The Pope and North Gyle residents...

So the Pope has landed then and on Princes Street there seems to be a decent if not exactly "unable to move" crowd.
Slightly different this morning as he passed along the bottom of my road on his way from the airport. We residents of North Gyle Road are not known for our outward expression of cheering - if there was a street party I think most people would be saying "oh I am off to Dobbies that day".

However, I did wander down , mainly because I was on my way to Tesco and I knew I would be able to get across the Glasgow Road - no mean feat I can tell you. There were a small gaggle of us and a twelve year old policeman who was having to explain to the old lady who lives on the other side of the Glasgow Road that she couldn't get across the road as "the Pope was coming". Despite her protestations that she could be across the road before he came and when exactly would he be passing, he stood firm. I tell you reader, so insistent was she on the exact passing time of the Holy Father that I was beginning to look at her a bit suspiciously!!

Anyway, there was a small (very small) ripple of anticipation as a phalanx (yep, English Literature degree!) of policemen swept along the road and then a procession of 2 silver cars with blacked out windows and lots of black cars drove past. Some of us waved half heartedly but the cars could have been empty for all you could see. He was probably having a doze inside or catching up with the weather in Rome on his i pad (pod???).

Watching the procession along Princes Street I feel cheated that the residents of North Gyle were not treated to the sight of the Mafia style bodyguards running alongside the cars in the style of Clint Eastwood in "The Line of Fire". Now that I think would have raised a cheer!