Westender JulAug 2019 Magazine

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Contents 

Regulars 

4 Editor’s Letter 

47 Mum’s Notebook 

48 Community Pages: 

Cancer Support Scotland 

Going out 

16 West End Live 

with Greg Kane 

21 WIN! Tickets to 

The Glee Club 

23 Top Things 

Fashion, beauty & health 

8 Flower Power Fashion 

25 WIN! At Rainbow 

Room International 

50 Health Matters 

Art & culture 

18 Musicians Interview: 

Hue & Cry 

38 Author Interview: 

Helen Taylor 

42 Cover to Cover 

Lifestyle 

26 Living a Paleo Life 

Food & drink 

33 Restaurant Review: 

Horn Please 

35 Bar Review: 1051 GWR 

36 Sweet Liberty 

Westender living 

52 Al Fresco Living 

59 Floral Features 

61 Outside In


Editor’s 

Letter 

I’ve completed my first ever Parkrun at 

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

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

as a healthy way to de-stress (step away 

from the wine bottle!) after successfully 

completing the Couch to 5K App with the 

help of audio mentor, none other than the 

West End’s own Sanjeev Kohli. 

After numerous years of sofa induced 

inertia this was an ‘easier’ route back into 

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

probably attempt three. It made it all the 

sweeter. 

Just over a year ago I started playing 

badminton with three friends to ‘get me out 

the house’. The laughter this has brought 

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

underestimated. A mental health boon, I can’t 

recommend this sport highly enough, and the 

facilities available in the West End make it an 

easy and cheap option too. 

Why am I sharing all this? Because 

summer is here! There’s no time like now 

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

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

route to Balloch), or start a team sport and 

combine socialising with exercise (can’t beat 

Glasgow Life leisure centres). The days are 

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

memories to console us through the darker 

autumn days ahead. 

If you’re looking for other entertainment 

options then remember to check out Greg 

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

read the interview with Greg, and brother 

Pat Kane, as they look forward to performing 

again at the Kelvingrove Bandstand and at 

the upcoming 80s Invasion Tour on Page 18. 

Our top picks of Westendy things to 

do this July and August start on Page 23. 

There’s outside cinemas, Shakespeare in the 

Botanics and Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail to 

look forward to, fantastic. 

Or why not check out living a paleo 

lifestyle as an alternative option (Page 26)? 

Glasgow Uni are chatting about their Animal 

Flow classes and show us some of their 

moves. It’s an interesting look at our paleo 

past and how we can support atavistic 

aspects of ourselves through movement, 

food and sound. 

Whatever you get up to this summer – 

enjoy your Westender! 

Suzanne Martin


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EDITOR 

SUZANNE MARTIN 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

GREGOR REID 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

EMILY DONOHO, MIKE FINDLAY 

AMY GLASGOW, 

MICHELE GORDON, 

GREG KANE, PAMELA LEGGATE, 

NICOLA MAULE, 

TRACY MUKHERJEE, 

PAMELA PALONGUE, 

LORAINE PATRICK, 

SUSAN ROBERTSON, BRIAN TOAL, 

LIBERTY VITTERT 

HAIR & MUA 

TERRI CRAIG 

STYLIST 

JACKI CLARK 

WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM 

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FLOWER 

POWER 

photography GREGOR REID 

stylist jacki clark 

mua terri craig


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photography gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com 

stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk 

MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk 

model anna reeves 

model courtesy of 

coloursagency.com 

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LIVE 

July 

The Eagles 

Thursday 4th July 7pm 

SSE Hydro, thessehydro.com 

Really! The most quintessential of All 

American bands playing Glasgow on 

the 4th of July, US Independence Day? 

You really can’t miss this then. 

In my line of work I’m somewhat privy 

to the 'goings on' when it comes to 

bringing the bigger bands to Glasgow. 

THE EAGLES arrive in multiple 

private jets, require at least five 

penthouse suites – in different hotels, 

separate transport to and from the 

gig, a logistical nightmare! But it 

gets done, why? Because they’re the 

friggin’ EAGLES! 

