Edinburgh Fringe Festival

There's a play called 'Bones' that I'd quite like to see..they actually performed it here in Derby last week, but I didn't get to see it [it's set around Nottingham]. It's on at 'Zoo' The Aviary [does that mean the actual Zoo?] 5-28 AUG. I've only ever wandered around the Fringe..never seen any plays there. May try to make more of an event of it next year [this year seems to be flying by and I'm achieving very little]. We'll have to put together a 'plan' for next year, Dordor! If you have time when you get back, can you do a review please as I'll only have one day up there!

Sure thing, Crimson, when I've come to my senses which I expect will be fairly seriously frazzled!! (I hope . . .) I've got tickets for Worbey and Farrell at the Udderbelly Pasture, An Evening with David Sedaris, Dr Phil's Rude Health Show and Chat Masala with Hardeep Singh Kohli so far. No plays yet; I'm waiting to see what happens when I get there.

Hardeep..is he the guy who wears a turban and a kilt? I love him! Also Dr Phil..he was on telly the other night talking about something really interesting [except I can't remember what it was].

Yep that's them. Being a Norfolk Dumpling I'm beginning to worry about my knees on the Edinburgh Hills, but if I'm seeing Dr Phil I guess I'll be ok

Dordor, I am in Edinburgh all the time!

Crimson "Bones" is on at a venue called "Zoo" in the Pleasance, not in the actual Zoo.

Thanks Elegran! Would've looked a right lemon searching for the Zoo, zoo, wouldn't I .

Do I have to book in advance for things or can I just turn up? Not sure which day I'll be going ad have no internet access oop north.

There are central box offices for regular festival and for fringe, but a lot of the less hyped shows have empty seats if you just turn up. Lucky dip. You get endless leaflets thrust into your hands on Princes St and the Royal Mile by people pushing their own production, and the local papers are full of reviews. Do you have copies of the programmes? There are mountains of them at the moment in libraries, tourist info places etc.

PS - bring a brolly and plastic mac

Not going for a couple of weeks; hopefully the Monsoon Season will be over and it will be Indian Summer by then .

Elegran I'll try to make a badge with Dordor on it so you might spot me. Somehow though I expect you try to avoid the busy bits of the Festival as it must be a bit like torture for residents, I imagine. Anyhow, I look like a gran (silver hair, spectacles, well-rounded), will be carrying a thumb-stick, andspending quite a lot of time in the Udderbelly Pasture area.

Dordor I have a bright turquoise umbrella. Since it is most likely to be raining, I shall have that with me. If its not raining, I shall pretend it is a sunshade.

I don't promise to be around - my movements these days depend on how DH is feeling. I don't like to leave him on his own for too long. We will have family to visit on Sunday (not all day but long enough to eat into what is left) and on the 16th we leave to spend a week in Bristol with DD1. Organising that took some doing, but Easyjet are giving us special assistance. It will probably be DH's last trip away so I hope it all goes off OK.

So I might see you, might not. Have a good time, anyway.

If you want a nice meal without breaking the bank I can recommend Hanedan, a very small Turkish restaurant, website www.hanedan.co.uk/ The mixed starter (lalezar) is a meal in itself, and the mixed grill (karishik ishgara ) - nothing like a British mixed grill - plus a side order of cucumber yoghurt and mint was just delicious. Very nice people too. It may be crowded out during the festival, of course, booking is a good idea.

Many thanks for that Elegran. I will keep my eyes open for an elegant turquoise umbrella, thanks, and look at the turkish restaurant you recommend.

I wish you a happy trip with your DH - I have travelled in the past with family members in failing health, and I remember how well worth it all the effort was: the memories will sustain you when needed.

Look our for a show called Frozen Stills - it is my son's girlfriend and her company.

Travelling oop north tomorrow; have just had a phone call from my daughter to say she's back from her holiday and, guess what she just told me? Bones is actually written by someone she knew at school, so I'm definately going to get to Edinburgh to see it. Small world or what?

Back home now after a brilliant visit to Edinburgh Fringe. Sorry not to have bumped into you Elegran, but there were just a few people in the way! Saw Worbey and Farrell, Nunsense, The Hamiltons, Chris Cox, the London Gay Men's Choir, some of Showstoppers, Dr Phil Hammond's (very) Rude Health show, Hardeep Singh Kholi, Michael Winslow, Christopher Douglas, Phil Jupitus with Andy Smart, Steve Steen and Ian something, and Simon Callow's "Tuesday at Tescos" which was extraordinary and breathtakingly good. Also got played Bach for Breakfast and spent some while in The Abbatoir, nearly got tripped over by Nicholas Parsons (think he was a bit tired and emotional), and fell in love with Edinburgh, specially the buses. Can't wait to go again. Who'll join me?

PS The weather was not Scottish at all - only one half day of rain, and I completely failed to find the Cafe Royal, which was a bit feeble, but we did have tea and scones at Jenners . .

Agree with Dordor about Edinburgh; had a fantastic day there..only managed to see Bones and visit Greyfriars Bobby's grave [I cried.....]. Found a wonderful shop called Ragamuffin..was going to go back another day but ran out of time..good job as I would have spent too much. Have you come across a gallery called Rhu Ba Ba, Elegran..it's my friends daughters, but I didn't have time to visit it?