Football Queens & Kings

I slump down onto the stone-cold landing, swing my legs around the top three steps, wrap my arms around my head and fight with the double edge sword of fear and anger.My mind drifts back to the night in Thompson & French HQ, where Mary warned me about several of my staff. I believed I … Continue reading Chapter 249 – An Ambitious Traitor →

Over the next four weeks, Margaret and I focus the entire Glasgow operation on completing the Dean of Guild contract."Margaret, please summon everyone together at 3 o'clock this afternoon.", I said.I make my way out of the office onto Hope Street, where the characteristically horizontal rain greeted me. Today, nothing will get in my way, … Continue reading Chapter 248 – Organisational Sucker Punch →

Margaret looks across at me. Her tired eyes and crumpled forehead betray the long nights spent under candlelight. I remember those days when an opportunity is so great you plough every inch of your heart and soul into its completion.Now is the time for positivity, not ridicule, angst, worry or concern. Now is the time … Continue reading Chapter 247 – Furrowed Frown Lines →

Finally, I have the whole family in one place, and we settle back into our Moray Place abode. Emelia and I sit staring into the coal fire, listening to the gentle roar pulsing up the chimney. The autumn winds beat against the windows as we curl up tighter on the couch."All the plans for the … Continue reading Chapter 246 – Planning For Success →

The following day, Iain Falcon and I prepare to leave Prestwick and Malcolm Anderson for his journalistic tasks. As promised, David Mackintosh is waiting at the hotel's entrance at ten o'clock, and we board the carriage."I wondered if you would come and find out how this went?" I said to Mary, looking her usual elegant … Continue reading Chapter 245 – Expecting The Unexpected →

The Prestwick Golf Club was instituted in 1851 by fifty-seven members of the Red Lion Inn, who bought two adjacent cottages from the public house and created a golf club."Old Tom Morris left St Andrew's for Prestwick with his young family and laid out this twelve-hole course. Old Tom, who moved back to St Andrew's … Continue reading Chapter 244 – Open Championship, 1872 →

Malcolm Anderson, Iain Falcon and I stand amongst a large gathering of excited spectators waiting for the competition to begin. I look down at the match card and absorb all the players’ names. The order of play comprises three rounds of twelve holes, all completed in one day.“The match commences in thirty minutes. Malcolm, you … Continue reading Chapter 243 – New Sporting Periodical →

Malcolm Anderson, Iain Falcon, and I retire to the drawing-room, where I decant Kilnave whisky into three crystal tumblers. Light dances through the crisscrossed mosaic lines as we raise our glasses and toast the 1872 Open Championship."What's Malcolm's new job?" enquired Iain."Malcolm is a journalist. We met at Kennington Oval in February, where England again … Continue reading Chapter 242 – Forest Flowers Banned →

Iain Falcon and I arrive on 12th September 1872, settle into our lodgings, and have dinner looking out over Prestwick Links."The Prestwick Golf Club created The Challenge Trophy in 1860 as an annual test of the 'Royal Game'. The competition is open to any golfer from the three kingdoms and seeks those wishing to rise … Continue reading Chapter 241 – A Fifer’s Compliment →

Emelia rolls one of Thompson & French's world maps onto the golden sand, "The world is growing smaller by the day, and we need to expand Kilnave to compete effectively. We have split the world into three - Angus will manage the Americas, Dougal: Europe and Africa, and Lachlan: Asia and Oceania.""And your new role?""I … Continue reading Chapter 240 – Fluent In Whisky →