But my personal relationship with 

them is purely sonic. Their recordings 

are the yardstick to reference all 

mixes by, have been for years and 

will continue to be so. I could bore 

you with the technicalities, but take 

it from me someone in their camp is 

really taking care of business when 

it comes to making great sounding 

records. The pressure to replicate 

this forces the Eagles live experience 

to be sonically, second to none. Get 

your audiophile heads on and go see 

them. 

HiFi Americana at an eye-watering 

£150 a head! 

Choice Tracks: 

The Eagles 'Hotel California' 

Gossip 

Friday 19th July 7pm 

Galvanisers Yard, swg3.tv 

Gossip was formed in 1999 in Olympia, 

Washington by college room mates 

Beth Ditto, vocals, Kathy Mendonça 

on drums and guitarist Brace Paine. 

It took them until 2007 to break 

through internationally though with 

their album 'Standing In The Way Of 

Control'. I remember seeing them on 

The Jonathan Ross Show that same 

year. It was a landmark moment for 

the band in the UK but also acted as 

a springboard for their dominance 

of the Euro charts. Especially in 

Germany where they achieved 'the most 

successful internationally produced 

single of all time' in 2011 with the 

song 'Heavy Cross' spending an 

amazing 82 consecutive weeks on the 

German Top 100! 

They have reformed this year after 

breaking up in 2016 to celebrate the 

10th anniversary of their Rick Ruben 

produced hit album 'Music For Men'. 

Choice tracks: Gossip 

‘Standing In The Way Of Control' 

Ghum 

Tuesday 16th July 7pm 

Hug and Pint, thehugandpint.com 

Ghum are a four piece all-girl band 

from London fronted by the beautiful 

Laura Guerrero Lora on vocals. They 

were brought together in 2016 by a 

mutual love of The Cure, PJ Harvey and 

Warpaint and those bands pretty much 

give you an accurate picture of what 

Ghum sound like. Special mention 

goes to guitarist Jojo Khor for deftly 

setting up her Chorus, Flanger and 

Delay pedals to achieve the most 

convincing Cure guitar sound I’ve 

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

round the edges but that kind of suits 

this style of music. Really enjoyed 

listening to their '5 most popular' on 

Spotify. 

Choice track: Ghum ‘TV’


by Greg Kane 

August 

Mo Kenney 

Sunday 4th August 7pm 

Hug and Pint, thehugandpint.com 

Mo Kenney is a 29 year old Canadian 

singer/songwriter based in Dartmouth, 

Nova Scotia. Over the last seven years 

she has released three albums with 

the most recent, 'The Details' winning 

the coveted Nova Scotia Music Award 

in 2017. 

She has such an alluring voice, kept 

me listening to her for over an hour 

it did. She sites Elliot Smith as a 

big influence on her music and has 

also enjoyed the support of renowned 

songwriter Ron Sexsmith. That should 

give you a better idea on where she’s 

coming from. 

Classy, indie, folk, pop. 

Choice track: Mo Kenney 'Telephones' 

Michale Graves 

Thursday 8th August 7pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

Michale Graves is a 44 year old 

American singer/songwriter. He’s been 

the frontman for neurotic punk band 

The MisFits, fronted punk icon Marky 

Ramone’s band Blitzkrieg, served in 

the US Marines and is a much lauded 

and celebrated Horror Rock/US punk 

artist. 

But on his latest album 'Keys' he just 

croons his heartfelt, slightly EMO 

songs over a simple acoustic piano 

accompaniment. It really works, 

probably because he’s actually a very 

good singer. 

Kinda imagine if Joe Strummer had 

ever recorded a rock opera! That’s 

what he sounds like here. Whit? Yes I 

just wrote that. Sorry Clash fans. 

A night of balladeering punk. 

Choice Track: Michale Graves 

'Dig Up Her Bones' 

Edwyn Collins 

Wednesday 28th August 7pm 

QMU, qmunion.org.uk 

The Queen Margaret Union is one of 

two student unions at Glasgow Uni 

and is a historic live music venue in 

Glasgow’s West End. It is experiencing 

a bit of a renaissance right now due 

to the fact that the poor old 02 ABC 

on Sauchiehall Street was destroyed 

in the 2nd Art School fire in June last 

year and both venues hold roughly the 

same amount of people. It’s good to see 

it back at the forefront of Glasgow’s 

live music scene once again. 

