Getting ready for a night out with the boys.
Photo courtesy Caroline Loudon.
CAT BURGLAR RONNIE
Ron and I were at The Edinburgh Academy together, and our parents
have known each other for many years.
A short story of his "cat burglar" capabilities.
Our families holidayed in the summer at Crieff Hydro Hotel (central
Scotland) for a number of years and became good friends with a
large number of other families who also went to the hotel. The
"group" always enjoyed itself to the full and regularly
somebody would end up in front of the hotel management, who we
also knew well. One of the regular activities was bedroom turn-overs
- items and even whole room contents removed! A good friend of
ours, Roger, was adamant that he would not fall foul of this and
ensured that he had both the main and reserve keys in his possession.
He was convinced that he had been spared from an ordeal!
Ron and I took this as a challenge and managed (with
aid of a tool kit) to remove the lock from the outside of the
door to gain access to his room. We removed the U bend from the
wash-hand basin, turned the pictures and mirror round and left
the U bend in his bedside cabinet! On leaving the room we replaced
the lock and left it as good as new! That night Roger returned
to his room somewhat tired and weary (principally staggering from
another night's excess of drink!). He managed to wash his face
and brush his teeth but could not understand why his feet got
wet! He found the U bend in his bedside cabinet but could not
work out what it was and left it there.
The next morning when he was a little more "compus
mentis" he realised why but could not work out how somebody
had gained access!
This event took place some 14+ years ago but has
been recounted on a number of occasions.
We wish Ron and Sally the very best for their wedding
day and many happy years together.
Bruce (and Helen, David and Hannah) Balfour