WebDecember2017

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WESTENDER 

Christmas 2017

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Contents 

6 Fashion pages 

naughty, or nice? 

14 West End Live 

with Greg Kane 

16 Christmas All 

Wrapped Up 

21 Westender 

Christmas gift guide 

28 WIN! An overnight 

stay at Crieff Hydro 

30 Writer’s Reveal 

meets Medeia Cohan 

34 Sweet Liberty 

36 WIN! A gift bag of 

goodies from SPiRiTO 

WIN! A Style makeover 

at RRI Great Western Rd 

37 Cocktails and Pan 

Asian food at Wudon 

39 Restaurant Review 

at Basta Pizza Bar 

41 Bar Review 

The Ben Nevis 

42 Top Things 

44 Artist Interview 

with Moy Mackay 

48 Legal Matters with 

Mitchells Roberton 

49 Accountancy Matters 

with Murrison & Wilson 

51 Mum’s Notebook 

52 Local charity Coach 

House Trust 

54 Interiors article: 

Scandi Christmas 

vs Victorian 

59 The Christmas table 

66 Hand picked 

Christmas tree 

decorations


contributors 

Suzanne Martin 

Editor 

Gregor Reid 

Photographer 

Jacki Clark 

Fashion Stylist 

Nicola Maule 

Writer 

Roberto Parrucci 

Writer 

Emily Donoho 

Writer 

Advertise today! 

Call 07905 897238 

Or email: info@westendermagazine.com 

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Publisher: Westender Magazine 

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that 

the data in this publication is accurate, neither the 

publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and 

hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or 

damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from 

negligence, accident or any other cause. 

Westender Magazine does not offi cially endorse any 

advertising material included within this publication. 

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored 

in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any 

form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, 

recording or otherwise – without prior permission of 

the publisher.





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…he’s gonna find out who’s 

NAUGHTY 

NICE 

Images Gregor Reid 

Stylist jacki clark 

or


top, solo. boots, daniel footwear. 

jewellery, liquorice tree 

opposite page - top, jewellery & gloves, jasmine. boots, daniel footwear

8 | www.westendermagazine.com


dress, solo 

shoes & bag, charles clinkard 

Jewellery, LIquorice Tree 

coat, jasmine 

opposite page 

dress, solo 

boots, daniel footwear


lingerie, silks. shoes, daniel footwear 

opposite page - lingerie, silks

www.westendermagazine.com | 11



skirt, top & bangle, jasmine. 

opposite page - skirt & top, jasmine. boots, charles clinkard. necklace, pink poodle 

model erin charters @ Coloursagency.com MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk 

stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk location hotel du vin, hotelduvin.com/glasgow 

photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com


LIVE 

December 

Blue Rose Code 

Friday 1st December 7.30pm 

Milngavie Folk Club 

tickets.jmsconcerts.co.uk 

'Imagine John Martyn meets a young 

Van Morrison shipwrecked with a crate 

of Chet Baker records'. That’s how Time 

Out described the sound of Edinburghborn 

singer/songwriter Ross Wilson 

who goes by the name Blue Rose Code. 

His latest studio album . . . And 

Lo! The Bird Is On The Wing has 

contributions from legendary bassist 

Danny Thompson (John Martyn), 

Hollywood A-lister Ewan McGregor 

as well as a role call of some of the 

finest musicians in Scotland. 

I’m not really a fan of the pursuance 

of jazz/folk fusions but Blue Rose 

Code seem to have the balance just 

right. This version works well, enough 

to convince me and maybe even enough 

to set the bar for the many others 

who attempt this type of mashup. He’s 

steadily growing his tribe on and off 

the stage. Check out his Live At The 

Queens Hall, Edinburgh documentary 

on YouTube, it’s a great little exposé 

of who he is and what he’s trying to 

do. 

Choice Track: Blue Rose Code 

‘Grateful’ 

Moulettes 

Monday 4th December 7pm 

Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk 

Moulettes are an experimental five 

piece folk-rock band from Glastonbury. 

All are multi-instrumentalists and 

judging by the skill and execution 

of their vocal harmonies all are very 

capable singers too. 

Their music does not fit easily into 

any musical category but it is heavily 

influenced by the folk/prog sound of 

70s bands like Pentangle and Gentle 

Giant. Progressive Rock is very 

difficult to pull off. There’s also not 

much payback for all the effort you 

have to put in as it does not attract 

the huge audiences it once did so you 

have to be committed and that should 

be admired. 

So with all this ability and 

commitment Moulettes have carved 

out a niche for themselves and are 

currently one of the most talked about 

bands on the Prog scene. They are out 

on tour promoting their new record 

Preternatural so with kaftans and 

tie-dye at the ready you should go see 

their elaborate octopus-chameleon 

inspired lovecraftian horror blend of 

progressive rock. I dare you. 

Choice Track: Moulettes ‘Songbird’ 

LANY 

Friday 8th December 7pm 

Queen Margaret Union, qmunion.org.uk 

It’s quite unsettling watching 30 

year old men singing of teenage angst 

(They describe it as 'Make Out Music'). 

Cynical old songwriters usually hide 

behind petty popstars to punt their 

skilfully constructed hooks, but props 

to LANY (pronounced Lay-Nee) for 

coming out from the shadows to front 

this electro-pop trio. 

In my day our quirky named electro 

pop trios were spearheaded by the 

Norwegian boy band Aha, and Take On 

Me was and still is an iconic slice of


by Greg Kane 

pop. Can LANY get anywhere close to 

that yardstick? Only time will tell, 

but they are armed with the focus, 

enthusiasm, ambition and the deep 

pockets of Polydor Records required to 

succeed in the cut throat business of 

pop. 

For me the French band Phoenix do 

electro pop better, but LANY are pretty 

skilled at it too. 

Incidentally LANY stands for Los 

Angeles New York … clever eh? 

Choice track: LANY ‘ILYSB’ 

James Edwyn & the Borrowed Band 

Saturday 9th December 9pm 

The Bon Accord, bonaccordpub.com 

This Scottish band were formed in 

2013, influenced by Gillian Welch, 

Woody Guthrie and Ryan Adams, their 

music is a mix of alt country folk rock 

roots orientated Americana. 

The whole thing is centred around the 

heavily bearded singer songwriter/ 

guitarist James Edwyn. He’s got a good 

voice has our James and the subject 

matter of his songs are personal day 

to day observations presented in a 

reflective mood, perfect for this type 

of music. 

They are out promoting their recently 

released 2nd album High Fences coming 

off the back of a successful album 

launch at the Glasgow Americana 

Festival last month. 

I’ve seen many alt country acts play 

at The Bon Accord and it’s a perfect 

setting for this kind of music, with a 

great sounding room and a bar with 

one of the most extensive Whisky 

collections anywhere in town. All 

makes for a good night. 

Incidentally, as I was researching 

this band I stumbled upon The Fallen 

Angels Club ... a kind of appreciation 

society/promoter for Americana in 

Glasgow. If this is your bag then you 

should definitely go have a look at 

their website. 

Choice Track: James Edwyn & the 

Borrowed Band ‘Pushing Statues’ 

King Krule 

Friday 15th December 7pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

I’ve always been a fan of the self 

indulgent – Krule is the King of selfindulgence, 

especially on his new 

record Ooz. 

Listening to the 23 year old Londoner, 

Archy Marshall aka King Krule can 

be quite an unnerving experience. 

It can sometimes be like listening 

to old school Bill Withers but after 

the consumption of some serious 

hallucinogenics. It’s sometimes like 

The Cure – there’s also some early 

Radiohead in there – and thanks to his 

musical parents he also draws on the 

likes of Talking Heads, The Pixies, 

The Damned, Weller and the inimitable 

Donny Hathaway for inspiration, but 

ultimately it’s all King Krule. 

After a very successful tour of the US 

in 2013 he decided not to come back 

home to Old Blighty so this tour at the 

end of 2017 is a bit of a homecoming 

for him. Be under no illusions this 

music is dark and demanding but if you 

can manage to commit to it then the 

rewards are well worth the effort. 

Choice track: King Krule ‘Czech One'


Christmas Shop at 

The Liquorice Tree 

Christmas… 

all wrapped up 

WORDS TRACY MUKHERJEE IMAGES GREGOR REID 

Desperately trying to pass seriously slow tourists on 

Buchanan Street on Christmas Eve, or merely inhaling 

the not so yuletide aroma of wet umbrellas on the jam 

packed underground; just don’t go there – to town that 

is. Instead, here is our guide to everything you need for the festive 

season right here in the winter wonderland of the West End. 

Ican’t deny it, I love Christmas. I am one 

of those annoying peeps who can’t wait 

to get the tree up on the 1st of December. 

In my head I’m living in the final scene of 

‘White Christmas’ where the Christmas tree 

has candy canes and candles, snow falls 

silently as good neighbours wave from their 

horse drawn sleighs. And there is absolutely 

nothing wrong with wearing a Santa-themed 

red velvet ball gown whilst doing the 

housework. 

