I spent two weeks in Edinburgh, Scotland last month, and because I’ve been uprooting my midwestern homebase I’ve had no time to write about my time in the UK.
Singing with the Edinburgh International Festival, I was blocks away from the Edinburgh Castle and Usher Hall. Which means most of what was walking distance was pretty upscale shops and very touristy areas… (ick). The day I arrived I came with the heel broken on my concert shoes, so i thought it would be an experience to find a good Scottish cobbler. The closest to me was a chain called Timpsons. It really didn’t feel like a chain. As I entered the store front, I tripped on the door stop and just about fell flat on my face. (totally unrelated.. but funny) The man behind the counter was gracious and helpful. He said my shoes would be fixed in 10 mins, I couldn’t believe my ears! In the US it takes two days. I got back at paid about 7 pounds, not bad at all.
The shop is interesting, it does locksmith duties, printing, and the most interesting thing is they have a huge initiative to employ ex-offenders. They train in some prisons, and offer a job on release. Out of 300 employed, they know of 6 reoffending. http://www.timpson.co.uk/blog/article/79/john-timpson-we-are-making-a-difference-to-the-lives-of-ex-offenders-
While waiting for my shoes, I discovered a cafe that was quite an aphrodisiac – called Love Crumbs. With cakes, scones and clotted cream, locally roasted espresso/coffee, and a young laid back atmosphere, I indulged in a flat white and a scone. yum. I definitely recommend it for a luxurious afternoon, or a first date. http://www.lovecrumbs.co.uk/
Haggis. Went to the Edinburgh Foodie Festival because it was blocks away from our rehearsal space. I had a famous dish called “Haggis, neeps and tatties” The name alone was enticing, right? http://www.jamieoliver.com/magazine/recipes-view.php?title=haggis-croquettes-1
Until my colleague told me exactly what was in haggis, I found it to be quite good. Try it, you’ll like it!
#Timpson #Haggis #tatties #neeps #lovecrumbs