I’m in a time warp, a parallel universe. Days as I used to know them don’t exist. If you ask me what today is, I may say it’s Saturwednesmonday. Days are blurring into weeks. Have I ever been anywhere else? Did the 2018 fringe end yesterday? Am I really riding a bike on the roads? (And by the way, yes I am. I haven’t ridden a bike since I was 12 and absolutely never on the road. Like – on roads with buses and taxis and lorries and pedestrians). And that’s what happens in Edinburgh. Things that you never even thought about suddenly become your normal way of life. The cheery daily hello from a man sitting on the pavement surrounded by his balancing stones. The gathering of the team, the handing out of the flyers, the search for.. well… just where have our posters been put?
Our actor is doing a fantastic job. Thomas Dennis inhabits the world of Wireless Operator; Thomas Dennis is John. The play ends and he is drenched with emotion. Our audience is choked with emotion. We’ve discovered we can’t record little voice pops afterwards because they really can’t speak. Some sob. Some look blotchy. We’re the blotchy show.
Meanwhile, it’s Edinburgh weather. Early on it seduces you into thinking it’s summer. By the time you have to flyer, it’s wet. Afternoons can be cold. Or muggy. As I type right now, we’ve been in the middle of a thunderstorm for some time and I’ve just learnt it’s going to be warmer tonight at 10.00pm than it is now. Remembering there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. Now have to remember to take entire wardrobe with so that always have access to the right clothes. Or just get wet / hot / cold …
This year, the city council has closed what seems like all roads in the festival area. The whole of Edinburgh has ground to a traffic halt and people Are. Not. Pleased. There seems to be an acceptance that it’s a mistake but no-one seems willing to rectify it. It’s really tough on Edinburgh. And we Ed Fringers can always walk. Sorry. Run. I am always running because, dear friends, 24 hours per day is just not enough.
Oh. The Pigeon? Another time. I’ve got to run…
