shopping, lifestyle, Glasgow west end, business, gift, going out, restaurant reviews, bar reviews, author interviews, artist interviews, local, what's on listing
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jul/aug
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BROOMHILL LAUNDRETTE
& DRY CLEANERS
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Contents
Regulars
4 Editor’s Letter
51 Mum’s Notebook
48 Community feature:
Back Garden G3 Growers
Fashion, beauty & health
8 Sun, Sea & Sexy
Swimwear
36 WIN! At Rainbow
Room International
52 Health Matters
Going out
16 West End Live
with Greg Kane
18 Top Things
Art & culture
22 Writers Reveal
meets Helen McClory
26 Cover to Cover
38 Meet the artist:
Victoria Cassidy
Food & drink
32 Sweet Liberty
35 Restaurant review:
El Perro Negro
37 Bar review:
The Left Bank
Westender business
42 Going green
Westender living
54 Playful Pastels
59 Summer Scentsations
61 Talking Texture
COVER IMAGE Bikini & cover up,
Silks. Trainers, Daniels Footwear
4 | www.westendermagazine.com
Editor’s
Letter
W
ho needs an excuse to get outdoors
when we’re only 30 minutes drive to
Loch Lomond & The Trossochs
National Park to the north and a short hour
from the stunning Ayrshire coast to the
south? We lucked out with the weather on our
latest swimsuit fashion shoot (see P.8) down
at Troon – or Costa Del Troon as it is now
know at Westender HQ! What a great day out
we had, I mean what a hard shift we all put in
to make the images the very best they could
be, ahem.
However there’s a lot to keep us closer
to home over the next couple of months –
the West End’s out and about scene just
keeps giving! Read Greg Kane’s round up of
great gigs from The Doghouse Roses at The
Doublet to Paul Simon at The Hydro (P.16),
and our Tracy’s fave picks from the Pride
Glasgow march in mid-July to the European
Championships the first two weeks of August
on pages 18 and 19. And as always with the
long school summer holidays in full swing,
Michele Gordon of The Language Hub, has
plenty of ideas to keep your wee cherubs
entertained on page 21, or just a break from
killing each other and muttering the B word
as it’s known in my house (yes, I do mean
‘Boring’!).
Above: Suzanne Martin, Westender editor.
Below: On location in tropical Troon for the
summer 2018 swimwear shoot with model
Katie Lapping from Superior Model Management.
Living in such a beautiful country with
some of the best produce to be found in
the world and the most dramatic scenery,
it falls to us to live as lightly on this earth as
is humanly possible – a theme writer Loraine
Patrick picks up with this edition’s business
article on Page 42. Three local companies
are tackling plastic waste, congestions and
pollution, and standardised business models,
in light of a desire to do better for the planet
today.
And Mother Earth and her bounty gets a
community together on Page 50 – and we’re
all invited! New members are being actively
sought for The Back Garden G3 Growers
and you don’t need to have green fingers
– yet, that will come. Help is needed to bring
in the harvest and it’s all hands on deck in
this wee hidden gem in Finnieston. It’s a
fantastic way to get the kids outside, off the
Xbox and learning where their food comes
from whist making new friends. Let’s face it,
the nights will be drawing in soon enough –
so head out and about in our glorious West
End and enjoy it, fingers crossed, in a bit of
sun!
Suzanne Martin
www.westendermagazine.com | 5
6 | www.westendermagazine.com
EDITOR
SUZANNE MARTIN
PHOTOGRAPHER
GREGOR REID
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
EMILY DONOHO,
MICHELE GORDON, GREG KANE,
PAMELA LEGGATE, NICOLA MAULE,
TRACY MUKHERJEE,
ROBERTO PARRUCCI,
LORAINE PATRICK,
SUSAN ROBERTSON, BRIAN TOAL,
LIBERTY VITTERT,
HANNAH WESTWATER
HAIR & MUA
TERRI CRAIG
STYLIST
JACKI CLARK
WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM
INFO@WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM
07905 897238
WESTENDER MAGAZINE IS ON
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& INSTAGRAM
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 officially 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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life’s a
beach
sun, sea & sexy
swimwear
images gregor reid
stylist jacki clark
www.westendermagazine.com | 97
10 8 | | www.westendermagazine.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 11 9
BIKINI, Silks
SUNGLASSES, IOLLA
opposite page
Bikini, FAT FACE
SUnglasses, iolla
Previous page
tankini, silks
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www.westendermagazine.com | | 13 11
FRONT COVER &
CONTENTS PAGE
jacket – Glasgow Vintage Co
sweater – Hobbs @ HOF*
skirt – Miss Selfridge @ HOF
shoes – Daniel Footwear
earrings, multi stone ring,
bracelet – Cassiopeia
necklace, green ring - Owen Bisset
TITLE PAGE
Male Model
biker jacket – Glasgow Vintage Co
jacket – Minted
jeans – Diesel @ HOF
t-shirt – Barbour @ HOF
Female Model
jumpsuit, jumper – Just For You
belt, bag – Mango at HOF
bracelets, earrings, black ring, blue
ring – Owen Bisset
necklace – Cassiopeia
shoes – Daniel Footwear
PAGE 8
jacket – Minted
jeans – Diesel @ HOF
PAGE 9
Male Model
jumper, shirt – Fat face
jacket – Glasgow Vintage Co
shoes – CCW
Female Model
shirt – Ralph Lauren @ HOF
skirt – Just For You
boots – CCW
black ring, pink ring,
earrings – Owen Bisset
necklace – Cassiopeia
OPPOSITE PAGE
t-shirt – Mango @ HOF
skirt – Fat Face
socks, bracelet – Cassiopeia
earring, orange ring – Owen Bisset
THIS PAGE
shirt – House of Fraser
jacket – Minted
jeans – Diesel @ HOF
shoes – CCW
*HOF – House Of Fraser
CREDITS
Photographer Gregor Reid
gregorreidphotography.com Stylist
Vivienne Masters viviennemasters.
co.uk Hair & Make-up Terri Craig
terricraig.co.uk Models Kerr
Cochrane, Niamh McNamara@
colours agency.com
Bikini, Silks. necklace, nancy smilie
opposite page - Bikini, silks
14 12 | www.westendermagazine.com
swimsuit, silks. shorts, primark. socks, osiris. necklace, nancy smilie
www.westendermagazine.com | 13 15
COVER up, SILKS
Sunglasses, cassieopia
model KATIE LAPPING @ superior model management
MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk
stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk
photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com
16 | www.westendermagazine.com
LIVE
July
Paul Simon
Wednesday 11th July 6.30pm
SSE Hydro, thessehydro.com
Where do you start when previewing
a Paul Simon gig? His seven decade
career, over 100 million albums
sold, the sixteen Grammys, his 1987
ground breaking album 'Graceland'?
Quite a legacy to leave behind and
by all accounts this is his final ever
tour (He’s 77 years old now), so if
he’s on your bucket list then you kind
of have to go to this one.
I’ve always had a soft spot for
Paul Simon, his sense of melody/
rhythm and guitar playing are just
so compelling to me. As a 20 year
old in the mid 80s I found myself
working in the same recording studio
in New York where they were piecing
together his album 'Graceland'. Every
morning I would turn up at the studio
and hear all these incredible African
rhythms, harmonies and melodies
emanating from the other side of the
door at Studio One at Sigma Sound on
Broadway. Made quite an impression
on me. His standards have never
slipped either with his 2016 album
'Stranger To Stranger' regularly
playing in my kitchen. I’ll be going.
Choice Tracks:
Paul Simon 'Wristband'
Fazerdaze
Sunday 22nd July 7.30pm
The Hug & Pint, thehugandpint.com
If you like your Indie pop soft and
dreamy then Fazerdaze is definitely
for you. Cure and Pixies fans
will also find something here to
like. Fazerdaze is the project of
Amelia Murray, a 25 year old indie
songwriter from Wellington, New
Zealand who mostly sings about
young life’s transitional moments.
She released her debut self-titled
EP in October 2014, recording it
entirely in her bedroom studio in
Auckland for the legendary Kiwi pop
label Flying Nun Records.
She’s out with her four piece band
on a world tour promoting her 2017
album 'Morningside'. Go see her if
you dare to dream.
Choice track: Fazerdaze ‘Lucky Girl’
Doghouse Roses
Wednesday 25th July 8pm
The Doublet, @thedoubletbar
I really like Doghouse Roses. This
alt-folk duo from Glasgow are Paul
Tasker and Iona MacDonald who both
sing and play guitar. They formed in
2006 through a shared love of all
things Gillian Welch, Pentangle &
Airport Convention with smatterings
of Trad and Americana thrown in for
good measure too. Iona MacDonald
takes on the roll of lead vocalist
with Tasker singing the lower
harmony when required. She really
has such an engagingly beautiful
voice and coupled with Tasker’s skill
and dexterity on guitar they fully
deserve the tag '… Glasgow’s version
of Gillian Welch & David Rawlings …'
(I personally think MacDonald has a
much nicer voice than Welch)
They’re playing upstairs at The
Doublet, a little gem of a place
hidden between GWR and Kelvingrove
Park. You’ll need to make sure you go
early though if you want a seat.
Choice Track: Doghouse Roses
'To Decide'
www.westendermagazine.com | 17
by Greg Kane
August
John McCusker & Roddy Woomble
Thursday 2nd August 7.30pm
Milngavie Town Hall, ents24.com
John McCusker is the Bellshill born,
much lauded fiddler/composer/record
producer and Roddy Woomble is the
front man for the band Idlewild and a
much respected writer and journalist.
These two have worked on many
projects together most notably on the
collaborative studio album between
Scottish writers and musicians entitled
'Ballads Of The Book' in 2007.
But recently they released the
album 'Before The Ruin', another
collaboration, but this time featuring
the multi award winning singer/
guitarist Kris Drever too.
