Smoke, Fire

Saw white smoke, thought 'that's a chimney fire' then the engines arrived at the Grove Street end of Upper Grove Place. Not just a chimney fire; there was brown smoke coming out of the front of the building after a few minutes. Crews in and out for a couple of hours, The ladder truck went up several times, and over once. No sign of anyone hurt, though there was charred furniture and foam cushion material on the street when we walked past later. 

Walked past this, then past the burst water main at the King's Theatre (burst since early morning). Up Causewayside, along Grange Loan, back up the walled paths to Warrender Park Road and down through Bruntsfield. Sheltered briefly from one short heavy shower, kept on through a second one. 

Like everyone else, watching the news reports, and Twitter, and Charlie Stross's blog, as London Bridge, then Operation Unicorn was declared in effect (contingency plans for the monarch dying in Scotland).

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's passing ends an era. For all of us, let's hope both Charles III and his government can step up to the challenges of the new age.