List re-cap

1. spend a day smiling at everyone I see
2. learn to meditate
3. run a spring marathon
4. go dancing in a nightclub
5. spend a night under canvas
6. join the marathon maniac club
7. skinny dip with friends
8. get my engagement ring re-made
9. try a burlesque workshop
10. have a McGonnagal Supper
11. Learn to play chess with Scott (my son)
12. Knit a scarf
13. Run a sub-4-hour marathon
14. raise £4000 for Parkinsons UK
15. have a full medical
16. become a mistress of the chin-up
17. get my teeth whitened  - read up on this one and decided against it
18. go on a bus tour with my Mum
19. dance a duet with my best friend Hannah
20. go to a fitness professionals convention
21. try poledance
22. hoop a 5K
23. paint a fairy door
24. host a fundraising hafla (or three)
25. finally visit the Scottish Parliament
26. one month fitness challenge - get more sleep - on my second attempt at this during October
27. write My Running Story
28. integrate yoga into my life
29. have a beautiful mirrored studio to work in
30. be able to do handstands, or walk on my hands
31. learn 10 things about myself
32. run 40 miles in my birthday week
33. duet at karaoke with my lovely husband
34. have tea in Edinburgh City Chambers
35. get on All Request Friday on Radio 2
36. meet 40 new people 
37. make a difference in Malawi
38. fitness challenge - 40 full push-ups continuous
39. not let my roots get out of control 
40. get a daily make-up regime

FF#43: Have tea at the City Chambers

Today was a lovely birthday treat - tea and cake at Edinburgh City Chambers with my friend and local councillor Gordon Munro.

Edinburgh City Chambers is a magnificent building in the heart of Edinburgh's old town, a few minutes walk from Edinburgh Castle. I've been there for a wedding reception and the odd meeting or two but had never really had a proper look around.

The main entrance to the City Chambers, on the Royal Mile.

 It was a damp and windy morning and after being thoroughly soaked at school running club earlier in the morning, I was ready for a warming cuppa. As soon as I walked into reception I was greeted by a deafening alarm. I assumed it was me setting off the awesome detector, of coure - but it turned out to be the weekly fire alarm test.

City Chamers selfie

Gordon kindly surprised me with pain au chocolat and patessierie, so it properly felt like a birthday treat. We sat in the Member's Lounge and had a lovely chat, catching up with family news, Leith and the Independence referendum.

Birthday elevensies!

I first met Gordon in 2000 when I was Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for the Edinburgh West Constituency. That election campaign was very difficult (despite the great result we achieved in the constituency) and it put me off political involvement almost entirely - but Gordon was a supportive and dependable beacon during that campaign and I was really pleased when he became councillor for Leith, where I live. The 2001 election seems like a very long time ago - before I had children, and when Gordon's daughters appeared on my campaign material. I found this lovely photo in my memories folder.  Many leaflets have been delivered since then!

Next, Gordon took me on a bit of a tour - the main chamber with its lovely zodiac dome and its public gallery (I refrained from heckling or pinging bits of paper to the dinner ladies gathering below for a meeting); the European room; the Golden Jubilee Room; works of art and stained glass, and Gordon's office.

The view from Cllr Munro's office - including some of the Leith Ward

Vertiginous central staircase

Beautiful stained glass commemorating the first female Provost of Edinburgh

It was lovely to have a wee bit of birthday celebration in October - thank you Gordon!