Choice track: John McCusker,
Kris Drever, Roddy Woomble
'The Poorest Company'
Dean Friedman
Friday 3rd August 8pm
Òran Mór, oran-mor.co.uk
'Do you still love me?, Yes I still
love you … you mean your not just
being nice?, No I’m not just being nice
…' Recognise these lyrics? Are you
laughing yet? … how about now?
Having just gone through quite a
painful break up, this song resonates
more than ever with me nowadays. Dean
Friedman, who penned these immortal
words is an American singer songwriter
from upstate New York who hit his
peak in the late 70s with the iconic
hit records 'Ariel' and 'Lucky Stars'.
The success of these two songs has
allowed Friedman to sustain a 40 year
career as a professional musician
touring all over the world year after
year playing to dedicated crowds.
He was one of the first musicians to
crowd source the funding of an album
such is the affection of his fans,
releasing said album 'The Treehouse
Journals' in 2002.
Choice Track: Dean Friedman
'Lucky Stars'
Stella Donnelly
Wednesday 22nd August 7.30pm
The Hug & Pint, thehugandpint.com
I was going to preview the Britney
Spears gig at the Hydro later this
month but Stella Donnelly’s song 'Boys
Will Be Boys' just stopped me in my
tracks. Stella Donnelly is a 25 year
old musician born in Wales but raised
in Fremantle, Western Australia.
She began popping up on people’s
radar due the fact that one week before
Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo
hashtag started trending, she released
her slow-burning breakthrough song
‘Boys Will Be Boys’. It really is such
a powerful piece of music. Her recent
2018 EP 'Thrush Metal' confirms that she
is definitely not a one trick pony, with
strong songwriting, singing and guitar
playing on display. Stella Donnelly is a
real find.
Choice track: Stella Donnelly
'Boys Will Be Boys'
Want to hear more? Go to the West End Live Playlist on Spotify –
open.spotify.com/user/kudzu/
playlist/1cJ92QKzyxrEvJZctS8iqX?si=nSN8tMATQJW3haJ0yedTvg
18 | www.westendermagazine.com
Top Things To Do
in the West End
by Tracy Mukherjee
Top for Being There For You
Friendsfest was a sell out last year when
it toured the UK. With 'Friends' continued
popularity unwavering, the 90s comedy
sensation turns Victoria Park into NYC’s Soho
this coming July. With Monica, Joey and Ross’s
apartments all on show as well as a Las Vegas
Little White Chapel, you’ll need that coffee in
Central Perk. There is an opportunity to buy
memorabilia in the Friendsfest shop and pose
for an 80s style High School prom photo. Could
there BE a more fun event this July?
Comedy Central presents Friendsfest,
6-15th July, Victoria Park.
friendsfest.co.uk
Top for Celebrating Diversity
On Saturday 14th July the annual two day Pride
celebration takes place in Kelvingrove Park.
Starting with the parade through the city streets
to Kelvingrove where the main event is being
held. The festival itself is packed with fun for
young and old over the Saturday and Sunday.
The music stage features the likes of Mel C and
the Sundaes. With a fairground, food village and
of course super popular dog show, it’s a day that
celebrates diversity, inclusivity and above all,
downright fun!
Pride Glasgow 14-15th July,
Kelvingrove Park.
festival.pride.scot/tickets
Top for Luvvies
Can you believe that since their 1st festival,
Bard in the Botanics have staged more than 50
productions, entertaining more than 70,000
audience members? Up until July 28th there is
still a chance to brush up on your Shakespeare.
The 'Star Crossed Lovers' season continues with
Romeo and Juliet and Anthony and Cleopatra
until July 7th. With Much Ado About Nothing
and Edward II still enthralling audiences until
July 28th, there is still ample time to immerse
yourself into ye olde world of the Bard.
Bard in the Botanics, Botanic Gardens
bardinthebotanics.co.uk
Top for…Summer
Shenanigans
With school holidays in full swing, our little
munchkins needn’t be clinging to the nearest
Nintendo, whining into their cereal that they
are bored by July 1st. Instead why not consider
some healthy outdoor fun, courtesy of the West
End Adventure Group? Registered with the
Adventurous Activities Licensing Service, the
group enjoy activities such as kayaking, rock
climbing, archery and bushcraft. The adventure
weeks run throughout the summer holidays and
are suitable for children of 8 years and over.
West End Adventure Group
westendadventure.co.uk
Top for Top Dogs
For further summer entertainment for the kids
but more especially for your four legged friends,
why not visit Pet Fete at the Riverside Museum
this August? This family and dog friendly festival
is a great day out. A petting zoo, wildlife rescue,
birds of prey and the ever popular dancing dogs
– heelwork to music – will all be there at the
Riverside. There is also a fun dog show, fastest
recall and 'have a go' agility. With information
and advice on other pets including rabbits and
cats, it’s a lovely day out for the family with an
added bonus on raising awareness of animal
welfare causes.
Pet Fete Scotland, Saturday 11th
August, Riverside Museum, Glasgow.
petfete.co.uk
www.westendermagazine.com | 19
Top Things To Do
in the West End
Top for A Stretch of the Legs
As we make the most of the summer months,
there is nothing better than a good old walk
whilst learning a little history to boot. Glasgow
Historic Walks have a great range of guided
walks organised this summer. The weekend
walks in particular are worth a look. Did you
know for example that St Patrick was raised
on the river Clyde in Old Kilpatrick? Or that
the remains of Robert the Bruce are in a tiny
churchyard in Dumbarton? Through a series of
fascinating walks through Glasgow and beyond,
Glasgow Historic Walks will guide you through
the history right under our feet, whilst exposing
the truly wondrous sights right on our doorstep.
glasgowhistoricwalks.com
Top for Sport
With many a public house showing the World
Cup throughout June and July, you’d be forgiven
for thinking this is THE sporting event of the
Summer. But, my friends, you would be wrong.
For in August, Glasgow and Berlin co-host the
inaugural European Championships. Given that
Glasgow has hosted a number of world class
sporting events in the past few years, it is no
surprise that the city proudly sits in the top
five cities in the world to host sporting events.
A multi sports championship, Glasgow will be
host to aquatic, cycling, golf, gymnastics, rowing
and triathlon events. Venues include Scotstoun
Sports Campus, Glasgow City Centre, Loch
Lomond, Knightswood Park and the SSE, as well
as the Emirates Arena, Strathclyde Park and
Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
European Championships Glasgow
2-12th August, various venues.
europeanchampionships.com
To celebrate this fabulous sporting event,
Festival 2018 will be running concurrently over
the 11 days of the Championships. With the best
in music, art, dance and theatre, Festival 2018 is
a cultural festival bringing communities across
Scotland together during the summer. Many of
the main events will be held in George Square,
with free events for all. There will also be a big
screen to allow Glaswegians to catch up on the
days sporting events from Glasgow and Berlin.
An added bonus is that right around the corner
Merchant City Festival takes off with art, design,
film comedy and a carnival. After all this, you
might feel just as exhausted as the athletes!
glasgow2018.com/festival-2018
Merchant City Festival, 2nd-12th Aug
merchantcityfestival.com
Top for Summer Music
The Fiesta and Fold festival takes residence
in Kelvingrove Park on Sat 30th – Sun 1st July
with a quite spectacular line-up of iconic acts.
Along with Nile Rodgers and Chic are Earth Wind
and Fire who played up a storm (if you’ll pardon
the pun) at Glastonbury last year, Emeli Sande
and Morcheeba to name but a few. The two day
festival promises a boogie wonderland in the
park where the heat just might lead to a disco
inferno! Ahem, sorry.
And the music doesn’t stop there. All of this is
a pre-cursor to the annual Summer Nights at
the Bandstand in July and August. A sublime
line up of new kids on the block and legendary
stars will dazzle on the bandstand this summer.
From Bryan Ferry to The Fratellis, OMD to Imelda
May, it’s certainly an eclectic mix. This summer
we really are spoiled for musical choice.
Fiesta and Fold, Sat 30th June
& Sun 1st July, Kelvingrove Park.
westendfiesta.co.uk
Summer Nights at the Bandstand,
July and August, Kelvingrove
Bandstand and Amphitheatre.
ticketmaster.co.uk/Summer-Nightstickets
20 | www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 21
Endmum’s
West
notebook
by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk
Is it just me or has summer come early this
year? Whatever the weather, the summer
school holidays are upon us. Yes, that
time of year when you wonder how you
can cover all your kids time off with your
two weeks annual leave. Lock them in the
wardrobe for the remaining five weeks?
Call in sick and hope no one will find out?
Or play the lottery and hope to win on time to
afford at least part-time child care. Decisions
decisions!
For working parents summer holidays
can create serious child care problems.
We are quite lucky as I can take Ruby and
Leon with me to The Hub while working.
However, if you don’t have child care issues
the kids will drive you up the wall within a
short period of time because you’ve run
out of ideas about what to do with them.
But there is help at hand! Although most
regular children’s activities stop over the
summer, there are many providers who run
special summer activities to offer plenty
of entertainment. There are many camps
which focus on sporty things and quite a few
organisations are spread across the West
End so no need to travel far.
Glasgow Life run a holiday activity
programme during the Easter and summer
school holidays each year (glasgowlife.org.
uk) for 5-11 year-olds which is a mix of play,
sport and arts & crafts; places for these sell
fast as they are very reasonably priced.
There are other organisations like
Summer-In-The-City (summer-in-the-city.
co.uk) for 5-16 year olds which use Jordanhill
Campus as their base in the West End. Daily
rates are £25 per child or £125 per child per
week, or £65 per child per week for half days.
The advantage here is that your child can be
cared for from 8am-6pm if need be.
Another popular one is Camp Indy
(campindy.co.uk) based at Kelvinside
Academy which is open to ages 5-14.
If you have set yourself a smaller budget
and are just looking for the occasional activity
then look up Glasgow Life’s website again
as you will find anything from indoor bounce
and rhyme sessions to story book readings,
arts and crafts to outdoor sports activities in
various parks, all of which are free.
