Wednesday 14th August 2024

Got up at 0730. Prepared cold meats, smoked salmon, and toast for the communal breakfast. Packed our bags...took them down to the car to stick in the boot. The Lettings Agency wasn't open, so rang them to see if it was OK to keep hold of the parking permit for an extra hour...we had to be out of the accommodation by 1000. They gave me the green light. Wandered down to our favourite cafe for a latte, saying our farewells to Gill and Susan outside on the pavement. Kath and Hilary walked on into town to do some window shopping. I took the keys back to the Lettings Agency, and we ambled around the locale to kill some time. Handed in the parking permit around 1045, and headed for The Meadows. Found some parking about 10 minutes walk from the Summerhall venue where we were due to see John Hegley. Cost me £14 for four hours! Walked across The Meadows and sat watching the locals on the public tennis courts...lovely sunny day. Decided to head toward town to find a spot of lunch. Ended up at an African wrap joint called Nile Valley, next door to the mosque. Ordered a chicken and aubergine wrap...as we were making our way out, Stephanie from The Tower Theatre walked in!!! We exchanged a few words...she was up seeing stuff, rather than performing. We recommended the dance piece we'd seen last night. Walked back to The Meadows and ate our lunch on a park bench, then ventured over to Summerhall. As we rocked up, we joined loads of people hanging about outside, and the shrill sound of a fire alarm could be heard coming from the depths of the venue. Had to wait outside for 15 minutes before getting the all-clear, and we made our way to the Cairns Lecture Theatre. Good turnout for John...he mixed new stuff with a lot of hits from yesteryear...he remains as effortlessly likeable as he always was. Said our farewells to Hilary afterward, and walked briskly to the car before the parking meter ran out. Got there with a minute to spare. Drove southward, stopping off for petrol at Cameron Toll...Kath and Aki bought water, and we took to the A68 toward Newcastle. Got to High View at 1730. Dad had cooked his infamous chicken tikka masala for dinner. It was served with rice, yoghurt, and rather too much mango chutney, which made it more of a dessert...this was followed by dessert...treacle sponge and custard, which went down well. Had to have a lie down after dinner. Kath went home to do her washing. Mum and dad watched telly. Aki had a shower. Bed...