Granted, in reality the candles have to be LED 

for health and safety, I have to make do with 

my dog Lucy in a reindeer headband instead 

of the horse and well, the velvet ball gown? 

Primark do a rather fabulous line in novelty 

Christmas jumpers. Never the less, I feel Bing 

would be proud... 

So to get in the festive mood, here is the 

Westender’s gift to you; a guide to sprinkling 

some Christmas cheer.

For The Christmas Home 

Christmas first and foremost is about 

togetherness and having your home as 

Hygge as possible is a priority. First stop in 

achieving this is the West End wonderland 

that is the Liquorice Tree Christmas shop. 

Down stairs in the Great Western Road venue 

is an Aladdin’s cave of festive finds. The 

Christmas shop has decorations and gifts for 

every theme. Silver fine glass baubles blend 

with glass Christmas tree candle holders. 

Stunning snow globes with Scotty dogs 

and Labradors in the snow sit alongside a 

fabulous tartan selection of baubles – pipers, 

highland cows – perfect for sending to loved 

ones abroad. And as far as gifts go, there are 

some stunning champagne flutes available 

– diamante, gold or silver. Why not go the 

whole hog and opt for a Christmas themed 

bottle stopper? Liqorice Tree has it covered 

as far as Christmas decorations go – even 

stocking a snowflake handwash dispenser for 

the bathroom. Now that’s dedication. 

Along on Cresswell Lane, Nancy Smillie also 

has some lovely touches to complement 

your home. In particular the beautiful dried 


fruit and wicker garlands and wreaths: 

round, heart-shaped, or in lengths, give 

a lovely natural appeal to a festive home. 

In the same vein, the boutique is also 

stocking many wooden and felt tree 

ornaments, super trendy and very homely. 

With a choice of lovely stained glass angel 

and Christmas tree votive holders, there are 

some nice optional Christmas themes at the 

Cresswell Lane shop. 

And for something a little more traditional, 

Shearer’s Candles on Byres Road stock 

an incredible amount of options to have 

your home smelling of yuletide yumminess. 

For gifts, the Highland range are beautifully 

packaged and have some stunning scents 

– Hogmanay, Red Red Rose and Ae Fond 

Kiss – evocative of the scents of Scotland. 

To get your home smelling like a full on pot 

pourri of all things crimbo, there are aromas 

such as cranberry and ginger, orange and 

pomegranate, frankincense and myrrh and 

cinnamon spice, all available in candles and 

home fragrance sprays. With a full range of 

Christmas stock still to arrive, make a trip to 

the Byres Road store. 

Yuletide yumminess at Shearer Candles


stalwart of gift boutiques, stocks some really 

interesting items from all around the globe. 

Always a strong supporter of local artists, 

there are some great present ideas, with a 

good selection for the boys. The Cath Waters 

ceramic collection are striking – mugs, 

coasters, but so much more than that. The 

Culinary Concepts Huntsman range is to die 

for; a collection of beautiful wooden items 

embellished with silver stag detail. Without 

doubt, you won’t leave Cassiopeia empty 

handed. 

Personalised gifts at Spirito 

The Thought Really Will Count 

For thoughtful, unique gifts for all the family, 

there are some fabulous little boutiques 

on our doorstep. Spirito in Broomhill have 

a fabulous range of personalised gifts for 

him, her, young and old. Gifts that can be 

personalised range from oak keep sake 

boxes to cheeseboards and cufflinks. It’s 

a really nice way of making a thoughtful 

unique gift that extra bit special. The Crow 

Road store also has some stunning jewellery, 

unusual fragrances and the gift that no 

woman can resist – some beautiful candles. 

Along the road in Hyndland, Cassiopeia, that 

Festive Food and Drink Gifts 

Trying to think of gifts that aren’t run of the 

mill can be quite a chore. Let’s face it, these 

days if we like something, we often buy it for 

ourselves. So what do you get the loved one 

who has everything? A gift from Eusebi that’s 

what! This fabulous Italian deli and eatery 

on Gibson Street has some great creative 

Christmas gifts available. For the woman 

who has everything why not go for ‘Mama’s 

Night Off’, a hamper of delights wrapped in 

Eusebi’s own retro gift boxes. Inside, find the 

deli’s home-made panettone as well as an 

exquisite bottle of Capriana Bellini imported 

all the way from Harry’s Bar in Venice. Not to 

leave the guys out, ‘Dad’s Night On’ gift box 

includes Eusebi’s own olive oil, tomato sugo 

and pasta – everything he needs to get dinner 

going! But to ease his pain, the Eusebi team 

have also added their specially imported Labi 

craft beer, the only outlet for the Italian brand 

in the UK. And for a really fabulous gift, why 

Cassiopeia, a strong supporter of local artists


not buy the Labi gift box? With a range of 

four craft beers to choose from, a bottle of 

your choice comes in a stunning presentation 

box with two Labi fine craft ale glasses. If it 

were my choice however, I don’t think you 

can ever go wrong with a Coffee Lover’s Gift 

Box: Derocci beans, with a mini panettone 

and a gorgeous Eusebi espresso cup. I can 

smell the aroma from here... 

For something a little stronger and 

gorgeously packaged, Demijohn on Byres 

Road is a Christmas staple in terms of gifts. 

Sloe gins, ginger wine, bramble scotch 

whisky liqueur…perfect tipples for night 

caps by the fire. In terms of gift ideas, 

the Demijohn team have great gift sets of 

stacking bottles, be they gin, vodka or even 

specialist vinegars such as Tayberry and 

Damson, available in sets of three or five. 

For a seriously opulent gift, why not opt for 

the Demijohn Drinks Chest – a gorgeous oak 

chest containing ten glasses and six small 

bottles of artisan liqueurs of your choice. 

There is also an option of smaller stacked 

bottles in oak presentation cases. 

Try before you buy at Mellis Cheesemonger 

And For Afters… 

Christmas isn’t Christmas without getting the 

cheeseboard out. And the annual event of 

queuing outside Mellis Cheesemonger in the 

days leading up to Christmas has more of a 

‘Blitz comradery’ atmosphere than any usual 

migraine inducing pre-Christmas queue. 

Pray tell the reason? Why there is free food 

and great service to be had! Is there any 

better shopping experience than tasting 

cheese, getting some advice about cheese… 

then tasting some more cheese? I think not! 

As usual the staff at Mellis will be delighted 

to advise you and this year they are putting 

together basic cheese boards which you can 

then add to for 6, 8 or 10 guests. And with 

the enormous array of crackers, chutneys, 

salamis and cured meats available, where 

will there be room for the actual Christmas 

dinner? 

Finally, popping across the road to Valhalla’s 

Goat, the staff will be delighted to discuss 

your wine, champers or spirit requirements. 

The staff at the Great Western Road shop 

have a wealth of expertise and can advise 

you based on your menu. In terms of 

gifts, the number of specialist rums and in 

particular gins available will ensure you aren’t 

stuck for choice. The team stock smaller 

specialist producers of wines and spirits too 

so it’s nice to be supporting the little guys. 

Festivities commence at Valhalla’s Goat 

Some unique ideas to get you started – 

without ever having to venture beyond St 

George’s Cross! I’m off to don a rather jovial 

flashing snowman jumper to do the ironing. 

