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Last night’s General Election hustings event was a well-attended, quiet and rather bloodless affair. 

Around 150 people filled St Mary’s Parish Church on Bellevue Crescent to hear seven candidates answer un-preselected questions by constituency voters from the floor. 

For the most part they answered without difficulty or personal rancour, and within heartbeats of their allotted 90-second spans. We gained few insights into what they might be like under pressure.

A new, funded scheme for the old Royal High School (RHS) on Regent Road is waiting in the wings.

Sources in the know tell us that St Mary’s Music School (SMMS), which has sought to expand for some time, will come forward with proposals soon. 

In outline, their idea is to set up a trust to buy the property, which would then lease it back to SMMS for educational purposes.

We’ve all heard of guerrilla gardeners. 

Now, though, there’s a new unorthodox horticulturalist in town: the vigilante devegetator. 

Spurtle has received photos of signs now adorning the Goldenacre Path between the Water of Leith and Five Ways Junction. 

They point out the devastating effect on native invertebrates of invasive species, and point the finger in particular at Himalayan Balsam. 

John Lewis seeks planning permission for changes that will allow the shop to keep trading while the St James Quarter is developed around and below it (Ref. 15/01659/FUL). 

The proposals are for:

Little Bo-Peep is no more. 

The recent arrival who appeared at the end of Bellevue Place just before Easter was trashed by vandals last night.

We hope they felt sheepish when they sobered up in the morning. 

Her companion, Humpty Dumpty, went missing in the same attack. 

'So upsetting for the passing children,' says local Granny (Christina) Thomson.

She is the green-fingered nearby resident responsible for this display

As you step through the doors of The Sutton Gallery this month, you can almost hear the waves crashing against the rocks and feel the soft sand between your toes. 

This is the effect that Julia McNairn White’s collection of stunning seascapes has, and it’s very immediate. She transports us to North Berwick and makes us wish we didn’t have to leave. 

DAVID HILL EXPERIENCES THE NORTHERN FANLIGHTS 

Have you ever been to the New Town's distant northern shore, where the rooftop permafrost combines with neck-top iciness to produce a chill homage to Nordic misère? 

In 1874, the Icelandic national anthem was written and composed in this EH3 boreal zone, in the place still known back then as London Street. 

With the sad clarity of hindsight, we understand how this innocuous beginning, this dipping of toes into glacial waters, all too quickly became a Scandi-deluge. 

After considerable to-ing and fro-ing, revised plans have been approved to build new housing at 29 Beaverbank Place (Ref. 13/03575/FUL). 

A total of 41 flats in two blocks will result (27 two-bedroom, 14 one-bedroom), along with new pedestrian and car access (13 parking spaces), with open space (3 private gardens), and a new footway connecting to the play park on Broughton Road. 

RHYS FULLERTON ON CLAUDE MONET'S HAYSTACKS: SNOW EFFECT

I admit that this painting is not Monet’s greatest, writes Rhys Fullerton. I agree that it’s not one of the best works in the National Gallery of Scotland’s collection.

I’ll concede that even within the Impressionism section, where this painting sits, there are other works that are more skilfully executed and more attractive in colour.  

So why is this one my favourite?

The keenly  awaited results of the Council’s much anticipated ballot on the widely loathed gull-proof waste sacks on London Street have been announced.