Getting to the London Wall, Loriner's Hall and The Willis Tower

Had a very good flight to London last night and with “Oor Willie” waiting at the airport we were soon home in Egham and quickly to bed.
Restless night, worried about sleeping in, and then it was up and away sharp to get the 7.10 train into London – no problems that bit, then it was a case of out at Waterloo and then underground and into the tube system - fascinating as I had to take the City – Waterloo tube which only runs between Bank and Waterloo, non stop, a distance of about one and a half miles, and takes only four minutes - jam packed, with some folks being left on the platform, but not long to wait.
Out at Bank and changed lines to go to Moorgate Station - bit of a surprise when a young chap got up and gave me his seat – I must be looking my age !!! Very nice of him but it was only for the one stop.
Out at Moorgate and along the road towards the London Museum, along the route of the old London City wall, and that’s where it all went stuck - no sign of my destination !!! zapped by aliens perhaps, no - just me having got it very wrong.

I had just past a plaque marking the site of Loriner's Hall ( he web site about the history of The Worshipful Company of Loriners - is very interesting dating back to the 1200's)

I then had to go into a big office block where the very nice and helpful Reception staff sorted out where I was supposed to be going, about a mile away, and produced a map for me to follow. So there I was trotting along the road, right past Bank Station which I had just gone through and changed trains forty minutes earlier//
Did not take it long and there I was at the Willis Tower Building, which was one of the tallest buildings in London, in the City and not far from “The gherkin” big tower wit criss crossed panels – what a contrast between it and the old buildings surrounding it.

Hectic time - understatement

Thursday night and now relaxing in the BMI lounge at Edinburgh airport, waiting a flight to London.

Last couple o days have been a bit tiring, up at 4.45 a.m. to be in town and open up the bar by 0545 in order that a film crew cold get in. They were making a training video on behalf of one of the banks and needed a bar scenario.

Biggest problem was having to tip toe around the place while the recording was taking place, no hassle for me being a trained backwoodsman !! (old Scout) unlike Jeff the cleaner who has two flat left feet!!

Tuesday night I was down at Bonnyrigg for the first meeting of Laird o Cockpen RA 500, there was a good attendance and our Grand Supertendant Alex Mooney took the floor for an E. M Degree, very good. Pity Tam was losing his voice, nearly gone by the time he finished - so there was peace and quiet for Kathryn when he got home.

Wednesday, another early rise for our budding actors, who were joined by the lovely Kiera Murphy, Comedienne, who had been coopted to play the role of a cynical "mature" woman !! Pity her male counterpart had not learned his lines, bit of serious hair pulling going on.

3 p.m. another session at the Dental hospital as part of a lead up to future treatment., From there it was over to Henricks Bar, the new home of Sir Chris and the birthday girl, Miss Talk a lot @ Ailsa. A big crowd of friends and well wishers turned up to make the evening a memorable event.

Several Merlot's later it was time to get the McEwan's coach home and to bed !! Out for the count.

Quiet day today recovering before heading into town, firstly for a coffee at Henricks (and a small Auchentoshen - which brought back a few memories of Pentland Bond). Walked down through Fountainbridge and had a look at the reinstated Edinburgh Quay which was the dock at the end of the Union Canal, really very nice setting now. Over the road is the old Co-Op building, with some interesting panels on the wall. Then to The Mercat Bar for dinner before getting the airport bus ( old age has its benefits - bus pass).

Inverness, Gateway to the Highlands - but getting there

"Best laid plans of mice and men", so they say - checking E mails on the lap top, 8 a.m. yesterday when up popped another job for me - in Inverness !! So there I was with one job to finish and my plans up in the air. Anyway, did the business in Aberdeen, of interest, I was working near the airport and heliport and during the whole time I was there , there was a constant noise from the helicopters, but the locals seem to be immune to it.
Headed north east, only 111 miles, but what a hellish road, up through Elgin, Forres, etc, and when you were stuck behind a lorry it was down to an average of about 40 / 45 mph so it took over two and a half hours for the run.

Got slightly lost in Inverness and nearly ended up on the Black Isle, but managed to get off just before the bridge and eventually found the office I was making for. Weather was really pleasant so it was nice to get out in the fresh air and do the site visit in pleasant surroundings, an old mansion house on the outskirts of the town.

Eventually time to head for home, big changes in Inverness since I was last there, a very thriving and expanding town, lots of new roundabouts !! but I did reach the A9, and onto the dual carriageway south towards Edinbugh. However my luck was short lived, dual carriage way down to standard two lane, and lots more lorries. There are big signs asking drivers who are forming queues to pull over and let the traffic past, but looks like some of these drives cannot read "Scottish".
Over the top of the Slocht summit the main railway line runs beside the road and there was a long line of goods wagons sitting, all in the Stobart livery and pulled by a Stobart train - I thought that was a good idea to cut down on the number of lorries on the road - wrong, most definately wrong line of thinking, as I joined the end of a long line of vehicles, down to 35 mph, following an Eddie Stobart wagon, so miles later, seriously frustrated I managed to get by on one of the short sections of dual carriageway - hooray.

BUT - I needed a break so stopped at the massive House of Bruar complex, changed days from when I used to camp there with the Scottish Schoolboys Club during the 60's, it is a superb shopping stop and has a great range of all sorts of quality goods. I was looking for my friend Kenny Jack, but discovered he was no longer there.
Back onto the A9 and off again, but found myself behind the same Eddie Stobart lorry again, and on the one long straight where it was safe to pass, he did flash for cars to pass, but had anyone done so they would have been nabbed by a roadside speed camera - the A9 is a 60 mph limit and the Police are always on patrol in unmarked cars nabbing the frustrated drivers.

