What can I say 12 sleeps to Christmas.

Glory be - last week I was thinking there were only 40 secs in a minute,   thought the same tonight until I saw what I had already written -  must now only be 30 minutes in an hour -   jsut not enough hours in the day for what I have to achieve.

Mercat Bar, Haymarket has been busy,  but there is no doubt that  the tramworks have done their damage - so the powers that be can sit with their heads in the sand or up their bac****es if they want - hope Santa's reindeer's leaves a big package on their doorsteps.

For someone on a work experience placement, I am certainly getting well worked down at the Mercat Grill,  Whitecraig,  where we have absolutely marvellous customers -  even had a couple drive up from Darlington today to meet friends for lunch.   Birthday group in last night who had booked the Haymarket Mercat  but arrived at Whitecraig where they had a superb meal and a great meal -  Davie was on form with his mini bus groups.  One of the lads said that it might well be a pub,  but the food was high class restaurant quality -  "T" bone steaks very popular,  nearly as much as our famous meringues.

Just watched the final of the X Factor,  well done Sam Bailly,  the well deserved winner,   but I am sure young Nicholas is already well on the way to stardom. Both have brilliant personalities  so their futures look bright.

Made it to Livingston for a meeting with some of the IPA no. 1 region motor cycle lads to discuss our proposed trip to Germany, Italy and France next year.   The Italians have already got a four day event organised,  the Germans a three day event so now we hope the French section will come up trumps somewhere between Annecy and Metz.

Great night at Forresters RA on Tuesday night but had to skip the Christmas dinner,  regards to Guy at Esk 42 whose night I missed on Wednesday.
Busy week with an exra ordinary Installation at No 151 Defensive Band where Douggie Sneddon makes a wee bit of history by following his father and grandfather into the Chair - so he is basing the meal on the one his grandfather organised when he was installed -  should be a great night.   Installation at OES on Wednesday also.

We have been running raffle to raise funds for Clik Sargent,   leukaemia charity, which was drawn today with the three winners getting, £250;  £150 and £50  respectively   Graham is putting a wee video of the draw on the mercat facebook page.  We ended up with a profit of £1400 plus to go into the Clik Sargent fund -  well done and thanks for all those who supported the event.

Sunday 6th - are there only forty mins in an hour now.

Sunday night,  "Songs of Praise" ,  Country File;  Strickly Come Dancing; X-Factor Results; and I'm a Celebrity, etc"    what more can a man want ?   Deux boutilles vin rouge sil vous plais -  and that makes paying the TV license easier.

Been a busy week at at the Mercat Grill, so much so I have missed several of my masonic meetings,  however, in this case work and family have to come first.

Must say that ev ery week we have more and more returning guests along with new guests - and today, yet another blast from the past when a slightly older Susan, one of my typists from Dalekith, appeared with her family - marvellous.

Last couple of nights I have been the driver as Davie has been doing his masonic duties - so a few of our visitors :

these are the mothers from Loretto primary school

and these are the bookworms from mayfield Library reading club, who nearly lynched me when I mentioned my "kindle" however, I have a couple who are going to have a read at H. E Bates ,  "Darling Buds of May",  and I will try and get Elizabeth Werner, authoress, and one of our regular customers go and meet with them

This wee group, went through the menu, bit fussy over the ice cream,  but with a cone and a lollipop in the ice cream, the house came out on tops.

The lovely Nicola and her sister coped well with the wind ups .

Busy week ahead,  even have bingo on Tuesday afternoon - sounds like fun.

 

Anyone for a tram ride ?

Nearly a week since I last posted !!!   just not quite enough hours in the day so far.

Last week we had the triple fatality in Dunbar,  this week we have the Police helicopter crash in Glasgow with the loss of nine lives,  three Police officers and six innocents sitting enjoying a night in the bar in Glasgow -  many others injured.   Ambulance staff were on site almost immediately, members of the public were fantastic with their help -  lots of praise to the community -  now just need to know why a helicopter drops like a stone from the sky.

