Breaking news

The Marshmallow Lady’s erotic, Valentine’s Day-themed window display has had us slightly disturbed since its first appearance on Rodney Street at the start of the month.

It’s not the sight of an adorable Cupid grown into the full magnificence of manhood that bothers us.

Nor is it the dangerous positioning of the safety pin.

No, what keeps nagging at the back of Spurtle’s mind is that the face resembles someone in the public eye, but we can’t put our finger on him.

There are days when we think he looks like a melancholy Alexander McCall Smith.

UNCOMFORTABLE READING ALL ROUND

Professor John Cole’s independent report on last year’s temporary closure of 17 Edinburgh schools was published yesterday (see foot of page). 

It contains recommendations for City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), other public and private bodies, and the construction industry on: procurement, construction, training and recruitment, the role of the building standards and independent certifiers, and how information is shared. 

CEC yesterday pointed to six key findings in the 263-page document: 

SPURTLE EXAMINES GIFT HORSE’S MOUTH 

A major international competition has been launched today to design a new Ross Bandstand for West Princes Street Gardens. 

The current 2,400-seat venue, built in 1935, is considered no longer fit for purpose. 

Planning permission has been granted for demolition of a 2-storey garage and offices at 21 McDonald Place, and their replacement by a 4-storey, 11-unit apartment block (16/03471/FUL). 

There were 55 letters of objection and one neutral from neighbours, two objections from Leith Walk Councillors Gardner and Donaldson, and no comment from the New Town and Broughton Community Council. 

Opposition focused on perceptions of: 

MEALS IN THE LANTERN ROOM, BAXTER'S PLACE 

The last time we visited the Courtyard Edinburgh, it took a bit of effort to imagine how the city’s latest hotel would look when finished. 

Back in October, staff and builders were racing to complete the project in time for Christmas, and Spurtle had to rely on artist’s impressions and our customary sunny optimism to convey what the venue on Baxter's Place would eventually be like. 

Remember this from last month? 

The New Town Clean Streets campaign first brought it to our attention via Twitter – a lorry with generator and illuminated sign that sat on yellow lines in Hanover Street, blaring out music all day. 

Apparently, parking attendants were under the impression it had been granted an official dispensation. 

Few passers-by were impressed, and those in neighbouring offices soon tweeted that they’d been driven round the bend by the din for much of 13–19 January.

Spurtle was unable to attend the world premiere of T2 Trainspotting on 22 January, but belatedly boarded the bandwagon last night in search of locations. 

T2 filmcrew had been spotted all across Broughton over the spring/summer last year, and we confidently anticipated seeing a number of familiar faces or facades on the big screen. 

There are few days at this time of year that would not be improved by interposing a community newspaper between you and them. 

Fortunately, a brand new February-resistant issue of the Spurtle will be leaving the printers this afternoon and making its way onto Broughton shelves and counters first thing in the morning. 

This weekend and on Monday, thousands of people across the country are taking part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. 

The idea is to spend an hour in one spot, noting down the largest number of any one bird species you see on the ground at one time.

The survey – which has been running since 1979 – helps the RSPB track population trends nationwide. In 2015, more than 500,000 observers counted over 8 million birds in the UK.

This year, Spurtle decided not to repeat last year’s mistake of sitting with binoculars in the bushes of a shared garden.

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE TO TRANSFORM A LIFE? 

What’s the best thing you’ve done lately for a complete stranger?

Given up a seat on the bus? Helped someone across the road? Dropped a few coins in a hat? 

They’re all admirable in their way, but they rather pale into insignificance compared to a contribution made by local resident Richard de Soldenhoff last year.