St Andrews square at the East End of George Street has an impressive monument to the first Viscount Melville

The square recently tarted up and opened to the public (previously it was reserved for the residents of the square and sundry "key holders") and home to a camp of Economic protesters until a few weeks ago is a pedestrian shortcut from Jenners to Harvey Nichols, so a true thoroughfare for commerce. Interesting then that Lord Melville opposed the abolition of slavery for economic reasons. Needless to say he was a Tory.

Just to the East is the former headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland, The Big Hoose, we used to call it, when we were summonsed by our bankers to discuss the overdraft. its official name is Dundas House.

On this bright but cold day, it was interesting to see that one of the imperial eagles at the base of the column had come out, and was wearing a fetching pink cravat to prove it.