28 April - Stockbridge, Waters of Leith, Bruntsfield Links and The Meadows

Started Saturday morning with a short walk to our local Saturday Farmers Market. Would be good to be living with another 2 people so could buy more.  There is only just so much we can eat.  Ended up purchasing a very nice rye loaf and a snail for  afternoon tea.  There was also an intriguing looking Polish brioche sweet loaf - maybe next time. Stephen took a photo of a pig being sliced up for pulled pork.  Can see us trying that at a return visit.  Also bought some smoked butter that had come down from Caithness in the far north.  Looking forward to cooking with that.  

As the sun was shining and we knew we would be indulging with a snail in the afternoon; set off to walk to Stockbridge.  It was about a 1 hour walk - extended perhaps by our slowing down regularly to peer at the interesting houses, tenements and views of the Castle and Arthurs Seat along the way. We walked along Ferry Road ( so named because it is a main road running from Queensferry to Leith) and then headed towards the Botanical Gardens, in part walking alongside the Waters of Leith.   Lovely walk especially as we ended up going past a series of small houses that are part of the "Edinburgh Colonies" - a series of smallish houses built to house people in the mid 1800's to get them away from the Old Town which was essentially a slum.  Doesn't sound a perfect solution, as these backed onto the Waters of Leith which was an open sewer in those days but better than the Old Town.  As well as the housing in the Old Town being dire, there was a huge increase in population due to industrialization resulting in insufficient housing.  Who would have thought that an increase in population would mean more housing was required?  Glad we learnt our lesson and there is sufficient housing for everyone these days.  They are now lovely little places set in little cobblestoned streets. Stockbridge is also now an upmarket area so things have changed somewhat. 

Visited a deli at Stockbridge to pick up some pate, goats cheese and coppa to add to our rye bread. We know their food well.  Then hopped across the road to George Bower - Stephen's favourite butcher and bought 2 pies for dinner - meat and haggis.  Don't know what is happening to me - haggis?

Also dropped off a couple of books I'd finished to local charity shop and grabbed some replacements; ready for Spain plane trip.  It's on Ryan Air so believe will need to bury my head in a book to distract me for the 3 hour trip.

Bus back for lunch and quiet afternoon.  And haggis pie was delicious for dinner.

On Sunday (today), weather is not as good and definitely need warm coats again but headed out to check out their famous cherry blossom trees. Didn't know but Edinburgh is one of the UK cities famous for its cherry blossom season.  Its a bit like the Jacaranda trees in Kirribilli each year.  Neither are native to their respective countries but the trees are very happy in their transplanted cities.  We headed to the south-west of the city to The Meadows - a largish park near the Uni of Edinburgh which is known for its cherry blossom trees for about 2 weeks of the year.  We have coincided with those 2 weeks.  Still have the car, so drove over to Bruntsfield, the closest suburb to The Meadows and detouring via a Nordic Outdoor shop (no, not me shopping - Stephen picking up a new fishing jacket), walked around Bruntsfield Links and The Meadows.  Nice part of the world.  Great views across to the Castle from the parks and yes the cherry blossom trees were impressive.  No need to visit Japan anymore.

Had no idea that Bruntsfield Links existed, being one of the oldest golfing links in the world. Sounds like they were playing golf here from around the 1700's. There were people puttering around the course today as we walked by.  Since 1890 it's been a 36 hole short hole golf course and you only play with 2 clubs.  In Winter they play on a shorter 9 hole course and it is always free to play. Walkers seem to be pretty safe.

The Meadows, as is typical of Europe, has a checkered past - originally a loch and then drained and since early 1800's, an Act of Parliament reserved it as a public park. Having safely navigated flying golf balls, was  a bit concerned that we were going to have to avoid flying arrows, (when I read on a sign that the Royal Company of Archers has been practicing on The Meadows since 1676).  No sign of any archers today, so all good. Did read a gruesome bit of history - for nearly a century, one competition target was a live goose buried up to its neck.  Humans can be very strange animals at times.

Having accumulated some gin and whisky, we also seem to be gathering some wine for our much cut down cellar. 

Heard from Will yesterday around dinner time (one benefit of being here is being in the same time zone as Will and Em) and he excitedly advised Stephen that his favorite wineshop in London - the Bottle Apostle  - has most likely an event on in late June .  We will get to meet the owner - JR (who I mistakenly called JD in an earlier blog post).  Even if there isn't an official event, I'd be guessing that JR will organise something if Will asks nicely.

Resting for rest of this afternoon.  Stephen watching more World Snooker Championships.  Wrestled back control yesterday to watch an episode of a series we are watching. 😀Will probably indulge in one of our gins or whiskeys later on.  Car goes back on Wednesday so Stephen hoping to get a day's fishing in if the weather cooperates and a grocery shop is planned (very exciting I know) to top up on some of our heavier pantry items.