“Sometimes going the extra mile only takes a moment – it’s the fact that the ‘extramilee’ appreciates it that’s important. Picture the scene. It’s the underground carpark adjacent to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and it’s immediately after a Scottish Tourism Forum evening reception there. We return to the car. Cash for the parking fee? I have none. She has no handbag. We have one of those ‘But I thought you’d carry cash…’ conversations. I fume out of the carpark to find a cashpoint. Luckily, there’s one nearby. But I need coins. Where’s the nearest shop open at this time of night? Wait a minute, I’m passing the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel. Next moment, I’m inside, explaining to a smiling young man at reception of my plight – trapped in an underground carpark. It’s no problem, change is quickly produced and he finds the whole episode perfectly understandable and amusing. Problem solved. Just a few seconds of service-giving with charm and politeness. Under the circumstances, that’s an extra mile in my book. So we escaped imprisonment behind the barrier and will always have coins in the glove compartment from now on! ”