Cathie Dunn writes...

I wish all my followers and friends a happy, healthy and successful 2011! :-) We went into the New Year in style - watching the fireworks from Edinburgh Castle. We didn't opt for the street party as I don't fancy myself as a sardine, standing around in the cold, buying overpriced drinks. No, we went on a pub crawl, starting in the West End at The Rutland Bar , then via Castle Terrace up to the Royal Mile to our favourit pub, the Albanach . But as the views from North Bridge last year were nice, we went back down to the west end, and enjoyed the best view we've had on all our Hogmanays in the city - from the Castle Terrace car park. Joining families, tourists and other celebrants, we 'oooh-d' and 'aaah-d' at the colourful display. Excellent decision. We ended back in the first pub, the Rutland Bar, where I danced the hours away until 3am to the sounds of '70s disco & soul. A wonderful night out. My main resolution for the New Year - completing my cur...

Edinburgh’s heaving. Yes, it’s festival time again. The time when clever locals run for the hills. Or Spain. So when better to face the crowds than a sunny if breezy Saturday afternoon in August? Well, our day started well – with a Radio 4 show being recorded at the Pleasance. Nice and light entertainment. Once the show was done, we had to cross the city to get to the place we’d decided to have lunch. Walking along bustling streets, people walked in the middle of the pavement, bumping into us. Some made way, just as we did, walking in line. Others – or rather, most – didn’t. Walking 3 or 4 abreast, chatting and completely ignorant of other pedestrians coming towards them, they obviously expected us to happily jump off the pavement onto the street. No, hon. The pavement doesn’t have a one-way system. So out came the elbow! In extreme cases, I just stopped, making one of them swerve around me. Pokey poke went the elbow. Hellooo!!! Funnily enough I didn’t get any abuse. Just strang...