Thought I should do a quick TR following this weekends jaunty up to Edinburgh.
Friday
Travelled to pick-up Marcus and Decker, and then onto Q-Park at LHR. How that is classed as off-site parking when it is next door to Parking Express which sells itself as on-site and therefore charges more I'll never know. Efficient service and 22 pounds for 3 days parking. Quick online check-in, through the slow security (with shoe carnival) and then off to Terraces in T1 Domestic. Terraces was very busy and no finger sandwiches to be seen for love nor money, so cake bars, crisps and cans of coke it was. Then noticed I had managed to lose my Priority Pass in the terminal so a quick call to the zoo in Brighton to order a new one, and then it was time for the walk to the gate.
Quick flight, interesting lack of meal though. Was simply a drinks service and a soft cookie, that was your lot. Arrived at EDI airport, and met by Pete and Howard Long. Long wait ensued for Marcus' bag. And we waited, and waited and time was getting tight giving that Decker had a pre-arranged pickup from the hotel. At last the bag appeared and we were on our way through the traffic in the Citroen people carrier that Howard was piloting. I had the joy of sitting in the cheap seat in the back, and how that car is sold as a 7 seater is beyond me, unless they mean 5 people and 2 Sindy dolls.
The hotel selected this year was the Balmoral, now the location is fabulous and the standard rates are eye watering to say the least; fortunately I was able to make use of my heavily discounted rate for a block of rooms for us. At that price it was more palatable, as I would never pay the standard 365 a night rack for the entry room. Mrs Buns met us in the reception area and gave hint to the clientele of the hotel as Tom Hanks and the female lead from My Big Fat Greek Wedding had just walked by her. Unfortunately my request for room 652 had not been met so was not exactly amused, but then given how expensive even crap hotels are in EDI in August one couldn't complain too much. Time to drop off the bags, and then it was time to make the 15 minute journey out to Musselburgh to see our first show of the Fringe, the perennial V-Flyer favourites, Katzenjammer.
Decker had already left by then to see his 70's throwback buddy Dean Friedman. At the theatre we were met by buns4vs that had travelled up on a later flight, and Nick who had travelled up earlier in the day. Quick drink in the bar and then onto the show. Great show as always with some of my favourites, and some new pieces too. Aftershow, back to the magical Northern theatre bar where a round of 6 drinks costs less than a tenner. Was given some strange foreign money as change though.... The boys from Katzenjammer joined us where we stayed drinking for an hour or two, and then it was time to head back to the main city centre on the hunt for food.
Ahh, now finding food gone midnight can be a challenge in some cities, not so in EDI during fringe month. Showing the true class, we ended up shovelling in quality grease in the Burger King opposite the Balmoral. buns was so impressed, he proceeded to chow a second burger whilst we continued to binge on fries.
It was then time for bed, so farewells for the night were said.
Saturday
Breakfast at Costa coffee next door with Decker as I can't justify 18 notes for a breakfast in the hotel that I had heard mixed reviews about. We then decided to see what shows were on as we were meeting the others at 1pm to go to lunch at TigerLily. A show with a catchy title was identified, and even better was that it was my favourite price. So the three of us walked to the venue and were 40 minutes early so decided to watch the show that was on before. Now this show was 'Doctor Deepak's Lunchtime Surgery', and I guess by law of averages out of the 2000+ shows on offer at the Fringe there is bound to be some bad ones. This was rock bottom, it was the stage past career suicide. Allegedly it was comedy; at the end of the 30 minutes show where I wanted the last 30 minutes of my life back, the performer stated he wasn't really a doctor. On that basis, my summary review was 'Deepak reveals at the end of the show he isn't a doctor. He isn't funny either'.
Looking for a positive, we discussed that the shows could only get better. So a few minutes later the performance we had come to see 'I kissed a frog and it gave me herpes' commenced. Yes, it was a marked improvement. Well delivered and quite a realistic take on certain 'dating' angles. A few laugh out moments at the expense of the Gingers, though the irony being that one of the duo performing were actually ginger. Felt compelled to give a few quid to them at the end of the show as gratitude; so glad Dr Deepak hadn't sat there with a pint pot as I would have wanted to take money out (I was later amazed to see he has another show that he does charge for).
Then walked back to meet the others for lunch, shame that TigerLily was absolutely rammed and quoting 2.5 hour waits (so tip there, book in advance). Managed to get a table a few doors down at the Living Room that had been recommended. Good meal, only marred by the constant cackle of 'hyenas' from the section nearby. What is it with groups of pissed women that make constant din? Some of the gang then decided to go back to the hotel for a power nap, so the non-pansies (everyone except buns, Mrs buns and Howard Long) walked in the rain to a bar and took court in a tent with a selection of sofas. Hour or two later, retired back to the hotel as the others had a dinner booking at The One in the Balmoral for a true gastronomic affair.
Later that evening, we met up for the main event (in my book), Pam Ann. Took a cab for the shortest distance known to man to avoid the onslaught of fine Scottish weather, and then stood in the queue to get into the venue. This is my first time seeing Pam Ann live, and I was not disappointed. I have not laughed so much for a long time, the ratio of crew in the sell-out crowd was astounding. EZ, VS and BA all had people there, and yes they had the Sh*t ripped out of them.
More to come...
