Grand Superintendent's Dinner 28.11.09

Saturday was. for me, pretty restful but needed after a long and tiring Friday, when, despite being on the go from 6 a.m., I still manged to make the meeting at Loanhead , RA 305 at night.

So after a long lie in , I did a little wall papering and listed to the radio for the build up to the rugby. Sparky Mark arrived so we sat and watched Scotland lose their match against Argentina, which realistically they should have won - BUT.

Sparky and I headed off by bus to Bonnyrigg for the Annual Dinner held on behalf of the Grand Superintendent, Alexander Foster Moonie, of the Provincial grand Royal Arch Chapter of Mid and East Lothian.

There was an excellent attendance, reduced slightly due to an installation taking place at Newbattle, however all the sister organisations were represented.

Tom Frost, Depute First Principle of the SGRACS was present - nice to see him again as we were in India together two years ago.

The guest speaker was Bro. Tom Crystal from lodge St John Fisherrow 112, who gave a talk on the Life and Work of Col. Bro. Buchanan Dunlop , absolutely fascinating. Col. Buchanan Dunlop was " the Loretto schoolboy who stopped the First World War" - on Christmas day 1914 - while commanding officer of his regiment fighting in the trenches at Ypres, France, he walked between the two sets of front lines singing Christmas carols and eventually managed to get both armies out the trenched where a much documented football match took place with a cease fore for the day. The offensive resumed the following day - but with officers having to threaten men to get them to fight. Bro. Dunlop had a remarkable life and eventually died at home in Bonnyrigg. Tom had read the story and then during his research met relatives of the man and former friends.

This was a very informal night, friends there to meet and socialise, Sparky, Bert and Andrew in good form, while one member proved just how casual he was - white trainers with a suit !!! Just a bit much I say..

As numbers dwindled we moved through to the lounge where I met an old former colleague, George Todd. Toddy - in good form as usual, but not as fit and able as he was, a real strong man in his day. He was one of the "old school" of beat policemen, enjoyed his job , and was always game for a laugh - also one of the hungriest as he regularly ate everyone "pieces" during the night shift while they were out on the street !!

He had one call to attend to and on knocking the door and identifying himself the man inside committed suicide with a shotgun - quite traumatic.

Wee tale,s one night while on the phones in the Control Room, a lady called and asked if he knew whether the roads would be blocked by snow in the morning ?? George thought about it and said that "if I had a crystal ball and could tell you the answer - I would not be sitting here", he did tend to be complained about !!.

On another occasion, one of the local "worthies" arrived at the front desk during the night , seriously drunk and demanding to see the Superintendent, despite being told several times that the boss was not there he insisted on seeing him - so Toddy, after a lengthy argument, went and put on the Supt's braid laden cap and tunic and came back - ordered the bloke out the building , and he went like a lamb.

Long and Busy day / week.

Friday p.m., and I have been mega busy - in the Mercat since 6.35 a.m.. But it was busy and it was good fun with some really nice customers to keep me going ,

lots of youngsters today , from Ireland and Wales, and a few folks from the USA still touring and doing something different for Thanksgiving yesterday.

There were a few of the regulars in today who are coming to join us for lunch on Christmas day , yes we are open , so it should be nice and we will try and make it a sort of family type atmosphere.

Ann and Kate arrived for lunch , and someone asked if it was my fan club , no, but despite being very shy , they are two of the young ladies who can me to part with my clothes !!! But then again , they are both beauticians, and Kate does a mean Hydrotherapy massage over the road at Imarni's.

One of the customers was telling me that Susan Boyle @ Subo is doing some recording round in St Mary's Cathedral in Palmerston Place shortly , thaty should be goood as their choir is excellent.

Anyway , must dash , off to the RA at Loanhead, Honour , Concorde and Fidelity.

Fortunately I am not in the bar in the morning , it should be busy with the Rugby International on tomorrow afternoon, Scotland and Argentine, so i will have a wee watch at it on the TV before my dinner date with our Provincial Grand Superintendent at Bonnyrigg.

Brief update.

How time flies, now Thursday morning , in Edinburgh and it is cold but dry, which makes a change from the constant rain of the past two days.

Tuesday i was on the trot all day, hospital, then Kings Buildings, and the up to Maplin's to get a replacement power cable for the other laptop, bit of a mystery as to where the original has gone - sort of looks like the fairies took it as we have searched the house high and low - otherwise I have put it in a safe place !!! An expensive error.

Tuesday night it was down to a meeting of RA Laird O Cockpen 500, first night for the new MEZ Dougie Neil in the chair and I was supposed to be sitting back, however, with missing officers i had to do a bit work. Main event of the night was to give Robert Hooker of Prestontower his Honorary Membership -which was very well deserved and received. A few fewer present than expected , but with very bad weather and another installation taking place elsewhere it was only to be expected.

Wednesday, I was off early again , this time to the Premier Inn, Edinburgh to run another of the Chartered Management Institute Neighbourhood Management courses for the lovely ladies from Open Skies Management. Small group of four from east Lothian and Edinburgh. I am not sure about the delegates, but I did enjoy it.

Rain still pouring down , but it was home, fed and then we headed out to Bonnyrigg again for a meeting of the OES, where it took a lot of will power to resist being persuaded to take office in the new session, but I apart from having far too much to do already there is no way I can even attempt to memorise more ritual. But it was an entertaining evening , even ended off with a wee game of bingo !!! just for the fun of it.

