12 June - Edinburgh

After yesterday's domestic day we headed out for a walk along the Water of Leith to Stockbridge.

Saw 2 more of the Antony Gormley Statues in the water.  Now seen 3 out of the 6 statutes. The water was also a lot calmer than the last time we walked alongside it when some paths were flooded.  Everything is very green now.  Stephen is contemplating taking a fishing rod to have a go at catching something.  Didn't see anyone fishing but you can do so with a permit, which being Scotland, costs nothing but you still need a permit. Also went past very old building in Leith that dates from 1675. Already photographed it but interesting seeing it from the riverside.

Stopped at a really good Italian coffee shop in Cannonmills.  The Scots, at least in Edinburgh, have really got their act together in terms of decent coffee.

We ended up at the Colonies in Stockbridge, which we had walked past some 2 months ago.  At that stage I thought the colonies were paid for by the wealthier people in Edinburgh to move people from the old town.  Now I saw another sign on our walk this morning which contradicts that. The Colonies were built by the Edinburgh Co-operative Building Company, commencing in the mid-1800's and the Company was founded by a group of stonemasons while they were 'locked out' by their employers for demanding a shorter working day.  Their aim was for working people to buy shares in the Company and to build, buy and live in the houses themselves. 20 years after building began, nearly 2000 people were living in the Stockbridge Colonies.  Apparently it was so successful that other colonies were built by the Company in other parts of Edinburgh and Leith. This time I noticed that above the side windows at the end of each terrace are carved stone plaques depicting the tools of various trades.  I stand corrected.

Visited Stephen's favorite butcher shop in Stockbridge where we bought some venison so he can make another venison stew.  Also got some of their beef sausages as their meat is really very good, if not the cheapest.  Also found a bookshop in Stockbridge called the Rare Birds Book Shop.  They only sell books by women authors and the staff are all women. I was looking for a new book by Val McDermid on Lady Macbeth.  Found it there but it was hardcover and really very slight - would take me about an hour to read.  Saw instead another book on Lady Macbeth which also looked interesting and thought why not.  Lady Macbeth seems to be having a moment. 

Been buying a lot of books from charity shops which is good but the best tend to be murder mysteries and decided I need a break from another Scottish/Scandi/Irish tortured detective series.