Ever since it worked for me and I got lucky in an Old Course ballot when it was imperative I secured a tee time for a round with my Japanese boss I have kept a keen eye out for a penny on the pavement. I recall exactly where I found that one. On the walkway from the St James Centre in Edinburgh leading across the road over to Baillie Gifford’ office.
You will know the old adage obviously. “See a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck”. Of course, not only do you need a keen eye to spot them, and they are rare enough, especially in Edinburgh, but you need to do so at an opportune moment. It is quite easy to catch ones fellow pedestrians unaware regardless of how adroitly one swoops to the ground to retrieve ones find. The happy combination of these circumstances are as hard to come by as hens teeth.
Last Friday however I was trudging along Old Broad Street on my way in from Liverpool Street station when joy of joys I spotted a little blighter and the opportunity presented itself. It was raining and dark and a delayed train meant I was running a bit late, but there was no one directly behind me so gleefully I plucked the coin out of the puddle it was resting in and popped it in my pocket happy in the knowledge my day was made. Perhaps another client would sign a research agreement or maybe I would go and buy a lottery ticket I mused. By midday however I couldn’t say anything out of the ordinary had occurred though I was relieved that the client, who had called in to cancel the arrangement we had made to lunch the following Monday, was able to bring it forward to that very day. And I managed to get a table at short notice at Wright Brothers. So fish and chips at the desk was at least avoided and we were having a pleasant lunch, but churlish though it may sound neither of these were quite on a par with a round on the Old. At risk of boring my lunch companion I started to tell him about that mornings find and reached into my slightly gritty pocket to display it. Thank goodness I hadn’t got round to buying a lottery ticket. It was a dime. What are the odds of that on Old Broad Street. Just a hop skip and a jump away from the Bank of England too.
There is a postscript if one were needed for this lame little story. I was in Edinburgh on Wednesday night and caught up with an old friend for dinner at the New Club. My first return to the Club since an incident there with an old buffer which culminated with me singing him a song from HMS Pinafore to prove how good my memory was. I had learnt my lines as Captain Corcoran at prep school in 1976. I digress. There I was waiting outside the Clubs front door on Princes Street having buzzed for entry when on the pavement I spotted, indisputably, a penny. The second one I have ever found in Scotland and quite probably a New Club members coin too. Hurrah for that. I had a lovely evening and felt lucky enough for that to be honest.
I’ve had a torrid old week though with regards to our favourite topic MIFID2, but the good thing about the new regulatory environment is that as everything will be above board post January 3rd 2018 it shouldn’t be a problem if I popped round early in the New Year with a lavish prize for the winner of this years Christmas competition. YES. COMPETITION TIME!!! Your challenge if you care to accept it is to write a limerick incorporating the words MiFID 2. I’ll try to come up with one too. Let the mind roam free and may your fingers effortlessly trip out something witty and hilarious.
Talking of MiFID this might just be the penultimate Bodhi Tree you’ll ever get if you don’t get signed up with us to receive this substantive and opinionated drivel so with that happy thought I’m off for dinner in London with Jimmy and her boyfriend. Pip pip.
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