In the leafy backstreets of Morningside, Edinburgh lies a network of comfortable and friendly B&Bs run in family homes. One where I stay regularly is run by Mrs Bolette Nason at 1 Tipperlinn Road.

The rooms are comfortable, well-appointed and immaculately clean, and Bolette's welcome is always warm.

Since Bolette discovered my favourite kind of tea for a post-work cuppa (Rooibos) she always offers to make me a cup when I come in from work, accompanied by biscuits and a friendly chat. My evenings when I'm working in Edinburgh can get a bit lonely sometimes so this is greatly appreciated.

The breakfasts are delicious too, and when Matt stayed there with me last week, he thoroughly approved of the good sausages and absence of baked beans.

Definitely one to recommend.

A new gentleman in the Mafia

I regularly spend two nights a week in Edinburgh now, given I work there but live in Cumbria.

I've been lucky enough to stumble on (or to be more accurate, to have a friend and former colleague stumble on) an informal network of B&Bs run by some wonderful people in their own homes in the Morningside area. Bob and Jill Knox are just one example. And if Jill can't put me up she'll find somewhere else for me to stay. Which is amazing.

The network calls itself "The Morningside Mafia".

And the Mafia now has a new member - Keith Paterson, who runs Alexanders Rooms.

Keith provides all the little luxuries that's great to come back to at the end of a hard working day - large comfortable rooms, fresh fruit, thick fluffy towels in the bathroom. He'll go the extra mile to make sure his guests are comfortable.

Last time I stayed at Alexanders Rooms, I had a rotten cold. Keith turned the heating up, put a supply of Lemsips in my room, and offered me a hot water bottle. And he even gave me some more Lemsips and some fresh fruit to take to work the following day.

That's what I call good service.