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 CAN ANY READER HELP? 

In the general scheme of things – the rise and fall of empires, the extinction of species, the erosion of mountain ranges – it's no great shakes. 

But in the mind of a small child, it looms very large indeed.

The sign shown here has appeared on a lamppost at the corner of Bellevue and Bellevue Terrace. It announces the recent loss of Ratty the jellycat teddy in the Broughton area, and clearly reflects one Lilly Rose's anxiety to be reunited with him or her or indeed it.

Thousands marched through central Edinburgh this afternoon to protest against the arrival of President Trump in the UK in general, and Scotland in particular. 

Spurtle photographed over a hundred banners and placards, ranging in tone from serious and political to anatomical and scatalogical. 

Below we've focused on those which were effectively concise, or filled us with admiration for their artistry, or said something distinctively Scottish, or made us laugh, or in retrospect conveyed a clear sense of the overall mood. 

 SLOW GOING LIKELY

Expect traffic delays tomorrow as an anti-Trump protest passes through the city centre at lunchtime.

An unspecified number of people will take an unknown amount of time to process from Horse's Wynd to the Meadows, starting at noon. 

What could be more boring than a bin?

They are not objects of exquisite beauty.

Homesick exiles never reminisce about them.

Lovers don’t spoon together in their shade.

They’re so usefully boring that, unless filled to overflowing, we usually don’t notoice them or give a second look.

City of Edinburgh Council seeks the public’s views on outdoor advertising. Its online consultation pages – with six multiple-choice questions and space for additional comments – will remain OPEN HERE until 14 September. 

The subject has arisen as CEC reviews planning guidelines on ‘what types of outdoor advertising are acceptable [and] where it is suitable’. 

 As campaigners fight to rebuff plans for Stead’s Place, and community councils unite to fire a warning shot across the bows of the Council, local businessman Mark Gibson explains what makes Leith Walk special and why it needs special protection. 

LOCALS APPLY PRESSURE ON CEC 

Four community councils along the route of the proposed tramway to Newhaven have issued a joint statement to City of Edinburgh Council. 

People of Broughton, are you too hot? 

Then chill out with a super-cool copy of the July Spurtle, available across the barony and beyond from tomorrow. 

Issue 275 kicks off with news about tram engineers and local citizens divided by common aspirations. It continues with news from North Korea and a well-kent local face now captured on screen. There is also a tweet full of ticks. 

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, visited the Newkirkgate this afternoon. 

His brief appearance was a show of support for long-time party colleague Cllr Gordon Munro (Ward 13), who has been selected to stand for the marginal Edinburgh North & Leith constituency at the next General Election. 

Corbyn pledged Labour’s commitment to the National Health Service in its 70th year, and spoke of sticking up for ‘the many not the few’ in a city where 80,000 people are living in poverty.

 12-WEEK CONSULTATION BEGINS

City of Edinburgh Council and the Ross Development Trust seek feedback from the public concerning plans to upgrade and ‘revitalise’ West Princes Street Gardens and improve accessibility.