Best products from r/Edinburgh

There's an amazing book called "Sleep" written by a guy who is a "sleep coach" to athletes, top football players and people who are at peak performance - he has LOADS of good advice from things like pillow and mattress height/density and size, though to routines before and after sleep as well as how to count your sleep "cycles" - he goes with 90 minute cycles, as opposed to hours. I find much of his advice to be really helpful and plenty insight - covers the usual "no blue light before bed" stuff too so you get that, but loads more detail.

Well worth picking up - it's a relatively easy read and not a big book. It changes my sleeping pattern, and I get up at 5:30am now feeling pretty good. I don't feel I need so much sleep, and my day-to-day has improved as a result.

Link to Amazon if you want it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleep-Change-sleep-this-minute/dp/0241975972/

You want Witchcraft and Belief in Early Modern Scotland and The Scottish Witch Hunt in Context. They're both quite easy to get - I think Central Library has copies, and if it doesn't then the NLS certainly does.

The witch trials are pretty much my favourite aspect of history to geek out over and I've been studying them for a while, so if there's anything in particular that you're wanting to know please feel free to message me and I'll do my best to help or point you in the direction of the right resources. (NB: My area of interest runs from the North Berwick witch trials in 1590 to the fall of the witchprickers in the 1660s. I'm not so au fait with cases later than that.)

There are also a couple of good online resources that might interest you - James IV's Daemonologie, which was a very important text during the trials, and Edinburgh University's Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, a searchable database containing information gathered from surviving trial records (there's also a handy suggested reading list on that site).

I can't help you with your current situation, but generally once you have mould you'll always have it, as there are always mould spores floating about. They like high humidity and warmth which is abundant in Edinburgh flats. Cheap quality chests of drawers and wardrobes are usually the culprit too as they haven't been treated with anti-mould paint\spray.

If you can afford it, or any landlords are reading this you should provide the flat with a good quality dehumdifier, one that has a laundry setting. I have a nice little 10l one and I take it with me from flat to flat.

Get a good quality digital hygrometer and thermometer that has a min\max setting, like this one.

I also make a mould check part of my daily cleaning routine

Daily:

• You will exhale 2litres of water into the air during a night's sleep, and that moisture has to go somewhere, so ventilate the bedroom.
  
  
• Check behind the wardrobes for signs of mould
  
  
• Run a fan\heater so it circulates the air around the bedroom
  
  
• Leave the dehumidifier on its medium setting and go to work. If you don't have one, then at least make sure the room is well ventilated before you leave.
  
  
  Weekly:
  
  
• A better check of the usual mould hotspots
  
  
• Bleach\Water solution on the black mould if it appears (bathroom usually)
  
  
• Use a vinger\water or ethanol\water solution and rub down the back of the warddrobe. Kills white\blue mold spores hiding there.
  
  
• Close the bedroom door and run the dehumidifier on its highest setting for a few hours
  

Oh man you're in for a treat... as there is too many to mention - so to make it easier I suggest buy one or both of these books - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edinburghs-Hidden-Walks-Stephen-MIllar/dp/1902910583 and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Edinburgh-Unusual-Jonglez-Guides/dp/2361951487/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=H08S08Z2Y3MVSPS3JZH0 . They are both excellent and even though I lived here a number of years now and know pretty much every street and path, these two books still had bits I hadn't found. One quick one, just start in Dean's village and do the water of Leith to Stockbridge and have a pint there - if that doesn't work for you than you're in the wrong city!


As for what a local would do end May - well if its sunny, buy a portable BBQ, ciders and lounge in the Meadows - sunshine is too rare to do anything indoors-y.

I've got a mid tower case ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Carbide-Series-SPEC-01-Mid-Tower/dp/B00L6AXHYO/ref=sr_1_20?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1420460609&sr=1-20&keywords=nzxt#customer Reviews) I'm not using anymore, bit dusty but in good condition if you're interested. Its not a full size but it's a good case, and it comes with 3 or 4 fans.

