Sunday, August 28, 2011

Festival fever

Seeing excitement on Twitter and photos on Facebook of the Edinburgh Book Festival reminded me of the only time I've been to Scotland. It was 20 years ago, I was six months pregnant and we spent a few days in Edinburgh before going to stay with my sister in Falkirk.

We loved Edinburgh. We took in the sights and I managed to climb the hill to the castle, but we spent most of our time at the festivals, watching comedy shows and visiting book tents. We went to one literary event, a discussion about female sleuths between crime writers Antonia Fraser and Sara Paretsky, who was one of my favourite authors. I still have my signed copies of their books.

We left Falkirk swearing we'd go back soon. But just six weeks later I gave birth prematurely to Son 1 and not so long after Son 2 was born my sister and her family moved back to England. I never got to go back, to either Scotland or the Edinburgh Festivals.

But I will. Maybe next time as an author.

4 comments:

HelenMWalters said...

I had a fab time at the festival this year. I hope you make it back there soon.

Cathy said...

Edinburgh at festival time is really something special, isn't it? I'm sure we will go back in a few years when circumstances allow.

Anonymous said...

I sure you manage to go back, Cathy. You should stop off for a cuppa on your way! It's a wonderful place.

CJ xx

Cathy said...

What a lovely idea CJ! We drove up to Scotland, with a stopover in York, so we must have gone very near you!