Scottish music icon, Edwin Collins 

has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride 

over the past 20 years. He had the 

worldwide smash hit 'Girl Like You' 

in 1995, after which he setup the 

much loved West Heath Yard recording 

studio in London and then he found 

himself hospitalised following two 

cerebral haemorrhages in 2005. He 

has since moved back to Scotland 

and has made a remarkable recovery 

evidence of which can be seen in the 

very moving BBC documentary 'Edwyn 

Collins: Home Again'. He is out on tour 

promoting his new album 'Badbea'. 

Yes, it is good to have you home Edwyn. 

Choice track: Edwyn Collins 

'Girl Like You'


Singing to 

Mother Glasgow 

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

last date in the Summer Nights series of 

concerts at Kelvingrove Bandstand in 

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

festival – is this the first time playing at this 

venue and what can people expect from the 

show? 

PK: Not the first time we played the 

bandstand – I used to do protest gigs there 

as a young man, and Greg I think played 

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

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

years of songs – all our hits, beloved classics, 

irresistible covers and (decreed by law) 

‘Mother Glasgow’. 

Late Autumn, you then join the UK ‘80s 

Invasion’ tour with bands such as Sister 

Sledge, and Five Star. It will be the second 

time this year appearing in a line-up with 

other acts, who’s songs made a mark during 

that decade – in August you play alongside 

ABC, Go West and Midge Ure at ‘DunDee 

80s’. Is audience expectation different for 

these ‘collective’ shows? 

GK: The 80s were a golden age for Scottish 

bands. There were at least a dozen of us that 

WORDS NICOLA MAULE 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the not too distant future. 

were enjoying hit singles, selling hundreds of 

thousands of albums and playing in arenas all 

round the UK. But for me the stand out artists 

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

Miles Davis, Paul Simon, Ian Dury and The 

Blockheads, Joe Jackson and Talking Heads. 

They all made iconic albums that decade 

which are still my favourited on my Spotify 

playlists. 

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

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

guys. I really enjoy playing these multi-band 

lineups celebrating the 80s too. Give us 

bands the chance to play our songs in front 

of tens of thousands of people once again. 

They have stood the test of time well, very 

gratifying, makes me happy. 

There is and has been for some years now 

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

fashion – bright colours, big patterns and 

even shoulder pads have apparently been 

making a comeback – and in TV series 

such as Stranger Things, Black Mirror and 

Deutschland 83. You released your first 

single, ‘Here Comes Everybody’ on the 

independent label Stampede Records in the 

heart of the decade – 1986. What did it feel 

like to make a record at that time and was


there anything that influenced your music / 

song-writing as the decade progressed? 

PK: We loved that record! A big groove 

extravaganza on the a-side, a plaintive piano 

vocal ballad on the b-side, along with a 

bonus track ‘The Successes of Monetarism’ 

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

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

funk and soul at one end, and just the two 

of us singing sensitive songs into the void, 

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

not only liberated by post-punk to do, say 

and play anything we wanted, but also with 

ambitions to write pop classics. A great era, 

which we enjoyed to the max! 

You perform a fantastic cover of Don Henley’s 

‘Boys of Summer,’ which is shared on 

your YouTube channel (HueandCryMusic) 

– do you find social media sites such as 

this a helpful way to connect with fans, 

old and new? 

GK: We reach out to fans for input quite often 

via our social sites and the suggestion to 

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

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

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

been for that fan it wouldn’t have happened. 

So the communication we have with the 

people who like our music is so important to 

Pat and I and we pay as much attention as we


can to what fans want and expect from us. 

We can’t always play all the songs everyone 

wants, but we try. 

It’s nearly 2 years since your last record, 

‘Pocketful of Stones’ was released, which 

was the first album of new material since 

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

poetic journey of storytelling – lots to connect 

with. Can you share a little of the backstory to 

the album? 

