Football Queens & Kings

The man, draped in velvet, continues, “My friends call me Louis. Bob is my cousin and an aspiring artist. Charles Baxter, James Ferrier, and I study law at Edinburgh University.”I introduce James Hogg and I, to the four friends.“Welcome to our club. Your initiation is to accept our motto.”, said Louis.James and I chorus together, … Continue reading Chapter 141 – Robert Louis Stevenson →

We walk along the Royal Mile and stand atop a steep alley of steps, which used to be one of the most fashionable addresses in Edinburgh."James, learn these five lessons and inscribe them for all to see, at our offices. These are the bridges from which Thompson & French will stretch out to the world", … Continue reading Chapter 140 – Liberty, Justice, Reverence →

We order two pints of the local beer and close today’s enlightening lesson by turning to one of Scotland’s greatest scientific minds.“Joseph Black went to Belfast at twelve years old to learn Greek and Latin, before being enrolled in Edinburgh University to study the arts, at the age of sixteen.”, I said.“Amazing how young he … Continue reading Chapter 139 – Joseph Black, Chemist →

We enter the Tavern, “Two pints of Belhaven, please?”, I asked and we take our seats.“Belhaven has brewed on the East Lothian coast, since 1719.”, said James Hogg, “The Austrian Emperor once declared Belhaven beers as the ‘Burgundy of Scotland’.”“Those accolades transform a company.”“Some transformations are better than others. By day, William Brodie was Deacon … Continue reading Chapter 138 – Robert Burns, Poet →

The Royal Mile is a bustling metropolis of people, where two men of Thompson & French continue discussing the enlightening past residents of Edinburgh.“Quite a leap from philosophy to geology?”, asked James Hogg.“Well, this man changed the theory on the ground beneath your feet. In his day, people believed the Earth was only six thousand … Continue reading Chapter 137 – James Hutton, Geologist →

James Hogg and I sit in Parliament Square with the Law Courts building in front of us, holding the College of Justice, the pinnacle of the Scottish Legal System.“James, this building holds both the Court of Session, Scotland’s supreme civil court, and the High Court of Justiciary, Scotland’s supreme criminal court.”, I said.“The Act of … Continue reading Chapter 136 – David Hume, Philosopher →

James Hogg and I sit on a bench with The Royal Mile stretching to our right and left, with the Palace of Holyrood lying at its foot and Edinburgh Castle at its head. An excellent location to discuss five Scottish geniuses, who changed the world.“Adam Smith was born in Kirkcaldy in 1723.”, I explained to … Continue reading Chapter 135 – Adam Smith, Economist →

James Hogg and I stand outside Scotland’s Parliamentary building, which was part of the governance structure of Scotland, which ruled itself from 1235 to 1707, before the Act of Union prorogued the Parliament, with no further date of meeting stipulated.“‘Sine Die’, is the expression used for adjourning an assembly indefinitely. I wonder if it will … Continue reading Chapter 134 – Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy →

James Hogg and I continue our discussion standing on a bridge built in 1833, which is the western approach into the centre.“Edinburgh has five bridges, where the city’s fathers extended in every direction, and include North, South, Regency, Waterloo and this one, Kings.”, I explained.“The best names for streets and bridges are compass points, monarchy … Continue reading Chapter 133 – Five Enlightenment Bridges →

Edinburgh is the home of Scottish ingenuity, where the impossible becomes possible. This City has a beating heart of enlightened minds, who made, and continue to make, the modern world.James Hogg and I leave our Queen Street Office, “We are going to discuss the inspiring stories of those who came here as unknown erudites and … Continue reading Chapter 132 – Crucible of Enlightenment →