Well it is November the 20th after all…


C U R A T E D C O N T E M P O R A R Y L I F E S T Y L E S T O R E 

F E A T U R E D : T U B E A U D I O S P E A K E R , D E S I G N B Y P I E T H E I N E E K / 8 0 G B P 

6 5 H Y N D L A N D S T R E E T / G L A S G O W


Christmas 

a merry west end 

Gift Guide 

for home 

Chrome Tube Clock £80 

Concept 65 

Seashore Champagne Bottle Holder 

£140, Cassiopeia 

Apple & Cinnamon Bauble 

Candle £12, Shearer Candles 

Copper LED String Lights 

£8.99, Liquorice Tree 

Beeswax Candles from 

£14-£19.50, Hoos 

Teatowel & Cheese Slice Set 

£19.95, Nordic Outdoor 

Mikasa 4 Balloon Glasses 

£45 reduced to £20, Papyrus 

Ribbon Clock £44.95 

Nancy Smillie 

Marbled Garland £10 each 

Glasgow School of Art Shop


for her 


Blue Silk Scarf £34.95 

Nancy Smillie 

Binge Thinker Notepad 


Handmade Designer Cuff 

£700 Cassiopeia 

Gift Boxed Cerise Jar Candle £20 

Shearer Candles 

Spot Print Pyjamas £45 

Spirito 

Fjällräven Ovik Fleece Hoodie 

£129.95, Nordic Outdoor 

Karl & Coco Kokeshi Dolls 

£35 each, Concept 65 

PomPom Hats from £15 

Papyrus 

Tree of Life Brooch by Gist £18, 

Quirq 

P. Kirkwood Hobo Bag £156 

Hoos


for him 


Stop Snoring Mug £7.99 

Liquorice Tree 

Harris Tweed Accessories 

from £19, Cassiopeia 

Golf Ball Ice Mould £11.95 

Nancy Smillie Shop 

Dale of Norway Tor Sweater 

£179.95 Nordic Outdoor 

iBeani Cushion £25.99 

Spirito 

Bookmark and Pen Set £10 

Glasgow School of Art Shop 

D42 Brass Watch by Leff £189 

Concept 65 

The Liqueur Tower (with oak 

gift box) £88.15, Demijohn 

Fingal Laptop Backpack £95 

Trakke 

Felt Bedside Caddy £20 

Papyrus


for kids 

Net of Chocolate Sprouts 


Harry Potter Colour Change Glass 

£10, Papyrus 

Tropical Bird Mobile £28 

Glasgow School of Art Shop 

Supersoft Mittens for Babies £10 

Cassiopeia 

Didriksons Bjornen Coverall 

£99.95 each, Nordic Outdoor 

Cuddly Penguin Toy 

£14, Spirito 

LMF Fire Starting Kit £16.95 

Nordic Outdoor 

Official Emoji Game £8.50 


Christmas Ducks from Dcuk from £16 

Cassiopeia 

Olesen Crochet Fox £25 

Hoos

for foodies 


Alessi Pizza Cutter £35 


Panettone & Amarena Cherries £20 

Eusebi Deli 

Cordial Gift Set of 3 £29.10 

Demijohn 

Joseph Joseph Chopping Boards £50 Now £35, 

Sabatier Knife Block £100 Now £63, Papyrus Cookshop 

Christmas Tea in Caddie £6.99 and Christmas 

Pudding or Snowmen Chocs £5.99, Cassiopeia 

West End Suppliers 

Cassiopeia 165 Hyndland Road G12 9HT 0141 357 7374 cassiopeiaonline.co.uk 

Concept 65, 65 Hyndland Street, G11 5PS 0141 357 0268 owenbisset.com 

Demijohn 382 Byres Road G12 8AR 0141 337 3600 demijohn.co.uk 

Eusebi Deli 152 Park Road G4 9HB 0141 648 9999 eusebideli.com 

Glasgow School of Art Shop, Reid Building 164 Renfrew Street G3 6RF gsashop.co.uk 

Hoos 715 Great Western Road G13 8QX 07788 480421 hoosglasgow.co.uk 

Liquorice Tree 431 Great Western Road G4 9JA 0141 339 0648 liquoricetree.com 

Nancy Smillie Shop 53 Cresswell Street G12 8AE 0141 334 4240 nancysmillieshop com 

Nordic Outdoor 687 Great Western Road G12 8RA 0141 334 5400 nordicoutdoor.co.uk 

Papyrus 374 Byres Road G12 8AR 0141 334 6514 papyrusgifts.co.uk 

Quirq 21 Byres Road G11 5RD 0141 357 2208 instagram.com/quirqglasgow 

Shearer Candles 388 Byres Road G12 8AR shearer-candles.com 

Spirito 317-319 Crow Road G11 7BU 0141 337 3307 spiritogifts.com 

Trakke trakke.co.uk


A Crieff New Year 

Start 2018 as you mean to go on with fun, 

festivities and a good old knees up at 

Crieff Hydro. 

With trees twinkling from floor to ceiling, 

decorations throughout the hotel, and the 

crisp Perthshire countryside outside, you’ll 

enjoy your three-night New Years stay in a 

real winter wonderland. 

Their famous ceilidhs, discos and non-stop 

entertainment mean you can spend all day 

doing something completely different, or 

simply kick-back and relax without lifting a 

finger. And with all of your meals included, 

from brilliant full breakfasts, right through to 

the Hogmanay ‘Fizz and Stovies’ feast – you’ll 

be that well fed, you could hibernate until 

spring. 

It’s not just their reputation for seeing in the 

bells with a great party that makes their New 

Year stays so memorable (although their 

traditional January 1st Survivors’ Photo will 

confirm that) – there’s also an incredible 

choice of onsite activities available too. 

Fancy spending New Year with all your 

friends and family? 

Crieff Hydro’s ‘home from home’ self-catering 

lodges, cottages and apartments are the 

perfect base to celebrate 2018 with the 

whole clan. You can still have the at home 

experience, with all the added extras of a 

hotel experience – including the famously 

warm welcome, leisure facilities and action 

-packed entertainment programme. 

So, bring the family away for some 

countryside escapism this New Year or 

Christmas and the Crieff Hydro team will be 

sure to make it a magically memorable one. 

WIN! An overnight stay for two at 

Crieff Hydro this winter. Ts&Cs apply. 

Visit crieffhydro.com/westender to 

enter and follow the instructions on 

the page. Good luck!


Shake 

things up 

this Christmas 

at Crieff Hydro 

Join us for a 

famously warm 

welcome, family 

traditions, twinkling 

trees and fantastic 

Scottish ceilidhs. 

Our Christmas and New Year 

breaks include: 

• Three nights’ accommodation in Crieff Hydro 

• All your meals 

• Action packed entertainment programme 

• FREE childcare for 2 – 12 year olds 

• FREE access to leisure pool, gym and cinema 

• Special events including welcome drinks 

reception and Hogmanay party in our 

Melville Hall 

Christmas 

Package 

Only £499 

per person 

for three nights 

New Year 

Package 

Only £799 

per person 

for three nights 

Self-catering 

breaks 

From £60 

per person, 

per night 

Book now crieffhydro.com/festive | 01764 655 555 

Terms: Based on two adults sharing standard double accommodation, arriving on 24 or 30 December 2017 for three nights. 

Subject to availability, full terms on request.


Writer’s Reveal 

meets Medeia Cohan 

WORDS LORAINE PATRICK IMAGE GREGOR REID


simplicity – each page is dominated by a 

brightly coloured picture. Text is kept simple 

and pronunciation phonetic. Amongst others 

we are introduced to a Sikh man in a turban, 

a Jewish woman in a Tichel and a young boy 

in a kippah. 

The modest construction of the book makes 

it easy to underestimate the amount of 

research that went into it. The book took over 

a year to narrow down which head coverings 

to include, and in her quest for absolute 

accuracy Medeia travelled the world to meet 

faith leaders, costume curators, anthropology 

and religious studies professors. 

‘It’s a great responsibility to talk about 

something as delicate as faith and there 

is an awful lot of misinformation out 

there,’ Medeia explains. The research was 

painstaking. ‘I now know why the book didn’t 

exist previously’ she laughs. ‘Our research 

included speaking with the curators at the 

Smithsonian and the African museum in 

Washington. We also consulted with theology 

professors, religious leaders and faith 

members, and ordered every book on faith 

for children out there.’ 

As well as Jewish and Sikh faiths the book 

features Christian, Rastafarian and Islamic 

examples but there were many coverings 

that just didn’t make the final cut. Medeia 

picks up. ‘The African head wrap was a tricky 

one. I really wanted to include it but within 

every African country and within that – every 

African tribe – there are different reasons 

for wearing one and different names for it. 

I really wanted to be sure that what I was 

putting out was accurate and factual.’ 

Could you easily identify the head 

coverings you see around you today? 

Would you know a Tichel from a 

Turban? This was the starting point for 

mother turned writer Medeia Cohan who 

struggled to find a book for her young son 

which describes the different ways people 

cover their head to show love for their God. 

Hats of Faith is a brightly coloured board 

book covering five faiths and nine different 

types of head covering. Its genius is in its 

First drafts of the book included information 

about each head covering which the 

publisher suggested be taken out. Media 

was devastated. ‘I had thought it was really 

important we explain and rationalize head 

coverings. But actually when we took the text 

out it highlighted that head coverings are a 

shared custom across all faiths. What the 

text had done was actually emphasize the 

differences between faiths. 

The book was published in August and 

Medeia has been busy promoting it – touring 

her home country of America and getting


involved in Interfaith week here last month 

(an awareness raising and celebration of the 

different faiths in Scotland). She is also taking 

part in workshop based events for families in 

conjunction with the Scottish Book Trust. 

Reaction to the book has largely been 

positive with many parents sharing pictures 

on social media of their children reading it 

but not everyone approves. ‘We have had 

some haters,’ Medeia says, with people not 

keen to engage in discussion about different 

faiths or practices. The other issue that has 

caused debate has been the books title. ‘We 

have taken a fair amount of flack for calling 

head coverings ‘hats’ but the book is aimed 

at young readers and that is the term young 

readers are more familiar with. 

Originally from Massachusetts, Medeia 

came to London 12 years ago to study and 

moved her family to Scotland earlier this year 

enjoying the slower pace of life here. She 

is keenly aware of differences in UK and 

American classrooms. 

‘We do live in a more diverse setting in 

Scotland being physically closer to Europe 

and the rest of the world. When I do school 

workshops here and I ask if you have seen 

an African head wrap or a hijab the answers 

are much more frequently positive – yes 

my mum wears one. Whereas doing that in 

America, even in a diverse classroom, no-one 

knows any of the head coverings in the book. 

