Thawing

The all pervading sound of the day was the drip, drip, drip as the temperature and sun did their work on the snowy roof tops and the icicles hanging from gutters.

There were some truly lethal looking roof snow slides with their fringe of giant icicles surrounding the Dower House.

The powers that be had actually pinned a notice to the main entrance warning people to exit with care lest they were impaled on the snow by any of the monsters falling. But in the event all they did was drip, drip, drip endlessly, shrinking to obscurity while showering unsuspecting passers by underneath.

The snow was less lovely today and apart from the banks of the cleared stuff in the gutters, in the city centre it was business as usual with the German Christmas Market busy and the fun activities in Princes Street gardens thronged.

No time to tarry though. We have my friend of the many talents and her artist partner coming for dinner tonight. Lentil soup, vegetable lasagne, winter fruit crumble followed by oatcakes and cheese, since you ask. Oh, and his Lordship has opened his very best bottle of red wine for the occasion- such an honour though I don't think one bottle will be nearly enough.

While I blip I notice the beautiful sunset- a deep, darkening, bruised sky fading in the west to a pale clear duck egg blue. I hope some one blips it.