A pint of the black stuff and listening to things getting going at O’Donoghue’s

A weekend catching up with family (& dodging rain showers) in and around Dublin - and seeing the next generation getting to know each other and make connections 🥹

This is prompting a ‘top five best sandwiches’ because I can’t narrow it down further but 💯 agree the Oban Seafood Hut salmon sandwiches would be amongst them www.theguardian.com/food/2026/ma...

A beautiful book of photographs and stories from the Edinburgh Blue Balls down in Portobello 🏊‍♂️

Did not expect to spend Saturday night watching a play about Cowdenbeath FC but Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social was very moving & I enjoyed it

Tartan parade getting ready to go up at St Giles

David Attenborough has raised awareness of the natural world and its myriad interconnections on which humans depend go.nature.com/3QZTvjU

A less than joyful day made happier by First Date’s late night romance market @lighthousebks.bsky.social & Scottish Ballet’s celebration of Gene Kelly choreography in ‘Starstruck’. Love saves the day.

Definitely a Water of Leith day - returning a few hours later in the sunshine to one of favourite spots

A super-early start to watch first light break down on the Water of Leith and to listen to the dawn chorus. We’re all a little groggy now but it was so beautiful.

One of the most bizarre stories from this evening - I think I need to know more about this. Abraham Sever and his Indian elephant going in and out of a *second floor* flat in Old Fishmarket Close circa 1705

Hey Palu on Bread St does a mean Negroni and a bar snack that actually lived up to hopes - a huge paper bag of hot, properly delicious, olive-oily, salty focaccia and dips (I was hungry). Am intrigued by the massive collection of Amari on the back wall but a good Negroni is hard to beat

I went to see Windblow @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social performed by Karine Polwart - a beautiful visual, song and storytelling celebration of a 200 year old palm @thebotanics.bsky.social, the people who looked after it and coming to terms with its loss. How we might take better care of how things end 💚

Just clocked the date and these are my all-time favourite Discworlds: Lords and Ladies, Men At Arms, Mort and Small Gods #TerryPratchett

Finally tracked down a copy of Rufi Thorpe’s ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ and it has made my week (thanks @99pi.org @vivianhle.bky.social for your book reccs episode - have loved them all so far)

First asparagus of the season

Christian Aid book sale on May 11th, 12th, 13th ‼️ (& 📕 donations open from 27th April)

Kenya's Sawe breaks two-hour mark for first time in marathon history

Thought the urge to sign up for another marathon well and truly gone … but I’m watching London marathon and really wishing I was there so maybe not quite done yet

Independent bookstore day! Bit late and a little spoiled for choice in Edinburgh but *deep breath*: Rare Birds Books, Golden Hare, Ginger & Pickles, Argonauts, Book Lovers Bookshop, The Lighthouse, The Fungarium, Tills & honorable mentions to Oxfam Books Stockbridge & Canonmills’ St Columba’s 📚

Should I be worried that my daughters’ first thought was to try and pick a lock?

1/ There's a system of ocean currents in the Atlantic that shapes Europe's #climate, drives monsoons, and keeps sea levels stable along the US coast. In the last 5 years, the scientific evidence that it could collapse has shifted dramatically. Most people have no idea. 🧵

Sunshine on Leith

First Date (co-hosted by Lighthouse Books and Book Lovers Bookshop) starts on Friday. Whether you’re a romance fiction fan or entirely new to it, this is worth checking out

Cherry blossom in bloom across Edinburgh 🌸

New(ish) indy bookshop on Randolph Place: Wild Fungarium specialising in nature and wildlife books 📚

Ah, Macau Kitchen - love it. Macanese and Malacca Portuguese food remains something of a revelation.

I have also found the cabin of cabins

First trip over to the Isle of Mull, and will be back ❤️

I LOVED this - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. It may seem odd to recommend a book about fungi but it’s incredible and has completely changed how I think about them, and our world (🤯). It’s like opening up a parallel universe.

First trip out to the Lost Shore surf resort at Ratho - it’s amazing!

Booked some time off and first up was North Berwick. Lucked out on the weather with clear views from the Law and the town’s tulip fest is quite something 🌷

An Easter egg hunt at the crack of dawn as last night’s storm died down, a morning eating chocolate with sun streaming through the windows - and then watching the snow fall outside the museum ☔️ ❄️ ☀️

An afternoon seeking shelter from the rain in book shops (including my first trip to the Book Lovers Bookshop 💕) and reading books over wine

A day spent mostly eating and gazing at beautiful Spring flowers in Edinburgh’s botanic gardens ahead of the arrival of Storm Dave (🤔) tomorrow

All ready for Easter 🐣

Starting off the Easter weekend with a hot cross bun from Twelve Triangles and a gigantic mug of tea

This is fascinating - biomimicry at its best. How buildings and cities can be aligned with life www.nature.com/articles/d41...

It wasn’t perfect (& Elif Shafak is a great writer so she can get close) but so many good threads and ideas running through this, and had me re-listening to this: 99percentinvisible.org/episode/611-... Praise to Nisaba!

We are excited to launch the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 2026 with a jam-packed programme of circus, dance, and theatre for young people and their families, featuring 15 productions from 9 countries. 🧡  Tickets are now on sale: https://www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/

A day enjoying blue skies, spring blossom and music (courtesy of Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra who, in a genius move, combine concerts with snacks) - and trying to keep warm because omg is it cold out there

That was a good #Gladiators final - though we watched a lot of both Eliminators from behind the sofa

A library vending machine would also be amazing

This looks pretty amazing www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/...

We need more of these

I love this! We walked past this morning and saw all the horses getting ready

Four and a half hours listening to beautiful, beautiful music and my first ever performance of Tristan and Isolde @scottishopera.bsky.social

Spring has sprung

The shape and sound of Saturday mornings 🎼