Tonight - history being made,  a tram will travel at walking pace the length of the the new system in Edinburgh from Gogar to St Andrew's Square, might give the observers time to see how many businesses have gone bust en route -  cannot see the Councillors out tonight unless they are getting attendance allowances.  

I keep thinking of the old FBI Director in the USA who hounded the communists who he claimed were destroying the economy from within -  personally I think they need a real witch hunt in Edinburgh to sort out the councillors and Officials, who are systematically bringing this City to its knee.
Even the Roads department try and do their bit,  there are so many potholes in the roads that it is virtually impossible to to reach the City centre without being shaken to bits !!!

Long weekend, working between the two Mercat Bars,   interesting, especially doing an open in Edinburgh, first after three years -  old grey matter struggled a bit, nice to see some of the old familiar faces.

Staff doo on Sunday night, we were covering, and in the midst I had two young ladies in from the USA, being looked after by the No 1 region  IPA ( International Police Association) -  however they were just a bit to quiet to join the ladies.

 

Good job that two of our male stars were present to keep order !!

 

Back to The Mercat Grill,   we get new customers every day, from all parts of the Country, even had the Manager of the Glen Moray Distillery in for lunch, and tonight yet another pair of twins for their first visit.  

Terrible tragedy in East lothian.

Driving back from Dunblane on Sunday afternoon and laughing at a programme on Radio Scotland when I realised that it was Kiera Murphy, friend of the Mercat Bar and comedienne - really good.

On the other hand, Alex (fishy) Salmond's attempt at humour by publishing, probably at public expense, his outline paper for an Independent Scotland - certainly hit the spot - no doubt a funnier read that the "Oor Willie" album,   but I will stick too Oor Willie, not because there are more pictures but it is more believable.
Not sure how many trees were wasted in the publication,  but I am sure the six hundred foot high wind generator anchored in the bay at Methill, Fife, will produce enough power to compensate - provided we get a stiff breeze and it does not fall over.

On a more serious and sadder note, terrible tragedy in East Lothian with the deaths of three teenagers in a car crash near Tyningham a couple of days ago - town of Dunbar in shock.   This morning, another serious accident on the A68 (Dalkeith by pass) near Whitecraig - no news yet as to whether it is also a fatal.

Been busy as usual dotting between the two Mercat Bars, even managed to do some of my own work and also get down to RA 500, Laird O Cockpen,  on Tuesday night - not a big attendance,  but those who could not make it missed an excellent evening, well done Sparky.

Been into the City these past few days, what a nightmare, roadworks, traffic lights blocking the road all in the name of health and safety, potholes everywhere and the cars suspension taking a real hammering.   City planners having a laugh, new housing developments ringing the town, adding to the congestion trying to get in - soon be the case that the only way into the centre of the city will be by train or tram - and Princes Street will be the domain of tourists and immigrant beggars.   No wonder everyone is heading for the out of town shopping centres.

Up sharp for my breakfast meeting with the BNI, then lots to do at the pub -  no rest for the wicked over the weekend.

Quick week's summary

Despite everything I have not expired, just finding it hard to believe I have been so occupied this week as to be unable to find time to write a few lines.  I did set out on Thursday night with the best of intentions but was confronted with a quandary which took up my evening.

Difficult to remember at this stage what I even did during the week,  apart from work !!  But spoke too soon - found my diary and also the reason for my lack of memory . 

Monday, worked and then headed for town, dicky suit, black tie, and headed through to Glasgow for the Incorporation of maltman dinner in the Merchants Hall  =  enough said,  lovely meal, good company,  and eventually got home at  3.15 a.m.

