Two more days to go and our review from three weeks JUST came out. We got 4 stars! YEAH. Not entirely sure how accurate the description of the show is, but FUCK YEAH! 4 stars! See below:

A NIGHT IN SANDY HOLE!
4 STARS **** (Three Weeks)
If you enjoy the appalling, giggle at the ghastly and absolutely adore Alan Partridge then you'll love this. Spend the night in Sandy Hole - guest house to the stars, where a special atmosphere makes for a hilarious show. The garish make-up daubed on the repulsive hosts, and their grotesque, sexually explicit humour, is exactly what makes this bloody brilliant. They push the very word extreme beyond its exceptionally broad limits, straddle decency on the way and drag it to the depths. It hits you like a wet fish round the face - ignorant, simple, perfectly timed and refreshing, if slightly uncomfortable. Sick humour never tasted so good.
Holyrood Too @ Faith, 12 - 26 Aug, 9:45pm (10:45pm), £5.00 (£4.00), fpp 79.
tw rating 4/5

I went out till late again last night and the day's running away already. A great show last night though with the fab Lucy Porter and Ewen Macintosh doing the short celebrity guest spots. Tonight we have PETE FIRMAN AND JOSIE LONG. Woop!

I'm very surprised at myself for having lasted this long here at the fucked up edinburgh festival. I made a decision not to let the ego maniacs get to me, and to simply let their crazy views wash over me like a lovely wave. (A wave that didn't contain salt so if I did happen to open my mouth whilst it went over me, I could swallow its content and not choke)

I have to say that Caroline Clifford's cartoons are GREAT. Please read them if you haven't already. She ace she is and so is Evie Anderson. I like them both lots - we done some good drinking since being here and they're both really nice drunks. YAY!

Anyway, the second to last show's tonight and then I'm off to the Phat Cave with my pal Kate. Another late night drink me thinks. Oh well, I really did enjoy the FOUR shows I saw whilst up here. Pathetic eh? THANKS ALCOHOL. THANKS ALOT.

I've been drinking quite alot this festival and I had one of my SPECIAL hangovers on monday which left me puking all day, although I didn't drink that much the night before... My mouth is now, not unlike an open-wound, the taste buds on my tongue seem to have disappeared in places and my voice is more husky/manly than ever.

Gareth came to visit and we had a great time. We went to the Phat Cave on sunday and it was mad - I'd totally recommend checking it out if you haven't already. I really am quite ashamed at the amount of shows I haven't been to see. Tomorrow I plan to change all that starting with a play starring Eleanor Tiernan which is at 1:30pm. (This is an EXTREMELY early start for me.)

My pal Kate came up yesterday and so she shall see I stay sane until the end of the fest. I must say I'm counting down the bedtimes till I can be in my own bed. My bed (in the student halls) is covered in plastic, (for unexpected juice spillage I expect)and whenever I wake up in the night I keep thinking I've wet myself. Sometimes I probably have. Who knows?

We're in our final days at the fest and its going really quickly, we've only four shows left to do! Tonight we've sold quite a few tickets which is ace as we have a VIP coming to watch the show. Tomorrow we have special guests Lucy Porter and Ewen Macintosh coming on down to the Sandy Hole so I'm reckoning we should get a good crowd. If you're up in Edinburgh come on down to see A night in Sandy Hole. Its much fun - Yes it is.
BYE.

We did an ace show last night which has restored our faith and made us confident and happy once again. My estranged auntie from long ago turned up and seemed to really enjoy the show. I haven't seen her in 16 years so was great that she liked our stuff. I went home last night straight after the show and DIDN'T drink (not that I drink at home, you know what I mean). Amazing. I actually remember closing my door. And, I took my make-up off. My bed spread looks like Jesus's face. Except my face. Except not really at all. Its dirty though, reeeal dirty...

Yesterday day time was horrid. It pissed down all day and in general was probably my lowest day. I did crying and everything. I did a gig at a Laughing Horse venue which went ok - I didn't have much energy but the audience seemed to like most of it. Still need to write more stuff though.

Today I compered at PBH's breakfast club as he called a meeting with all involved with his free fringe. It was a strange one but jollied up towards the end.

I then did fliering. I think I'm quite good at it ya know. At one point I asked some lads if they would like a flier and gave them my best smile. They exclaimed "Oh YES PLEASE" and then took one each and then began to chant "We got some Roach-y, we got some Roach-y". Full of glee they were so I set them on their way.

