To Edinburgh and back

I fully understand that my few days in Edinburgh are nowhere near as interesting to you as to me so feel free to leave at any point...... But be warned you may miss some kinetic sculpture, a great new band, free plonk, an hour with catweazle, a wet (very wet) trip through a tropical paradise and some nice crisps......


19th June

To mark our arrival we ate the last of our peanut butter sarnies, trolled to filmhouse and managed to get pretty much the last pair of tickets for 'Convento.'

A magical documentary that combined both the strange and the beautiful.

Jarred Alterman bends documentary to the purposes of art & Christiaan Zwanikken's work is like something out of a Guillermo del Toro movie.


The added bonus (& this trip was full of added bonuses) was that both filmmaker and artist invited us all over to an exhibition/performance.

I put on a pair of headphones while a kinetic artwork spoke to me and held me in thrall.

20th June

Had a few things to do then popped to the museum to see the Arthurs Seat coffins which are very tiny ... like little voodoo dolls- Also briefly glanced a really excellent modern glass exhibition

Met niece - always a joy and we sat out in the gardens drinking tea and chunnering.

That night we went to see 'Let us be Golden,' another documentary (this one co-produced by Mirander Sawyer) It followed the struggle of three young bands trying to make it (without Simon Cowell).

My favourite was Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny. Check her out on Spotify or you tube.

Added bonus tonight -Free wine, nibbles and music followed screening. Unexpected, so twice as nice.
Although party afterwards was very well attended the cinema was less than full, despite rumours of a sell out!

June 21st

This was a day of rain, rain and yet more rain..... So we took in the Dean Gallery and a snapshot of Germany just before Hitler. I can still see some of August Sanden's frozen moments.

Before crossing the road to SNGoMA (catchy hey?!) we ate lunch. ......

I like to think the showy kitchness (some of it fun) of the Jeff Koons exhibition was gently mocked by the timeless quality of the Munch prints that quietly lined the corridor outside.

To celebrate this summer solstice evening the Botanic garden was opening till 22.30 and throwing open their glass house doors for free!
It was still raining, ever heavily, but we went for it anyway. While shaking ourselves dry we were directed back outside by an enthusiastic young guide towards Inverleith House and a sculpture exhibition.

Enter Catweazle (Paul) with his two assistants. Paul was very clearly an ardent fan of the sculptor Thomas Houseago whose work he had commissioned and for a solid hour without break showed us & spoke with alarming speed of the aforementioned guy's work. 3 staff to us 2 punters.

As though reluctant to let us go and we being polite souls (WE ARE!) Paul then guided us to Henry who then spoke for an hour of the history of the garden and led us round an exhibition of botanic drawings telling us of their provenance and significance and leaving at least one of us wishing she had a bit more science than she has!

Eventually we reached the glass houses.... you lucky buggers in Edinburgh. They are splendid are they not.

Back in our hotel room we drank wine.

22nd June - today

We returned to the museum and the glass. Glass made to look like ice, frost, water, sugar, shapes, things ..... some strange, some beautiful.

I bought a few nicnacks for loved ones and then we came home ..... and I had some lovely crisps.

* There was one landmark of Edinburgh that I failed to spot this trip. Didn't glimpse @Beathhigh lurking anywhere ........ (Did however see Bill Nighy being interviewed by Miranda Sawyer.........)