THESE from Amazon Spain. It's a very nice Spanish brand for the mid-price range and made in Spain in the city of Elche, the best city for shoes within Spain. They were 160 euros originally but they had a -40% discount, so I ended up paying 101 euros. They also come with a kit to take care of them.

\> likes to hike
\> I'm a big book guy

Get him a walking guide for the Pentlands, Edinburgh's local hills. Something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentland-Hills-Edinburghs-Walkers-Cicerone/dp/1852844949

He'll be able to get out there on public transport, so easy to get to, there are some lovely walks out there, and he can hold onto the book as a souvenir.

I don't have one, and also don't live in the city at the moment even if I did. However, this one on amazon looks pretty good and comes in at about £17 including p&p. If you're hard up it's still a sizable expense but you can always sell it on gumtree/eBay and get most of your cash back (I've done this with old Halloween costumes).

Smiffy's All-in-One Chicken Costume with Hood - Medium https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LGSSK8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_22RGxb6T84P48

By the way, this is a really sweet idea.

Not ideal if you need it sharpish, but I just bought this big set of screwdrivers for electronics off Amazon for fixing my phone, they do the job and not really bank breaking at 11 quid. Good to have them around if you need to call on them in the future as well.

They’re a bit of a faff but if you’re fairly handy it should be ok. If the blockage is high off the ground it may be a pain to do though as it requires so many rods and you have to screw them all together.

The rods are what a plumber would probably use, if you call a drainage guy then he’d probably use a high pressure hose to work it’s way up the pipe and dislodge. May be worth calling someone like that instead, can often be cheaper. I used https://www.drainpoint.co.uk/ when I had a blocked pipe. Think it was £80 or so, can’t quite remember, but might be worth it split between all the flats.

Other alternative since it’s sunny now and assuming the water has cleared down is to pour a drain unblocker like https://www.amazon.co.uk/HG-Liquid-Drain-Unblocker-1L/dp/B000IU3VS0 down the bath of the topmost flat.

This one is pretty informative and fun.

Any connection with this book?

Full of interesting stories and an enjoyable read.

Greek 30-ish guy 🙋‍♂️

I’ve never met a Greek who doesn’t like these: Caprice Classic Chocolte Wafers

Alternatively a jar of honey would be a good bet, too! Greek Honey from Pine and Cretan Thyme by Meligyris

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EDIT: Link formatting

This one seems to activate when it hears dogs barking. Pretty cool.

Not sure you can get a broadband deal that is less than 12 months' commitment.

Three do a SIM-only mobile broadband package on a 1-month contract which is £23 a month for 20GB... not enough for Netflix every night, but enough for Reddit/email/Facebook/YouTube. Grab a Huawei 4G dongle off Amazon and you're good to go.

(so long as you can get Three reception in your accommodation)

I can't help with that specific band/artist but a ceilidh compilation might help you. Here's one I found on Amazon that might be of use.

That seems unrealistic for 10 A4 binders with a document scanning service.

I have a ScanSnap ix500 which is a fantastic but expensive scanner. I've got through a load of old paperwork for myself and family so far and will probably sell it on once complete. If I can sell it at current selling prices on eBay it will have cost me £30 to digitise everything. But this would obviously be a risky route to go down and I see you already have a multi function printer to get rid of!

What about something like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G8DW7QC/

I use those 3M Velcro things. More than strong enough for movie posters at least.

https://i.imgur.com/j9TeWke.jpg

These things : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Medium-Picture-Hanging-Strips/dp/B00OI6F67O/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1521979783&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=3m+picture+hanging+strips&psc=1

Try and pick up a copy of this it'll be sure to have some suggestions, and it's bloody interesting .

Maybe the anatomy museum at Edinburgh university? They've got Burke's skeleton as he was dissected after being hanged, not exactly secret but not that commonly known either.