Or alternatively, check out one of the
sessions at The Hub. We run weekday
activities for children and adults. Some are
language immersion classes, some are arts
and crafts based and others learning about
different countries and cultures.
This way you still have some cash left to
treat yourself and the kids along the way with
some yummy food for example. We like The
Big Mouth Coffee cafe on Dumbarton Road
(bigmouthcoffeecompany.com), they have a
very reasonably priced basic children’s menu
and staff are very friendly too.
If they fancy more of a ‘restaurant
atmosphere’, as they call it, Ruby and Leon
will chose Tony Macaroni on Byres Road
(tonymacaroni.co.uk). But our personal find
of the year so far, which we only discovered a
few weeks ago, is definitely 1010 on Radnor
Street (1010glasgow.com). They serve
very tasty burgers and children aged 10 or
younger eat for free! This only leaves me to
wish you all a great summer and lots of fun
whatever you do. Einen schönen Sommer
Euch allen und bis bald!
22 | www.westendermagazine.com
© Sinead Grainger
Writer’s Reveal
meets Helen McClory
WORDS LORAINE PATRICK
www.westendermagazine.com | 23
It is said there is no better way to spark
the creative genius than to pack up and
travel. Ernest Hemingway had a bolt-hole
in the Florida Keys, F. Scott Fitzgerald loved
to escape to the French Riviera and Virginia
Woolf spent seaside summers in Cornwall.
Closer to home one of Scotland’s up and
coming authors is spending her summer on a
writing retreat in Portugal. Helen McClory is a
name you may recognize. She won the Saltire
First Book Award for her short fiction in 2015
and her second collection came out earlier
this year. Mayhem & Death is published by
Scottish independent publishing house 404
Ink who champion alternative writing. Helen
took time out from her break to tell us more.
Firstly thank you for interrupting your
summer travels to talk to us – you are
midway through your time in Portugal.
What has taken you there?
It is no problem at all. I am here volunteering
on a small farm. I get room and board, and
time to write. It’s basically a self-arranged
residency for me. It’s wildflower season right
now and everything’s gorgeous.
What kind of writer are you – do you use
trips like this to inspire and put pen to
paper or are you a disciplined sit down at
a desk kind of writer?
I use trips all the time to inspire me, and to
try to get an understanding of a new culture
and landscape. I think you can only write
about somewhere if you’ve really immersed
yourself. But then, I also try to write little and
often. Desks are a no – I write lying down on
my bed. It’s surprisingly comfy.
Your new book Mayhem & Death was
published earlier this year, can you give
our readers a flavour of what to expect?
It’s short stories, flash fictions, and a novella
– they are all connected (in ways I won’t
spoil here – the reader can guess!) and they
are all about loneliness, loss, moments of
connection and strangeness in the everyday.
You have won awards for your flash
fiction. What is it about this style of
writing that appeals?
I love writing flash – it’s a disciplined thing. Sit
down with an idea, a line, or even a title. Write
until it’s done, until the story unpacks itself
into its tiny space. Set it to rest, and edit, then
understand what you have. I hope the reader
sees the concentration of the language –
a flash fiction isn’t just a paragraph of text
but almost like making something physical. It
usually has to be read a few times to let it sink
in. I love reading flash too. When it’s good, it
lives up to the name – bottled lightning.
Can you explain the differences between
Flash fiction, short stories and novellas?
Are there specific word limits you need to
adhere to?
Flash fiction is broadly anything under 1000
words, short stories anything above, right up
until it becomes a novella – which is anything
over 18,000 (more or less). I just write with
the idea that everything I’m going to make
will be short, but if it needs to be longer, I let
it breathe. The form chooses itself, based on
the ideas as they come.
One reviewer describes Mayhem & Death
as being a ‘delicious anecdote to the
up-lit’ that is around. Are you looking for
readers to challenge fears rather than
provide escapism?
I love the idea of my writing being an
anecdote to something – though it doesn’t
have to be against anything else. I wrote
this book for the lonely – to build something
that would speak to them, acknowledge
them. It’s a steely kindness, I hope. No point
in shying away from how difficult life is, even
as we’re saying, we’re here, together, now,
in it.
In reviews of the book The Romantic
Comedy, Automaton Town and Take Care I
Love You are all singled out for particular
praise, do you have a favourite tale?
Can you single one story out and give us
a flavour?
I really enjoy Take Care, I Love You, because
I got to experiment with that one a little.
I used a little of the contents page from
the Wikipedia page for the Fermi Paradox,
which is about why, given how many planets
there are in the universe, we haven’t been
contacted by aliens yet, and put this together
with a kind of narrative about a very lonely
person. It’s a poem more than a story, but it
could be either. That’s how I hope my work is,
hard to classify, but still with heart.
24 | www.westendermagazine.com
The book finishes with a novella
(Powdered Milk) revisiting characters
from the opening story – do you have
plans to revisit any other characters or
stories at a later date in perhaps longer
form?
I have no plans as yet. But I won’t rule it
out. It might be in a shorter form, too, if it
happens.
You describe yourself as a writer with a
‘moor and a cold sea in your heart’ what
do you mean by this?
It refers to where I grew up – the landscape
of Skye is still there, still coming through my
work, I think.
Although you spent your early years in
Skye, you are now settled in Edinburgh –
via Glasgow where you studied literature
– where feels most like home?
I love Glasgow, and would love to live there
again. However, home is a moveable feast.
My student days were a hard-working period.
All I did was work and hang out with writers.
I would like to live in Glasgow when I’m not
up to my eyes in essay deadlines!
I thoroughly enjoy your observations
on twitter (@HelenMcClory) you really
seem to engage with your followers. How
important is it for you to have a social
media presence?
I think Twitter has helped me connect with so
many cool people, and find opportunities all
over the place – I love it, even though it can
be stressful (and a distraction). I think it keeps
my finger on the pulse and also inspires me.
Once I wrote a day of flash fiction to prompts
people gave me there, and it was intense but
really rewarding. I can’t say how important it
is, but it’s a big part of my life.
Competition!
We have two signed
copies of Mayhem &
Death to give away. Visit
westendermagazine.com and
click on competitions by the
31st of August 2018.
You are appearing at the Edinburgh Book
Festival on 24 August, what can you tell us
about your event?
I’ll be appearing with the excellent Canadian
writer Camilla Grudova, who also happens
to love the weird and dark in fiction, and is a
new friend of mine, so the craic’s going to be
good. During festival time the city pulls on all
its fancy clothes, dances about with people.
Don’t listen to the moaners – it’s never better
than in August.
Who are you looking forward to seeing?
I don’t have the catalogue yet! But I will be
happy to see Camilla!
We are looking forward to seeing you
at the Festival; can you sum up why our
readers should buy your book?
I think they should buy it for two reasons
– one, it’s been put out by two amazing
Scottish women who are running their own
publishing house out of a spare room (and
wouldn’t you want to support that?) and two,
because the stories in the book are written
for you. They’re just waiting right there, for
you to get stuck in.
Check out the full programme of
events and book tickets for the
Edinburgh International Book festival at
edbookfest.co.uk
Mayhem &
Death
£2
OFF
*
RRP £8.99
*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers
at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road
branch only, by 31st August 2018.
www.westendermagazine.com | 25
26 | www.westendermagazine.com
1
BY BRIAN TOAL
WESTENDER’s
COVER TO COVER
Summer is approaching, so it’s time to get your
beach novels packed. If you haven’t yet read ‘Eleanor
Oliphant is Completely Fine’, get it in your suitcase.
It has been winning awards as far back as 2014.
Eleanor
Oliphant is
Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
If that’s not enough of an incentive
to buy the book, Honeyman is
based in Glasgow and much of
the novel is set in our beloved
West End, although there is an
occasional foray to the South
Side. However, you’ll be pleased to
know that the protagonist is fairly
disparaging of what the South
Side has to offer.
Eleanor Oliphant is one of
the most intriguing protagonists
you’ll ever meet – eating the
same Tesco meal deal every day,
drinking two litres of vodka every
weekend and cooking pasta with
pesto every night. She’s a woman
of routine, lives alone, has a fairly
mundane job and doesn’t have any
friends. As the plot unravels and
elements of her past are gradually
revealed, we begin to understand
how damaged she is, why she is
damaged and who caused the
damage. She is terribly naïve
with very little experience of the
everyday trivialities of our culture,
so any discussions about television
programmes or celebrity gossip
leave her mystified.
She is also a fantasist, which
is not surprising given her
traumatic childhood, but these
fantasies eventually lead to crisis,
then epiphany, then finally into
the denouement of the novel,
which I won’t mention here,
of course.
Her mother features on a regular basis, calling once a week
and veering between intrusive questions and pure vitriol. Eleanor
is left reeling from these sessions and often it’s only the thought
of the weekend vodka which sees her through the next few days.
Raymond – a scruffy IT chap from the same building – befriends
her and they soon meet for lunch and coffee regularly. She begins
to learn about social conventions and is introduced to more and
more people, gradually finding that she can almost function as a
regular member of society. It’s all starting to go so well, but don’t
be fooled. This isn’t a romance, and if there is a happier ending
than the bleak beginning, it’s anything but a ‘happily ever after’.
We’ve got to know Eleanor so well by this point that we can’t be
sure that her recent progress will be maintained or that she won’t
press the self-destruct button again.
This novel is hilarious and terribly sad. This novel is about how
the past can damage you, how your parents can damage you,
how society is largely oblivious to the damaged individuals who
walk amongst us. They often seem to be completely fine.
www.westendermagazine.com | 27
Ready Player
One
by Ernest Cline
2
For summer reading you
can’t do much better than
this. Ernest Cline has created
an action-packed futuristic
adventure romp which takes
place in the ‘real’ world and
in the virtual world of the
OASIS, a world created by an
eccentric multibillionaire gamer
Halliday.