America is very different culturally. 

‘I come from a very liberal family,’ she 

continues, ‘and find when I go back home to 

the States these days the Trump bandwagon 

Competition! 

We have two signed copies 

of Hats of Faith, to give away. 

Visit westendermagazine.com 

and click on competitions by 

the 31st of December 2017. 

is very hard to stomach. I think a book like 

this is really needed in America and it is the 

right moment for it – I want our future to be an 

inclusive one.’ 

Medeia has big hopes for this little book. 

‘I want it to encourage tolerance and help 

prepare young people for the culturally 

diverse world we live in today. It’s a starting 

point for discussion on interfaith diversity.’ 

Lesson plans are being created and will 

be available from the Hats of Faith website 

(colouring sheets are already available) and 

more books may follow. Medeia is keen to 

tackle festivals of faith next. 

Moreover, the amount of knowledge 

accumulated for this project won’t go to 

waste, ‘I could do a PHD on head coverings 

now,’ she chuckles. It is quite ridiculous for a 

12 page book. Winston Churchill once said 

that ‘if I had more time I would have written a 

shorter letter.’ I now realize how hard that is 

– it was no mean feat to create this book but I 

am proud that we have done it!’ 

hatsoffaith.com 

Website special offer: Buy one book and 

donate one for half price to a school, 

library or children’s hospital. 

£2 

Hats of Faith 

OFF 

* 

RRP £8.99 

*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers 

at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road 

branch only, by 31st December 2017.


PIANOLA LAUNCHES NEW MENU 

Neighbourhood dining. Italian infused menu. Stunning décor. 

Booking for Christmas. Gift vouchers available. 

Call Now to Book 

240 Crow Road, Glasgow G11 7LA 

facebook: Pianola&co web: www.pianolaglasgow.co.uk tel: 0141 334 6171


Guilty Pleasures from Westender’s American in Glasgow 

It's Christmas! Go 

completely nuts with the 

decoration - more is more, 

in this case. Mismatched 

glasses look especially 

Festive

AMerican eggnog 


by Liberty Vittert 

I start listening to Christmas music in October 

and my tree goes up in November, so I have 

clearly been waiting for this eggnog with greedy 

taste buds. 

Eggnog has many purposes: keeping the cold at 

bay when your central heating is on the fritz, a 

sweet nightcap before turning in, or (my personal 

favourite use) your booze/dessert in one allowing 

you to still squeeze into that holiday dress that 

just doesn’t quite zip the way it did before all the 

Christmas cookies. 

Eggnog has been around for ages, in many 

different forms, but really what I love about this 

modern day eggnog is the decoration. Easy peasy 

to make, both kids (the non-boozy version please) 

and adults can have a blast choosing their festive 

spirit decor. 

K 

Shopping List 

5 eggs, separated 

5 tbsp sugar 

1 nutmeg 

250ml bourbon 

(or whole milk) 

500ml single cream 

500ml whole milk 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp cloves 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

to decorate: food colour, 

crushed oreos, cinnamon 

sticks, chocolate sauce, 

sprinkles, etc. 

L 

Method 

1. Beat the egg yolks and sugar together. 

2. Grate in one nutmeg. 

3. Add your bourbon, stirring constantly; 

(Replace with whole milk if not using). 

4. Beat the egg whites to a light froth, 

and mix them nicely with the above. 

5. Stir in the cream, milk and other 

spices. 

6. Have fun decorating individual glasses 

for some Festive spirit (see what I did 

there…) 

7. Serve cold. Drink up! 

PAPYRUS 

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36 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com 

Magazine Promotion 

The Gift of 

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W 

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SPiRiTO’s Denise is predicting Katie Loxton’s 

clutch bags, scarves and candles will be 

big sellers, ‘I especially love Katie Loxton’s 

Hey Beautiful Pouch,’ explains Denise. ‘It’s 

colourful and fun and just the right size.’ 

Marion loves the huge array of candles that 

are new in-store for the Festive period. Just 

what we need to cosy up and feel all Hygge. 

‘Pilgrim jewellery is always a sure fire hit 

at Christmas,’ says Marion. ‘Pilgrims new 

necklaces are elegant and very versatile with 

chains that can be worn long over a tunic top, 

or doubled up to collarbone length – two gifts 

in one really!’ 

RRI 

I 

by John Parker 

n the run up to Christmas it’s going to 

be extremely busy here at Rainbow Room 

International. At the Great Western Road 

salon the team are doing some extra training 

outwith the salon on party hair and dressing 

it quickly. Our assistants will also be working 

on their braiding techniques in the lead up to 

Christmas – which is great as many clients 

love a braided updo for festive parties. 

We also have some exciting new hair colour 

shades from Schwarzkopf in the salon, which 

include blood reds, petrol blues and greens. 

These new shades are beautiful and perfect 

for clients who want to go for a bright, bold, 

on trend colour change for winter – or to see 

in the New Year in style. 

Finally, we are delighted to announce that 

Tiffanie from our Great Western Road 

salon, who has been with Rainbow Room 

International for 16 years, has been promoted 

from Master Hair Designer to Consultant 

Designer. Congratulations, Tiffanie! 

WIN! SPiRiTO are offering one lucky 

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of Katie Loxton scarf and clutch 

bag, alongside Pilgrim necklace, 

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by the 31st Dec’ 2017*. *Ts&Cs apply 

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317 – 319 Crow Road, G11 7BU 

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follow – Rainbow Room GWR 

Rainbow Room International 

607 Great Western Road G12 8HX 

0141 337 3370 

rainbowroominternational.com 

WIN! Rainbow Room International 

are offering one lucky reader a hair 

makeover in their Great Western Rd 

salon. For your chance to win go to 

westendermagazine.com and click 

on competitions by the 31st Dec’17.

Christmas cocktails 

Take a break from the hectic Christmas 

shopping and endless Festive tunes and 

celebrate another shopping trip survived 

by heading to Wudon for cocktails and fresh 

nourishing food. 

Based at 535 Great Western Road just up 

from Kelvinbridge underground station, and 

on the frequent 6/6A First Bus route from the 

City Centre, it won’t be long before you’re 

happily working your way through Wudon’s 

cocktail list and relaxing over tempting wee 

plates and devouring an array of Pan Asian 

main dishes. 

Whether you’re looking for some fresh sushi 

or a Bento box, comfort food Ramen bowl, or 

a tasty Katsu chicken curry, Wudon’s team 

of chefs freshly prepare the food which is 

then served straight to your table by smiley, 

knowledgeable staff. 

at wudon 

Westender Magazine Promotion | 37 


SPECIAL OFFER 

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With its contemporary bar area Wudon 

serves up a great selection of fine wines, Far 

Eastern beers and sake. Or why not catch up 

with friends over a bottle of 

prosecco? This sisterly run 

restaurant is always ready 

with a friendly welcome. 

Wudon, 535 Great Western Road 

0141 357 3033 

wudon-noodlebar.co.uk 

Images I Gregor Reid


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BASTA 

Reviewed by 

Roberto Parrucci 

@hen 

W 

you enter Basta Pizza bar you’re 

immediately caught by the fresh 

breeze of funk music, the flow of 

Earth, Wind and Fire and the breakbeat of 

Grandmaster Flash to create an ambience of 

true relaxation fused with the smell of freshly 

baked pizza dough. 

Yet the music is never too much, allowing the 

perfect soundtrack to create a blissed-out 

atmosphere without disturbing conversation. 

Playlists are all from Basta – you can find 

them on Spotify as Basta561, by the way, if 

once you leave you still have the beats stuck 

into your head. ‘Good times’ indeed, to steal 

the words of Grandmaster Flash. 

Basta is well-appointed at the end of 

Dumbarton Road where an array of small 

local bars and restaurants are starting to 

bring a wonderful local flavour in this quieter 

part of the Partick/Thornhill area. 

This bar stands out for its interior with a 

distinct greenish hue and several wellappointed 

plants bringing colours to a 

relaxed, cosy and friendly pizza bar. The food 

on offer is incredibly flavoursome – as an 

Italian living in Glasgow I feel a certain sense 

of happiness to have a quality pizza place 

quite so close to me. I will fear Glasgow rain 

no more! 

While the simple Margarita is impressive, if 

you prefer a Scottish touch you can select the 

(odd) but nationally much-loved ingredients 

within The Special, an 8-hour Irn-bru infused 

ham, fresh pineapple, tomato and mozzarella. 

My suggestion for these autumnal months? 

When it’s gloomy outside and you just don’t 

think you can take the dark nights any longer 

hit Basta for a rather decisive but delicate 

pizza with Tomato, Butternut Squash, Goats’ 

Cheese, Mozzarella and Sage toppings 

(Number 3 on the menu). Being B.Y.O.B. you 

can just choose the booze you like and bring 

it with you to match your favourite pizza. 

