Came across an accident today - bad ice on road.

I was heading home from the Grill and on the back road between Fallhills Cross Roads and Pomathorn Cross roads, just outside Penicuik, went into a bend where the road was solid ice -.  Just beyond the bend there was a car buried in a tree on the east side of the road, and the driver, who was uninjured was at the side of the road with her parents.     Road was in the deep shade so the ice was solid due to seeing no sun at all.
Was hoping to add a photo but Windows 8 has me defeated.

I did not realise yesterday that Andy Murray won his trophy by default as Jockovich could not play due to an injury - apologies.

Looks like the sea is certainly not the safest place to be at the moment -  one cargo ship upside down with all crew missing off the North coast of Scotland;  a car transporter / ferry, stranded on a sandbank off the south coast;  Greek ferry burnt out last few days and people missing; and a boatload of illegal immigrants being recued by the Italians after being abandoned by people traffickers.

Shame for the Warrior - well done the Gunners

Spoke a bit too soon last night when I suggested that Edinburgh would struggle with a ten point deficit,  however, a great game, plenty action and Edinburgh came up trumps, with an overall two point lead to win the 1872 cup,

Even Andy Murray did the business with a win over Jokovick to take his first trophy of the year.

After a couple of days with mild temperatures the mercury has plummeted and it is central heating turned up and early to bed again.

Worrying to hear that the nurse infected with Ebola is now critically ill, took a bad turn,  must wish her well -  on the other hand a patient in Italy in a similar condition has now fully recovered.

At some point I might just learn how this Windows 8 works, and maybe get a photo back on the blog. Otherwise it will be a case of using my older lap top.

It is either escapism, or just how sad is this

Came home from work today, tired after a restless night, so sat quietly and scanning the TV channels opted for The Sound of Music,  which I first saw in a cinema in Newcastle in 1965.   Just a nice quiet way to spend the afternoon, and Julie Andrews  as good as ever to watch.   Followed this up with the master detective , Columbo,  enough said.      Bad enough being criticised for my comments yesterday about Rentagob - along the lines that Words will never hurt you.

Weather changed again, lot colder and much windier -  must have been frightening for those on the wee plane which was blown off the runway in Stornoway.

Headed for Costco today but it was closed,  on the other hand there were queues of cars trying to get into Ikea - somewhere to let the kids run riot - and get cheap meatballs.

Rugby tonight, Glasgow  v Edinburgh, but with a ten point deficit,  big lead to catch up with.
Andy Murray into his first finals of 2015;  and new team at the top of the SPL, Aberdeen,  but Celtic have a game in hand,  keeps that league tight.

Early to bed - might not make me any wiser.

2015 - What a bloody start to the year

In China some crackpot, as a joke launches bundles of false cash into a crowd,  end result - thirty plus dead and numerous injured.   Investigators have found the remains of the crashed Air Asia plane with entire passenger list and crew dead.

At home we have a nurse who went to assist with the Ebola crisis  in Sierra Leon,  returned home as a carrier, now seriously ill.   BUT not prepared to accept the seriousness of the situation and the possibility of an outbreak in the UK -  RENTAGOB - Katie Hopkins has made a huge racially slurred joke against the Scots, relative to the incident.    Last week I commented about the sick comments made regarding the Glasgow bin lorry incident -  IS IT NOT TIME WE, (AS RESPECTABLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY) STOOD UP AND ASKED THE AUTHORITIES TO CLAMP DOWN ON THESE "EEJITS").    
Fair enough at times for the odd bit of slagging off , but when we are now talking about both sad and serious events, lets show a bit of respect!!!  Or stand up and be counted.

Looking back on the past year, something I rarely do,

It strikes me that 2015 can only get a bit better.  Two confirmed heart attacks, six trips to the ERI for D B & B.,  which was not bad considering the slagging the NHS gets.  I cannot complain, my treatment was first class and staff were excellent, working under adverse conditions.

A brilliant fifteen day motor cycle trip, 3,500 miles, on the Steed of Steel, round Europe with the Scottish Motor Cycle touring Group, commanded by Tom McInally who is soon to leave to live in the South of France ( keeping me a spare bed in the outhouse).  Met up with one hundred and twenty IPA members from around Europe for a great rally.
Later in the year a super holiday at the Holiday Village Coral Sea Resort , Sharm el Sheik,   even planning on going back again.