I've just been to see Pappy's Fun Club and it was ACE. They're so so good. My mouth hurts from laughing so much.... Highly recommended.

We have a reviewer in today so we're fliering like bitches. really hoping we get some good press out of all this. I'm sure all will be well in the end.

I have a day off tomorrow and I CAN'T WAIT. YEAH! BYE!

I'm on day 8 now and all's ok. Unfortunately the last couple of show's we've had to cancel owing to Caroline losing her voice. Its a bummer but thats life and by no means the end of the world. Hopefully we'll be back on track for tonight.

My friend Katie has been up visiting for the last couple of days so we've had plenty of fun fillin in the gaps. Lots of drinking and lots of meeting people.

I did a gig at Pearshaped yesterday which was cool (except for the MASHED heckler, but Brian soon put him in his place) and one the day before at the Merkat. I wanna say Meerkat but its definitely Mer. Both have gone ok - But I really must write some new material. I'm boring myself you see. I'm about to go and do another spot at Jekyl and Hyde shortly. I might just sing a song instead.

I went to see Barry Castagnola and Martha (not sure of her surname) in "Swingers" at the underbelly. Its very good and really quite clever, go see.

Sorry I've just re-read this and its reads like a robot - I've got a bit of a hangover today having gone to the Library and Loft bar again last night. When will I learn eh? My liver's probably black right now but what I can't see can't hurt me. Or can it. Yes, it can.

I did an interview this week with Reg D Hunter for a BBC thingy about women and fear. It was really interesting - I think it was just a pilot though. WOW.

And finally, Gareth's coming tomorrow YEAH!! YEAH!! YEAH!! So pleased!. I'm missing him loads. For all the people one might know at the Ed Fest, it can be a very lonely place.

BYE.

I've been here 5 days and my plan to not drink isn't working. The first night of our show (which went very well btw) we decided to celebrate. Like, really hard. I was a BIG NOB. Good one. Ah Leanne, start the fest as you mean to go on. I just talked shit to everyone who would listen, luckily I'm not a repeat offender so all was forgiven.

Now onto the show. The first night was ACE. The second good, and last night....well last night was HARD (but somehow I still enjoyed it). Two ladies in the audience had very solumn looks on their faces throughout, until three minutes to the end when they decided to walk out. Maybe we should have a warning on our flier. "Not for the BORING." Yeah? How do ya like that? Ah well each to their own. People so far have described the show as insane, bonkers and funny. Twice, two audience members have choked. (not to death) I take this as a good sign.

Fliering's going ok, some people are right old stress-'eads though eh. "NO! I DON'T WANT A FLIER!" One of my tactics when they say this is to exclaim loudly, "Ohhh.:-(" And then do a sad face. Sometimes that makes them take one. I'm always very chatty when I flier and sometimes this backfires as people wanna stand there for ages yapping away. S'nice though talking to punters of the festival.

I've met some really nice people since being up here too. I have to admit I tend to distance myself from most comics cause it gets boring talking shop all day and I find it all too back slappy. However there really are some lovely down to earth types knocking about who I've had many a great conversation with. I've only been blanked twice as well! This must be a WORLD RECORD.

I have to see more shows. I've only seen ONE since I've been here and thats just wank. Within myself (mentally) I feel quite copey. Like, I think I'm coping. I know I've only been here 5 days, but I still feel normal. I still quite like stuff, and I'm staying sane. Lovely Gareth's coming up on sunday (WOOH!) I can't wait. It would be much better if he was here, but he's busy taking all the work down south so doing well which is cool.

Till next time.
Leanne

Yeah so I'm here. I'm in a ridiculously expensive internet cafe and I've just clocked the staff here laughing at my disgusting knickers bulging out of my skirt so will keep this short.

I got to Edinburgh yesterday, after a reasonable train journey. There was some posh students playing "stupidly long word" scrabble whilst quaffing champagne on the way up, so although every now and then they all "HAW HAW'D" loudly - I coped and turned the volume up on my IPOD.

I'm staying in a halls of residence type set up with some other comics and its ok. Its very UNI, but not too far from the main action. Once I'd unpacked yesterday I headed for the Gilded Balloon. It was the same as last time, & to be honest this place is just too intense for me. I swiftly moved on to check out the venue we are to perform at. Its the Holyrood too @ Faith and is lovely, a real PROPER venue with an excellent tech crew and production team. I met Caroline and we went for a couple of beers and all was jolly. You can't walk two minutes here without bumping into someone you know but not sure if they wanna be in this blog so gonna leave them out for now.

