Breaking news

The missing Gormleys will not return to the Water of Leith this summer. 

Last August we reported the National Galleries of Scotland’s intention to replace the four human figures at Bell’s Mill, Stockbridge, Powderhall and Bonnington – possibly as early as May 2016. 

But now, ‘complex engineering challenges’ mean the buff bathers will not be seen again until May 2017 at the earliest.

One Spurtle does not a summer make, but our printed June issue makes a good start with swooping scoops on art, zooming fly-pasts on licensing and flags, high-pitched screeching about the bargain buy of the season, and a free sunshine give-away for every reader. 

We examine the downsides of free Wi-Fi, delayed reappearances in public places, and a proposal to expand the bare and uninteresting flank of an old friend. We delve into the anatomical impossibilities of planners and assessors, bring news of supermarket comings and restaurant goings, and lift the lid on local crime.

The future of 8 St Andrew Square becomes a little clearer (and more appetising) with news that London-based Iberica Food and Culture Ltd has applied for planning permission to open here (Ref. 16/02587/FUL).

When Waterloo Place was constructed in 1819, it bisected Calton Burying Ground leaving a rump cemetery on the uphill northern side of the road. 

Less well-known than the currently closed section overlooking Waverley which contains the grave of David Hume, it’s accessible via a short set of steps leading up from Calton Hill beside the Parliament House Hotel. 

Despite its relative obscurity and meagre size, there is much of interest here, including this simple stone right at the centre:

An alternative guidebook to Edinburgh that aims to be as surprising and insightful for locals as it is for visitors will be launched on 1 June. 

Researched and written by local Hannah Robinson, it’s the latest in the ‘Secret and Unusual Guide’ series by Jonglez Publishing, which already covers cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Lisbon, New York, Prague and Venice.

Last week we launched the first of our Edinburgh safaris by inviting readers to search for four or more owls (see foot of page). 

Since then we've been inundated by one entry, which correctly identified the location of our photograph as the small courtyard next to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Unfortunately, Lizzie Rynne supplied no photos of her alleged sightings of other owls on Cockburn Street. Chessels Court and Muir Wood, Currie. Congratulations all the same.

THE VIEWS FROM THE TOP 

Given that one can see New St Andrew’s House from just about everywhere in Edinburgh, it should come as no surprise that one can also see just about everwhere in Edinburgh from the top of New St Andrew’s House. 

DEEP DOWN AND DIRTY IN NEW St ANDREW’S HOUSE 

Today we examine the tripes of the beastie: pipes, ducts, plant and cabling. 

Spurtle claims no special knowledge of these matters. Depending upon your point of view, what follows will be a mutual voyage of discovery or a hapless lurch in the dark. 

(1) We begin our display of ignorance with a machine designed possibly for heating something up or for cooling it down. (Feel free to chip in with better suggestions at any point.)

SIGNS OF THE TIMES IN NEW St ANDREW’S HOUSE 

Today we continue our exploration of New St Andrew’s House with a look at words – not civil service documents and memos but words printed, etched, and scrawled on the fabric of the building. 

There were remarkably few left on the floors we investigated. Perhaps the most redolent of times past are the corridor directions, styled in resolute lower-case Helvetica. 

EXPLORING NEW St ANDREW’S HOUSE 

Demolition of the doomed St James Centre comes closer day by day.

Boots moved out yesterday, leaving another empty socket in a retail smile now almost devoid of teeth.