Modernisation

I was walking the other day in the Dean Gardens in Edinburgh, and was admiring the excellent bridge which spans the gorge. Built by Thomas Telford in 1831, it is non only a marvellous piece of engineering, it is also a piece of art.
The individual stones were each hand-carved and given their own character. The arches are beautiful to behold.
Of course, at the time the British were pre-eminent in engineering and building, with many Scots at the forefront. Scots will almost surely remain as exceptional engineers - one only has to think of Scottie in Startrek to know this. Naturally, the stereotype gloomy Scot ( " The Dylithium Crystals canna tak it sur!") is also to the forefront.
But back in 1831 Telford gave a price for the bridge and a completion date. These were accepted and he set to work.
Some three months or so before the hand-over date, the bridge was finished.
The city fathers were delighted, but Telford said " Not so fast. The handover date is when the bridge will be handed over. Until then it remains mine."
There was nothing they could do. In law this is perfectly correct.
The next morning a temporary toll-booth appeared at either end of the bridge, and for a modest sum anyone and anything could cross. Naturally it generated enormous interest, and earned Telford a huge sum of money.
On the handover date the tollbooths were taken away and there was a ceremony, after which everyone could cross for free.
It is said he earned more from the tollbooths than from building the bridge.
This was Edinburgh's " Odd wee bit of modrenisation" ( I know it's spelt wrongly, but Scots often use this particular phonetic in speech).
I was reminded of this whilst in Italy recently, when my sister-in-law remarked that despite my great age, I still had " Just the odd wee bit of modrenisation" in my makeup.