petite on board
the thinker: Lottie Titcombe
I forgot what actually brought us together, but as far as I remember, Lottie was one of the Front of House (FOH) from the Southside and I, was a venue technician at the studio in Southside.
Yup, this was the Fringe Festival that took place every August in Edinburgh.
The ZOO venues consist more than 50 shows, mainly in dance and physical theatre. Though the studio is a small black box theatre, it featured a lots of play, comedy and award-winning performances.
Elephant & Bagels
Ever since I went to America, I have fell in love with Bagels. I am talking about proper bagels shop with a uncountable options in spreads and fillings. When Lottie suggested to have bagels for lunch, the first thing I have in mind was - "Do they have salmon-avo-hummus-spread?" - trust me, they are the best!
This place properly served the best bagels in the United Kingdom, and real good hot chocolate too. Since then, grabbing a bagel before work become a thing between us.
(By the way, that's Brie + Cranberry sauce + ham with Garlic favoured-bagel)
Apparently, this bagel shop is a franchise from The Elephant House where JK Rowling wrote the Potter books over coffee and cake. Of course, we made a trip to this famous coffee house for some hot chocolate and cakes in between our shrift. Hoping that the spiritual energy of JK Rowling would inspire us in writing our postcard to friends and family.
Street performance & Flyering culture
The fringe-month was the most busiest time of all year in Edinburgh. Walking around the old town, and especially along the High Street, it filled with theatre-goers, performers and friends.
Artists would take this opportunity to busk or have a dance-off to sell their show. Honestly, it's a tough choice to bring a show to Edinburgh as there are a lot of competition out there and you just have to go out there and tell people about your show. That's why, flyering become a classic thing at the fringe.
3AM @ Arthur seat
In order to watch the most beautiful sunset in Edinburgh, ZOO keepers decided to do a mid-night hike up the Arthur Seat. Blessed us. It was rainning and that we eventually gave up watching the sunset at around 4ish - just way too chilly to stay for 2 more hours.
Heading back up on a sunny day was way much better than shivering in the cold night.
£1 BBQ
Passing by the meadows, where the Underbelly Circus Hub is, there were always people having casual bbq-picnic with a very tiny aluminium tray. Ah-ha, can't believe that that disposable tray was only £1!
Definitely one of the must-do thing before catching a circus show in the evening.
p.s. It's quite a slow-cooker, so be patient and play some music. Just don't burn the grass! I
Fringe love always
Is amazing to have friends around the world, especially when you decided to stay behind for awhile.
You can always meet up with either one of them, somewhere in this country as you travel around for work.
So does Lottie and I, enjoying our toasted panini in Leamington Spa a month after the festival.
Thank you.
