“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” –William Faulkner (from his novel REQUIEM FOR A NUN)

The Faulkner quote is a particular favorite of mine because it bridges, in a span of few words, the path(o)s of life and history. Simply but sagely, it links where we’ve been to who we are — both as a society and as individuals. Even people not given to giving the past the “time of day” didn’t just clock in today, as it were. Though the past may not be dead, it constantly haunts us because many of us never learn from it.

Some consider it a good thing to never change — to be the same person today as years or decades ago. That’s all well and good….if, as young men and women, we were as clear sighted and head-on-straight then as now. I have known such…

The rain mostly held off so we tried to see as much as we could. Here are a few pics and notes from a ramble round Auld Reekie.

We walked 11 miles in total. Edinburgh city centre is easy enough to walk on foot, with trams and buses if you need them.

Not a great shot but the start of our day. It’s taken from the Forth Rail Bridge with the Forth Road Bridge and newish Queensferry crossing beyond.

He’s not so widely read these days but was a serious bestseller in the past and his quotes and verse adorn Waverley station.

Edinburgh is built on hills with bridges spanning between them. So the closes between are steep climbs. It’s the kind of city with hidden bits everywhere. Keeps you fit too.

This is Watt, immortalised in marble in the Scottish Museum. He…