To cut a long story / journey short I eventually made it safely to Edinburgh by 5.30pm just in time for the Evening rush hour - what an ideal way to end a 400 mile trip!!! Especially when the last bit home was on the beloved McEwans Coach as I had dropped off the car in town.

Hellish day - but at least I did get some work done.

Today and the week ahead

Long day today, restless night once again, and eventually up and out by 7 a.m., Mercat was steady enough, lovely day, bit cold . Still lots of visitors in the town but on nice days they head for the city centre before stopping.

Took the opportunity after lunch to go see the Turkish boys and have my ears set on fire, much needed.

Home to get changed and then off northwards to Aberdeen to do one of my other jobs up there. En route I saw droves of Rangers F C supporters heading south after their successful defeat of Aberdeen - 3 - 2, all three goals scored in the 2nd half.

Made it to the College, had a look around and found my bed for the night. Took myself off for a beer and was unfortunate enough to end up in a bar where English appeared to be the second language for some of the locals, certainly not conducive to fostering good relationships with visitors. In my days in the Sportsman's Bar in Musselburgh I would have been waving the "attitude adjuster" at them and chucking them out.

So, Monday I will finishing this job here, heading South again, Tue and Wed early shifts in The Mercat ( 6 a.m for a project). Tue night 1st meeting of R A Laird O Cockpen, No 500; Wed night it is Miss talk a Lot's birthday so we are going to see her at Henricks Bar, her new abode along with Sir Chris. Thursday night big silver bird will take Me and Mrs B south to the "Big Smoke" , not to see the Queen or check out the pavements of Gold _ I have an EPIC meeting on Friday in the City, so I intend to make the weekend of it.
Long week ahead.

Be true to yourself - honesty is the best policy

Not sure how this chain of thought came about, but I had a conversation with a lady today who told me things about her past which she had never told to anyone else - she was open, honest and felt vulnerable exposing "herself" to a stranger - Me - of all people.

BUT it made me think - I personally try to honest and truth full and I certainly see no point in exaggerating, what is the point - the only person you deceive is yourself. Many years ago I elected to run one hundred miles for charity round a set course at the local army barracks and it was up to me to declare my daily mileage - easy for me to tell lies, no, I did the mileage as per the book - knackered as I was.

Brings me back to the honesty thing, write a CV and add a few embellishments, pretend a little, get the job, BUT wait for the bite back if you are unlucky. No point in saying you can fly a 777 when all you have flown is a Cesna;

Me - I have been struggling for months to do some work - just getting nowhere fast, no matter how hard I try - I have already said I am toiling, end result I am being helped, but at the end of the day I do what I do - but unfortunately not as well as I would have wished to do.
Be true to yourself - do not bullshit, might not suit some of your family or friends, but from may you will earn respect.

Beautifull St Mary's and disasterous Delhi

What a lovely Autumn morning as I headed into town around 7 a.m., with a full moon in the Wet and a nice sunrise to the East - end result, perfect conditions for photographs. Parking in my usual Saturday spot I had to pass St Mary's Cathedral, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, one of my favourite places in the city. With perfect lighting the detail of the south windows was superb - hence the following three photos which magnify to show the marvellous detail by the stonemasons.

This has to be in stark contrast with the recent shambolic structures we have seen in the media of the so called Commonwealth Stadium and Games Village in Delhi, India. What a dammed disgrace, but not unexpected. I keep forgetting to track down the photos I took while in India of various construction sites - WIP ( Work in progress) a total farce when you see four or five men with a cement mixer, supposed to be rebuilding a highway!!! In Mumbai, the main motorway from the airport into the City is like a roller coaster with different sections NOT QUITE MEETING IN THE MIDDLE !! so you are zooming along (bumping along) on one section, then down a ramp, over a bumpy area where they did not meet , then up a ramp and off again.

While I was in the City there was a death when a balcony collapsed and killed a tourist, the enquiry revealed that the cement used during the construction was so adulterated due to the bags been opened and cement stolen and the remainder mixed with rubbish.

Our friend now runs a big business out there and when he tried to give his staff a pay rise the Union stepped in and objected, it turns out that he has to pay the Union Rep who pays the workers, but for every £1 he pays the Union the workers get 25p. !!!!!!

From the photos in the media it is obvious that the workers have been living "on the job" in the games village which accounts for the filthy conditions of the accommodation, which is obviously palatial compared to their normal living conditions - shanty towns , cardboard boxes, and under tarpaulins by the roadside.

Tonight,s media conference was a classic with everyone blaming each other and no one accepting responsibility.

Touch wood we will not have a repeat of the horrific scenes when the Raj Hotel in Mumbai was taken over by terrorists, set on fire and ended up with carnage.

Installation RA 305 Honour, Concord and Fidelity

Despite a hectic, and fairly long day at the Bar, I made it home, had an hour with the feet up before heading off to Loanhead for a meeting of R.A. No 305, Honour, Concord and Fidelity. The meeting was the annual installation of Office bearers and the the Installing Board of Andy McKeen; Alex Moonie; Bert Waite and Jim McQueen BEM did a superb job of installing the new 1st Principle, John Gilroy; and his officers, Gordon Strange and Stuart Fraser.

A job well done and a great evening.