Robert Fergusson in Edinburgh

Not far from David Hume, just outside the Canongate Kirkyard, I came across Robert Fergusson the poet. He isn't as famous as Robert Burns, but didn't seem bothered by this. His poems are in English and Scot's dialect, like Burns. As Burns is thought to have used at least one of Fergusson's poems as inspiration I suggested he return the compliment. Instead of a 'Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie' he write a poem about a 'Wee brave goch dragon'. Not sure he is going to do it though. He didn't like using Scots and Welsh in the first line, I thought he was being picky. I then suggested he tried a poem with the line 'Great chieftain of the Dragon Race'. He didn't like that either for some reason.

David Hume in Edinburgh

Outside Edinburgh High Court on the High Street I met David Hume the philosopher. He must spend a lot of time there as he had his own chair. We had an interesting chat, as a philosopher, rationalist and a leading light in the enlightenment that's to be expected. He wasn't too bad either. I'm not sure how his rationalism coped with chatting with a red dragon, I suspect he isn't going to mention it to many people. He might prefer it to the fact that people rub his big toe for luck.

Edinburgh Castle II

I've walked round to the front of Edinburgh Castle. It's quite long climb for my little legs. The castle is built on a volcanic plug in the middle of Edinburgh. Three sides are cliffs so I've walked up the non-cliff side. Parts of the castle were built in the 12th C with bits being added over the next few hundred years. It changed hands a few times when England and Scotland were fighting. Oliver Cromwell captured it in 1650 after a three month siege. Unusually for him he didn't destroy it. It is now a nice big castle with views for miles around and includes a museum with lots of tourists visiting it. It isn't as nice as my Castell Coch though.