This way, that way

The streets are heaving with people - meandering with ice cream*, deep in conversation; immobile, trying to work out where they are; racing for their next gig - all facing in different directions, trying not to bump into each other and overtaking each other in the cycle lanes. Among us are another breed, thrusting flyers at anyone who has the grace or naivety to look up, soliciting attendance at one of the millions of gigs on offer in that tentative rising intonation that makes old people like me think they’re really not convinced about what they’re offering: ‘A really funny show?’, ‘The best newcomer?’, ‘An hour of hilarious comedy?’
 
So there I am, thinking Edinburgh is really crowded, then I look up and see a bridge way up there connecting a whole network of other streets way above me. Not like Milton Keynes, where all the north-south streets are at one level and all the east-west ones are at a different level and if you want to change direction you have to go home and try again another day. No, these ones are connected by steep streets and sudden sets of steps so you can get wherever you need to go by moving in three dimensions, not just two. It will take me a while…
 
WhiskyFoxtrot took us to ‘My Eyes Went Dark’, a harrowing but interesting play at the Traverse, after which we headed for light relief to a medley of comedy that turned out to be Twitter-famous for five minutes when Marcus Brigstock laid into a heckling Brexit supporter. And how. We never got to hear the end of the one-liner about Boris Johnson and apparently the next comic due on was cowering backstage.
 
*imagine olive oil, pine nut and chocolate chip which we tried from WhiskyFoxtrot’s favourite ice cream place. Brain tangler but taste-bud heaven.


Black and white in colour 101