This week’s writing comes to you from the beautiful city of Edinburgh, as I have spent a long weekend visiting one of the friendliest parts of the UK.

The secret to surviving the bitter cold Northern climate at this time of the year is to wear plenty of layers and tuck into lots of haggis, neeps and tatties.

Well, that’s what the locals suggest, so who am I to argue?

I hadn’t considered the date when I booked my flight and accommodation, but it soon became clear that November 5th presented us with a spectacularly colourful skyline and wonderfully entertaining bonfire night.

This, again, got me thinking . . . aren’t we a strange species?

We are all aware that the country as a whole are facing some big financial challenges and the majority of the population are struggling to make ends meet.

Unemployment is on the increase, yet, last weekend more than £2 billion worth of fireworks went up in smoke. What are we like?