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'My pictures have no hidden meaning. To understand, all you have to do is look.'

So writes John McLean in the disarmingly clear, five-sentence catalogue description of his paintings at the Union Gallery this month.

Zonal Retail Data Systems (ZRDS) seek planning permission at 14–16 Union Street (Refs 12/02591/FUL; 12/02598/LBC; 12/02599/CON) to demolish an existing 2-storey structure and to construct a 'new traditional' 3.5-storey office development in its place (see artist's impression right).

I would like to say that I’ve been able to keep my cool and my distance from the Olympic fever that’s invaded the country, but who am I kidding?

After a spectacular weekend for Team GB last weekend, I’ve been feeling inspired. A red, white and blue recipe was therefore inevitable. Hopefully, you’ll think it’s worthy of a medal.

This version of a roulade is made with a meringue base so it should be as light as air.

Villeneuve's manager Carrie Pruitt Bond is disarmingly modest about her design for the wineshop's A-board on Broughton Street.

'It was a spur of the moment thing,' she says, looking surprised that anyone should bother to tell her they like it.

Spur of the moment? Spurtle begs to differ. We think it suggests forethought, effort and considerable artistry (whatever the stick people may say).

Send us your favourite examples of Broughton's welcome pavement clutter, and a few words explaining why.

Monday night's emergency session of the New Town and Broughton Community Council to discuss York Place tram works diversions suggests that the tram team has learned lessons about presentation from the last meeting (Breaking news, 3.7.12), writes David Sterratt.

'Holiday' is a term that exists in every man's mind, writes Felix Kimathi, a former pupil at Drummond CHS's partner Muthambi Boys' School in Kenya. Many dream of a day when they will celebrate it in the best place ever.

If Spurtle's distribution were an Olympic event, it would be the 3,000m steeplechase: frequent, apparently insuperable challenges interspersed by bouts of exhaustion and occasional soakings.

City of Edinburgh Council's Finance and Resources Committee will next week consider approving a £5.5m Leith Improvement Programme (LIP) for north Edinburgh streets.

On Tuesday 31 July, councillors will examine LIP's scheme of:

Local Scouts from Broughton and Greenside recently camped together at the Blair Atholl International Patrol Jamborette – the premier Scottish Scout camp, hosting over 1,500 Scouts from 20 nations in the beautiful grounds of Blair Castle.

Scouts from the 11th Troop (based in St Mary's Primary School) and the 154th Troop (based at Greenside Church Hall) camped together at the weekend satellite camp, joining six members from both troops who were representing Leith District at the two-week event.

New plans are in the offing for empty and increasingly derelict-looking properties at 1–5 Baxter's Place (Issue 203).

Dublin-based Trendy Celt Limited proposes changing the buildings' use to a licensed hotel (Class 7); and from a former cinema (at No. 5) to retail (Class 1). They also propose knocking down a structure at 2 Greenside Lane to build further hotel accommodation and related facilities, and to create access and car parking.