Edinburgh stole my heart years ago, so much so that’s now my favourite city in the world. There’s so much to love, and so much to miss, about this wonderful Scottish capital.

Ed Fringe has opened my eyes to the fascinating world of comedy. On the recommendation of a friend I went to see Phill Jupitus. I had no idea what to expect – if someone recommends a show to me, any more detail is irrelevant. If they think it’s worth telling me about, that’s good enough for me.

I’ve attended Fringe gigs in pubs, theatres, a circus tent, the top level of a double-decker bus, a football club, an inflatable up-side-down cow udder and a yurt nicknamed The Yurt Locker. And a dormant volcano. On Monday I climbed Arthur’s Seat to see the view of Edinburgh. On Tuesday I climbed it again for a comedy gig.

Every August Edinburgh hosts the Edinburgh International Festival. The Royal Mile, usually a peaceful tourist strip lined with kilt shops and overpriced restaurants, is mayhem. It’s closed to cars and full of buskers and performers promoting their shows, either by doing small skits in the street or handing out flyers. It’s crazy and I love it.

I flew out of Manchester last week with just hours left on my UK working visa, using the flight to Dublin to remind myself that although it didn’t feel like it, my arrival into England last year was actually a while ago. Looking back, there have been so many, many highs, and thankfully, just a handful of lows.

Europe has a fabulous cafe culture. Just think of Paris where sitting at small table, sipping an espresso and watching the world go by is a thing! I love discovering great cafes when I travel. Here are some of my favourite finds.

Edinburgh has produced and inspired some of the UK’s best-known writers. Trade at cafes such as The Elephant House went through the roof when people found out J K Rowling sat at its tables to write the first Harry Potter novel. Fans pay an exorbitant amount to stay at the suite…

For all the excitement, thrills and adventure that travelling brings, some days it’s hard to be away from home. ANZAC Day is one of those days.

If the title of this post is lost on you I can only assume you have not experienced one of the greatest TV shows of all time. Black Books. It’s a BBC show that was screened in Australia on the ABC and features two of my favourite comedians, Dylan Moran and…