The main protagonist,
Wade, along with millions of
other gamers, are captivated
by Halliday’s legacy – all of
his vast wealth for the one
who finds his ‘Easter Egg’,
a term used to describe a
prize hidden deep within a
game. The ranks of the ‘sixers’
who work for IOI (basically
the Evil Empire / Google /
Amazon) are essentially the
storm troopers who are out to
prevent Halliday’s wealth going
anywhere but into their gaping
maw.
Cline was a teenager in the
Eighties, so the book is packed
with arcade games, songs
and film references which will
amuse and delight anyone the
wrong side of forty, like the
writer (of the novel and this
review).
Teens and adults alike
should find much to delight
them in this engrossing
thriller with more twists and
turns than the Stockiemuir
Road. It’s now a Spielberg
blockbuster, but I’d recommend
reading the book first as the
attention to detail is breathtaking
and watching the
film in the summer holidays
will be more rewarding.
The list of acknowledgements
is testament to the amount
of gaming research Cline has
done to ensure authenticity.
And finally, one for the little
‘uns. The fifth instalment in
the hilarious series about a
family of hyenas masquerading
as humans will provide a lot
of fun for the kids as well as
some subtle and not so subtle
double entendres for the
adults to enjoy.
The Bolds already have
their hands – or paws – full
training up their students to
integrate into human society:
Craig the wild boar, Snappy
the goose and Miss Paulina,
an otter with ambitions to
become a nun. However, life
is about to get much more
complicated when a thieving,
rude and ravenous fox begins
to steal from the houses on
Fairfield Road.
The inevitable
neighbourhood watch meeting
takes place with many
of the overreactions and
pettiness which many of us
will recognise, and the Bolds
find themselves the only ones
sticking up for the rights of the
foxes. The hosts of the meeting
– Richard and Zoe Bingham
– are hilarious caricatures
as we’ve all got neighbours
like this.
When Mossy the fox, the
thief in question, is caught in a
trap in the Bingham’s garden,
the Bolds and their friends
swing into action in a bold
and ingenious rescue attempt.
I’ll say no more at this point
in order to maintain the high
octane tension!
Suitable for P4-P7, your
kids will love the jokes and
clever word play, as will any
adult reader fortunate enough
to read this to their charges.
Julian Clary is a genius.
The Bolds Are
In Trouble
by Julian Clary
3
28 | www.westendermagazine.com
The trademarks Ovo and Cirque du Soleil are owned by Cirque du Soleil and used under license. Design: Bob King Creative Ltd.
‘A SPECTACULAR SHOW
OVO IS THE COMPANY’S FINEST FAMILY FUN YET’
EXPRESS
H H H H
‘...WITH OVO THEY’VE CRACKED IT.’
METRO
H H H H
‘...PHYSICAL FEATS DEFY GRAVITY.’
TELEGRAPH
H H H H
‘EYE POPPING.’
TIMES
05-09 SEPTEMBER 2018
THE SSE HYDRO
GLASGOW
CIRQUEDUSOLEIL.COM/OVO | LIVENATION.CO.UK
OFFICIAL PARTNER
A LIVE NATION PRESENTATION
Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 29
Images I Gregor Reid
summer sushirrito
There’s a new portable lunch craze on
the scene – the fresh and tasty sushirrito
at Wudon! Situated half-way between
the Botanics and Kelvingrove Park, Wudon
is the perfect summer lunch pick up spot for
a healthy bite to eat while topping up your
vitamin D levels in a West End park.
With three fish and meat combos to try the
Wudon sushirrito is a hand held sushi burrito
to be eaten on the go. If time’s an issue
simply call ahead and your made-to-order
lunch will be ready to go when you are.
A generous sushi maki, Wudon’s sushirrito
is made with your choice of filling rolled
in seaweed and rice. And the fillings? A
pan Asian taste sensation of peppery beef
with crispy shallots in a sweet and savoury
teriyaki dressing makes up the Beefy Sumo.
This option can also be made with
tofu (£6.95).
Or why not try the fragrant Panko Mango,
or fresh Sake Salmon sushi burritos? I loved
the Panko Mango for the succulent coconut
coated chicken in crispy Panko breadcrumbs
wrapped in fresh fruit mango salad, the
tastes all so clean and fresh for a light
summer’s day lunch.
@
WUDON
The healthy Sake Salmon sushirrito option
is just the choice to opt for pre-holiday. Fresh
raw slices of salmon and cucumber are rolled
in a kimchi dressing – taste buds tingling yet?
Whether it’s a snack on the run or a quick
lunch time treat en-route to the Botanics,
Wudon’s sushirritos are a fresh, tasty and
portable option.
Sushirritos are available for a limited time
only and at just £7.95 each they’re tantalising
on the palate yet light on the wallet. For even
more value pick up the new Sushiritto Loyalty
Card and pick up every fourth sushi burrito
for FREE!
Collect a stamp every time you buy a Sushiritto
and get your 4th one free!
1 2 3 4 free
on 4th
visit
One stamp per table or per takeaway
This card must be presented at time of payment
Offer expires 31/08/18
Wudon
535 Great Western Road
0141 357 3033
wudon-noodlebar.co.uk
30 | www.westendermagazine.com
THERE
ARE SO
MANY
WAYS TO
LOVE
JOIN // HOST // SHOP
For more information:
www.stelladot.co.uk/lorainepatrick
lorainepatrick1@me.com
Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 31
Images I Gregor Reid
artisan bread
coffee & plants at
Artisan bread from Freedom Bakery and
freshly ground Oven Bird coffee, two
of many great local food producers to
be found on the menu, and for sale, at new
Thornwood café Tulipané.
Tulipané owner, Lesley, is a well kent
face in these parts, ‘Thornwood is a
neighbourhood I know and love. When I
met Joe Molinari and saw what a lovely
job he was doing with number 682 it felt
like a perfect fit, I wanted to be part of the
regeneration of a neighbourhood full of real
characters. The inspiration for Tulipané came
from café culture in Italy and it seemed a real
organic pairing presenting in season plants
for sale, and flowers for order too.
‘We open at 7.30am as we’re at the main
bus stop for the new hospital so knew coffee
on the go and takeaway food would be big for
us. We’re not just a café.’
Lesley is passionate about using local
seasonal ingredients and suppliers, ‘my
suppliers are all local with a strong ethical
attitude to the environment. I love their
personal service and enthusiasm for what
I’m doing and how proud they are to see their
produce prepared and served with passion.
Luckily I have great staff who are very
welcoming and fantastic with our customers.’
Freedom Bakery and Bavarian Bakehouse
supply a range of fresh breads, rolls
and ciabattas Tulipané fill with delicious
combinations of ingredients. All salad, veg
and dairy produce comes from Seasonal
Produce ‘a supplier of old who became a
friend,’ says Lesley. Tulipanes breakfast
menu is served all day with eggs supplied
from Corrie Mains Farm – you just can’t beat
them!
With an extensive breakfast and lunch
menu with options for vegans, vegetarians,
the gluten intolerant (gluten free and vegan
cakes, bread and pastries are from Wild
Flour Bakery), Lesley is bringing something
fresh to the area and locals are loving their
new stylish café. Helped along by the secret
carrot cake recipe from Huckleberry Bakers
…shhh.
Tulipané
682 Dumbarton Road G11 6RB
0141 339 2223
tulipane.co.uk
32 | www.westendermagazine.com
Nice, or a bit naughty?
The choice is yours!
Guilty Pleasures from
Westender’s American
in Glasgow
Image I Gregor Reid
www.westendermagazine.com | 33
Cherry chocolate
coconut popsicles
by Liberty Vittert
K
Shopping List
350g pitted cherries
480mL unsweetened
almond milk
400mL coconut milk
200mL coconut cream
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
100g shredded coconut,
75g ground almonds
100g chopped dark
chocolate
or
for an adult version
substitute 400ml coconut
milk for 400ml Baileys!
L
Bikini bodies suck, but I get it (don’t have one
obviously, but understand their usefulness).
And of course along with bikini bodies comes the
bikini diet. Oy vay.
Now I make bikini diet food (sometimes) but
hand to God I just can’t really get into it. Nothing
ever tastes quite as good as the ‘real thing’.
But a few weeks ago, my brother was visiting and
he is lactose intolerant (he doesn't seem lactose
intolerant when I slip a couple slabs of butter in the
scrambled eggs I make for breakfast, but whatever).
So, as the dutiful sister, I pulled out all the stops,
and whipped up these Cherry Chocolate Coconut
Popsicles that are actually lactose free, have no
added sugar, and are vegan to boot (depending on
your choice of chocolate).
I have to say, I even surprised
myself (I ate three in one sitting).
As a firm hater of healthy food,
I can personally attest that these
are pretty darn good. Or if you
just can't help it and need to be a
little bit naughty there is an adult
twist on this delicious ice too!
Method
1. Blend everything well, except the
chocolate.
2. Stir in the chocolate.
3. Pour the mixture into paper cups
(or fancy moulds).
4. Let the moulds freeze for 20 minutes
before putting the stick in.
5. Let the whole thing freeze overnight.
6. Enjoy your healthiness!
PAPYRUS
SPECIAL
OFFER
FREE*
Lolly moulds
worth £4 when
you spend over
£20 in Papyrus
Cookshop
*Exclusive offer for
WESTENDER readers
at Papyrus,
374 Byres Road
34 | www.westendermagazine.com
Summer stunners
www.nancysmillieshop.com
53 Cresswell St. Glasgow, G12 8AE t:0141 334 4240 425 Grt. Western Rd. Glasgow, G4 9JA t:0141 334 0055
@
El Perro
Negro
www.westendermagazine.com | 35
Image I Gregor Reid
Reviewed by
Roberto Parrucci
Its name immediately brought up memories
of my time in Spain, when in Cordoba
I used to eat at the ‘Rey de los perritos
calientes’ (the king of hot dogs) caressed by
the Andalusian sun, a fresh beer in hand.
