Breaking news

It is a dark, February day for Broughton's lovers of macaroons.

Bérangère and Thomas Bruno – the husband-and-wife team behind London Street's The French Fancies – have shut up shop for the last time. Spurtle understands that the couple – originally from Lyon –  may be heading for New Zealand or possibly anywhere else with a climate warmer than Edinburgh's.

On their Facebook page, the following short, upbeat message appeared yesterday:

That's it! We have handed the Key today ... We have a lovely lovely time working there!

Walking through the Botanics yesterday, writes reader John MacDonald,  I noticed that while some plants are still cowering from the frost and past soakings of rain, it was uplifting to see the full display in bloom within the old alpine glasshouse. 

Meanwhile the new, grand, contemporary-styled alpine house takes shape a few metres away [Breaking news, 13.11.12].

One of the things most people in Broughton like best about living or working here is its diversity. How appropriate, then, that one of this area's main powerhouses will host a Celebration of Languages and Cultures this Saturday.

Scots, English, Welsh, Mandarin, Arabic, Italian, Polish, Punjabi, Spanish, Hindu, Urdu and French are just some of the languages regularly spoken at Drummond Community High School – a wonderfully creative and educating mix right at the heart of the neighbourhood.

Although approaching the end of their stores, pears can still readily be found in shops in the UK in February and March. 

This tart is great served warm on a winter’s night with a large scoop of ice cream while sat in front of the fire.  

Preparation time 10 minutes; baking time 1 hour in total

Ingredients

1 pack ready-made shortcrust sweet pastry (375g) or a ready-made sweet pastry case

75g butter

75g caster sugar

75g ground almonds

A handbill posted to railings by the Water of Leith in flood-prone Canonmills invites members of the public to take part in a focus group to discuss 'flood impacts, flood-related insurance problems and property-level flood protection'.

Participants are being offered £15 shopping vouchers for their involvement in the session, which will take place at Stockbridge Library on 26 February, from 2pm–3pm.

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.