I shall be stepping into his, frankly minging, Russell&Bromley brogues. So, without further ado, I bid you welcome, and off we jolly well go. The new editorial team were kindly invited to the official opening of Kitsch coffee bar and bistro, on Bernard Street. It was indeed a pleasant surprise to see spry cub reporter John Gibson – of John Gibson fame – holding court on the chaise-longue, in the rudest of good health. I own that I assumed he had slipped this mortal coil sometime in the nineties. The interior of Kitsch is a real labour of love, the clue is in the name, and the charming owners did us freeloaders proud. It is already a firm favourite on the Leither staff’s coffee trail – except, of course, for your bibulous editor, who is more likely to be found elbowing the bar at the Allan Breck. Handy hint though, Kitsch is licensed, and opens late on Thursday/Friday/Saturday nights. Drink, food, and chat in an oasis of calm, you can’t buy that. Well actually you can, get along and let loose of the purse strings. Thence, as a guest of Sharon from Bite magazine, to the launch of Tapa restaurant, tucked away on Shore Place. A new – you’re ahead of me here – tapas restaurant. For their baptism by Leither. Again the beacon of generosity shone in this age of endarkenment, which is to say your budding editor tanned in about 10 glasses of Cava. The globetrotting owners are lovely, though not as lovely as their dog. The chef is also an accomplished flamenco dancer. There, very simply, is a thought. Nibbles suggested the menu would be worth investigating. As did the presence of the Asturian dish fabada and Catalan fish stew on said menu. I fear this reckless disregard for propriety does not paint your incoming editor in a good light. Indeed when I call on Mr Laing the next morning, snug in his Celtic romper suit, he remarks on my state of dishabile and wonders, aloud, if it is entirely appropriate for a putative pillar of the Leith community to disport himself in such a way.

The wagon beckons… Finally, thanks, apart of course for named contributors, photographers and illustrators to: Bernie Reid, <a href=”http://www.callumalden.com/”>Callum Alden</a> and Murray from Shavers, for ideas yet to come; Beca Lipsombe and Lucy Mackenzie for favours I have yet to ask; Shelley for her pragmatism, though she’ll kill me for that; Michael Pasiecsznik for the protempore photo; Sean Gilfeather, for putting up with us, and all our advertisers for their support. This last blessing most, a fruitful future for the ’Guvnor.’