The Adventures of Miss Hamilton – Miss Hamilton

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER

Twenty years ago, I found myself in Edinburgh, a moneyless young backpacker, fresh out of school. My first introduction to Scotland was a night full of firsts- a ceilidh (where I quickly learnt what Scotsmen wore under their kilts), some thinly veiled ‘nutritious’ Scottish fare (though no sampling of a deep fried Mars Bar I’m sad to report), and a nightclub just off The Royal Mile where the theme song from Trainspotting pumped through the speakers as we all sang along, “…singing lager, lager, lager.”

I remember being prepared for the Scottish weather by wearing thermals under my clothes, and in the nightclub (as the lights grew hotter and the music louder,) peeling off those layers and rueing wearing long johns under my jeans. How those Scottish girls handled a wintry January in short skirts with bare legs I’ll never know.

Tonight, as a somewhat grown up with a professional job, I found myself at Trainspotting 2, (the sequel) where the gang were back together after twenty years. How far had they come? What had they achieved in the last twenty years, what had I achieved? Yes, still going to the cinema alone, but yet- still enjoying the adventure. So tonight I thought I’d touch base with the gang, see my beloved Edinburgh on the big screen and what had passed by.

Never one to enjoy the crowds, on purchasing my cinema ticket I asked the usher if the the session would be crowded. “No” was his response, “No young people will be watching this film”. With that, I smiled wryly and remarked that I’d not take that as an insult. I don’t think he’d ever seen the original Trainspotting- I don’t think he’s been to Edinburgh, the home of Begbie types who ‘don’t take kindly’ to that kind of talk. No- I smiled on and nodded my head as I walked up the stairs unaided, all the whilst “…singing lager, lager, lager.”

Go Back