These days of incredible summer weather
in Glasgow can trick the mind indeed.
But, a glance at the window and a chat with
the staff bring me quickly back to Glasgow’s
foodie paradise, Finnieston. Hungry after a
busy day’s exertions, we decided to stop by
El Perro Negro. Here, at number 966 Argyle
Street the most rarefied burgers in town are
rumoured to be found.
The location is intentionally minimal
– no frills to distract you. The focus is solely
on the burger, the handsome protagonist of
your meal.
The selection will please both classic
burger lovers and those striving for more
unconventional combinations. The classic
burger definitely stands out for the quality
of the meat, yet it’s the more contemporary
additions that make this place an absolute
must go.
Advised by the knowledgeable staff at
the counter, I plumped for Korean gochujang
chicken wings as a starter followed by a deep
fried tofu burger, as I felt these would be the
real standout – and I was right! My mouth
was blessed by an explosion of flavour.
The starter of chicken wings was simply
delicious. So much so I tore them to the
bone; following the primordial advice of my
empty stomach. The tender and juicy chicken
meat contrasted with the crispy sesame
coating. All topped with fresh spring onion
and battered in the now famous gochujang
spice, I felt I should have ordered more.
But alas, the tofu burger was waiting for me.
It looked delicious and cute. The orangeshaded
tofu slice was topped with the cutest
strips of carrots ever seen. I’m not usually
a fan of tofu but this burger really made me
reconsider. All tastes were well balanced
and complemented each other – the wee
spicy bit deliciously beefing up the taste. But,
if spice is not your thing, perhaps opt for
milder choices.
Last but not least, we decided to taste the
buffalo and blue cheese fries. If gochujang
doesn’t give you enough inner heat, add
these fries and your mouth will start to swell.
Dip them in truffle mayo (courtesy of the staff
to us!) to add another distinctive flavour to
your meal.
All this burning made you thirsty?
Unfortunately, El Perro has no alcohol
licence, but, and here comes the kicker: the
venue has partnered up with neighbour The
Brass Monkey, which means you can enjoy
‘the best burger in town’ while sipping a crisp
pint in arguably one of the hippest bars in the
West End. Isn’t that just a treat?
El Perro Negro
966 Argyle Street G3 8LU
el-perro-negro.com
36 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com
Magazine Promotion
RRI
I
by John Parker
t’s a time of celebration for us at Rainbow
Room International Great Western Road
as our salon has just turned an incredible
20 years old! Our opening date was the 1st
of June 1998, so we celebrated over the
weekend with cakes, balloons and fizz shared
with our clients. We are also celebrating this
occasion by taking our staff for a day out to
Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the summer, we
wouldn’t be where we are today without our
team and we love to award and treat them for
all their hard work.
For the second year in a row some of
our Rainbow Room International team also
helped style the artists hair at TRSNMT
Festival, where we hosted a pop-up salon
backstage, providing haircuts and hairstyles
to the artists at the festival. Our Rainbow
Room International team have previously
styled hair backstage at many high profile
events including the MOBOs, the Scottish
BAFTAs, The Scottish Style Awards and
also T in the Park, where we were resident
hairdressers to the stars for eleven years!
Struggling with
weight loss?
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Would you like to lose weight long
term but have tried every diet
under the sun? Why not consider
hypnosis? Virtual Gastric Band hypnosis
is where the subconscious mind is
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if you have had a gastric band fitted – plus,
no major surgery involved! At Lyn Lyons
Hypnosis clients are also offered Lyn’s Mind
Detox to get off junk food for good.
Head to lynlyonshypnosis.com to read a
case study on how hypnosis helped Jacqui to
lose ten stone. Lyn has been helping clients
with weight loss for over 17 years – plus many
other issues including smoking cessation,
stress, panic attacks, and depression.
OFFER! For a FREE
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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 Aug’18.
Lyn Lyons Hypnosis, Regus Offices
21 Woodside Place G3 7QF
0141 582 1400
lynlyonshypnosis.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 37
@
The
Left Bank
Reviewed by
Emily Donoho
The Left Bank, now a Gibson Street
institution, opened in 2006 to awards and
shiny reviews for its luscious, innovative
take on Scottish cuisine. Since then it
has drawn a steady crowd of students,
academics, and locals. It was a hotspot of the
Glasgow University geography department,
the gathering point for celebrations whenever
someone completed their PhD, and during
graduation, don’t expect to get in.
While it’s famous and frequently reviewed
for its excellent food, I visited at 9pm to
have a couple of drinks. The interior hasn’t
changed since it opened in 2006, or since
I was last there in 2012, with its distinctive
split-level architecture, tables and comfy
sofas (they are incredibly comfy) hidden
around corners or up the stairs on the
mezzanine level. The mix of glass panels,
brick, and wood is fashionable, the exposed
brick combined with modern materials
seemingly a thing in a lot of bars and
restaurants these days aiming for that look
that is both ‘retro’ and postmodern. At least
the Left Bank wears it easily, like it’s not
trying too hard to be cool. It just is.
If you want a quiet drink midweek and
don’t want to fight the crowds or overly loud
music in a busy venue, I recommend it.
The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed;
you can have a conversation with your mates
without shouting, something I always look for
in a bar. It’s unsurprisingly busy at meal times
but seems to clear out around 9 – at least on
a Wednesday – so you can find a seat and be
very chilled out about the whole experience.
The bar has a small selection of beers
on draught, but they have been chosen by
someone who knows they don’t have many
pumps and selected their beer with care:
Tennent’s, Staropramen, Drygate Pilsner,
Joker IPA, and a rotating craft beer, which
was Fraoch the night I was there, as well
as bottles from the Williams Brothers’
brewery. Unfortunately, the Fraoch was off
that evening, but Joker is always a reliable
favourite for the microbrew enthusiast.
For whisky lovers, there is a reasonable
selection, about a dozen malts, some of them
pretty rare like a 41 year Ardmore. It’s mainly
a restaurant, so it carries the extensive wine
list you’d expect from a good restaurant.
But where it prides itself are its cocktails, of
which there are a wide array, from classics
like Martinis, Margaritas, and Manhattans,
to their own concoctions with names like
Highand Rose or the Symphony. I’m not a
frequent cocktail drinker nor a particularly
discerning one, but in James Bond style I
tried a Martini and all I can really say is that it
was an excellent Martini.
The only real downside is that it’s relatively
expensive. A pint cost nearly £5 and cocktails
are more than £7. Nonetheless, for a relaxed
night out or for boldly trying inventive
cocktails, it’s a delightful little bar.
The Left Bank
33-35 Gibson Street G12 8NU
0141 339 5969
theleftbank.co.uk
Image I Gregor Reid
38 | www.westendermagazine.com
Power of Paper
& Victoria Cassidy
WORDS NICOLA MAULE MAIN IMAGE GREGOR REID
Shifting her 9 to 5 from artist to curator
was for Victoria Cassidy a pretty
straightforward move. ‘Running
a gallery has always seemed like a very
natural thing to me, having been involved
in the arts since my teens.’ Encouragement
was pressed earlier in life on learning ‘the
more academic subjects of maths, physics
and chemistry – art was frowned on and
regarded as a “hobby” rather than a career,’
she adds. Cassidy followed expectation until,
‘I realised that I wasn’t actually happy on that
path - so, in my final year of school I sat my
Higher Art and was accepted to Glasgow
School of Art.’
Choosing Printmaking as her speciality
she reflects on this way, ‘Perhaps the
sciences I studied at school drew me to it?
The technical processes and the chemistry of
it suited my methodical approach to making
images and even now this early training
informs the way I paint. I always claim that I
paint like a printmaker.’
Mansfield Park Gallery is a permanent
high street space which launched in 2006,
an established fixture in Glasgow’s West End
retail landscape. The gallery is traditional in
name, offering and therefore expectation but
it’s the artist understanding and view which
I would argue enhances its value – offering
a unique position among many other high
street galleries. ‘I have developed a great
network of artist friends who are happy to
deal with someone who knows first-hand
what it’s like to be an artist herself. I also
hope that my experience will be useful to
anyone interested in buying art for the first
time, I don’t hang anything on the gallery
walls that I wouldn’t hang in my own home
– and I set that bar high,’ she tells me.
Cassidy holds a rich collection of works
on the walls and in the sleeves. ‘Scotland has
www.westendermagazine.com | 39
a tradition of producing great artists and as
a nation we should be proud and supportive
of that – it’s not all about highland cows
and wee white cottages, there is so much
more interesting and challenging work being
produced and that’s what excites me and
makes me feel privileged to be a part of it all,’
she adds.
Her own work is also represented but
with modest self-promotion. When browsing
through the range of artists on the gallery
website I was quite struck by her pieces
– initially drawn to the wonderful pattern and
balance of elements in her early pictures,
the use of Egyptian hieroglyphics and
symbolism. It was only after a little further
research I understood that the artist was
also the gallery owner and this made it all the
more interesting.
Holding a deep interest in the power of
paper as a carrier of history she explains,
‘I’m fascinated with the idea of ancient,
foreign civilisations whose culture is revealed
to us through the discovery and deciphering
of fragile paper documents, scrolls, old
maps and decaying texts,’ and is ‘equally
fascinated by the contrast between these
ancient civilisations and the new cultures
that have replaced them. ‘Compare the
hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt to the work of
the later Muslim artists who, being forbidden
to represent animal or human forms
used their creativity to produce the most
beautifully, decorative and mathematically
precise pattern work,’ she adds.
I would also extend this to a sympathy
in Cassidy’s pictures not only towards the
beauty of these ancient references but she
evokes, through her choice of subject matter
the value of these cultures – and something
else – the practise of artists and makers
consciously acknowledging their view of the
human position within their pieces. Islamic
art for example is not only beautiful in its
decorative aesthetic for the reasons Cassidy
Only Through Tears & Diminished
© Victoria Cassidy
40 | www.westendermagazine.com
Navigating by the Stars © Victoria Cassidy
notes but there will often be a deliberate
break with precision in the logic of pattern
by the artist – a sign or offering of humility,
of our humanness, the premise that only God
is perfect. This practice of the intentional flaw
is recognised throughout the world within
many cultures and religions. The Navajo
Indians for example would weave rugs,
offering a different colour thread through
the pattern as a way for part of the spirit
of the weaver to escape and to show their
imperfection in contrast to the creator, again
considered perfect in comparison.