Now back at the premier In for Day 2 of the course, and then depending on how I get on and feel it may be a quick run up to Perth tonight for a meeting of the Fair City OSM , but I will need to wait and see.

Nice wee E mail from the USA this morning from a couple of our recent customers to the Mercat, just keeping in touch.

Long day on the road, a bit wet and wild

It was a dry, cold and clear morning when I left at 4.45 a.m., and although dry over Harthill with the TV masts standing out bright with it was a different story a few miles west, when the rain started. It was very heavy and with poor visibility as I headed south and did not clear till I reached Locherbie. From there it was not too bad apart from a couple of small downpours en route to Runcorn. In the Carlisle area there was masses of water where the river had overflowed and turned areas into a vast lake, with the waters edging nearer and nearer to the big Tesco store by the M6.
My usual comments about white van men, and also the Range Rovers, with personalised plates trying to drive over slower vehicles - BUT - justice was done when one was stopped by a patrol car for speeding.
Despite a fairly quick turn round the rain had come on with avengence and things were a bit tricky, and while I managed to escape the worst by heading North things in that area got very bad for a couple of hours.

First time I have done this run on a Monday for a long time and by doing so I noticed a literal convoy of Shearing's coaches heading north with tourists, many of these coaches make for Glasgow on a Monday night, then to Ullapool on a Tuesday night before heading for the Outer Isles.

Heading into Glasgow things were a bit chaotic with warning signs flashing due to an oil spill on the Motorway, but it still did not deter many motorists who chose to ignore the warnings, and on the way out, making for Edinburgh I saw two council lorries under escort spreading sand on what was obviously a slippery surface.

Anyway, another day, another dollar - time to get the feet up.

I should congratulate Susan Boyle on the launch of her new album which sounds wonderful ; Andy Murray on his win at the tennis in the O'2 yesterday ; on the other hand "common sense" prevailed and Jedward made their exit from the X-Factor, and Katie Price@ Jordan decided that she had had enough of ITV's "I'm a celebrity Get me out of here", or is it all part of her publicity machine. I think they should stick in Ant or Dec, save money on one compere and see how the other got on with the Bushtucker trials - I doubt they would make it.

The genuine sleeping policeman

Plenty of sights and sounds on the River Nile cruise, both from the boat and also on shore.

One of the things which everyone highlights is "security" in relation to the tourists. In view of the attacks in tourist resorts over the past years Egypt has recruited thousands of "tourist police" to supplement the normal militia, army and normal Police force - however, there have to be a few questions regarding their commitment and enthusiasm. I have never seen so many people with guns, and would certainly doubt their ability to use them- may publish a few more when I come across them.

From the boat, there was always something happening along the shoreline, or we were being passed by other river boats either overtaking or passing in the opposite direction. Here we have a local boatyard and a few of the women at work in their village.

Mega High at Murrayfield and then the X - factor

Obviously cannot miss out on the event which took place at Murrayfield today, Scotland took on the Aussies, however it looks like Andy Robson, former English coach , has done wonders with the Scottish team - what a game , a team of fifteen on the field at any one time who truly did their best, believed in their ability and did their Country proud with a close win. The score really did not reflect on the game where the Aussies dominated totally and had it not been for the missed penalty in extra time would have won.
BUt - for Scotland it is two wins in a row - bring on New Zealand.

On the other hand , we have been trying to relax and watch the X - Factor, where John and Edward are totally horriffic BUT with the Irish voting for them - anything can happen.

Now trying to comprehend the current series of Katie Price@ Jordan (show) I'm a celebrity get me out of here, which is turning into a real farce. Why are we paying wages to Ant and Dec when one compere could do the job.

Wee Jeannie Ison MS Johnston

William and Sandra arrived last night, had a few drinks, and then we were up and away sharp this morning to Blantyre for the funeral of Wee Jeannie, the service being held in the David Livingston Memorial Church - the last time we were there was for Elizabeth and Mat's wedding.

Big, big, turnout for the service, of course with so many Johnston's what else was there to expect. Nice to see my brother and sister's in laws, John, Christine, Robbie and Christina; Joe, Christine; Robert with young Marilyn; Elizabeth, Matt and Alison; Tom Isobel and William ; cousins, aunts and uncles, with Marion and Robert up from Cornwall ; Auntie Rita, Elizabeth and Lorraine , and so on.
Service was a bit strange, the Minister let young Marion say her bit but the did not do his prepared speech which was rather sad as many would have liked a nice summary of Jeannie's life.

She was buried in the same lair as her brother, Uncle Miff, and as Mrs B observed, it was a bit noisy in the cemetery, beside the Expressway - so how are folks expected to rest in peace?

Back to the Parkville for tea , dinner and a chinwag with the family and friends, so many people there and hard to get round everyone. Disappointing for William who had late and early flights so we could not get as much time with the family as we wanted,

Auntie Marion, who was on a cruise in the Caribbean when Jean died was saying that she had woken up during the night with the feeling that Jean had passed through her cabin - and was sure that she had died - these feelings I firmly believe in.

So, very much an end of a legend, one way or another - there will no longer be a safe haven for me in Blantyre where I can gossip with a past Matron in the OES, be fed and watered and made to feel like one of the family.