We specically booked an early show (9.25) to get us out of bed and started. The rain had stopped after 24 hours of non stop drizzle so our walk across the city to the Surgeons Hall was very pleasant. We opted for an American High School Theatre group because we wanted to support a young group, even if they are american. Their play was about the consequences of being on the sidelines of an alcoholic or drug addict. It was well performed but as always when young people act out something very deep and experiential it is somewhat limited due to their own narrow life experiences. We've seen a lot worse and they portrayed grief and emotional upset with some gravitas. It did go on a bit and it over ran by ten minutes which meant we had to walk very fast to the next venue situated in New Town (across the city). As it happened they were running late due to a technical hitch on their computers. When in trouble blame the computer - it works in most cases.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?attachment_id=142" rel="attachment wp-att-142"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-142" title="The Butterfly Effect" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/velociped-glas-200x161.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="161" /></a>The Butterfly Effect was a 3 man music ensemble who used a bizarre variety of instruments to create a story regarding how chaos theory works. It was brilliantly simple, comic and musically enchanting. It was one of those shows that you go in not knowing what to expect and come out having had a great experience but not sure how to describe it. We loved every minute.

After a wander around a craft market, lunch and a chance to write up our reviews of the morning's shows we were off again to the Pleasance Courtyard to see <strong>Ed Reardon's - Writer's Burden</strong>. His show was based on his Radio 4 show where he plays a disgruntled writer making his way through mediocre assignments. Nothing beats a grumpy old man and Ed Reardon is just that. He was perfectly on target and lived up to our expectations.

We just had time to leave the venue and immediately queue again for the same venue to see Art Malik and his daughter in <strong>Rose</strong>. Another brilliantly performed show. We expected to Art Malik to be good but his daughter, Kiera, held her own and was his equal on stage. The story was full of pathos with a touch of humour as there is in many father/daughter relationships. It told of an immigrant father whose wife died in childhood and he swore he would bring his daughter up to be an english rose, even naming her Rose. As with all teenagers she rebelled and eventually became a muslim despite his efforts to deny all religions. Deep and thought provoking.

We returned to the flat for refreshment before venturing out into the evening to catch the street entertainment on the Royal Mile. Many of the crowds are there to catch the Edinburgh Tattoo but this militaristic event is one we agreed held no interest for us.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/?attachment_id=145" rel="attachment wp-att-145"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-145" title="Dublin Band" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Photo-08-08-2011-20-43-25-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>We did manage to catch a Dublin band playing in the open who had 20 minutes to play before closed down by the Fringe organisers so that the next event could set up. This stuff goes on everynight and many of the venues are open until three in the morning but we know our limitations so we head for the flat just after 9pm for a light dinner.

Tomorrow will be another full day with several shows already booked.