Breaking news

This exquisite painting is one of the centrepieces in Union Gallery’s May exhibition of mainly watercolour paintings by Edinburgh-based artist Jenny Matthews (Extras 1.5.10).

Burung Jawa (meaning Javanese bird) was influenced by the artist’s four-year domicile in Indonesia, and features some of her collection of Indonesian fabrics.

Her trademark flower pieces are inspired by her Edinburgh College of Art teacher Elizabeth Blackadder, and her contemplative wanderings in the Highlands. Collectors of Jenny’s work include the novelist Ian Rankin.

A local source informs Spurtle of 'yet another' crime in Broughton.

On Eildon Street, a resident recently left a garden door open for a few minutes. Someone came in, took her handbag, wallet, diary and keys. They later returned and tried the keys in the frontdoor, but were disturbed. They came back for a third try, but this time the residents were waiting and got a good description of the thief for the police.

The mostly unloved ruin at the end of Bellevue Road has finally gone.

However, as reported in Breaking news (4.5.10), the building's demolition leaves a bitter-sweet gap in this part of Broughton's rough-and-ready architectural toothscape.

Broughton Primary School (pictured in the background, right) now proposes to cultivate the site, but Spurtle will cover 'highly controversial' counter-proposals in Issue 183.

The rare sight of a blooming 'White Dove tree' (Davidia involucrata) has attracted knowledgeable local enthusiasts' attention in the Royal Botanic Garden.

This particular specimen – spotted and photographed for Spurtle by Nina Vivanco – is situated at the eastern end, immediately before and to the left of the 2002 bridge over a stream feeding into the pond.

The tree is a native of Central and Western China. Its name stems from the conspicuous white bracts around the flower head which, when fluttering in the wind, could optimistically be said to resemble a dove.

Calum Cashley – the 4th-placed, SNP candidate in the General Election – today contacted Spurtle with his reaction.

'I won! By far the best description from the Spurtle hustings – "Suited and tied, like a bear at a wedding"!

'I congratulate Mark Lazarowicz on his victory, and most candidates on fighting a clean campaign. I was disappointed to see the Lib Dem campaign telling lies about others – especially the lie about Mark being involved in the MPs' expenses scandal when he had actually been cleared. Anyone that desperate to be elected shouldn't be trusted with our votes.

Spurtle today received the 23 April response of the New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) to Hackland & Dore's pre-planning application notification for 130 McDonald Rd. Readers can see it in the pdf below.

Both NTBCC and Leith Central Community Council (LCCC) were consulted over the potential development at their mutual border. But at this stage, NTBCC have opted to respond in greater detail. Whilst expressing admiration for some aspects of the proposal (it is the best seen for the site so far), NTBCC's Planning Convenor John Knight expresses reservations over:

Sceptics have been casting doubt in recent weeks on John Lewis’s ability to stay open during dismantlement of  New St Andrew’s House next year. They have argued that even if conventional noise  and disruption caused by the project did not force temporary closure, the risk of exposing the public to airborne asbestos surely would.

In May 2009, Abercromby Place, Heriot Row and Nelson St doubled as 1960s London during filming of the French espionage caper Imogène McCarthery (see Issue 172).

The movie was released earlier this month in France, and now promotional clips are online at www.youtube.com. Blink and you’ll miss it, but Abercromby Place is definitely there (as is William Street). Old College, Neidpath Castle and the road to Talla reservoir also feature.

John Hein, the Liberal candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, who came sixth in last week's General Election, contacted Spurtle today with characteristic outspokenness.

'I'd like to thank those who voted for me. However, the electors of Edinburgh North and Leith now clearly have the MP they deserve!

'Liberals and Liberal and Radical Associations have always been locked in battle with a Tory Party representing privilege, wealth and elitist authority – since before 1857 and the formation of The
National Liberal Federation.

Keen to attract custom from all quarters of the carnivorous electorate, Crombie's of Broughton Street have been marketing their delicious-sounding 'Scottish Election Sausage'.

Gone now, alas, but Spurtle relishes the prospect of a Coalition Haggis: broken pledges, minced aspirations, unpalatable cuts and normally unthinkable compromises, all wrapped in the stomach of national interest.

Bon appetit!