festival 29 August 2009
London looked amazing this morning as I was in the car to City airport. The sun was shinng brightly from early on and it was interesting to see the people mobilising, particularly around Trafalgar Square. A group who must have just had a friend get off the plinth were taking pictures with a charity banner, as was the person then on the plinth for his hour. The police were loitering. But mostly I noticed how many homeless people were preparing for their day, rolling up their sleeping bags ands strolling on to wherever – some were just sat letting the sun warm their faces and they looked like they were savouring the weather and their city for just a moment.
I met the gorgeous Christopher Biggins at the airport today and he too was headed to Edinburgh (for the TV festival which is currently running) so I had a lovely journey in his company – he is such a happy spirit and a joy to spend time with.
Edinburgh is packed and busy. I really don’t know how the performers last a full 4 weeks – there have to be casualties all over the place that we don’t see…it’s just way too much fun and too social. Of course many are genuinely pickled now, I imagine, and shored up against anything the world and, in particular, this city can throw at them. After a mere 3 shows today I am wrecked and I was only watching them, not taking part. And it is LONG after my bedtime…I get into totally different hours of ‘engagement’ with life when filming. It will be interesting to see if the late night has a bearing on when I wake up tomorrow (or later would be more accurate at this hour) and this is a tablet free night (not that I think they are working at all anyhow). Bet I’ll be alert from EARLY whether I like it or not…
