Coffee With Hamsun

Image: Guardian.co.uk

Edinburgh was mobbed yesterday morning with various events on in the city all at once. Not only was it the second day of the Fringe Festival—the first Saturday therefore the first really busy day—but I saw several stag and hen parties, one wedding, and several hundred Sunderland fans in town for a friendly match against Hearts. It was the latter bunch causing the police more concern, with two meat wagons in Rose Street to keep an eye on the ones drinking in the surrounding pubs.

It all made for a lively atmosphere, none of which put me off my routine. I had wanted to get a new pair of work shoes but there was nothing decent, so I bought a copy of The Guardian and retreated out of the sunshine into my favourite coffee shop for a read over a large cappuccino.

I came across an interesting article about Knut Hamsun. I’d been recommended a book of his by a friend a while ago but have still to get a copy, so I knew a bit about him. I never knew about his Nazi sympathies, though, nor that he had won the Nobel prize for literature, so his good and bad sides were pretty extreme. The article centred around his life because on the 150th anniversary of his birth the Norwegians have opened The Hamsun Centre in celebration. It was a fascinating piece and I think now I have the extra motivation to search out Hunger, the book that had been recommended to me in the first place.

Back home I spent the afternoon in and around the house. In the evening I had the place to myself so made some dinner and moved into the living room with my netbook to write. I did some initial work on BACCARA BURNING, then settled down to watch a film with Mopsy, one of my mini lop rabbits, lying out on my belly.

Today I’m taking advantage of a quiet house to do some more writing, and I still need to get a new pair of work shoes before tomorrow. My current ones have developed a hole and they are ruining my socks—kid you not!

Think I may even make a wee curry tonight. Just for old times sake.