It wouldn’t be August without me posting something on here about Edinburgh. Admittedly, I am cutting it fine.
August has always been the busiest month in terms of activity both on here and in the real world. And I am pleased to report that I have been in Auld Reekie. But for the first time ever, I visited Edinburgh without performing a single comedy gig. I wasn’t planning on performing there this year and I stuck meticulously to that plan, or lack thereof.
It is a city that holds so many memories for me, with joy and pain in equal measure – although there are certain venues where the balance is more heavily tipped in one direction.
While Edinburgh will forever be linked with performing for me, it made a nice change to not have to worry at any point about the stresses of navigating through the crowds to get to a particular location at a specific time and then have to go through the pre-gig rituals. Normally, this would involve finding a toilet at the venue and hoping there was toilet roll and soap, and ideally a toilet seat. The latter can be a luxury at certain venues though.
The main reason I was in town was to see Amyl and the Sniffers, who were amazing. There aren’t many performers like the frontwoman Amy Taylor these days. She is a bundle of manic energy and never stops moving around the stage, which is exactly how I like my lead singers.
I was planning to do a show this year, then ended up buying a flat that took up most of my time, energy, and the crucial funds needed to pay for this ridiculously expensive venture. I still had to rush around the cobbled streets to see some shows, with some giving me the urge to want to perform at the Fringe again. I have two main ideas for a show. One is, of course, HTWAPQ. But the other idea contains zombies and is already proving a lot of fun to write.
While I didn’t take a show up to Edinburgh, I have been heavily involved in a work-in-progress project in London that is proving possibly even more expensive. I am referring to my flat. I’m acting as more a producer and funder here. The redecorations are bordering on renovations and the work is much more intensive than originally realised, not to mention costly. But the plasterer has finally cometh this week, which feels like a significant step forward. The redecorating work may even be complete within the next couple of weeks, and I’ll get to move in properly – a mere three months after getting the keys.