The Edinburgh Fringe can be a bit of a bubble at the best of times. As you dash around performing shows, seeing shows and napping (not so much while dashing around), it’s easy to miss the news. I got the feeling a collective jolt went through the ex-pat Londoners up here yesterday evening as the enormity of what was happening back home fought its way through the fog of ticket stubs, alcohol and street performance.

On the one hand, I’m glad to be well away from the rioting. On the other, I feel – entirely irrationally – like a coward, as if I’d run away. My city under attack, I had an unexpectedly macho desire to be there to protect it. In practice, “defending” would probably have involved switching off the lights, peering through the curtains and pontificating on twitter, and there is plenty of pontificating on there without my adding to it. My best plan to get back at the criminal mobs is to put it about that they’re organising everything through Grindr.

Still, I worry about my friends and wish I was closer to them.

Immersing myself back in the silliness of the Fringe was a welcome distraction. Having enjoyed seeing Ben do ukulele cabaret yesterday, I’d snapped up a spare spot and so took my uke down to do a couple of songs (Media Gay and Jim Bergerac: A Love Song). They went well – not aided by a coughing fit just before going on – and I only muffed a couple of chords. It’s a lovely, supportive show and I’m looking forward to doing it again on Thursday (leaning towards doing My Favourite One Off of Thundercats and Why Aren’t There Dolphins on Only Connect?).

The highlight of the show for me, though, was the final singalong on stage with host Tricity Vogue and fellow Uke of Edinburgh contestants Pure Joy and Penny Dreadful and regular Karaoke Circus star Thom Tuck (who’s up here with his first solo show, Thom Tuck Goes Straight to DVD). We did Hit the Road, Jack, which consisted of four chords I could play. Win.

I bumped into Thom again later at Comedy Countdown, where he faced off against We Are Klang’s Steve Hall. That was an excellent show, mixing the obvious pleasure of a words and numbers game with which you could play along with, well, comedy – not least hilariously grumpy host Dan Atkinson, combative Carol Vorderman clone Paul Sinha and prize neologist and Richard-Stilgoe-alike James Sherwood in dictionary corner. Very tempted to go again tonight as it’s only a fiver.

What I learnt today: I am not the only comic up here to have actually been on Countdown. Alex Horne also has that claim to fame. Damn him.

Recommended shows: Conor O’Toole’s Manual of Style and Comedy Countdown.

Obligatory plug: I’m in Three Man Roast, 2.35pm weekdays and Saturday 20th at Finnegan’s Wake on Victoria Street – free entry. Also at the Amused Moose Comedy Awards Showcase at the Pleasance Dome, 4pm on August 17th (book online).