woodside Hotel where we had a lovely dinner in their rather posh little dining room along with several drinks. There were a few of our regulars there and even unknown to me they were to meet up with us later.

Our theme for the day was Scotland and scottish so I had my trews on and the girls appeared to have wrapped tarten scarves round their bums !! or were they just mini - kilts?

Our meal was a real bargain as Davy the bookie had given us a bonus card which allowed us 25% off the full price, so there were no grumbles and full tums.

From the Woodside we went to the Wiremills Club, where the barstaff offered to pop a bottle of wine (push the cork into the bottle as they had no corkscrew), but we declined and made do with conventional drinks. Several photos later , namely the above, we headed off in the dark as it was now 6.40 p.m. and en route met up with a large squad of police in the vennel opposite the Sportsmans who were looking for a youth who had attacked and robbed an elderly lady of her bag. However, as we left the vennel Robbie, who thought we were going to The Stand and The Burgh, noted that the lights were all out at the Sportsmans and the door was closed immediately assumed that the Police had raided the pub and closed it for some reason, panicked and headed over to see what had happened.

The front door was half shut, no sign of life and as he entered there was a massive cheer from the large crowd who were sitting in the darkness and then a piper started playing to welcome his arrival. MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE.

See Part 2 for more.

Watch this Space ? advert / trailer

Lap top back on line again with lots of patience and it was never nealry flung out , not by me anyway. But Ann is not so patient at the moment.

Anyway, been a busy weekend with the farewell doo at the Sportsmans for the Upside down people - lots of photos and some tales to tell -= but that will be later once i get all my chores done today.

Andrea has been in touch having seen her paintings on the blog. She is doing well, teaching in Milwaukee in a very rough area.

Right, lots to do today - so wait and see.

Technical problems

Having major problems with the lap top and had written a long story with pictures this morning before i went out, however the lap top crashed and i lost everything. I am now unable to get logged on to AOL with it. Bit of homework and patience needed.

Had a long night, reasonably busy in pub, met some folks I had not seen for ages, got in at 2 a.m. then met the neighbours so had a drink therer till 4 a.m. !!

Up and into the Mercat this morning with Ann, but by the time we got back she was right out of sorts - just too much.

Anyway, for the moment this is my lot.

Artistic Andrea

Despite the fact that Andrea is now back doing her teaching practice in Milwaukee her memory will remain with us in the form of the two oil paintings she did which now hang in the Mercat. She edenies that the naked barmaid is herself!! but they are very good and have pride of place in the Bistro Bar downstairs.

Had a run into the town this morning for a "couple of items" needed for the kitchen - bloddy well" the car was full by the time we were finished. Good job we had Clair andChris on hand to help unload things back at the pub - very difficult trying top get parked there as it is a free for all despite the presence of the Yellow Perils. Anyway Ann enjoyed getting out for the run but had to have a wee rest when she got back.

Lovely afternoon so I was out in the garden again for a bit more leaf and weed gathering, so now I am about to head off to Bonnyrigg for a meeting before taking up my rightfull place in the doorway of the pub later on - lucky me.

Robbie and Caitlin are away to Kelso for a couple of days with Hannah, which should be nice.

two new pics

Delving into the past I found a nice picture of the two upside down people who were BBQ'ing in Edinburgh during the summer, however the other photo was taken yesterday, 12th Feb., out at Newbigging by Rosewell at the small fish farm - just so hard to believe that this is on the outscirts of the city, and just half a mile away looking through the photo is a massive open cast coal mine. For the previous two days this area was thick with mist.

Vistaprint - buy your printing over the web and get shafted. This company gey your e mail and banking details, and sell products at £9.95p, but they continue to bill you after the deal is done. Pages of entries on the net, and many people who have ended up being billed for months without realising it.