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

50-something record – about fatherhood, 

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

to be an older man and how you never really 

settle your early traumas. There’s a moment 

of joy there when I sing with my daughter Ellie 

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

about realising that your child’s autonomy is 

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

have to ‘let her go’ somewhat (while NEVER 

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

a coin-toss – a few years ago Greg wanted 

to do a New Orleans funk record, I wanted a 

sensitive ballad record... he won the toss for 

the last record. So this was my turn! 

With your touring schedule as busy as 

it is this year, what is 2020 looking like – 

will there be another studio album to look 

forward to? 

GK: Our touring schedule is very busy this 

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

the last decade and long may it continue. 

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

nowadays, I seem to spend what free 

time I have resting in order to have the energy 

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

just lavished a lot of time and money on our 

personal studio in Glasgow and loaded it with 

iconic Roland drum machines, Moog synths, 

all sorts of weird and wonderful analogue 

musical gadgetry. So we’ll be step time 

sequencing very soon and hopefully you’ll 

hear the fruits of our endeavours next year. 

It’s going to be quite exciting going down this 

route of music making for the first time. 

Hue and Cry are playing at the Kelvingrove 

Bandstand on 10th August – SOLD OUT 

and at the 80s Invasion Tour at the SSE 

Hydro on 6th November. 

For other upcoming concert dates, news 

and all things Hue and Cry visit: 

hueandcry.co.uk


Win Tickets to see a stellar comedy line-up at 

The Glee Club Glasgow 

Glasgow’s hottest new comedy club, 

The Glee Club, is offering five lucky 

readers the chance to win a pair 

of tickets to one of their hilarious weekend 

shows this summer. 

Launched earlier this year, The Glee Club 

plays host to some of the nation’s much loved 

and up and coming comics every weekend 

in their 400-seat venue. Situated in the 

heart of Glasgow’s city centre, it boasts a 

striking interior, state of the art staging and 

comfortable theatre style seating. 

An extensive menu of delicious freshly 

made food and a quality drinks offering, 

enable guests to enjoy both an evening of 

entertainment and great dining experience 

under one roof. 

Don’t miss the chance to win a fantastic 

night out in one of Glasgow’s funniest new 

venues… enter now! 

WIN! A pair of tickets to The Glee 

Club Glasgow. Enter online by 1pm 

Friday 26th July 2019. Go to 

westendermagazine.com and click 

on Competitions. Good luck! 

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

winners. The promoter reserves the right to 

allocate the prize to the winners. The prize 

includes free entry to The Glee Club Glasgow’s 

Friday or Saturday night shows. The prizes are 

valid for redemption by 30th September 2019 

and subject to availability. The competition is 

open to over 18s only.


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Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

by Tracy Mukherjee 

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

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

edition of Top Things. 

Top for Summer Theatre 

Scotland’s biggest Shakespeare festival Bard 

in the Botanics now has over 50 productions 

under its codpiece and can claim audience 

figures of over 70,000. This year the Botanics 

will be set alight when the annual Shakespeare 

festival brings us The Muse of Fire as the theme. 

Four flaming hot productions will run throughout 

July until the 3rd of August. 

First to tread the boards is As You Like It. 

With our heroine Rosalind transported from 

the Forest of Arden to the Botanic's lawns and 

gardens, this romantic comedy has no truer a 

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

a dreich summer night! 

And so to a polar opposite production: Henry V. 

A seated event within the Kibble Palace, 

who knew Agincourt had so many palm trees? 

Heroism and sacrifice, glorification of war or 

comment on its futility, Shakespeare certainly 

gets the discussion flowing with this one. 

And then there is the rousing St Crispin’s Day 

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

From a king to a prince; Hamlet of Denmark 

might be transported to Dowanhill, but 

this production is no less thrilling for it. 

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

get your money’s worth from this tragedy as 

Hamlet plots revenge among the rhododendrons. 

An outside production, to be drenched or not to 

be drenched, that is the question. Better pack a 

cagoule just in case. 

