I heard the Cleveland Orchestra last night when they played Ives and Bruckner 8 in the Usher hall. Great to hear the organ used for an early piece by Ives. The hall delivers a world class sound and the orchestra was fantastic.

Out this morning, using my ridacard to bus hop, for coffee with one of my writing groups. Lots of chat and eventually the lady who was occupying another table could contain herself no longer and came over. She was Susan Wilson who was staying in the hotel and had just done her talk at The Book Festival. A lovely Canadian, she was clearly enjoying the whole experience and casually dropped into the conversation the names of one or two of her friends in Edinburgh. We all reeled. Talk about starting at the top!

Getting over my jealousy, I headed off again and encountered a North American combo busking on Princes Street. They were very colourful in full costumes with those dramatic feathered headresses and attracting a well deserved crowd with their great music. I bought my ticket for my first Fringe show which will be a set of three one act plays. The venue at the Merchants' Hall was full of mums and children waiting for the start of a junior event. Scottish schools go back tomorrow so getting around in the early morning and the afternoon will become much more problematic. Three cheers for the ridacard.

Home for a late lunch taking note of all the artists in costume wandering from their digs to their venues.

Now re-grouping before an early tea (as we say in Scotland) with friends and another concert by the Cleveland Orchestra.