What a shock. Turning up to Howies Victoria Street one non balmy morning to find it completely obscured by scaffolding. A deep sinking feeling. The entire city has been  battered, dug, drilled, bouldered and left like a warzone due to the trams but it doesn't stop there. Of course being in a medieval part of Edinburgh the startlingly old and beautiful buildings need to looked after carefully or great slabs of stone could plummet to the ground. So fair enough. Alas it hardly made our frontage an attractive proposition. So what to do.

We asked for a meeting with the Council to discuss a plan. We had to have one. We have just lived through the horrible winter weather hoping the sunny summer months with the influx of tourists is just round the corner and what keeps the city whizzing along. So a guy called Gavin from the Council came, he saw and I know this may surprise you but he conquered our problem by agreeing we could paint the exterior of the scaffolding our Howies colour and then we hung a sign so as you can see it now looks like we are in there  and not just an anonymous  black  hole. So far it has attracted people and we know its because you have supported us so thank you. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of our scaffolding pole.

Edinburgh Council do get it in the neck a lot. But as they say credit where credit is due.

Oh and Edinburgh Film Festival is just around the corner and as last year Howies are supporting it so keep your eyes peeled is that really Brad Pitt having some Cullen Skink? you just never know......