Honest Lad and Lass week

Time flies, nearly as fast as the swimmers and cyclists at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.  Quite an event massively helped by the last few days of fine warm weather,  which hopefully will clear up after this wet front moves across the country.  Certainly been a great advert for Scotland, with the added bonus that our athletes are performing very well.  Trying to compromise so lots of events have been listened to on the radio rather than watching the TV, really good coverage as "5 Live "scoots from event to event, and has the benefits of no replays.   So far so good with the home countries picking up medals all the time.  Nice to see young Scots swimmers, judo etc doing well , however the Brownlie Brothers are some athletes - no doubt about that.

Been using the Steed of Steel most days to commute up and down to the Mercat Grill,  just as well getting the benefit of the weather while I can.

Was down at the grill early this morning as we had a large group in to watch the ride by of the Hundred and seventy four hourses taking part in the Musselburgh Honest lad and Lass ride out - this one has been getting bigger each year.

 

It was reported on the news that Glasgow has nearly 95% hotel occupancy, so no do doubt the hotelliers are rubbing their hands with higher prices,  just as Edinburgh will be with the start of the Edinburgh festival.

Big demonstration march along Princes Street today, so guess what,  trams were suspended (no detours available !!!!).

 

Commonwealth Games - bring them on.

Home, feet up, wine to hand and waiting to watch the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games coming from Glasgow. Just a bit surprised at the number of commentators who are generally based elsewhere in the UK.    Anyway,it is about to kick off, and Edinburgh is not being left out, having the diving competition here, which will be three times Edinburgh has been actively involved.

Weather is brilliant with temperatures up to around 25 c, so hot in fact that patients in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, are complaining about the extreme heat.  Fans and additional Air Con units being brought in and the staff are waiving the checks they have for personal electrical equipment - which in reality is an excuse to stop people using their own equipment so  they have to pay extortionate prices for the in house TV and radio facilities.

Had another good ride out today, over to Duns via Longformacus and homewards through Greenlaw, Carfraemill, Crichton Castle, Gorebridge and Temple -  good to see Andy Mimms at Border Bikes again, busy as ever.

Horrendous tragedy with the shooting down by pro Russian rebels of the Malaysian flight last week - denials everywhere - especially from Russia, and all sorts of conspiracy theories.  Do we call them criminals, murderers, cannot call them animals as animals have a higher set of morals. Would not surprise me if Putin allowed a Russian plane to be shot down so that he could shift the blame away from his allies.
Could have a boycott - France are building a massive helicopter carrying warship for Russia which, although nearly commisioned is still in France -

Where have all our Polis gone !!  that might well be a common complaint during the Games as Police are drafted in from all over Scotland to help out in Glasgow - long hours, lots of complaints from the Officers involved and mainly because our commercial security companies could not do the business again, just a repeat of the Olympics fiasco.

Fiasco-   is an immigrant family claiming £55k per annum not something worth questioning - keep saying it, but we have to be the laughing stock of Europe, if not the World or Commonwealth ( the Aussies have been mega critical of Glasgow)  but - what incentive is there for folks to work hard and try to save - none, none, zilch, zero, just let the spongers rule supreme.

Never mind - it can only get better.

A brief break

Just a had a quiet thirty six hours away from home.   Not too far,  headed to Peebles and had a wander round the shops.  Nice to see a High Street without any f the multinationals in sight  ( apart from Greggs - who are Scottish and based at Loanhead).    Wetherspoons are opening a new pub in the town next week, having taken over an old one and done a good refurbishment - might waken up a few folks,    I popped into the Crown for a bacon roll but was told breakfasts had stopped five minutes earlier,   So crossed the road and a wee café did the business - hit the spot
Even bought a new pair of good shoes at Rogersons and another wee treat in the kilt shop (shush).
Back up the road to the Barony Hotel where we were booked in for their D.B.& B. deal and a couple of treatments in the Spa -  nice and relaxing,    Even found myself drinking Recorderlig cider and enjoying it - might just be tempted again.
Only thing to disrupt my peace of mind was a phone call to Garmin UK,  seemed simple,  but after a long wait things went from bad to worse - so a call back is  needed next week when I am calm.
Anyway, watching the Open Golf while waiting to head home, and then back to work this afternoon, needs must.

