August was

August was full of festival buzz.  I went to 23 shows – mostly theatre but also talks, drumming, acrobats, comedians, illusionist and singing.  My top three were Adam Hills the comedian; Japanese drummers; and a play about women prisoners on a boat bound for Australia.  I saw some fabulous acting and some plays that made me want to get out a red pen to send notes to the director.  I was in audiences of less than 10 and some of several hundred.  I saw plays with a message and plays about family and plays based on a book and plays that made no sense to me. Altogether another good fringe.

Weather wise the rainbow above says it all really – never sure when leaving the house if I would need my sunglasses or raincoat or both.  But only a few days which felt as summery as this photo looks

Even with all those shows I still read 5 books – all those bus journeys into town help.

4 are by authors I’ve read and enjoyed before:

-  I love Andrea levy’s descriptions of life in Jamaica and for Jamaicans living in London

- Christopher Brookmyre and Ken Macleod create thriller / crime stories that keep me guessing to the end and entertain with excellent characters and funny reflections on life – both are based in Edinburgh so tend to have lots of nice local references

- Home features on several ‘must read’ lists I’ve seen but I found it a bit slow

I was also busy with my crochet hook – having seen some patterns for making espadrilles I searched online for soles and found a shop selling felted soles for slippers so ordered some of them – lets be realistic, given our weather I’ll use them more that espadrilles.  The soles have holes for sewing

already punched which makes them very easy to use – I’d recommend Joes Toes if you fancy making some.

I also made some more baby guinea pigs to sell for my crafting for charity group

and I still managed some walks by the river – some fabulous light of water and reflections with the sun getting lower in the sky – my favourite photo of the month that I haven’t already shared