Caroline and I talked about the show and I think its going to be ok. I'm really nervous to be honest, the show we've rehearsed and rehearsed is finally here and it doesn't seem real. We've sold ten tickets already for tonight which is great! I'm gonna go and do some fliering on the royal mile in a minute (just psyching myself for EXTREME busy-ness) and we have a couple of other flierers helping for today as its our first show and we've been running round trying to get last minute props. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get a kinder egg round here.

Anyway - a short one like I say today but tomorrow I will have more time and will bore you (perhaps) with more of the same only longer.

TOMORROW. Tomorrow I go to Edinburgh. I'm all in a dither, I've tried to be as organsised as possible making lists and plans - hoping I don't forget anything. I have some props to bring with me for the show, which have all fitted in me' bag, but the bleach bottle is proving to be a real pain in the arse - just can't seem to squidge it in. I'm up there for just 16 days and I don't have enough knick-knocks to last me, but I do have some travel wash.

I'm in two minds. Half of me is excited and half of me is filled with dread. Like right now, I know if I go to the toilet it will come out in "The runs" mode. So I shan't, cause I'm at work. No, I'll just have to wait until it solidifies (sigh).

I've only been up to Edinburgh twice before and each visit was short, and was enough for me. Now its different I will be working constantly EG: In the show I'm in, doing normal stand-up gigs, fliering like a bitch and working with Paramount and MTV.

I have three pals coming up to Ed intermittantly to keep me sane and make me remember real life. I really do plan not to drink loads. I know its tough and I can imagine people reading this going "tch yeah right" (specially those who know me). Intense drinking means lots of depressed thoughts the next day though and I need to be as jolly as possible. I wanna be one of those people I envy regularly who skip around in the morning on the way to work minus a hangover, whilst I on the other hand, can do nothing but look at the floor and try to keep my watery mouth from turning into vom.

Ah, I expect I will drink, I just don't want it to be like last time in Edinburgh. On one occassion back then, my mate Kate called me after a very heavy session and it was about 2pm and I can't remember speaking to her but apparently I went, "I can't come and see that show cause I can't actually see." This isn't good because I need my vision.

I have a list of shows I wanna try and catch whilst I'm there. They are as follows:

Tony Law's show (he has doggie's in it)
Pappy's Fun Club
Barry Castagnola
Mickey D
Pete Firman's show Hokum
Sista She'
James Dowdswell
Janice Phayre
James Sherwood
Nik Coppin
Tanyalee's "Little do they know"
Steve Williams
Tony Cowards (This is on the back of his jolly blog - I know nothing of football)

There's probably more but loads clash with my show so am really limited unfortunately.

So when I next blog I shall be up in Edinburgh. The show I'm in is called "A Night In Sandy Hole" and is on at the Holyrood too @ Faith (venue 38) 9:45pm everyday (cept 20th) starting from this sunday (12th). Come see.

Indeed.

So last night was our final preview before we take "A Night in Sandy Hole" to Edinburgh. Caroline's going up tomorrow and I'm going up on the 11th. The show went well but the audience were a little quiet (i'm used to huge guffaws of laughter you see). I personally think they may have been a tinsey bit scared of what we were going to do next. GOOD. All in all I think we're as prepared as we can be and I'm looking forward to seeing how its received when it kicks off proper-like.

Last night's guest spots were performed by Ava Vidal and James Sherwood who both did a grand job. I'm loving that the different guests we're using in the show, really 'get' this fun concept of the show. S'nice. Its so cool working with so many great acts as well.

I'm completely prepared for the Ed Fest (not in mind - on a practical level only). I have my Apex train ticket all booked and confirmed (return). I have my accomodation all sorted (I'm staying at a halls of residence thingy with some other performers of whom I don't know) Its a single room with sink etc and shared facilities with (I THINK) four others.

This is good as I can hole myself up in my room and not feel like I'm being an unsociable freak. (Which is possibly what I will be from time to time. What can I say...I don't really like people.) I don't think I could face sharing with people I knew.

I have several additional gigs booked for the two weeks and two days I'm there, so I get to do my regular stand-up too.

I'm also going to be helping Paramount Comedy whilst up there (cause I work for MTV/Viacom by day) so its going to be really crazy but am looking forward to it lots.

In other news its my radio show today on www.sw1radio.net so please tune in (on t'internet) if you get a chance.

Good luck to all performers going up to Edinburgh this week and I shall see ya'll on the 11th! Leanne x