A walk in the City

Must be Wednesday, and it has been raining (again) , worse to come, forecasters are suggesting 30C plus in the South east of England, while we on the other hand we will get more rain - but no hose pipe ban !!

Edinburgh trams ground to a halt again, this time caused by five baloons on a piece of string ( not City Councillors) which became entangled in the overhead wires - so £740million project stopped for a couple of hours while the power was switched off -   need to give the drivers a pair of wellies and a fishing rod with a stanley blade taped on the end !!!

Beggars out in the city - not sure why, story about one immigrant who reckons he will be able to send about £40k home to his dependents -    we are certainly mugs,  money in the bank gains no interest;  means we are not entitled to any benefits, so perhaps we should just fritter any income away then joing the benefits queue.   Felt a bit like that this morning at the chemists when I had to stand in line with  the Methadone crew.

Had a wee wander through the town this morning and for the first time saw the plaque in the Grassmarket where a German Zephlinn dropped a bomb in 1916 - and took time to read the boards outside the pubs relating tales of Biddy Milligan and The Last Drop where the public hangings took place, probably not as vicious as the actions of the current middle eastern terrorist groups.

Fortunately we live in a society steeped in history, a beautiful city which attracts visitors from around the world and has raised comment from many over the years.

He would certainly get a surprise at the changes now, as would John Muir, our East Lothian explorer who is also renouned around the World.

 

An IPA motor cycle section weekend in Wales

Winding the clock back to last weekend and I found a few photos of my trip to Wrexham with the IPA British Motorcycle section.

Here we are heading off on Saturday morning from the Premieto one of their r Inn, Town Centre , Wrexham,
then it was off into the wilds of Welsh Wales .   We did stop, as I reported earlier, at the Ponderossa on top of the Horseshoe Pass , where I spooted this unusual replical of a Ural Combination.

The car park was very busy, although the Police did tell us that there were a lot less than usual,

Really strange how we had no problems with our bikes in Europe, leaving them unattended, not a problem,  yet in Edinburgh we had three knicked by the local yobs.  In Italy  Mr McIinally and the guys took the micky out of me when I was seated in the shade.  Here we had our own security man who made it his business  to keep an eye on the  bikes , cheers Mr Foulton.

 

 

 

A walk in the high park.

Home after my trip to the shops,  but I did stop for a super bowl of mussels in white wine at the Mercat Grill, excellent - and for me a change from my usual choices.

Changed and out for a walk, before the rain came on -  same route as yesterday, into the Penicuik Estate, and over the hidden bridge

Had a quick look into the Lost Garden but was out for a walk, not a "gander",

In the days of Baby Blaikie, on the Tv you had the choice of windows on children's TV, square, round, etc,  but for me it was a gate and in the distance, a sight well worth restoring which must have been amazing years ago,

.  Next time I should be into the garden for a closer look.

Many moons ago when Penicuik House was occupied by Sir john and lady Elizabeth Clerk, there was literally unlimited access to the esate , roads and paths, however, the current occupant, Robert Clerk, has imposed a few restrictions which do give his family a bit of privacy,  so my only views of teh new Penicuik House were somewhat limited.

Nice wak, nice day,  but I am having a serious look at using walking poles and having a bash at Nordik walking - much more effort need

ed but more beneficial.

Not a room with, but a car park with a view.

Managed a bit of a day off today, down to the pub with a new consignment of meringues and baking, then home , changed and off to Ocean Terminal.

Rooftop views, on a still clear day of the harbour ,

 Beats doing the window frames at the pub, but not quite as bad as painting the forth Road Bridge.