The final production of the year is the fabulously 

grotesque Richard III. Inside the Kibble our 

amoral, power hungry anti-hero will rise to the 

throne by all means necessary. Although deemed 

a tragedy as Richard is indeed a tragic character, 

it’s dotted with some dark comedy throughout. 

So iconic, it’s a fitting production to conclude 

this year’s festival. 

Bard In The Botanics, Glasgow Botanic 

Gardens, 26th June – 3rd August 

For full details and ticket information visit: 

bardinthebotanics.co.uk 

Top for Cinema 

Andre Rieu has truly become a worldwide 

phenomenon, bringing classical music to the 

masses. The Dutch conductor and violinist 

seems to be on a never ending worldwide tour. 

But if you haven’t managed to catch Andre and 

his 60 piece Johann Strauss Orchestra live as 

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

comfort of the West End, there is the opportunity 

to 'attend' his iconic annual hometown concert. 

For two nights only, join Andre Rieu in the 

medieval town square of Maastricht, courtesy 

of the Grosvenor Cinema. The conductor’s 

charming mix of classical, pop, folk and musical 

theatre will, this time around, celebrate dance. 

The Shall We Dance concert is being shown 

nationwide at cinemas, but remember it’s only 

two nights so get tickets for the Grosvenor 

booked soon! 

If being inside at this time of year seems a waste 

of the heady 12 degree temperature and minor 

drizzle outside, why not consider an open air 

cinema opportunity? Luna Kids Cinema is the 

first open air cinema specifically for kids. In mid 

July, Victoria Park will be the venue for five days 

of classic children’s films. With several films 

per day such as How To Train Your Dragon: The 

Hidden World, Mary Poppins Returns, Peppa Pig: 

Festival Of Fun and Julia Donaldson classics The 

Gruffalo, Zog and The Highway Rat, Luna have 

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

but back rests and blankets can be purchased. 

There will also be plenty of food options, healthy 

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

weather is on our side, this could be a fabulous 

way to entertain the kids during the holidays.


Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

by Tracy Mukherjee 

Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss 

Orchestra Shall we Dance, Grosvenor 

Cinema, Ashton Lane G12 8SJ 

27th and 28th July. For more information: 

intl.andreincinemas.com 

Luna Kids Cinema, Victoria Park 

Wed 17th – Sun 21st Jul 

lunakidscinema.com/Victoria-Park 

Top for Summer Camps 

For a whole host of reasons, summer activity 

camps for kids are becoming ever more popular. 

There are a whole range of camps available 

nearby this summer, focusing on a variety of 

activities. West End Adventure is running School 

Holiday Adventures for outdoorsy kiddies. 

Getting muddy, wet, building dens and getting 

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

Under the guidance of instructors, no two days 

will be the same. There are also age appropriate 

adventure groups: Junior Adventure for 6 and 

7 year olds, Primary Adventure for 8 years – 

P7 and Senior Adventure for 1st Year pupils 

onwards. 

If the great outdoors isn’t the scene for your 

child, why not consider a summer camp in 

computer game development, robotics or 

engineering? These are week long classes 

run by the British Youth IT College in Firhill. 

Choosing from game development, core concepts 

of robotic coding and Lego engineering classes, 

this is summer camp for the next generation. 

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

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

who have a keen interest in technology. 

School Holiday Adventures, West End 

Adventure, Knightswood, G13 2HE 

westendadventure.co.uk 

Kids Summer Camps, British Youth 

IT College, Firhill, G20 7BA. For full 

details of the courses and schedule visit 

byitc.org 

Top for Art 

The work of Linda McCartney will go on 

show at Kelvingrove from July onwards. This 

retrospective of the photographer’s life and 

work is curated by the McCartney family. 

It features iconic moments of 1960s music with 

later intimate images captured by the renowned 

photographer. Also included in the exhibition 

is one of McCartney’s diaries and her cameras 

from that era, the first time they have ever been 

on public exhibition. As well as reportage style 

images of Hendrix, The Beatles and The Rolling 

Stones, photographs of Linda and Paul’s beloved 

Mull of Kintyre will also be included. Given this 

is such a special event, there is an admission 

charge. 

