i was visiting glasgow from the united states for a work-related meeting and noticed that after having walked several miles each day over the course of the first few days in town, that my favourite pair of boots were in need of a new pair of heels. having a few hours free this morning, i did a quick search online for a shoe repair shop that was within walking distance of my hotel and came upon a listing for "mac's cobbler & shoe repair". the reviews looked encouraging so after a twenty minute walk, i found myself in front of mac's. walking in, i was greeted by the sound of one of the owners hard at work on a pair of shoes. he stopped what he was doing and asked how he could help me. i explained my situation and that i only had the one pair of boots and asked whether it might be possible to have them repaired while i waited since walking through the streets of glasgow in my stocking feet was not something that i would recommend for anyone. he happily obliged and went to work with a professionalism and attention to detail that let me know that i had stumbled upon a true craftsman. i learned that his name was stewart and that he and his brother were co-owners of the shop. we had a wonderful conversation, all the while, stewart was hard at work on my boots. when stewart finished and handed me my boots, i can honestly say that in the twenty plus years that i have worn them, they have never looked nor felt better. i had two regrets upon leaving the shop. the first was that i did not have more time to continue the conversation that we were having and second, that i only had the one pair of boots to give to stewart for repair. i fully intend to bring several pairs of my shoes with me on my next trip to glasgow just so that they can be worked on by such a craftsman. as i was leaving we exchanged business cards and i want to share what is written on the back since it gives some indication of the breadth of skills that stewart and his brother george possess. it says: "services include shoe repairs, key cutting, watch repairs, engraving, trophies, gifts & awards, house signs, memorial, leather work, patching & stitching, studs & rivets, saddlery, bag repairs, sharpening. odd jobs welcome. read more