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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 3h

The age old quandry of do I buy 4 x individual tickets for £32.24 or pay a penny extra and get the family ticket that also admits 4. 🤔

Edinbrick lego exhibition ticket prices. £8.06 for a 5-99 year old, or £32.25 for a family ticket that admits 4 x 5-99 year olds

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 23h

Interested to find out from my own auto-slopped AI profile on Google that I'm a representative of @edinburghbug.bsky.social

Google AI text - "Public Advocacy: He is a prominent voice in local active travel and a representative for the Edinburgh Bus Users Group, "

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

Going anywhere nice on your holidays? Yeah, Jewish Totora this year for two weeks.

Caption "this is the west coast of Jewish totora North Uist". instead of "Uibhist a Tuath, North Uist"

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

HELLO MARTIN, IT'S MUCH MORE LIKELY TO MINUTE HER SHOCK HAMMER. (Halo. Madainn mhath. Is mise Morag Nicleoid. Ciamar a tha sibh?" - "Hello, good morning. My name is Morag Mcleod, how are you?")

Hello Martin hello it's much more likely to minute her shock hammer

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

Youtube trying to subtitle an episode of Speaking our Language (a Gaelic language learning show from the 1990s for listeners outwith Scotland) has inevitably spectacularly wrong but also amusing results.

Caption "hello Liana give it her chef ah kobata love connacher fien cleaver" instead of "halo Catriona, ciamar a tha sibh? Tha gu math tapadh leat. Ciamar a tha sibh thein? Gle mhath"

caption "market Danielle had this shot Kirsty in unicum" instead of "seo a mac Neil agus seo Kirsty a nighean agam"

Caption "I guess showing the yeah console this Chuck Fionna and you nothing" instead of "Agus seo agam Domhnall, agus seo Catriona tha nighean agam"

Caption "it's mission more a collage hello all right come on a high shelf" instead of "Is mise Morag Nicleoid, Halo Morag, ciamar a tha sibh?"

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

The Talisman finally got its licence in the October. In 1986 another bar - "Deja Vu" - was opened next door as part of an "Upper Crust" food court (yes, Upper Crust started out as an arm of British Rail Catering). It was literally aimed at a higher social demographic than the Talisman adjacent

Dark and grainy newsprint photo of bar staff lined up behind the counter of a brasserie-style pub interior

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

The Talisman Buffet was opened on 12th August 1974 by British Rail after a £300,000 remodelling. The Bar's opening was delayed because BR had forgotten to apply for a licence. Pictured below is Hugh Gowans, Waverley station manager, in the Talisman

Newsprint photo of a man in a business suit and glasses standing in a low-ceilinged pub with very 1970s decor .The Scotsman. Published Monday, 12 August 1974

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

For those asking, the seats were based on the 1969 "Carousel" by American industrial designer Elsie Crawford and used the very a la mode new material of fibreglass. They pop up online for sale occasionally but we're talking multiple thousands of pounds

Orange plastic "carousel" 6 person fibreglass moulded seat

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

It should be easy to find pictures of the inside of Waverley Station in the 1980s, but it's not because everyone with a camera was pointing it at a train or something. But if you can look past the Deltic "Alycidon" here we can see the welcoming orange plastic canopy of the Talisman Buffet.

Interior of Waverley Station 1980. https://www.flickr.com/photos/126254131@N05/28528142644/ Photo Jeremey Chapter - jc_snapper via Flickr

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 30/09/2026

The 1981 music video for "All About You" by the Scars was filmed partly in Waverley Station, in all its orange plastic glory. I do have to correct myself though, it was called the Talisman Bar at that time - it was Nor'Loch later on.

4 dapper looking guys in a post punk band performing on a luggage trolley on the platform at the east end of Waverley station in 1981. Scars - All About You.

The Scars strut past a red plastic chair, a blue plastic John Menzies and an Orange plastic BR station bar. Filmed in Waverley station in 1981. Scars - All About You.

The Scars strut past a red plastic chair, and an orange plastic BR station buffet. Filmed in Waverley station in 1981. Scars - All About You.

The Scars sit in an orange plastic BR station chair. In the background are passengers and BR station branding for Information and public telephones. Filmed in Waverley station in 1981. Scars - All About You.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 29/09/2026

Great moments in Scottish medical history. Finally James Young Simpson gets a moment of peace, locks himself in the toilet and sits down on the throne to enjoy a cheeky half hour of me time with the latest issue of Nuts magazine.