Staying with our love of Scotland, look out 

for Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail this summer. 

In Scottish cities throughout the land, life size, 

individually decorated sculptures of Wullie will 

be appearing. This will be the first nationwide 

public art trail and will raise funds for Scottish 

children’s hospital charities. With over 200 

sculptures creatively painted by artists, 

a summer wander around the town will have an 

extra special incentive. You’ll remember 'Oor 

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

famous cover quote never was so poignant. 

Running in conjunction with the trail will be 

an education programme focusing on our 

communities and citizenship. This is a delightful 

way to come together, enjoy the nostalgia and 

help a fantastic cause to boot; see if you can 

raise more than Wee Eck, Fat Boab and Soapy 

Souter... 

Linda McCartney: A Retrospective, 

Kelvingrove Museum and Art 

Galleries 5th Jul till 12th Jan 

glasgowlife.org.uk and follow the links 

Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail Glasgow, 

17th June – 30th August. 

oorwullie.com. 

Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail, to learn 

more about the event.

Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Competitions | 25 

SUMMER GIFTS 

AT 

RRI 

R 

by John Parker 

ecently, Directors from all twelve 

of the salons had a mystery trip 

arranged by Rainbow Room 

International owners, Alan and Linda 

Stewart, to the stunning Archerfield House 

to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We all had 

an incredible time gathering for a lovely meal 

and raising a glass to the incredible journey 

our salon group has been on. 

We also were the stylists backstage at 

this years TRNSMT Festival. It was another 

fantastic year, with artists visiting us to have 

their hair styled before heading on stage. 

Taking part in these events is great for stylists 

from our salons to attend and take advantage 

of the different opportunities that our brand 

provides. 

Summer from our salon also took part 

in her first Art Team photo shoot in London 

recently, a great opportunity for her to get 

more experience and be really creative. 

We’ve also received beautiful new 

Schwarzkopf colours in the salon – True 

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makeover in their Great Western Rd 

salon. For your chance to win go to 

westendermagazine.com and click 

on competitions by the 31st Aug ‘19. 

Rainbow Room International 

607 Great Western Road G12 8HX 

0141 337 3370 

rainbowroominternational.com


Living a 

paleo life 

WORDS PAMELA PALONGUE


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

counterparts. 

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

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

opportunities than you realise… 

Kerry Murdoch, an Active Lifestyle 

instructor, teaches a new class at The 

University of Glasgow called ‘Animal 

Flow’. It’s probably unlike any exercise class 

you have ever seen! 

The participants perform quadrupedal 

movements using the hands and feet for 

balance. 

The weight of your own body provides the 

resistance as you perform moves with names 

like ‘beast’, ‘ape’ and ‘crab’. 

In contemporary times, our hands rarely 

touch the ground. But in Animal Flow, the 

hands are used for almost every movement, 

giving the upper body an excellent workout. 

If you’re imagining an ape scampering across 

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

meditative movement, with slow, deliberate 

moves which are almost balletic. It can be 

beautiful to watch as the body morphs from 

one position into another. 

Though it’s physically demanding (which 

might be the whole point of a workout in the 

first place) the movements themselves can be 

simplified to allow beginners to develop their 

strength and flexibility. 

Though Animal Flow has been compared 

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

static poses, the body is in almost constant 

motion. And the participants do not use 

mats, since the sequence of choreographed 

movements can run in all different directions 

with the entire floor being used! 

The Animal Flow classes just launched 

at The Stevenson Building on campus. They 

are one-hour sessions which run in 5-week 

blocks. 

To learn more about the classes, visit the 

University of Glasgow website at: 

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

learn2/animal 

Another ancient activity that’s becoming 

increasingly popular is tribal drumming. 

The drum certainly has to be one of 

the oldest instruments on Earth, and in 

indigenous cultures it has been used for 

welcoming visitors, celebrations at harvest 

time, and even as a means to reach higher 

states of consciousness in shamanic 

ceremonies. 

