Well, as I said last night, all good things must come to an end and I can't believe that my term in the chair at 482 has finally come to an end.

Being R.W.M. has been a privilege and a pleasure and it's been a truly fantastic two years. And of course, being in the chair when we returned to Kirkliston - our 'spiritual home' - really was icing on the Masonic cake.

I've had amazing help and support from all the brethren of the Lodge and our visitors have been fantastic. My thanks goes out to absolutely everyone concerned.

Special thanks go to our secretary Bro. Gordon Yeoman P.M. and our treasurer Bro. William Reddington P.M. for continuing to keep the Lodge running smoothly and oc course to my Depute Master Bro. Jimmy Stewart P.M. for all his help.

And the two years were topped off by an amazing 'greetin 'meetin when 92 brethren signed the attendance book!!

(When I say amazing, I am of course excluding my contribution to the harmony!!)

My final thanks goes out to all the Reigning Masters I met and worked with while out 'on the circuit'. The camaraderie was on-going and many new friends were made. Thanks guys.

What now I say? Well, I'm all set for my time as I.P.M. and wish our Master Elect Bro. Les Duff P.M. all the very best for his upcoming Installation and I look forward to supporting him during his term as our new R.W.M.

An what about the blog?? Watch this space ........................... !!

Didn't realise it was so long since my last post, so there are a few important things to catch up on.

A very important event took place at our last meeting when we initiated Donald Small into Freemasonry.

Bro. Donald  is the first candidate we've had since I became R.W.M., but it's also very significant as he will be remembered as our  first candidate since moving back to the village earlier this year.

As we have more applications 'in the pipeline', we're very hopeful that Donald will be the first of many new candidates for the Lodge.

There certainly was a special buzz in the air on the night and Donald wasn't the only one who was nervous!!

Bro. Donald will be passed to the Fellowcraft Degree at our next meeting on December 19th and raised at our first meeting in January, Wednesday 16th.

Alongside new members, we also hope to encourage members who haven't attended for a while back into the Lodge.

On the same night as Bro. Donald's initiation, we also held the nomination and election of Office Bearers for 2013/2014 at which time Bro. Les Duff P.M. became Master Elect.

We can now look forward to our Installation Ceremony on February 2nd when Bro. Les and his team of Office Bearers will be installed.

We were also delighted to welcome Bro. Craig Gordon as an Honorary Member at our meeting on November 7th. Since then, Bro. Craig has completed a remarkable three year term as R.W.M. of Lodge Dalhousie Bonnyrigg 720 and congratulations again to Bro. Craig on this achievement.

This being December, we are again in the middle of 'Installation Season' and the last event of the year take place this Saturday with the Annual Installation at Lodge Rosslyn St. Clair - but it all starts up again in January!!

Of course, on a very personal note, I have just three more meetings as R.W.M. and my greetin' meetin' will be a special meeting on January 30th.

As this is a five week month, we've invited deputations from Lodge St. John Fisherrow 112 and The Thistle Lodge West Calder 270 who normally meet the same night as us and it will be really good to catch up.

A good bit later than intended, it good to finally say a few words about the past weeks.

Our last meeting was a 3rd Degree and I was really pleased with how everything worked out on the night.

This was the first time we had worked a 3rd at our new home in Kirkliston Bowling Club and we took advantage of the additional space to work the degree in the 'old' style that we hadn't been able to do since we left the village.

Everyone did a great job on the night and my congratulations to all the Office Bearers - and indeed to everyone who took part.

The night before, it was both an honour and a privilege to help present a 40 year jewel to Bro. Hugh Paterson, R.W.M. of Lodge Hopetoun St. John 1232. Bro. Hugh is also a Master Mason of Lodge Kirkliston Maitland.

It's not the practise at 482 to mark 40 years service so being asked by 1232 to participate in the ceremony was a tremendous gesture indeed - and greatly appreciated.

Bro. Hugh had ne idea the ceremony was going to take place and was completely taken aback when Bro. Norrie Austin set the ball rolling.

Thanks again to all the 1232 brethren for allowing us to be involved.

My masonic visits have been somewhat curtailed of the past few weeks as I've had a surprising number of evening jobs.

However, I'm getting out as often as I can and tonight - Friday 13th (!!!) - it's the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian Ball and I'll be attending with Janet.

It will be good to catch up with brethren from across the province.

Looking forward, next Wednesday sees 482's last meeting before the summer recess and this will be a 2nd Degree.

There are a few more meetings in the pipeline of course, not to mention Installations at Lodge Royal Thistle, St. John Corstorphine and Dalkeith Kilwinning.

There's also the last CCLASP event, the grand family barn dance on June 2nd and the Reigning Masters' Degree at 720 on June 13th.

Finally, I'd like to have said a bit more about the Masonic Facebook sites that have appeared recently but I really haven't had the chance to far to take a more involved look.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about this development of course - indeed some are totally indifferent to the entire concept!!

However, this is the 21st century and if we want to reach out to our 'target audience', this is one of the ways we need to go.

More next time  methinks!!