For desert there’s no better choice than 

Basta’s homemade vanilla cheesecake 

which is of a density and sweet flavour that 

will leave you satisfied enough to begin your 

winter hibernation right there and then. 

It isn’t just good music and pizza though, 

Basta is your local bar, where the owner – a 

true Westender, will welcome you and make 

you feel part of the neighbourhood – you 

might even catch him dancing with staff to 

the rhythm of the music. 

Basta is also take-away designed so you 

can just pop-in and order your freshly 

baked pizza en route back from work, or 

alternatively, you can call and they’ll helpfully 

text to let you know when your pizza is ready. 

There’s also a handy fridge magnet to take 

home with their number emblazoned on it so 

that the next time you frustratingly close the 

door to your sad, empty fridge the next thing 

you’ll think is ‘Mon ya Basta!’ 

Basta Pizza Bar 

561 Dumbarton Road G11 6HU 

0141 339 8698 

bastapizza.com 

Image I Gregor Reid


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@ 

The 

Ben Nevis 


Reviewed by 

Emily Donoho 

The Ben Nevis on Argyle Street is almost 

as much of an institution as its 

eponymous mountain in Fort William. 

The pub has been in this location for over 

15 years and was popular before Finnieston 

became a hub of pubs and restaurants. 

One of its enticements are the traditional 

Scottish music sessions, running 

Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. 

It draws some of the best musicians in the 

city, many of them students at the Royal 

Conservatoire or professional musicians 

from bands like the Treacherous Orchestra, 

Peatbog Fairies, Rura, and Session A9, to 

name a few. Admittedly, the layout of the bar 

isn’t the most conducive for a session: as the 

bar is one room with no nooks nor crannies, 

it can be challenging to hear the tunes above 

the din on a busy night, and you have to crawl 

over the session to access the ladies loo. 

But these difficulties certainly don’t put off 

musicians or listeners. 

The Ben, as it’s affectionately known (just 

like the mountain), isn’t only a music venue. 

It has one of the best malt whisky selections 

in the West End. Dozens of whiskies occupy 

the back wall behind the bar, all the way 

to the high Victorian ceiling (the whiskies 

stacked on top of one another are supposed 

to represent climbing a mountain). There are 

about 160 of them – all the standard malts 

and many rare ones as well. You can spend 

anywhere from under £2 to over £60 for a 

dram of your choice. 

The pub has a wide selection of beer, 

with two rotating cask ales alongside taps 

with beers from local Drygate and West 

Breweries, as well as Tennents, Guinness, 

Heverlee, Caledonian Best, and others. 

When I had a pint of one of their guest ales, 

I thought the cask could have been better 

kept, but they may have been having an off 

day with the cask ale. The taps, however, are 

always a safe bet. 

The interior décor really makes The Ben 

stand out. Designed by the architect Ranald 

MaCall, it’s modern in style, but all the 

materials are natural and Scottish; every 

seat, panel, window, and wall decoration 

representing something from Scotland’s 

history. There’s a wooden beam from a 100- 

year old pier; there are old house-building 

materials, thatch and timber, on the walls; 

there are iron tables and brass fittings 

suggestive of the ship-building industry on 

the Clyde; and of course, Ben Nevis itself 

on the windows outside the bar. There are 

many more – you can visit the pub on a 

quiet afternoon and ask the bar staff what 

everything means. Architecture students from 

the university do. 

You can also bring your dog to enjoy the 

music and the drink. The Ben won the most 

dog friendly pub of the year award in 2016. 

It’s an interesting bar for its unique 

architecture, the single malt enthusiast’s 

dream, and it has some of the best traditional 

sessions in the city, but if you visit on popular 

night, you have to be prepared for it to be 

rammed and expect to be standing. 

The Ben Nevis 

1147 Argyle Street G3 8TB 

0141 576 5204 

thebennevis.co.uk 

Image I Gregor Reid


Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

by Tracy Mukherjee 

Merry Christmas to one and all! Give in Scrooge 

and walk towards the light. In December there 

is no point trying to avoid the holiday spirit. 

Embrace the season! Whether it’s gladrags for 

the Christmas night out, best of the sparkly 

spots to have some Hogmanay bubbly or 

merriment at Christmas markets, here’s the top 

things for the top time of year. 

Top for Christmas Markets 

Avoid the crowds in the centre of town and 

consider alternative and unique Xmas markets 

available. On the 9th and 10th of December Tea 

Green Festive Market are holding their seasonal 

event in the stunning venue of the Kibble Palace. 

Showcasing the work of Scotland’s best creative 

talent e.g. Doris Does Doodles, The Canny 

Squirrel and Victoria Leisa Bowles, there will be 

a myriad of unique Christmas gift ideas. 

Tea Green Pop Up Festive Market 9th/10th 

Dec 10am-4pm, Kibble Palace, Botanic 

Gardens, w:teagreen.co.uk 

A little further afield, but with a great Christmas 

vibe, why not take a trip to The Christmas Market 

at Loch Lomond Shores. The regular Balloch 

based weekend market will be transformed with 

Christmas themed cabins and a selection of 

festive goodies. The market runs each weekend 

throughout December until Christmas Eve. 

The Christmas Market at Loch Lomond 

Shores, 19th Nov-24th Dec from 

10am, Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch 

w:lochlomondshores.com 

Top for Meeting Santa 

We all know Santa is super fast at getting from 

place to place and there are just so many great 

opportunities to have THAT CHAT with Mr C 

before the big day. For example, what could be 

nicer than having Breakfast or Tea with Father 

Christmas and lots of fun into the bargain? 

Dobbies, Milngavie is running this event each 

weekend until Christmas. It requires booking 

and can sell out, but if Santa is a tad busy at 

breakfast time (he does like his grub) then why 

not visit him in his enchanted Christmas grotto 

at Dobbies? 

Dobbies Garden Centre, Boclair Rd, 

Milngavie, G62 6EP w:dobbies.com/events/ 

upcoming-events/breakfast-or-tea-withfather-christmas 

Dashing through the snow, Santa is also 

available for a super snowy chat at Snow 

Factor. Set in the Christmas room, you can 

have breakfast, lunch or dinner with dear old 

Santa. Then its story time with a gift, followed 

by 30 minutes of sledging on real snow! This is 

a very festive experience and one that definitely 

requires booking well in advance. The event runs 

weekends from 25th Nov till Christmas Eve. 

Snow Factor, Soar INTU, Braehead, G51 

4BN snowfactor.com/kids/santa 

Top for Panto 

Our top picks for Christmas pantomimes are 

two classics... both with a twist! At Oran Mor 

Cinderella 2: I married a Numpty is brought to 

you by the team behind A Play, A Pint and A Pie 

so you are guaranteed first class entertainment. 

Given that in this version, Prince Charming 

becomes Prince Kelvie (a G-Twelvie), you can 

imagine that many a local West End in-joke will 

abound. It seems that life with a G-Twelvie isn’t 

all it was supposed to be (we can all empathise 

there) and our heroine Cinders makes a daring 

escape. Promoted as an hour of 'seasonal 

silliness', this show is a great choice and just 

long enough to maintain smaller children’s 

attention. 

Cinderella 2: I Married A Numpty, Oran 

Mor, Byres Rd, Mon 27th Nov – Sat 30th 

Dec, matinee performances w:playpiepint. 

com/plays/oran-mors-christmas-panto- 

2017-cinderella-2-i-married-numpty


Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

Our second seasonal selection takes place in 

the hallowed halls of Websters Theatre. Jackie 

and the Baked Bean Stock is guaranteed to be a 

cracking family show. With a great cast, lots of 

laughs and songs to sing along to, the show runs 

throughout December at the Great Western Road 

venue. The team behind this year’s offering from 

Websters were responsible for last year’s smash 

hit Snow White and the Seven Wee Muppets. 

With a pedigree like that, this is one not to miss. 

Jackie and the Baked Bean Stock, 

Websters Theatre, Great Western 

Rd, Thurs 30th Nov – Sun 31st Dec, 

matinee and evening performances 

w:webstersglasgow.com/events/jackiebaked-bean-stock 

Top for Full On Spirit 

of Christmas 

If anything is guaranteed to bring a tear to my 

eye at Christmas, it’s a choir. Therefore I can 

only imagine the family (XXL) sized box of 

Kleenex required were I to attend the events 

being held at Glasgow University in December. 

Beginning on the 1st of December, Light in Winter 

is a glorious celebration of music and poetry 

performed by the Miguda Quartet and from a 

new collection of poetry by Alan Riach and Henry 

Marsh. On 3rd December the Madrigirls perform 

their annual advent service by candlelight. This 

simply beautiful production merges carols as 

well as readings for the advent period. Finally the 

University’s Family Carol Service will be held in 

the University chapel on 12th December with the 

quite wonderful Kevin Bowyer at the organ and 

the chapel choir in attendance. If this doesn’t 

fill you with rousing joy and hope for the future, 

nothing will. 

