HH

This is more like it. Things that we actually wanted to see. Though when we booked a viewing of Competition Shorts at the Cameo as part of the EIFF, I somehow never pictured the bright afternoon sunshine that we’d be depriving ourselves of for three hours. Still, they were all of an amazingly high standard: Love Me, Hold Me, Always by Hardey Speight was pretty excellent and got my vote (so important!), but I was entranced by Your body in my room directed by Axel Cheb Terrab. 
Anyway, we were finally released and were able to sit in the meadows awhile before heading to the Spiegeltent to see Hamish Hawk’s take on Ivor Cutler’s Life in a Scotch Sitting Room. Fabulous! As the man himself said, in conversation afterwards, it’s probably the most challenging piece of work he’s been involved with, and he was unsure whether he’d hit the right note. He certainly did; the anecdotes from his own childhood at Fairmilehead fitted perfectly, and he does a brilliant Cutler when required. Bravo, etc. Wonderful to think that the music and humour of that old guy I saw 50 years ago is being introduced to a whole new generation. And he finished with one of his own, Catherine Opens a Window. Sublime.