Gladstone and frocks

Any idea where this is?

The forecast for our coast today was dire, so we headed inland. Having used the East Coast Railway so often over the years in order to go south from Darlington to London, we sometimes wondered what the northern bit of the journey was like. Today we found out. We took the train from Alnmouth to Edinburgh. (And boy was it freezing waiting on the platform this morning.) A great journey, following the coast for much of the way.
 
A taxi to the National Gallery of Modern Art and we were at the door waiting for it to open at 10am. At last I got to see the Joan Eardley exhibition. Excellent it was too – we both really enjoyed it. We then got the gallery bus to the Portrait Gallery and from there to lunch at Fishers in the City. As long time fans of Fishers at Leith, this was our first visit to this branch. And we were not disappointed. It was fabulous – a super lunch.
   
A wander along Princes Street, revelling in how quiet it all was. And that’s where the blip came in. I love finding, in a place I think I know well, something new. 

Still wondering?

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The Library Room at Debenhams. Go through the Womenswear department in Debenhams on Princes Street, follow the sign saying Library Room and there are the ornate book shelves, the Victorian fireplace and the marble bust of William Gladstone. He doesn’t look to be very happy placed amongst the racks of dresses. However, the stained glass window dedicated to his great political rival Benjamin Disraeli is currently in a more bizarre juxtaposition. (see extra) The reason for this incongruity is that the building now used by Debenhams was once two buildings next to each other – the Liberal and Conservative Clubs – odd neighbours!