I moved to Edinburgh a few years ago for my first contracting position. I had become bored of the slow-paced public sector life and wanted a new challenge. I knew a lovely young lady up there and so Edinburgh seemed like a great choice, and leaving my home in Essex was extra impetus not to screw up and to make a good impression. So two days before my job was due to start I went up to Edinburgh and bought my first book in the specialism I had claimed to be an expert in a few days previously.
It was a busy first weekend. Moving in to a new house in a new city and living with new people. I probably should have spent more time studying but instead spent most of my time exploring the new pubs that were on offer! And what pubs! Edinburgh is one of the nicest places I have ever lived. It is a stunning city of history and culture. The castle sits reverently overlooking the city, with the ancient cobbled lanes leading away down through the Royal Mile to the 900-year old Holyrood Palace and out from the Old Town to the newer parts of Edinburgh of equal character and comparable history. I initially live in Morningside, a famously genteel area of Edinburgh a little way outside the busier city centre, but after a few months moved closer to the action. It was after moving to this new place that I found my favourite haunts. I was close to the Royal Botanical Gardens, many fantastic old pubs, and some amazing restaurants including Dionika – where I found great food, wine, and friendship with the owner and his other faithful regulars.
There are a few particularly worthwhile times to be in Edinburgh throughout the year. Christmas and the weeks leading up to it are a time when it is great to be up there, and at times even someone as jaded as myself can get into the Christmas spirit. Princes Street is lined with sparkling trees of fairy lights, the smells of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and cinnamon can be smelt wafting from the markets on the street. There are bright flashing fairground rides on the banks of the park, frequently a dusting of snow or frost on the lawns and bushes, and everyone rushing around in brightly coloured scarves, hats, and puffy war jackets. New Year can be a lot of fun as well. The party starts three or four days before New Year’s Eve and typically involves bands in the street, music in the bars, and lots of food and drink that culminates in a spectacular firework display set off from the castle (if there isn’t too much wind, rain, or snow.) The aftermath is generally considered to warrant a considerable period for recovery, and so Scotland has two public holidays after New Year’s Eve. One is rarely enough to get over a proper hangover!
My favourite time to be in Edinburgh however is over the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The festival lasts just over four weeks these days, and has thousands of acts performing each year. I generally go for the comedy and some of the music, but the theatre, dance, and more unusual shows offer a bit of relief from the continuous laughter.
In August 2009 I went up to see my good friends Fatts and Amy who live just down the road from my old place there. It was a few weeks before I was going to be leaving the UK, and I wanted a last chance to catch up with my friends in Scotland and to go to the Festival. We saw so many performers in just over a week that my head was spinning. A few favourites put on excellent shows as always: Sean Hughes did a show largely about being old, and Richard Herring did one about his troubles with being taken seriously when he had decided to wear a ‘toothbrush’ moustache for three months and reclaim it, from Hitler, for comedy. I enjoyed Laura Solon’s character-based monologue Rabbit Faced Story Soup, and the Pajama Men’s character-based physical comedy. And the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre Goes to Hollywood was a great summary of the greatest moments in movies as performed by socks in kilts.
If you’ve not been to the Edinburgh Festival before – go now. Even if you don’t like socks you’ll find something to laugh at, I guarantee it.
Have a look at my Edinburgh photos.