Eish! London 29 - 30 August

Saturday, 29 Aug

I ended my stay with a full traditional Scottish breakfast at a restaurant called The Blue Room, which was sentimental in itself because one of the High Street Restaurants in our University Town of Grahamstown, South Africa was also call The Blue Room. The breakfast was delicious, absolutely perfect after my very late night out, and early morning rise to pack. Nina, although stressed, was on track to complete her doctorate, which was awesome (Note – I have to share, at time of publication, she had been successfully awarded her doctorate. You go girl!). We made our way to the bus stop so I could head to the airport and we said our farewells. As the bus was leaving the city it drove passed my church of salsa, and I couldn’t stop smiling.

I also realised on the bus that I hadn’t really used my guide book much, but I figured with all of the Fringe Festival stuff going on I wouldn’t have managed to see much in the way of Scottish culture anyhow. Even thoughEdinburghisn’t quite like the guide book says during August, I’ll never regret walking the streets amongst the buzz, energy and vibrancy of a city thriving on the pulse of enthusiastic, exciting and energetic theatrical innovation. It’s worth going to Edinburghin August for the comradery, the fun and the laughter. The things I saw happening around the city’s majestically old gothic buildings and narrow winding footpaths were nothing like anything I’d ever experienced before and I’ll always cherish the experience.

Sunday, 30 August

Actual diary entry:

Back in Preston Road: I had to do 2 loads of washing, but I decided not to tumble-dry anything because the tumble-drier filter was full of dog hair. So not cool! It’s quite phenomenal how my Edinburgh excitement and energy levels dropped when I saw the housemates and dear old Spike again; such a pity.

It’s time for confessions! I wandered off the suggested dietary path in the last days of my stay in Edinburgh. On the day I went to see The Wild Goose Chase. I had a delicious hot chocolate at the Festival Café and at the airport before I flew back to London. So much for no dairy or sugar! I also tried a big Belgium Chocolate Muffin from the supermarket, and I was actually relieved that I didn’t enjoy it, because that means I won’t be keen to buy another, and that my taste buds are adjusting to the wheat-free side of the diet; I could actually taste the flour in the muffin. Yuck. (I guess that a supermarket isn’t really the best place to buy a muffin, but it honestly looked so good, that I couldn’t resist).

Admittedly it’s frustrating when I walk past food I’d love to buy, but I know it isn’t worth it, so I don’t. If I don’t buy it, then it isn’t in my cupboard or fridge, so I can’t eat it, that’s my logic.

My latest worry: My Cash Flow. My Edinburgh trip has set me back £300, and the rent of £330 is due tomorrow, and I’m not getting income for the next two weeks. The third week I go to Hong Kong and I should get paid when I’m in Hong Kong for the upcoming TC work, then I’ll pick up the last two weeks of work with the TC when I get back from Hong Kong. It’s all very precariously balanced; thank goodness for the September work! After that October will take me back to Supply Teaching and I should know the house story by then and whether or not they have organised a better rental, or if they are handing in notice. I’ll need cash for a deposit and rental if they do move out. Oh dear.