It also reminds me of that piece of ancient
wisdom which in Japan is known as ‘wabisabi.’
A difficult view to explain, but this story
is often used to demonstrate the beauty of
its sentiment – In the height of the Japanese
autumn, in one of Kyoto’s majestic gardens,
a tea master asked his disciple to prepare for
tea ceremony. The young man trimmed the
hedges, raked the gravel, picked the dried
leaves from the stones, cleared the moss
path of twigs. The garden looked immaculate:
not a blade of grass out of place. The
master inspected the garden quietly. Then,
he reached at a branch of a maple tree and
shook it, watching the auburn leaves fall with
haphazard grace on tidied earth. There it was
now, the magic of imperfection. There it was,
the order of nature, never far from the hands
of humans. There it was, wabi-sabi, thought
master Rikyu – the father of Japanese tea
ceremony. (1)
Cassidy’s most recent work are all
mixed media (acrylic/ watercolour/ ink/ gold
leaf) and influenced by Japanese prints
and culture, deconstructing images from
Japanese masters and combining them with
modern European poetry and song lyrics.
Fall © Victoria Cassidy
‘I have never been to Japan, but I am
planning to travel there next year and hope to
explore the difference between modern hightech
Japan and the old culture of geishas and
tea ceremony. This should form the basis of a
new body of work,’ she tells me.
It is the practising artists approach to
running a gallery that I find wonderfully
refreshing – enriching the customer
experience through that empathetic
connection between the artist, their work and
the buyer. ‘I would hate for anyone to feel
awkward about coming into my gallery, when
I’m sitting behind the desk I’m here to help
(even if you’re not ready to make a purchase)
I will still be happy to answer your questions
and chat to you about the work on display.
So, don’t be shy,’ she adds.
Make sure when you do visit you look
out for Cassidy’s own pictures – the gallery
experience will bridge the gap between
artist-curator and buyer in a much more
direct way. I’m very much looking forward to
viewing the new body of Japanese work that
her upcoming trip may inspire.
(1) psychologytoday.com/us/blog/betweencultures/201701/the-beauty-imperfection
mansfieldparkgallery.com
Jun/Jul 2016
Free
Aug/Sep 2016
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Excess packaging,
single use plastic,
toxic manufacturing
processes – every
purchase or service we use
has an environmental impact.
Loraine Patrick meets three
West End companies building
businesses around caring for and
appreciating our environment.
Caroline Thompson-Noble hopes her
new venture makes environmentally
friendly products more accessible.
The Green Place on Dumbarton Road is a
one-stop shop for green home and lifestyle
items. From sustainable paint brands to
locally manufactured cleaning products and
natural skin care, she has an alternative to
many mainstream products.
Describing her carefully thought out
stock selection is a real lesson on how to
make informed buying choices. She explains
the background to her ecologically friendly
paint. It’s recycled from unwanted emulsion
she says, so it reduces the amount that
goes to landfill. ‘The paint goes through a
reprocessing process where it is filtered,
blended and then has natural pigments
added to it. It has a lovely quality to work
with and is slightly thicker than trade paint.’
The green on the interior shop wall is one of
the 28 shades in the range and reflects the
beautiful depth of colour the emulsion can
achieve. Caroline estimates around 55 million
litres of unwanted paint is thrown out every
year and many of us don’t realise how toxic it
is. ‘If it gets into water courses it can pollute,’
she warns.
It is not just the environment that benefits
from going green our health does too.
Another brand of paint in store is made
entirely from plant derivatives and natural
minerals and is safe enough for customers
with allergies or respiratory conditions.
Caroline explains ‘People often tell you not
to paint when you are pregnant; and there
is a good reason for that. It was only when I
got my own house and started doing it up I
realised there are so many chemicals you can
be exposed to.’
Cutting down on plastic waste has
become a public priority particularly since
the impact on the world’s oceans was
highlighted in the BBC series Blue Planet
2. The Green Place offers refills on around
a dozen household and beauty products.
‘I had a lady in yesterday who filled up five
bottles, it maybe took 10 minutes out of her
day but I think the amount we are taking out
of the earth is too much. It is not sustainable.
Business models have to change.’
www.westendermagazine.com | 43
Dear Green
Place
WORDS LORAINE PATRICK IMAGES GREGOR REID
44 | www.westendermagazine.com
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www.westendermagazine.com | 45
Charlie Mulholland from Zedify the
cargo bike delivery service (formerly called
Outspoken Delivery) couldn’t agree more.
When he started up as a bike courier
in Cambridge his aim was to enjoy the
outdoors, now he hopes his expanding zero
emission delivery service has a positive
impact on Glasgow’s congested streets.
Explaining how his company works he
says, ‘our aim is to do the least number of
miles possible. One of our biggest clients is
TNT (a worldwide shipping company) and we
are helping them take vans off the road by
doing many of their last mile deliveries.
‘We try to do everything with a moral
and ethical outlook,’ he continues. ‘We do
not put fumes into the city centre and all my
employees are paid a living wage. Barring
the occasional horizontal hail shower our
cyclists are happy. We strategically use an
electric van to maximise the use of our cargo
bikes, which I appreciate does not solve the
congestion problem but it does mean we can
deliver bigger loads.’
Zedify have won funding to trial a pilot
delivery scheme in Edinburgh to help
independent shops. A similar scheme ran
in London over Christmas. ‘10 retailers
signed up to offer free delivery to customers
living within half a mile and it proved hugely
successful.’
The aim ultimately is to replicate the
scheme in the West End of Glasgow. ‘Imagine
being able to buy your favourite cheese from
IJ Mellis, your bread from Cottonrake Bakery
and your pick of fruit and veg from Roots and
Fruits and we could deliver all three for free
to your home. That’s the absolute dream,’
he laughs.
Whist the Zedify couriers are out in all
weather – come rain, sleet or driving winds
(yes even in the summer months) local mum
Mel Russell’s new company aims to help us
enjoy the outdoors whatever the weather.
The highly insulated environmentally
sustainable garden rooms she is
manufacturing are designed to give you the
space you need – whether that’s for growing
46 | www.westendermagazine.com
teenagers, a place to work from home or
simply a room to relax and enjoy the garden.
The high spec rooms are built from Mel’s
Anniesland workshop. ‘They are a step up
from conservatories,’ she says, ‘cheaper than
a house extension and a million times more
solid in construction than a summerhouse or
garden shed.’ In Scotland it has mainly been
joinery firms who have built these types of
rooms but by focusing solely on her flat pack
design Mel is able to keep costs down and is
able to design, build and install for around a
third cheaper than other manufacturers.
Sitting in the office-cum-spare bedroom
in her back garden in Jordanhill it is easy to
appreciate the appeal. The birds are singing,
it is warm and cosy, and we are surrounded
by greenery. You feel a million miles away
from the busy residential streets of the West
End but it has all the comforts of home.
Surprisingly you don’t need a big garden
to make these rooms work and in most
cases you don’t need planning permission.
There are numerous health and wellbeing
advantages to being able to enjoy an
outdoor space year round and Mel is
putting proposals together for a wheelchair
accessible room after an enquiry from a local
old folks home. ‘It is such a safe and warm
space,’ she says, ‘and a great way to enjoy a
garden whatever the weather.’
Outside In Garden Rooms marks a new
direction for Mel who was formerly a director
in a web design business. ‘I think businesses
are becoming more and more aware of their
responsibilities to the environment,’ she says.
‘It is important for me to deliver a product
that is as sustainable as possible within a
budget range. These rooms should last for 30
years. In house building people are becoming
acutely aware of their moral and ethical
responsibilities. Our rooms have to deliver
now but also have longevity.’
Caroline from The Green Place sums up
the mood, ‘There are lots of great producers
here who are thinking both about their
livelihood and the environment. It is great not
only to buy local, but to demonstrate there
are alternative business models out there that
aren’t just about making lots of money.’
thegreenplaceshop.co.uk
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www.westendermagazine.com | 47
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Accountancy
Matters
by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison
Contractors: employed or selfemployed?
That is the question.
This is a question currently plaguing
employers and contractors within the
public sector. A question connected to
employment status under HMRC’s notorious
IR35 rules applied to contractors.
Now HMRC is looking to extend the
reforms to the Private Sector as early as
spring 2019. This will have ramifications for
the flexible working economy that is fast
becoming the back bone of UK business.
What is IR35?
IR35 is an ‘intermediary tax’ rule that applies
to contractors providing a professional
service as a partnership or limited company.
Why does IR35 exist?
Designed by HMRC to capture people falling
between the cracks of being employed and
self-employed contractors. HMRC argues
contractors working through a genuine
partnership or limited company are often
‘disguised employees’ avoiding paying the
correct tax.
How to check contract status?
You should determine if your status is
different from the employees working
beside you. Consider where you fit in with
the organisation, the pay and benefits you
receive, the level of risk and rights you have.
Have your say
HMRC launched a consultation to extend the
reforms into the private sector. The deadline
to have your say is 10th August 2018, you can
do this by visiting www.gov.uk/government/
consultations/off-payroll-working-in-theprivate-sector
Need help?
The IR35 rules are complex but so are
individuals’ unique tax circumstances.
Murrison & Wilson are helping both business
owners hiring and contractors supplying
services. If you have any concerns with IR35
get in touch today.
For a free consultation, plus fixed and
competitive fees, get in touch now on
0141 290 0262, email info@muwca.
co.uk, or visit muwca.co.uk for our
free tax guides.