Statue of James Young Simpson in Edinburgh, he looks a bit like he's sitting down on the toilet leafing contemplatively through a book

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 29/09/2026

May I join the communal outbreak of mourning lost kitchen appliances, as Robert from Argos just delivered a replacement for my 24 year old espresso machine that finally failed for the last time and no more will wake us up in the morning with a tepid, grainy cup of Joe. So Longhi, old friend 🙏🏼☕😢

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 29/09/2026

Less of a joke and more of a question: How many BT engineers does it take to change a lightbulb because I stopped counting at 30 vans 🤔🧮

Photo. Lots of BT openreach vans parked around a suburban street with a park in the middle

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 28/09/2026

Great moments in Scottish military history. The Duke of Wellington, finally tired once and for all of tourists asking him directions to the Castle - despite the fact you it's clearly visible *RIGHT OVER THERE* - instead points the other way and sends them to Leith

Duke of Wellington statue in Edinburgh view from behind so that Nosey appears to be pointing left, i.e. in direction of Leith

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 28/09/2026

Great moments in the history of Scottish economics. Adam Smith has a final look down the boards, polishes his lucky ball for the last time and pulls off a miraculous split to tie the series with Sir James Steuart

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 28/09/2026

Great moments in Scottish physics history: James Clerk Maxwell has the lads around to show off his new Ooni tabletop pizza oven and gets ready to slice and serve which is great cos Peter Guthrie Tait is starving

James Clerk Maxwell statue in Edinburgh. In how hand is his colour wheel, which looks rather like a pizza cutter

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 28/09/2026

Cameron & Gibb, 1978. New build to combine 2 branches into 1. "Designed as a conservatory for exotic plants" and commended by RIBA. Apparently it was intended to fit in with historical context referencing adjacent close arch! Originally filled with palms and ferns, here's banking hall in 1978:

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 27/09/2026

Feels like a whole lot of news going on this morning

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 26/09/2026

I took a photo of first crossing sign on Friday because I knew the school it was for was demolished in 2011, then walked past the second today which last saw pupils in... 1988!

School crossing sign and beacon on a lamp post on a street. Behind an old folks home

School crossing sign on a lamp post on a street. Behind a box unit retail park for trades suppliers

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 26/09/2026

Doors open day at the former Tamson's Bar 🚪👀🍺 Not sure how I feel about the loss of the 1970s faux Swiss ski chalet vibe that used to adorn the interior

Looking through the open door of a green painted traditional pub. Renovation work taking place within.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 25/09/2026

I'm not sure what's more surprising, that this row of shops and flats in West Granton has been left abandoned for over 16 years, or that it's not yet mysteriously burned down in all that time 🤔

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 25/09/2026

No that came from Granton Sea Quarry, which as the name suggests was on the shoreline and actually below sea level (it eventually became inundated)

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 25/09/2026

Repost with an image of your favourite James Bond (wrong answers only)

Bob Holness infront of the Blockbusters board

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 25/09/2026

I wonder how many rusty cars lie at the bottom of Lake Granton (Sc.G An lochan Baile nan Granndach). Perhaps none, some say it is bottomless...

A flooded quarry surrounded by a cliff edge and trees. In the distance, modern flats. In the foreground overgrowth and a sign saying Danger. Derp Water. No swimming.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 25/09/2026

This William Wilson stained glass panel is a thing of beauty (and yours for opening bids of £1,200). Can anyone hazard a guess where it might have come from? cc @jeelyeater1.bsky.social @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social

Stained and painted glass panel, a bold mid-20th century design c. 1955 but also in a much older tradition.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 25/09/2026

The end of the Scottish craft gin distillery boom was always coming but did not expect it to pivot to a craft lynx and wolfdog sanctuary boom 😼🐺💥

BBC News headline "Lynx and wolfdog sanctuary plan for former gin distillery
" With picture of a Wolfdog

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 24/09/2026

Oh to be a fly on the wall at the Leith Police Court in April 1877 and hear the specifics of the "Outrageous Behaviour" that got Alexander Glen and his with a fine of 5s each or five days in the jail... 🙈

Leith Burghs Pilot, Published Saturday, 14 April 1877. List of people convicted of "Outrageous Behaviour" at the Leith Police Court

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 24/09/2026

Also, you can tell a lot about a man from the books he keeps in his office.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 24/09/2026

Nothing screams class like a "Billiards Room" set up for snooker. Do kinda want to know what's in the safe though, assuming it's either porno stash, coke or the stuffed wild animals that it's now illegal to own.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 24/09/2026

"The licensing process requires the applicant to have only applied for planning permission, not to have obtained it"

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 23/09/2026

Workers had the lights on in the bathrooms and shower rooms this morning, demonstrating this odd design choice means you can be clearly seen in the nip from 150m away

Progressive zoom in of two lit rooms in the centre of the upper storey of a fancy house with floor.to.ceiling glazing. These rooms are showers. Photo taken from a football pitch which dominates the foreground

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 23/09/2026

In an environment of so many organisations turning to AI slop for their graphic design, *this* is how you do it. Be more cathedral. 🕍👏🏼

Advert from Edinburgh Minute: "Freelance graphic designer - 'St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral is searching for a freelance graphic designer to work with on a regular, long-term basis, for various print and digital media across the year (esp. summer and Christmas), including posters, flyers, and digital assets. "

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 22/09/2026

I had totally forgotten that the tram budget extended to fully digging up and resurfacing Dalmeny Street (not just pouring tar over it) to make it a better little rat run (streetviews from 2017/2019/2022). And then proceeded to lay pavement on sand like you would a garden patio for the raised table

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 21/09/2026

Unfollowing otherwise respected blog because their site looks like this and it seems to be impossible to refuse the cookies 🤷🏼

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 21/09/2026

"The Dictionary of Scottish Architects is undergoing essential website maintenance. "

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 21/09/2026

ESPC palace from another era of the day (search.savills.com/property-det...)

