A brief post on being back from Edinburgh

It's been a long day at work, getting ready to go on leave (more about that tomorrow), and I spent lunchtime busily rushing around doing the grocery shopping that usually gets done at the weekend, but I did want to write briefly post-Edinburgh-trip when so many people offered me suggestions of things to do and things to read.

To be honest, the highlight of my trip was being reunited with my fiance. As he and his brother were pretty busy with the play that they were putting on, time to explore the city was at a minimum. I was impressed with the way that the city fitted into the landscape - it seems a very tall city as buildings go up high to utilise the fact that the environment is very hilly. The castle and Arthur's seat looked absolutely stunning. I hadn't looked at a map, so was incredibly surprised when we ended up by the sea at one point. And I loved the drive back out of the city through the Highlands. Otherwise, I saw the Royal Mile, ate chips, and lots of noodles, and hobnobbed with a few minorly famous people who had shows at the fringe in the performers' bar.

The play, The door, was an incredibly gripping political black comedy, based on the interaction of a former army officer and one of his former squaddies who awaiting a tribunal, in a waiting room plagued by a constantly banging door. I don't know very much about drama or acting, but my attention was held by strong performances from the two men and I was intrigued to see where the story would go - there were surprising twists along the way. Obviously, my fiance's title-role was essential; he was very convincing making door-banging noises from being the scenes.

I didn't actually manage any reading, owing to catching up on work emails whilst on the bus to the airport and at the airport too, and then being in a camper van with very little lighting at night! But I am now intrigued to read some of the books suggested; I think I am certainly going to seek out some of Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland books and the first of the Kate Atkinson Brodie books to read.

I was also very kindly sent by The Heart of Midlothian by Walter Scott, by Kirsty from Oxford World Classics. It's a mighty tome of a book, which didn't quite make it into my hand luggage but I am looking forward to It's my first encounter with Oxford World Classics and I'm quite impressed- there is a lengthy introduction which I look forward to reading as I am completely unfamiliar with Scott's work and the book is beautifully designed.