I’ve spent half my life looking at Arthur’s Seat and I sometimes wonder what the spirts of that mighty rock make of the life whirling around it.

Do they mind the arrival of autumn and students taking the place of tourists crowding the streets? Do they mind the wind and rain taking over from the long hot summer which saw even the gorse bushes on the south side of the hill catch fire?

It’s useful having a touch-stone to measure the progress of our lives and the life of the city and the nation. Edinburgh has just finished celebrating its 900th anniversary and I was lucky enough to have a good view of the final parade marching up the Royal Mile last Sunday afternoon.

Some 60 local organisations were represented, including pipe bands, drumming bands, dance-schools, football clubs, community

See Full Page