CONNED

A Friday night in Scotland, it was, as long as anyone could remember, always considered the man's night out. The one occasion when he could leave his wife and family at home and meet with his friends in his local pub, for a good drink and engage in discussions on recent events of interest. Needless to say on this particular summer's Friday night, which had a warm balmy evening breeze blowing outside and particularly as it was in one of the best pubs in the Edinburgh's historic High Street, there was standing room only inside. In addition to the many locals enjoying a good pint of beer there was a fair crowd of tourists and visitors to 'Auld Reeky'. The nickname was given to Edinburgh in reference to the time long ago when coal was the only available fuel. The city was smothered in clouds of acrid smoke from the many tenements chimneys that crowded the slopes of both sides of the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare from the castle to the Royal residence of Holyrood Palace at that time. Since then, Edinburgh had grown into quite a large city spreading down to the Port of Leith and out to the Pentland Hills.

Deacon Brodie's Pub had a prime location at the top of the High Street and was renowned for its good beer, with a guaranteed warm reception from the landlord and staff. On this particular Friday night they were all run off their feet, as the patrons' thirst demanded constant slaking. The chairs and tables along three walls were full as was the group of smaller tables in front. The long bar taking up the fourth wall, also was three people deep, most sitting on bar stools close to the high ledges around the pillars. The babble of voices was quite loud and infectious, it seemed everybody was talking at once. The big front door was thrown open, letting in a small welcoming breeze and the noise of the passing traffic. Large front windows let in lots of sunlight, highlighting the chessboard style tiles in the timbered roof. It was a normal Friday on an exceptionally nice evening by Edinburgh standards and one begging to be taken advantage of. The biggest percentage of customers were naturally male all enjoying each others company and the wonderful ambience created by a pub that dated back hundreds of years in this marvellous city. It was rumoured that Louis Stevenson had penned Treasure Island while seated at his usual chair in one corner of the pub. The house, where he lived, was only a few yards further up the Royal Mile, up a narrow staircase with small windows and a local landmark with the tourists.

Traffic travelled up the Mound from Princess Street passing the Royal Bank. It was one of the two main thoroughfares from the New Town, as Georgian Edinburgh was called, to the Cannongate and the old part of the city, which meant they passed the pub's very doorstep. This ensured a huge number of potential clients entered the pub's doors every day, as well as the thousands of tourists visiting one of the best examples of a working castle in all of Europe. Edinburgh Castle dominating the skyline, just a few hundred yards further up. Deacon Brodie's was the first pub you encountered on your journey back down the High Street after your visit. The cobble roadway and old buildings had not changed in hundreds of years as result of strict heritage listing and a very observant council. Dominated by St. Giles Cathedral a vast gothic edifice across the way Deacon Bodie's looked directly down the narrow High Street. This historic narrow road was steeped in history and intrigue, with many stories from its colourful past proving a boon for the thousands of eager tourists, who thronged every inch, soaking up the stories and seeking some small item to remember it by.

One lone traveller in amongst the crowd in the pub was enjoying the experience, downing his second pint of heavy beer as he contemplated his next move. It was his first visit to Edinburgh attending one of the many conferences in its excellent facilities and he had been impressed by everything he had seen. Tonight, he had decided to enjoy it while he could. An architect from Bristol he was immediately amazed and captivated by the many old buildings in perfect condition all over the city, especially here in the High Street. It was a visit he had promised he would take one day, and the conference provided a perfect excuse. He was not far from his hotel in Princes Street, but it was such a good night and not at all late in the day he contemplated what else needed doing. The sun still shone and the atmosphere was quite calm, unusual for this time of the year. He was enjoying himself and felt quite at home.

'You are not a local then, are you?' The question came from one of two men standing close by. 'Always busy at this time of the year, especially on a Friday night, full of regulars. Spot a visitor quite easily.'

'No, I'm not a local. Just taking in the sights and they are truly magnificent. So much history laid out right before your very eyes, everywhere, the Castle, St Giles Cathedral, the Cannongate and Holyrood Palace. Where else could you see such a number of historical buildings just as they were hundreds of years ago? Truly amazing'

'Aye that's true, Edinburgh has had quite a dramatic history over the centuries with many enemy armies laying siege to that black rock with its battlements and cannon. Still as good as it was in its heyday, hardly changed one iota. Built to last and that it has and may it be there for many more centuries to come. Such a proven eye opener for all the tourists that throng to see what probably is the...