Glasgow University Christmas Concerts, 

University Memorial Chapel, The Square, 

University Avenue, Glasgow G12, 8QQ 

w:gla.ac.uk/events/music 

Top for Meaning of Christmas 

Give a Dog a Bone is a charity that gives older 

people the best gift that money can’t buy; 

companionship. The charity brings over 60s 

dealing with loneliness together with animals 

in shelters. As well as helping those living with 

loneliness to see that adopting an abandoned 

pet can absolutely enhance their quality of life, 

the charity helps the local over 60s with the 

cost of looking after their pet. This can often 

be a reason for having to hand over a beloved 

companion to a shelter. In aid of their funds, 

a charity screening of 'It’s a Wonderful Life' 

will be held at the Blythswood Square Hotel. 

With a glass of prosecco on arrival followed by 

afternoon tea, it will soon be time to settle down 

to the absolute epitome of Christmas movies. 

As Clarence the Angel’s card says at the end of 

the movie 'No man is a failure who has friends'. 

Let’s get behind eradicating the epidemic that is 

loneliness by supporting this incredibly charity. 

It’s a Wonderful Life, Blythswood Square 

Hotel, Blythswood Square, Sat 16th Dec. 

w:giveadogabone.net 

Finally, Top for Hogmanay 

As if there was ever any doubt it is, of course, the 

Ashton Lane Hogmanay Street Party 2017! This 

New Year’s Eve fun fest is set to be the best yet 

with the usual outdoor bars, barbeque aromas 

filling the air alongside the high energy tunes of 

live ceilidh bands as well as DJs. Remember, this 

is a ticketed event. Get wrapped up and although 

we always applaud a stunning stiletto remember: 

it’s December, you may have consumed one or 

two glasses of bubbles and... it’s cobbled. Enjoy 

dear Westender readers. Merry Christmas and 

see you on the other side. 

Ashton Lane Hogmanay Street Party 

Sunday 31st Dec 7pm – 12.45am 

w:tickets-scotland.com


‘O 

thers have seen what is and why. I 

have seen what could be and asked 

why not’ – Pablo Picasso 

There is a wonderful openness in the 

understanding that we all see things 

differently, with the idea of many possibilities 

being fundamental to the concept of 

creativity. A powerful and relevant message 

outside the boundaries of art however it 

is certainly more tangible when looking 

at an artist’s body of work and directly 

experiencing their unique and personal 

expression. 

The landscapes of artist Moy Mackay voice a 

dreamlike feast of vibrant colour with an air of 

magical wonder, a glimpse of a world where 

this colour reigns supreme and skill of hand 

forces the viewer to look closer and then 

closer again. The picture itself lends itself 

comfortably to the frame and glass façade 

but it is not as first glimpse might suggest, 

built upon painted swaths of oils on canvas. 

It’s a rather more intricate process involving 

layers of detailed application using tools of 

the traditional crafter. ‘I use merino fibres 

as my base, building up layers of colour and 

form [much in the same way] as a painter


Lavender Dream © Moy Mackay 

unique 

eye of 

Moy 

Mackay 

WORDS 

NICOLA MAULE 

would use paint. My set of carders, which are 

just like giant dog brushes is my palette. The 

beauty of this method is that I can move parts 

I am not happy with until I find the correct 

place for it, without waiting for paint to dry. 

Once finished I will cover the work with a fine 

mesh and then add soap and hot water to 

matt the fibres together by agitating,’ Moy 

explains. 

This is the first of four processes, the second 

is needle felting where she uses fine barbed 

needles to add fibres and thirdly through use 

of a sewing machine, but without a guiding 

foot allowing her to manoeuvre the work and 

use it for fine lines and mark making before 

lastly adding another level of texture to the 

work with hand stitches. 

The result is as unique as it is fascinating, 

a rich landscape that the iconic legend of 

colour and pattern, Kaffe Fassett was to 

comment and admire, ‘Moy’s passionate use 

of colour and deep texture created by felting 

are what draws me to her work. I also like 

the way she concentrates her surroundings 

for her subject matter – her work is very 

free.’ Lavender Dream is beautiful, whisps


Prussian Sky, Plockton © Moy Mackay 

of fibre offer an ethereal delicacy, of stories 

and possibilities and Prussian Sky, Plockton 

depicts a scene of heightened vibrancy, bold 

in colour and atmosphere. 

Moy’s reach through her unique practise 

and the paintings themselves attract an 

appreciative global audience, one which may 

not as yet be fully accepted into the mould of 

the traditionalists. ‘I was a contestant on the 

Sky Arts programme Landscape Artist of the 

Year in 2016. It was great to receive feedback 

from the three judges but I fear one may 

have not quite been ready for this medium,’ 

she tells me. Adding, ‘the main reason I 

applied was that I wanted to see if such a 

show, that had been mainly focusing on 

paint, despite being called Landscape Artist 

not Painter of the year, would be open to my 

form of painting. Since my days at art school 

I was always very well aware of the divide, 

snobbery even, that seems to exist between 

what is seen as fine art and what is craft, 

design or anything else for that matter. I was 

keen to try do my little bit towards bridging 

that gap and thought how better than on 

national television!’ 

With two very successful published books, 

pictures hanging in private collections 

around the world and a third book, The Art 

of Moy Mackay, due out late 2018 there is a 

widespread fascination and love for Moy’s 

paintings. I am very excited about this one as 

it is going to be quite different from the first 

two. My new book is going back to basics 

Summer Pines, Glenelg © Moy Mackay 

in a way, a bit like a first year at art school. 

It hopefully will have more of a sketchbook 

feel with lots of ideas, drawings, colour 

swatches etc. within the pages. The idea 

is to take readers back to the beginning to 

create their own compositions, [by way of] 

becoming more aware of their surroundings.’ 

This intention to give yourself permission to 

start again, to look differently at the world 

is a liberating scenario and what better way 

to begin a new, fresh look at the way we see 

than through the medium of art. ‘It’s amazing 

that often we don’t actually look at what is 

around us. Cloud formation, different lights 

and different times of the day, years etc. 

Simple things but things we often don’t give 

much thought to. I find when I teach people 

they will later get in touch saying how they 

have just started noticing all sorts of things 

around them that they may not have given 

much thought to in the past,’ she says. 

The wonderful thing is, the possibilities are 

endless and the results will undoubtedly be 

fruitful and perfectly individual, fuelling the 

energy and spirit of creativity and very much 

opening the question up as Picasso states, 

from the ‘what is’ to the ‘why not’. 

moymackaygallery.com 

Moy’s paintings are available in The Thistle 

Gallery, Park Road, and Lemond Gallery, 

Bearsden


Primary 1 Insight Morning 

Friday 1 December – 10.00 - 12.00 noon 

Friday 2 February – 10.00 - 12.00 noon 

Come along to see why more parents are choosing KA than ever before? 

• See our P1 class teachers in action 

• Check out the small classes where every seat is a front row seat 

• Experience one of our Forest School sessions 

• See our pupils learn with specialist teachers in Music and PE 

• Learn why mindfulness sessions are so important 

To book a place call Lynda Andonovic, Admissions Registrar on 0141 357 3376 

Connect with /kelvinside1878 

www.kelvinside.org 

Charity number SCO 03962

48 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com 

Magazine Promotion 

Legal Matters 

Glasgow legal firms Kerr Barrie and Mitchells Roberton 

set to merge 

Glasgow-based Mitchells Roberton, 

which can trace its involvement in 

Scottish legal affairs back to the 

1700s, will merge on Wednesday I November 

this year (2017) with another long-established 

city legal firm, Kerr Barrie. The merged 

firm will continue to be known as Mitchells 

Roberton. 

and Margot and to working with them and 

their experienced colleagues.’ 

Martin McLellan, of Kerr Barrie, said, ‘We are 

very pleased to be bringing our clients into 

the Mitchells Roberton stable. As a firm, they 

have the same outlook as we do and they 

think the same way.’ 

The merger will increase Mitchells Roberton’s 

complement of eight partners and 55 staff 

by five. Of Kerr Barrie’s two partners, Martin 

McLellan will become a partner and Margot 

Manson will become a consultant. All will 

transfer from offices in the city’s West George 

Street to Mitchells Roberton’s premises in 

North Hanover Street. 

For Kerr Barrie, which can trace its history in 

Glasgow back to 1813, the move represents a 

return to its roots: John Kerr, who established 

the firm, having first come to the city to train 

as a clerk with James Hill (a founding father 

of what is now Mitchells Roberton). 

Donald Reid, partner and chairman of 

Mitchells Roberton, said, ‘We are all very 

much looking forward to welcoming Martin 

Mr Reid said, ‘Both of our firms are relied 

upon, and trusted by, our clients. We aim to 

create a reassuring environment in which 

clients can feel safe. We share the same 

values and emphasis on integrity. And we 

have a tradition of putting clients first, rather 

than client value.’ 

