Ross Fountain update

No swimming this morning. I couldn't be fagged. I seemed to be developing a cold and didn't want to risk it. The cold has not amounted to much - just sneezing lots, which is fun.

Popped into town for my long awaited meeting with the Man in Charge of Fountains. Very nice chap he was too. And no, he did not think I was interfering old busybody - he appreciates residents taking an interest in their city, and he wished more people would complain.

I discovered a bit of the city I'd never been to before, where they house the museums collection. Not the National Museums collection, but all the other, Council run ( ie strapped for cash) museums. He does tours of the collection which would be very interesting.

He's passionate about the Ross Fountain. It's one of the best cast iron structures in Europe. And he knows his fountains. Basically, it's suffered from years of neglect, with a few 'patch up' operations now and again. But things are seriously wrong. The whole thing is on a lean because when it was flowing, the water just drained away to the surrounding ground, causing subsidence and structural cracking. The foundations are not big/strong enough for the structure, a whole new (modern) pump system needs to be installed. It's one of these things that successive councils have put off because it costs money. And now it costs Big Money. But he's hopeful that at last something will be done. It's crunch time.

Money is wasted on so many daft projects in Edinburgh - I think they should do something right with our rates money. Contact your local councillor, Edinburgh blippers. Imagine that fountain, one of the best in Europe, returned to its former glory. Now that would be something worth spending money on.

These folk walked by and added a bit of interest, apart from the gardener sticking his head in his truck to sniff the cut grass. Poor dog looks a bit grumpy. Is it because the fountain is not founting? Or is it because his ear is stuck in his collar?

Day Two of my diet going well. No Magnums, scones, chocolate, biscuits have passed my lips. This is easy!