Breaking news

February already – oh, how time flies! No doubt there will be many private celebrations of Groundhog Day around Spurtleshire on the 2nd, but what lies in store for the more general of the public this month?

One Spurtle team member sat in the smirr on Saturday afternoon as part of the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch – an annual hour-long mass observation designed to give an accurate picture of various bird species' numbers and distribution across the country.

As reported – ironically enough – on Twitter, in his East Claremont Street backgreen there were no birds whatsoever. A solitary blackbird briefly took the mick from nextdoor's drying post, but otherwise nothing. Not even the usually raucous and omnipresent magpies put in an appearance.

Organisers at Bellevue Chapel are keen to publicise their youth club – 'Covies' – aimed at locals in S1 and above.

The regular Rodney Street sessions run on Wednesday evenings (7:30–9:00pm) during term time and are open to all. You don't have to be a member of the congregation, a churchgoer or a Christian to enjoy the sports, football, activities, trips, music and 'plenty of chat and discussion' on offer. Events coming up soon include a 'pub quiz', After Dark chill-out nights and a trip to Teen Ranch, Scotland.

In Issues 186–7 we reported City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) considerations on expanding provision for Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in the capital. The subject has local ramifications since, nearby, the former Bonnington Primary School may be where primary GME is delivered.

Of course, any move to expand GME in Edinburgh is also of interest because it carries a cost, particularly at a time when schools across the city are counting every penny.

Expect rain as Issue 191 nears completion and legions of fleet-footed delivery technicians prepare to deliver copies to Broughton's pubs, clubs, pubs, shops, galleries, nooks, grannies, eateries, meeteries and sundry liminal odd-spots.

The Friends of Hillside and Calton meet next on Mon. 31 January (6:30pm, Royal Terrace Hotel), when they will discuss improvements to Hillside Crescent Garden.

Organisers are delighted that a representative of the energy company Infinis will also attend, and intends to present the voluntary group with a cheque to help them in their work.

Traffic disruption may continue around Bellevue until 14 February (and possibly longer) as work continues to widen pavements and install a new Puffin crossing.

Traffic lights will be in place on Sunday 30 January and 6 February, from 9:00am–5:00pm.

Leith Neighbourhood Partnership (LNP) is at the early stages of drawing up its Local Community Plan for the period 2011–14, and it wants locals to decide what the top five priorities should be.

Controversial plans for a new house on Hart Street have returned to the planning process despite earlier Council approval.

A Broughton 'elephant' at the centre of Issue 190's competition is still eluding capture.

Readers are invited to send us a note of its location. The first correct entry drawn from the shoogly hat will win a £10 book token.