Edinburgh...

If you’ve ever sold life insurance, the great thing now is that whatever job you do in the future, it’ll always be better than that. It’s opposite to being born and always lived in Edinburgh, because then, there’s nowhere in Britain that you’re going to be able to move, without longing to be back there.

So what’s special about this city? It’s more like a large town, certainly not what you imagine a city to be. Everything centres on Princes Street, which stretches from the west end, to the east, with the gardens to the right and shops to the left, all overlooked by the towering castle, which seems to have a history of being some fortification or another ever since man stood on earth. Every nationality, religion and food is represented in Edinburgh, and after living there for 10 years, I never ran out of things to do or places to go. When you think you've eaten everywhere, some premises close down and new ones open with fresh ideas. The pubs are constantly evolving also, though you can still find the 'old fashioned' bars where they lock up at midnight and the bingo and raffles start.

Rugby is just one of the festivals of fun hosted by the city every year. Films, books, comedy, military, science, jazz the list seems just endless, and perhaps the two most famous, the Fringe Festival and Hogmanay. I could go for hours on this gem of a place, but if you want detail try...

http://www.edinburgh.org/ ... you’re in for a treat.

The rules change on a rugby weekend, you can enter pubs and even posh restaurants wearing things that would see you turned away on any other day. I once stood in a queue outside an Irish bar, everyone wearing rugby tops and others dressed as skeletons, dwarfs, priests and Trekkies, to name but a few! My friend, ‘Man U Dave’ was refused entry because he was wearing his football top! Luckily I had 4 layers on and gave him one; entry no problem then, but he was warned not to put his own top back on and to keep it hidden. That very same Sunday, still wearing my Ireland top, the police stopped me and told me that I couldn’t go into the city centre wearing 'that'. Apparently there was a sectarian march organised by the Protestants and I might have become a target! That’s why I love the place!

If you want to melt into the city and enjoy every bite, then go for a week when the Fringe Festival is on, late summer; Edinburgh at its best. A rugby weekend will only give you one flavour, but if that's the menu you're looking for, you won't be disappointed.

On Saturday 9th March the kick off is at 2.30pm. so what time should you get there? If you are going straight to the game without any of the pre-match festivities then reconsider. The pubs will start to fill up from about 11am, and the drinking areas are many. Rose street, which runs parallel at the back of Princes Street will see you

served quickly, it's just a bit further away from the ground, but after the match, the most popular. The area around Haymarket Station will be inundated early on, with too few staff trying to serve too may fans, all shouting at the same time. I drink Guinness and a neat trick I learnt was to paint a small pint on my cheek (face that is!), which I only need to point to and hold 4 fingers up to get the round understood from a distance. Don't waste time planning on Taxis or buses to the ground, it won't happen. Two hours before the game the road system on that side of town comes to a standstill, nothing moves apart from people on foot and pigeons scrambling for the layer of fast food coating the pavement behind them. 

A brill place to go is the Murrayfield Hotel, near the ground, but well prepared to sell volume in every way. They have a separate 'bottle only' bar, an outside 'Guinness tent' and I'm sure the dozens of staff can lip read! They do more drink trade on the 2 or 3 rugby days than in the whole rest of the year, but pray for a sunny day when everyone can expand into the garden. It's only a short walk to the ground, but don't underestimate how much drink will still be in your bladder on that short walk. I've seen grown men cry in the queue at the turnstiles and even unable to hold on. Entrepreneurial families set up stalls in their gardens along the way, selling hot dogs, burgers and even hog roast, but I think they'd make more money by putting a portaloo in the front garden and charging £1 a shot! Beware the dozens of charity collectors waving buckets at you as you approach the ground, though who knows, they may all be genuine!

Try and be in the stadium about 20 minutes before the start, because the anthems are very moving and you get a chance to say hello to your immediate neighbours who'll appreciate you not scrambling over them 5 minutes after kick off. It's great to soak up the atmosphere in this lovely stadium and look forward to another epic encounter.