Last day of the fringe! But let's be honest, that was pretty much yesterday, today just felt deserted - a majority of the venues are done...in some cases, physically so, with scaffolding removing any traces that they were there in the first place. Gone for another year, another month of dreams, adventures, it really, really, breaks my heart when it's all over. I mean, I need a break, I'm knackered, but I reckon with 2 days off, I could go and do another month of this.
Only two of my shows were running today, with the play and the stand-up show ending yesterday. Signed out of my accommodation (which was totally amazing, if expensive - turns out every comedian chum was staying in that block which lead to many a drunken conversation at 2am in the lobby), found my car, moved it closer, loaded up my props and then Rachel and I did the final HOP to 7 quiet people who sat back, enjoyed it and let us get on with it. Watched my mate's show that followed (I'd been trying to catch it all month) and then a final gig with Dom, which was a goodun. He gave Chad and I some lovely gifts onstage in front of the audience afterwards as a thank you - a Bitcoin card thing that he endorses, a CD and a bottle of bubbly. He didn't have to do that; he's been paying me all month to be his drummer as it is, but he's a good man and I've had a nice 21 days playing his songs.
And with that, it's all over. Only took me 6 hours to drive back, my 20-year-old car, which has caused me so many problems recently, was more than fine and I was home by 1am. Probably dangerous to just blitz it without a break, but I felt very awake.
It's lovely to be back. Harvey will grow and grow, that's the show that I will keep and I'm proud of it, and it's all the better for an Edinburgh run. Alan and I have spent many a boozy evening at the Pleasance Courtyard discussing tweaks for it, but it's not far off then it'll tour. And be a film (that was already agreed with a filmmaker who loved the Cambridge preview), and possibly be a radio thing - but I need to clarify exactly what was said in that BBC chat that involved 8 pints. I'm onto a good thing here. HOP can maybe retire now, as much as some of my team want it to continue. No more stand-up, but very keen to drum for more comedians. I've got a lot out of this fringe, not just the four stars from the Scotsman.
But it's lovely to be back. A is home on Tuesday, but even being back in the house felt lovely. The cats, who had barely had any human contact for 10 days (A's parents popped in briefly every day to feed them) were very needy and I felt very welcome. Good to be home.
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