Into the Wild...

And so, it's all done. The Festival is over. I am physically and mentally broken, but so very happy.

It's all been a bit of a whirlwind. 295 people have now seen my show- I had my last one yesterday at 1pm and managed to cry quite a lot at the end. I hope the audience knew that I was being weepy because it was my final show, and not that I manage to force tears out at the end of every performance. That would have made for a very draining month. After 59 shows in 26 days, I felt a mix of relief, adrenalin, joy, tears, exhilaration and exhaustion.

We were not allowed to leave the Pleasance Courtyard until 11.30pm because of site rules and so after the 1pm show, we felt in suspended in a strange state of waiting.. We had to load Joni up with all our stuff (us Franklands are not known for our skill of travelling light- our packing for a camping holiday involves a ukelele, at least 12 books and an 8ft surfboard.

At 11.30pm, we pulled away from our little corner of the Courtyard- we beeped the horn at the few people who were still there (incidentally, one of those people turned out to be Tim Vine) and we felt so proud of Joni. The triumphant departure was marred slightly when we had to stop and move some bins so we could get out without taking the wing mirrors off, but then we were DEFINITELY OFF, forging our way over the cobbles and out of the Courtyard Archway, headed for the unknown (well, our friend's house in Port Seton, but I was being poignantly metaphorical)

And here we are now in Port Seton, in a beautiful fisherman's cottage, getting Joni ready for her trip up to the Highlands. We are heading straight North, up to the very top, where I can't wait for 2 weeks of nothing- just beautiful peace and quiet, sea air and using Joni as a proper campervan once more. She has worked so hard over the last month, supporting me through my shows, staying sturdy and beautiful in the middle of the Pleasance, and welcoming all those lovely people in through her sliding door. I can't wait to go to sleep in her again and cook bacon on the stove in the morning. It's my birthday while we're away and I can't think of a nicer way to spend it.

I will update this when I get back, as I am turning my phone and computer well and truly OFF as from now. We are going to be wild camping (which is legal in Scotland, but not England) and so I apologise to anyone who sees me as soon as I get back. I am likely to look a bit like I've gone feral. Who knows, I may even grow a beard like Tom.

This is Joni and I signing off for now.

Until the next time...Happy Camping

x

The Final Week, the Visit from Preston and the City that Never Sleeps

Well, I certainly intended to update my blog much more than this.

But, this in Edinburgh. And in Edinburgh things are not normal, not as expected and almost never involve making sensible decisions.

I cannot believe I am saying this, but I am now 43 shows in. I have met some extremely lovely people, had a very exciting run of reviews, very unexpectedly won a Fringe First and, most importantly, am still having a lovely time. I know this sounds silly to say, but I have had emotional, awful Edinburghs in the past, where I have been both ill and fed up, often at the same time, and I am so pleased to say that neither of those things have happened yet.

I have met people who have surprised me, people who have made me laugh, people who have sung their hearts out and people who have nearly broken my tape recorder. My parents came to see the show on Friday last week and it was so lovely to have them sitting inside Joni. My dad was significantly less adept at operating a tape recorder than expected, and I think my mum felt a bit travel sick, but it was really nice to see them. Sometimes you need to see people from the normal world to remind you that this is all real

We are heading to the Highlands next Tuesday, and I know that Joni will need a holiday as much as Tom and I do. I am excited about the week to come but cannot wait to head out into nature, full of midges and fresh air and waking up to the sound of rain on the roof. Awesome.

Tonight I am going to see some comedy in the Courtyard and I am looking forward to it all. I had a day off yesterday and I need to get my momentum back.

I will write more tomorrow but I wanted to check in as I haven't managed to blog for ages.

Sorry if this all sounds a bit smug today- I'm just having fun. Happy days.

The Rain, the Lawnmower Museum and the best campervan in the world

Greeting from Scotland!

And so, here we are, in amazing, consuming, beautiful, WET, whirlwind Edinburgh. I am already resigned to the fact that my wellies will now be my permanent shoes, that none of my summer dresses will make it out of my suitcase, and that getting trenchfoot is a very real possibility.

I am already 6 shows in, which feels crazy, as the festival only really started today. I am loving every minute of it. It is such a a treat to be doing what I love every day. Twice.

We have bought a cover for Joni as she is parked in such a prominent part of the Pleasance Courtyard. Tom and I have found it very difficult to sit having a post show cider, watching people leaning on her in a casual manner. I have branded these people 'VTs' - Van Touchers. I feel like getting myself a tuxedo and dark glasses, wrestling the VTs to the ground with the vicious cry of DON'T TOUCH MY VAAAAAAAAN..

But I won't.

Not now we've got the cover.

I am writing a column for Three Weeks newspaper, called 'Last Week in the Van' where I list 10 things that have happened in Joni so far. I'm not going to give it away, but am going to give you a current highlight.

Today, in my show I had a lovely couple called Brian and Sue, who turn out to be the owners of the Lawnmover Museum in Southport. I didn't know that such a place existed, but they proved it to me by giving me a leaflet. Their tag line is 'When the Growing Gets Tough, the Tough Get Mowing.'

This made me love them even more