Pole in a hole - and still the sun shone

Not sure where I am at the moment - other than being in the house as they say - but last night was hectic with the training course then the exam - but one question - with multiple answers - "Why do you use doormen ?" possible answer - to stop people enjoying themselves !!!!! - however, that was more up my street, being a crabbit baskit.

So moving on - this morning off early for an open at the pub, quite busy, but the sun was shining so that was nice, I was able to stand outside and have a blether to passers by - at the moment Go Jo is picking on me as I type saying that my spelling and grammar is all wrong.

BUT there I was on the door when the truck pulled up,with four men in it, stopped on the double red line, causing an obstruction to the buses, and traffic as the road is already coned down to three out of four lanes. BUT not to be outdone they started to dig, lifting one slab, 2ft by 2 ft, and with great precision, using their extending tape, went deep into the bowels of the earth before planting a nice shiny pole into the hole. so there we were, witnessing four of the finest hole diggers in Edinburgh, obviously on fantastic , (non - Polastic) wages carrying out this most intricate and delicate of operations - probably only comparable to a Space shuttle launch operatives.

So, anyway , me and Jani from next door witnesses this event - but as it was just an element of movement one above still life we got bored and went back to work.

Pub was busy, some really nice customers in today, and then we headed for home - to the sun , but Mrs. B. being ever so tired had a wee kip, while I went out to find out why the brakes on the car were squealing, and ended up washing and polishing it - but in the sun.

With sun shining my few flowers in the garden were looking good.

Later we were joined by Mike and Jane who brought over the photos of Shelley and Douglas wedding which we went to at the Black Barony hotel in July, they were wonderful - especially

Accompanied by a few red wines, and for Mike a nice large Aberlour.

Pity now that no 1 son has arrived home, bit of a pain in the bum as he is giving me a hard time .

So - tomorrow is another day.

Mental athletics

Just getting a bit too old for sitting listening to lectures and trying to study. It is bad enough struggling to learn ritual for the various masonic orders, however, I am sure that with a bit of perseverance I will get there. This course is so that I can legally stand at the door of the pub and talk to folk, and if something happens I will not get into trouble with the Police. One thing arose, they needed official ID , but would not accept my bus pass, which was only issued on production of a passport etc. So I think the SIA are a bit ageist.

Made it home by 11 p.m. and have to repeat the same tonight.
The sun is actually shining at the moment, which is a rare occurrence here, but no doubt it will be peeing down later in the day.

The recycling lorry was round at 8 a.m. this morning , and they make enough noise to waken the dead - broken glass has that sound which carries and penetrates.
I still cannot fathom out why they will not take plastic bags, there is a big enough fuss . I see that down south they are starting to check the contents of folks bins and if they are not recycling properly they stand to be prosecuted.
AND - the proposals to make folk apply for planning permission before you can monoblock drives, etc., as they are saying there is less and less open ground available to drain rain water which is adding to the water going into drains and causing flooding.

That machine has been started up in Switzerland which will try to work out how the big bank occurred, so far no big bang here, but if there is no doubt we will have to do without Toblerone and cuckoo clocks for a while.

The dreaded Lurgie

Sat and watched as Mr Murray was so valiant in his defeat last night in New York, never mind, apples with grow again as they say and he will be back stronger than ever.
Nice to know that Caitlin was sitting in OZ same time , but 8 a.m. at her place watching the same match - the marvels of modern technology. But both her and Robbie are doing well, working all the hours god sends, and as she says "like ships that pass in the night" - good thing about that is you never see each other long enough to fall out - normally !! that is.
Keyboard is playing up at the moment - doing odd things. It will not return to the next line for some reason .
Anyway , got up this morning 6.45 a.m. feeling rough as hell, sick and headaches, etc, now both Ann and Graham are feeling the same and have had to go back to their beds.
In the meantime I ran around like crazy doing lots of wee jobs, some of my paperwork before heading out to SAC at Bush and KB - where I had jobs to deal with . But with that pair ill came home to see what was going on - then back to more paperwork before I head out later.
One of my thoughts for the day was that you know when you are getting old because Policemen look so young - for me the biggest shock was when I saw a nice young blond pushing a baby in a push chair in Edinburgh , she looked familiar, and then I realised it was my DOCTOR !!! Going to have to stop as this machine is doing my head in - will change back to the lap top and do the changes.

Now back on the lap top and changed made.
Big news with the fire at Fleetwood Pier, Blackpool, this .
morning - seems that piers are not the safest of places to be on these days , that is the third or fourth in the UK to go up in the past year or so - I think.

Ever so annoyed with Edinburgh City Council - just how much more time do they need to get their house in order , they have written again for a further extension to look into what should never have happened thirty nine months ago !!!!

Heading off to start a training course this evening , but in the meantime munching on a succulent piece of brisket -on toast - I will never make a vegetarian.

Quite a combination

Left at 3 a.m. and headed south on a nice quiet A702 to Abington where I joined the M74 and eventually stopped at the BP station on the M6 at Carlisle. I had been listening to the finals of the ladies tennis on the radio which was a lot more exciting than the papers or the result would have you believe. I look forward to seeing Andy Murray later tonight.