Tuesday, recovering !!   went to work at lunchtime and was there at the Mercat Grill till  10.15 pm., driver and jack of all trades.
Wednesday,  back at the Grill, job to be done,  home wards,  had to fit in one of my other jobs before heading back to Bonnyrigg for the OES meeting -  no marks for guessing who fell asleep during the meeting.
Thursday, planned day off when we headed to the Balmoral Hotel for a spa day, followed by afternoon tea -  very relaxing ( or as Sparky would say - chilling out)  but sadly my massage was not up to expectation.       Afternoon tea,  nice,  but not to be a daily event.      From there,  home wards, and any benefits were lost due to having so much  to catch up with,  baking for Mrs B and  bookwork for me.

Friday, again, back at the Grill,  Costco, Bookers,  before heading to the ELCO Club Tranent for the annual reunion dinner of the E Div Retired Police Officers -  turned out to be a very good night, would have been better if I could have stayed there but with an early day today I was up, up and away.

And so it continued,  up, up and away early this morning to the Hilton Double Trees, Dunblane, (formerly the Dunblane Hydro) for a residential training weekend.

Currently rather tired, and also peeed off with Scotland's defeat by Australia at Murrayfield,  mainly because I have to respond to Phil the upside down father of Robbie and Scott who sent me one of  his pre match wind ups.

21 again- dinners, celebrations and all

Sunday p.m.,  still standing (sitting really),   full of X Factor,  Strictly Come Dancing, and red wine -

Saturday the Grill was really busy all day and then into the evening with three bigger parties in for meals.  Works party;   25th Wedding anniversary , and a birthday party -  but as I was elsewhere during the evening I can only hear the feedback.

I attended the Grand Superintendents Annual Dinner for the Province of Midlothian,  the final one for Alex Mooney before he demits office after three years in post.   Good attendance at the Bonnyrigg Lodge, (Dalhousie No. 720).  Main guest was Ian Fraser, First Principal  of  Supreme Grand Royal Arch of Scotland, and guest speaker was the Deputy Headmaster of Salter's Gait School, Dalkeith, which caters for children with extreme learning difficulties.  The school was the one of the primary beneficiaries of charitable aid from the Province for the past three years.

Managed to get a lift home with RGB who had been working yet another long day between the Mercat bar and Mercat Grill.
Bit of a dark foreboding sky when we left the lodge.

Homewards, yet another sleepless night and then up and away to open up at the Mercat Grill this morning.    Busy day once again,  and the Mercat Bar was even busier with the rugby crowds who were heading for the Scotland  v South Africa game at Murryfield ( bit of a serious thrashing for the Scots).

Currently still  MIA is RGB whose birthday today is slowly passing without him.

Time out, just for a wee while.

Sort of quick follow up to last entry,  lots on the news about how the Scottish Government are promoting electric cars, green energy, and with a £5000 grant hope for a massive take up of the offer.  No doubt Edinburgh Council will hope likewise, so that when the power goes off the cars will grind to a halt and "voila" no more congestion in Edinburgh - simple !!

BUT despite this,  new licenses have been granted for further deep sea oil exploration off the Scottish Coast -   big time porkies by our political leaders, on both sides of the Border, and no doubt world wide -  treating us like mushrooms,   kept in the dark and fed sh*t.

Never mind, last two days I took some time off and managed to use up a Gift Voucher for an overnight stay at Airth Castle,  by Kincardine.
What a lovely place,  bit disappointing when I arrived and learned that the Airth Castle on all the brochures is primarailly used for weddings and special events, whilst about 95% of the guests stay in the new section of the hotel which has been built around three old houses.  Notwithstanding, the new hotel is lovely, with a beautiful d ining room, conference and ballrooms, a n excellent spa and leisure suite and  very comfortable bedrooms.
Enjoyed the stay, used the spa facilities, had my back "deknotted", (still suffering)  - staff were very nice.

 

On our way home we passed the new sculptures at  the side of the motorway by Falkirk,  two majestic horses made from sheets of stainless steel,  

Certainly much more pleasing than the daft horn which has decorated the M8 at Whitburn for years.