Taksel

A blip which encapsulates the choice between shots, since it took a while to decide - Taksel, or the Tibetan Buddhist Art of Debate...

I'd started the morning with an early rise to wander up to Duddingston Loch - lamenting the loss of the 500mm lens of last week having been returned to the company from whence it came, but still managing to pick out some nice shots in the sun. They're listed at the end, and I'd love you to look at a few since there are some I'm really happy with (the light being so much better this week than last), with the Moorhen and Sparrow shots the favourites to take over from this image.

Anyway, bit of gardening in the late morning and early afternoon after a farmers market run, then off to the first of two shows of the day - Power of Compassion. It was a demonstration of Tibetan Buddhist monks dancing and chanting and so on, and was utterly enthralling, and not just because of the fabulous outfits. Anyone with an interest in Tibetan or Buddhist culture should try and get tickets for this in its last week.

Dinner at Hanedan was a rampant meaty affair, and simply delicious, and from there we headed to the Famous Spiegeltent and the best show I've seen in years. Smoke and Mirrors is a cabaret style affair, and if you're thinking along the lines of the Cabaret movie then you're in the right area. Slightly sinister, completely over the top, virtually no dialogue, but lots of music and singing, and three strongmen performing astounding feats of balance and, well, strength. Inadequacy may be the overwhelming emotion but for the fact that the entertainment level was so high. The magic show was old-fashioned stuff done brilliantly, with the impressive house band providing the backing music, Paul Daniels this 'aint. The compere, iOta, an extravagant showman verging on a drag queen has the best and most varied singing voice you will come across this Fringe. 1h45m of unadulterated and non-stop (save for an interval, obviously) entertainment that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Funny; impressive; aural champagne; and OTT sexiness.

Yeah. It wasn't bad...

And with a day as busy as this it's no surprise this was uploaded the day after and so will likely not be read by anyone!

Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff?
Getting Your Ducks in a Row
Three Moorhen Shots that I can't pick a favourite from...
Scritch Scratch
Sparrow Shout