It was much colder than of late, requiring use of hat and gloves, though brightened up later.

Took a walk down to the Braid Burn and upstream on the path alongside, not usually the most interesting of ways, but it did provide a few notes of interest. There were ladies smock in flower near the cistern house, patches of marsh marigold in the pond (correctly called a Sustainable Urban Retention System, or SUDS, pond) and, all along the burn, white butterbur, still thriving there.

By Colinton Mains Park we stood watching this wren singing his heart out, so engrossed was he that he allowed several photos - another appears in the collage of the extra, showing his ruffled throat mid-song.


Reaching the end of the path by Firrhill we returned by Trixie's secret path, which runs south of the old City Hospital, through woodland and open ground, and through the new housing, pointing out the building where I used to work and the changes made since we left.

S brought another couple of bags of shopping, which included a gift of Easter Eggs and a lovely card written by the Flumlet, so lovely to have a live chat even from the doorstep and for the short time available.