John Gibson: Gabbing to the off-duty Hamiltons

Better not to mention this to a woman. Talking age and how old. Best not to go there. But I’m thinking, up real close to Christine Hamilton, she’s a couple of months away from 62. She’d pass for 52 nae bother.

Dome director Brian Crawford and his good mate Lorraine Chase were hosting an intimate supper party for the Hamiltons. Husband Neil was there, too, in a rugby shirt Christine bought for him.

They’re Fringeing on Bristo Square with a chat show they’ve dubbed “organised chaos”. Couple of years since they’d last done it and Edinburgh has changed perceptibly for them.

“Taxis are cheap compared with London. From Bristo to George Street here £5.50,” Neil noted. While the Hamiltons reckon the Fringe has “so enriched our lives”, by their reckoning the average loss absorbed by the participants is £12,000 to do the Fringe.

Quipped Neil, ages with Christine who was wearing trainers and matching red polka-dot top: “I might audition for the Ladyboys next time.”

Last words to Christine: “I’m told Rula Lenska will be sitting at Brian’s table next week. We’ve worked with Rula in panto. She’s got great legs.”

Benny thrill

Couple of gigs I contrived not to miss and failed. Curtis Stigers in the Jazzfest and Benny Gallagher at St Bride’s, Dalry.

But a colleague who was in the full house for Gallagher raved about it and tells me he and song-writing partner Graham Lyle will be back on March 29 for a reunion at the Queen’s Hall. Want to be there, heart on my sleeve.

Afterwords . .

. . . so Heston Blumenthal after 20 years married to Zanna has dumped her for Suzanne Pirret, America’s Nigella Lawson. For Blumenthal, read Blownitall?