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An otherwise prosaic kerbside advisory sign in Hopetoun Street has an unofficial addition.

The slightly jaundiced expression of the subject suggests that he is no more impressed or excited by residents' parking permits than the rest of us.

But who is he? Where is he from? And what was the artist's original intention?

Since Spurtle began featuring curious street-art on Broughton's streets, and requesting more information from the creatives responsible, we have never got anywhere.

If you need to know, it seems, you are most unlikely to find out.

It may only be February, but surely Spring (or a padded cell) cannot be far away when even the cars start making eyes at you.

This green Citroën was spotted in Abercromby Place on Sunday afternoon. 

It watched the original Spurtle informant all the way across the road, allegedly giggled as he passed, and then pretended to be looking the other way when he turned round for a second look. 

As anyone who has ever massaged an owl will tell you, these mysterious yet seemingly approachable creatures embody an illusion. Where there appears to be strength and silent muscle, there is in fact hardly anything but empty feathers.

What's true of owls is true of all birds, and this intriguing disparity between appearance and reality, substance and absence, has long intrigued artists who themselves grapple with form and the problems of winging it to create likenesses out of thin air.

Following yesterday's shock announcement of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, much speculation surrounds the reasons behind the decision and his likely plans for the future.

A secret, local, totally unreliable source tells Spurtle the true cause has less to do with the infirmities of old age and more to do with caffeine cravings. 

It goes even further, suggesting that the soon-to-be Bishop Emeritus of Rome may not take up exclusive residence within a Vatican monastery, but could in fact be planning a visit to Broughton Street.

Spurtle readers may have noticed a shortage of posts on this website over the last fortnight. Some have even begun to express fears that we have sunk without trace. 

The truth is a little more complicated.

We have been variously: enjoying a technical upgrade; experiencing wonky eyeballs; wallowing in something akin to plague only worse.

Fortunately, we can now begin to see light at the end of the tunnel. Normal service should resume soon.

Planning permission is sought to convert the former Rufflander Safety shop into a two-bedroom ground-and-basement-level dwelling at 89 Broughton Road (Ref. 13/00247/FUL).

Congratulations to Marion McLeod, who was born in 1913 and has just celebrated her 100th birthday! writes Leitham Park Care Home's Alison Cavender.

Born into a rural community in the far north of Scotland, Marion grew up fluent in both Gaelic and English. She worked in a baker's shop for many years and, although a quiet lassie, was popular with the customers. 

Sadly,  her marriage was short-lived as her husband was killed in World War II.

Last month we featured local David Watt's article on the unruly Rodney Street triangle – a tangled and overgrown 'dumping ground' crying out for some attention (Issue 214).

Watt suggested retaining the central tree and inserting a bench, or, alternatively, using the space to store the wheelie bins which currently block pavements hereabouts.

In the month which saw high-street stalwart HMV plunge into administration, Broughton is lucky to retain perhaps the finest of Edinburgh’s few surviving independent music retailers: Vinyl Villains on Elm Row.

VV has been buying and selling since 1983 and, according to founder Adam Waters, owes its occasionally precarious continuance to people 'with a discerning taste in music, who refuse to be brainwashed into accepting the regurgitated gunge that passes for culture today’.

One Caitlin Thomson has applied for planning permission to position 2 'original' Edinburgh police boxes on north-central Edinburgh pavements. Both would serve as coffee kiosks.