We started this year's official Festival in a Peony Pavilion courtesy of China's national ballet. The dancing was some of the most elegant I've ever had the pleasure of watching and like all the productions so far, there's a little touch of the absur... Read more

'Are we doing anything at the Fringe, then?' the husband wanted to know. It was vaguely combative which might be ascribed to my let's see what draws us in attitude. Husband has a diary and the croquet has been a bit neglected while all this arts stuf... Read more

Stamina is a necessity for the Festival and Fringe goer. Since I last posted, I've been to a fringe Clowning event called Pas Perdus. It was performed by four multi-talented young men from Belgium. Catch them if you're in Edinburgh, at Southside, 2.... Read more

Yesterday's champagne and Aga eats were a real treat. Mrs Moneypenny delivered exactly what she had promised. In an audience comprising Mr and Mrs Alastair and Maggie Darling (she helped with the cooking, he's on a diet - according to her - but... Read more

On a beautiful Scottish island golf course two years ago, I was bitten or stung by an unidentified insect. I dropped to my knees in pain unable even to scream. There are Fringe experiences, folks, in that category but as a playwriting practitioner I... Read more

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,... Read more

Not all Edinburghers leave town! Some of us relish the four weeks of cultural overdrive, thank our lucky star for being resident and get stuck in. Only this year I was elswhere when the Fringe's 2 for 1 ticket offer weekend was on. Drat! However, car... Read more