August
diary

• Fringe early birds would be getting great value for money if they check out the preview shows which start as early as 1st August. Some shows are free, many are half price.
• Fergie agrees with the chief steward of the Fringe, Paul Gudgin, that with hundreds of shows in the space of three weeks it's as difficult to pick a winner as it is at the Grand National. So don't be afraid to take a risk.
• If you want to improve your odds of backing a winner remember that there are quality breeders and stables (although you'll need to dig deeper into your pockets). He suggests that the Big three or Treble are the Assembly Rooms, the Ascot of the Fringe; The Pleasance, the Newmarket of the Fringe; The Gilded Balloon, the Epsom. There are many outsiders to be found in small stables who can start off as 100/1 shots, but within a day or two become 5/4 the field.
  
  

  		FERGIE'S DIARY
  3		Fergie's first night - free absinthe at the Bongo Club opening.
  4		The Donkey Show? Mair like "slongboys"or "willies 'r' us"
  5		A visit to the Fringe Club and the calm before the storm
  6		Fizzy watter, flushing watter and watter under ra bridge
  7		Cavalcade Sunday and Fergie's naw happy wi' ra Chief Steward.
  8		Fergie meets ra festival Chief Stewards and a free act oan a free bus
  9		Fergie's off tae a distillery
  10		Call for weirdness
  11		Gan tae uncle Rodericks
  12		Ra Glorious Twelfth
  13		That Bjork lassie's naw here for ra Edinburgh Film Festival opening
  14		Fergie meets a lot of comedians at the Assembly Rooms "star bar"
  15		Someone's selling washing at National Gallery and naked theatre
  16		Fergie meets David Soul frae Starsky and Hutch
  17		Fergie provides moral support for journo frae ra Indie
  18		Mair comedy at Late N Live
  19		Fergie has another day aff
  20		Fergie has retired.

  
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