Of mice and women

After a first-thing-but-not-quite visit from the door installer to check some snagging, it was too late to cycle into town for coffee and a bun with bikey friends, so I cycled into town anyway because today is Phriday and I wanted to check out a red telephone box I'd spotted on Streetview.  And on arriving… – alack! alas! – it had gone completely.  It must have been taken away only this or late last year.

So what's a gal to to?  I rode down and around Calton Hill and up the far side, looking for the tiny mosaic in my photo.  There are apparently seven mosaics in this series, in and around the Old Town and New Town.  It took me some time to find this one because it wasn't (quite) where I expected!  The artist, Helen Miles, runs mosaic-making classes in town, too.  I took in the heady Edinborian air from the top of Calton Hill for a time and had a bite to eat.

Then it was across town a little bit to look for a Secret Santa present for a work colleague, so I visited my usual lucky shop and spent absolutely ages trying to find something that would do.  I managed to get another Christmas present while I was there, so that was time well spent.

After trying to use a shortcut under the Sheraton hotel and forgetting where I needed to go, I ended up back on the main road.  That was ok, at least roads generally go where you need them.  Through the Meadows, then, and to Alpkit to try on some clothes.  I was slightly tempted, but I would expect better bargains for "Black Friday".  Mirabel the Green Bike got lots of love though from the shop staff!

By this time I had forgotten all about getting Christmas cards from the church at the west end.  So homeward bound I went, but for a change going out to Craigmillar, over the hill past the castle, down past the infirmary and up through Little France Park where I had another bite to eat before spinning down through Danderhall and picking up the railway path homewards.

But not quite: after nipping into Asda for some crusty bread there was a commotion on the main road with a traffic jam and much blaring of car horns.  Then a Police motorbike sped past, heading towards town.  Then there was another motorbike, and another, all horning like mad.  Finally we had the convoy: a police car, two dark grey people carriers with dark glass, another police car and another police motorbike!  Whoever was inside, they were pretty important.

And then it was time to go home, for a hot shower and tea.