Bill Maxwell, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

A dreich day so we decide to drive into Edinburgh to the Scottish National Portrait gallery thinking it would be quiet on a Sunday afternoon.

Big mistake!

Half the city centre seems to be dug up with traffic diverted to make way for the trams - over budget and years behind schedule.

(Original cost £375 in 2003 now revised to over £1billion.)

Parking impossible. No sign of recession as shoppers pour into Harvey Nicks.

We are glad to get into the sanctuary of the Portrait Gallery and to be welcomed by Bill Maxwell at the door.

We complain about the traffic. He shakes his head.
"Edinburgh is not the place to bring a car these days."

Quite.