The Edinburgh Marathon is over – as ever they huddled their way through the streets early today making us mere mortals like lardy bottomed useless lumps. To make myself feel better I scoffed a huge Lucas ice cream sitting in Princes Street gardens watching the world go by. I am happy with my sloth once again.
So Edinburgh what next?
Ye can aye tell when…
The Dome have their decorations up.
The Christmas lights are on in Princes St.
The big wheel and helter skelter are up!
Suddenly it’s freezing, the sun is shining
Edinburgh’s Winter is upon us.
As Autumn starts to produce it’s mellow fruitfulness and thought turn to red wine, warm fires and cosy nights with friends Whighams Wine Bar are having another open acoustic session on 28th September – next Wednesday from 8pm.
Last time there was guests appearances from Aberfeldy, a young singer song writer who sounded uncannily like Ryan Adams – was it in fact him?A Spanish guitarist and of course the sublime tones of the lovely host Coreen Scott. Here’s a fellow blogger talking about it Click Here.
So what will happen this time? Pick up your plectrum, tone up those tonsils and come and join in.
Well snuggling into Scotland’s Oldest Wine Cellar for an evening of live music, warming wine and delicious food makes it a win win situation.
See you there!
Morning.
Built an Ark yet?
Edinburgh Fringe and Festival is a great time of year for Scotland.
A great time of year for the arts and then we get this deluge.
Unseasonally wet. Sorry tourists.
BUT
If there is one thing that us Scots know how to do it’s make the most of dreadful weather – with the exception of The Tattoo most productions are inside so it shouldn’t make a blind bit of difference. After all you didn’t come here for the sunshine did you?
Great bars, restaurants, late licenses and aye a smiling face. Yes there is little complain about.
Beautiful Harris Tweed bags by Catherine Aitken.
OK it would be foolish to ignore the impending explosiong of the arts in the centre of Edinburgh and I won’t. I really won’t. I love it and spend most of my days during August in Edinburgh in small venues watching all sorts of productions. Small, big, free, great and frankly appalling but I love it.
This is the week where you can get your 2 for 1 tickets as the previews and first nights abound so keep googling and get yourself to the Edinburgh Fringe Website and you will surprised what great deals you get.
Within a week the jungle drums are beating and the absolute beezers are already being booked solid – no really it happens that fast. I will endeavour to give you the heads up when I can so here is your first steer.
This weekend as the centre of the city begins to strain with sheer numbers of people if you are fancying a little respite then try taking a wee trip down to Coburg Studios on Coburg Street. In this great multi-level space you will find a literal warren of studios inhabited by a collective of great artists, some well known some not, jewellery designers, sculpture, ceramics really something completely unique. They open their space a few times a year and this weekend the place is open.
Really worth a guddle about.
AND
Two other tips when in the area.
Mimis Bakehouse just round the corner – delicious cakes, coffee and in a quirky delightful place….and if you fancy something a little stronger then head to The Shore which is on the waterfront at Leith (pictured at the top of this post it’s a great area to explore )and order their ham hock cakes with poached egg and hollandaise sauce – the best hangover cure on the planet. The Shore is a bad just bursting with atmosphere you will love it and live music is highly likely if it’s Sunday so enjoy yourself and as they say in these parts Stick In til you Stick Oot!
Zara Philips – the Queens grandaughter gets married this weekend in Edinburgh to her chunky hunky fiancee Mike Tindall who is a English professional rugby player. They get wed at Canongate Kirk which is an ancient and atmospheric church on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Suitably low key as Princes Anne and her family have always managed to be.
With Prince William and Kate due in town I wonder if the press will allow the bride and groom to get on with their day without associated Hoopla?
The night before the big day they are going to whoop it up on the Royal Yacht Britannia -handy when your Grandma has such a venue bobbing around in the water – the thought of lots of rugby players swigging beer and hanging off the Royal yacht is causing a collective smile. But I wonder how many bars in town the boys going to the nuptials on saturday will turn up in on Friday night? And which ones they will choose to go to?
I shall report.
The National Museum of Scotland has just reopened it’s doors after a refurbishment. It has gone from quite far down my list of things to do in Edinburgh to being No. 1
This place is impressive. Vast and mind boggling with the breadth of exhibits that will put a smile on your face whether you are 2 or 102. It is now my top recommendation for meandering for an afternoon or a day!
If you are a historian, a child, an adult, a Scot, a human, an architect or an unemployed bazooki player you will love this place.
A taste of what you will see.
The vast hall and atrium above. Light streams in. 
Part of the first ever lighthouse in Scotland – built by Robert Louis Stevenson’s grandpa. Wow.
Visit it when you can.
