Lost in the Wood

Me & New Friend Pavlov @ Hendrick's Emporium... Yes, it's that time of year again, when I've had such a lovely time in Festival-time Edinburgh that I can't help but go on about it a bit. I make few apologies for this however as it really is the best place to be in August (unless you hate crowds, comedy, all forms of theatre, poetry, books, pop up courtyard bars and vibrancy and random happenings). I'll try to keep it brief this year so you can make it through to the end. Firstly, cake . Here I excelled. This year I decided to prioritise catching up with friends over trying to see everything that had good reviews (a Herculean & very expensive task anyway). Some recommendations: C afe Angelina (London St) was visited twice, once for very fresh morning scones and spontaneous dressing up (we found a case of hats that whispered to us to try them on), then again for a delicious afternoon tea which was a thing of beauty and paid proper attention to the savou...

Roll on 2015 Perhaps I'm pushing it but since we're still in January, I think it's still just about appropriate to wish you all a very Happy New Year! There's so much to say about 2014 that I'm not sure I can really face going over any of it and presenting the highlights. Lazily, and probably wisely,  I'm going to opt out of a thorough review of the year. 2014 had wonderful times, professionally (tv feature, art exhibitions, encouraging sales etc) and personally (fun stuff & holidays) but weird and distressing personal things too that upset the always delicately balanced emotional applecart, although it all proved interesting (to me) at least. Large mugfuls of mulled wine with a friend who appreciates these things The Dome, Edinburgh. Always spectacular decorations. Christmas at home in Edinburgh was an absolute delight and proved a much needed relaxing and joyful end to the year. Being loose in a city with it's late night bars & sparkl...

Surrounding myself with appropriate deckchairs @ Edinburgh Book Festival Life as a self-employed artist is an often precarious existence which constantly feels a bit hand-to-mouth on the financial front. However, what it lacks in stability is more than compensated for on the flexibility & freedom fronts. Seduced by the lure of freewheeling round Edinburgh at the height of festival time, I happily decamped to the Capital, clutching a (very long) shortlist of shows I wanted to see, mentally prepared for spontaneous adventures and with a slightly ridiculous amount of wool & felting supplies (intended for efficient between show crafting). Twenty days of stimulating sights was the intention and despite inevitable days when I just couldn't face the weekend crowds, worried about the impact on my credit card or was too jaded to bother seeing anything, it basically delivered. Shows: Of the 18 shows I managed to see these were the highlights: Underbelly, Richard herring,...

The Dome, Edinburgh Season's Greetings! Last week I scampered up to Scotland for the long awaited Christmas holidays, the big city bright lights and possibilities made me a touch giddy with excitement. My first day in Edinburgh (my home city, much loved and often missed) was spent in fine style with a trip to the sumptuous surroundings of The Dome , a George Street institution. Nowhere seems to outdo their lavish festive decorations. Passing the Georgian columns thickly garlanded with lights, inside you encounter the heady punch of cinnamon, a spice merchants fantasy of sticks embedded in rich traditional garlands festooning the impressive interior. An icicled doorway opens out onto the main dining room and bar with its red glowing spectacle of tall Christmas tree underneath dazzling glass dome. It all feels decadently luxurious. Mum & I headed up stairs to the tearoom (think this is a Christmas tearoom only, not all year round) where I'd been assured a wonderful aftern...

The Stand Comedy Club Newly escaped from the office job (forever, hurrah!), I  immediately set off for my native city, Edinburgh, to enjoy some festival fun with family & friends. This year I've taken a slower approach, moseying up to the action/madness in gentle fashion with a cake stop with friends to ease me in (not as used to crowds these days, Caernarfon generally doesn't do frenzy despite the many summer visitors!). Who better to sample a new (well, to us) cafe with but a lady who is very well informed about good cake, Kate from Cake Poppins Cake Poppins We tried out Love Crumbs at the West Port (the old town haunt of the notorious murderers Burke & Hare, now remodelled & amusingly referred to as 'the pubic triangle' due to its lap dancing/strip bars. The bars however, nestle amongst independent shops and cafes, the College of Art & a Catholic church with a beautiful starry ceiling so it's not as insalubrious as it sounds!). Love Crumbs...