Spotted on Broughton Street last week – possibly the latest discarded Christmas tree of 2011 or the earliest discarded Christmas tree of 2012.
Either way, its brown and withered appearance is a welcome, miserablist counterblast to the fairy-dust-encrusted, Christmas-starts-in-September, marketing bollox of 'Edinburgh sparkles' etcetera.
How about some more realistic slogans for the capital this year, properly rooted in Calvinist pessimism and self-disgust, trams frustration, social meltdown and wretched incredulity at the possibility of things ever getting better?
We suggest: 'Edinburgh needles'. Your alternatives will be gratefully received.