MV Eurodam arrives at South Queensferry

Bit chaotic today as I had to go to South Queensferry and meet friends, Tom and Sue, who were coming ashore from the Holland America cruise liner, MV Eurodam, by tender into Hawes slipway.

Arrived early at 7.30 a.m., as I was trying to miss the traffic and get a parking space - wrong - the shows were in the "ferry" and all the public spaces were taken up as were the tour bus spaces. However, I was able to park up at the Hawes Inn car park opposite the slip way. BUT - bad luck struck again as I dropped the camera again and broke a second telephoto lens - "lucky white heather".

The liner eventually appeared, and the passengers were disembarked by tender - "Welcome to The City of Edinburgh" NOT NOT - what a disgrace, coming up the slipway and for those in need of a toilet, the local public conveniences are a total apology, but kept clean and there were hand towels.

The one consolation was that the sun was shining and by the time my friends eventually reached terra firma, at 11.20 a.m. it was quite pleasant in the sunshine. But what a chaotic reception for our visitors, not enough buses, a long wait for taxi's who were charging £25 to get into the City, and many had been directed to the long climb up to Dalmeny Railway station, only six hundred yards away, but nearly all straight upwards.
Our friends were pleased to see me and we did get away for a few hours, photos and adventures to follow.

I Ifound a couple of old pictures to add , one of the Forth Rail Bridge , circa 1900, and the other of a lifeboat, which was coincidental as the Police divers launch had turned up to observe the mornings activities.

Dolphin Darts team, day out to the Mercat Bar

Bad turn of events when I dropped my camera in the Mercat Bar and split the casing on my Sigma telephoto lens so the manual / auto switch is not working properly - that's why the pictures of the Dolphin In darts team are not too clever on this occasion. But the lads did enjoy their day out, much appreciated.

Another visit to St Mary's Cathedral - well worth it

Sunday afternoon and we ended up back in St Mary's cathedral, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, for another look at the Prestonpan's Tapestry - and while there there was a visiting choir from the USA practicing for the even song service. So, in addition to the new photos of the tapestry which will be added later we had a wander round the Cathedral again and out into the grounds on the less noticeable side where the Old Music School is situated . The house that the two sisters lived in, dated 1614, and even spotted the man way up on a roof walkway where I presume he had been in the bell tower.

Considering the situation of the Cathedral, away from the City Centre, there are still plenty of visitors, and it is certainly well worth a visit.

Whitecraig Gala washed out - and a Morris Minor in great nick

The day that the rains came again, and again, and as usual spoiled the day for many - this time it was the turn of the Whitecraig Gala to suffer. I had headed down to the Dolphin Inn to drop things off and was a few minutes late to get in position for the wee parade, hence the shots not being up to my usual standard.

From Whitecraig I went up to Lodge Newbattle St Mary to attend the Preceptory of Instruction at St Bernard de Clairveaux K. T.'s. A well attended meeting and an interesting lecture on The Temple on the Mount in Jerusalem - during which it was pointed out that Jews, Muslims and Christians have much more in common than they like to admit.

BUT on the way I say this well maintained Morris Minor Traveller which belongs to one of our members - reminded me of my father's Morris 1000 traveller, a great little car.

Heads in the sand once again

Another sunny day at the Inn and a fairly busy one - thought I should add a couple of pics, the bowlers we met last week outside the Inn and one immediately recognised RGB from his rugby days, the other, with sunglasses appeared at the Inn today with his wife and son after a two year absence, and in the words of the famous "Arnie" said "I'll be back".

The young couple posing in the corner have just come back to Whitecraigs and are now regulars in the bar, a lovely couple.

I was down again this evening and bumped into a former friend from Penicuik who I have not seen for over twenty years, and again it was that famous catch phrase "I'll be back"".

However, back to reality - Rangers were beaten the other night despite being down to nine men - and from what I gather it has cost the Club a fortune in lost revenue, and the SFA about £1 million .

On the other hand the dreaded Jam Tarts, Heart of Midlothian, head for the next round of the Europa League, having beaten Paksi last night 4 - 1. Next round they have drawn Spurs, so that should be fun.

BUT - back to the real world - if such a thing exists, our beloved bankers and administrators ( not just here) have dug us a monumentally ginormous hole of debt, from which we might never escape - the USA have agreed to increase their debt so so many $trillion, the Italians are in debt; the Spanish ; The Greeks; the RBS loaned so much to Greece and Italy they are now in the red once again - so their shares are in a bit of a decline. Never mind folks, the Chinese will bale us all out once again, at a cost - I am busy learning Mandarin - and getting used to fried rice !!!

I just do not understand it at all - being of the old school we were brought up never to spend what you never had, never to lend what you could not afford to lose and never to borrow what you could not afford to pay off from your income !!!

WHERE WILL IT ALL END ??????

Some bonnie big boys on show

A wet and windy day at the farm for me today, in company of some handsome boys and maybe even girls !!

The calf was orphaned at birth as his mother died in the process and despite their best efforts the staff could not get a foster mother so the calf was hand reared and has been spoiled by staff.

I do not think he will ever grow to the size of the majestic bulls, one being rather photogenic and the other just a bit bit less sociable, anyway I would not be getting into the pens with them. The sheep were having an away day to see what all the fuss was about, one even brought his sporran with him, somehow round his neck, with a few baw bees just in case there were some bargains to be had.

Time to catch up - again

Wednesday evening already, comes as a bit of a shock to the system. Backtracking - Sunday was supposed to be our day, but we headed to Booker's Cash and Carry for "a tin of tuna" !!! then into my favourite shop, Matalan - but to no vail, no bargains for me in the sale. met up with RGB and took ourselves to a Toby Carvery for lunch - very fast servoce,, in fact hardly got the chance to sit down before we had our paltes in hand and were being served at the hot counter - I would have preferred the meats to be up for extras rather than the veg - and - did not really rate it too well, but filled a space. Next stop was the Vue Cinema at Ocean Terminal, definately a true story, of "Captain America" - must say I enjoyed it, but Mrs B. was not enthralled - would not believe it was a true story. And despite our best efforts we ended up back at the Dolphin Inn.

Monday, had a shift at the Dolphin, managed to get a few jobs done before heading home and a quiet night .

Tuesday, back to the Dolphin, another shift, and some very nice customers in for lunch, and a lovely little lass who could not only chatter ninety to the dozen, but she was a great wee eater, she had Aubergine and stilton soup ; "Amy's hot dog", and finished off her ice cream - made a change from some the picky little people we have seen over the years.

Home via the farm - had a chat to the bulls, and then headed for the Police Club in York Place to the monthly meeting of the Lothains Branch of the International Police Association. We have quite a number of foreign police officers arriving in the City over the next few weeks and will be entertaining quite a bit.

Even managed tro catch up withSir Christopher in Henricks Bar on my way home - soda water rather than wine, but I was driving of course.

Today - Wednesday, had a session at the dentists with the "Paddy vampire" the hygenist, and then off on my steed of steel, back to the Dolphin Inn of course to repair a door lock. B & Q for my discount on Diamond Day - next stop, Kings Buildings, then out to the farm again (tomorrow a long day talking to the animals).

Home , feet up and a bit of catch up on the box.