Mitchells Roberton Solicitors 

& Estate Agents 

George House 

36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD 

0141 552 3422 

www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk

Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 49 

Accountancy 

Matters 

by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison 

Don’t stand still. 

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Endmum’s 

West 

notebook 

by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk 

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas… there, 

I’ve said it, I used the C word as many call 

it in the run up to the 25th. Well, I have, 

and I don’t care, I love Christmas! I admit, 

booking tickets for the theatre on Christmas 

Eve back in August this year did feel a little 

early but what can one Christmas loving 

person do if they want to be prepared? 

As some of you know, I do miss some of the 

German Christmas traditions. I especially 

miss celebrating the four Sundays of Advent, 

lighting the candles on the wreath or opening 

the doors on the advent calendar which 

are all reminders of why people actually 

celebrate Christmas. I miss the Christmas 

markets where you spend time with friends 

while enjoying some Glühwein and usually 

greasy or very sweet food. All these things 

make up a more festive period, I feel, and 

allow you to prepare and slow down before 

the big day – which, in Germany, is of course 

Christmas Eve! 

However, there are also plenty of things to 

do in the West End starting at the end of 

November; there seems to be something for 

everyone. Mums, if you’d like to get actively 

into the Christmas mood, check out the 

wreath making masterclass at the Grosvenor 

Cafe in Ashton Lane on the 10th December 

(11am-3pm); it even comes with a festive 

lunch for all your hard work. Or make an 

everlasting advent calendar! If you like the 

idea, then sign up for the Sew Confident 

Glasgow workshop on the 25th November, 

10am-3pm (Hidden Lane, 1103 Argyle Street). 

They will also be running a ‘make a Christmas 

Jumper’ workshop in December in case you 

are in need of an additional gift. 

But if you’d rather shop for some presents 

then maybe the Paul O’Gorman Christmas 

Fair at Hillhead Sports Club on the 26th 

November (2-5pm), the Green Tea Festive 

Market on the 9th and 10th December 

(10am-4pm) at the Botanics, or the Riverside 

Christmas Fayre (Riverside Museum, 11am- 

5pm) on the 2nd and 3rd December will be 

for you, the latter will also provide some 

entertainment for the little ones. 

And if you need more things for the children 

you can always book Brunch with Santa at 

The Kelbourne Saint just off Queen Margaret 

Drive (25th Nov, 3rd and 10th Dec 10-11:30am 

and then just move on to one of the 2 o’clock 

Christmas themed shows at the Scottish 

Mask and Puppet Centre (8-10 Balcarres 

Avenue, G12 0QF); there is one scheduled 

every week. However, if you’d prefer a 

proper panto, then definitely check out this 

year’s performances at The Websters or the 

Oran Mor. 

Sadly, for me personally, all these events 

cannot make up for the fact that the West End 

still does not have its own proper Christmas 

market. A Christmas market with traditional 

stalls offering original arts and crafts, yummy 

food and brass bands playing Christmas 

carols. I’d love to see one on Mansfield Park, 

I think it’s the perfect spot and I’m convinced 

it would go down a treat…one can dream I 

suppose. I was delighted though to hear that 

this year, Byres Road will at least have its 

own Christmas tree with an offical ‘switching 

on the lights’ too! So, there is still hope to 

bring more outdoor Christmas cheer to the 

West End. At The Hub, we will do our bit 

with our annual Christmas party on the 9th 

December from 4-6pm; if you’d like to come 

along, contact us for details. This leaves me 

to wish you all Frohe Weihnachten und guten 

Rutsch, see you in the New Year!


Coach House Trust 

a charity with social inclusion at its heart 

by Hannah Westwater 

The West End boasts hidden gems aplenty. 

With its cobbled streets and tree-lined 

terraces, it can be a joy to explore the 

nooks and crannies of what’s right on our 

door step. But tucked away just off Great 

Western Road is the Coach House Trust, a 

stone-built sanctuary that’s easy to miss. 

With social inclusion at the heart of its 

mission, the Belmont Lane charity works to 

empower vulnerable people to change their 

lives. People referred to the Trust may suffer 

from poor mental health, be recovering from 

addiction, have learning disabilities or have 

been homeless. They may have become 

isolated as a result of their circumstances 

and need a helping hand reintegrating into 

their community. 

At the Coach House Trust they receive 

tailored workshops – in art, horticulture, 

music, healthy eating and IT – as well as 

continual support in order to overcome 

challenges and develop their potential. 

Launched in 1998 from a log cabin still visible 

in one of their gardens, the Coach House


Trust refurbished their current building before 

moving in 2003. The former outbuilding is 

now a quirky-but-tranquil getaway adorned 

with stained glass and artwork produced 

by service users. With light streaming 

through large windows into the open, bright 

space, it’s difficult to disagree with business 

manager Una Clive when she describes it 

as ‘good for the soul’. If there is a home for 

meaningful activity and empowerment then it 

must surely be this. 

The charity’s involvement with the area 

reaches far beyond the ivy-strewn walls of 

its headquarters, though. Having developed 

several gap sites into workable spaces and 

charming gardens, they also sell produce 

grown from seed by their service users and 

volunteers from their market garden on 

Alderman Road, Knightswood. 

Bespoke garden furniture and hanging 

baskets are also sold, while their team of 

professional gardeners provide landscaping 

under the moniker CH Contracts. At a time 

when available funding is decreasing, the 

charity looks to social enterprise to ensure 

they can do the most for their service users. 

People are referred to the Coach House 

Trust through a variety of avenues – social 

workers, community psychiatric nurses and 

self-referral. Tutors harness the therapeutic 

benefits of horticulture and music but they’re 

keen for time spent there to be dictated by 

the clients themselves. ‘We are a personcentred 

organisation – it’s at the core of what 

we do,’ says Una. ‘It’s what the service users 

want and need.’ 

Promoting employability and the ability to 

move onto further education, the charity first 

makes a point of teaching skills which many 

of us may take for granted. Healthy eating 

workshops, for example, were identified as 

a necessity when staff realised the lunch 

they provided could be the only meal some 

service users would eat that day. And with 

technology becoming ever more ubiquitous, 

IT and smartphone workshops give clients 

access to a world they may otherwise have 

been excluded from. 

‘You can actually see a direct correlation 

between people’s attendance and their 

confidence, their feeling of self worth, their 

ability to try new things and expand their 

geographical footprint. For some people, 

getting on a bus is a big challenge. Once 

they’ve done that, the next challenge upon 

arriving here is interacting with people they 

don’t know. And all these challenges that 

they’re supported to meet make a huge 

difference to their confidence and their ability 

to move on with their lives.’ 

The charity is staffed by a team of employees 

and volunteers who very much instil the idea 

of community into everything they do. ‘It’s a 

privilege to work with such a diverse bunch 

of people. It makes work worthwhile,’ says 

Una. When questioned as to the best way for 

the local community to support their work, 

she points to their seasonal fairs – equipped 

with stalls, face painting, a bouncy castle and 

produce for sale, locals are encouraged to 

attend. 

They can also make use of CH Contracts, 

as opposed to a commercial business, for 

gardening jobs. Perhaps most importantly, 

though, people can think of them if they know 

anyone who would benefit from the charity’s 

services. 

Winner of the People Make Glasgow 

‘Inspiring City’ award in 2015 for their 

environmental work within communities, 

the organisation’s praises are best sung in 

testimonials from service users. The Coach 

House Trust is described as ‘a place of 

acceptance, friendship and motivation’ by 

one. ‘[The charity] has given me confidence 

and shown me how to live again,’ says 

another. ‘I’ll forever be grateful.’ 

As Una guides me between gardens, 

we bump into the music group who have 

just finished practising. The band insists 

on delaying their tea break so that they 

can play me a tune. Shortly after, as I’m 

treated to a great rendition of an Eagles 

song, I’m touched by just how tangible the 

organisation’s belief in people is. Their values 

are clear - we all have potential and everyone 

should have the opportunity to embrace 

theirs. 

thecht.co.uk


Homes & Interiors 

by Susan 

Robertson 

Minimal or 

Maximised 

What’s your Christmas style this year? 

Susan Robertson weighs up some of the 

options for creating that festive feel.


It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 

I particularly love the festive editions of the Westender, 

and pondering in these pages about baubles and 

twinkly lights seems more of a treat every year I do it. 

Christmas has always been a favourite time of year 

for me. In our household, it’s our main annual break 

from work so that makes it particularly precious as a 

time for rest and togetherness, and we deliberately 

approach every year differently depending on how we 

feel, and how we want to spend it. 

There is however the big Christmas bag that comes out 

from the depths of the cupboard, earlier and earlier 

every year for us. Every family has their stash of stuff 

they bring out every December and we add at least 

one new personal thing to ours religiously every year. 

The process of going through the stuff is always part 

of the fun – amazing how quickly I can forget what we 

added just a year ago. But these things have traversed 

different rooms and homes and can complement most 

Christmassy looks in their own way. 

