Heart of Midlothian

Ooh look! A pretty heart! What could I possibly write about that?

This heart before you is the namesake for both a famous Scottish Football club and a Sir Walter Scott novel as well as the site of public executions and the Porteous riots of 1736.

You will find a deviation in the classic cobblestone streets on the west side of the High Street, just outside the very ornate St. Giles Cathedral, in the form of a mosaic heart. The heart of Midlothian, as it is called, marks the spot upon the Royal Mile where the 15th century Old Tolbooth once stood. The building since torn down was once a prison as well as the city's administrative centre. Inmates and Administrative Assistants, sounds like a rollicking reality series showcasing office gossip and neck tattoos! But seriously, it is said that the heart signifies the door to the Tolbooth which was once spat on as a proverbial 'Damn the Man' in its day to show ones detest for the Institution known for collecting taxes and its hangings without a trial. This tradition persists, carried on today with the Heart, pictured above, as the modern day target.

From a geographical, if not local government standpoint, the heart in the middle of the road happens to have originally marked the centre of the Midlothian District or county.The title remains today, but no longer marks the centre being as though of the Edinburgh Council separated politically from the Midlothians several decades ago.

More reasons to send some saliva onto the streets of Edinburgh include:

• As romantic tourist legend will have it, to spit on the heart is to one day return to Edinburgh
• Spitting to bring your football team, the Heart of Midlothian or simply the Hearts, good luck
• Spit to spite the Hearts your local football club's rival, especially if you are a Hibernian or Hibs fan
• Expel some sputum if you are anti-establishment
• For general good luck (probably the watered down interpretation told to the kiddies)
• Spit out of tradition for the sake of tradition

Whatever the reason, go hock-a-lougie at the Heart of Midlothian and locals likely won't bat an eye.

Here is a little video recap of what you just read to help us get to the heart of the folklore surrounding the Heart of Midlothian. (thank you PeterPiperPeppers)

In future I might be more inclined to take into consideration that a simple heart on the road might not be so simple after all.

expectorate on edinburgh, erin x

Farmers Market: Round two

We had a mission! Go to the Edinburgh Farmers market for two things and two things only- minced(aka ground) lamb to make minted lamb burgers with the mint we have grown, and milk to make cheese. We found neither this time around, but enjoyed ourselves as always. The meatiness of the market hung in the air and surrounded us with the rich, heady aroma of the mingling of cooked meats. We snapped a couple pictures, snacked on a couple samplings and went home with a full basket.  A strange mix of wares this time around, but another wonderful, and this time not so wet, afternoon spent at the market nonetheless. See for yourself!

It is a little later in the growing season now, which was evident in the increase of greens present at the market. We managed to find two pots of organic basil to plant in our window boxes for use in future pestos. We got a half dozen eggies from rare breed hens, two pre-minted lamb burgers and a kilogram of rhubarb. My favourite buy was  a book by Nichola Fletcher, the wife of the venison dealer who makes his own haggis. The book, titled Charlemagne's Tablecloth, is about the history of feasting and seemed to be rather fitting given my recent intrigue with the history of local food and the traditions surrounding it. At 3 pound 50 it was a steal.

What is at your local farmers market right now? What has been your favourite find so far? 

Looking forward to another fascinating farmers market soon,

erin

You can creep on Edinburgh!

When we first made the decision to move to Edinburgh, I of course was a tad curious about what it would be like. So, I put my internet surfer hat on and scanned through a multitude of images, videos, travel sites and the like. It is always so exciting and out of context to view a city for the first time via someone else's perspective, ie. photo. But unlike my online Edinburgh immersion, life surprisingly does not come with a photoshop button. So upon arrival, one must take the high street (pictured) with the ripe alley behind the fishmonger's (not pictured).

That being said, this site displaying Edinburgh's web cams a-plenty was my obsession. My Lumberjack and I were still courting at the time, and I would often daydream about our future in what seemed like such a far off place. This little stream of Edinburgh images helped my imagination along, while also telling me the current temperature out too! Practical? Yes. A tiny bit creepy? Oh you bet and I realize that fully only now. But you can tell yourself you are just popping in to contrast the weather conditions with where you are at in the world, you know, like Dads do!

Who knows, perhaps one day you will see me on one of my adventures, strolling along the High street oblivious to the fact that Big Brother, and YOU are watching!

So these are some images of Edinburgh Castle found in the archived webcam photos. This should give you an idea of what it is like at 10pm, 11pm, 12am, night night castle and then 2pm today! The summer solstice is behind us so the days are only gonna get shorter from here on in! Sad face!

Click Here for a nosey through the Edinburgh live web cam options. May I recommend the Historic Edinburgh and the Royal Mile streaming camera 1.

Sometimes the cameras work, sometimes they don't, so sometimes you will enjoy them!

erin x castle vision 2011

Edinburgh City Guide

This comprehensive city guide to Edinburgh covers all the spots, and all the shops! The always trendy, always up-to-date dames at Design Sponge posted this a few months back, and do not disappoint! This guide should satisfy the culture vulture, the fashionista, the indie film goer, the foodie, the lover of all things underground and all things Scottish alike.

