Ten Questions: Linda McDonald

Linda McDonald, 48, from Gyle, is founder of Malawi Underprivileged Mothers and Edinburgh's Citizen of the Year 2008.

1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? Coming to Edinburgh to start my nursing training in 1978 to live in the nurses accommodation we had to stay in for the first 18 months.

2 What are your memories of school?

The first school I attended was Park School, Glasgow, which was a very regimented private girls school, so I couldn't wait to move on to Charing Cross secondary and be introduced to some boys.

3 Where is your favourite place in Edinburgh and why? I still absolutely love Princes Street, no matter what people say about some of the shops there. The Gardens and the view of the Castle means it will always be special.

4 What are the best things about Edinburgh? The history and the beauty of the place. I'm also tempted to say the people of Edinburgh, but most of the people I know aren't born-and-bred, they've come in from elsewhere and seen how beautiful it is.

5 What would you change about the city? The traffic and all of the roadworks. I know these things have to be done but you can't get moving. I'd also change the shops on Princes Street. Some of them are rubbish! It's been eclipsed by George Street, despite Princes Street being more iconic.

6 Describe a perfect Edinburgh day/night out. Getting a bus to George Street, meeting friends and having a nice lunch and a drink and watching the world go by.

7 Which sports interest you? I do Pilates. After spending 30 years as a nurse I have a lot of back problems so it helps me align my central core.

8 What was your most embarrassing moment? Being a midwife I'm always chatting to pregnant women and asking them when they're due, but a couple of times I've been told they weren't expecting. They were just fat!

9 What is your greatest achievement? Apart from bringing up my lovely children and finding true love, it has to be setting up MUMs and producing a charity concert at the Usher Hall. Seeing all people like Tom Farmer turn up and knowing they're all there because of me was a wonderful thrill.

10 Sum up Edinburgh in three words. Historic. Beautiful. Home.