I spotted that I had a tail light missing so had to go on to the next services before I eventually managed to get a new bulb and replace the faulty one . I have a bit of a thing about "one eyed monsters", and apart from that, something as simple as a faulty light can give the Police grounds to stop the car and check it out.

Steady run south to Runcorn , however about 5.45 a.m. all hell seemed to break loose on the roads, it was as though someone had released all the motor maniacs in the world !!! From a quiet motorway, I was suddenly being passed by every car on the road, all desperate to get to their work early - totally dedicated and deserving to be fully committed - so it was with a degree of relief when I reached Runcorn and had the chance to get a wee rest. But as I dozed off briefly Junior phoned to give me the glad news that he had organised a training course over four nights next two weeks and I was on it.

Anyway, when canteen opened I was greeted by the terrible duo, Christine and Sue, with the added bonus of getting fresh food rather than the last of the trays. Wee Christine is off to Orlando with the family at the weekend so she is hoping that the area will not be effected by the hurricanes.

Jill on Reception was waiting for me, and so, fortunately were the folks in the offices I was heading for. Turn out Liam has left, very quiet lad, who was a trained teacher and has managed to get a new job in a local school - well done.

Fairly quick about turn then off northwards again with reasonably quiet roads and then , then this chappie in a silver Astra, (SP05MHV) tried to drive over me because at 75 mph I was going far , far too slow, but as he was on his mobile phone - and remained on it for the next ten miles, northwards on the M74 from Lesmahagow to Larkhall driving at speeds ranging from 75 mp.h. to 95 mph (yes) bloody fruitcake and on the dual carriageway where he stayed in the outside lane all the way - I have said this before , for a token £10 you can get a hands free and these boys in their Company motors should know well better.

Onwards, met Fraser at Glasgow and then home where I just collapsed into bed, old age does not come alone.

One piece of news, the lady who fell outside the Mercat a couple of weeks ago after she stepped in an uneven bit of the road when getting off the bus had popped into The Mercat Bar to see me with a box of chocolates. Transpires that had she has a double fracture which had needed pinned and will cause her bother for a while.

Now looking forward to the tennis so come on Mr Murray - do yourself proud.

2,30 a.m. Monday, but who cares

Well, once again combination of cramps and insomnia - although having watched the current Batman film , "The Black Night" - which is certainly not a kids movie and may well have stirred up the adrenelin - I am up on my feet. However with a long run ahead I am nearly ready to head off to Runcorn , with the posssible chance of a weee nap later in the morning. No need to rush so I can take it easy and still miss the traffic.

Junior seems to be a bitt better so he will be up and running once more.

Some snaps, and a snapper

Just watching the Tv and messing about, so for interest here is the famous bridge at Avignon, as per the well known French song. However it was not photographed by this intrepid snapper - commonly known as Sir Christopher from Scotland, who was with this band of wine tasters who found themselves in a great quandary - what barrel should we open first? , and how many will we get through before we fall down?

Many shades of grey

Sunday - up with the larks and out into a cool grey autum morning (for a change) and off to open up the Mercat Bar, meeting Geoff the cleaner who was still waiting to get in. But not long to get up and running , with the bold Jamie and Paddy seriously jiggered from yesterday's hard graft - it had been really busy.
So we were thankful, I suppose, that we were not rushed but steady this morning - so when Graham arrived, feeling really unwell so had to head back home to bed.
This is the last week for the twins Shareen and Dannielle as they are going to go back and live at home in Stirling - we will miss them but obviously they need to do whayt is best.

I left mid morning and headed out to Gorebridge for a committeee meeting with the OSM, folowed by a rehearsal for next saturdays meeting. Word was out about a member who is terminally ill in Marie Curie Hospice with a brain tumor, when I last spoke to him he had been complaining about being forgetful, etc, now we know why.

When I went back to the car the tyre was soft, so I had it reinflated en route back into the town and eventualy ened up in the Waverly railway station where I had some of my own work to do. BUT an hour later I had a full flat so had to change the wheel in the station, but at least I was under cover.
Not wanting to head south tonight with no spare tyre I headed out looking for a tyre fitter, but Nationwide were too busy and wanted to close so they were no good, however Farmers Auto in Strathearn Road could not have been more helpful, even although the puncture was not repairable so I had to get a new tyre.
I see that Paul has been viewing from Antwerp, I wonder if he managed to view the wonderful floral carpet which was recently on display in Brussels. His beloved out laws, William and Sandra should be winging their way back from Spain today - no doubt with good tans.

Robbie and Caitlin are still well - they have been on line this morning.

All sorts of fun and games in the Grand Prix with Louis Hamilton winning the race and then being given a 25 second time penalty which dropped him back to third place. I hope that Andy Murray fares better in the tennis later tonight. Might be able to hear it in the car on my way south to Runcorn once again.
The bold Sparky Mark is off on his travels again, this time doing the Speyside whisky trail on foot with a friend - it will be interesting to see how he gets on.