It takes you around Edinburgh by street name or community area, and was something I actually referred to when I arrived. D*S tends to be a reliable source in the style department, and having been written by a resident/lover of Edinburgh, this was no exception.

Of course everyone is after a different experience and is bound to have different tastes, but whether you are taking a tour, thinking of moving, travelling to the capital city or trying to find something in your home town, this guide seems like a great start!

Bravo Design Sponge, you have taken the pressure off me! This would have been alot of work, so I left it up to Eloise!

Enjoy the link, and better yet, Enjoy Edinburgh!

erin x this link

Click Here for your Edinburgh City Guide by Eloise Leeson For D*S

Seeing Spots

Spring time in and a 'round' Edinburgh...

Arthur's Seat around the time of our Gorse gathering

Loch on Queen's Drive encircling Arthur's seat

Quite near the palace.
The Queen own all the swans in the UK. Fact

Morning view. Around the time I wake up

Harry Potter was here. Alnwick, around February

Royal Mile from Princes Street. Sunny spot

Crocuses in the Meadows, where the circle
of friends meet

Enjoy these pictures of Scotland's Capital, while I prepare to tell you about my travels to Pitlochry.

Cup of Tea Tuesday-Don't Think, Just Shoot

*Disclaimer-Please don't stop thinking, and please don't start shooting anything that is not a camera*

They don't seen to have a good Samaritan act in Scotland

In a day where digital cameras have been reduced to pennies and everyone seems to have one right down to your grandgparents, this exhibition is a celebration of lo-fi photography by local Edinburgh artists and lovers of analogue cameras alike.

With its unique outcomes for photos, including light leaks, lo-fi graininess, unpredictable blurs, moody vignettes and magical blend of saturation and contrast, Lomograohy is easy to love, for the professional and the novice alike. Originally produced in Russia, circa 1982, and rediscovered by Austrian students in the 90's, Lomography is a throwback to the days of film cameras and processing with a shout out to do-it-yourself-ers, grass roots photographers and collectors of super trendy toy cameras. Now a world-wide revolution, the lomo camera has etched a place in our hearts as well as hipter history, due much in fact to the popularity of its highly addictive online store and cult-like following.

Hidden in the stacks of the Art department of the Central library is an ode to the original Soviet-made camera that started the Lomography revolution. I had to hunt for this exhibit, which I must admit was half the fun. I first made what I imagine is a common mistake, and went to the library confusingly/conveniently located across the street. Next it was a series of winding staircases and side doors to the Fine Art area of the library. Then with hushed voices, we awkwardly wove in amongst a full library of students, trying to appreciate the art while not disturbing the researchers. Absolutely worth the effort! What a wonderful find this activity was, and it lent itself perfectly to my own effort to capture Edinburgh in all its lo-fi glory, not to mention it was free!

Inspired by the exhibition, these are my lomo-ish contributions taken digitally on my trusty cellphone while using the brilliant Vignette app to allow me to pose as an analogue user. Lo-fi meets high-tech? Probably a bit sacrilegious I imagine for Analogue aficionados, but a fine result, and a testament to the fact that Lomography has become a cultural institution.

These rules define Lomography's philosophy and approach towards photography. Recite them, or break all the rules – whichever way, be ready to throw all your inhibitions about photography to the wind!

1. Take your camera everywhere you go
2. Use it any time – day and night
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it
4. Try the shot from the hip
5. Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible
6. Don't think (William Firebrace)
7. Be fast
8. You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film
9. Afterwards either
10. Don't worry about any rules

If you like photography, Edinburgh, supporting local artists, Lomography, free things or all of the above, this exhibit is a sound investment for your afternoon art fix.

For more Photos of Edinburgh NOT by me for a change, try these links:

Lomocations

The pictures that come up when you type 'Edinburgh' into the Lomography website search bar

The Lomo Magazine update about the Edinburgh Exhibit

Or if you want to join the Edinburgh Lo-fi Photography group who are the fine folks who put on this show

One might say Edinburgh is my muse lately, lets see what happens when I apply the 'Lomo-Rules to live by'

Cup of Tea Tuesdays-Wednesday Edition

This artist is just my cup of tea!

I feel a kindred spirit with Nigel Peake, an Irish Architect who "grew up in the middle of nowhere" and is currently based in Edinburgh at the School of Architecture here.

His newest book In the Wilds 'chose me'.

I had gone down to a favourite shop of mine at 39 Candlemaker Row, Analogue Books, which has recently moved from its home of ten years on historic Victoria street. It is neraly impossible to walk out of Analogue empty handed as it is the kind of store it seems they have stocked just for you. I remember feeling so low this winter that I shook the shop girl (the owner one in the same) had insisting the store was a sanctuary that transported me back to Main st. where I had felt most at home.

