Just got back from spending a week in Scotland, firstly in Edinburgh and then in Aviemore again. I headed up by train to my third Edinburgh Fringe last Monday morning, and was quite shocked that all the travelling went pretty smoothly! I got into Edinburgh just after half one, and walked down to Gag Reflex’s office (which was further out this year) where I hung out there until I was able to head back to the student halls I was staying in, just on the edge of The Meadows, less than 10 minutes walk from George Square.

I was there from the Monday to Thursday, and saw 18 shows in all, which isn’t too bad considering I was only there for 3 days and 3 evenings. In fact, on the Wednesday I managed to cram in 7 shows which was quite a feat! All the ones I saw this year were good, with my favourites probably being Ben Hart, Colin Cloud, Ed Byrne and John Robins.

One really cool thing that happened during the week was I’m I’m 99% sure that top director Edgar Wright was sitting a few seats behind me at ‘Phil Elis’s Excellent Comedy Show’! I was sitting on the front row by the aisle, so every time Phil went around the audience I could see him when I turned and it definitely looked like him, and part of the show, audience members were asked what their favourite things are. He said his favourite book is The Shining, which matches with stuff I know he’s said in interviews, and also I think it sounded like him! And when someone else was asked what their favourite film was, and he looked a bit pensive waiting to hear the person’s answer! What was less cool is that he got to see me ridiculed during that same show!

Shows:

1. ‘Ben Hart – Jadoo’ at the Palais du Variete, Assembly George Square
2. ‘David O’Doherty – Tiny Piano Man’ at the Gordon Aikman Theatre, George Square
3. ‘Colin Cloud – After Dark’ at the McEwan Hall
4. ‘Aquapella’ at the Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose
5. ‘John Culshaw – Imposter Syndrome’ at the Gordon Aikman Theatre, George Square
6. ‘Laser Kiwi – Rise Of The Olive’ at the Assembly Roxy
7. ‘Ed Byrne – Tragedy Plus Time’ at the Music Hall, Assembly Rooms
8. ‘Kiri Pritchard-McLean – Work In Progress’ at Monkey Barrell
9. ‘John Robins – Work In Progress’ at Just The Tonic Nucleus
10. ‘Aaron Simmonds  – Baby Steps’ at the Pleasance Courtyard
11. ‘Ivo Graham – Organised Fun’ at the Pleasance Courtyard
12. ‘Alice Fraser – Twist’ at Underbelly Bristo Square
13. ‘John Robertson’s The Dark Room’ at Gilded Balloon Teviot
14. ‘Viggo Venn – British Comedian’ at Monkey Barrell
15. ‘Phil Ellis’ Excellent Comedy Show’ at Monkey Barrell
16. ‘Tom Crosbie – Actions Speak Louder Than Nerd’ at Gilded Balloon Teviot
17. ‘Gyles Brandreth – Can’t Stop Talking’ at the Gordon Aikman Theatre, George Square
18. ‘Dom Chambers – A Boy And His Deck’ at Assembly George Square

Then on Thursday evening, I took a train to Glasgow ahead of travelling up to the Highlands with Steve the next day, and checked into the Clyde Hotel not far from the station (definitely wouldn’t recommend this hotel!)

So Friday morning I got picked up by Steve around 10.30am and we drove up to Kincraig, stopping for lunch at The House Of Bruar (which is basically like a motorway services for middle class people!), and also took a short walk up to the Falls of Bruar, getting caught in the rain on the way back down which wasn’t ideal!

Like last year, this was the weekend of the Thunder In The Glens event, so on the Saturday morning we drove over to Grantown-on-Spey, which is where all the bikers congregate after riding in convoy. As the bikes weren’t due to arrive until after lunch, we first took a walk down to the river where Steve’s dog Liza took a bit of dip, and then grabbed some food back in the town. It had been a bit of a grey morning, but the clouds cleared a bit and there was actually some sunshine to accompany the bikers coming into the town. We’d not realised that they’d changed the route this year and the bikes were coming in from the other direction, but luckily we’d just stumbled on them arriving, so didn’t miss out on too much. I’m not into bikes at all, but they do all look really cool, and you can see how much effort they go to to make them looks so pristine!

On the Sunday morning, Tanya arrived by coach into Aviemore, where we picked her up before taking a drive up the Cairngorn mountain. I’d last visited back in February with Ali and the kids, when they had some skiing lessons on there, but I was surprised to see that the nursery slope has now been converted to a mountain bike trail. It’s obviously a permanent thing, because they’ve spend a tonne of money on it, but I can’t work out whether they’ll be able to also use it as a nursery slope in the winter – I think it’ll need a lot of snow to cover it!

Me and Tanya (and Liza) went for a bit of a walk on the mountain, leaving Steve to relax in the cafe. It was pretty much the same route I took back in February, but not quite as far this time, and it was a good walk even though it was quite a dull day.

Afterwards we all went back into Aviemore to where a lot of the bikers were camping, so Steve could catch up with his friends from one of the groups, and then in the evening had a chippy tea! We drove back down to Glasgow on the Monday morning, and Steve and Tanya dropped me off in town around 3 o’clock, giving me a couple of hours to kill before my train – so I ended up finding a nearby Nando’s to get some food and watch YouTube on my iPad!