Archie the art critic

Though not quite as nice a day as yesterday, the expected deluge because I got the barbecue out has not eventuated, so breakfast al fresco again. Sourdough bread makes such good toast!

We then took a walk down to visit the Hidden Door festival. Fantastic old disused ex-council property they are staging it in this year. Shame it will probably be knocked down to build yet another hotel and yet more student accommodation. Though I'm all for students being accommodated away from ordinary residents who like to sleep at night...

We had a wander round the wee rooms and cellars - filled with strange stuff pieces of avant garde art. We even went upstairs to the 'cage room' - Archie was allowed. The room was almost filled with a big cage (they think it might have been used to store chemicals), in darkness. In the cage was a woman whispering into a microphone, evidently reading endless prose in some foreign language. At her feet was a row of colourful shoes. And another row of spectacle cases.

We stood in silence and watched for a while. Archie was silent, though it must have seemed a bit weird to him (it was to us). JR then carried Archie out - it was so dark and a bit crowded. I stayed to take some photos, then I heard a couple of little Archie yips from afar, which may or may not have put off the lady in the cage - who would know?

We then walked through the Grassmarket, but didn't stop for lunch because we didn't want to sit outside. Archie had a run in the Meadows. It was SO windy there, I went to throw a stick for Archie and let it go at the wrong time... and it hit JR in the face... Jings! What a terrible thing to do. Luckily, it was her cheek bone and not her eye. However, after a pastry and a coffee at home, she's almost forgiven me.

Almost..