We have the trams running now in Edinburgh and HRH (The Queen)  has even awarded Sue Bruce, Chief Executive, Edinburgh City Council, a wee something in the New Year Honours list for apparently sorting out the mess -  still no sign of compensation for those who lost out during the debacle.
But do not expect them to run when it is icy, or if one breaks down - they are worse than British Rail ever was.

Sitting here, stone cold sober, compliments of our MSP's who brought in the new lower drink driving legislation,  so, having to work in the morning - no point in chancing it, is there.  Might have to move south or go on holiday before I can enjoy a light libation.

Just home from the Mercat Grill which was very busy, a good sign,  but no late opening as business will be as usual on New Years Day, lunches, etc.    Nice to see business picking up.

Temperature outside tonight, 10 C,  pretty mild considering it was 0 C and lower, a few days ago,  but perfect for the thousands of revellers who have made their way into Edinburgh City for the three days Hogmanay celebrations - hope they enjoy themselves.

I suppose I have just sounded off a bit - like the "last post" of 2014,  all the best.

Must have slept through the Armageddon !!

What a carry on, all for one day when the shops (except for the corner stores) were closed.  Next up it was queues at 4.30 a.m. for sales in town, silly bleeders out to buy up old stock -  worse still, why do we let the shops away with selling stuff at inflated prices one day, and clearance prices the next.

Just like Tesco today, eight packs of Coke for £3 ; two packs for £5;  or if you looked closely a pack of twenty four for £5,   and to encourage people to drink sensibly (Scottish Government policy)  you can buy some beers for a little as 50p per bottle, pickle your liver and /or have a fag and as the new English "no smoking" advert tells us -  "Your body will rot from within" -   just how will the Government earn taxes now -     BUT I forgot,   the Scottish Police now stop a motorist on average every two minutes day and night -  need to start issuing more tickets than warnings now.

Springs to mind, my most hated radio advert,  been running for years ,  Richard F Mackay furnishings in Edinburgh,  have a different sale running every month, same bloke has been doing the voice over for years so I would suspect they just keep rotating tapes.   Even sillier are the tapes made for pre X-mas which are still being repeated despite being dated,

Weather has changed, freezing temperatures, chaos down South where they had an inch of snow, place ground to a halt;  then we have the usual chaos on the trains at X-mas where "essential" works are being carried out - usual lack of communication from the rail companies.   BUT - not enough snow yet for some of the Scottish resorts ;  however, too much snow in the French ski resorts where skiers have been unable to get to the slopes and have been sent home !!!!   what is wrong with walking or using their skies -  perhaps no ski tow's handy.
So apart from their winging -  totally different problems overseas,  one missing Air Asia airline with one hundred and sixty aboard believed downed by a storm;  a Greek car ferry on fire with several deaths; and a Virgin jumbo makes a hairy landing due to faulty landing gear.

Closer to home - more weeping and wailing - Rangers lost again; despite having sacked "super ally";  Celtic managed a draw;  Jambo's doing well;   Glasgow beat Edinburgh at rugby - just one disaster after another for someone.

Watching the "Rock"  on TV , superb movie.

Ba Humbug - perhaps, but it is now over , all bar the shouting.

Shouting to get into the shops on x-mas eve, and even more this morning as folks headed for the sales, big question as to whether there really are bargains.  But shows how much folks are getting ripped off with what is just a commercial enterprise.

Must have been shouting this morning, when the Edinburgh trams could not run because there was icing on the power cables -  add that to the break down on then 24h when all trams were stationary due to a break down.    We can put a man into space for less, and have a space station orbiting with regular connections,  but NO bloody trams - well done our Edinburgh City \councillors who refuse to admit what the hidden costs of the tram project were - officials are still refusing to cooperate with the ongoing enquiry.  Only local authorities can get away with this, well maybe MP's etc also,

Mercat Grill has been busy over the festive period, full house on X mas day, lovely customers, enjoyed the day and our staff did brilliantly.

When I last wrote about the bin lorry tragedy in Glasgow, it did go through my mind, wondering how long the "sickos" in our society would take to start commenting on social media,   right enough it has happened already,  but backfired on the writers who are certainly making themselves very unpopular - with folks sending their comments to the Police and hoping for some action.

Looks like the new drink driving limit is going to have a few more casualties,  some golf clubs and out of town pubs are already feeling the effect of drivers cutting back, even on the one pint.  
Nanny State right enough -  George Orwell was certainly a visionary with his writings.

PS -  Merry X-mas  everyone.