When this illustrious building was being constructed - I was a mere cog in the machinery - as a general laborer on minimum wage - I think around £5 ( less than $10) an hour - shoveling concrete. However, I can say now it was one of the happiest times of my life so far. Climbing to the top and generally enjoying myself with a good bunch of lads - and some grumpy foreman. Within months I was earning significantly more than this as an IT Consultant on a US Government Project far away in Moscow.

It was a great time of my life, that Edinburgh summer of 2003.