Upon flipping to a random page, I was already certain this book would be coming home with me-I needn't see more. It is a rare and special happening when a book speaks so strongly to your senses and sensibilities such as this one did to me that day. Nature in a form I had never seem it take. I connected with the clean white pages, and linear nature scenes. Over 100 pages of hand drawn interpretations of rural life in pencil, ink and shades of pastel watercolour.

Peake created this collection by memory; his muse was three months in the Irish countryside the winter of 2009.

Everything in his book seems so familial to me-the fields, the pine cones, the cross-sections of timber, the rustic structures, the jumble he titles 'The corner of the yard'. This book is everything I miss about the way of life of my youth. It makes me want to call my Dad in Canada, it makes me want to meet this Nigel Peake person.

His other subjects/books have included Sheds, Maps and Strom-inspired by a week in a cabin in Norway.

One can purchase his lovely little book on his website www.nigelpeake.com or check out his blog, which happens to be a little less wordy than mine!

I leave with this,

"I cannot identify the name of every bird song, type of tree, or field condition,

but I do have an appreciation and the inherent joy

of the things around me." Nigel Peake

edinburgh x erin

Take heed

What I do with Myself

Today I donned my toque and my gumboots (translation: knitted hat and wellies) and went out into Edinburgh ready for rain. One might notice I did not mention an umbrella, and you would be correct, but this is an intentional choice. Don't be tempted to bring your favourite, fashionable brellie to Edinburgh, or it will end up in a tangled mess, much like your hair after being to the Burgh. Umbrella carnage isn't worth the risk, and besides, Edinburgh rain does not fall down but rather sideways so you might as well either resign to getting soaked or save your pennies (pences?) for a good Gor-Tex and get on with your day.

In an effort to not carry a cumbersome purse, I stuffed a couple cameras in my pockets along with a tiny notebook to record my adventures and a green pen that is made out of corn and comes with a dandy little calendar that rolls out at my convenience. I separated my keys from the keyring because I take 'packing light' seriously and started off down the street.

I didn't make it far, but that was all part of my plan. I went into a Second hand book store (aka charity book shop) that had a window display featuring Scottish authors. At one point I looked outside and noticed it had rained, but when? And that is when I realized I had spent the good part of an hour rummaging at the front of the store, oblivious to, well, apparently weather and probably everything else as well.

One side of the Scottish Section of this Bookshop

I found so many treasures including a box of old postcards from the war, a classics section, and a bin of leaflets donated by Historic Scotland-filled with black and white ariel photos of my Scottish surroundings.

I spent an enjoyable hour of my life and nine pounds in the book shop, and then when I went home I found out all the money is donated to children's charity!

My book booty

This seems a good day to indulge you in a literary link. This Bookshop Guide is like a treasure map to me, and will provide you with...maps of many book -pushers, but also bookshop details as well as reviews from fine citizens such as myself. It can be your guide to great afternoons spent in bookshops here in Edinburgh or all over Scotland!

Because you should get lost in a book, not in a new city!

It rained three more times today, sandwiched between spurts of warmish sun, contrasted with the constant presence of that oh-so-reliable Edinburgh wind. I took pictures all morning and popped into interesting shops to wait out the rain when need be, all the while my once faithful umbrella got to rest in my handbag at home.

edinburgh x erin

Hello! This is where personal blog meets travel guide!

Whether you are in Edinburgh on exchange, here on holiday or just passing through, chances are you may need some Pounds to fill your purse at some point.

This is a wee map to help you find the locations around Edinburgh where you can exchange you currency!

But what on earth is the best rate right now?

This happens to be a link to the current exchange rates! How handy, a currency converter at your convenience.

I hope this will be helpful to you while you tour Scotland's capital looking for places to spend your loot. If you do choose to exchange your money in Scotland you may receive either Pounds printed from Scottish banks or English notes. Both options spend the same, but you might get some strange looks if you bring your Scottish money into England. Cashiers have to accept it on account of it being legal tender, but you might get some suspicious looks none the less.

No1 Currency

www.no1currency.com - 11 Glenfinlas Street, Edinburgh - 0800 953 0221

International Currency Exchange

www.iceplc.com - Waverley Station, Edinburgh - 0131 558 1387

No1 Currency

www.no1currency.com - 207 High Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian - 0131 220 0080

Enjoy your weekend and come visit soon!

edinbugh x erin

A tale of one city

You are Here! Well, in actual fact, I am here! I am Erin and I now live in Edinburgh! That's the story. This tale, via blog, was created in an effort to expose all my curious companions back in Canada to my new surroundings in idyllic Scotland. My perceptions of the countries capital are a bit of a hybrid as I am no longer a tourist yet not legally a resident either, I am however a citizen! Put that in your pipe!

So please enjoy my adventures/misadventures as I navigate through what appears to be a similar society, but sometime feels like an entirely different world!

erin x edinburgh