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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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