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