Ginnie Atkinsonis the managing director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival which runs until Sunday. She lives in Merchiston.
1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? I remember going down the High Street in the morning to primary school with my dad.
2 What are your memories of school? I was at Moray House Primary, then, when I was a
ged ten, I went to George Watson's College. I remember the art department being a haven, the orchestra playing every morning at assembly, the incredible cloud of smoke in the staff room, loving history and English, and being caught singing Beatles songs at the top of our voices in the cloakroom.
3 Where is your favourite place in Edinburgh and why? I love the top of The Mound because of the view. I also remember coming around the corner from George IV Bridge one October afternoon when I was at school. It was nearly sunset and the sun was orange and the whole city was bathed in that low autumn light. It was magical.
4 What are the best things about Edinburgh? There are so many good things about Edinburgh – the architecture, the light, Arthur's Seat, its scale, my friends ...
5 What would you change about the city? We need to reconsider the whole conversation about traffic and public transport. I'll never forget that scene in Absolutely Fabulous when Eddy parked her mini on the pavement outside Harvey Nics. I think a lot of us were cringing because it showed up our desire to park exactly where we want to be and not walk a yard. I think that's a bit how people think it should be in Edinburgh. As we live in a small city, we think we'll just jump in the car.
6 Describe a perfect Edinburgh day/night out. It would involve a trip to Sam Burn's second hand goods yard at Prestonpans, a picnic at Yellowcraigs beach, ice-cream at Luca's on the way home then drinks and dinner at The Shore. The point is that you can get to these places so easily all within 30 minutes.
7 Which sports interest you? I love swimming and tennis.
8 What was your most embarrassing moment? It has to be having Sean Connery take the mickey out of me when I asked him whether his phone number had 007 in it.
9 What is your greatest achievement? Well it isn't just mine by any means as it takes around 200 people to do it every year, but the Edinburgh International Film Festival has to be right up there.
10 Sum up Edinburgh in three words. Unique, fabulous, manageable.
The full article contains 445 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
