Vigil

D left early for the island as usual, a couple of hours before I identified a small immersion heater crisis. Spent a while trying to locate an electrician (rang the last one who'd done some minor repair work for us to discover that he's been retired for four years!).

Went round to the Gurdwara (Sikh temple) at 17:30 for an hour's vigil, to show solidarity with the Sikhs after the place was firebombed early on Tuesday morning (you can see the marks on the door). Turns out that the suspect has also been charged with firebombing the, er, Methodist Chapel round the corner. Huh? Anyway, about 400 Leithers and visitors who felt differently from him all turned up and listened to a series of speeches, from assorted politicians, various religious types and several of the local Sikhs. Apparently the Sikhs were a little uncomfortable with us all turning up so soon after the event, because they still couldn't open their front door and felt awkward they couldn't offer us the usual variety of delicious food. (They were still serving out soup at the side door - can't help themselves!)

Strange to see that sign saying "Migrants and refugees welcome here" - of course they are, but the Sikhs have been well established in Leith for approx four generations - they've been here longer than most of us!

Thanks to Trev for taking the photo for me - with his extra height and long arms he was able to get a shot over the crowd. Think this was our MSP Ben Macpherson speaking - I didn't get a glimpse of any of the speakers the whole way through!