But it’s not just for the ancients. 

Contemporary doctors and researchers have 

conducted studies which show that there are 

health benefits to drumming, as well as social 

connectedness. 

Dr. Barry Quinn, Ph.D. and clinical 

psychologist, states that drumming sessions 

can dramatically reduce stress, and may also 

lower blood pressure. 

The Glasgow Drum Circle meets every 

Wednesday night in the heart of the West End 

at Wellington Church. This welcoming group 

is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers 

who believe in the many positive benefits of 

drumming. 

Emma, one of the trustees of Glasgow 

Drum Circle, and a drummer herself, says 

that it’s almost like a meditative state when 

focussing on the patterns of the rhythm. 

And fellow trustee Shae, notes the 

connectedness and community that the drum 

circle provides when several people are all 

coming together in rhythm and sound.


They teach rhythm patterns based on 

West African drum beats, starting with 

the basics, and novices are able to start 

drumming almost immediately. 

In the class I attended, there were 

two drummers taking their first class, 

who were quickly pounding away like pros. 

The participants range from beginner 

to advanced. Everyone is provided with 

authentic African drums such as djembe and 

dunun drums, along with mallets. 

Classes are offered on a six months, 

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

The modest fee helps cover the operating 

costs of the class. 

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

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

info: glasgowdrumcircle.org/classes. 

One of the most important ways we can be 

healthier, is through the food which we eat. 

For Gabriela Nicol of Paleo Lifestyle, 

food was very much the medicine which 

solved her digestive problems. 

Suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome 

(IBS) Gabriela, decided to make a conscious 

change to not only eat healthy, but to 

embrace a diet derived from sustainable 

sources, and good quality ingredients. 

Her background in science and 

understanding of digestive enzymes, 

led her to adopt the paleo diet. Gabriela 

found that her IBS disappeared, and she’s 

been symptom-free for four years. She also 

discovered she had more energy, and even 

looked younger. Colds and frequent viral 

infections have also vanished since she has 

gone paleo. 

Gabriela believes in the benefits of 

good nutrition so strongly, that she formed 

her business, Paleo Lifestyle to share her 

expertise – and her food with others. 

Based in Maryhill, she bakes dairy and 

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

organic ingredients from sustainable sources. 

Instead of milk, Gabriela uses coconut 

milk, and nut milks such as cashew and 

almond milk. 

Gabriela has created desserts that are 

not just healthy, but also delicious. Some of 

the most popular desserts and treats are her 

vegan cheesecake, vegan snickers, bounty 

bars and carrot cake. She uses stevia or 

natural maple syrup for sweetening.


Her desserts can be ordered from her 

Facebook page, and she will deliver them 

to anywhere in the greater Glasgow area, 

or they can be collected free of charge at her 

Maryhill location. 

She currently holds cooking classes where 

an entire three-course meal is prepared. 

The classes take place about once a month, 

and last for approximately two hours. At the 

end, participants dine on the meal they’ve 

created, and they receive a free recipe book 

for cooking at home. 

Gabriela, who is a certified Paleo 

Nutritionist, is taking on clients to help with 

nutritional advice. This can be especially 

helpful to individuals suffering from food 

intolerances, allergies, hormonal and 

metabolic issues. 

Gabriela has plans to open a coffee shop 

later this year, where all of her cakes and 

treats will be available. 

For more information on Paleo Lifestyle, 

visit her Facebook page at: 

facebook.com/paleolifestyleuk 

If you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle in 

your future, the answer may actually lie in the 

past.


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Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 31 

Main Image I Gregor Reid 

Otago Street Speciality Coffee Shop 

coffee bar, authentic noodle stop, brunch menu 

First impressions are of a bright and airy 

space when you enter Perch & Rest in 

what was a picturesque wee cottage 

back in the day. 