So what will your approach be for this year’s festive 

feel? Do you have the same tree you bring out every 

year or do you get a fresh one? Are you in a new 

home, or have you decorated since last Christmas, 

find any excuse you can to take a fresh look at your 

environment. 

There are often two general overarching themes for 

Christmas decoration. As with any type of interior 

decorating, we often see tendencies towards ‘less’, in 

the minimalism of Scandinavian styling, or ‘more’ in 

the more traditional exuberant Victorian styles. 

Choosing the right route for you will be a personal 

choice based on your own taste, the style and 

decoration of your home, and also practical factors 

such as, do you need to go minimal to keep curious 

pets and toddlers from the temptation of sparkly 

things to grab at? 

The traditional Victorian feel of Christmas is possibly 

the one we immediately jump to in our minds, these 

were times when Christmas began to be celebrated 

more elaborately and images filter through to this day 

in black and white films, and Christmas cards with 

pictures of families dressing over-sized trees together 

in front of a roaring fire, while people skate in little 

red jackets and white mittens on the frozen lake 

outside the window. 

This type of image is an ornate and opulent 

impression and creates a sense of warmth and comfort 

so it has great appeal. It’s all about grandeur and 

colour, so think extra-large Christmas trees with 

pearl beading and huge golden baubles. Lots of tall 

candelabra and layers of light, thick heavy fabrics in 

reds and golds, large floral arrangements and drapery 

across mantelpieces. Thankfully we have safer options 

than actual candles on the tree now too – I’ve never 

quite understood how they did that although I’m sure 

it looked and smelled amazing to have a candlelit tree.



Sticking to these loose themes will help to create 

a warm and traditional Christmassy look and 

feel to your home. You could make big draping 

arrangements of greenery on your mantelpiece with 

fairy lights and wide ribbons intertwined. Use lots of 

big golden baubles on the tree and go overboard on 

fairy lights. And make a big leafy wreath in green and 

red for the front door. 

Alternatively, there is an increasing trend towards 

the Scandinavian look to Christmas decorations. This 

is very much the opposite to the traditional look in 

that it is very understated and minimal. There are a 

couple of core looks that we see more often now. One is 

a simple palette of red, white and green decorations. 

Going this route, less is definitely more and think 

modest real trees, matte rather than shiny, simple 

clean lines, small white lights. 

There’s also another look in this theme that is about 

simple layering of whites and greys with touches of 

matte silver or white glitter – another really lovely 

look. Think of solid, pale colours, natural fabrics 

and materials so lots of soft woollies and simple 

wooden painted shaped decorations, and piles of 

freshly chopped logs at the fireplace. You could try 

hanging clear glass baubles at different heights above 

your table, or spraying small pine cones white and 

hanging them in front of the window. Create a simple 

structure with pale twigs and hang some baubles 

from it. Use some clear glass bottles to hold tall, white 

candles or make a twiggy wreath and spray it white. 

So which way will you go this year? I am always a 

bit torn on this one. I love the minimal look in the 

magazines and the Scandinavian feel probably 

appeals more to my taste at any other time of the year 

and maybe one day I’ll try and focus Christmas that 

way, but when we open our big Christmas bag and 

haul out the boxes of tinsel, and giggle over memories 

represented by our collected gatherings, it tends to 

naturally go a bit more towards the other direction. 

The little light-up Christmas house with its tinkly 

tune, the oversized handmade stockings and the 

baubles with the flashing Santa noses don’t really fit 

into any theme and I think, for us, I quite like it that 

way. 

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by Susan 

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Whether you go for the full turkey 

dinner or a nut roast feast, the time 

gathered round the table is the focus 

of Christmas Day, Susan Robertson has 

some ideas to make it look and feel 

really special. 

Dressing 

for dinner 

The Christmas dinner is the focus of the day when 

families and friends gather to eat and drink far too 

much every 25th December. The choice of festive 

food varies depending on family traditions and 

preferences, but generally we gather around a big 

roast dinner. 

It will take some time in the planning. Do you order 

a turkey from the local butcher, get an online shop 

booked for a Christmas Eve delivery or do you brave 

the supermarket yourself? Do you bother with the 

sprouts, what about chipolatas? Do you have a starter? 

How many puddings? And then the sauces, who likes 

bread sauce or cranberry jelly, what type of gravy?


There is a list of things to think through for a 

traditional Christmas dinner. You can also of course 

just ditch it all and go out, go to someone else’s house, 

or do something else entirely – all of which sometimes 

becomes more appealing the later it gets in December. 

However, if you’re the host on Christmas day and 

you’re doing a full Christmas dinner, it’s worth 

thinking about the look and feel of the whole occasion. 

This means the focal point of the festivities, the dining 

table. 

It makes sense to start with the practicalities with this. 

Do you have a big enough table to fit everyone around, 

do you have enough chairs to go around, will you need 

to have a kids’ table and an adults’ one to get everyone 

seated? Depending on your numbers, this can be a fun 

option anyway and means you can tailor the tables a bit 

more. Keeping the candles and the wine bottles for the 

‘big table’ and the streamers and apple juice for the wee 

ones is an option to consider if you have a large group. 

Once you get the tables and chairs sorted – then you 

can get creative. Think of the room as a whole, and 

decide on your theme to carry through to the table. If 

you need to use a tablecloth, think of this as the colour 

basis, do you want to make this a colourful statement 

in bold red or green, or will you go for a crisp clean 

white perhaps? Would you leave off the tablecloth and 

use a festive runner up the middle of the table? You 

can have a bit of fun with these in strong Christmassy 

prints and patterns, or keep it really clean and simple 

in whites and greys. Will you use placemats for each, 

and is the best silver coming out? 

The main areas for personalising and fun statements 

are the centrepiece, the name places and the crackers. 

Consider firstly making sure that everyone can see 

each other across the table and you have space to 

actually put the plates and serving dishes down. You 

might benefit from an extra table at the side for drinks 

and dishes so that you can keep the table as clear as 

possible. Then the centrepiece comes into play. If you 

have a circular table, you might be more inclined to go 

for one chunky centrepiece, a rectangular table might 

lend itself more to a long, thin display or a few small 

focal points. 

It’s helpful to think of all the parts of the table coming 

together as a whole. So, for example, you could choose 

a simple arrangement in the centre with big chunky 

candles surrounded by holly, ivy and berries, topped 

off with a bit of tartan ribbon for a great traditional 

look. 

Personalised crackers can double up as place holders 

simply by adding name tags to shop-bought crackers. 

Cut out green paper holly leaves with gold pen names 

written on them, attached to red tartan crackers make 

a lovely addition. Don’t forget to check what’s in the 

crackers – the days of being impressed by a golf tee or 

a mini pack of cards are long gone now and you can 

get a wonderful array of options. Even better, make 

your own, this is simple to do and you can match 

your colour scheme easily and create an added layer 

of surprise and delight by adding little special pieces 

of jewellery as the gift, or make it personalised jokes. 

You can add your festive games here too with dares 

or charades as little notes inside. Or, you could add 

in little memories from the year gone by – a funny 

thing that person said, or a great thing they achieved 

that year. The crackers are a lovely way to add other 

elements to the meal and the group dynamic. 

Or, you could go for something a little bit different, how 

about a ‘deconstructed Christmas tree’? No-one would 

miss a few branches snipped from the back of the 

tree to make into a long, jaggy construction down the 

centre of the table. Think a little bit abstract, envisage 

it as a structure rather than an arrangement, ditch the 

candles and use battery operated fairy lights to drape 

around the needles, and sprinkle the whole thing with 

glitter. Make the baubles into the name placers, use a 

gel pen to write names and the date on some colourful 

tree decorations and everyone can take theirs home for 

their own tree when they leave. 

The opportunities are endless but the key to it all is 

remembering it’s the people that matter. Getting 

loved-ones together is one blessing, then making them 

feel special with personalisation and little surprises 

is another, and adding in some laughs is even better, 

think of your table that way and you have the ideal 

starting place for a festive feast.


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Hand picked for the tree 

You can never have too many baubles on your 

Christmas tree, collecting unique items every year is 

part of the fun of the season, and there are certainly 

plenty options to choose from in the independent 

boutiques around the West End. Here are a few ideas 

to add to your collection. 

Christmas Pudding Bauble, 

£8.50, 

Nancy Smillie 

Hanging Snowy 

House Bauble, 

£6.99, 


Snowflake Decoration, 

£4.95, Spirito 

Origami Red Bauble, 

£3, Spirito 

Cassiopeia, 165 Hyndland Road, 0141 357 7374, cassiopeiaonline.co.uk 

Liquorice Tree, 431 Great Western Road, 0141 339 0648, liquoricetree.com 

Nancy Smillie, 53 Cresswell Street, 0141 334 4240, nancysmillieshop.com 

Spirito, 317-319 Crow Road, 0141 337 3307, spiritogifts.com 

Fairy Bauble, 

£9.99, Cassiopeia 

E


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