edinburgh

I see my name is being taken in vain again.

c-man, do you think that feminism is about women acting a certain way, or about having the freedom to not have to act a certain prescribed way?

When i was thinking of renting last year the rents for a one bedroom flat in a semi decent area came in at about £400pcm but they could have gone up since then, sorry i can't be more precise, i decided to buy instead.

(I really should get flatmates some time; it might be damn cheap for three bedrooms, but it's not if you're the only one living there)

5. The Antiquary on St Stephen's Street, Stockbridge. By the time you've walked all the way down Frederick Street, you need a few drinks before you can face the climb back up... used to do a champagne happy hour (quite out of character with it's surroundings) with champers for £10 a bottle, which once caused me to end up halfway over the Forth Road Bridge (search the "Phantom Pubs" thread - best thread ever on ILE in my opinion...)

4. The Penny Black in the east end. Posties pub, opens at 5am, shuts at 6pm. They are used to it, so whatever you do, it won't matter. Occasionally you do spot a genuine postman - usually though it's just very, very drunk people putting Neil Diamond on the jukebox. I once tried to phone my then girlfriend from this pub at 6am to tell her that Robbie Williams had left Take That. She was not impressed.

3. The Pelican (RIP) on the Cowgate. Open til a ridiculous time during the festival. Poncey and townie and full of idiots, but scene of so many happy evenings that it warrants a mention anyway. Hilarious mic-wielding DJ would intersperse "This one's for Sharon, who's 22 tonight!" with "Security to the dancefloor please..." on a regular basis...

2. The St James Oyster Bar (RIP) on Calton Road, now called Pivo I think. I worked here for a couple of years, so I am biased, but it was ace. Too many highlights to mention - Gregor the rude quizmaster, "Sleepless Nights" - a sad cowboy club me and Kevin used to run, watching them film Trainspotting outside, all the HMV gang, Sandy singing "Down By the River", serving Peter Perrett Dover sole...

1. The Marina Hotel between Inverleith Terrace and Montague Terrace in Goldenacre. You have to go. It's a blast. The only pub I have been in since that comes close is the Palm Tree in Mile End.

I'll never go back to Edinburgh, cos it's a soul destroying shithole, but it was great fun while it lasted. And you really should check out that Phantom Pubs thread...

Pivo is shit. Really loud tedious music and always really busy. Shit chairs too. Really annoying that it's the nearest pub to the venue.

I have never been to any of the pubs you describe although I may now do so.

I've been in Pivo a few times for old times sake and yes, it is pretty shit. It always makes me laugh though that in the bit at the start of Trainspotting where Ewan McGregor gets run down, the "road" the car is coming out of isn't actually a road. He only drank Appletise, you know...

I think, however, that girls who have decided it would be great imitate the very dregs of masculinity - drinking, footie, casual sex, acting like an arsehole - is unwise. It just makes me shake my head and it's a dumbass thing to aspire to.

But, on the other hand, are drinking and casual sex, really that bad. I think they are really rather fun

The weather today was mental - first it was really sunny and then a blizzard started out of nowhere! bloody scotland.

also I am going to THE EGG tonight apparently Edinburgh's top indie club is it good? do i need some arts student to sign me in or something? everything is so complicated here!

did it ?

I've decided I should get people to move into my spare bedrooms, to share the rent out a bit. If I find two people to move in, it will be £185 each, which I think is damn cheap for Edinburgh. So, if you know anyone who's looking, let me know.

Kathryn: email me. The address I use here is a real one.

Need local knowledge - hiring a car on Sunday in Edinburgh - most appear to be at the Airport - I know Hertz have a place in the City itself - any others? Any local companies that are good (as opposed to the global chains)?

Ta