Forced by the post-war boom to leave their shabby Edinburgh tenement for a new bungalow on the outskirts on the city, Madge Gilbride is comforted by the fact that at least she has her family near her. And when her grandsons, Will and Hamish, fall in love with local girls she is delighted. But life is not sailing- especially for Will. In love with the fiery Kate Rossie, he discovers she wants both a husband and a politcal career. Conventional Will makes a choice he will regret for years- a sensible marriage of convenience to the suitable Sara. As she watches her grand-children with their own families joys and troubles, Madge can''t help but remember her old tenement home and hope that the new generation of Gilbrides never forget their roots...

A land- a building of several storeys of separate dwellings communicating by a common stair. Madge Ritchie moves her three young daughters into Catherine''s Land when the death of her husband leaves them in reduced circumstances. By 1920 Madge can''t imagine life without her noisy, nosy neighbours; though two of her girls, ambitious Abby and artistic Rachel, both dream of making their escape. Only Jennie, the middle child most like her gentle mother, is happy in the hurly-burly atmosphere of the tenements.But when Jim Gilbride and his sons Malcom and Rory move into the Ritchies'' stair the lives of both families are to change dramatically- and the bonds of love and hatred, jealously and forgiveness are forged that will bind them all to Catherine''s Land for ever.

The war has brought devastating changes to the people of Portobello, a seaside district of Edinburgh. But as VE day nears, Tess Gillespie and her mother are feeling hopeful. Tess is looking forward to being able to walk on her beloved beaches for the first time since war was declared. More importantly, her father and sister will soon be back home and they can all be a family once again. However, the war has changed Don Gillespie and no longer content to settle back in to his former life. The future will bring both betrayal and heartbreak for all the Gillespie women. And it will take all their courage and resolution to rebuild their lives and find new happiness.

Rose Burnett, Martie Stweart and Alex Kelsie grew up in the "Colonies", a housing development by the Water of Leith. Only Rose, a lawyer''s daughter, did not belong. Still, when Alex and Martie both decided to train as nurses in Edinburgh, they''re relieved to see Rose''s friendly face- even if she is now Staff Burnett. Whilst Martie is determined to escape the misery of her childhood and find a rish husband, Alex has more romantic dreams. She''s had a crush on Rose''s brother since they were children and is secretly excited when he''s admitted to the hospital with a mild case of TB. But, though Tim Burnett finally seems to notice her, nurses in the 1950s are strictly forbidden from any personal development with their patients. They all laugh when one of the patients nicknames them the ''Butterfly Girls'' after the Butterfly wards they work on, but, as Rose points out, nursing is for keeping your feet on the ground, not flying. Alex is risking more than her heart in pursuing a relationship with Tom...

Forced by the post-war boom to leave their shabby Edinburgh tenement for a new bungalow on the outskirts on the city, Madge Gilbride is comforted by the fact that at least she has her family near her. And when her grandsons, Will and Hamish, fall in love with local girls she is delighted. But life is not sailing- especially for Will. In love with the fiery Kate Rossie, he discovers she wants both a husband and a politcal career. Conventional Will makes a choice he will regret for years- a sensible marriage of convenience to the suitable Sara. As she watches her grand-children with their own families joys and troubles, Madge can''t help but remember her old tenement home and hope that the new generation of Gilbrides never forget their roots...

A land- a building of several storeys of separate dwellings communicating by a common stair. Madge Ritchie moves her three young daughters into Catherine''s Land when the death of her husband leaves them in reduced circumstances. By 1920 Madge can''t imagine life without her noisy, nosy neighbours; though two of her girls, ambitious Abby and artistic Rachel, both dream of making their escape. Only Jennie, the middle child most like her gentle mother, is happy in the hurly-burly atmosphere of the tenements.But when Jim Gilbride and his sons Malcom and Rory move into the Ritchies'' stair the lives of both families are to change dramatically- and the bonds of love and hatred, jealously and forgiveness are forged that will bind them all to Catherine''s Land for ever.

The war has brought devastating changes to the people of Portobello, a seaside district of Edinburgh. But as VE day nears, Tess Gillespie and her mother are feeling hopeful. Tess is looking forward to being able to walk on her beloved beaches for the first time since war was declared. More importantly, her father and sister will soon be back home and they can all be a family once again. However, the war has changed Don Gillespie and no longer content to settle back in to his former life. The future will bring both betrayal and heartbreak for all the Gillespie women. And it will take all their courage and resolution to rebuild their lives and find new happiness.

Rose Burnett, Martie Stweart and Alex Kelsie grew up in the "Colonies", a housing development by the Water of Leith. Only Rose, a lawyer''s daughter, did not belong. Still, when Alex and Martie both decided to train as nurses in Edinburgh, they''re relieved to see Rose''s friendly face- even if she is now Staff Burnett. Whilst Martie is determined to escape the misery of her childhood and find a rish husband, Alex has more romantic dreams. She''s had a crush on Rose''s brother since they were children and is secretly excited when he''s admitted to the hospital with a mild case of TB. But, though Tim Burnett finally seems to notice her, nurses in the 1950s are strictly forbidden from any personal development with their patients. They all laugh when one of the patients nicknames them the ''Butterfly Girls'' after the Butterfly wards they work on, but, as Rose points out, nursing is for keeping your feet on the ground, not flying. Alex is risking more than her heart in pursuing a relationship with Tom...