I Declare ...

... the new Clackmannanshire Bridge open. Well, FM Alex Salmond did actually. But it really should have been called the Fife Bridge.

"The new £120 million Clackmannanshire Bridge over the Firth of Forth was officially opened by First Minister Alex Salmond today. The crossing, designed to alleviate traffic pressure on the Kincardine Bridge, is the second largest of its type in the world. It includes an extensive network of new cycleways and footpaths and provides transport links between Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Fifem improving road safety and opening up the wider area to economic benefits. Approximately 20,000 vehicles per day are predicted to use the new bridge, with traffic on the existing Kincardine bridge reduced from approximately 30,100 vehicles per day at present to approximately 18,100 vehicles."

Carnegie's in the House.

Carnegie reads that "HRH The Princess Royal is to perform the official opening in Dunfermline on Wednesday 13th February, of the iconic new £2.9 million headquarters of the four British-based Carnegie charitable trusts. The Carnegie UK Trust, the Carnegie Dunfermline & Hero Fund Trusts and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland this week began co-locating in their bespoke new building on the northern rim of Pittencrieff Park. Andrew Carnegie House – named after the trusts’ founder and the father of modern philanthropy – will be home to both a cutting-edge community-based trust and sister trusts engaged in higher education, research and policy advocacy, as well as support for injured heroes or their surviving dependents."

Carnegie thinks this is great but he wonders if he will get an invitation to the event? It would be good to meet The Princess Royal. Carnegie has read so much about her. Although Carnegie seems to recall that in his earlier incarnations he was wasn't exactly a big fan of the British Monarchy, which makes the decision of the Carnegie Trust to invite a Royal to open a building in his name somewhat ironic.