But then the heavens opened.

And while most people scurried for the nearest shelter, or huddled under the inadequate one to hand…

Others seemed less worried about getting soaked through, perhaps because they had less to soak.

After not very long, the clouds passed and the sun returned, evaporating the rain and making the city almost painfully hot with the humidity.

But before long the rains returned.

And abated.

And then came back for one last, serious encore.

Not that this stopped people from going about their business.

It’s very telling that the Fringe street team have warm waterproof hoodies as part of their uniform. I also think it’s rather nice of them to think of their poor, bedraggled staff.

After pretty much clearing the streets – not to mention giving them a good clean – the river in the sky moved on and left people to get back to the fun. I know of one photographer who loved the rain because it meant lots of umbrella-backed portrait opportunities.

And of course after a good wash the sky often looks lovely as well.

It just goes to show that nothing can stop the momentum of the festivals, rain, shine or the fall of night. They’ll keep at it, whether it be promoting, performing papping or, er, watching.

Next up: Turned out nice again!

Whether it be the ‘wacky’ ways people think of to promote their shows – which are then copied until they become so ubiquitous as to be neither wacky nor effective and therefore fade for a few years before returning as if new and exciting – or fashions in comedy or theatre (this year seems to be about darkness. Everything is gritty and miserable. Let’s not mention the economy, okay?). Or in clothing and accessories…

Peggy here, mainstay of the Literary world in Edinburgh and St Andrews (watch out for her at the Edinburgh Book Festival) has been ‘rocking’ the retro glasses for a few years now, receiving nothing but approval from her peers.

But now the secret – that as far as glasses are concerned, old is new and sad is hot – is out, it seems.

Up and down the streets and venues of Edinburgh this year, big plastic frames are the thing to wear.

Whether performing…

Flyering (so much yellow!)…

Walking about taking in the atmosphere…

Grinning like a mad northerner (this isn’t racism, he was fron The North)…

Or creating eccentric promotional accessories…

Now that I’ve pointed it out, you’ll see them everywhere. Because they really are everywhere. I don’t think I’ve ever been so aware of people’s glasses as I am at the moment; if I didn’t feel a need to repress any memories (or photographs) of the time when I wore ‘tragic’ specs, I would surely be jumping on this bandwagon. Geek chic? Apparently so.

What next?

Coming soon: A Book at Bedtime (and the rest of the day)