7664/20603
Who could have predicted that Edinburgh in December would have been snowy and freezing? I've been up to this city most years since 1987, but nearly missed out in 2023. That was, of course, my choice and I didn't feel mentally ready to return to the Fringe. But it feels like a different place outside of the Festivals and I didn't get to go to many of my old haunts, though did walk past the sadly still boarded up cinema where I did the 12 Tasks of Hercules Terrace nearly 20 years ago. And the little coffee booth next door where I fell in love with the girl working there but never told her my imaginary feelings. That may have been more driven by lust than love. Nothing wrong with lust though. And this was courtly lust, which is the acceptable kind that bothers no one but yourself.
The snow didn't stop our flight - really the only practical and cost effective way to get up here for a one off gig. Otherwise Bec would have had to drive up the day before and even in December Edinburgh hotels are prohibitively expensive! And we couldn't rely on trains to get here. Last time I did that when we went to Glasgow in 2019, we had to get a cab to Milton Keynes as the London trains were cancelled and it cost us over £100 extra. Tours run on tight margins. It's a shame that our railway system is so run down.
The flight was fine, though at the end a frantic young woman jumped out of her seat before the plane had stopped as she was concerned that her bag was too far away for her to reach, as she's had to place it a few rows behind her seat. Pretty much everyone else was in a similar boat (sorry plane), but they were all prepared to wait or have someone pass it down to them. The cabin staff tried to stop her, but she persisted and got her way. But she looked like a bit of a ninny. The greatest punishment of all.
I didn't have time to look round Edinburgh as I had lots of prep to do for tonight's show. I was pretty tired, having woken at 4 this morning, but luckily my guests were funny and fascinating and I didn't feel weary again until past midnight. Marjolein Robertson had some great and scary ghost stories, revealed the danger of keeping bones in a bag for life and a take down of our lying king and Ian Rankin was terrific and open about his writing and his career and I hope inspirational to other writers. He wrote about ten books before he started to enjoy bestseller status and shows the value of persistence and self-belief. And reassuringly for me his writing process is to not plan and see where the story takes him. Which is my writing process too. Arguably he has been more successful. But Rankin is responsible for the death of a pig and though he is a knight, the Edinburgh folk also knight zoo animals, so I still win.
It had been a bit of a slog getting my weary bones here, but very much worth it. Around about 450 people in the audience, making it the third biggest show of the tour so far and a very receptive audience and fabulous guests. And that's me done with live work until next year (unless something comes up) and I think I will take it easy for December (like I have for all of 2023) though there may be some more remote interviews. It's been really amazing to bring this show out to some of its audience and luckily I've been fit enough to keep my energy up. It's been an honour to talk to so many talented and amazing guests. Both of tonight's were extraordinary and inspiring people. What a job I have managed to wangle for myself.
