St Andrew's Day

It is St Andrew's Day today and the saltire flew boldly on top of the Balmoral Hotel, forever known to Edinburgh bus pass holders (and blipper Wildwood in California !), as the NB, short for the North British Hotel. It is a behemoth of an edifice, guarding the east end of Princes Street with its overpowering presence.

It has been a surprisingly quick turnabout in that main thoroughfare from the solemnity of the Remembrance Day's Garden of poppies to today's garish collection of Christmas* Wonderland booths and fun installations attracting the masses of be-scarved, bobble hatted visitors in down jackets with bags of gifts hanging from all their cold fingers.
The coffers of Edinburgh 'toon cooncil' must be filling up nicely. I suppose it is too much to ask that some of the cash accrued is used wisely.

*I haven't checked if the word 'Christmas' is actually used. So hard are we Brits trying to be all inclusive, it is possibly called 'Winter'......... but probably best if I don't go down that path...............