Murrison & Wilson Chartered Accountants
10 Newton Terrace G3 7PJ
0141 290 0262
info@muwca.co.uk
muwca.co.uk
50 | www.westendermagazine.com
aspirations for the
GOOD LIFE
WORDS Hannah Westwater
Fennel, chive, peppermint and mangetout;
lavender, oregano, borlotti beans,
shallots, perpetual spinach and kale;
rhubarb, gooseberries, tomatoes and
cucumbers, parsnip, garlic and sorrel.
You’ll find these and more nestled in the
heart of Finnieston tenements tended to by
members of the G3 Growers committee.
The Back Garden is a community project with
an unusual twist – a former dumping ground
transformed into a serene haven for greenfingered
locals of all abilities, where members
receive ‘a share of the produce for a share of
the work’.
Set back from Argyle Street and found
down an unassuming lane off Brechin Street,
the circle of buildings around the Back
Garden provides a remarkably effective shield
from the noise and fumes of nearby traffic.
Instead, members can enjoy respite from the
city in the tranquil space lined with benches,
bunting and colourful flowers planted to
attract wildlife. ‘It’s good to be outside, get
your hands in the soil, watch things grow and
nurture things,’ says committee chairperson
Anny Deery. ‘There are so many health and
social benefits.’
The project bloomed in 2011 when the
Partick-based Annexe Communities group
won a grant from the Climate Challenge
Fund. The land, gifted by Glasgow West
Housing Association on a 15-year lease, was
transferred to the G3 Growers committee
a year later. With an annual fee of just £10,
www.westendermagazine.com | 51
the garden now has between 30 and 40
members who are asked to spend two hours
per month working in the space.
The Back Garden is run entirely by
volunteers, many of whom also work full-time,
but gardening-focused education is always
o n offe r to t h o s e w h o wa n t to t a ke p a r t .
A small library of relevant literature is
available for members to borrow from,
and external organisations sometimes offer
one-off training on all elements of horticulture
– right down to the difference between
compost and soil.
Community and accessibility are
important values to the people behind the
fruit and vegetable garden, whose mission
statement sets out a plan to promote healthy
bodies and minds. The garden is equipped
with long-handled tools and the raised plant
beds – designed as such after toxins were
found in the soil, left behind from when a car
mechanic service occupied the site – are set
far enough apart to allow wheelchair access.
Further to this, the group has developed
a wealth of resources which provides simple
instructions for all kinds of gardening and
upkeep required – all to ensure the project
continues to welcome new recruits who
needn’t worry about their level of experience.
Put simply, you could ‘come along, not know
what you’re doing and be totally fine’ – Anny
emphasises that in the Back Garden, there
are no skill expectations in place and that
usually, members learn by doing.
The committee also puts a big focus
on local engagement, frequently working
with nurseries and primary schools to help
children understand the process their food
goes through from seed to plate. The social
and nutritional benefits are great, repeats
Anny, but the perks extend even beyond
that – a teacher recently remarked that kids
spraying plants with water were developing
their motor skills, too.
Involving the local community’s youngest
members kickstarts a chain reaction which
resonates with adults, Anny adds, ‘At events
we’ve had kids doing things like making
coleslaw, and as a result of that the parents
have signed up as members. Then at home,
off the back of having seen and done that, the
children wanted to help chop the vegetables
and get involved in the food preparation
process. There are so many little knock-on
effects like that.’
Ecology is another priority for the
gardeners, who pride themselves on
harvesting all-organic produce using simple
but innovative alternatives to pesticides.
Plastic tubes lined with copper, for example,
act as a harmless repellent to insects which
could damage the crops. The G3 team also
makes their own compost and leave comfrey
to decompose in water for later use as a
natural fertiliser.
One challenge facing the G3 Growers is
the lack of visibility the project has due to
its location – ‘some people might think it’s
only for the people who live around here, or
that it’s an allotment or private garden,’ says
Anny. Another is that, as the garden grows,
so too does the demand for manpower and
so they are looking to welcome as many
new members as possible in the coming
months. They are also hoping to recruit a new
treasurer so that they can invest time into
pursuing community funding and developing
the garden into a multi-purpose space.
Moving forward, the Back Garden and its
members hope to encourage more vulnerable
people to get involved, providing a safe and
enjoyable space to socialise and learn new
skills. In the meantime, you’ll find them just
off Brechin Street making the most of our
evasive Glasgow summer.
facebook.com/thebackgardeng3
52 | www.westendermagazine.com
Health Matters
GP Dr. Pamela Leggate, of Glasgow West Medical Practice,
discusses a sensitive, yet common, complaint – incontinence.
Not a normal part of ageing and not to be tolerated. Pick up
some top tips here, there’s no need to put up with it.
It’s not something we talk about much
but urinary incontinence is actually more
common than you think and is no laughing
matter! There are two main types – Stress
incontinence (nothing to do with anxiety)
where urine leaks out when you cough,
sneeze or jump on a trampoline (as you do);
and Urge incontinence when you need to go
and you need to go right now or else…
Women are more commonly affected
than men and will often ignore or put up
with the symptoms for years rather than
suffer the embarrassment of admitting they
have a problem. Incontinence can be more
of an issue as you get older but should not
be accepted as a normal part of the aging
process.
Stress incontinence is caused when the
pressure from the full bladder is too great
for the bladder outlet to withstand. It is more
common in women after childbirth, which can
weaken the pelvic floor muscles, but is not
inevitable. Often small amounts of urine will
leak or dribble, sometimes larger amounts
will flood out. In these cases, the first
treatment option is to try to strengthen pelvic
floor muscles with regular exercises.
You can find instructions for pelvic floor
exercises on NHS Choices and there’s
even an NHS app called ‘Squeezy’ which
you can download from the App store
(£2.99, currently only for IOS, but can be
used on an apple watch – who would have
thought it?!).
If you’re struggling to get the hang of
the exercises yourself, there are specialist
physiotherapists who can help (ask your
GP for a continence clinic referral) or there
www.westendermagazine.com | 53
are various electronic devices (which to be
honest look quite scary – I would recommend
getting some advice from a physio before
spending any money).
As a last resort, surgery can sometimes
be an option – pelvic floor repair will tighten
up pelvic floor muscles and improve any
associated prolapse. Surgery as always has
its risks though so should not be embarked
on lightly.
So what about Urgency? Normally the
bladder will fill up gradually and alert you
to the need to empty it well before it gets
totally full. In Urge incontinence that process
doesn’t seem to work properly. In most
cases we don’t know why. Sometimes called
irritable or overactive bladder, the bladder
will overreact to filling up partially and tell you
that you need to pee urgently, often resulting
in leakage when you can’t get to a toilet in
time. Again, more common in women as you
age but not to be tolerated as a normal part
of growing older. Urge incontinence can be
treated with medication which will calm an
overactive bladder. Treatment is limited by
potential side effects (dry mouth, blurred
vision, confusion), but can be life changing.
Some basics that can
be helpful in all kinds
of urinary issues:
1. Make sure you are emptying
your bladder properly when
you go. If in doubt, stand up,
sit down and pee again (double
micturition). Stale urine lying
in the bladder will increase
inflammation and can cause urine
infections.
2. Reduce caffeine intake.
Caffeine is in coffee, tea and fizzy
drinks. It can cause irritation of
the bladder making you pass
urine more frequently and with
more urgency.
3. Improve fluid intake.
People who are worried about
incontinence will often try not
to drink fluids but, paradoxically,
this can cause more concentrated
urine which will then irritate the
bladder. Drink plenty during the
day but maybe avoid taking large
amounts of fluid later at night.
4. Bladder training. If you feel
the need to pee every hour,
try stretching it out to an hour
and ten minutes with a gradual
increase in the length of time
between visits to the toilet.
5. Avoid constipation. A bunged
up bowel can put pressure on
the bladder and, especially in
children, can be implicated in
urinary problems.
6. If all else fails, wear an
incontinence pad! They can be
bought in most supermarkets,
ordered online, or if you’re not in a
rush, ask your nurse of GP to refer
you to the continence clinic.
54 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
bluebellgray
Playful
by Susan
Robertson
Pastels
As we’ve been lucky this year to bask in a serious dose
of summer sun, flowers are in bloom, barbecues have
been trundled out of retirement, and the leafy green
spaces of the West End have been bustling with activity.
Susan Robertson looks at summery palettes to bring the
season into our homes.
www.westendermagazine.com | 55
The summer season is an inspirational one,
there’s much beautiful nature to be admired
around us even in our city location. Very often,
nature is the perfect starting point for creative
inspiration, and the journey of colours over the
last few months have led us from an abundance
of marshmallow pink tree blossoms of spring,
to the grassy greens, bright yellows and soft
lilacs of summer.
As always, any look starts with selecting
your perfect palette to create a space that you
find inspiring or restful. Think about holiday
memories, summer picnics and indulgent
ice-cream colours as you pull together your
inspiration for a fresh, summery look in your
home.
Start building up a collection of colours and
ideas into one place, adding cuttings from
magazines, snaps of flowers you see when out
walking the dog, or statement accessories you
see in a local boutique – pull it all together into a
‘look’ and an ‘ambience’ and then tailor that to
your individual preferences and spaces.
There are many general colour ‘feels’ that you
can create within a summery theme. You can go
big and colourful – think sunflowers, Blackpool
rock, beach hut brights. Or you can go down a
softer route of the pastel palette. Within this
itself, there is still a plethora of possibilities in
which direction you take this to create your final
look.
You can choose a pale and subdued approach,
balancing chalky white walls with light sky blues
and pale pistachio and mint ice-cream greens,
balance these with soft white muslins, light
lemon cottons, intricate flowery prints and pale
peachy velvets for a really elegant and airy look.
Or you can go bolder, and layer up different
tones of similar colours, for example a
strawberry milkshake pink wall, layered
with deep dusky rose furniture statements or
fabrics, then use strong accent colours with blue
undertones – vibrant teals, luscious lilacs and
crisp cornflower blues. One of the many appeals
of this palette is how easy it is to harmonise
many tones from across the colour spectrum.
