Today in 1999, Lena Zavaroni, Scottish pop singer, died.

Born in Rothesay, she won the public's affection after appearing on Opportunity Knocks aged only 10. The pressures of success at such a young age surely contributed to her untimely death at the age of 35, after a long battle with severe anorexia nervosa.

On this day in 1763 the contract to build Edinburgh's North Bridge was signed. The main link between the Old and New Towns, the original bridge was finished in 1772. Although it was hailed as an engineering triumph, it was also seen as a symbol of the increasing social separation between the sqaulid Old Town and the affluent New Town.

Today's recipe: a little patience goes a long way with this recipe for classic French creme caramel.