Westender JulAug 2019 Magazine

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Contents

Regulars

4 Editor’s Letter

47 Mum’s Notebook

48 Community Pages:

Cancer Support Scotland

Going out

16 West End Live

with Greg Kane

21 WIN! Tickets to

The Glee Club

23 Top Things

Fashion, beauty & health

8 Flower Power Fashion

25 WIN! At Rainbow

Room International

50 Health Matters

Art & culture

18 Musicians Interview:

Hue & Cry

38 Author Interview:

Helen Taylor

42 Cover to Cover

Lifestyle

26 Living a Paleo Life

Food & drink

33 Restaurant Review:

Horn Please

35 Bar Review: 1051 GWR

36 Sweet Liberty

Westender living

52 Al Fresco Living

59 Floral Features

61 Outside In


Editor’s

Letter

I’ve completed my first ever Parkrun at

Victoria Park, so I just had to shout about it.

I’m trying to run 5K several times a week

as a healthy way to de-stress (step away

from the wine bottle!) after successfully

completing the Couch to 5K App with the

help of audio mentor, none other than the

West End’s own Sanjeev Kohli.

After numerous years of sofa induced

inertia this was an ‘easier’ route back into

exercise, but I’ll be honest here, it was

probably attempt three. It made it all the

sweeter.

Just over a year ago I started playing

badminton with three friends to ‘get me out

the house’. The laughter this has brought

into my life, whilst exercising too, is not to be

underestimated. A mental health boon, I can’t

recommend this sport highly enough, and the

facilities available in the West End make it an

easy and cheap option too.

Why am I sharing all this? Because

summer is here! There’s no time like now

to go out for a walk (the canal, Botanics,

Kelvingrove), get on your bike (we love the flat

route to Balloch), or start a team sport and

combine socialising with exercise (can’t beat

Glasgow Life leisure centres). The days are

long so let’s fill them with fun days that build

memories to console us through the darker

autumn days ahead.

If you’re looking for other entertainment

options then remember to check out Greg

Kane’s gig pages (Pages 16/17), and then

read the interview with Greg, and brother

Pat Kane, as they look forward to performing

again at the Kelvingrove Bandstand and at

the upcoming 80s Invasion Tour on Page 18.

Our top picks of Westendy things to

do this July and August start on Page 23.

There’s outside cinemas, Shakespeare in the

Botanics and Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail to

look forward to, fantastic.

Or why not check out living a paleo

lifestyle as an alternative option (Page 26)?

Glasgow Uni are chatting about their Animal

Flow classes and show us some of their

moves. It’s an interesting look at our paleo

past and how we can support atavistic

aspects of ourselves through movement,

food and sound.

Whatever you get up to this summer –

enjoy your Westender!

Suzanne Martin


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EDITOR

SUZANNE MARTIN

PHOTOGRAPHER

GREGOR REID

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

EMILY DONOHO, MIKE FINDLAY

AMY GLASGOW,

MICHELE GORDON,

GREG KANE, PAMELA LEGGATE,

NICOLA MAULE,

TRACY MUKHERJEE,

PAMELA PALONGUE,

LORAINE PATRICK,

SUSAN ROBERTSON, BRIAN TOAL,

LIBERTY VITTERT

HAIR & MUA

TERRI CRAIG

STYLIST

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GLASGOW



FLOWER

POWER

photography GREGOR REID

stylist jacki clark

mua terri craig


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photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com

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LIVE

July

The Eagles

Thursday 4th July 7pm

SSE Hydro, thessehydro.com

Really! The most quintessential of All

American bands playing Glasgow on

the 4th of July, US Independence Day?

You really can’t miss this then.

In my line of work I’m somewhat privy

to the 'goings on' when it comes to

bringing the bigger bands to Glasgow.

THE EAGLES arrive in multiple

private jets, require at least five

penthouse suites – in different hotels,

separate transport to and from the

gig, a logistical nightmare! But it

gets done, why? Because they’re the

friggin’ EAGLES!

But my personal relationship with

them is purely sonic. Their recordings

are the yardstick to reference all

mixes by, have been for years and

will continue to be so. I could bore

you with the technicalities, but take

it from me someone in their camp is

really taking care of business when

it comes to making great sounding

records. The pressure to replicate

this forces the Eagles live experience

to be sonically, second to none. Get

your audiophile heads on and go see

them.

HiFi Americana at an eye-watering

£150 a head!

Choice Tracks:

The Eagles 'Hotel California'

Gossip

Friday 19th July 7pm

Galvanisers Yard, swg3.tv

Gossip was formed in 1999 in Olympia,

Washington by college room mates

Beth Ditto, vocals, Kathy Mendonça

on drums and guitarist Brace Paine.

It took them until 2007 to break

through internationally though with

their album 'Standing In The Way Of

Control'. I remember seeing them on

The Jonathan Ross Show that same

year. It was a landmark moment for

the band in the UK but also acted as

a springboard for their dominance

of the Euro charts. Especially in

Germany where they achieved 'the most

successful internationally produced

single of all time' in 2011 with the

song 'Heavy Cross' spending an

amazing 82 consecutive weeks on the

German Top 100!

They have reformed this year after

breaking up in 2016 to celebrate the

10th anniversary of their Rick Ruben

produced hit album 'Music For Men'.

Choice tracks: Gossip

‘Standing In The Way Of Control'

Ghum

Tuesday 16th July 7pm

Hug and Pint, thehugandpint.com

Ghum are a four piece all-girl band

from London fronted by the beautiful

Laura Guerrero Lora on vocals. They

were brought together in 2016 by a

mutual love of The Cure, PJ Harvey and

Warpaint and those bands pretty much

give you an accurate picture of what

Ghum sound like. Special mention

goes to guitarist Jojo Khor for deftly

setting up her Chorus, Flanger and

Delay pedals to achieve the most

convincing Cure guitar sound I’ve

heard in a while. It’s all a bit rough

round the edges but that kind of suits

this style of music. Really enjoyed

listening to their '5 most popular' on

Spotify.

Choice track: Ghum ‘TV’


by Greg Kane

August

Mo Kenney

Sunday 4th August 7pm

Hug and Pint, thehugandpint.com

Mo Kenney is a 29 year old Canadian

singer/songwriter based in Dartmouth,

Nova Scotia. Over the last seven years

she has released three albums with

the most recent, 'The Details' winning

the coveted Nova Scotia Music Award

in 2017.

She has such an alluring voice, kept

me listening to her for over an hour

it did. She sites Elliot Smith as a

big influence on her music and has

also enjoyed the support of renowned

songwriter Ron Sexsmith. That should

give you a better idea on where she’s

coming from.

Classy, indie, folk, pop.

Choice track: Mo Kenney 'Telephones'

Michale Graves

Thursday 8th August 7pm

SWG3, swg3.tv

Michale Graves is a 44 year old

American singer/songwriter. He’s been

the frontman for neurotic punk band

The MisFits, fronted punk icon Marky

Ramone’s band Blitzkrieg, served in

the US Marines and is a much lauded

and celebrated Horror Rock/US punk

artist.

But on his latest album 'Keys' he just

croons his heartfelt, slightly EMO

songs over a simple acoustic piano

accompaniment. It really works,

probably because he’s actually a very

good singer.

Kinda imagine if Joe Strummer had

ever recorded a rock opera! That’s

what he sounds like here. Whit? Yes I

just wrote that. Sorry Clash fans.

A night of balladeering punk.

Choice Track: Michale Graves

'Dig Up Her Bones'

Edwyn Collins

Wednesday 28th August 7pm

QMU, qmunion.org.uk

The Queen Margaret Union is one of

two student unions at Glasgow Uni

and is a historic live music venue in

Glasgow’s West End. It is experiencing

a bit of a renaissance right now due

to the fact that the poor old 02 ABC

on Sauchiehall Street was destroyed

in the 2nd Art School fire in June last

year and both venues hold roughly the

same amount of people. It’s good to see

it back at the forefront of Glasgow’s

live music scene once again.

Scottish music icon, Edwin Collins

has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride

over the past 20 years. He had the

worldwide smash hit 'Girl Like You'

in 1995, after which he setup the

much loved West Heath Yard recording

studio in London and then he found

himself hospitalised following two

cerebral haemorrhages in 2005. He

has since moved back to Scotland

and has made a remarkable recovery

evidence of which can be seen in the

very moving BBC documentary 'Edwyn

Collins: Home Again'. He is out on tour

promoting his new album 'Badbea'.

Yes, it is good to have you home Edwyn.

Choice track: Edwyn Collins

'Girl Like You'


Singing to

Mother Glasgow

It’s great to see you lined up to play the

last date in the Summer Nights series of

concerts at Kelvingrove Bandstand in

August. This will also be the 6th year of the

festival – is this the first time playing at this

venue and what can people expect from the

show?

PK: Not the first time we played the

bandstand – I used to do protest gigs there

as a young man, and Greg I think played

with a soft rock outfit called ‘Fast Licks’...

the 80s, eh? This time, we’ll be bringing 35

years of songs – all our hits, beloved classics,

irresistible covers and (decreed by law)

‘Mother Glasgow’.

Late Autumn, you then join the UK ‘80s

Invasion’ tour with bands such as Sister

Sledge, and Five Star. It will be the second

time this year appearing in a line-up with

other acts, who’s songs made a mark during

that decade – in August you play alongside

ABC, Go West and Midge Ure at ‘DunDee

80s’. Is audience expectation different for

these ‘collective’ shows?

GK: The 80s were a golden age for Scottish

bands. There were at least a dozen of us that

WORDS NICOLA MAULE

Glasgow’s beloved Hue and Cry journeyed into the UK music charts and the

lofty heights of 80s pop with classic records such as, ‘Labour of Love’ and

albums ‘Seduced and Abandoned’ and ‘Remote’. Yet, the enduring talents of

brothers Greg and Pat Kane have weaved their way well beyond that seminal

decade to the present day, where they continue to release hugely applauded

albums and perform live shows up and down the country. In amongst, what is

a busy year of touring, Nicola Maule, chatted a little with Pat and Greg about

those early days, their love of performing and what plans are in the mix for

the not too distant future.

were enjoying hit singles, selling hundreds of

thousands of albums and playing in arenas all

round the UK. But for me the stand out artists

in the 80s were Prince, Terence Trent D’arby,

Miles Davis, Paul Simon, Ian Dury and The

Blockheads, Joe Jackson and Talking Heads.

They all made iconic albums that decade

which are still my favourited on my Spotify

playlists.

The album, ‘Sign O’ The Times’ by Prince

is just so good, a pretty high bar for us 80s

guys. I really enjoy playing these multi-band

lineups celebrating the 80s too. Give us

bands the chance to play our songs in front

of tens of thousands of people once again.

They have stood the test of time well, very

gratifying, makes me happy.

There is and has been for some years now

a real nod to the 1980s whether that’s in

fashion – bright colours, big patterns and

even shoulder pads have apparently been

making a comeback – and in TV series

such as Stranger Things, Black Mirror and

Deutschland 83. You released your first

single, ‘Here Comes Everybody’ on the

independent label Stampede Records in the

heart of the decade – 1986. What did it feel

like to make a record at that time and was


there anything that influenced your music /

song-writing as the decade progressed?

PK: We loved that record! A big groove

extravaganza on the a-side, a plaintive piano

vocal ballad on the b-side, along with a

bonus track ‘The Successes of Monetarism’

(three minutes of silence!). All of our future

career was there really – a love of R’n’B, jazz,

funk and soul at one end, and just the two

of us singing sensitive songs into the void,

on the other. We were post ‘post-punks’ –

not only liberated by post-punk to do, say

and play anything we wanted, but also with

ambitions to write pop classics. A great era,

which we enjoyed to the max!

You perform a fantastic cover of Don Henley’s

‘Boys of Summer,’ which is shared on

your YouTube channel (HueandCryMusic)

– do you find social media sites such as

this a helpful way to connect with fans,

old and new?

GK: We reach out to fans for input quite often

via our social sites and the suggestion to

cover ‘Boys of Summer’ was from a fan. That

song was off Pat and I’s radar, but I think it’s

one of the best versions I’ve heard. If it hadn’t

been for that fan it wouldn’t have happened.

So the communication we have with the

people who like our music is so important to

Pat and I and we pay as much attention as we


can to what fans want and expect from us.

We can’t always play all the songs everyone

wants, but we try.

It’s nearly 2 years since your last record,

‘Pocketful of Stones’ was released, which

was the first album of new material since

2012s ‘Hot Wire’. It’s quite a beautiful and

poetic journey of storytelling – lots to connect

with. Can you share a little of the backstory to

the album?

PK: Thank you so much! It’s definitely a

50-something record – about fatherhood,

political illusion (and disillusion), what it’s like

to be an older man and how you never really

settle your early traumas. There’s a moment

of joy there when I sing with my daughter Ellie

on a song called Let Her Go – but even that’s

about realising that your child’s autonomy is

what you’ve grown her up for, and that you

have to ‘let her go’ somewhat (while NEVER

doing so, of course!). It’s also the result of

a coin-toss – a few years ago Greg wanted

to do a New Orleans funk record, I wanted a

sensitive ballad record... he won the toss for

the last record. So this was my turn!

With your touring schedule as busy as

it is this year, what is 2020 looking like –

will there be another studio album to look

forward to?

GK: Our touring schedule is very busy this

year. In fact it’s gotten busier every year for

the last decade and long may it continue.

But it takes its toll. It’s much harder to multitask

nowadays, I seem to spend what free

time I have resting in order to have the energy

to go out on the road each time. But we have

just lavished a lot of time and money on our

personal studio in Glasgow and loaded it with

iconic Roland drum machines, Moog synths,

all sorts of weird and wonderful analogue

musical gadgetry. So we’ll be step time

sequencing very soon and hopefully you’ll

hear the fruits of our endeavours next year.

It’s going to be quite exciting going down this

route of music making for the first time.

Hue and Cry are playing at the Kelvingrove

Bandstand on 10th August – SOLD OUT

and at the 80s Invasion Tour at the SSE

Hydro on 6th November.

For other upcoming concert dates, news

and all things Hue and Cry visit:

hueandcry.co.uk


Win Tickets to see a stellar comedy line-up at

The Glee Club Glasgow

Glasgow’s hottest new comedy club,

The Glee Club, is offering five lucky

readers the chance to win a pair

of tickets to one of their hilarious weekend

shows this summer.

Launched earlier this year, The Glee Club

plays host to some of the nation’s much loved

and up and coming comics every weekend

in their 400-seat venue. Situated in the

heart of Glasgow’s city centre, it boasts a

striking interior, state of the art staging and

comfortable theatre style seating.

An extensive menu of delicious freshly

made food and a quality drinks offering,

enable guests to enjoy both an evening of

entertainment and great dining experience

under one roof.

Don’t miss the chance to win a fantastic

night out in one of Glasgow’s funniest new

venues… enter now!

WIN! A pair of tickets to The Glee

Club Glasgow. Enter online by 1pm

Friday 26th July 2019. Go to

westendermagazine.com and click

on Competitions. Good luck!

T&Cs: One pairs of tickets is available for five

winners. The promoter reserves the right to

allocate the prize to the winners. The prize

includes free entry to The Glee Club Glasgow’s

Friday or Saturday night shows. The prizes are

valid for redemption by 30th September 2019

and subject to availability. The competition is

open to over 18s only.


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Top Things To Do

in the West End

by Tracy Mukherjee

It’s summer in the city and with so much to see

and do in July and August let’s crack on with this

edition of Top Things.

Top for Summer Theatre

Scotland’s biggest Shakespeare festival Bard

in the Botanics now has over 50 productions

under its codpiece and can claim audience

figures of over 70,000. This year the Botanics

will be set alight when the annual Shakespeare

festival brings us The Muse of Fire as the theme.

Four flaming hot productions will run throughout

July until the 3rd of August.

First to tread the boards is As You Like It.

With our heroine Rosalind transported from

the Forest of Arden to the Botanic's lawns and

gardens, this romantic comedy has no truer a

quote 'All the world’s a stage...' even Glasgow on

a dreich summer night!

And so to a polar opposite production: Henry V.

A seated event within the Kibble Palace,

who knew Agincourt had so many palm trees?

Heroism and sacrifice, glorification of war or

comment on its futility, Shakespeare certainly

gets the discussion flowing with this one.

And then there is the rousing St Crispin’s Day

Speech – I dare you not to hurra and huzzah!!!

From a king to a prince; Hamlet of Denmark

might be transported to Dowanhill, but

this production is no less thrilling for it.

It’s Shakespeare’s longest play so you’ll certainly

get your money’s worth from this tragedy as

Hamlet plots revenge among the rhododendrons.

An outside production, to be drenched or not to

be drenched, that is the question. Better pack a

cagoule just in case.

The final production of the year is the fabulously

grotesque Richard III. Inside the Kibble our

amoral, power hungry anti-hero will rise to the

throne by all means necessary. Although deemed

a tragedy as Richard is indeed a tragic character,

it’s dotted with some dark comedy throughout.

So iconic, it’s a fitting production to conclude

this year’s festival.

Bard In The Botanics, Glasgow Botanic

Gardens, 26th June – 3rd August

For full details and ticket information visit:

bardinthebotanics.co.uk

Top for Cinema

Andre Rieu has truly become a worldwide

phenomenon, bringing classical music to the

masses. The Dutch conductor and violinist

seems to be on a never ending worldwide tour.

But if you haven’t managed to catch Andre and

his 60 piece Johann Strauss Orchestra live as

yet, fear not. Now, without having to leave the

comfort of the West End, there is the opportunity

to 'attend' his iconic annual hometown concert.

For two nights only, join Andre Rieu in the

medieval town square of Maastricht, courtesy

of the Grosvenor Cinema. The conductor’s

charming mix of classical, pop, folk and musical

theatre will, this time around, celebrate dance.

The Shall We Dance concert is being shown

nationwide at cinemas, but remember it’s only

two nights so get tickets for the Grosvenor

booked soon!

If being inside at this time of year seems a waste

of the heady 12 degree temperature and minor

drizzle outside, why not consider an open air

cinema opportunity? Luna Kids Cinema is the

first open air cinema specifically for kids. In mid

July, Victoria Park will be the venue for five days

of classic children’s films. With several films

per day such as How To Train Your Dragon: The

Hidden World, Mary Poppins Returns, Peppa Pig:

Festival Of Fun and Julia Donaldson classics The

Gruffalo, Zog and The Highway Rat, Luna have

covered all age groups. The event isn’t seated,

but back rests and blankets can be purchased.

There will also be plenty of food options, healthy

or not so healthy, with on-site catering. If the

weather is on our side, this could be a fabulous

way to entertain the kids during the holidays.


Top Things To Do

in the West End

by Tracy Mukherjee

Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss

Orchestra Shall we Dance, Grosvenor

Cinema, Ashton Lane G12 8SJ

27th and 28th July. For more information:

intl.andreincinemas.com

Luna Kids Cinema, Victoria Park

Wed 17th – Sun 21st Jul

lunakidscinema.com/Victoria-Park

Top for Summer Camps

For a whole host of reasons, summer activity

camps for kids are becoming ever more popular.

There are a whole range of camps available

nearby this summer, focusing on a variety of

activities. West End Adventure is running School

Holiday Adventures for outdoorsy kiddies.

Getting muddy, wet, building dens and getting

active will all be in a day’s work on this camp.

Under the guidance of instructors, no two days

will be the same. There are also age appropriate

adventure groups: Junior Adventure for 6 and

7 year olds, Primary Adventure for 8 years –

P7 and Senior Adventure for 1st Year pupils

onwards.

If the great outdoors isn’t the scene for your

child, why not consider a summer camp in

computer game development, robotics or

engineering? These are week long classes

run by the British Youth IT College in Firhill.

Choosing from game development, core concepts

of robotic coding and Lego engineering classes,

this is summer camp for the next generation.

The classes fall into 2 age groups: 6 – 9 years or

9 – 14 years. It is a great opportunity for children

who have a keen interest in technology.

School Holiday Adventures, West End

Adventure, Knightswood, G13 2HE

westendadventure.co.uk

Kids Summer Camps, British Youth

IT College, Firhill, G20 7BA. For full

details of the courses and schedule visit

byitc.org

Top for Art

The work of Linda McCartney will go on

show at Kelvingrove from July onwards. This

retrospective of the photographer’s life and

work is curated by the McCartney family.

It features iconic moments of 1960s music with

later intimate images captured by the renowned

photographer. Also included in the exhibition

is one of McCartney’s diaries and her cameras

from that era, the first time they have ever been

on public exhibition. As well as reportage style

images of Hendrix, The Beatles and The Rolling

Stones, photographs of Linda and Paul’s beloved

Mull of Kintyre will also be included. Given this

is such a special event, there is an admission

charge.

Staying with our love of Scotland, look out

for Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail this summer.

In Scottish cities throughout the land, life size,

individually decorated sculptures of Wullie will

be appearing. This will be the first nationwide

public art trail and will raise funds for Scottish

children’s hospital charities. With over 200

sculptures creatively painted by artists,

a summer wander around the town will have an

extra special incentive. You’ll remember 'Oor

Wullie, your Wullie, a’body’s Wullie', and that

famous cover quote never was so poignant.

Running in conjunction with the trail will be

an education programme focusing on our

communities and citizenship. This is a delightful

way to come together, enjoy the nostalgia and

help a fantastic cause to boot; see if you can

raise more than Wee Eck, Fat Boab and Soapy

Souter...

Linda McCartney: A Retrospective,

Kelvingrove Museum and Art

Galleries 5th Jul till 12th Jan

glasgowlife.org.uk and follow the links

Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail Glasgow,

17th June – 30th August.

oorwullie.com.

Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail, to learn

more about the event.

Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Competitions | 25

SUMMER GIFTS

AT

RRI

R

by John Parker

ecently, Directors from all twelve

of the salons had a mystery trip

arranged by Rainbow Room

International owners, Alan and Linda

Stewart, to the stunning Archerfield House

to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We all had

an incredible time gathering for a lovely meal

and raising a glass to the incredible journey

our salon group has been on.

We also were the stylists backstage at

this years TRNSMT Festival. It was another

fantastic year, with artists visiting us to have

their hair styled before heading on stage.

Taking part in these events is great for stylists

from our salons to attend and take advantage

of the different opportunities that our brand

provides.

Summer from our salon also took part

in her first Art Team photo shoot in London

recently, a great opportunity for her to get

more experience and be really creative.

We’ve also received beautiful new

Schwarzkopf colours in the salon – True

Beautiful Honest. The shades respect and

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WIN! Rainbow Room International

are offering one lucky reader a hair

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salon. For your chance to win go to

westendermagazine.com and click

on competitions by the 31st Aug ‘19.

Rainbow Room International

607 Great Western Road G12 8HX

0141 337 3370

rainbowroominternational.com


Living a

paleo life

WORDS PAMELA PALONGUE


Everything old seems to be new again, as millions of people have started to

embrace the diet, exercise and habits of our ancient Cro-Magnon ancestors.

Perhaps all the technology we have and the onset of artificial intelligence are

just a bit scary, and we’re retreating into our Neolithic corner.

Whatever the case, there is a great deal of evidence that a diet without

processed foods is healthier. And hunter gatherers who spent very little time

sitting, probably had much lower cholesterol levels than their present day

counterparts.

If you’re wondering how you can explore the possible benefits of a

primitive lifestyle in the West End of Glasgow, there actually may be more

opportunities than you realise…

Kerry Murdoch, an Active Lifestyle

instructor, teaches a new class at The

University of Glasgow called ‘Animal

Flow’. It’s probably unlike any exercise class

you have ever seen!

The participants perform quadrupedal

movements using the hands and feet for

balance.

The weight of your own body provides the

resistance as you perform moves with names

like ‘beast’, ‘ape’ and ‘crab’.

In contemporary times, our hands rarely

touch the ground. But in Animal Flow, the

hands are used for almost every movement,

giving the upper body an excellent workout.

If you’re imagining an ape scampering across

the floor however, think again. It’s more of a

meditative movement, with slow, deliberate

moves which are almost balletic. It can be

beautiful to watch as the body morphs from

one position into another.

Though it’s physically demanding (which

might be the whole point of a workout in the

first place) the movements themselves can be

simplified to allow beginners to develop their

strength and flexibility.

Though Animal Flow has been compared

to yoga, it’s actually quite different. Instead of

static poses, the body is in almost constant

motion. And the participants do not use

mats, since the sequence of choreographed

movements can run in all different directions

with the entire floor being used!

The Animal Flow classes just launched

at The Stevenson Building on campus. They

are one-hour sessions which run in 5-week

blocks.

To learn more about the classes, visit the

University of Glasgow website at:

gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/sport/whatson/

learn2/animal

Another ancient activity that’s becoming

increasingly popular is tribal drumming.

The drum certainly has to be one of

the oldest instruments on Earth, and in

indigenous cultures it has been used for

welcoming visitors, celebrations at harvest

time, and even as a means to reach higher

states of consciousness in shamanic

ceremonies.

But it’s not just for the ancients.

Contemporary doctors and researchers have

conducted studies which show that there are

health benefits to drumming, as well as social

connectedness.

Dr. Barry Quinn, Ph.D. and clinical

psychologist, states that drumming sessions

can dramatically reduce stress, and may also

lower blood pressure.

The Glasgow Drum Circle meets every

Wednesday night in the heart of the West End

at Wellington Church. This welcoming group

is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers

who believe in the many positive benefits of

drumming.

Emma, one of the trustees of Glasgow

Drum Circle, and a drummer herself, says

that it’s almost like a meditative state when

focussing on the patterns of the rhythm.

And fellow trustee Shae, notes the

connectedness and community that the drum

circle provides when several people are all

coming together in rhythm and sound.


They teach rhythm patterns based on

West African drum beats, starting with

the basics, and novices are able to start

drumming almost immediately.

In the class I attended, there were

two drummers taking their first class,

who were quickly pounding away like pros.

The participants range from beginner

to advanced. Everyone is provided with

authentic African drums such as djembe and

dunun drums, along with mallets.

Classes are offered on a six months,

six weeks or a weekly, pay-as-you-go basis.

The modest fee helps cover the operating

costs of the class.

If you haven’t tried this yet, give it a go.

It’s interesting – and fun! Visit here for more

info: glasgowdrumcircle.org/classes.

One of the most important ways we can be

healthier, is through the food which we eat.

For Gabriela Nicol of Paleo Lifestyle,

food was very much the medicine which

solved her digestive problems.

Suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

(IBS) Gabriela, decided to make a conscious

change to not only eat healthy, but to

embrace a diet derived from sustainable

sources, and good quality ingredients.

Her background in science and

understanding of digestive enzymes,

led her to adopt the paleo diet. Gabriela

found that her IBS disappeared, and she’s

been symptom-free for four years. She also

discovered she had more energy, and even

looked younger. Colds and frequent viral

infections have also vanished since she has

gone paleo.

Gabriela believes in the benefits of

good nutrition so strongly, that she formed

her business, Paleo Lifestyle to share her

expertise – and her food with others.

Based in Maryhill, she bakes dairy and

gluten-free, sugar-free and low carb, using

organic ingredients from sustainable sources.

Instead of milk, Gabriela uses coconut

milk, and nut milks such as cashew and

almond milk.

Gabriela has created desserts that are

not just healthy, but also delicious. Some of

the most popular desserts and treats are her

vegan cheesecake, vegan snickers, bounty

bars and carrot cake. She uses stevia or

natural maple syrup for sweetening.


Her desserts can be ordered from her

Facebook page, and she will deliver them

to anywhere in the greater Glasgow area,

or they can be collected free of charge at her

Maryhill location.

She currently holds cooking classes where

an entire three-course meal is prepared.

The classes take place about once a month,

and last for approximately two hours. At the

end, participants dine on the meal they’ve

created, and they receive a free recipe book

for cooking at home.

Gabriela, who is a certified Paleo

Nutritionist, is taking on clients to help with

nutritional advice. This can be especially

helpful to individuals suffering from food

intolerances, allergies, hormonal and

metabolic issues.

Gabriela has plans to open a coffee shop

later this year, where all of her cakes and

treats will be available.

For more information on Paleo Lifestyle,

visit her Facebook page at:

facebook.com/paleolifestyleuk

If you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle in

your future, the answer may actually lie in the

past.


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Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 31

Main Image I Gregor Reid

Otago Street Speciality Coffee Shop

coffee bar, authentic noodle stop, brunch menu

First impressions are of a bright and airy

space when you enter Perch & Rest in

what was a picturesque wee cottage

back in the day.

Joe and Yao’s year long labour of love to

find, refit and open their cafe has resulted

in a hybrid speciality coffee shop, with over

half a dozen coffees, plus guest coffee,

to try; noodle bowls famous all over China

from Yao’s home region; and a more

traditional brunch menu curated by a Savoy

trained chef (and luckily, a family member!).

Says Joe, ‘In the last five years I have

observed the speciality coffee scene slowly

grow in Glasgow. We have made significant

expenditures on coffee equipment which

are at the cutting edge of the industry

– we resemble more of an Australian style

coffee bar. We have a changing single

origin coffee for those who love espresso.

We have regularly changing filter coffees

which showcase the best the industry has at

the moment. And we also prepare our own

cold brew drip coffee and iced tea in store.’

Joe continues, ‘Yao’s hometown noodles

are famous all around China. And there is

currently a gap in the market for these type

of noodles, which in China are a snack food

– that is, there are very many noodle bars of

this kind where individuals will go from early

morning to late evening to grab a reasonably

priced bowl of noodles in between their

normal meals. When we found our current

location we decided to incorporate my

coffee experience and my family’s extensive

hospitality experience to offer a varied and

unique experience. Now we have a hybrid

cafe that offers stunning coffee, mouth

watering soup noodles, and also a more

traditional brunch menu.’

This entrepreneurial young couple have

achieved so much already, but have a keen

eye on possible future expansion to offer

community and event space, as well as a

takeaway offering – watch this space!

SPECIAL OFFER:

One free espresso based drink

per customer per voucher. Please

redeem in-store by 31st August ‘19.

Perch and Rest Cafe

39 Otago Street G12 8JJ

07562 977250

#

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CARAVAN / MOTOR HOME TO PARK?

NEED SECURE STORAGE IN WEST END?

Titan Storage have space within the famous

Barclay Curle Complex on South Street in Scotstoun

– beside the Yellow Crane!

Suitable for cars, caravans, motor homes – from £50 pcm

Also 20 foot steel containers – from £100 pcm

24 hour access

Part of busy enclosed complex

Minimum 3 months licence

We also have workshops and studios to let within

Barclay Curle Complex – details on application.

Contact

Andrew – 07812 150 070 – Email andrew@suthbrown.co.uk

Wheatley – 07748 358 600 – Email wheatleyharris@aol.com


@

Horn

Images I Gregor Reid

Please

Reviewed by Amy Glasgow @theglasgowdiet

We love a curry in Glasgow and Indian

cuisine has certainly come a long

way over the years, whether that is

through ‘fusion’ (which more often than not

simply means the addition of haggis pakora

to the menu) or by adopting the growing trend

of ‘small plates’. Thankfully, Horn Please falls

into the latter category, offering a unique spin

on traditional Indian dishes in a sharing-style

setting.

Having previously been located in a

rather dimly lit basement on Berkeley Street,

Horn Please now resides in the ever-popular

Finnieston area and it has provided the

restaurant with a much-needed new lease of

life. It’s previous location provided very little

foot traffic, whereas now, sat on Sauchiehall

Street, I was pleased to see it bustling with

customers on a dreary Wednesday evening

because this little restaurant has so much to

offer.

The new space may be smaller but it is

filled with all the charm of the old location,

from the tuk tuk protruding from the wall to

the list of ‘house rules’, which includes ‘no

sleeping on the toilet’ – dare I ask?

Where the décor is tongue-in-cheek,

the menu is serious, filled with small plates

of what is described as contemporary Indian

cuisine. This is the unique selling point of

this restaurant; taking elements of the old

and creating something new and exciting,

so don’t expect to see lamb bhuna on

the menu.

Think filo pastry filled with spring onion

and green peas served with an onion, green

chilli and mint jam, masala spiced baby

aubergines on an aubergine curry base or,

very simply, bread pakora with meat and fish

fillings. Annoyingly moreish, imagine a ham or

salmon sandwich dipped in gram flour batter

and deep-fried.

Re-invention is the name of the game

here, with the humble chicken tikka breast

served on a cream and fenugreek sauce with

crispy Serrano ham. Somehow, the spiced,

charred chicken breast is perfectly balanced

by the richness of the cream sauce and the

crisp, saltiness of the ham.

Their crowing jewel for me though is their

grilled duck with butter sauce; soft, gamey

meat paired with a buttery curry sauce – just

make sure you mop every last ounce of it up

with some of their deliciously flaky paratha,

w h i c h m i g h t b e t h e b e s t I h a ve e ve r t a s t e d .

In fact, the last time I visited I must have

eaten about three of them, they are that

good.

Dishes range from between £3.50 to

£7, so depending on how much you order,

it can suit any budget. If you’re anything

like me though, you’ll want to order one of

everything.

Horn Please

914-916 Sauchiehall Street G3 7TF

0141 573 3021

hornpleaseglasgow.co.uk


CRAFT BEERS & ALES

WINE & CHAMPAGNE

SHERRY, MADEIRA & PORT

FINE WINE

WHISKY, BOURBON, GIN

VODKA, RUM, TEQUILA

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0141 334 4312

thegoodspiritscoclarencedrive

@GoodSpiritsCoCD

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Hyndland

Train Station

@

1051 GWR



Reviewed by

Emily Donoho

You can’t miss 1051 GWR when driving

along Great Western Road with its

grand formal design. A former railway

station in the Beaux Art style it was designed

by Glasgow architect JJ Burnet whose other

works include the Clydeport Building on

Roberton Street and the Glasgow Savings

bank on Ingram Street. Once a railway line

connected Maryhill to the city centre, but

the line closed during the Second World

War, never to be reopened. In 1995, a fire

devastated the building. It lay derelict for

a number of years, until the mid-2000s,

when it was transformed into a restaurant.

It opened as 1051 GWR in 2015, after further

refurbishment.

Apparently, it wasn’t easy as old buildings

are often challenging to refurbish, and this

one sits over a railway tunnel. If you look

out the back, you can see the old platforms.

The owners, according to their blog, stripped

back some of the façade to reveal more of

its original character, wanting to show the

elegance and craftsmanship of the Victorian

builders.

The interior is reminiscent of the

glamour and class associated with

Victorian railway stations, with columns,

high ceilings, chandeliers, and 1920s-era

posters advertising places one might travel

to by train, often the French Alps. So far,

the restaurant only occupies the ground floor,

but according to their website they plan on

refurbishing the upper levels and providing

an outdoor seating area on the rooftop patio.

In the meantime, you can enjoy the spacious

dining area and bar.

GWR feels like more of a restaurant than

a bar in terms of its interior design. However,

it is still an excellent place for a drink. In the

back of the large room a long bar has twenty

taps for craft ales and they offer a rotating

selection. I’m not going to list them all here,

but the breweries they regularly stock include

Williams Brothers, Belhaven, their own

house lager and pilsner, and various guest

breweries. If beer isn’t your thing, they have

two craft ciders, a selection of wines, and

plenty of single malts.

Like many places, they’ve jumped onto

the gin boat, offering an array of craft gins

and G-and-Ts that go beyond a shot of gin

thrown into some tonic water. These include

one called ‘Death’s Door – Fentiman’s and

Apple,’ which is infused with juniper berries,

coriander, and fennel, or another called

‘Makar Gin, Fever Tree, and Chilli’, which

does what it says on the tin. Yes, it really

does have chillis floating in the glass and

it’s surprisingly good. I tried the ‘Death’s

Door’ as well and found that fennel and

coriander bring out something special in the

humble G-and-T. There’s a menu with nine

infused G-and-Ts on it, so it’s worth a bit

of experimenting. They also have cocktails,

which are fairly affordable as far as cocktails

go – at £6.50 each.

Some bars are cocktail bars, others are

purveyors of craft beers or whiskies, but 1051

GWR does everything. And they do it well.

So, if you and your mates can’t agree on what

sort of drinks you’re after, it should make

everyone happy.

1051 GWR

1051 Great Western Road G12 0XP

0141 339 5575

1051gwr.co.uk


Guilty Pleasures

from Westender’s

American in Glasgow


Guilty Pleasures from Westender’s American in Glasgow

y Liberty Vittert


Summer's

semi-freddo

While we are in the midst of summer the thought

of firing up my oven is seriously stressful. When I

first moved to Glasgow and was looking at flats to

rent, I remember asking my letting agent where

the air conditioning was… he opened the window.

Ovens heat up a kitchen like none other, so I

needed a go-to summer dessert that did not require

any baking. And in comes the semi-freddo – easy

as pie to make (get the pun?!), but has zero oven

requirements. Serve the traditional way as a loaf

pan or go crazy finding any fun individual serving

dishes (think wine, champagne, martini glass) for

a new twist on an old favorite.

K

Shopping List

300g blueberries

+ 100g blueberries

100g strawberries

100g raspberries

100g blackberries

180g caster sugar

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tbs lemon juice

1.5 tsp vanilla bean

500g (1 pint) vanilla

ice- cream

260ml whipping cream

extra berries for decoration

L

Method

1. Combine berries (except the extra

100g blueberries), sugar, lemon zest,

lemon juice, and vanilla in a large sauce

pan using a smasher (or the back of a

spoon to break up the berries). Bring to

the boil and then reduce to a simmer for

about 25 minutes.

2. Strain the mixture into a bowl

pressing hard on the solids. Discard the

solids and stir in the reserved 100g of

blueberries. Let cool.

3. Let the vanilla ice-cream sit out for

about 20 minutes and then stir in the

cooled berry mixture until slightly

combined.

4. Whip the whipping cream into soft

peaks. Gently fold the whipping cream

into the ice-cream mixture.

5. Pour the mixture into a 23 x 13 cm

loaf pan or into wine glasses or any

other type of individual serving dish.

Cover with cling film and freeze for at

least 8 hours or overnight.

6. When you're ready to eat, let it sit out

for 5 minutes before serving.

PAPYRUS

SPECIAL

OFFER

Half

Price!

Set of 4 Mikasa

Crystal Dishes

RRP £45

NOW £22.50

in Papyrus

Cookshop

*Exclusive offer for

WESTENDER readers

at Papyrus,

374 Byres Road


Writer’s Reveal

meets Helen Taylor

WORDS LORAINE PATRICK

Here’s a thought for you Westenders…

what would the streets of Partick be

like if there was an infamous master

painter from 17th century Italy on the loose?

That’s the premise of Helen Taylor’s

debut novel The Backstreets of Purgatory,

where she brings Caravaggio – the bad boy

of post-renaissance art, who brawled his

way through his short life at the same time as

producing some extraordinary works of art,

back to life in present day Glasgow to help

struggling artist Finn McGarvie.

Under the veneer of Glasgow’s black

humour and Caravaggio’s fine art, the story

tackles issues of mental health, addiction and

abuse and is the first published work for the

former doctor and research scientist. Helen

has a diploma from the Open University

and an MA from Lancaster University in

creative writing and the book has been well

received with one critic saying they cannot

recommend it highly enough. Helen now lives

in France, but we caught up with her by email

to find out more.

Congratulations on the book Helen,

how did the tale come about?

The idea for the novel came after I read

Andrew Graham-Dixon’s biography of

Caravaggio. The real Caravaggio was a

violent, troubled man and a convicted

murderer. With a penchant for brawling

and a taste for wielding a sword he

clearly considered himself a hard man.

My immediate thought on finishing the book

was to wonder how he would survive on

a night out in Glasgow. That was the root.

The rest grew from there.


Caravaggio is not the only troubled

character in the book, tell us about the

rest of the cast.

At the centre of the story is Finn, a troubled

art student with artist’s block and an

unhealthy obsession with the maverick

painter. Finn spends his time messing

around in a makeshift studio in a church

hall in Partick, chain-smoking roll-ups and

failing to do any work that he is satisfied

with. Misunderstood by his friends (or so he

believes), he obsesses over Caravaggio while

his self-confidence veers between an overinflated

sense of his own artistic genius and a

crushing, crippling level of insecurity.

From Finn’s point of view, he is

surrounded by people who misunderstand

him or generally let him down. Lizzi,

his girlfriend, treats him like one of her

psychology patients; he has a disconcerting

professional rivalry with his best mate Rob

who is a tattoo artist; his alcoholic, decrepit

next-door neighbour Maurice is feckless and

Finn can’t count on him for support; Tuesday

McLaughlin, a recovering heroin addict,

gives him constant grief for his attitude;

and Kassia, a stroppy au-pair, doesn’t laugh

at his jokes and refuses to let him paint her.

Of all the painters around, infamous

or influential, why choose to bring

Caravaggio back to life?

He has all the qualities of an ideal character

for a work of fiction. His life and his character

are full of contrasts and contradictions.

Under the patronage of bishops and

noblemen, his career flourished, but at the

same time he lived in the squalid artists’

quarter of Rome. He sought acceptance

by the church for his deeply religious

masterpieces, and yet used his impoverished

neighbours and prostitutes as models even

though he knew this would be interpreted

as blasphemous. Jailed several times for

carrying illegal weapons, for brawling and

assault, and finally convicted of murder, this

violent man was the same person who was

capable of producing works of incredible

sensitivity and beauty.

Do readers need to be familiar with his

work to understand the book?

There’s a lot of Caravaggio’s art in the novel

but it isn’t necessary to be familiar with it

to understand the story. The chapter titles

(named after his paintings) refer either to a

painting that appears in the chapter, or to

the main theme of the chapter. Finn leads the

reader through the most important works and

explains the critical parts of Caravaggio’s life

story.

Why base the novel in the West End of

Glasgow?

I lived here for many years so I know it well.

Although it is part of a big city, in many

ways the West End has a small town feel

to it because of the close links between its

inhabitants. Even now, having lived away for

several years, whenever I come back I always

bump into someone I know.

Glasgow also has a character all of its

own. And like any big city, it is a city of

contrasts. It has a reputation as a tough,

hard city but it is also the friendliest place

I have ever lived. It overflows with art,

culture, education and there are pockets of

great prosperity and yet a large percentage

of its population live in poverty with limited

access to these privileges. And speaking

personally, it is the place where I have

spent the happiest days of my life, but also

the most terrible. These extremes – these

contrasts – suit the themes of Caravaggio’s

art and life exactly.

You mention your worst days here –

you have experienced both depression

and post-traumatic stress disorder. Is any

of this reflected in the book?

When I was writing the novel, I wasn’t

particularly thinking about my own

experiences although I deliberately

shied away from making my first novel

autobiographical, perhaps in the end it

reflects a subconscious preoccupation.

What it did allow me to do is explore

ideas about where the line between ‘normal’

mental health and mental illness is crossed,

particularly because for many conditions

there is a spectrum of disease. I wanted

to explore how much the person who is ill

remains themselves even when they are so

changed that others believe they have lost

the person they knew, and to what extent

their actions are governed by free will versus

the effect of the illness on their thinking and

behaviour. Having experience of both being a

clinician and of being a patient helped in that

respect, I think.


There is a definite increase in awareness

of mental health these days. Does this

help in talking about it?

Without doubt. Modern life is hard. Levels

of poor mental health are compounded

by the awful difficulties many people face:

poverty, stress, bullying, homelessness,

addiction, prison. And there are massive

levels of anxiety in our kids. The more we talk

about these issues, the more we can exert

political pressure to try to eliminate some of

these factors, and make sure there is good

provision of social and mental health services

for everyone. And the more we talk about

it, the more the stigma surrounding mental

illness lessens, and that can only be good

as far as prevention, early intervention and

treatment are concerned.

Your publisher, Unbound, has an unusual

way of raising money to publish new

authors. Tell us about their crowdfunding

platform.

It’s essentially the old-fashioned model of

subscription funding that Charles Dickens

and Samuel Johnson used to publish their

work, but up-dated for the technological age.

The writer pitches an idea to the publisher

and if Unbound think it will fly, a funding

page is set up with a short video and the

opportunity for readers to pledge for a copy

of the book.

Unbound have all the facilities of a

traditional publisher (editors, layout, cover

design, etc). Supporters receive special

editions and their names are listed in the

back of all editions. A successfully funded

book will also have a trade print run and

distribution.

What are the advantages of this

approach?

Because the publisher takes less financial

risk, they are very open to original ideas

that don’t necessarily follow current

trends. Readers decide which books get

published and I think readers are much

more adventurous than many marketing

departments would have us believe.

As a writer, I was very involved in the

publication process. I blogged regularly on

Unbound’s site and had a close link with my

supporters which was brilliant. I also had a

big input into the cover design.

On publication day, because I had nearly

400 pre-orders, it meant I already had a

solid readership which was great. And it was

fantastic to know that the book was being

distributed to bookshops and libraries up and

down the country.

Of course, the crowdfunding was difficult.

Trying to persuade people to buy a book that

didn’t exist yet was tricky. In the end though,

the process was surprisingly uplifting.

My supporters were enthusiastic and patient.

And, especially because all the contributors

are listed in the back, there is such a lovely

feeling of warmth and generosity surrounding

the finished book.

The finished book features the Timorous

Beastie print ‘Glasgow Toile’ on the cover.

It looks like a work of art itself. Why

choose it?

I love the idea that the print is not what it

seems at first sight. At first glance, it looks

Competition!

We have two copies

of The Backstreets of

Purgatory to give away. Visit


and click on competitions

by the 31st of August 2019.

The

Backstreets

of Purgatory

£3

OFF

*

RRP £18.99

*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers

at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road

branch only, by 31st August 2019.


like a very traditional, old-fashioned print,

scattered with Glasgow landmarks (the

Armadillo, the Necropolis) but look in detail

and you see scenes of the seedier side of

the city. I couldn’t believe it when Timorous

Beasties gave us permission to use it. I was

thrilled.

What impact do you hope this book has?

Most of all, I want my writing to touch

someone emotionally in the way that other

books have touched me. But for all my

ambition, whether or not I am successful,

none of it is relevant until someone reads

the novel. Until then – until it comes alive in

the reader’s imagination – the book is just

a pile of paper and ink. Quite a large pile

of paper and ink though, so it would make

a decent doorstop. If nothing else it has a

practical use!

Are you doing any book events?

I have a few book club appearances

lined up, and a couple of workshops and

talks at schools and universities. If any of

your readers are interested, I’m happy to

participate in face-to-face or online book

groups. I can be contacted via my web page.

One book reviewer says it’s a Scottish

novel of significance and can’t be

recommended enough – are there more

reasons why Westenders should pick up

a copy?

If you are looking for a novel that will make

you laugh, cry and think, a novel that is

full of terrible jokes and unorthodox and

generally uncalled for profanity, a novel set

on your own (slightly fictionalised) doorstep

featuring a cross section of the brilliant

m i x o f f o l k yo u fi n d a r o u n d t h e We s t E n d ,

then The Backstreets of Purgatory might

be the one for you. Personally, I think it is

worth it for the laugh of hearing Caravaggio’s

nickname alone. Is it wrong to laugh at your

own jokes? It is, isn’t it…!

You can find Helen at helentaylor.com, or

on twitter as @TaylorHelen_M

Complementary Medicine Centre

Est. 1986

Ruth Chappell Brian Fleming

ACUPUNCTURE HOMEOPATHY

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Call 0141 332 4924 Mobile 07801536530

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www.hypnotherapist-glasgow.co.uk


1

The Backstreets

of Purgatory

by Helen Taylor

BY BRIAN TOAL

WESTENDER’s

COVER TO COVER

This is a novel best enjoyed with a glass of dark, red,

Italian wine. It’s a romp of a novel set in the West

End of Glasgow but not the boutiques and eateries

advertised in our beloved magazine.

The setting, as the title suggests,

is the seedier underbelly which

many of us are aware of but often

ignore.

Finn Garvie is a struggling

artist of Italian stock, obsessed

with Caravaggio, wasting his

life and his talent by taking

drugs, squandering any hope

of a successful relationship and

generally ostracising himself from

any functioning adult who might

be in a position to help him. So far,

as a character he fits the mould of

many a struggling artist. However,

the plot twists when Caravaggio

himself makes an appearance,

apparently sent back from

Purgatory to help the struggling

artist fulfil his potential.

There are many enjoyable

capers through the West End

as Finn, his mate Maurice and

Caravaggio traipse from place to

place, stumbling from watering

hole to watering hole, stealing

props from various places to use in

their paintings.

You’ll chuckle when you hear

them shout his nickname across

the street, as ‘Caravaggio!’

would be too conspicuous,

whereas the alternative is

something we hear much more

regularly in Glasgow. You may

also enjoy the punning and

allusions to parts of the anatomy.

Certainly, as an avid reader of ‘Viz’,

I was chortling away on several

occasions.

However, it’s not all fun and games. Underneath the humour

and the mad capers lies another narrative – a much darker,

realistic narrative which explores the harsh realities of life in

Glasgow and the train wrecks that people often mistake for real

life. Tuesday is a character once read never forgotten. She’s the

victim of neglect, a teenager made pregnant by her teacher,

forced to give away her baby, with a body ruined by drugs and

malnutrition. Maurice is a character who is beaten up by his wife

on a regular basis but insists that she does it ‘out of love’. Even

the professionals, like Esme the psychiatrist, lead lives which are

chaotic and filled with regrets and dissatisfaction.

The denouement is satisfying and the twists and turns of the

plot enjoyable, if not always entirely surprising. The amount of

times paths cross becomes borderline unbelievable, although

anyone who walks up Byres Road regularly will know that several

worlds can collide all the time, so Taylor can be forgiven for

putting the same characters in the same space a little too often.

The Backstreets of Purgatory is fun and enjoyable, whilst at the

same time will open your eyes to aspects of the West End which

can make us uncomfortable.


Odd Girl Out

by Laura James

2

Laura James struggled

throughout her childhood to

adapt to a world which was

confusing and overwhelming.

It was only in her forties

that she was diagnosed

with autism and, while this

diagnosis helped her to

understand why she was

the way she was, it was the

beginning of a journey rather

than the end. James provides

a raw, unexpurgated account

of her failed first marriage,

losing her two girls, spending

time in hospital, struggling to

cope with being adopted, and

finally, her relationship with

Tim. It’s this relationship which

sustains her and the honesty

and candour with which she

conveys this relationship is

admirable.

She only really begins to

find peace with herself when

she realises, through speaking

to an online network of fellow

travellers, that her struggles

come from trying to fit into

a neurotypical mould, rather

than trying to live life as an

autistic person. She says that

she is flawed, but not by her

autism; rather, she is flawed by

her insistence on fighting it and

the stresses this places on her.

She compares herself

to Kintsugi pottery – the

Japanese art of mending

broken pottery with precious

metals. She comes to see that

the breakages and repairs

are part of the history of any

object, or person, rather than

something to hide.

This book is humbling to

read. It gives a brutally honest

insight into the life of an adult

with autism and should be

educative for neurotypicals

too.

Sue Black is a professor

of anatomy and forensic

anthropology at Dundee

University and so deals with

death every day.

She analyses corpses in

her lab, assists the police with

murder investigations and has

also been one of the leading

British investigators of mass

fatalities such as in Kosovo,

the London bombings and the

Boxing Day tsunami.

This fascinating book allows

the reader an insight into her

key cases, as well as providing

the author the opportunity to

reflect on life, dying and death.

She has learned a lot in her

illustrious career and shares

her knowledge generously

with the readers, employing

a writing style which is lucid

and straightforward without

being patronising. The book

has some funny moments in it

too, which were unexpected

given the subject matter, and

it was a book I found hard to

put down.

All That Remains won the

Saltire book of the year last

year, and rightly deserved

to do so. She begins her

account by detailing her

first experiences of death in

her family, then moves on to

her increasing interest and

specialism in anatomy and the

dead. Each chapter focuses

on a different case, where

we learn of the state of the

deceased when discovered,

the challenges facing the

authorities and the investing

forensic team, as well as

reflecting on lessons learnt.

The subtitle of the book is

A Life in Death. There’s nothing

like a book about death to

make you reflect on life.

All That Remains

by Sue Black

3

44 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com

Magazine Promotion

Image I Gregor Reid

Accountancy

Matters

by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison

MTD – the bigger picture

As you know the digital revolution is

happening all around us – how we

shop, bank and do business. Now

HMRC is rapidly progressing its digital

transformation.

As of 1st April 2019, VAT registered

businesses (with £85k threshold turnover) are

keeping VAT records digitally, automatically

submitting quarterly VAT returns to HMRC

via online software. Soon all businesses will

need to be MTD ready.

Should I go digital now?

It is not mandatory, for your business to go

digital – yet. However, the 2020 deadline is

fast approaching.

To survive in business it’s better to stay

ahead of the curve. Now is the time to break

old habits.

Cash flow is easier than ever to manage.

From your mobile you store receipts

electronically, send and track invoices

anytime so you get paid quicker.

We understand every business is unique.

We offer two HMRC approved online

accounting software packages: Kashflow

and Quickbooks with different levels of

functionality, scalability and tiered pricing.

Murrison & Wilson, CA is a full service

accountancy firm specialising in

business and tax planning. Get in

touch for a free consultation plus

fixed and competitive fees.

Advantages of going digital today?

Going digital brings a wealth of advantages.

You spend less time on admin and more time

running your business.

Plus real time financial data is at your

fingertips. You and your accountant can

make informed decisions, identify problems

and opportunities early. You can put checks

in place to monitor turnover and flag up if you

are approaching the £85k VAT threshold.

You will know how much your next tax

bill is, have the money in the bank and never

miss a submission deadline.

Murrison & Wilson Chartered Accountants

10 Newton Terrace G3 7PJ

0141 290 0262

info@muwca.co.uk

muwca.co.uk


Legal Matters

Being An Attorney

Words from Laura Burns Associate at Mitchells Roberton:

It is very important to have a Power of Attorney in place but being an

Attorney has its responsibilities. Read on to find out more.

We often hear of the importance of

having a Power of Attorney in place

but not so much about the duties

involved in being someone’s Attorney. It may

be flattering to be asked to be an Attorney

but there are responsibilities attached to

such a role.

Who can be an attorney?

Attorneys in Scotland must be aged 16 or

over and in the case of a Continuing Power of

Attorney they also cannot be bankrupt.

How many types of attorneys are

there?

There are two types of Attorney in Scotland:

√ A Continuing Attorney who has authority

to manage the granter’s financial and /or

property affairs

√ A Welfare Attorney who has authority

to manage matters relating to the granter’s

personal welfare

You could be appointed as a sole or a joint

Attorney. As a joint Attorney you could be

required to make decisions along with other

attorneys. You could also be appointed as a

substitute Attorney and will only be able to

act if a sole Attorney is no longer able to do

so or if they have resigned their appointment.

What are the duties of an Attorney?

√ You must ensure that every measure is

taken to support the granter of the Power of

Attorney (PoA) to make their own decision

on any matter or otherwise to allow them to

exercise their legal capacity.

√ You must ensure that any decision made

on behalf of the granter respects their rights

and takes account of any known wishes and

feelings, past or present.

√ You must maintain communication with

relevant parties and take account of their

views.

√ You will act within the scope of the

powers granted to you.

√ You must keep records of how you use

your powers. Continuing Attorneys must also

keep the granter’s financial affairs separate

from their own.

√ You must also notify the Public Guardian

about certain events, such as changes

of address, the death of the granter or

bankruptcy.

√ Beyond such principles, your rights

and responsibilities will depend on the PoA

document itself.

If Laura Burns can help please

call her on 0141 552 3422, or email

lcb@mitchells-roberton.co.uk

Mitchells Roberton Solicitors

& Estate Agents

George House

36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD

0141 552 3422

www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk


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Endmum’s

West

notebook

by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk

The weather may not be suggesting it but

the summer holidays will be here pretty

soon. For many it is a time to look

forward to as most will take time off work,

go on a well-deserved holiday and hopefully

enjoy sunnier days and higher temperatures.

However, I know just as many who dread the

summer holidays!

Yes, for those with children, especially for

families with working parents, it can be a very

stressful time. School summer holidays are

longer than anyone’s annual leave. So, what

do you do? Child care and activities to keep

everyone amused is in high demand and very

often comes at a high cost.

I usually take Ruby and Leon with me to

The Hub if they can’t be with someone else.

But this is a luxury which very few parents

have. Some take unpaid leave, while others

divide up annual leave between family

members and many, of course, make use of

various kids camps which offer not just child

care but also fun activities to keep children

entertained throughout the day.

Although I can take my children to

work, I usually book them into a camp for

a few weeks so they spend time with peers

rather than just with me. This year will be

no different: Scotstoun kids club, here we

come! There is a variety of camps to choose

from, anything from drama to dance or

football. Outdoors, indoors, you name it,

you are certain to find something interesting.

If you don’t want to spend much, check

out Glasgow Life’s leisure centre camps.

There are various sports activities on offer,

just be quick, they tend to fill up quickly

(glasgowlife.org.uk/sport/glasgow-sportholiday-activity-programme).

A l s o, i f yo u h ave m o r e t h a n o n e c h i l d ,

it can be difficult to book something for

both at the same time. I would really have

liked Ruby and Leon to do some sessions

with Fearless Theatre School but sadly

the logistics are against us this summer.

But check out their holiday sessions, they

sound great (fearlesstheatreschool.com).

If your child is interested in acrobatics

then you also need to take a look at the

summer camp run by Aerial Edge based at

the Kelvinhall. During all of July, kids aged 7+

can learn skills on Flying Trapeze and Silks

as well as Unicycling, Parkour or Juggling

(aerialedge.co.uk/youth-holiday-schools).

It is one of the more costly activities but it

sounds amazing. Another popular summer

camp is Camp Indy (campindy.co.uk) based

at Kelvinside Academy which is open to

ages 5-14.

One of my new discoveries is based in

Maryhill: Computer Games Development

Boot Camp run by The British Youth IT

College (byitc.org). Kids between 6 and 14

are taught IT skills in different areas such as

Software, Hardware, Games Development,

Web Development and Graphic Design.

It sounds absolutely fabulous although it will

probably stretch most people’s budget to the

limit.

If you have set yourself a smaller budget

and are just looking for the occasional activity

then look up Glasgow Life’s website again,

where you will find anything from Bounce

& Rhyme to story book sessions, arts and

crafts to sports activities in various parks, all

of which are free.

Or alternatively, check out one of the

sessions at The Hub. We will be running

weekday language activities for children and

adults, make sure to book in advance. At our

Café Hub you can start each day with a free

drop in activity for the under twos. All sorted

now? I hope this has given you some ideas

anyway. Einen schönen Sommer Euch allen

und bis bald!


It’s Good To Talk

How a cancer charity is tackling the emotional

needs of cancer sufferers head-on

WORDS Mike Findlay

We all know someone affected by

cancer. The stats speak for

themselves: in 2018 alone, 16,300

women and 15,800 men were diagnosed

with cancer in Scotland. There are numerous

cancer charities out there and, unless you’ve

been hiding in a bunker, you will have noticed

large national campaigns supporting the

latest medical breakthrough in tackling the

‘biggest killer’.

While this work is clearly critical,

I’ve often wondered beyond medicine, what

other support is available to deal with the

complex needs of cancer patients? Emotional

support, mental health and wellbeing are all

so important – we are constantly reminded of

the need to consider our mental health as an

equal partner to our physical health. So, what

can be done about it?

And the answer to these questions are,

literally, right on my own doorstep. I recently

found out about the brilliant work of the

charity Cancer Support Scotland, who are

based at Gartnavel Hospital Campus which

I walk through every day on the way to

Hyndland Station.

Cancer Support Scotland is a charity

dedicated to supporting cancer patients and

their families through their difficult journey of

diagnosis and ill health. They were founded

in 1980 by Professor Kenneth Calman,

a leading light in cancer research and

previous Chief Medical Officer of Scotland.

He’s also father to the comedian Susan

Calman, who happens to be an ambassador

for the charity. Professor Calman’s vision was

to have emotional support readily available

to cancer patients in a way that matches

professional standards of clinical service.

The Calman Cancer Support Centre,

where the charity is based, is set within the

old Gartnavel Royal Hospital Chapel. The

chapel was renovated and reopened its doors

in 2012 after an extensive refurbishment

which has seen it redesigned in an

appropriately sympathetic way. The building

includes therapy suites, counselling rooms,

an information centre with internet access


and library facility, hairdressing and wig

fitting salon, offices and a peaceful sensory

garden.

It’s not just here in Glasgow where

the good work happens however, Cancer

Support Scotland has Outreach centres

throughout the central belt of the country for

those that cannot travel to Gartnavel.

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of

‘Tak Tent’ (taken from the old Scot’s phrase

‘take care’) the predecessor to Cancer

Support Scotland, which set out to meet the

needs of patients and their families within an

informal setting.

Cancer Support Scotland’s mission

remains simple yet ambitious: to support

the wellbeing of people who have suffered

the emotional, physical and mental strains

of cancer. Tailored emotional and practical

support comes from trained counsellors

and qualified therapists specialising in

oncology. For example, cancer patients are

offered counselling sessions, complementary

therapies, podiatry, bereavement and stress

management. And it’s all completely free.

‘Emotional support and counselling

services are essential to help people

through the cancer journey,’ explains Rob

Murray, CEO of Cancer Support Scotland.

‘Our services are proven to improve the

wellbeing of people who have suffered the

emotional, physical and mental strains of

cancer. Our feedback surveys confirm that

people sleep better, anxiety is reduced

and physical pain and discomfort from

chemotherapy and radiotherapy is eased.’

The work of Cancer Support Scotland

is clearly needed. In 2017/18, 6,500

appointments were made by people wanting

access to their services, which was a 20%

increase on the year before. One serviceuser

comments, ‘This is a real haven, very

supportive staff, great therapists, lovely

surroundings and I no longer feel alone.’

A recent Scottish Government Cancer

Patient survey highlighted that just over

half of respondents (55%) felt they were

completely supported emotionally /

psychologically by healthcare professionals

during their treatment, showing an increasing

demand for such support.

Rob Murray continues, ‘Our services make

life easier for people affected by cancer and

our services are free. This helps people using

our services avoid the additional burden of

financial stress. We do not receive any public

funding and rely solely on the generosity of

others to ensure our services are accessible

for all.’

Cancer Support Scotland is calling out

for members of the public to get involved in

their fundraising efforts. If, like me, you’ve

been inspired by what you’ve learnt about

Cancer Support Scotland, you may want to

consider the numerous ways you can help,

such as volunteering as a counsellor, raising

funds as you run this year’s Great Scottish

Run, or signing up for the Ladies Lunch at the

Radisson Blu on 6th of October.

Rob Murray concludes, ‘Often people

visit Cancer Support Scotland because they

simply want a quiet space to sit or have

the time to talk over coffee with one of our

volunteers, that’s why our kettle is always on.’

Visit: cancersupportscotland.org,

call 0141 337 8199, or email lucy.kirkland@

cancersupportscotland.org about

volunteering opportunities.


Health Matters

GP Dr. Pamela Leggate, of Glasgow West Medical Practice,

discusses the use of medical cannabis to alleviate chronic

pain and treat some conditions. Here she lays out the pros

and cons of what can still be a controversial topic.

‘M

“ other arrested at airport importing

cannabis to save her child’. ‘Epileptic

boy seizure free after using

cannabis oil’. ‘Daily use of high potency

Marijuana linked to psychosis’. ‘Pot smoking

in adolescence linked to depression in

adulthood’.

So what is the truth behind the headlines?

Is cannabis a good or a bad thing? Can’t my

GP prescribe it now?

Well, as usual with all things medical,

there isn’t a straightforward answer.

In November 2018 the UK government

changed the legal status of cannabis and

cannabis based products for medicinal use

in the UK. This followed a spate of highly

publicised cases where children with certain

types of epilepsy were treated abroad with

cannabis products.

There is a rare and severe type of epilepsy

(Dravet Syndrome) which is difficult to treat

with standard medicines and it has been

shown that some (around 40%) children with

this form of epilepsy will benefit. Seizures

usually continue but are less frequent and

shorter lasting. Prior to November last year

the only way parents could obtain supplies of

the medication was to travel abroad and bring

them into the country illegally. The change

means that in certain rare circumstances


cannabis based products will be prescribed

by the NHS.

Only specialists will be allowed to

prescribe the products (so no point asking

your GP) and only to patients who cannot be

treated by other more standard medications.

Currently the only licensed cannabis

based product is Sativex which is used to

treat spasticity (muscle stiffness) in people

with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Another product

is going through the licensing process and

may soon be available for use in Europe

(Epidiolex), but again it will only be used when

other drugs have failed and only in a small

proportion of people.

The reluctance to prescribe is for two main

reasons. First of all there is concern about

risks. Studies have shown that people who

use cannabis have a higher risk of mental

health problems from mild depression

to psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia.

Secondly, medical cannabis has not been

tried and tested enough for us to be sure of

its safety in other ways and there remains

concern about the unknown long term effects

on the developing brain in children.

Even the purest forms of medical cannabis

can cause side effects including diarrhoea,

nausea, weakness, mood changes, dizziness,

hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.

Cannabis has two main ingredients:

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – this is the

chemical in cannabis which makes you feel

high – and Cannabidiol (CBD) which is the

part which has been shown to have some

medical benefits. Generally, the higher the

concentration of THC, the higher the risks.

Cannabis products bought online may not

be of good quality and might contain varying

amounts of THC and CBD. THC containing

products remain illegal to possess in the UK.

A lot of the CBD oils available online and in

health food shops will either be contaminated

with THC, or contain such low amounts of

CBD that they will be of dubious benefit.

Cannabis bought on the street has the

highest risk of all.

This all sounds very gloomy I know

but there is hope that in time the good

bits of the cannabis plant can be isolated,

tested properly and may be available to

treat even more conditions. Many people

with chronic pain use cannabis with some

reported benefit. It has been used for those

undergoing chemotherapy who suffer from

vomiting.

After all Aspirin was originally derived

from willow bark (used by herbalists for fever

since the Middle Ages). Now we know the

multiple benefits it can bring (prevention of

heart attacks, reduced risk of bowel cancer)

but we also know the downsides (death from

gastrointestinal haemorrhage). It’s all about

weighing up the pros and cons!


Homes & Interiors

by Susan

Robertson

North Hill Gardens

Al Fresco

Living

This is the time of year where we have the

biggest chance of an al fresco edge to our lives.

Susan Robertson speaks to some West End experts

about how to make the most of our outside spaces.


Us Westenders are blessed to live in a leafy part

of a beautiful city, with a wealth of parks and

green spaces on our doorsteps to choose from.

But, if you also have some outside space of

your own, whether it’s a window box or shared

patio, or a huge private garden, there are many

great ways to make whatever you have work

beautifully for you.

I spoke to two local professionals to get

some advice about what you should consider

to maximise your outside space. Michael

Dumanski of North Hill Gardens gave me

some great guidance. He explained, 'Garden

design is not only about planting but also hard

landscaping, which adds texture, character

and structure, leading the eye through the

landscape. First, take into account your

plot. Look at the size and shape and take

into consideration the direction if faces, the

style of your house it will be framing and the

surrounding area. Achieving balance is a strong

aspect of good garden design.'

Michael continued, 'Then, think about what

you need your garden to do for you. Do you wish

you had somewhere to sit, relax, entertain or

let the children play? Maybe you are just a little

bored and want a garden design that is more

colourful, varied or maintenance-friendly.

Craft an attractive space to give you a beautiful

environment and design a practical layout that

allows you to use your garden how you want.'

Sometimes the hardest part of any process

of change, or development, is where on earth

to start. There is plenty of inspiration around

the West End and Michael suggests, 'Think

about your taste. Take inspiration from visiting

garden centres, public gardens, annual garden

shows, even other people’s homes. Take a look

at magazines or Pinterest which are filled with

ideas for traditional gardens, modern gardens,

family gardens and innovative ideas for gardens

big or small.'

Any type of new design will benefit from a

mood board, take your time to collate pictures

and ideas to think about what environment

really makes you happy. Account for elements

such as scent and sound, do you want to hear

water for example, would you like highly

perfumed flowers, do you need to insulate

from traffic sounds? And think of other

practical considerations such as, what level of

maintenance are you willing to do, do you want

to encourage or discourage wildlife, how often

do you want to see the colours in the garden

change?

Our urban landscape brings some particular

considerations, for example shared spaces

are common, so ownership needs checked

and consensus reached before any changes

are made. We also often have limited outside

space to work with. I asked Michael about the

best approach here, he said, 'Small gardens

can often end up looking messy – the most

Homes & Interiors


common mistake when decorating them is

that we buy too many ill-fitting accessories and

plants that give the impression of chaos. In the

city garden moderation and consistency do

matter. When choosing plants, accessories or

garden furniture, try to combine elements that

have the same style, so that they form a single,

harmonious whole. Colour consistency is very

important – especially in small gardens where

the accumulation of many colours is risky,

this solution can overwhelm us, and certainly

also hinders our leisure. We can also use such

optical tricks as mirrors – placed on the wall or

surrounding the garden. The mirror creates

the illusion of enlarging the space, giving the

impression of depth. In this sense, even a small

water reservoir will work - the garden that

surrounds it will optically expand our space.

Furniture in a small urban garden must be

functional and refer to the surroundings that

we create.'

Michael summarises that 'the main factor

is surroundings – the architectural style of the

building, materials and colours already used.

And it’s also a matter of taste – some people

love striking, lively colours, some prefer plain,

elegant whites and pastels. We also use different

shapes for different garden styles – more formal

in modern gardens and informal in naturalistic

ones. Having a good garden design in place

doesn’t mean you need to build the garden

straight away. You can base your work on the

design and divide it into stages to transform

your garden over the years.'

If you’re looking to enhance your flower beds

or window boxes, there are also some great

suppliers in the local area, one of these being the

new West End Garden Centre. Its owner, Martin

McCarron tells us that they offer a wide range

of plants, compost, and increasingly – garden

pottery, but plants are their speciality and they

can offer some expert advice in this area.

When considering planting in the West

End Martin advises to 'always plan properly

before you plant, particularly if you have a

smaller space, so that you can maximise what’s

available. Stick to locally-grown shrubs (the

garden centre has a full Ayrshire range), this

makes sure that they’re tough enough for our

Scottish winters. Consider the position of your

garden too, so that they receive the best sunlight

and conditions to thrive.'

So we have everything that we need to create

a beautiful outside space, here’s hoping that the

weather will support us as we enjoy our alfresco

elements.

With thanks to:

Northhill Gardens 0141 332 5533

northhillgardens.co.uk

West End Garden Centre 07964 672211

40-44 Peel Street G11 5LU

West End Garden Centre

Image By Gregor Reid


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Beautifying Scottish gardens for more than 10 years

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Blooming Marvellous!

new garden centre opens in the heart of the west end

Meet Martin McCarron, owner of the

West End Garden Centre sited at the

historic West of Scotland Cricket

Ground in Partick. Whether you are lucky

enough to have a small patch of earth to call

your own, or garden out of a window box –

Martin is your new best friend.

‘I have worked in horticulture since I was

17-years-old,’ explains Martin. ‘I learned all

about retail in my previous job as plant buyer

for a large chain of garden centres. From

there I worked as part of a landscaping firm

giving me great experience of plant after-care

in real gardens. I missed the face-to-face of

retail though and had been looking around

the West End for ages. When this opportunity

came up – I jumped at the chance!

‘We stock a full range of Ayrshire grown

shrubs, Kincardine grown roses, Perthshire

grown bedding plants, alpine plants, trees:

most plants you would find in a garden centre

really. We also take specific orders and do

our upmost to source unusual plants.

‘For anyone without outside space we also

carry plants great for small tubs on a balcony

or troughs for a windowsill. There are loads of

options. Bedding plants are always a winner

however a selection of alpine plants means

they come back year after year and you can

get loads of different textures and flower

colour combinations this way.’

Being in the heart of the West End means

customers can walk or cycle home with their

herbs and tomato plants, further boosting

their green credentials, though there is onstreet

parking just outside should heavier

tubs and compost be on your shopping list.

It’s a great way to reintroduce yourself to

this historic corner of Partick too, where in

1872 the world’s first international football

match, between Scotland and England, took

place. Looks to me like Martin’s the bookies

favourite for success in 2019!

SPECIAL OFFER: 10% OFF

all purchases made by 31st August 2019.

Simply hand in this coupon!

Name:___________________________

Email Address: ____________________

This signs you up to Martin’s special offer

newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.

West End Garden Centre

40-44 Peel Street G11 5LU

07964 672211

#

#


The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, Anniesland, Glasgow, G13 2UP

0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk

Email: sales@thestoreinteriors.co.uk

TheStore - HIS - Emma.indd 2 07/12/2017 09:48

Homes & Interiors

Floral Features


Throughout this issue, we can find inspiration on how we can connect

with the colours and benefits of nature and reflect its influence

throughout our homes and our outside spaces. Sometimes, we may just

want to bring a few fresh touches into our environments, or to give a

new look to a room, and there are some fabulous ranges available from

our wonderful West End boutiques and retailers. Here are a few ideas.

Stoneglow, Heavenly Orris

Root & Matcha Tea Diffuser,

£24, Spirito

House Doctor Vase,

£18, Hoos

Gillian Arnold Lampshade,

£45, Cassiopeia

Mini Plant Pot Range

by Louise Madzia,

£22 each, CoLab Store

Ceramic Crackled Green Vase, £35,

The Store Interiors

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

CoLab Store, 11-13 Dowanhill Street, 0141 570 1766, colabstore.co.uk

Hoos, 715 Great Western Road, 07788 480421, hoosglasgow.co.uk

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

The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, 0141 950 1333, thestoreinteriors.co.uk


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Homes & Interiors

Hyacinth House Floristry

by Susan

Robertson

Breathing

the outside in

There’s a fresh floral feel in the air in this edition

and so much to be enjoyed in the great outdoors,

but when we head back inside and shut the door

behind us, how can we bring a note of nature back

inside with us?

Very few of us would deny that some fresh blooms

can brighten any room, but we rarely make it a

priority when looking after our homes. In our busy

lives, it can sometimes seem like too much of a

hassle to look after flowers and indoor plants, and

the cheaper flower bunches are often limp before

you’ve left the shop.


However, if you give it some thought and get it right

for you, it can make such a difference to our homes,

and even to our health.

I asked Gary of Hyacinth House Floristry for some

tips about bringing the outside into our homes.

He suggested, 'Use the look of what you have in

your garden, for example if you have hydrangeas or

dahlias in your garden, if you create a floral bouquet

then it can work well to incorporate those in it to

tie everything together across your internal and

external spaces. If you are choosing houseplants

as well, then also look at what’s around you to

cohesively reflect things like leaf shape or colour,

especially if the plants are close to the windows.'

Not only do plants look great, add depth,

colour and texture to a room, but they are good

for your health too. They naturally cleanse the

air, and they’re also believed to actually improve

concentration, reduce stress and boost mood levels

so they’re a great addition to any home.

Have a think about the plants you choose for each

room. Be careful to ensure that they are positioned

for the right amount of sun, and bear in mind that,

at night time they can have a different effect on the

air when the photosynthesis stops, so keep them to

your daytime rooms for the most part.

If you’re not green-fingered, there are plenty of

options to get the benefits of some leafiness without

too much hassle. Start with a simple ivy or a low

maintenance spider plant for some quick green

splashes that are pretty good value, grow quickly,

and are very low maintenance too. Think about

investing in a bright statement plant pot and a big

waxy plant to get you going and make an impact in

your home, then build on from there as and when

you can.

I asked Lesley of Tulipané for some tips. She said,

'Cactus plants are very "in" at the moment and so

easy to look after – they only need watered once every

1-2 weeks. There are a wide variety of plants which

are especially beneficial for cleansing the air in an

apartment – taking in carbon dioxide and giving

out oxygen to cleanse the air, for example Aloe Vera,

Peace Lily, and Spider Plants to name a few.'

Lesley told me, 'I have found that in the

Thornwood area, where Tulipané is situated, there

are many young couples buying their first flat. One of

the things they enjoy doing together for their home is

buying plants. Even giving them names and we have

a laugh chatting about how it is comparable with

having a pet. They will come back in to the cafe and

talk about how "Bert" is doing and ask advice about

caring for them.'

There are clearly a wealth of benefits to finding a

few fresh flowers and potted plant pets to enhance

your home, and your health. And the expertise we

need and options for what we can buy are available

right on our West End doorsteps.

With thanks to:

Tulipané Coffee House, 682 Dumbarton Road G11 6RB

tulipane.co.uk

Hyacinth House Floristry, 950A Crow Road G13 1JD

hyacinthhousefloristry.com

Tulipané Coffee House



Westender Magazine

Interiors & All Trades

Keeping your home working for

you. Whatever you need whenever

you need it – find reliable local

tradespeople here.

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West End Services is a trading name of WES Glasgow Ltd Registered in Scotland SC468249

66 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com

Magazine Promotion

The Wee Kitchen Shop

Specialising In Beautiful Shaker Kitchens

Susan and Ewen, knew exactly what

kitchen they wanted when they bought

a plot of land in Gartness to build their

dream house – A Wee Kitchen Shop kitchen.

Having seen the bespoke cabinetry in an

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Says Susan, ‘Right from the start Greg

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His wealth of knowledge was a deciding

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Featuring made-to-measure solid wood

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‘The quality of the kitchen is superb and it

looks even better than I hoped. The layout

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A major feature is the custom-made larder

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detail designed to be practical, whilst also

looking beautiful. This theme of beauty and

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the Villeroy & Boch Farmhouse Belfast sink

fitted with a Quooker 3-in-1 Fusion Tap.

Susan concludes, ‘I wouldn’t hesitate

to recommend The Wee Kitchen Shop to

anyone considering a similar project. Greg

gives you expertise, enthusiasm and a good

chat into the bargain.’

Please call ahead for a FREE

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The Wee Kitchen Shop.

The WEE Kitchen Shop

304 Crow Road, Broomhill G11 7HS

0141 334 4747

www.theweekitchenshop.co.uk

info@theweekitchenshop.co.uk


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Westender JulAug 2019 Magazine

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