Estate agents photo of a kitchen-diner that has been parachuted straight in from the late 70s or early 80s. The walls are white, the ceiling is dark, varnished, tongue-and-groove pine, the lights are spotlights. There are carpet tiles, there is a veneer-fronted open-plan Hygena kitchen. There are flowery curtains and tile trims and nets over the glass door. It may seem dated now but once it was the peak of sophistication. It is in immaculate condition asides from a few sagging door hinges.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 20/09/2026

We often forget that Edinburgh was an industrial city, and to a certain extent still is 🥣🏭

Packet of granola. "the Edinburgh Granola Company"

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 18/09/2026

It's outstanding, isn't it? Guess which photo I sneaked.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 18/09/2026

Here's my point. There was a time not long ago when Edinburgh's proposals would have literally stopped the presses for an outraged front page on the Scotsman. Now it's dominated by a photo of a posh lady trying shinty. Fair play to Herald for giving it same space as her. (National gonna National.)

Scotsman front page 18/9/26. A posh lady tries her hand at Shinty.

Herald front page 18/9/26. "Edinburgh University's 90-course cull sparks strike action" has the same amount of front page space as the posh lady trying her hand at Shinty.

National front page 18/9/26. Perpetual antagonism between Holyrood/SNP and Westminster.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 17/09/2026

How embarrassing that an MSP on the Transport Committee thought that the government's transport agency was a charity. I mean can you imagine delivering national transport policy through a charity. A. Charity?! *Stares in cyclist*

BBC News screengrab "Minister defends MSP colleague after Transport Scotland blunder
Collette Stevenson in Holyrood. She is wearing a black and white jacket and black top.
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Transport committee member Collette Stevenson made the blunder during a meeting

ByClaire Thomson
BBC Scotland
Published
2 hours ago
Energy Minister Stephen Gethins has defended his MSP colleague Collette Stevenson after she asked whether the government body Transport Scotland was a registered charity.

Stevenson, who has been the SNP MSP for East Kilbride since 2021 and is a transport committee member, made the blunder during Wednesday morning's committee meeting."

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 16/09/2026

It's a shame we can't have nice things because one operator has a monopoly on all the lowland east coast ports from which you might sail to Europe 🤷‍♂️

Map from Forth Ports' website showing it has all the Ports on the Forth plus Dundee on the upper Tay.

BBC headline "Plans for Scottish ferry to mainland Europe scrapped. Plans to resurrect a ferry service between Scotland and mainland Europe have been scrapped. Forth Ports said it had concerns over the "long-term viability" of the proposed route between Rosyth in Fife and Dunkirk in northern France."

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 16/09/2026

Ah forgive my cynicism, after checking all the schools North of Ferry Road and East of Cramond and Silverknowes, I've found this solitary other concession to improving the public realm outside the gates. 🤨

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 16/09/2026

It's one of those sprawling 1930s schools built like it's in Simcity, with wide roads around all 4 sides of it. I'd be incredibly surprised if these 4 wooden boxes and signs keep anything but the meekest of drivers out at restricted times.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 15/09/2026

Just another day in the world of Trove. How long has it been now since this car crash of a heritage website was launched, and it still can't even do the most basic things like work? I suppose this message makes a change from the 500 errors.

Trove.Scot browser window. Blank screen with "Blocked by Front Door" message.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 14/09/2026

One of the great things about H&A's Newhaven Fishwives is they wrote the names of their subjects down. Marion Finlay, Margaret Dryburgh and Grace Ramsay are 3 of the 5 here and we see them - and others - again and again in their work, now in countless public photo collections across the globe

Sepia Calotype entitled "The Pastor's Visit: group including James Fairbairn". 4 fishwives, a Kirk minister and a serious looking man in a dark suit sit around on a bench and chairs.

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 13/09/2026

📣 Important PSA! 📽️ I'll be screening and talking about the wonderful 1951 short film "The Singing Street" on next 2 weekends. 📅 19th & 20th, 10AM, Abbeyhill School with Colony of Artists 📆 26th, 12 Noon, Norton Park Centre with Doors Open Day 🎫 Free, unticketed, arrive early to avoid disappointment

A little poster for the event with some stills from the film and the dates and places. "“A WONDERFUL PICTURE OF EDINBURGH – as true perhaps as has ever been put on the screen” The Scotsman"

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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 13/09/2026

1846 I think, when Alexander Bain was commissioned to install a clock synchronisation system running across the railway's telegraph, which was itself aligned to the clock of the Royal Observatory on Calton Hill

Bain’s Universal Time system for the Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway. The Edinburgh clock (A) directly controlled the time on the Glasgow Clock (B)

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