It’s also a great excuse to get the brush out and
bring a whole new look together without needing
too much new furniture. A good sanding of a
chunky wooden chest of drawers, then a lick
of one of the stronger paint colours, can make
a huge impact. Obviously you’ll be restricted
by your existing furniture and budget – if you
have expensive bespoke units, you will work
to complement what you have already invested
in. But generally, you can really transform your
home by just re-jigging your furniture between
rooms, changing the colour scheme, and then
the only investment you need to make is in a
range of fresh paint, and a bit of time and elbow
grease.
Farrow & Ball
56 | www.westendermagazine.com
Homes & Interiors
I recently saw a lovely upcycle job of a chair done
in this pastel palette. It was on a TV programme
so may ring a bell if you also saw it but it was a
simple wooden spindle back chair, with each of
the spindles painted in different pastel colours.
The designer added a great touch to this with a
small band of gold paint around some of the leg
spindles which really tied it together. It’s such
a forgiving palette, it will also allow for some
hand-painting in a way that other looks just
wouldn’t, and everything from wooden stairs
to brick walls can look fantastic in this pastel
palette.
Once you have the palette and the painting
done, use carefully chosen accessories to add
a final flourish and tie it all together. This is a
great excuse to invest in a statement item, a big,
chunky lamp perhaps with a colourful shade, or
a sumptuous rug. Or find a colourful vase – and
use your imagination about the seasonal flowers
you would choose to fill it, as a good indicator to
further inform your look.
Having had a July wedding myself some years
ago, I chose hydrangeas for the bouquets. I
love the simple boldness of these flowers and
they represent summer to me. I went for cobalt
blue and purple in my colour scheme, but
hydrangeas can be enjoyed across this whole
palette, from sugary pinks to pale mints. Have
a think about the types of summer seasonal
flowers that appeal most to you. Some of my
other seasonal favourites are the wonderful iris
with its vibrant purple and yellow streaks, deep
lilac freesias with their fresh summery scent,
hot pink gerberas, dusky fragrant sweet peas,
or sweet blue cornflowers. This list in itself can
form the basis of a wonderful palette for your
room, and bring it all together with a vase of
your favourites as a final treat to yourself after
all your hard work.
And finally, complement the scent of the
fresh flowers and the grass-cutting outside,
with some room perfumes or scented candles.
The directory page in this edition gives some
great ideas for summery candle scents, but
generally think citrus and verbena, coconut and
cotton, basil and sea salt to transport you to your
favourite summer escape.
bluebellgray
www.westendermagazine.com | 57
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Homes & Interiors
Summer Scentsation
www.westendermagazine.com | 59
Whether it’s a lazy Sunday morning with coffee and
newspapers, a day at the beach, or a busy family barbecue
when the sun’s out we like to take every opportunity we have
to grab some al fresco quality time. But when the weather’s
not on our side how better to bring the sunshine in than
with some summery scented candles?
Sunshine Candle,
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Grapefruit & Neroli Candle,
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Seaside Mimosa,
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60 | www.westendermagazine.com
www.westendermagazine.com | 61
Homes & Interiors
The first impression in any home
space primarily comes from its colour
scheme. The general look is created by
a combination of the use of colour, and
the capturing, reflecting and enhancing
of light, Susan Robertson explains.
Talking
Textures
Farrow & Ball
by Susan Robertson
Texture plays its vital
part right down to the
last detail!
In order to add depth and ambience, you need
to think of texture. This simply refers to the
surface quality of any material so whether
it’s smooth or bumpy, or crumbly or jaggy.
Texture is separate to what can be seen, and
is rather what can be felt. But it can also be
perceived differently depending on how it
looks next to things, how close you are, what
the light is like.
So there are various ways to add and
manipulate the look you create using texture.
Start with the colours that you use. How can
you add a sense of depth or tactility to these
rather than flat, one dimensional units of
space? There are a range of lovely paints to
help with this which are either chalky or sandy
or even have a suede or leather ‘feel’ to them.
You can also go down the ‘shiny’ route using
reflective or high sheen colours to bounce light
and create ambience.
62 | www.westendermagazine.com
Think about the
materials in the rest of
the room
Most recently, there’s a growing trend for
the ‘ombre’ look. This is basically a blended
graduation of colour from light to dark. It looks
great on long hair and is a popular choice
available in salons now. But it’s also becoming a
more popular concept in interior design. If you
can imagine a loose watercolour background
landscape, where a pale colour starts at the top
and merges naturally down to a dark finish at
the bottom, this can be a great effect on any wall
and, if you have that artistic flair, it can be really
effectively achieved with painting directly, and it
looks great on a slightly textured wall to give the
feel of a canvas.
You can also use wallpaper to create texture.
My memories of textured wallpaper probably
aren’t the best. This harks back to the days of
the woodchip effect which covered our entire
family home when I was a child. Then, when
that was eventually, and painstakingly stripped
off by hand in the days before steam wallpaper
strippers, it was replaced by other textured
wallpaper that had little bobbles and bubbles in
it that were pressed and poked by kids over the
years creating a truly deflated effect. And I also
remember the floral textured options that were
popular then.
Thankfully, products have evolved
significantly since my childhood and there is a
great range to choose from to give a different feel
to the wall and you can add a subtle softness to a
flat wall. You can also make a flat wall look and
feel like a brick wall, or other creative illusions
to enhance and create depth to any room. Large
prints and patterns can also enhance the overall
look and you can find these with mixed finishes
within the same pattern.
Then you need to think about the materials
in the rest of the room. What furniture will
you choose? Will you go for bumpy old wooden
chairs, or smooth plastic? Will you use a cool,
rough stone for your kitchen worktop, or a shiny
polished stainless steel option? Will you use
more metal or wood, natural or synthetic, cold or
warm to the touch?
And another key consideration when thinking
about texture, is the type of effect you want from
the fabrics in the room. How do you want to feel
when you touch the materials of your room, this
is a key consideration when you’re planning any
space. A big comfy sofa will create a different
response and feel depending on the fabric it’s
covered in. If you can imagine the enveloping
softness and resulting ambience of velvet or cord,
as opposed to the more rigid canvas or linen
fi b r e s .
Then think of layering these to add further
depth and interest. Big scatter cushions work
well in sturdy hessians or thick velvet, then soft,
downy cushions are lovely in light cotton or wool,
topped off perhaps by some faux fur touches to
add an opulent feel. Does it feel cold, or need
softened? Immediately change the ambience
with a cosy throw or a fluffy rug. Will you choose
heavy woollen curtains or opt for smooth roller
blinds? Texture plays its vital part right down
to the last detail. For example the material you
choose for the lampshades, whether you opt for
stripped wooden doors, or go for gloss paint.
Even the artwork on a wall can be flat, shiny
framed prints, lumpy open oil paintings on
canvas, or even hanging tapestries.
All can look visually beautiful, but only with
the complementary value of their texture, do all
elements fully engage in perfecting your room.
The Store Interiors
www.westendermagazine.com | 63
The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, Anniesland, Glasgow, G13 2UP
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Interiors & All Trades
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Magazine Promotion
Legal Matters
Who is my neighbour?
by Donald Reid, chairman at Mitchells Roberton
The Smiths and the Browns live next door
to each other. Their back gardens are
divided by a hedge. One day wee Jason
Brown’s ball flies over the hedge and hits the
Smiths’ wee dog Prince in the eye. He yelps.
Mrs Smith happens to be relaxing in her
garden in the canopied swing she purchased
last week at B&Q. She is distressed by the
injury to Prince. She confiscates Jason’s ball.
That evening Mr Brown appears at the
door and demands Jason’s ball back.
The Smiths don’t like his tone and refuse.
The volume of dialogue rises. The Smiths see
fit to criticise Jason’s general behaviour and
the disciplinary failings of his parents.
The conversation widens (as it does)
to discussion of the hedge. The Smiths
say they have measured and the hedge is
on the wrong line depriving them of a foot
of ground. Mr Brown furiously goes and
fetches a copy of his land certificate and
with stabbing gestures asserts that what he
has title to is his and they should back off.
Unfortunately, while not counter-challenging
the Smiths’ parenting skills he does see fit to
question the legitimacy of their parentage.
The conversation ends unhappily.
The next week the Browns go on holiday.
When they return they find the hedge has
gone and a six foot lap fence has been
installed on a line about a foot more to their
side than the hedge had been. The shadow
cast by the fence is greater and the Browns’
garden is as gloomy as the Browns feel by
this turn of events. Another acrimonious
doorstep conversation ends with Mr Brown
promising to ‘get my lawyer onto this.’
3. If when the Smiths go on holiday the
Browns see fit to remove or move the fence
they do so at their own peril and not on the
solicitor’s advice.
4. The last time the solicitor had a case like
this it went to court. Her clients won the case
but were so out of pocket and stressed by it
that they wished they had never started.
5. If the Browns can’t live with it they should
seriously think of moving.
The Browns mulled this over and decided
their solicitor was a spineless wimp. They
phoned and told her this and said they would
go elsewhere. The solicitor said she was
sorry to hear that. She concluded the call
and went next door and high fived with her
colleagues. The Browns looked elsewhere,
and found a lot more wimps.
The moral of this tale? Try not to fall out
with your neighbours. If you must, make sure
it’s for a bigger reason than 1/1250.
If Donald can help please
contact him on 0141
552 3422, or email dbr@
mitchells-roberton.co.uk.
The Browns consult their solicitor who listens
to their tale then offers the following advice:
1. This dispute is more about wee Jason and
wee Prince than the fence.
2. The land register title plan scale is 1/1250.
It is not precise enough to resolve a dispute
over a foot of ground.
Mitchells Roberton Solicitors
& Estate Agents
George House
36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD
0141 552 3422
www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk
www.westendermagazine.com | 67
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