LIFESTYLE: ALISON'S DIARY

Aug 26 2007 Alison Craig

LOUIS' APPETITE IS ENORMOUS..HE'S ALWAYS HUNGRY. AT LEAST HIS BIRTHDAY PREZZIE IS SORTED - IT'S A NOSEBAG AND A SHOVEL

MONDAY

Festival nearly over for another year. Took my mum, pal Elaine, Louis and his pal Benny to see a Fringe show called Traces which consists of six men and one woman from Quebec defying the laws of gravity by bending, twirling, dancing and skateboarding-all in mid-air.

They received a well-deserved standing ovation and a look of deep respect from the younger members of the audience, most of whom could be overheard being told by worried parents not to try any of it when they got home.

TUESDAY

At the Great Scot judging, fellow judge and Sunday Mail Editor Allan Rennie revealed he is off to do the Berlin Marathon.

Seeing his ruddy healthy glow reminded me that he did put me in touch with JogScotland earlier this year. Guilty as charged, I have to confess I fell by the wayside but seeing how well he looks I may dust down the over-white trainers and give it another shot.

Features writer Heather Greenaway also had the fit glow. "You've lost weight," I said as she sat there looking supermodellish. "Three and a half stones," she informs me. WHAT? " How?" was my next obvious question. Answer: Scottish Slimmers.

Turns out Heather was writing various articles on them and thought she might as well give it a shot. Having tried every diet under the sun I am going to embark upon this the minute Louis goes back to school. I will discover a hip bone, I will.

WEDNESDAY

My pal Kim has just moved to Houston with her family - her man works in oil - and when she arrived the first thing she received was a letter with instructions on how and where to evacuate if and when Hurricane Dean hits.

I think she would have preferred a "welcome to your new home" card. Perhaps the joy of the Scottish weather isn't that bad in comparison.

Their dog Tizey just arrived from Scotland too. Once she got over the shock, Kim took her out for a walk which was when she noticed there a re designated "bark parks" for dog walkers.

The park is segregated into small, medium or large depending on the size of the dog. Each area also has shower and pool for the dogs. Whatever next?

THURSDAY

Hallam Foe is the film that kicked off the Edinburgh Film Festival this year and it's brilliant. The guy who wrote the film used to live in Edinburgh but now lives in the States with his wife and wee baby.

At the special screening I was thrilled to see Jamie Bell, best known as schoolboy dance sensation Billy Elliot, has grown up into a gorgeous young man. In this film though, he does less of the Billy ballet and more the horizontal mambo!

Luckily the catering at the event was so good that even keen boozers couldn't resist the delicious risotto which was probably the saving grace the following day. A good lining on the stomach clearly does work. A good mantra to learn and chant.

FRIDAY

Louis has been doing a rugby course all week. Back to bruises, scratches and cuts and - most painful of all for me - he has already outgrown his boots.

I offer to stretch them by steaming, pushing and pummelling them but I get the evil eye and so I am dragged to the shop to get a new pair.

After a quick measure, at the age of 12, he has now passed my foot size to take a seven and a half.

Last year, when we were the same size, I was buying him good quality walking boots, etc, knowing I would inherit them when his feet grew. But now it is back to bargain basement delights as he will no doubt be out of them by Christmas.

I know it is normal but as he is growing he has the most enormous appetite to the extent as soon as he has finished a massive plate of food he is complaining of being hungry.

After a plate of fruit he then sits for about 10 minutes before asking, "What can I have to eat?" And whatever I produce he scoffs in double-quick time.

At least his birthday is sorted this year. Happy birthday, here's a shovel and a nosebag.

SATURDAY

Billy Connolly spotted in town. I wonder who the Big Yin is going to see.

Maybe he is going to the If Comedy Awards which are announced today. Can you imagine being a budding comedian and looking into the audience and seeing Billy watching your act? Gads! Struck dumb, pass out or go home would be my three options.

Mind you after a night out at friend Lynne Moorhouse's with Elaine C. Smith, among others, I have a similar choice - primarily down to the amount of white wine I sucked down. Eventually I took the last option and went home - though not till 2am. Where's that risotto when you need it? ALISON CRAIG

Listen to Alison at www.sundaymail.co.uk/entertainment/podcasts. You can also text Alison. Just text SMALISON (space) then your message and send to 84080 (53305 ROI). Each text costs 25p.

Editor: Liz Cowan l.cowan@sundaymail.co.uk

Deputy editor: Mickey McMonagle m.mcmonagle@sundaymail.co.uk

Production editor: Hamish Burns

Writer: Avril Cadden a.cadden@sundaymail.co.uk

Picture research: Blair Stewart

MY PAL HAS MOVED TO THE US AND THE FIRST LETTER SHE GOT WAS HOW TO EVACUATE IF HURRICANE DEAN HIT. I THINK SHE'D RATHER HAVE HAD A NEW HOME CARD.