Wednesday 2nd of August, 2000
Is Edinburgh the nearly-new bedding capital of Scotland?
A much more successful day, in a lot of ways (it is, at least, getting better). Finally got telephone access, so I could send my work down to London (and then send it again when it turned out that I had sent the wrong things) and collect my e-mail (99 messages - I was expecting hundreds).
Got the bits and pieces for the bike (lamp, helmet, lock and chain), so now I am technically mobile (although this year we are much closer to the centre of operations, so I don't know whether I'll use it that much - doh!).
Phil arrived at about 3:30. We went off for an initial soundcheck at 5:30, only to find another show knee-deep in their own troubles. So in fact we soundcheck tomorrow at 3:30 - Dave will come straight from the train, and there will be an amount of seat-of-the-pantsness.
Did the Tesco thing. There are a lot more students around than there were even yesterday - when I was in Argos earlier on, there was a lot of bedding being bought, and someone was buying two of those sprung recliners - sunbeds - which, given the lack of sun, are probably going to do service as someone's actual bed. I wonder if Argos stock up specially every year, or will they run out early next week? And what happens to them after the festival? Is Edinburgh the nearly-new bedding capital of Scotland? I think we should be told.
Went to an open-mike up by the castle. it was nice - my reputation preceeded me from yesterday, to positive effect, I think. Ruaridh was in evidence, as was Grahame Mearns from Word, who I saw on Monday night. I played The Secret Agent's Dream, Iodine and Comforting Lie. The assembled company seemed to like me, and it was good for, as I believe they say, schmoozing. Several people said they'd come down on the 15th, which is nice (but likely? Well, the festival offers many competing delights. It's always nice to see anybody, though). A venerable gentleman compared me to Earl Okin, which I took as a compliment. Although Earl is a considerably snappier dresser. Frankly, they don't make spats my size. Pete Rowan dropped by with the proper programmes for Acoustic Underground. There was also a headliner, who was jolly good, but whose name I forget.
[I have since discovered he is called Neil Dixon. And he is jolly good.]
Cooked rice when I got home (i.e. - made food, not bought takeaway - something of an acheivement for me). Heavily knackered. Still - upwards and onwards.