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Just started at the Collective Gallery on Calton Hill is Beatrice Gibson’s oddly compelling Crippled Symmetries.

The exhibition comprises two short films, both of about 15 minutes’ duration, and both inspired by JR, the 1975 modernist novel by US writer William Gaddis.

‘Solo for Rich Man’ begins with an 11-year-old boy being invited by a middle-aged man (the ‘Composer’) to count money. To the rustle of notes and the jangle of tumbling change, the scene becomes more and more frenetic.

City of Edinburgh councillors today neither turned down nor consented an application to demolish the quaint 1830s building at 1–6 Canonmills Bridge (Ref. 15/01786/CON).

Instead, they voted for a hearing to be held at the next meeting of the Development Management Sub-committee on 26 August.

Officials had earlier submitted a report in favour of demolition to councillors. It read:

Dalkeith-based Cipher Games Ltd has applied for permission to convert office space at the Category C-listed 3 Queen Street into an ‘Entertainment facility’ (Ref. 15/03421/LBC). 

The nature of the entertainment is not clear, but plans reveal three Game Zones of three rooms each on the ground and basement floors.

There are many good reasons to respect a war memorial.

For example, to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the service of a high ideal. Or to mark the tragedy of war, and the failure of civilised discussion and compromise as a way to resolve differences.

Similarly, there are occasionally reasons not to respect war memorials. When, for example they appear to celebrate rather than abhor conflict. Or when they stand more as monuments to the vanity of leaders than to the suffering of citizens.

The Central Edinburgh New Town Association held its 'Annual Garden Party & Big Picnic' in Queen Street Gardens West this afternoon. Spurtle ventured along, hoping to witness something a bit out of the ordinary. 

'Think Ascot,' the event's organisers had advised, 'but think hats rather than horses. Think Henley, heavenly without all that water!'

We have no idea what Spey Street is like now for local residents at night. But roughly 200 years ago it was a source of huge frustration for one of the 19th century’s most influential and ill-tempered literary figures. 

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) – essayist, philosopher, historian and sociologist –  lived here in lodgings at No. 2 from 1822–24, although at that time it was known as Moray Street. 

Fresh plans have been submitted for the site at 1–6 Canonmills Bridge (Ref. 15/02927/FUL). 

It is very exciting to see Botanic Cottage, once semi-derelict on Haddington Place, now emerging restored, extended and improved in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

As part of its painstaking reconstruction, the walls on either side of the former Leith Walk frontage have been rebuilt.

Above the gate on today's west side, an original memorial plaque to an early principal gardener (PG) – John Williamson – has recently been returned. (It was removed from its original site when the Garden transferred to Inverleith in 1823 leaving Botanic Cottage behind.)

Vivat Trust Ltd, the charity which has let out Calton Hill’s Old Observatory House to visitors since 2009, has ceased trading.

The development came in the last couple of weeks, after a year of poor results and funding difficulties. Directors at the charity had been looking for a ‘white knight’, but when none emerged they conceded that the business had become unviable. It will shortly be placed in liquidation.

Here is a harmless brainteaser to liven up your drizzly Sunday. 

Where in Spurtleshire can you find, on the same street, the following individuals?

An investigative US lawyer

Edward from The Wicker Man

A wartime British leader

Norman Stanley Fletcher’s twitchy porridge stirrer