The price of a pint in Morningside

I have that typical person-in-a-new-place fascination with how much things cost. As I type that, I suddenly wonder whether it IS typical, or whether it's just me. But then I remember that Mike has reported the price of a BMX and jandals in Tokyo, and don't feel so bad. I've no idea how much a BMX costs here (although I do want to get a bike), and it has been barely warm enough to develop an interest in "flip-flops" (as they're called here).

All nested-out after the Ikea experience, we have made a concerted effort this weekend to explore the neighbourhood pubs (there are at least 5 within 5 mins of our flat). We had heard mixed things about The Canny Man's - TimeOut says "This Morningside establishment has a reputation for rather unpredictable service - encouraging regulars-only at certain times and refusing some drinkers altogether." I think this stems from a time when someone with a disability was refused service - never a good PR move. It was a bit posh for a pub - bar staff in shirts, ties and long aprons a la Logan Brown (and like Logan Brown you get snacks with your drinks, nice touch), but friendly nonetheless. And it was well worth a visit for the decor - manuscripts as wallpaper, a whisky gantry sporting hundreds of bottles, taxidermy, and plenty of other treasures to keep the eyes busy for hours. Price of a pint: 2.80, you pay for the ties and snacks.

Bennets around the corner is an altogether more down-to-earth experience - picnic tables on the pavement to make the most of the afternoon sun (which we've seen lots of!), small boy with translucent legs (guess he hadn't seen so much of the sun) waging war on all of the punters with his new gun, ageing chain-smoking hippies, office workers on the way home, a mixed bag. Price of a pint: a steal at 1.80 for Belhaven 80/-.

Third on the list was The Waiting Room - in what used to be the Morningside (train) station before the trains stopped stopping there. It had been recommended to us by one of A's recruitment agents. Enormous place, offering pitchers of cocktails at bargain-basement prices, I can imagine Friday night... Late afternoon, familes, people reading the papers, terrible music, but again tables in the sun where the music's less in earshot. Price of a pint: middle-of-the-road at 2.40 for a Deuchars IPA.

Plenty more ales and pubs to be sampled, and that's just in EH10. There's a whole city out there (with apparently more pubs per capita than anywhere else in Europe).