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There is - quite literally - nowhere on Earth as scintillating or as exciting as Edinburgh at Festival time.  And that's down to the 'street fringe' - the dancers, acrobats, musicians, actors, magicians and many other performers from all over the world who jostle for your attention as you wander the city's lovely streets, squares and alleys.
 
I spent a wonderful day there last week, drinking in the atmosphere, the chaos, the crowds and as much of the street entertainment as I could.  At the end of my day, I vowed (isn't vowed an impressively portentous word) to visit Edinburgh a lot more often.  I've neglected it shamefully over the years...
This is the first street-artist I encountered.  He's from Sam Diego and can do things with that transparent sphere you can't even imagine...

These drummers are Japanese and held quite a large crowd spellbound for over half and hour..

Calm down; it was the kilt I was interested in.  Yeah right.
They're called  '21st century kilts' and are designed and made by an Edinburgh company.  I've wanted one for years.  Anybody got £500 they don't want?

These outrageously show-stopping lads were from New Zealand and everybody wanted to be photographed with them.  They didn't need to ask me twice.
If you're broad-minded enough, you can find out more about what they do at okareka.com.
I want to go back to New Zealand.  Sometimes, I wish I'd never left...
 
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As a farewell gesture to this year's festivities in Edinburgh, here are some of the one-liners that have been voted amongst the funniest at Festival Comedy Fringe.  Enjoy.

Never date a tennis player.  Love means nothing to them

My friend asked me:  'Is there anything you want to see at Glastonbury?'  I said 'Yes - an ebola outbreak.'

Laughter is the best medicine, although it tends not work in the case of impotence.

I spent the last three days alone, trying to learn escapology.  I need to get out more.

I was vegan for a while.  I lost 3kg - although most of that was personality.

Life is like a box of chocolates - it doesn't last long if you're fat.

My father grew up in a really racist part of Sunderland, called Sunderland.

My husband and I can never agree about holidays.  I want to fly to exotic places and stay in five-star hotels.  But he wants to come with me.

Children give you something money can't buy.  Poverty.

My dad's a real family man.  He has three of them.

My mum wears a burka - mainly because she doesn't want to be seen with my dad.

Recently in court I was found guilty of being egotistical.  I am appealing.

If you don't want to know what introspection is, you need to take a good, hard look at yourself.

I  went to my allotment and found there was twice as much soil as the week before.  The plot thickens.

I always think positively.  I don't have a drink problem - I have a drink opportunity.

I've run this joke past all my black and ethnic-minority friends and he said it was fine.

After my grandad's funeral, I scattered his ashes over the garden - which was horrible because he hadn't been cremated.

My husband never learned to drive - in my opinion.

I got a muzzle for my pet duck.  Nothing flashy but it fits the bill.

I suffer from PMS.  My wife gets it and I suffer.

Each time I visit Edinburgh, I'm reminded of the definition of a 'gentleman'.  It's someone who knows how to play the bagpipes but doesn't.
 
If I could take just one thing to a desert island, I probably wouldn't go.

But, of all the one-liners I've heard about, this bizarre example is my favourite this year.

My cat is recovering from a massive stroke.

I love it.  I absolutely love it.
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CONTACT ME
Post comments on this blog or email me:  truckshunters@googlemail.com
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My nephew Peter and his partner Vicky finally decided - after 19 years together - that it was time to make it official and get married.  And they did it in what can only be described as style.
The venue was Askham Hall in Cumbria and the event lasted all weekend and took over the entire hotel.  
I was there the whole time and I'm already looking forward to a lifetime of recollecting the amazingly happy memories that Peter and Vicky laid on for us there.

Peter and Vicky
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The bride and groom prepare...



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The bride's ready...


I really love this picture
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 The ceremony...

 The bloke on the left is Steven, Peter's best man
 Peter's dad - my brother Barry - does his reading


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At each table...
 ...there was a small bottle of Robinson's Damson Gin...
 ...and a presentation box of locally-made fudge.
Each place-setting included a photo - these are Barry's and his wife Jean's
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I love this picture too - it's of Mike, my niece Anna's husband
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The bride and the groom after the ceremony...

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 There's a kind of postscript to all this.
When I checked out of the hotel on the Sunday, I managed to leave with my roomkey.  Today, I finally got round to returning it.  I drove over to Askham (which is a few miles south of Penrith) to hand it back in person.  And I couldn't have chosen a better day.  Sunny, warm and almost cloudless - a comparatively rare combination for the Lake District.
 
And as soon as I arrived, the memories of that wonderful weekend came flooding back...
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CONTACT ME
Post comments on this blog or email me:  truckshunters@googlemail.com