The Cowan Institute.

One feature missing from the Blip, and indeed, the building, is its name, “The Cowan Institute.” It was carved into the stonework beneath the balcony but removed in 1975 when the building was taken over under local government reorganisation.

It was intended to be another of my pictures for postcards but – I've only just got around to measuring a card and the aspect ratio needs to be three by two. A lot of my pictures, like this one, are four by three and this one couldn't possibly be cropped to fit. The task would be much easier if it weren't for the tower carrying the clock (a copy of the one on the Canongate Tollbooth) which, just to rub salt into the wound, is surmounted by the iconic remnant of a weather cock. If the cock itself was still in place, it would be able to tell you if the wind was from either the north or south, but it would be well and truly buggered if there were an easterly or a westerly blowing.

I shall just have to find a different viewpoint and retake it, but then I had always planned on returning for an early morning sortie to get the best light, though, knowing my luck, there would just mean a cooler sort of rain than we're currently experiencing.