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ESTENDER<br />

www.westendermagazine.com | 1<br />

jul/aug


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Contents<br />

Regulars<br />

4 Editor’s Letter<br />

47 Mum’s Notebook<br />

48 Community Pages:<br />

Cancer Support Scotland<br />

Going out<br />

16 West End Live<br />

with Greg Kane<br />

21 WIN! Tickets to<br />

The Glee Club<br />

23 Top Things<br />

Fashion, beauty & health<br />

8 Flower Power Fashion<br />

25 WIN! At Rainbow<br />

Room International<br />

50 Health Matters<br />

Art & culture<br />

18 Musicians Interview:<br />

Hue & Cry<br />

38 Author Interview:<br />

Helen Taylor<br />

42 Cover to Cover<br />

Lifestyle<br />

26 Living a Paleo Life<br />

Food & drink<br />

33 Restaurant Review:<br />

Horn Please<br />

35 Bar Review: 1051 GWR<br />

36 Sweet Liberty<br />

<strong>Westender</strong> living<br />

52 Al Fresco Living<br />

59 Floral Features<br />

61 Outside In


4 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Editor’s<br />

Letter<br />

I’ve completed my first ever Parkrun at<br />

Victoria Park, so I just had to shout about it.<br />

I’m trying to run 5K several times a week<br />

as a healthy way to de-stress (step away<br />

from the wine bottle!) after successfully<br />

completing the Couch to 5K App with the<br />

help of audio mentor, none other than the<br />

West End’s own Sanjeev Kohli.<br />

After numerous years of sofa induced<br />

inertia this was an ‘easier’ route back into<br />

exercise, but I’ll be honest here, it was<br />

probably attempt three. It made it all the<br />

sweeter.<br />

Just over a year ago I started playing<br />

badminton with three friends to ‘get me out<br />

the house’. The laughter this has brought<br />

into my life, whilst exercising too, is not to be<br />

underestimated. A mental health boon, I can’t<br />

recommend this sport highly enough, and the<br />

facilities available in the West End make it an<br />

easy and cheap option too.<br />

Why am I sharing all this? Because<br />

summer is here! There’s no time like now<br />

to go out for a walk (the canal, Botanics,<br />

Kelvingrove), get on your bike (we love the flat<br />

route to Balloch), or start a team sport and<br />

combine socialising with exercise (can’t beat<br />

Glasgow Life leisure centres). The days are<br />

long so let’s fill them with fun days that build<br />

memories to console us through the darker<br />

autumn days ahead.<br />

If you’re looking for other entertainment<br />

options then remember to check out Greg<br />

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

read the interview with Greg, and brother<br />

Pat Kane, as they look forward to performing<br />

again at the Kelvingrove Bandstand and at<br />

the upcoming 80s Invasion Tour on Page 18.<br />

Our top picks of Westendy things to<br />

do this July and August start on Page 23.<br />

There’s outside cinemas, Shakespeare in the<br />

Botanics and Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail to<br />

look forward to, fantastic.<br />

Or why not check out living a paleo<br />

lifestyle as an alternative option (Page 26)?<br />

Glasgow Uni are chatting about their Animal<br />

Flow classes and show us some of their<br />

moves. It’s an interesting look at our paleo<br />

past and how we can support atavistic<br />

aspects of ourselves through movement,<br />

food and sound.<br />

Whatever you get up to this summer –<br />

enjoy your <strong>Westender</strong>!<br />

Suzanne Martin


www.westendermagazine.com | 5<br />

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6 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

EDITOR<br />

SUZANNE MARTIN<br />

PHOTOGRAPHER<br />

GREGOR REID<br />

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />

EMILY DONOHO, MIKE FINDLAY<br />

AMY GLASGOW,<br />

MICHELE GORDON,<br />

GREG KANE, PAMELA LEGGATE,<br />

NICOLA MAULE,<br />

TRACY MUKHERJEE,<br />

PAMELA PALONGUE,<br />

LORAINE PATRICK,<br />

SUSAN ROBERTSON, BRIAN TOAL,<br />

LIBERTY VITTERT<br />

HAIR & MUA<br />

TERRI CRAIG<br />

STYLIST<br />

JACKI CLARK<br />

WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM<br />

INFO@WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM<br />

07905 897238<br />

WESTENDER MAGAZINE IS ON<br />

FACEBOOK, TWITTER<br />

& INSTAGRAM<br />

Publisher: <strong>Westender</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial<br />

contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions<br />

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GLASGOW<br />

www.westendermagazine.com | 7


48 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

FLOWER<br />

POWER<br />

photography GREGOR REID<br />

stylist jacki clark<br />

mua terri craig


www.westendermagazine.com | 95<br />

kimono, monsoon. necklace, shop of interest. cuffs, nancy smiLlie. bag, monsoon


10 6 | | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

dress, monsoon. shoes, office. Necklace, Nancy smilLie<br />

opposite page - dress, topshop


www.westendermagazine.com | 11 7


12 8 | | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

dress, monsoon. socks, inferno. shoes, office


dress, pink poodle. jewellery, nancy smillie. shoes office<br />

www.westendermagazine.com | 13 9


14 10 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com<br />

stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk<br />

MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk<br />

model anna reeves<br />

model courtesy of<br />

coloursagency.com<br />

shot on location at victoria park<br />

top & shorts, topshop. shoes, office. socks, inferno. bangles & necklace, top shop<br />

earrings, monsoon. glasses, fatface


www.westendermagazine.com | | 15 11


16 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

LIVE<br />

July<br />

The Eagles<br />

Thursday 4th July 7pm<br />

SSE Hydro, thessehydro.com<br />

Really! The most quintessential of All<br />

American bands playing Glasgow on<br />

the 4th of July, US Independence Day?<br />

You really can’t miss this then.<br />

In my line of work I’m somewhat privy<br />

to the 'goings on' when it comes to<br />

bringing the bigger bands to Glasgow.<br />

THE EAGLES arrive in multiple<br />

private jets, require at least five<br />

penthouse suites – in different hotels,<br />

separate transport to and from the<br />

gig, a logistical nightmare! But it<br />

gets done, why? Because they’re the<br />

friggin’ EAGLES!<br />

But my personal relationship with<br />

them is purely sonic. Their recordings<br />

are the yardstick to reference all<br />

mixes by, have been for years and<br />

will continue to be so. I could bore<br />

you with the technicalities, but take<br />

it from me someone in their camp is<br />

really taking care of business when<br />

it comes to making great sounding<br />

records. The pressure to replicate<br />

this forces the Eagles live experience<br />

to be sonically, second to none. Get<br />

your audiophile heads on and go see<br />

them.<br />

HiFi Americana at an eye-watering<br />

£150 a head!<br />

Choice Tracks:<br />

The Eagles 'Hotel California'<br />

Gossip<br />

Friday 19th July 7pm<br />

Galvanisers Yard, swg3.tv<br />

Gossip was formed in 1999 in Olympia,<br />

Washington by college room mates<br />

Beth Ditto, vocals, Kathy Mendonça<br />

on drums and guitarist Brace Paine.<br />

It took them until 2007 to break<br />

through internationally though with<br />

their album 'Standing In The Way Of<br />

Control'. I remember seeing them on<br />

The Jonathan Ross Show that same<br />

year. It was a landmark moment for<br />

the band in the UK but also acted as<br />

a springboard for their dominance<br />

of the Euro charts. Especially in<br />

Germany where they achieved 'the most<br />

successful internationally produced<br />

single of all time' in 2011 with the<br />

song 'Heavy Cross' spending an<br />

amazing 82 consecutive weeks on the<br />

German Top 100!<br />

They have reformed this year after<br />

breaking up in 2016 to celebrate the<br />

10th anniversary of their Rick Ruben<br />

produced hit album 'Music For Men'.<br />

Choice tracks: Gossip<br />

‘Standing In The Way Of Control'<br />

Ghum<br />

Tuesday 16th July 7pm<br />

Hug and Pint, thehugandpint.com<br />

Ghum are a four piece all-girl band<br />

from London fronted by the beautiful<br />

Laura Guerrero Lora on vocals. They<br />

were brought together in 2016 by a<br />

mutual love of The Cure, PJ Harvey and<br />

Warpaint and those bands pretty much<br />

give you an accurate picture of what<br />

Ghum sound like. Special mention<br />

goes to guitarist Jojo Khor for deftly<br />

setting up her Chorus, Flanger and<br />

Delay pedals to achieve the most<br />

convincing Cure guitar sound I’ve<br />

heard in a while. It’s all a bit rough<br />

round the edges but that kind of suits<br />

this style of music. Really enjoyed<br />

listening to their '5 most popular' on<br />

Spotify.<br />

Choice track: Ghum ‘TV’


www.westendermagazine.com | 17<br />

by Greg Kane<br />

August<br />

Mo Kenney<br />

Sunday 4th August 7pm<br />

Hug and Pint, thehugandpint.com<br />

Mo Kenney is a 29 year old Canadian<br />

singer/songwriter based in Dartmouth,<br />

Nova Scotia. Over the last seven years<br />

she has released three albums with<br />

the most recent, 'The Details' winning<br />

the coveted Nova Scotia Music Award<br />

in 2017.<br />

She has such an alluring voice, kept<br />

me listening to her for over an hour<br />

it did. She sites Elliot Smith as a<br />

big influence on her music and has<br />

also enjoyed the support of renowned<br />

songwriter Ron Sexsmith. That should<br />

give you a better idea on where she’s<br />

coming from.<br />

Classy, indie, folk, pop.<br />

Choice track: Mo Kenney 'Telephones'<br />

Michale Graves<br />

Thursday 8th August 7pm<br />

SWG3, swg3.tv<br />

Michale Graves is a 44 year old<br />

American singer/songwriter. He’s been<br />

the frontman for neurotic punk band<br />

The MisFits, fronted punk icon Marky<br />

Ramone’s band Blitzkrieg, served in<br />

the US Marines and is a much lauded<br />

and celebrated Horror Rock/US punk<br />

artist.<br />

But on his latest album 'Keys' he just<br />

croons his heartfelt, slightly EMO<br />

songs over a simple acoustic piano<br />

accompaniment. It really works,<br />

probably because he’s actually a very<br />

good singer.<br />

Kinda imagine if Joe Strummer had<br />

ever recorded a rock opera! That’s<br />

what he sounds like here. Whit? Yes I<br />

just wrote that. Sorry Clash fans.<br />

A night of balladeering punk.<br />

Choice Track: Michale Graves<br />

'Dig Up Her Bones'<br />

Edwyn Collins<br />

Wednesday 28th August 7pm<br />

QMU, qmunion.org.uk<br />

The Queen Margaret Union is one of<br />

two student unions at Glasgow Uni<br />

and is a historic live music venue in<br />

Glasgow’s West End. It is experiencing<br />

a bit of a renaissance right now due<br />

to the fact that the poor old 02 ABC<br />

on Sauchiehall Street was destroyed<br />

in the 2nd Art School fire in June last<br />

year and both venues hold roughly the<br />

same amount of people. It’s good to see<br />

it back at the forefront of Glasgow’s<br />

live music scene once again.<br />

Scottish music icon, Edwin Collins<br />

has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride<br />

over the past 20 years. He had the<br />

worldwide smash hit 'Girl Like You'<br />

in 1995, after which he setup the<br />

much loved West Heath Yard recording<br />

studio in London and then he found<br />

himself hospitalised following two<br />

cerebral haemorrhages in 2005. He<br />

has since moved back to Scotland<br />

and has made a remarkable recovery<br />

evidence of which can be seen in the<br />

very moving BBC documentary 'Edwyn<br />

Collins: Home Again'. He is out on tour<br />

promoting his new album 'Badbea'.<br />

Yes, it is good to have you home Edwyn.<br />

Choice track: Edwyn Collins<br />

'Girl Like You'


18 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Singing to<br />

Mother Glasgow<br />

It’s great to see you lined up to play the<br />

last date in the Summer Nights series of<br />

concerts at Kelvingrove Bandstand in<br />

August. This will also be the 6th year of the<br />

festival – is this the first time playing at this<br />

venue and what can people expect from the<br />

show?<br />

PK: Not the first time we played the<br />

bandstand – I used to do protest gigs there<br />

as a young man, and Greg I think played<br />

with a soft rock outfit called ‘Fast Licks’...<br />

the 80s, eh? This time, we’ll be bringing 35<br />

years of songs – all our hits, beloved classics,<br />

irresistible covers and (decreed by law)<br />

‘Mother Glasgow’.<br />

Late Autumn, you then join the UK ‘80s<br />

Invasion’ tour with bands such as Sister<br />

Sledge, and Five Star. It will be the second<br />

time this year appearing in a line-up with<br />

other acts, who’s songs made a mark during<br />

that decade – in August you play alongside<br />

ABC, Go West and Midge Ure at ‘DunDee<br />

80s’. Is audience expectation different for<br />

these ‘collective’ shows?<br />

GK: The 80s were a golden age for Scottish<br />

bands. There were at least a dozen of us that<br />

WORDS NICOLA MAULE<br />

Glasgow’s beloved Hue and Cry journeyed into the UK music charts and the<br />

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

albums ‘Seduced and Abandoned’ and ‘Remote’. Yet, the enduring talents of<br />

brothers Greg and Pat Kane have weaved their way well beyond that seminal<br />

decade to the present day, where they continue to release hugely applauded<br />

albums and perform live shows up and down the country. In amongst, what is<br />

a busy year of touring, Nicola Maule, chatted a little with Pat and Greg about<br />

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

the not too distant future.<br />

were enjoying hit singles, selling hundreds of<br />

thousands of albums and playing in arenas all<br />

round the UK. But for me the stand out artists<br />

in the 80s were Prince, Terence Trent D’arby,<br />

Miles Davis, Paul Simon, Ian Dury and The<br />

Blockheads, Joe Jackson and Talking Heads.<br />

They all made iconic albums that decade<br />

which are still my favourited on my Spotify<br />

playlists.<br />

The album, ‘Sign O’ The Times’ by Prince<br />

is just so good, a pretty high bar for us 80s<br />

guys. I really enjoy playing these multi-band<br />

lineups celebrating the 80s too. Give us<br />

bands the chance to play our songs in front<br />

of tens of thousands of people once again.<br />

They have stood the test of time well, very<br />

gratifying, makes me happy.<br />

There is and has been for some years now<br />

a real nod to the 1980s whether that’s in<br />

fashion – bright colours, big patterns and<br />

even shoulder pads have apparently been<br />

making a comeback – and in TV series<br />

such as Stranger Things, Black Mirror and<br />

Deutschland 83. You released your first<br />

single, ‘Here Comes Everybody’ on the<br />

independent label Stampede Records in the<br />

heart of the decade – 1986. What did it feel<br />

like to make a record at that time and was


www.westendermagazine.com | 19<br />

there anything that influenced your music /<br />

song-writing as the decade progressed?<br />

PK: We loved that record! A big groove<br />

extravaganza on the a-side, a plaintive piano<br />

vocal ballad on the b-side, along with a<br />

bonus track ‘The Successes of Monetarism’<br />

(three minutes of silence!). All of our future<br />

career was there really – a love of R’n’B, jazz,<br />

funk and soul at one end, and just the two<br />

of us singing sensitive songs into the void,<br />

on the other. We were post ‘post-punks’ –<br />

not only liberated by post-punk to do, say<br />

and play anything we wanted, but also with<br />

ambitions to write pop classics. A great era,<br />

which we enjoyed to the max!<br />

You perform a fantastic cover of Don Henley’s<br />

‘Boys of Summer,’ which is shared on<br />

your YouTube channel (HueandCryMusic)<br />

– do you find social media sites such as<br />

this a helpful way to connect with fans,<br />

old and new?<br />

GK: We reach out to fans for input quite often<br />

via our social sites and the suggestion to<br />

cover ‘Boys of Summer’ was from a fan. That<br />

song was off Pat and I’s radar, but I think it’s<br />

one of the best versions I’ve heard. If it hadn’t<br />

been for that fan it wouldn’t have happened.<br />

So the communication we have with the<br />

people who like our music is so important to<br />

Pat and I and we pay as much attention as we


20 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

can to what fans want and expect from us.<br />

We can’t always play all the songs everyone<br />

wants, but we try.<br />

It’s nearly 2 years since your last record,<br />

‘Pocketful of Stones’ was released, which<br />

was the first album of new material since<br />

2012s ‘Hot Wire’. It’s quite a beautiful and<br />

poetic journey of storytelling – lots to connect<br />

with. Can you share a little of the backstory to<br />

the album?<br />

PK: Thank you so much! It’s definitely a<br />

50-something record – about fatherhood,<br />

political illusion (and disillusion), what it’s like<br />

to be an older man and how you never really<br />

settle your early traumas. There’s a moment<br />

of joy there when I sing with my daughter Ellie<br />

on a song called Let Her Go – but even that’s<br />

about realising that your child’s autonomy is<br />

what you’ve grown her up for, and that you<br />

have to ‘let her go’ somewhat (while NEVER<br />

doing so, of course!). It’s also the result of<br />

a coin-toss – a few years ago Greg wanted<br />

to do a New Orleans funk record, I wanted a<br />

sensitive ballad record... he won the toss for<br />

the last record. So this was my turn!<br />

With your touring schedule as busy as<br />

it is this year, what is 2020 looking like –<br />

will there be another studio album to look<br />

forward to?<br />

GK: Our touring schedule is very busy this<br />

year. In fact it’s gotten busier every year for<br />

the last decade and long may it continue.<br />

But it takes its toll. It’s much harder to multitask<br />

nowadays, I seem to spend what free<br />

time I have resting in order to have the energy<br />

to go out on the road each time. But we have<br />

just lavished a lot of time and money on our<br />

personal studio in Glasgow and loaded it with<br />

iconic Roland drum machines, Moog synths,<br />

all sorts of weird and wonderful analogue<br />

musical gadgetry. So we’ll be step time<br />

sequencing very soon and hopefully you’ll<br />

hear the fruits of our endeavours next year.<br />

It’s going to be quite exciting going down this<br />

route of music making for the first time.<br />

Hue and Cry are playing at the Kelvingrove<br />

Bandstand on 10th August – SOLD OUT<br />

and at the 80s Invasion Tour at the SSE<br />

Hydro on 6th November.<br />

For other upcoming concert dates, news<br />

and all things Hue and Cry visit:<br />

hueandcry.co.uk


www.westendermagazine.com | 21<br />

Win Tickets to see a stellar comedy line-up at<br />

The Glee Club Glasgow<br />

Glasgow’s hottest new comedy club,<br />

The Glee Club, is offering five lucky<br />

readers the chance to win a pair<br />

of tickets to one of their hilarious weekend<br />

shows this summer.<br />

Launched earlier this year, The Glee Club<br />

plays host to some of the nation’s much loved<br />

and up and coming comics every weekend<br />

in their 400-seat venue. Situated in the<br />

heart of Glasgow’s city centre, it boasts a<br />

striking interior, state of the art staging and<br />

comfortable theatre style seating.<br />

An extensive menu of delicious freshly<br />

made food and a quality drinks offering,<br />

enable guests to enjoy both an evening of<br />

entertainment and great dining experience<br />

under one roof.<br />

Don’t miss the chance to win a fantastic<br />

night out in one of Glasgow’s funniest new<br />

venues… enter now!<br />

WIN! A pair of tickets to The Glee<br />

Club Glasgow. Enter online by 1pm<br />

Friday 26th July <strong>2019</strong>. Go to<br />

westendermagazine.com and click<br />

on Competitions. Good luck!<br />

T&Cs: One pairs of tickets is available for five<br />

winners. The promoter reserves the right to<br />

allocate the prize to the winners. The prize<br />

includes free entry to The Glee Club Glasgow’s<br />

Friday or Saturday night shows. The prizes are<br />

valid for redemption by 30th September <strong>2019</strong><br />

and subject to availability. The competition is<br />

open to over 18s only.


22 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Boutique Gallery and Gift Shop<br />

Original Art • Prints • Unique Gifts<br />

and Homeware<br />

Hub – Fashion Illustration Classes<br />

& Maker’s Workshops<br />

Opening Times:<br />

Tuesday – Saturday: 10AM – 5PM<br />

Sunday: 12 noon – 4PM<br />

Closed Mondays<br />

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Tel: 07899 001 130 / 0141 221 7316<br />

hello@theshopofinterest.co.uk<br />

www.theshopofinterest.co.uk


www.westendermagazine.com | 23<br />

Top Things To Do<br />

in the West End<br />

by Tracy Mukherjee<br />

It’s summer in the city and with so much to see<br />

and do in July and August let’s crack on with this<br />

edition of Top Things.<br />

Top for Summer Theatre<br />

Scotland’s biggest Shakespeare festival Bard<br />

in the Botanics now has over 50 productions<br />

under its codpiece and can claim audience<br />

figures of over 70,000. This year the Botanics<br />

will be set alight when the annual Shakespeare<br />

festival brings us The Muse of Fire as the theme.<br />

Four flaming hot productions will run throughout<br />

July until the 3rd of August.<br />

First to tread the boards is As You Like It.<br />

With our heroine Rosalind transported from<br />

the Forest of Arden to the Botanic's lawns and<br />

gardens, this romantic comedy has no truer a<br />

quote 'All the world’s a stage...' even Glasgow on<br />

a dreich summer night!<br />

And so to a polar opposite production: Henry V.<br />

A seated event within the Kibble Palace,<br />

who knew Agincourt had so many palm trees?<br />

Heroism and sacrifice, glorification of war or<br />

comment on its futility, Shakespeare certainly<br />

gets the discussion flowing with this one.<br />

And then there is the rousing St Crispin’s Day<br />

Speech – I dare you not to hurra and huzzah!!!<br />

From a king to a prince; Hamlet of Denmark<br />

might be transported to Dowanhill, but<br />

this production is no less thrilling for it.<br />

It’s Shakespeare’s longest play so you’ll certainly<br />

get your money’s worth from this tragedy as<br />

Hamlet plots revenge among the rhododendrons.<br />

An outside production, to be drenched or not to<br />

be drenched, that is the question. Better pack a<br />

cagoule just in case.<br />

The final production of the year is the fabulously<br />

grotesque Richard III. Inside the Kibble our<br />

amoral, power hungry anti-hero will rise to the<br />

throne by all means necessary. Although deemed<br />

a tragedy as Richard is indeed a tragic character,<br />

it’s dotted with some dark comedy throughout.<br />

So iconic, it’s a fitting production to conclude<br />

this year’s festival.<br />

Bard In The Botanics, Glasgow Botanic<br />

Gardens, 26th June – 3rd August<br />

For full details and ticket information visit:<br />

bardinthebotanics.co.uk<br />

Top for Cinema<br />

Andre Rieu has truly become a worldwide<br />

phenomenon, bringing classical music to the<br />

masses. The Dutch conductor and violinist<br />

seems to be on a never ending worldwide tour.<br />

But if you haven’t managed to catch Andre and<br />

his 60 piece Johann Strauss Orchestra live as<br />

yet, fear not. Now, without having to leave the<br />

comfort of the West End, there is the opportunity<br />

to 'attend' his iconic annual hometown concert.<br />

For two nights only, join Andre Rieu in the<br />

medieval town square of Maastricht, courtesy<br />

of the Grosvenor Cinema. The conductor’s<br />

charming mix of classical, pop, folk and musical<br />

theatre will, this time around, celebrate dance.<br />

The Shall We Dance concert is being shown<br />

nationwide at cinemas, but remember it’s only<br />

two nights so get tickets for the Grosvenor<br />

booked soon!<br />

If being inside at this time of year seems a waste<br />

of the heady 12 degree temperature and minor<br />

drizzle outside, why not consider an open air<br />

cinema opportunity? Luna Kids Cinema is the<br />

first open air cinema specifically for kids. In mid<br />

July, Victoria Park will be the venue for five days<br />

of classic children’s films. With several films<br />

per day such as How To Train Your Dragon: The<br />

Hidden World, Mary Poppins Returns, Peppa Pig:<br />

Festival Of Fun and Julia Donaldson classics The<br />

Gruffalo, Zog and The Highway Rat, Luna have<br />

covered all age groups. The event isn’t seated,<br />

but back rests and blankets can be purchased.<br />

There will also be plenty of food options, healthy<br />

or not so healthy, with on-site catering. If the<br />

weather is on our side, this could be a fabulous<br />

way to entertain the kids during the holidays.


24 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Top Things To Do<br />

in the West End<br />

by Tracy Mukherjee<br />

Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss<br />

Orchestra Shall we Dance, Grosvenor<br />

Cinema, Ashton Lane G12 8SJ<br />

27th and 28th July. For more information:<br />

intl.andreincinemas.com<br />

Luna Kids Cinema, Victoria Park<br />

Wed 17th – Sun 21st Jul<br />

lunakidscinema.com/Victoria-Park<br />

Top for Summer Camps<br />

For a whole host of reasons, summer activity<br />

camps for kids are becoming ever more popular.<br />

There are a whole range of camps available<br />

nearby this summer, focusing on a variety of<br />

activities. West End Adventure is running School<br />

Holiday Adventures for outdoorsy kiddies.<br />

Getting muddy, wet, building dens and getting<br />

active will all be in a day’s work on this camp.<br />

Under the guidance of instructors, no two days<br />

will be the same. There are also age appropriate<br />

adventure groups: Junior Adventure for 6 and<br />

7 year olds, Primary Adventure for 8 years –<br />

P7 and Senior Adventure for 1st Year pupils<br />

onwards.<br />

If the great outdoors isn’t the scene for your<br />

child, why not consider a summer camp in<br />

computer game development, robotics or<br />

engineering? These are week long classes<br />

run by the British Youth IT College in Firhill.<br />

Choosing from game development, core concepts<br />

of robotic coding and Lego engineering classes,<br />

this is summer camp for the next generation.<br />

The classes fall into 2 age groups: 6 – 9 years or<br />

9 – 14 years. It is a great opportunity for children<br />

who have a keen interest in technology.<br />

School Holiday Adventures, West End<br />

Adventure, Knightswood, G13 2HE<br />

westendadventure.co.uk<br />

Kids Summer Camps, British Youth<br />

IT College, Firhill, G20 7BA. For full<br />

details of the courses and schedule visit<br />

byitc.org<br />

Top for Art<br />

The work of Linda McCartney will go on<br />

show at Kelvingrove from July onwards. This<br />

retrospective of the photographer’s life and<br />

work is curated by the McCartney family.<br />

It features iconic moments of 1960s music with<br />

later intimate images captured by the renowned<br />

photographer. Also included in the exhibition<br />

is one of McCartney’s diaries and her cameras<br />

from that era, the first time they have ever been<br />

on public exhibition. As well as reportage style<br />

images of Hendrix, The Beatles and The Rolling<br />

Stones, photographs of Linda and Paul’s beloved<br />

Mull of Kintyre will also be included. Given this<br />

is such a special event, there is an admission<br />

charge.<br />

Staying with our love of Scotland, look out<br />

for Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail this summer.<br />

In Scottish cities throughout the land, life size,<br />

individually decorated sculptures of Wullie will<br />

be appearing. This will be the first nationwide<br />

public art trail and will raise funds for Scottish<br />

children’s hospital charities. With over 200<br />

sculptures creatively painted by artists,<br />

a summer wander around the town will have an<br />

extra special incentive. You’ll remember 'Oor<br />

Wullie, your Wullie, a’body’s Wullie', and that<br />

famous cover quote never was so poignant.<br />

Running in conjunction with the trail will be<br />

an education programme focusing on our<br />

communities and citizenship. This is a delightful<br />

way to come together, enjoy the nostalgia and<br />

help a fantastic cause to boot; see if you can<br />

raise more than Wee Eck, Fat Boab and Soapy<br />

Souter...<br />

Linda McCartney: A Retrospective,<br />

Kelvingrove Museum and Art<br />

Galleries 5th Jul till 12th Jan<br />

glasgowlife.org.uk and follow the links<br />

Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail Glasgow,<br />

17th June – 30th August.<br />

oorwullie.com.<br />

Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail, to learn<br />

more about the event.


<strong>Westender</strong> www.westendermagazine.com <strong>Magazine</strong> Competitions | 25<br />

SUMMER GIFTS<br />

AT<br />

RRI<br />

R<br />

by John Parker<br />

ecently, Directors from all twelve<br />

of the salons had a mystery trip<br />

arranged by Rainbow Room<br />

International owners, Alan and Linda<br />

Stewart, to the stunning Archerfield House<br />

to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We all had<br />

an incredible time gathering for a lovely meal<br />

and raising a glass to the incredible journey<br />

our salon group has been on.<br />

We also were the stylists backstage at<br />

this years TRNSMT Festival. It was another<br />

fantastic year, with artists visiting us to have<br />

their hair styled before heading on stage.<br />

Taking part in these events is great for stylists<br />

from our salons to attend and take advantage<br />

of the different opportunities that our brand<br />

provides.<br />

Summer from our salon also took part<br />

in her first Art Team photo shoot in London<br />

recently, a great opportunity for her to get<br />

more experience and be really creative.<br />

We’ve also received beautiful new<br />

Schwarzkopf colours in the salon – True<br />

Beautiful Honest. The shades respect and<br />

illuminate the hair’s natural highs and lows,<br />

providing natural-looking results with up to<br />

100% multi-dimensional coverage.<br />

317-319 CROW ROAD G11 7BU<br />

0141 337 3307<br />

SPIRITOGIFTS.COM<br />

WIN! Rainbow Room International<br />

are offering one lucky reader a hair<br />

makeover in their Great Western Rd<br />

salon. For your chance to win go to<br />

westendermagazine.com and click<br />

on competitions by the 31st Aug ‘19.<br />

Rainbow Room International<br />

607 Great Western Road G12 8HX<br />

0141 337 3370<br />

rainbowroominternational.com


26 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Living a<br />

paleo life<br />

WORDS PAMELA PALONGUE


www.westendermagazine.com | 27<br />

Everything old seems to be new again, as millions of people have started to<br />

embrace the diet, exercise and habits of our ancient Cro-Magnon ancestors.<br />

Perhaps all the technology we have and the onset of artificial intelligence are<br />

just a bit scary, and we’re retreating into our Neolithic corner.<br />

Whatever the case, there is a great deal of evidence that a diet without<br />

processed foods is healthier. And hunter gatherers who spent very little time<br />

sitting, probably had much lower cholesterol levels than their present day<br />

counterparts.<br />

If you’re wondering how you can explore the possible benefits of a<br />

primitive lifestyle in the West End of Glasgow, there actually may be more<br />

opportunities than you realise…<br />

Kerry Murdoch, an Active Lifestyle<br />

instructor, teaches a new class at The<br />

University of Glasgow called ‘Animal<br />

Flow’. It’s probably unlike any exercise class<br />

you have ever seen!<br />

The participants perform quadrupedal<br />

movements using the hands and feet for<br />

balance.<br />

The weight of your own body provides the<br />

resistance as you perform moves with names<br />

like ‘beast’, ‘ape’ and ‘crab’.<br />

In contemporary times, our hands rarely<br />

touch the ground. But in Animal Flow, the<br />

hands are used for almost every movement,<br />

giving the upper body an excellent workout.<br />

If you’re imagining an ape scampering across<br />

the floor however, think again. It’s more of a<br />

meditative movement, with slow, deliberate<br />

moves which are almost balletic. It can be<br />

beautiful to watch as the body morphs from<br />

one position into another.<br />

Though it’s physically demanding (which<br />

might be the whole point of a workout in the<br />

first place) the movements themselves can be<br />

simplified to allow beginners to develop their<br />

strength and flexibility.<br />

Though Animal Flow has been compared<br />

to yoga, it’s actually quite different. Instead of<br />

static poses, the body is in almost constant<br />

motion. And the participants do not use<br />

mats, since the sequence of choreographed<br />

movements can run in all different directions<br />

with the entire floor being used!<br />

The Animal Flow classes just launched<br />

at The Stevenson Building on campus. They<br />

are one-hour sessions which run in 5-week<br />

blocks.<br />

To learn more about the classes, visit the<br />

University of Glasgow website at:<br />

gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/sport/whatson/<br />

learn2/animal<br />

Another ancient activity that’s becoming<br />

increasingly popular is tribal drumming.<br />

The drum certainly has to be one of<br />

the oldest instruments on Earth, and in<br />

indigenous cultures it has been used for<br />

welcoming visitors, celebrations at harvest<br />

time, and even as a means to reach higher<br />

states of consciousness in shamanic<br />

ceremonies.<br />

But it’s not just for the ancients.<br />

Contemporary doctors and researchers have<br />

conducted studies which show that there are<br />

health benefits to drumming, as well as social<br />

connectedness.<br />

Dr. Barry Quinn, Ph.D. and clinical<br />

psychologist, states that drumming sessions<br />

can dramatically reduce stress, and may also<br />

lower blood pressure.<br />

The Glasgow Drum Circle meets every<br />

Wednesday night in the heart of the West End<br />

at Wellington Church. This welcoming group<br />

is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers<br />

who believe in the many positive benefits of<br />

drumming.<br />

Emma, one of the trustees of Glasgow<br />

Drum Circle, and a drummer herself, says<br />

that it’s almost like a meditative state when<br />

focussing on the patterns of the rhythm.<br />

And fellow trustee Shae, notes the<br />

connectedness and community that the drum<br />

circle provides when several people are all<br />

coming together in rhythm and sound.


28 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

They teach rhythm patterns based on<br />

West African drum beats, starting with<br />

the basics, and novices are able to start<br />

drumming almost immediately.<br />

In the class I attended, there were<br />

two drummers taking their first class,<br />

who were quickly pounding away like pros.<br />

The participants range from beginner<br />

to advanced. Everyone is provided with<br />

authentic African drums such as djembe and<br />

dunun drums, along with mallets.<br />

Classes are offered on a six months,<br />

six weeks or a weekly, pay-as-you-go basis.<br />

The modest fee helps cover the operating<br />

costs of the class.<br />

If you haven’t tried this yet, give it a go.<br />

It’s interesting – and fun! Visit here for more<br />

info: glasgowdrumcircle.org/classes.<br />

One of the most important ways we can be<br />

healthier, is through the food which we eat.<br />

For Gabriela Nicol of Paleo Lifestyle,<br />

food was very much the medicine which<br />

solved her digestive problems.<br />

Suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome<br />

(IBS) Gabriela, decided to make a conscious<br />

change to not only eat healthy, but to<br />

embrace a diet derived from sustainable<br />

sources, and good quality ingredients.<br />

Her background in science and<br />

understanding of digestive enzymes,<br />

led her to adopt the paleo diet. Gabriela<br />

found that her IBS disappeared, and she’s<br />

been symptom-free for four years. She also<br />

discovered she had more energy, and even<br />

looked younger. Colds and frequent viral<br />

infections have also vanished since she has<br />

gone paleo.<br />

Gabriela believes in the benefits of<br />

good nutrition so strongly, that she formed<br />

her business, Paleo Lifestyle to share her<br />

expertise – and her food with others.<br />

Based in Maryhill, she bakes dairy and<br />

gluten-free, sugar-free and low carb, using<br />

organic ingredients from sustainable sources.<br />

Instead of milk, Gabriela uses coconut<br />

milk, and nut milks such as cashew and<br />

almond milk.<br />

Gabriela has created desserts that are<br />

not just healthy, but also delicious. Some of<br />

the most popular desserts and treats are her<br />

vegan cheesecake, vegan snickers, bounty<br />

bars and carrot cake. She uses stevia or<br />

natural maple syrup for sweetening.


www.westendermagazine.com | 29<br />

Her desserts can be ordered from her<br />

Facebook page, and she will deliver them<br />

to anywhere in the greater Glasgow area,<br />

or they can be collected free of charge at her<br />

Maryhill location.<br />

She currently holds cooking classes where<br />

an entire three-course meal is prepared.<br />

The classes take place about once a month,<br />

and last for approximately two hours. At the<br />

end, participants dine on the meal they’ve<br />

created, and they receive a free recipe book<br />

for cooking at home.<br />

Gabriela, who is a certified Paleo<br />

Nutritionist, is taking on clients to help with<br />

nutritional advice. This can be especially<br />

helpful to individuals suffering from food<br />

intolerances, allergies, hormonal and<br />

metabolic issues.<br />

Gabriela has plans to open a coffee shop<br />

later this year, where all of her cakes and<br />

treats will be available.<br />

For more information on Paleo Lifestyle,<br />

visit her Facebook page at:<br />

facebook.com/paleolifestyleuk<br />

If you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle in<br />

your future, the answer may actually lie in the<br />

past.


30 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

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<strong>Westender</strong> www.westendermagazine.com <strong>Magazine</strong> Promotion | 31<br />

Main Image I Gregor Reid<br />

Otago Street Speciality Coffee Shop<br />

coffee bar, authentic noodle stop, brunch menu<br />

First impressions are of a bright and airy<br />

space when you enter Perch & Rest in<br />

what was a picturesque wee cottage<br />

back in the day.<br />

Joe and Yao’s year long labour of love to<br />

find, refit and open their cafe has resulted<br />

in a hybrid speciality coffee shop, with over<br />

half a dozen coffees, plus guest coffee,<br />

to try; noodle bowls famous all over China<br />

from Yao’s home region; and a more<br />

traditional brunch menu curated by a Savoy<br />

trained chef (and luckily, a family member!).<br />

Says Joe, ‘In the last five years I have<br />

observed the speciality coffee scene slowly<br />

grow in Glasgow. We have made significant<br />

expenditures on coffee equipment which<br />

are at the cutting edge of the industry<br />

– we resemble more of an Australian style<br />

coffee bar. We have a changing single<br />

origin coffee for those who love espresso.<br />

We have regularly changing filter coffees<br />

which showcase the best the industry has at<br />

the moment. And we also prepare our own<br />

cold brew drip coffee and iced tea in store.’<br />

Joe continues, ‘Yao’s hometown noodles<br />

are famous all around China. And there is<br />

currently a gap in the market for these type<br />

of noodles, which in China are a snack food<br />

– that is, there are very many noodle bars of<br />

this kind where individuals will go from early<br />

morning to late evening to grab a reasonably<br />

priced bowl of noodles in between their<br />

normal meals. When we found our current<br />

location we decided to incorporate my<br />

coffee experience and my family’s extensive<br />

hospitality experience to offer a varied and<br />

unique experience. Now we have a hybrid<br />

cafe that offers stunning coffee, mouth<br />

watering soup noodles, and also a more<br />

traditional brunch menu.’<br />

This entrepreneurial young couple have<br />

achieved so much already, but have a keen<br />

eye on possible future expansion to offer<br />

community and event space, as well as a<br />

takeaway offering – watch this space!<br />

SPECIAL OFFER:<br />

One free espresso based drink<br />

per customer per voucher. Please<br />

redeem in-store by 31st August ‘19.<br />

Perch and Rest Cafe<br />

39 Otago Street G12 8JJ<br />

07562 977250<br />

#<br />

#


32 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

CARAVAN / MOTOR HOME TO PARK?<br />

NEED SECURE STORAGE IN WEST END?<br />

Titan Storage have space within the famous<br />

Barclay Curle Complex on South Street in Scotstoun<br />

– beside the Yellow Crane!<br />

Suitable for cars, caravans, motor homes – from £50 pcm<br />

Also 20 foot steel containers – from £100 pcm<br />

24 hour access<br />

Part of busy enclosed complex<br />

Minimum 3 months licence<br />

We also have workshops and studios to let within<br />

Barclay Curle Complex – details on application.<br />

Contact<br />

Andrew – 07812 150 070 – Email andrew@suthbrown.co.uk<br />

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


www.westendermagazine.com | 33<br />

@<br />

Horn<br />

Images I Gregor Reid<br />

Please<br />

Reviewed by Amy Glasgow @theglasgowdiet<br />

We love a curry in Glasgow and Indian<br />

cuisine has certainly come a long<br />

way over the years, whether that is<br />

through ‘fusion’ (which more often than not<br />

simply means the addition of haggis pakora<br />

to the menu) or by adopting the growing trend<br />

of ‘small plates’. Thankfully, Horn Please falls<br />

into the latter category, offering a unique spin<br />

on traditional Indian dishes in a sharing-style<br />

setting.<br />

Having previously been located in a<br />

rather dimly lit basement on Berkeley Street,<br />

Horn Please now resides in the ever-popular<br />

Finnieston area and it has provided the<br />

restaurant with a much-needed new lease of<br />

life. It’s previous location provided very little<br />

foot traffic, whereas now, sat on Sauchiehall<br />

Street, I was pleased to see it bustling with<br />

customers on a dreary Wednesday evening<br />

because this little restaurant has so much to<br />

offer.<br />

The new space may be smaller but it is<br />

filled with all the charm of the old location,<br />

from the tuk tuk protruding from the wall to<br />

the list of ‘house rules’, which includes ‘no<br />

sleeping on the toilet’ – dare I ask?<br />

Where the décor is tongue-in-cheek,<br />

the menu is serious, filled with small plates<br />

of what is described as contemporary Indian<br />

cuisine. This is the unique selling point of<br />

this restaurant; taking elements of the old<br />

and creating something new and exciting,<br />

so don’t expect to see lamb bhuna on<br />

the menu.<br />

Think filo pastry filled with spring onion<br />

and green peas served with an onion, green<br />

chilli and mint jam, masala spiced baby<br />

aubergines on an aubergine curry base or,<br />

very simply, bread pakora with meat and fish<br />

fillings. Annoyingly moreish, imagine a ham or<br />

salmon sandwich dipped in gram flour batter<br />

and deep-fried.<br />

Re-invention is the name of the game<br />

here, with the humble chicken tikka breast<br />

served on a cream and fenugreek sauce with<br />

crispy Serrano ham. Somehow, the spiced,<br />

charred chicken breast is perfectly balanced<br />

by the richness of the cream sauce and the<br />

crisp, saltiness of the ham.<br />

Their crowing jewel for me though is their<br />

grilled duck with butter sauce; soft, gamey<br />

meat paired with a buttery curry sauce – just<br />

make sure you mop every last ounce of it up<br />

with some of their deliciously flaky paratha,<br />

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 .<br />

In fact, the last time I visited I must have<br />

eaten about three of them, they are that<br />

good.<br />

Dishes range from between £3.50 to<br />

£7, so depending on how much you order,<br />

it can suit any budget. If you’re anything<br />

like me though, you’ll want to order one of<br />

everything.<br />

Horn Please<br />

914-916 Sauchiehall Street G3 7TF<br />

0141 573 3021<br />

hornpleaseglasgow.co.uk


34 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

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clarencedrive@thegoodspiritsco.com<br />

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@<br />

1051 GWR<br />

www.westendermagazine.com | 35<br />

Images I Gregor Reid<br />

Reviewed by<br />

Emily Donoho<br />

You can’t miss 1051 GWR when driving<br />

along Great Western Road with its<br />

grand formal design. A former railway<br />

station in the Beaux Art style it was designed<br />

by Glasgow architect JJ Burnet whose other<br />

works include the Clydeport Building on<br />

Roberton Street and the Glasgow Savings<br />

bank on Ingram Street. Once a railway line<br />

connected Maryhill to the city centre, but<br />

the line closed during the Second World<br />

War, never to be reopened. In 1995, a fire<br />

devastated the building. It lay derelict for<br />

a number of years, until the mid-2000s,<br />

when it was transformed into a restaurant.<br />

It opened as 1051 GWR in 2015, after further<br />

refurbishment.<br />

Apparently, it wasn’t easy as old buildings<br />

are often challenging to refurbish, and this<br />

one sits over a railway tunnel. If you look<br />

out the back, you can see the old platforms.<br />

The owners, according to their blog, stripped<br />

back some of the façade to reveal more of<br />

its original character, wanting to show the<br />

elegance and craftsmanship of the Victorian<br />

builders.<br />

The interior is reminiscent of the<br />

glamour and class associated with<br />

Victorian railway stations, with columns,<br />

high ceilings, chandeliers, and 1920s-era<br />

posters advertising places one might travel<br />

to by train, often the French Alps. So far,<br />

the restaurant only occupies the ground floor,<br />

but according to their website they plan on<br />

refurbishing the upper levels and providing<br />

an outdoor seating area on the rooftop patio.<br />

In the meantime, you can enjoy the spacious<br />

dining area and bar.<br />

GWR feels like more of a restaurant than<br />

a bar in terms of its interior design. However,<br />

it is still an excellent place for a drink. In the<br />

back of the large room a long bar has twenty<br />

taps for craft ales and they offer a rotating<br />

selection. I’m not going to list them all here,<br />

but the breweries they regularly stock include<br />

Williams Brothers, Belhaven, their own<br />

house lager and pilsner, and various guest<br />

breweries. If beer isn’t your thing, they have<br />

two craft ciders, a selection of wines, and<br />

plenty of single malts.<br />

Like many places, they’ve jumped onto<br />

the gin boat, offering an array of craft gins<br />

and G-and-Ts that go beyond a shot of gin<br />

thrown into some tonic water. These include<br />

one called ‘Death’s Door – Fentiman’s and<br />

Apple,’ which is infused with juniper berries,<br />

coriander, and fennel, or another called<br />

‘Makar Gin, Fever Tree, and Chilli’, which<br />

does what it says on the tin. Yes, it really<br />

does have chillis floating in the glass and<br />

it’s surprisingly good. I tried the ‘Death’s<br />

Door’ as well and found that fennel and<br />

coriander bring out something special in the<br />

humble G-and-T. There’s a menu with nine<br />

infused G-and-Ts on it, so it’s worth a bit<br />

of experimenting. They also have cocktails,<br />

which are fairly affordable as far as cocktails<br />

go – at £6.50 each.<br />

Some bars are cocktail bars, others are<br />

purveyors of craft beers or whiskies, but 1051<br />

GWR does everything. And they do it well.<br />

So, if you and your mates can’t agree on what<br />

sort of drinks you’re after, it should make<br />

everyone happy.<br />

1051 GWR<br />

1051 Great Western Road G12 0XP<br />

0141 339 5575<br />

1051gwr.co.uk


36 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Guilty Pleasures<br />

from <strong>Westender</strong>’s<br />

American in Glasgow<br />

Images I Gregor Reid<br />

Guilty Pleasures from <strong>Westender</strong>’s American in Glasgow


y Liberty Vittert<br />

www.westendermagazine.com | 37<br />

Summer's<br />

semi-freddo<br />

While we are in the midst of summer the thought<br />

of firing up my oven is seriously stressful. When I<br />

first moved to Glasgow and was looking at flats to<br />

rent, I remember asking my letting agent where<br />

the air conditioning was… he opened the window.<br />

Ovens heat up a kitchen like none other, so I<br />

needed a go-to summer dessert that did not require<br />

any baking. And in comes the semi-freddo – easy<br />

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

requirements. Serve the traditional way as a loaf<br />

pan or go crazy finding any fun individual serving<br />

dishes (think wine, champagne, martini glass) for<br />

a new twist on an old favorite.<br />

K<br />

Shopping List<br />

300g blueberries<br />

+ 100g blueberries<br />

100g strawberries<br />

100g raspberries<br />

100g blackberries<br />

180g caster sugar<br />

1 tsp lemon zest<br />

1 tbs lemon juice<br />

1.5 tsp vanilla bean<br />

500g (1 pint) vanilla<br />

ice- cream<br />

260ml whipping cream<br />

extra berries for decoration<br />

L<br />

Method<br />

1. Combine berries (except the extra<br />

100g blueberries), sugar, lemon zest,<br />

lemon juice, and vanilla in a large sauce<br />

pan using a smasher (or the back of a<br />

spoon to break up the berries). Bring to<br />

the boil and then reduce to a simmer for<br />

about 25 minutes.<br />

2. Strain the mixture into a bowl<br />

pressing hard on the solids. Discard the<br />

solids and stir in the reserved 100g of<br />

blueberries. Let cool.<br />

3. Let the vanilla ice-cream sit out for<br />

about 20 minutes and then stir in the<br />

cooled berry mixture until slightly<br />

combined.<br />

4. Whip the whipping cream into soft<br />

peaks. Gently fold the whipping cream<br />

into the ice-cream mixture.<br />

5. Pour the mixture into a 23 x 13 cm<br />

loaf pan or into wine glasses or any<br />

other type of individual serving dish.<br />

Cover with cling film and freeze for at<br />

least 8 hours or overnight.<br />

6. When you're ready to eat, let it sit out<br />

for 5 minutes before serving.<br />

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38 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Writer’s Reveal<br />

meets Helen Taylor<br />

WORDS LORAINE PATRICK<br />

Here’s a thought for you <strong>Westender</strong>s…<br />

what would the streets of Partick be<br />

like if there was an infamous master<br />

painter from 17th century Italy on the loose?<br />

That’s the premise of Helen Taylor’s<br />

debut novel The Backstreets of Purgatory,<br />

where she brings Caravaggio – the bad boy<br />

of post-renaissance art, who brawled his<br />

way through his short life at the same time as<br />

producing some extraordinary works of art,<br />

back to life in present day Glasgow to help<br />

struggling artist Finn McGarvie.<br />

Under the veneer of Glasgow’s black<br />

humour and Caravaggio’s fine art, the story<br />

tackles issues of mental health, addiction and<br />

abuse and is the first published work for the<br />

former doctor and research scientist. Helen<br />

has a diploma from the Open University<br />

and an MA from Lancaster University in<br />

creative writing and the book has been well<br />

received with one critic saying they cannot<br />

recommend it highly enough. Helen now lives<br />

in France, but we caught up with her by email<br />

to find out more.<br />

Congratulations on the book Helen,<br />

how did the tale come about?<br />

The idea for the novel came after I read<br />

Andrew Graham-Dixon’s biography of<br />

Caravaggio. The real Caravaggio was a<br />

violent, troubled man and a convicted<br />

murderer. With a penchant for brawling<br />

and a taste for wielding a sword he<br />

clearly considered himself a hard man.<br />

My immediate thought on finishing the book<br />

was to wonder how he would survive on<br />

a night out in Glasgow. That was the root.<br />

The rest grew from there.


www.westendermagazine.com | 39<br />

Caravaggio is not the only troubled<br />

character in the book, tell us about the<br />

rest of the cast.<br />

At the centre of the story is Finn, a troubled<br />

art student with artist’s block and an<br />

unhealthy obsession with the maverick<br />

painter. Finn spends his time messing<br />

around in a makeshift studio in a church<br />

hall in Partick, chain-smoking roll-ups and<br />

failing to do any work that he is satisfied<br />

with. Misunderstood by his friends (or so he<br />

believes), he obsesses over Caravaggio while<br />

his self-confidence veers between an overinflated<br />

sense of his own artistic genius and a<br />

crushing, crippling level of insecurity.<br />

From Finn’s point of view, he is<br />

surrounded by people who misunderstand<br />

him or generally let him down. Lizzi,<br />

his girlfriend, treats him like one of her<br />

psychology patients; he has a disconcerting<br />

professional rivalry with his best mate Rob<br />

who is a tattoo artist; his alcoholic, decrepit<br />

next-door neighbour Maurice is feckless and<br />

Finn can’t count on him for support; Tuesday<br />

McLaughlin, a recovering heroin addict,<br />

gives him constant grief for his attitude;<br />

and Kassia, a stroppy au-pair, doesn’t laugh<br />

at his jokes and refuses to let him paint her.<br />

Of all the painters around, infamous<br />

or influential, why choose to bring<br />

Caravaggio back to life?<br />

He has all the qualities of an ideal character<br />

for a work of fiction. His life and his character<br />

are full of contrasts and contradictions.<br />

Under the patronage of bishops and<br />

noblemen, his career flourished, but at the<br />

same time he lived in the squalid artists’<br />

quarter of Rome. He sought acceptance<br />

by the church for his deeply religious<br />

masterpieces, and yet used his impoverished<br />

neighbours and prostitutes as models even<br />

though he knew this would be interpreted<br />

as blasphemous. Jailed several times for<br />

carrying illegal weapons, for brawling and<br />

assault, and finally convicted of murder, this<br />

violent man was the same person who was<br />

capable of producing works of incredible<br />

sensitivity and beauty.<br />

Do readers need to be familiar with his<br />

work to understand the book?<br />

There’s a lot of Caravaggio’s art in the novel<br />

but it isn’t necessary to be familiar with it<br />

to understand the story. The chapter titles<br />

(named after his paintings) refer either to a<br />

painting that appears in the chapter, or to<br />

the main theme of the chapter. Finn leads the<br />

reader through the most important works and<br />

explains the critical parts of Caravaggio’s life<br />

story.<br />

Why base the novel in the West End of<br />

Glasgow?<br />

I lived here for many years so I know it well.<br />

Although it is part of a big city, in many<br />

ways the West End has a small town feel<br />

to it because of the close links between its<br />

inhabitants. Even now, having lived away for<br />

several years, whenever I come back I always<br />

bump into someone I know.<br />

Glasgow also has a character all of its<br />

own. And like any big city, it is a city of<br />

contrasts. It has a reputation as a tough,<br />

hard city but it is also the friendliest place<br />

I have ever lived. It overflows with art,<br />

culture, education and there are pockets of<br />

great prosperity and yet a large percentage<br />

of its population live in poverty with limited<br />

access to these privileges. And speaking<br />

personally, it is the place where I have<br />

spent the happiest days of my life, but also<br />

the most terrible. These extremes – these<br />

contrasts – suit the themes of Caravaggio’s<br />

art and life exactly.<br />

You mention your worst days here –<br />

you have experienced both depression<br />

and post-traumatic stress disorder. Is any<br />

of this reflected in the book?<br />

When I was writing the novel, I wasn’t<br />

particularly thinking about my own<br />

experiences although I deliberately<br />

shied away from making my first novel<br />

autobiographical, perhaps in the end it<br />

reflects a subconscious preoccupation.<br />

What it did allow me to do is explore<br />

ideas about where the line between ‘normal’<br />

mental health and mental illness is crossed,<br />

particularly because for many conditions<br />

there is a spectrum of disease. I wanted<br />

to explore how much the person who is ill<br />

remains themselves even when they are so<br />

changed that others believe they have lost<br />

the person they knew, and to what extent<br />

their actions are governed by free will versus<br />

the effect of the illness on their thinking and<br />

behaviour. Having experience of both being a<br />

clinician and of being a patient helped in that<br />

respect, I think.


40 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

There is a definite increase in awareness<br />

of mental health these days. Does this<br />

help in talking about it?<br />

Without doubt. Modern life is hard. Levels<br />

of poor mental health are compounded<br />

by the awful difficulties many people face:<br />

poverty, stress, bullying, homelessness,<br />

addiction, prison. And there are massive<br />

levels of anxiety in our kids. The more we talk<br />

about these issues, the more we can exert<br />

political pressure to try to eliminate some of<br />

these factors, and make sure there is good<br />

provision of social and mental health services<br />

for everyone. And the more we talk about<br />

it, the more the stigma surrounding mental<br />

illness lessens, and that can only be good<br />

as far as prevention, early intervention and<br />

treatment are concerned.<br />

Your publisher, Unbound, has an unusual<br />

way of raising money to publish new<br />

authors. Tell us about their crowdfunding<br />

platform.<br />

It’s essentially the old-fashioned model of<br />

subscription funding that Charles Dickens<br />

and Samuel Johnson used to publish their<br />

work, but up-dated for the technological age.<br />

The writer pitches an idea to the publisher<br />

and if Unbound think it will fly, a funding<br />

page is set up with a short video and the<br />

opportunity for readers to pledge for a copy<br />

of the book.<br />

Unbound have all the facilities of a<br />

traditional publisher (editors, layout, cover<br />

design, etc). Supporters receive special<br />

editions and their names are listed in the<br />

back of all editions. A successfully funded<br />

book will also have a trade print run and<br />

distribution.<br />

What are the advantages of this<br />

approach?<br />

Because the publisher takes less financial<br />

risk, they are very open to original ideas<br />

that don’t necessarily follow current<br />

trends. Readers decide which books get<br />

published and I think readers are much<br />

more adventurous than many marketing<br />

departments would have us believe.<br />

As a writer, I was very involved in the<br />

publication process. I blogged regularly on<br />

Unbound’s site and had a close link with my<br />

supporters which was brilliant. I also had a<br />

big input into the cover design.<br />

On publication day, because I had nearly<br />

400 pre-orders, it meant I already had a<br />

solid readership which was great. And it was<br />

fantastic to know that the book was being<br />

distributed to bookshops and libraries up and<br />

down the country.<br />

Of course, the crowdfunding was difficult.<br />

Trying to persuade people to buy a book that<br />

didn’t exist yet was tricky. In the end though,<br />

the process was surprisingly uplifting.<br />

My supporters were enthusiastic and patient.<br />

And, especially because all the contributors<br />

are listed in the back, there is such a lovely<br />

feeling of warmth and generosity surrounding<br />

the finished book.<br />

The finished book features the Timorous<br />

Beastie print ‘Glasgow Toile’ on the cover.<br />

It looks like a work of art itself. Why<br />

choose it?<br />

I love the idea that the print is not what it<br />

seems at first sight. At first glance, it looks<br />

Competition!<br />

We have two copies<br />

of The Backstreets of<br />

Purgatory to give away. Visit<br />

westendermagazine.com<br />

and click on competitions<br />

by the 31st of August <strong>2019</strong>.<br />

The<br />

Backstreets<br />

of Purgatory<br />

£3<br />

OFF<br />

*<br />

RRP £18.99<br />

*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers<br />

at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road<br />

branch only, by 31st August <strong>2019</strong>.


www.westendermagazine.com | 41<br />

like a very traditional, old-fashioned print,<br />

scattered with Glasgow landmarks (the<br />

Armadillo, the Necropolis) but look in detail<br />

and you see scenes of the seedier side of<br />

the city. I couldn’t believe it when Timorous<br />

Beasties gave us permission to use it. I was<br />

thrilled.<br />

What impact do you hope this book has?<br />

Most of all, I want my writing to touch<br />

someone emotionally in the way that other<br />

books have touched me. But for all my<br />

ambition, whether or not I am successful,<br />

none of it is relevant until someone reads<br />

the novel. Until then – until it comes alive in<br />

the reader’s imagination – the book is just<br />

a pile of paper and ink. Quite a large pile<br />

of paper and ink though, so it would make<br />

a decent doorstop. If nothing else it has a<br />

practical use!<br />

Are you doing any book events?<br />

I have a few book club appearances<br />

lined up, and a couple of workshops and<br />

talks at schools and universities. If any of<br />

your readers are interested, I’m happy to<br />

participate in face-to-face or online book<br />

groups. I can be contacted via my web page.<br />

One book reviewer says it’s a Scottish<br />

novel of significance and can’t be<br />

recommended enough – are there more<br />

reasons why <strong>Westender</strong>s should pick up<br />

a copy?<br />

If you are looking for a novel that will make<br />

you laugh, cry and think, a novel that is<br />

full of terrible jokes and unorthodox and<br />

generally uncalled for profanity, a novel set<br />

on your own (slightly fictionalised) doorstep<br />

featuring a cross section of the brilliant<br />

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 ,<br />

then The Backstreets of Purgatory might<br />

be the one for you. Personally, I think it is<br />

worth it for the laugh of hearing Caravaggio’s<br />

nickname alone. Is it wrong to laugh at your<br />

own jokes? It is, isn’t it…!<br />

You can find Helen at helentaylor.com, or<br />

on twitter as @TaylorHelen_M<br />

Complementary Medicine Centre<br />

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42 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

1<br />

The Backstreets<br />

of Purgatory<br />

by Helen Taylor<br />

BY BRIAN TOAL<br />

WESTENDER’s<br />

COVER TO COVER<br />

This is a novel best enjoyed with a glass of dark, red,<br />

Italian wine. It’s a romp of a novel set in the West<br />

End of Glasgow but not the boutiques and eateries<br />

advertised in our beloved magazine.<br />

The setting, as the title suggests,<br />

is the seedier underbelly which<br />

many of us are aware of but often<br />

ignore.<br />

Finn Garvie is a struggling<br />

artist of Italian stock, obsessed<br />

with Caravaggio, wasting his<br />

life and his talent by taking<br />

drugs, squandering any hope<br />

of a successful relationship and<br />

generally ostracising himself from<br />

any functioning adult who might<br />

be in a position to help him. So far,<br />

as a character he fits the mould of<br />

many a struggling artist. However,<br />

the plot twists when Caravaggio<br />

himself makes an appearance,<br />

apparently sent back from<br />

Purgatory to help the struggling<br />

artist fulfil his potential.<br />

There are many enjoyable<br />

capers through the West End<br />

as Finn, his mate Maurice and<br />

Caravaggio traipse from place to<br />

place, stumbling from watering<br />

hole to watering hole, stealing<br />

props from various places to use in<br />

their paintings.<br />

You’ll chuckle when you hear<br />

them shout his nickname across<br />

the street, as ‘Caravaggio!’<br />

would be too conspicuous,<br />

whereas the alternative is<br />

something we hear much more<br />

regularly in Glasgow. You may<br />

also enjoy the punning and<br />

allusions to parts of the anatomy.<br />

Certainly, as an avid reader of ‘Viz’,<br />

I was chortling away on several<br />

occasions.<br />

However, it’s not all fun and games. Underneath the humour<br />

and the mad capers lies another narrative – a much darker,<br />

realistic narrative which explores the harsh realities of life in<br />

Glasgow and the train wrecks that people often mistake for real<br />

life. Tuesday is a character once read never forgotten. She’s the<br />

victim of neglect, a teenager made pregnant by her teacher,<br />

forced to give away her baby, with a body ruined by drugs and<br />

malnutrition. Maurice is a character who is beaten up by his wife<br />

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

the professionals, like Esme the psychiatrist, lead lives which are<br />

chaotic and filled with regrets and dissatisfaction.<br />

The denouement is satisfying and the twists and turns of the<br />

plot enjoyable, if not always entirely surprising. The amount of<br />

times paths cross becomes borderline unbelievable, although<br />

anyone who walks up Byres Road regularly will know that several<br />

worlds can collide all the time, so Taylor can be forgiven for<br />

putting the same characters in the same space a little too often.<br />

The Backstreets of Purgatory is fun and enjoyable, whilst at the<br />

same time will open your eyes to aspects of the West End which<br />

can make us uncomfortable.


www.westendermagazine.com | 43<br />

Odd Girl Out<br />

by Laura James<br />

2<br />

Laura James struggled<br />

throughout her childhood to<br />

adapt to a world which was<br />

confusing and overwhelming.<br />

It was only in her forties<br />

that she was diagnosed<br />

with autism and, while this<br />

diagnosis helped her to<br />

understand why she was<br />

the way she was, it was the<br />

beginning of a journey rather<br />

than the end. James provides<br />

a raw, unexpurgated account<br />

of her failed first marriage,<br />

losing her two girls, spending<br />

time in hospital, struggling to<br />

cope with being adopted, and<br />

finally, her relationship with<br />

Tim. It’s this relationship which<br />

sustains her and the honesty<br />

and candour with which she<br />

conveys this relationship is<br />

admirable.<br />

She only really begins to<br />

find peace with herself when<br />

she realises, through speaking<br />

to an online network of fellow<br />

travellers, that her struggles<br />

come from trying to fit into<br />

a neurotypical mould, rather<br />

than trying to live life as an<br />

autistic person. She says that<br />

she is flawed, but not by her<br />

autism; rather, she is flawed by<br />

her insistence on fighting it and<br />

the stresses this places on her.<br />

She compares herself<br />

to Kintsugi pottery – the<br />

Japanese art of mending<br />

broken pottery with precious<br />

metals. She comes to see that<br />

the breakages and repairs<br />

are part of the history of any<br />

object, or person, rather than<br />

something to hide.<br />

This book is humbling to<br />

read. It gives a brutally honest<br />

insight into the life of an adult<br />

with autism and should be<br />

educative for neurotypicals<br />

too.<br />

Sue Black is a professor<br />

of anatomy and forensic<br />

anthropology at Dundee<br />

University and so deals with<br />

death every day.<br />

She analyses corpses in<br />

her lab, assists the police with<br />

murder investigations and has<br />

also been one of the leading<br />

British investigators of mass<br />

fatalities such as in Kosovo,<br />

the London bombings and the<br />

Boxing Day tsunami.<br />

This fascinating book allows<br />

the reader an insight into her<br />

key cases, as well as providing<br />

the author the opportunity to<br />

reflect on life, dying and death.<br />

She has learned a lot in her<br />

illustrious career and shares<br />

her knowledge generously<br />

with the readers, employing<br />

a writing style which is lucid<br />

and straightforward without<br />

being patronising. The book<br />

has some funny moments in it<br />

too, which were unexpected<br />

given the subject matter, and<br />

it was a book I found hard to<br />

put down.<br />

All That Remains won the<br />

Saltire book of the year last<br />

year, and rightly deserved<br />

to do so. She begins her<br />

account by detailing her<br />

first experiences of death in<br />

her family, then moves on to<br />

her increasing interest and<br />

specialism in anatomy and the<br />

dead. Each chapter focuses<br />

on a different case, where<br />

we learn of the state of the<br />

deceased when discovered,<br />

the challenges facing the<br />

authorities and the investing<br />

forensic team, as well as<br />

reflecting on lessons learnt.<br />

The subtitle of the book is<br />

A Life in Death. There’s nothing<br />

like a book about death to<br />

make you reflect on life.<br />

All That Remains<br />

by Sue Black<br />

3


44 | <strong>Westender</strong> www.westendermagazine.com<br />

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<strong>Westender</strong> www.westendermagazine.com <strong>Magazine</strong> Promotion | 45<br />

Legal Matters<br />

Being An Attorney<br />

Words from Laura Burns Associate at Mitchells Roberton:<br />

It is very important to have a Power of Attorney in place but being an<br />

Attorney has its responsibilities. Read on to find out more.<br />

We often hear of the importance of<br />

having a Power of Attorney in place<br />

but not so much about the duties<br />

involved in being someone’s Attorney. It may<br />

be flattering to be asked to be an Attorney<br />

but there are responsibilities attached to<br />

such a role.<br />

Who can be an attorney?<br />

Attorneys in Scotland must be aged 16 or<br />

over and in the case of a Continuing Power of<br />

Attorney they also cannot be bankrupt.<br />

How many types of attorneys are<br />

there?<br />

There are two types of Attorney in Scotland:<br />

√ A Continuing Attorney who has authority<br />

to manage the granter’s financial and /or<br />

property affairs<br />

√ A Welfare Attorney who has authority<br />

to manage matters relating to the granter’s<br />

personal welfare<br />

You could be appointed as a sole or a joint<br />

Attorney. As a joint Attorney you could be<br />

required to make decisions along with other<br />

attorneys. You could also be appointed as a<br />

substitute Attorney and will only be able to<br />

act if a sole Attorney is no longer able to do<br />

so or if they have resigned their appointment.<br />

What are the duties of an Attorney?<br />

√ You must ensure that every measure is<br />

taken to support the granter of the Power of<br />

Attorney (PoA) to make their own decision<br />

on any matter or otherwise to allow them to<br />

exercise their legal capacity.<br />

√ You must ensure that any decision made<br />

on behalf of the granter respects their rights<br />

and takes account of any known wishes and<br />

feelings, past or present.<br />

√ You must maintain communication with<br />

relevant parties and take account of their<br />

views.<br />

√ You will act within the scope of the<br />

powers granted to you.<br />

√ You must keep records of how you use<br />

your powers. Continuing Attorneys must also<br />

keep the granter’s financial affairs separate<br />

from their own.<br />

√ You must also notify the Public Guardian<br />

about certain events, such as changes<br />

of address, the death of the granter or<br />

bankruptcy.<br />

√ Beyond such principles, your rights<br />

and responsibilities will depend on the PoA<br />

document itself.<br />

If Laura Burns can help please<br />

call her on 0141 552 3422, or email<br />

lcb@mitchells-roberton.co.uk<br />

Mitchells Roberton Solicitors<br />

& Estate Agents<br />

George House<br />

36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD<br />

0141 552 3422<br />

www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk


46 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

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www.westendermagazine.com | 47<br />

Endmum’s<br />

West<br />

notebook<br />

by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk<br />

The weather may not be suggesting it but<br />

the summer holidays will be here pretty<br />

soon. For many it is a time to look<br />

forward to as most will take time off work,<br />

go on a well-deserved holiday and hopefully<br />

enjoy sunnier days and higher temperatures.<br />

However, I know just as many who dread the<br />

summer holidays!<br />

Yes, for those with children, especially for<br />

families with working parents, it can be a very<br />

stressful time. School summer holidays are<br />

longer than anyone’s annual leave. So, what<br />

do you do? Child care and activities to keep<br />

everyone amused is in high demand and very<br />

often comes at a high cost.<br />

I usually take Ruby and Leon with me to<br />

The Hub if they can’t be with someone else.<br />

But this is a luxury which very few parents<br />

have. Some take unpaid leave, while others<br />

divide up annual leave between family<br />

members and many, of course, make use of<br />

various kids camps which offer not just child<br />

care but also fun activities to keep children<br />

entertained throughout the day.<br />

Although I can take my children to<br />

work, I usually book them into a camp for<br />

a few weeks so they spend time with peers<br />

rather than just with me. This year will be<br />

no different: Scotstoun kids club, here we<br />

come! There is a variety of camps to choose<br />

from, anything from drama to dance or<br />

football. Outdoors, indoors, you name it,<br />

you are certain to find something interesting.<br />

If you don’t want to spend much, check<br />

out Glasgow Life’s leisure centre camps.<br />

There are various sports activities on offer,<br />

just be quick, they tend to fill up quickly<br />

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

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 ,<br />

it can be difficult to book something for<br />

both at the same time. I would really have<br />

liked Ruby and Leon to do some sessions<br />

with Fearless Theatre School but sadly<br />

the logistics are against us this summer.<br />

But check out their holiday sessions, they<br />

sound great (fearlesstheatreschool.com).<br />

If your child is interested in acrobatics<br />

then you also need to take a look at the<br />

summer camp run by Aerial Edge based at<br />

the Kelvinhall. During all of July, kids aged 7+<br />

can learn skills on Flying Trapeze and Silks<br />

as well as Unicycling, Parkour or Juggling<br />

(aerialedge.co.uk/youth-holiday-schools).<br />

It is one of the more costly activities but it<br />

sounds amazing. Another popular summer<br />

camp is Camp Indy (campindy.co.uk) based<br />

at Kelvinside Academy which is open to<br />

ages 5-14.<br />

One of my new discoveries is based in<br />

Maryhill: Computer Games Development<br />

Boot Camp run by The British Youth IT<br />

College (byitc.org). Kids between 6 and 14<br />

are taught IT skills in different areas such as<br />

Software, Hardware, Games Development,<br />

Web Development and Graphic Design.<br />

It sounds absolutely fabulous although it will<br />

probably stretch most people’s budget to the<br />

limit.<br />

If you have set yourself a smaller budget<br />

and are just looking for the occasional activity<br />

then look up Glasgow Life’s website again,<br />

where you will find anything from Bounce<br />

& Rhyme to story book sessions, arts and<br />

crafts to sports activities in various parks, all<br />

of which are free.<br />

Or alternatively, check out one of the<br />

sessions at The Hub. We will be running<br />

weekday language activities for children and<br />

adults, make sure to book in advance. At our<br />

Café Hub you can start each day with a free<br />

drop in activity for the under twos. All sorted<br />

now? I hope this has given you some ideas<br />

anyway. Einen schönen Sommer Euch allen<br />

und bis bald!


48 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

It’s Good To Talk<br />

How a cancer charity is tackling the emotional<br />

needs of cancer sufferers head-on<br />

WORDS Mike Findlay<br />

We all know someone affected by<br />

cancer. The stats speak for<br />

themselves: in 2018 alone, 16,300<br />

women and 15,800 men were diagnosed<br />

with cancer in Scotland. There are numerous<br />

cancer charities out there and, unless you’ve<br />

been hiding in a bunker, you will have noticed<br />

large national campaigns supporting the<br />

latest medical breakthrough in tackling the<br />

‘biggest killer’.<br />

While this work is clearly critical,<br />

I’ve often wondered beyond medicine, what<br />

other support is available to deal with the<br />

complex needs of cancer patients? Emotional<br />

support, mental health and wellbeing are all<br />

so important – we are constantly reminded of<br />

the need to consider our mental health as an<br />

equal partner to our physical health. So, what<br />

can be done about it?<br />

And the answer to these questions are,<br />

literally, right on my own doorstep. I recently<br />

found out about the brilliant work of the<br />

charity Cancer Support Scotland, who are<br />

based at Gartnavel Hospital Campus which<br />

I walk through every day on the way to<br />

Hyndland Station.<br />

Cancer Support Scotland is a charity<br />

dedicated to supporting cancer patients and<br />

their families through their difficult journey of<br />

diagnosis and ill health. They were founded<br />

in 1980 by Professor Kenneth Calman,<br />

a leading light in cancer research and<br />

previous Chief Medical Officer of Scotland.<br />

He’s also father to the comedian Susan<br />

Calman, who happens to be an ambassador<br />

for the charity. Professor Calman’s vision was<br />

to have emotional support readily available<br />

to cancer patients in a way that matches<br />

professional standards of clinical service.<br />

The Calman Cancer Support Centre,<br />

where the charity is based, is set within the<br />

old Gartnavel Royal Hospital Chapel. The<br />

chapel was renovated and reopened its doors<br />

in 2012 after an extensive refurbishment<br />

which has seen it redesigned in an<br />

appropriately sympathetic way. The building<br />

includes therapy suites, counselling rooms,<br />

an information centre with internet access


www.westendermagazine.com | 49<br />

and library facility, hairdressing and wig<br />

fitting salon, offices and a peaceful sensory<br />

garden.<br />

It’s not just here in Glasgow where<br />

the good work happens however, Cancer<br />

Support Scotland has Outreach centres<br />

throughout the central belt of the country for<br />

those that cannot travel to Gartnavel.<br />

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of<br />

‘Tak Tent’ (taken from the old Scot’s phrase<br />

‘take care’) the predecessor to Cancer<br />

Support Scotland, which set out to meet the<br />

needs of patients and their families within an<br />

informal setting.<br />

Cancer Support Scotland’s mission<br />

remains simple yet ambitious: to support<br />

the wellbeing of people who have suffered<br />

the emotional, physical and mental strains<br />

of cancer. Tailored emotional and practical<br />

support comes from trained counsellors<br />

and qualified therapists specialising in<br />

oncology. For example, cancer patients are<br />

offered counselling sessions, complementary<br />

therapies, podiatry, bereavement and stress<br />

management. And it’s all completely free.<br />

‘Emotional support and counselling<br />

services are essential to help people<br />

through the cancer journey,’ explains Rob<br />

Murray, CEO of Cancer Support Scotland.<br />

‘Our services are proven to improve the<br />

wellbeing of people who have suffered the<br />

emotional, physical and mental strains of<br />

cancer. Our feedback surveys confirm that<br />

people sleep better, anxiety is reduced<br />

and physical pain and discomfort from<br />

chemotherapy and radiotherapy is eased.’<br />

The work of Cancer Support Scotland<br />

is clearly needed. In 2017/18, 6,500<br />

appointments were made by people wanting<br />

access to their services, which was a 20%<br />

increase on the year before. One serviceuser<br />

comments, ‘This is a real haven, very<br />

supportive staff, great therapists, lovely<br />

surroundings and I no longer feel alone.’<br />

A recent Scottish Government Cancer<br />

Patient survey highlighted that just over<br />

half of respondents (55%) felt they were<br />

completely supported emotionally /<br />

psychologically by healthcare professionals<br />

during their treatment, showing an increasing<br />

demand for such support.<br />

Rob Murray continues, ‘Our services make<br />

life easier for people affected by cancer and<br />

our services are free. This helps people using<br />

our services avoid the additional burden of<br />

financial stress. We do not receive any public<br />

funding and rely solely on the generosity of<br />

others to ensure our services are accessible<br />

for all.’<br />

Cancer Support Scotland is calling out<br />

for members of the public to get involved in<br />

their fundraising efforts. If, like me, you’ve<br />

been inspired by what you’ve learnt about<br />

Cancer Support Scotland, you may want to<br />

consider the numerous ways you can help,<br />

such as volunteering as a counsellor, raising<br />

funds as you run this year’s Great Scottish<br />

Run, or signing up for the Ladies Lunch at the<br />

Radisson Blu on 6th of October.<br />

Rob Murray concludes, ‘Often people<br />

visit Cancer Support Scotland because they<br />

simply want a quiet space to sit or have<br />

the time to talk over coffee with one of our<br />

volunteers, that’s why our kettle is always on.’<br />

Visit: cancersupportscotland.org,<br />

call 0141 337 8199, or email lucy.kirkland@<br />

cancersupportscotland.org about<br />

volunteering opportunities.


50 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Health Matters<br />

GP Dr. Pamela Leggate, of Glasgow West Medical Practice,<br />

discusses the use of medical cannabis to alleviate chronic<br />

pain and treat some conditions. Here she lays out the pros<br />

and cons of what can still be a controversial topic.<br />

‘M<br />

“ other arrested at airport importing<br />

cannabis to save her child’. ‘Epileptic<br />

boy seizure free after using<br />

cannabis oil’. ‘Daily use of high potency<br />

Marijuana linked to psychosis’. ‘Pot smoking<br />

in adolescence linked to depression in<br />

adulthood’.<br />

So what is the truth behind the headlines?<br />

Is cannabis a good or a bad thing? Can’t my<br />

GP prescribe it now?<br />

Well, as usual with all things medical,<br />

there isn’t a straightforward answer.<br />

In November 2018 the UK government<br />

changed the legal status of cannabis and<br />

cannabis based products for medicinal use<br />

in the UK. This followed a spate of highly<br />

publicised cases where children with certain<br />

types of epilepsy were treated abroad with<br />

cannabis products.<br />

There is a rare and severe type of epilepsy<br />

(Dravet Syndrome) which is difficult to treat<br />

with standard medicines and it has been<br />

shown that some (around 40%) children with<br />

this form of epilepsy will benefit. Seizures<br />

usually continue but are less frequent and<br />

shorter lasting. Prior to November last year<br />

the only way parents could obtain supplies of<br />

the medication was to travel abroad and bring<br />

them into the country illegally. The change<br />

means that in certain rare circumstances


www.westendermagazine.com | 51<br />

cannabis based products will be prescribed<br />

by the NHS.<br />

Only specialists will be allowed to<br />

prescribe the products (so no point asking<br />

your GP) and only to patients who cannot be<br />

treated by other more standard medications.<br />

Currently the only licensed cannabis<br />

based product is Sativex which is used to<br />

treat spasticity (muscle stiffness) in people<br />

with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Another product<br />

is going through the licensing process and<br />

may soon be available for use in Europe<br />

(Epidiolex), but again it will only be used when<br />

other drugs have failed and only in a small<br />

proportion of people.<br />

The reluctance to prescribe is for two main<br />

reasons. First of all there is concern about<br />

risks. Studies have shown that people who<br />

use cannabis have a higher risk of mental<br />

health problems from mild depression<br />

to psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia.<br />

Secondly, medical cannabis has not been<br />

tried and tested enough for us to be sure of<br />

its safety in other ways and there remains<br />

concern about the unknown long term effects<br />

on the developing brain in children.<br />

Even the purest forms of medical cannabis<br />

can cause side effects including diarrhoea,<br />

nausea, weakness, mood changes, dizziness,<br />

hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.<br />

Cannabis has two main ingredients:<br />

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – this is the<br />

chemical in cannabis which makes you feel<br />

high – and Cannabidiol (CBD) which is the<br />

part which has been shown to have some<br />

medical benefits. Generally, the higher the<br />

concentration of THC, the higher the risks.<br />

Cannabis products bought online may not<br />

be of good quality and might contain varying<br />

amounts of THC and CBD. THC containing<br />

products remain illegal to possess in the UK.<br />

A lot of the CBD oils available online and in<br />

health food shops will either be contaminated<br />

with THC, or contain such low amounts of<br />

CBD that they will be of dubious benefit.<br />

Cannabis bought on the street has the<br />

highest risk of all.<br />

This all sounds very gloomy I know<br />

but there is hope that in time the good<br />

bits of the cannabis plant can be isolated,<br />

tested properly and may be available to<br />

treat even more conditions. Many people<br />

with chronic pain use cannabis with some<br />

reported benefit. It has been used for those<br />

undergoing chemotherapy who suffer from<br />

vomiting.<br />

After all Aspirin was originally derived<br />

from willow bark (used by herbalists for fever<br />

since the Middle Ages). Now we know the<br />

multiple benefits it can bring (prevention of<br />

heart attacks, reduced risk of bowel cancer)<br />

but we also know the downsides (death from<br />

gastrointestinal haemorrhage). It’s all about<br />

weighing up the pros and cons!


52 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

Homes & Interiors<br />

by Susan<br />

Robertson<br />

North Hill Gardens<br />

Al Fresco<br />

Living<br />

This is the time of year where we have the<br />

biggest chance of an al fresco edge to our lives.<br />

Susan Robertson speaks to some West End experts<br />

about how to make the most of our outside spaces.


www.westendermagazine.com | 53<br />

Us <strong>Westender</strong>s are blessed to live in a leafy part<br />

of a beautiful city, with a wealth of parks and<br />

green spaces on our doorsteps to choose from.<br />

But, if you also have some outside space of<br />

your own, whether it’s a window box or shared<br />

patio, or a huge private garden, there are many<br />

great ways to make whatever you have work<br />

beautifully for you.<br />

I spoke to two local professionals to get<br />

some advice about what you should consider<br />

to maximise your outside space. Michael<br />

Dumanski of North Hill Gardens gave me<br />

some great guidance. He explained, 'Garden<br />

design is not only about planting but also hard<br />

landscaping, which adds texture, character<br />

and structure, leading the eye through the<br />

landscape. First, take into account your<br />

plot. Look at the size and shape and take<br />

into consideration the direction if faces, the<br />

style of your house it will be framing and the<br />

surrounding area. Achieving balance is a strong<br />

aspect of good garden design.'<br />

Michael continued, 'Then, think about what<br />

you need your garden to do for you. Do you wish<br />

you had somewhere to sit, relax, entertain or<br />

let the children play? Maybe you are just a little<br />

bored and want a garden design that is more<br />

colourful, varied or maintenance-friendly.<br />

Craft an attractive space to give you a beautiful<br />

environment and design a practical layout that<br />

allows you to use your garden how you want.'<br />

Sometimes the hardest part of any process<br />

of change, or development, is where on earth<br />

to start. There is plenty of inspiration around<br />

the West End and Michael suggests, 'Think<br />

about your taste. Take inspiration from visiting<br />

garden centres, public gardens, annual garden<br />

shows, even other people’s homes. Take a look<br />

at magazines or Pinterest which are filled with<br />

ideas for traditional gardens, modern gardens,<br />

family gardens and innovative ideas for gardens<br />

big or small.'<br />

Any type of new design will benefit from a<br />

mood board, take your time to collate pictures<br />

and ideas to think about what environment<br />

really makes you happy. Account for elements<br />

such as scent and sound, do you want to hear<br />

water for example, would you like highly<br />

perfumed flowers, do you need to insulate<br />

from traffic sounds? And think of other<br />

practical considerations such as, what level of<br />

maintenance are you willing to do, do you want<br />

to encourage or discourage wildlife, how often<br />

do you want to see the colours in the garden<br />

change?<br />

Our urban landscape brings some particular<br />

considerations, for example shared spaces<br />

are common, so ownership needs checked<br />

and consensus reached before any changes<br />

are made. We also often have limited outside<br />

space to work with. I asked Michael about the<br />

best approach here, he said, 'Small gardens<br />

can often end up looking messy – the most


Homes & Interiors<br />

54 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

common mistake when decorating them is<br />

that we buy too many ill-fitting accessories and<br />

plants that give the impression of chaos. In the<br />

city garden moderation and consistency do<br />

matter. When choosing plants, accessories or<br />

garden furniture, try to combine elements that<br />

have the same style, so that they form a single,<br />

harmonious whole. Colour consistency is very<br />

important – especially in small gardens where<br />

the accumulation of many colours is risky,<br />

this solution can overwhelm us, and certainly<br />

also hinders our leisure. We can also use such<br />

optical tricks as mirrors – placed on the wall or<br />

surrounding the garden. The mirror creates<br />

the illusion of enlarging the space, giving the<br />

impression of depth. In this sense, even a small<br />

water reservoir will work - the garden that<br />

surrounds it will optically expand our space.<br />

Furniture in a small urban garden must be<br />

functional and refer to the surroundings that<br />

we create.'<br />

Michael summarises that 'the main factor<br />

is surroundings – the architectural style of the<br />

building, materials and colours already used.<br />

And it’s also a matter of taste – some people<br />

love striking, lively colours, some prefer plain,<br />

elegant whites and pastels. We also use different<br />

shapes for different garden styles – more formal<br />

in modern gardens and informal in naturalistic<br />

ones. Having a good garden design in place<br />

doesn’t mean you need to build the garden<br />

straight away. You can base your work on the<br />

design and divide it into stages to transform<br />

your garden over the years.'<br />

If you’re looking to enhance your flower beds<br />

or window boxes, there are also some great<br />

suppliers in the local area, one of these being the<br />

new West End Garden Centre. Its owner, Martin<br />

McCarron tells us that they offer a wide range<br />

of plants, compost, and increasingly – garden<br />

pottery, but plants are their speciality and they<br />

can offer some expert advice in this area.<br />

When considering planting in the West<br />

End Martin advises to 'always plan properly<br />

before you plant, particularly if you have a<br />

smaller space, so that you can maximise what’s<br />

available. Stick to locally-grown shrubs (the<br />

garden centre has a full Ayrshire range), this<br />

makes sure that they’re tough enough for our<br />

Scottish winters. Consider the position of your<br />

garden too, so that they receive the best sunlight<br />

and conditions to thrive.'<br />

So we have everything that we need to create<br />

a beautiful outside space, here’s hoping that the<br />

weather will support us as we enjoy our alfresco<br />

elements.<br />

With thanks to:<br />

Northhill Gardens 0141 332 5533<br />

northhillgardens.co.uk<br />

West End Garden Centre 07964 672211<br />

40-44 Peel Street G11 5LU<br />

West End Garden Centre<br />

Image By Gregor Reid


www.westendermagazine.com | 55<br />

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<strong>Westender</strong> www.westendermagazine.com <strong>Magazine</strong> Promotion | 57<br />

Images I Gregor Reid<br />

Blooming Marvellous!<br />

new garden centre opens in the heart of the west end<br />

Meet Martin McCarron, owner of the<br />

West End Garden Centre sited at the<br />

historic West of Scotland Cricket<br />

Ground in Partick. Whether you are lucky<br />

enough to have a small patch of earth to call<br />

your own, or garden out of a window box –<br />

Martin is your new best friend.<br />

‘I have worked in horticulture since I was<br />

17-years-old,’ explains Martin. ‘I learned all<br />

about retail in my previous job as plant buyer<br />

for a large chain of garden centres. From<br />

there I worked as part of a landscaping firm<br />

giving me great experience of plant after-care<br />

in real gardens. I missed the face-to-face of<br />

retail though and had been looking around<br />

the West End for ages. When this opportunity<br />

came up – I jumped at the chance!<br />

‘We stock a full range of Ayrshire grown<br />

shrubs, Kincardine grown roses, Perthshire<br />

grown bedding plants, alpine plants, trees:<br />

most plants you would find in a garden centre<br />

really. We also take specific orders and do<br />

our upmost to source unusual plants.<br />

‘For anyone without outside space we also<br />

carry plants great for small tubs on a balcony<br />

or troughs for a windowsill. There are loads of<br />

options. Bedding plants are always a winner<br />

however a selection of alpine plants means<br />

they come back year after year and you can<br />

get loads of different textures and flower<br />

colour combinations this way.’<br />

Being in the heart of the West End means<br />

customers can walk or cycle home with their<br />

herbs and tomato plants, further boosting<br />

their green credentials, though there is onstreet<br />

parking just outside should heavier<br />

tubs and compost be on your shopping list.<br />

It’s a great way to reintroduce yourself to<br />

this historic corner of Partick too, where in<br />

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match, between Scotland and England, took<br />

place. Looks to me like Martin’s the bookies<br />

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newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.<br />

West End Garden Centre<br />

40-44 Peel Street G11 5LU<br />

07964 672211<br />

#<br />

#


58 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

The Store Interiors, 26 Munro Place, Anniesland, Glasgow, G13 2UP<br />

0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk<br />

Email: sales@thestoreinteriors.co.uk<br />

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


Homes & Interiors<br />

Floral Features<br />

www.westendermagazine.com | 59<br />

Throughout this issue, we can find inspiration on how we can connect<br />

with the colours and benefits of nature and reflect its influence<br />

throughout our homes and our outside spaces. Sometimes, we may just<br />

want to bring a few fresh touches into our environments, or to give a<br />

new look to a room, and there are some fabulous ranges available from<br />

our wonderful West End boutiques and retailers. Here are a few ideas.<br />

Stoneglow, Heavenly Orris<br />

Root & Matcha Tea Diffuser,<br />

£24, Spirito<br />

House Doctor Vase,<br />

£18, Hoos<br />

Gillian Arnold Lampshade,<br />

£45, Cassiopeia<br />

Mini Plant Pot Range<br />

by Louise Madzia,<br />

£22 each, CoLab Store<br />

Ceramic Crackled Green Vase, £35,<br />

The Store Interiors<br />

Cassiopeia, 165B Hyndland Road, 0141 357 7374, cassiopeiaonline.co.uk<br />

CoLab Store, 11-13 Dowanhill Street, 0141 570 1766, colabstore.co.uk<br />

Hoos, 715 Great Western Road, 07788 480421, hoosglasgow.co.uk<br />

Spirito, 317-319 Crow Road, 0141 337 3307, spiritogifts.com<br />

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


60 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

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www.westendermagazine.com | 61<br />

Homes & Interiors<br />

Hyacinth House Floristry<br />

by Susan<br />

Robertson<br />

Breathing<br />

the outside in<br />

There’s a fresh floral feel in the air in this edition<br />

and so much to be enjoyed in the great outdoors,<br />

but when we head back inside and shut the door<br />

behind us, how can we bring a note of nature back<br />

inside with us?<br />

Very few of us would deny that some fresh blooms<br />

can brighten any room, but we rarely make it a<br />

priority when looking after our homes. In our busy<br />

lives, it can sometimes seem like too much of a<br />

hassle to look after flowers and indoor plants, and<br />

the cheaper flower bunches are often limp before<br />

you’ve left the shop.


62 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

However, if you give it some thought and get it right<br />

for you, it can make such a difference to our homes,<br />

and even to our health.<br />

I asked Gary of Hyacinth House Floristry for some<br />

tips about bringing the outside into our homes.<br />

He suggested, 'Use the look of what you have in<br />

your garden, for example if you have hydrangeas or<br />

dahlias in your garden, if you create a floral bouquet<br />

then it can work well to incorporate those in it to<br />

tie everything together across your internal and<br />

external spaces. If you are choosing houseplants<br />

as well, then also look at what’s around you to<br />

cohesively reflect things like leaf shape or colour,<br />

especially if the plants are close to the windows.'<br />

Not only do plants look great, add depth,<br />

colour and texture to a room, but they are good<br />

for your health too. They naturally cleanse the<br />

air, and they’re also believed to actually improve<br />

concentration, reduce stress and boost mood levels<br />

so they’re a great addition to any home.<br />

Have a think about the plants you choose for each<br />

room. Be careful to ensure that they are positioned<br />

for the right amount of sun, and bear in mind that,<br />

at night time they can have a different effect on the<br />

air when the photosynthesis stops, so keep them to<br />

your daytime rooms for the most part.<br />

If you’re not green-fingered, there are plenty of<br />

options to get the benefits of some leafiness without<br />

too much hassle. Start with a simple ivy or a low<br />

maintenance spider plant for some quick green<br />

splashes that are pretty good value, grow quickly,<br />

and are very low maintenance too. Think about<br />

investing in a bright statement plant pot and a big<br />

waxy plant to get you going and make an impact in<br />

your home, then build on from there as and when<br />

you can.<br />

I asked Lesley of Tulipané for some tips. She said,<br />

'Cactus plants are very "in" at the moment and so<br />

easy to look after – they only need watered once every<br />

1-2 weeks. There are a wide variety of plants which<br />

are especially beneficial for cleansing the air in an<br />

apartment – taking in carbon dioxide and giving<br />

out oxygen to cleanse the air, for example Aloe Vera,<br />

Peace Lily, and Spider Plants to name a few.'<br />

Lesley told me, 'I have found that in the<br />

Thornwood area, where Tulipané is situated, there<br />

are many young couples buying their first flat. One of<br />

the things they enjoy doing together for their home is<br />

buying plants. Even giving them names and we have<br />

a laugh chatting about how it is comparable with<br />

having a pet. They will come back in to the cafe and<br />

talk about how "Bert" is doing and ask advice about<br />

caring for them.'<br />

There are clearly a wealth of benefits to finding a<br />

few fresh flowers and potted plant pets to enhance<br />

your home, and your health. And the expertise we<br />

need and options for what we can buy are available<br />

right on our West End doorsteps.<br />

With thanks to:<br />

Tulipané Coffee House, 682 Dumbarton Road G11 6RB<br />

tulipane.co.uk<br />

Hyacinth House Floristry, 950A Crow Road G13 1JD<br />

hyacinthhousefloristry.com<br />

Tulipané Coffee House


www.westendermagazine.com | 63


64 | www.westendermagazine.com<br />

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www.westendermagazine.com | 65<br />

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66 | <strong>Westender</strong> www.westendermagazine.com<br />

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www.westendermagazine.com | 67<br />

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68 | www.westendermagazine.com

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