Monday 28th of August, 2000
Various peoploids drift in and out.
The last day in Edinburgh, and a day off. So I wake up and potter around the house, unsure as to whether it is a Bank Holiday or not (it isn't in Scotland).
I take the bike back to the shop. He is not there - there is a sign on the door saying he'll be back in fifteen minutes, so I repair to Lianachan, just up the road, for a cup of coffee.
While I'm waiting, Sally Holloway (one of the comics performing at the Big Value show upstairs) and Will Smith (another comic who did it a few years ago) come in for some juices. They are on their way to climb Arthur's Seat. As we are chatting, the Bike Shop Chap comes past and sees me (he came to one of the Jeays shows a few days ago, and recognised me there), comes in to say hello. I tell him about the bike.
Coffee/juice over, I go to the Bike shop. Chap is on the phone, so it takes a few minutes before he can see to me. Return bike, get £35 back (not £40 originally promised, but pff..) and promise to return spare key for lock (which is still in its Safe Place back at the flat).
Go to West Port, via Grassmarket, where there are a number of second-hand bookshops, hoping to get something for the train tomorrow. Find a couple of Carl Hiassen books (since I enjoyed the other one read so much), a couple of Moomin books (not too sure why I bought them) and a stack of old sheet music, including Lute music, medieval music and a 1930s banjo instruction book.
Go to Ellie's (where I stayed when I first arrived) and drink a lot of tea, and talk for a while about the festival, musicians, The Scene, comics and Everything Else.
As I am walking home Dave calls to say that his journey took eleven hours including a bus journey via Glasgow, on account of flooding somewhere. He warns me to check with the station before setting off.
On returning home, find that Phil is about to go and see Addy Borgh at the Pleasance, so accompany him. Mr Borgh is funny, but perhaps a bit lackadaisical. It's free for me, so I'm inclined to be generous, though.
After that, I go back to the flat and get the key, put it in an envelope and return it to the bike shop, and then go to the Cafe Royal.
Sit around at the Cafe Royal with Phil, Pep (sound man) and his girlfriend and the box office staff. Finally meet Jonathan Prag (a classical guitarist who performs in the same room as us but at lunchtime). Also, the man who does an Alan Bennett Talking Head after him. Various peoploids drift in and out. The box office staff get rowdy and try to light spirits in their mouths.
Get back to the flat at about three and talk until four. Then go to bed. Tomorrow is the trip home. And I still have to pack.