For thirty-five years the start of Edinburgh's festival season was heralded by an impressive Cavalcade - a procession of bands and floats which gave revellers a taster of performances being held across the city. But last year, following the sudden departure of the Cavalcade's main organiser, the event was dropped.
As we approach the end of January and hopefully the beginning of the end of winter, here in Scotland the 25th January has a special significance: Burn's Night. This is usually marked by a supper as a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns.