Edinburgh

I am in Edinburgh, visiting my sister and her rock star husband. She kindly arranged a bunch of tickets for the Fringe (the main purpose was to get away, not hang out with drama students or ambitious stand-ups, but made sense to catch some of it). So, as the Replacements play on Martin's magnificent stereo, and it pisses down outside, here's the review so far. (Teenage Fanclub, and an argument between Alan McGee and Tony Blair over whether Norman or Gerard were the best songwriter made a nostalgic story in the paper on the way up).

1. Despite instructions to avoid any comics who are likely to pick on their audience, that is exactly what happened at the first gig - David O'Doherty: Let's Comedy, at the Stand Comedy Club. This turned out to be at the Police Association's social club, which made for a good opening, with obvious jokes about the Boys in Blue's fondness for the Irish (actually, most of the skits were well-ploughed ground - yes, more about the silliness of text templates, viz. conversation on the train to the Hop Farm Festival - but D O'D's affable, intelligent, slightly spiky, presentation more than made up for this). For some reason, I was talking about Daniel's badger attack on the way there, and then the subject of badger attacks came up in the show. Coincidence? I don't think so. So I laughed, and then was accused of romaticising the beastly brock a la Wind in the Willows. I may be too defensive here... E=MC2 joke (Marie Curie and Einstein) I've heard before, too. Still a good one. Liked at the tech joke stuff (mac owners and their bongs... ), and the toothbrush story has the makings of a classic. Three and a Half Highland Springs out of Five.

2. What Would Ferris Do. A rather feeble show buried in the bottom of the Espionage Club. Think my website is better, and at least questions Bueller in some way. Surely, the guy is a dick, while also being very cool? A series of bar-end skits, embarrassing interaction with a 15-year old in the audience, and a teenage revellry in rude jokes and swearing was tiring. Worst of all was the sense of seize the day, even if that meant giving up a job as a computer programmer and eeking out what looked like a not very successful stand-up comedy career. Harsh? Well, Ferris would have told it like it was, and he knew he was going to sell out and work in the city. Sure, kick back and look around once in a while, but you can't beat The Man. That was John Hughe's reactionary, if probably realistic, message. But a good point, why was Ferris a 15? And a nice badge given out at the end (during sneaky whip round). One HS/5

3. Spiegeltent. Much amusement at smeagaltent, etc. Would rather be at the South Sea Seaport, where Laura Cantrell is set to play at said US tent. Speaking off, discovered some old Strode pals via friend on FB. One of whom is in Manhattan with child, the other seems obsessed with US history. Not sure what he would make of my grubbing around the detritus of UK constitutional history at TNA. (Reminds me, must add Sarah and John Austin to list of future blog posts, i.e., what's not in).

4. Swedish Pastries. Clearly, Edinburgh has its own yuppie media types, who need their own Nordic Bakery. Cardamon buns and poppie cakes to be recommended, as is the coffee, people watching, classical guitar in the distance, and the friendly, leggy american waitress.

5. Dell Outlet. Seems like their own website and servers are not to be trusted. Nonetheless, an XPS should be on its way to me. I have come up with Shaw's Law, which states that one's own computer will appear impossibly slow which each passing year, even if no new software is added.

6. The Crags. The best thing on the fringe of Edinburgh.

7. Neologising. My favourite new pastime: gok, vb., to dress someone up, e.g 'You need gokking'. Neologize, vb., the game of inventing words. Esp. verbs.

8. Foto. Avant-garde photography in central europe. I had problems with this, and may post about it later.