Friday
Travelled to pick-up Marcus and Decker, and then onto Q-Park at LHR. How that is classed as off-site parking when it is next door to Parking Express which sells itself as on-site and therefore charges more I'll never know. Efficient service and 22 pounds for 3 days parking. Quick online check-in, through the slow security (with shoe carnival) and then off to Terraces in T1 Domestic. Terraces was very busy and no finger sandwiches to be seen for love nor money, so cake bars, crisps and cans of coke it was. Then noticed I had managed to lose my Priority Pass in the terminal so a quick call to the zoo in Brighton to order a new one, and then it was time for the walk to the gate.
Quick flight, interesting lack of meal though. Was simply a drinks service and a soft cookie, that was your lot. Arrived at EDI airport, and met by Pete and Howard Long. Long wait ensued for Marcus' bag. And we waited, and waited and time was getting tight giving that Decker had a pre-arranged pickup from the hotel. At last the bag appeared and we were on our way through the traffic in the Citroen people carrier that Howard was piloting. I had the joy of sitting in the cheap seat in the back, and how that car is sold as a 7 seater is beyond me, unless they mean 5 people and 2 Sindy dolls.
The hotel selected this year was the Balmoral, now the location is fabulous and the standard rates are eye watering to say the least; fortunately I was able to make use of my heavily discounted rate for a block of rooms for us. At that price it was more palatable, as I would never pay the standard 365 a night rack for the entry room. Mrs Buns met us in the reception area and gave hint to the clientele of the hotel as Tom Hanks and the female lead from My Big Fat Greek Wedding had just walked by her. Unfortunately my request for room 652 had not been met so was not exactly amused, but then given how expensive even crap hotels are in EDI in August one couldn't complain too much. Time to drop off the bags, and then it was time to make the 15 minute journey out to Musselburgh to see our first show of the Fringe, the perennial V-Flyer favourites, Katzenjammer.
Decker had already left by then to see his 70's throwback buddy Dean Friedman. At the theatre we were met by buns4vs that had travelled up on a later flight, and Nick who had travelled up earlier in the day. Quick drink in the bar and then onto the show. Great show as always with some of my favourites, and some new pieces too. Aftershow, back to the magical Northern theatre bar where a round of 6 drinks costs less than a tenner. Was given some strange foreign money as change though.... The boys from Katzenjammer joined us where we stayed drinking for an hour or two, and then it was time to head back to the main city centre on the hunt for food.
Ahh, now finding food gone midnight can be a challenge in some cities, not so in EDI during fringe month. Showing the true class, we ended up shovelling in quality grease in the Burger King opposite the Balmoral. buns was so impressed, he proceeded to chow a second burger whilst we continued to binge on fries.
It was then time for bed, so farewells for the night were said.
Saturday
Breakfast at Costa coffee next door with Decker as I can't justify 18 notes for a breakfast in the hotel that I had heard mixed reviews about. We then decided to see what shows were on as we were meeting the others at 1pm to go to lunch at TigerLily. A show with a catchy title was identified, and even better was that it was my favourite price. So the three of us walked to the venue and were 40 minutes early so decided to watch the show that was on before. Now this show was 'Doctor Deepak's Lunchtime Surgery', and I guess by law of averages out of the 2000+ shows on offer at the Fringe there is bound to be some bad ones. This was rock bottom, it was the stage past career suicide. Allegedly it was comedy; at the end of the 30 minutes show where I wanted the last 30 minutes of my life back, the performer stated he wasn't really a doctor. On that basis, my summary review was 'Deepak reveals at the end of the show he isn't a doctor. He isn't funny either'.
Looking for a positive, we discussed that the shows could only get better. So a few minutes later the performance we had come to see 'I kissed a frog and it gave me herpes' commenced. Yes, it was a marked improvement. Well delivered and quite a realistic take on certain 'dating' angles. A few laugh out moments at the expense of the Gingers, though the irony being that one of the duo performing were actually ginger. Felt compelled to give a few quid to them at the end of the show as gratitude; so glad Dr Deepak hadn't sat there with a pint pot as I would have wanted to take money out (I was later amazed to see he has another show that he does charge for).
Then walked back to meet the others for lunch, shame that TigerLily was absolutely rammed and quoting 2.5 hour waits (so tip there, book in advance). Managed to get a table a few doors down at the Living Room that had been recommended. Good meal, only marred by the constant cackle of 'hyenas' from the section nearby. What is it with groups of pissed women that make constant din? Some of the gang then decided to go back to the hotel for a power nap, so the non-pansies (everyone except buns, Mrs buns and Howard Long) walked in the rain to a bar and took court in a tent with a selection of sofas. Hour or two later, retired back to the hotel as the others had a dinner booking at The One in the Balmoral for a true gastronomic affair.
Later that evening, we met up for the main event (in my book), Pam Ann. Took a cab for the shortest distance known to man to avoid the onslaught of fine Scottish weather, and then stood in the queue to get into the venue. This is my first time seeing Pam Ann live, and I was not disappointed. I have not laughed so much for a long time, the ratio of crew in the sell-out crowd was astounding. EZ, VS and BA all had people there, and yes they had the Sh*t ripped out of them.
More to come...
Dinner at One was fantastic - barring one or two misunderstandings... We had to be almost surgically removed from the table to make it to Pam Ann in time... well almost in time. I had the pleasure of being directed to a seat on the front row where Pam delightfully noticed my late arrival and commented on it. The show was great fun as LRoM has indicated. I'll never be able to order bangers and mash again without squirming uncomfortably in my chair.
). I will certainly try to make it again next year, and will try and stay for a few days this time.
