14/8/10: Comedy Manifesto, Otherwise

Saturday is usually a quietish day for me during the Fringe, due to the fact that the entire universe appears in town and my elbows become extra-sharp to deal with it. Nevertheless, we squashed in two shows, and a wander round the bric-a-brac in the Grassmarket, before declaring defeat on the crowds and fleeing.

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Fringe Refreshments of the Day- Fleeing home for steak pie and roast potatoes chez parents. Even I'm not mug enough to stay in the town to be trampled by fervent Manolos clattering to the next hummus stop.

And now I must sleep, despite being a day behind on my scribblings. Weekday quietness invites an earlyish start at the shows!

15/8/10: [Free Fringe] Free Until Famous, You've Been Stooched and Dunn, Beacon of Health...

Continuing the mostly chilled weekend vibe, we spent lunchtime in Portobello on the promenade, and a pleasant few hours in a bar with neice64, before pottering off in search of free amusement. There comes a point, you see, when your credit card spontaneously combusting is a sign you've probably overdone it on the Fringe ticket front, and this is precisely where the Free Fringe comes in. Up and running for a few years now, it does what it says on the tin, providing everything from music through comedy to children's shows and theatre for free (but donations are appreciated). As we found out when we first started this bit of the Fringe, the quality is highly variable; and for the most part, last night's acts at the Counting House left us pleasantly surprised.

( Well, except the first act. )

( The other two were good, though. )

Fringe Refreshments of the Day- disappointing part-cooked chicken burger amid the modern art in Portobello, expensive but refreshing beer and mojito at the Rutland, cheap and very cheerful all you can eat Chinese at Jimmy Chungs (with chocolate fountain for dessert!), a swift pint at the Counting House.