Edinburgh

I love Edinburgh. From the first time I visited, I felt at home there but I couldn't tell you why. I could tell you some of things I do love about it, though, and one of those things would be the crazy, three dimensional city plan. I don't know anywhere like it. If you were on that bridge, heading back over my shoulder, you'd go into the Old Town thinking you were at ground level but it's not that simple. In fact, I've never quite got the hang of it.

The Minx and I came up for the night so that we could go to the launch of Andrea Gillies' new novel 'The Enlightenment of Nina Findlay', which was at Waterstones at the west end of Princes Street*. It is, perhaps, my favourite bookshop, spread over three floors and once, many years ago, there used to be a Starbucks concession in there. It was heavenly.

This evening, though, there was cake and wine, and I guess fifty or so people who'd come to hear Andrea talk and read excerpts from the novel. The evening was hosted by Lee Randall, who proved to be very adept at the job. Andrea was endearingly nervous for the first couple of minutes but quickly relaxed and I think the evening was a great success.

Afterwards we repaired to a wine bar called something like Le Di-vin where it has to be said the Minx and I drank far too much Prosecco in the tremendous company of @shequeen and @gibbzer. I can't remember when I last laughed so much.

So, all in, a splendid afternoon and evening in Edinburgh. I wish we could do it more often. Still, Andrea's already working on her next book, so there's at least one excuse on the horizon :-)


*I've checked loads of times: no apostrophe.