Ten Questions: Paul Nixon

Published on Wednesday 17 June 2009 09:06

Paul Nixon, 30, a tour operator from East Lothian, recently launched a digital guide to Edinburgh.

1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? Visiting the city on holiday when I was 12. We went on an open-top bus in the lashing rain and at night we stood in the car park on Castle Terrace, listening to the Tattoo.

2 What are your memories of school? St Barnabas Primary School, in Macclesfield – we did an experiment with snow from the playground.

3 Where is your favourite place in Edinburgh and why? Top of the Scott Monument. With stunning views of the city and beyond I would challenge anyone not to be impressed when they reach the top.

4 What are the best things about Edinburgh? The culture and the sense of theatre. There is drama happening everywhere you look and you get the sense that this drama has been happening for centuries in this city.

5 What would you change about the city? The speed it takes to get jobs done – road repairs, trams, gas/water repairs.

6 Describe a perfect Edinburgh day/night out. Go in to the centre of Edinburgh early and soak up the "city waking up" feeling – street cleaning, people rushing to work, tourists emerging from hotels. Full Scottish breakfast on the Royal Mile, walk it off with a stroll around Arthur's Seat. Take the family to the play area down in the Meadows. Walk down to the Grassmarket for a crepe and a look around the shops.

7 Which sports interest you? Fishing, climbing and a little football. Like everything else it is difficult to get time for sport.

8 What was your most embarrassing moment? Delivering a huge bouquet of flowers to a girl who I was trying to date. I was 17 and went into her college common room in a school I was not familiar with, it was packed full of people I did not know. I kind of threw the flowers at her, splurged out some words which I am sure did not make a sentence and ran off.

9 What is your greatest achievement? I am very much a person of the here and now and I do not believe that my greatest achievement was yesterday. Having my wonderful family to share my rather hectic life is a wonderful experience.

10 Sum up Edinburgh in three words. Vibrant, cultural, fun.