Arriving in Edinburgh

The journey up to Edinburgh is a reminder of the contrasts of this country. A week ago it was littered floors, stress on the streets and skylines of urban sprawl straight out of a distopian novel. The edge of London to you and me.

Yesterday instead we drove through the rolling hills of the Lakes and onward into Scotland where we were greeted by more expanses of grand nothingness and the occasional village. Epic and a literal breath of fresh air. Once in the city limits of Edinburgh we were able to also take in the finer details of this historic city. Though this was more a reflection of the 20mph speed limit that dominates the streets rather than any conscious choice.

Eventually we rolled up outside our top floor flat, heaved our worldly possessions into it ready for the month ahead and found somewhere free to park the car to gather dust until the end of August. It was 10pm by now, time for bed surely?

No. I'd got free tickets to the launch of one of the many Edinburgh Fringe guides and I was determined we'd use them. Who cares it started at 7pm and finished at 11, to be late is to be fashionable right? So with 15 minutes to close we made it to Brewhemia, got ripped off blind at the bar (a pint + double gin and tonic = £16. SIXTEEN POUNDS!) and watched some very good acrobats do their thing on a long table.

Magazine duly read and replaced, we moved on to take in the sites and sounds of a city in waiting before heading back to the flat. It's now 3pm. We're nearly ready to go and put some posters up. The show starts tomorrow.