Tight ChangeI fear the credit crunch has hit Embra judging from the increase in the number of mendicants in the Princes Street area-one well dressed guy may have been surplus to Royal Bank of Scotland requirements is now in the place where the long term beggar with the wee dog in the flak jacket used to be. No sign of him. He may have made a fortune from a hedge fund and moved on, or it is just too bloody cold.
A new recruit to the fraternity has taken up his position on the Fleshmarket steps. I was coming down just behind a very well dressed prosperous looking bloke who was accosted by the mendicant with the routine inquiry as to the availability of loose change. The VWDPLB stopped and asked, rather aggressively as to what 'Loose change constitutes in your book' The novice mendicant looked the inquirer up and down slowly and said 'You look good for 20p' The VWDPLB stormed off muttering something about bloody insolence.
I joyfully parted with a quid.
Without being asked
My battered, tattered fleece may not have looked worth a P.
Labels: Embra, Mendicants
