Phoenix Sleuth

Father’s Day came early this year my oldest daughter Jessa took me to see Ringo Starr’s current All Starr Band – Ringo Starr, of course, Steve Lukather Lead guitar and bass (TOTO), Colin Hay (Men at Work), Warren Ham Multiple instruments (Kansas and TOTO), Hamish Stuart Bass and Guitar (Average White Band, Paul McCartney), Gregg Bissonette Drummer (The David Lee Roth Band, Joe Satriani band, Electric Light Orchestra Jughead) and Buck Johnson Keyboard (Hollywood Vampires, Steven Tyler, The Joe Perry Project, Brother Cane). What a great night. Thank You Jessa!

Taking a break from vacation stuff to remind everyone of this wonderful Zoom event, and you're invited.

“Revving Your Author Power!”
The 2026 Spring Break for Writers Conference ~ Online via Zoom
June 20, 2026

A Full Day of Award-winning Authors, Industry Experts and Outstanding Workshops!

Featuring: Ellen Byron, Hallie Ephron, Diane Fanning, Jeffrey James Higgins, D P Lyle,
Karen Odden, Adam Plantinga, Heather Weidner and Simon Wood!
This is open to All Writers, Readers and Members of the Public. Register Today! https://grandcanyonwriters.com/spring-break-for-writers-conference-2026/

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, stands on Castle Rock, which has been occupied since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcolm III in the 11th century, and the castle continued to be a royal residence until 1633. Photo 4, top section: They fired the green cannon at 1pm. Below the big cannon, Mons Meg is a medieval bombard built in 1449 on the orders of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and sent by him as a gift to James II, King of Scots, in 1454.

Walking through Edinburgh, Scotland, reminded me of my favorite Scottish author, Catriona McPherson! The history and architecture were phenomenal. We ate at a few places during our stay, but the White Hart Inn is celebrated as the city's oldest tavern. Operating since 1516, it serves classic Scottish pub fare (like award-winning haggis) and real ales. It's famous for its literary history and reported hauntings.

My daughter Jessa arranged for me to experience the true taste of Scotch whisky in Edinburgh. I explored 5 distinct Scottish whisky (no e in whisky here) regions at The Scotch Whisky Experience. A guided tour with nosing and tasting helped to discover the difference between sweet, fruity Speyside malts to rich, smoky Islay drams. It is also home to the Diageo Claive Vidiz Whisky Collection, the largest collection of Scotch in the world.

We could see Calton Hill from the 10th floor of our hotel during breakfast and decided to take the 15-minute walk to the city center's highest vantage point. It offered sweeping, panoramic views of the city skyline, the ocean in the distance, Princes Street Gardens, and the Firth of Forth. It also has the iconic unfinished National Monument.

The train from London to Edinburgh, Scotland, was fast and scenic, arriving in Edinburgh Waverly in about 4 hours and 8 minutes. Just a few blocks from our hotel, the W Edinburgh. This 12-story hotel had a 360-degree seasonal rooftop bar, offering panoramic views across Calton Hill, Edinburgh Castle, and the city skyline.

The iconic "Pink Bus" for afternoon tea in London is the English Tea Bus, operated by Golden Tours, which offers a 90-minute panoramic sightseeing tour past major landmarks (like the London Eye, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace) while serving sandwiches, cakes, and scones.

Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs and a burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs. At least 16 royal weddings have taken place at the abbey since 1100.

Winston Churchill’s War Rooms unlocked the history of WW2 and revealed how they were left as is at the war’s end in 1945. It’s a modern museum section that traces the man’s life, which was both political and controversial. The telephones on the table in photo 4 didn’t ring, but lit up when someone called. Churchill’s office and bedroom are in photo 5. His hats are displayed in photo 7. A great adventure suggested to me by retired U.S. Marshal Jeff Parris.