Shayne, Victoria Park

“Edinburgh is a wonderful place to live. I used to live in London but Edinburgh has all the advantages and very few of the disadvantages of London. I just love the culture, the architecture, being close to the sea - it's got everything.

But getting older is challenging. My husband and I are alone now. Our children have left home. I don't really like social media. It's good in some ways but although, in one sense, we’re very connected now we've also never been so disconnected. But having a dog is a big help in countering loneliness. Teddy’s a rescue dog and he definitely has issues! But I wouldn't be without him. It's really important to get outside if possible and not to just stay indoors.”

Alfred and Nicola, Princes Street Gardens

What’s her best quality?

“She’s so kind and caring. She cares about everybody whether she knows them or not. And she has amazing eyes too.”

And what’s his best quality?

“His eyes. Look at them. They're two different colours! And he's just who he is. He never tries to fit in. He's just out there.”

Richard, Ferry Road

“I’m afraid I’ve inherited a rather difficult personality.”

How do you cope with that?

“There was a young man who once dined with a certain Duchess. She said to him, ‘Tell me, young man, what do you do?’ He replied, ‘I do what I can, your grace.’

That’s it. You do what you can.”

Zhujeta, The Meadows

“I’m Albanian. I grew up in Tirana, and I love it there. My husband is British and has an academic post here in Edinburgh. This is a wonderful country but I miss Albania. Tirana is a beautiful city, much better than many people think. I go there to buy some of the clothing I sell here at Demode Vintage.

There are two things that I’ve struggled with here. I found English difficult. It’s OK now. But I still don’t get British politeness. We Albanians are very direct. I think you’d consider us rude. I still rely on my husband to tell me when a British person means what they are saying and when they’re just being polite!”

Nida, Cables Wynd

“I’m soft-hearted, but I don’t like being taken advantage of. I was working as a nanny and at first everything was fine. But then they began to demand that I work extra hours that they weren’t paying me for. So I said I’d leave and find another job.

I don’t think that they thought that I’d do it. But I did.”

Ross, Maritime Lane

“I love Edinburgh, I love my job and I love being outdoors.”

Linda, Elm Row

“Our car was hit by a drunk driver. That did a lot of damage to me as a person, both physically and mentally. It changed me as a person. That was twenty years ago and I think to this day I struggle with the psychological impact. I'd been with my husband since we were 17 years old and I was 33 when I had the car crash. It changed me so much that my marriage broke up. But I find happiness in just living one day at a time.”

Two Marias, St James Quarter

What’s the best thing about your friendship?

“Everything!"

Tim, Melville Drive

“The Covid pandemic was the most challenging time in my life. I'd never experienced the loss of anyone close to me before 2020 when it took my dad's life. Then it claimed the lives of other people I knew, including my boss who owned the restaurant where I was chef. Shortly after that my sister's 20-year-old son was killed in an accident.

My mental health went downhill for quite a while after that. What helped me most was talking honestly about what I had gone through and about how I was feeling. I'm fortunate to have a supportive family but, whoever you are, if you're struggling with your mental health you should not be ashamed of that. Talking honestly with someone about what's going on is really helpful.”

Gino, Craigmillar

“I have MS. My father had it before me. My first symptoms appeared in 2009 when I discovered that I couldn't dance properly.  My legs wouldn't do what I asked them to do anymore. That was really frustrating. In 2016 I decided to take an ex-girlfriend on a Caribbean cruise but two weeks before the cruise my MS deteriorated dramatically and I found myself in a wheelchair. I've been in it ever since. We went on the cruise though.

I was a motor trade technician. I was made unemployed in 2016 because I didn't have the strength in my hands to tighten things to their proper torque anymore. I lived on the lowest level of income support. I had £70 pounds a week to live on. That was hard. Other healthy people who were unemployed were getting more like £90 a week. You just survive.

The worst things are the leg spasms. They start at four o'clock in the afternoon and carry on for four hours. Sometimes the amphetamines stop it but not always. I don't like using them because they keep me awake and then I only sleep for two hours. There's little chance I'll be alive in a year's time. I have a Do Not Resuscitate band on my wrist.

I have a daughter who lives nearby but it's just myself and the cat in the flat. It's better that way.”

Mike, Leith Links

“Six years ago I woke up one morning and I couldn't walk. I fell flat on the floor when I got out of bed. It was scary. I spent six and a half months in hospital having tests. I had more holes in me from all the doctors' needles than a third-hand dartboard. But I have a great wife. Her name is Chrissy. There were only seven days in all that time that I was in hospital that she didn't visit me. I've been told I'll never walk again. My hamstrings are like dried spaghetti. They have no flexibility. But I come to the Links every day on this scooter to throw sticks for the dog. She’s called Rhoda. She loves this.

By the way mate, keep your camera out of sight around here. There are people here who'd pull that off you in a split second."

Gulalai, St James Quarter

What message would you like to send out to the world?

“I wish we would stop fighting over our religions. If someone wants to practice Christianity or Islam or Judaism, then let them. We should care for each other and speak about our problems. The Jews didn't deserve what happened to them in the Second World War and what Hamas did to them was terrible. And the Palestinian people didn’t deserve what's happened to them in Gaza. Gazans aren't only Muslim, there are many Christians there as well. I feel very sorry for all of them.”

Tam, Salamander Place

“I love this job. Lots of people come and speak to me. Mark Thompson the actor was in a film studio just down the road here last week. He came over and spoke to me and he told me that’s he’d love to have my job!”

Kamal, St James Quarter

“I always carry my beads. If you have them in your hand it reminds you to pray to God and I just pray about whatever comes to my mind.

The last messenger Allah said he would send is Muhammad. But only Jesus will come back. And he says that when he comes we have to follow him. And do you know why? Because Jesus is not like us. God raised him. God bestowed on him so many miracles that he didn't bestow on any other. Even like raising the dead. It's really scary. But he's not like us. And he's coming back - it's not something everybody should be looking forward to. But it will smell like roses for all those who believe.”