Joe and Yao’s year long labour of love to 

find, refit and open their cafe has resulted 

in a hybrid speciality coffee shop, with over 

half a dozen coffees, plus guest coffee, 

to try; noodle bowls famous all over China 

from Yao’s home region; and a more 

traditional brunch menu curated by a Savoy 

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

Says Joe, ‘In the last five years I have 

observed the speciality coffee scene slowly 

grow in Glasgow. We have made significant 

expenditures on coffee equipment which 

are at the cutting edge of the industry 

– we resemble more of an Australian style 

coffee bar. We have a changing single 

origin coffee for those who love espresso. 

We have regularly changing filter coffees 

which showcase the best the industry has at 

the moment. And we also prepare our own 

cold brew drip coffee and iced tea in store.’ 

Joe continues, ‘Yao’s hometown noodles 

are famous all around China. And there is 

currently a gap in the market for these type 

of noodles, which in China are a snack food 

– that is, there are very many noodle bars of 

this kind where individuals will go from early 

morning to late evening to grab a reasonably 

priced bowl of noodles in between their 

normal meals. When we found our current 

location we decided to incorporate my 

coffee experience and my family’s extensive 

hospitality experience to offer a varied and 

unique experience. Now we have a hybrid 

cafe that offers stunning coffee, mouth 

watering soup noodles, and also a more 

traditional brunch menu.’ 

This entrepreneurial young couple have 

achieved so much already, but have a keen 

eye on possible future expansion to offer 

community and event space, as well as a 

takeaway offering – watch this space! 

SPECIAL OFFER: 

One free espresso based drink 

per customer per voucher. Please 

redeem in-store by 31st August ‘19. 

Perch and Rest Cafe 

39 Otago Street G12 8JJ 

07562 977250 

# 

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CARAVAN / MOTOR HOME TO PARK? 

NEED SECURE STORAGE IN WEST END? 

Titan Storage have space within the famous 

Barclay Curle Complex on South Street in Scotstoun 

– beside the Yellow Crane! 

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

Also 20 foot steel containers – from £100 pcm 

24 hour access 

Part of busy enclosed complex 

Minimum 3 months licence 

We also have workshops and studios to let within 

Barclay Curle Complex – details on application. 

Contact 

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

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


@ 

Horn 

Images I Gregor Reid 

Please 

Reviewed by Amy Glasgow @theglasgowdiet 

We love a curry in Glasgow and Indian 

cuisine has certainly come a long 

way over the years, whether that is 

through ‘fusion’ (which more often than not 

simply means the addition of haggis pakora 

to the menu) or by adopting the growing trend 

of ‘small plates’. Thankfully, Horn Please falls 

into the latter category, offering a unique spin 

on traditional Indian dishes in a sharing-style 

setting. 

Having previously been located in a 

rather dimly lit basement on Berkeley Street, 

Horn Please now resides in the ever-popular 

Finnieston area and it has provided the 

restaurant with a much-needed new lease of 

life. It’s previous location provided very little 

foot traffic, whereas now, sat on Sauchiehall 

Street, I was pleased to see it bustling with 

customers on a dreary Wednesday evening 

because this little restaurant has so much to 

offer. 

The new space may be smaller but it is 

filled with all the charm of the old location, 

from the tuk tuk protruding from the wall to 

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

sleeping on the toilet’ – dare I ask? 

Where the décor is tongue-in-cheek, 

the menu is serious, filled with small plates 

of what is described as contemporary Indian 

cuisine. This is the unique selling point of 

this restaurant; taking elements of the old 

and creating something new and exciting, 

so don’t expect to see lamb bhuna on 

the menu. 

Think filo pastry filled with spring onion 

and green peas served with an onion, green 

chilli and mint jam, masala spiced baby 

aubergines on an aubergine curry base or, 

very simply, bread pakora with meat and fish 

fillings. Annoyingly moreish, imagine a ham or 

salmon sandwich dipped in gram flour batter 

and deep-fried. 

Re-invention is the name of the game 

here, with the humble chicken tikka breast 

served on a cream and fenugreek sauce with 

crispy Serrano ham. Somehow, the spiced, 

charred chicken breast is perfectly balanced 

by the richness of the cream sauce and the 

crisp, saltiness of the ham. 

Their crowing jewel for me though is their 

grilled duck with butter sauce; soft, gamey 

meat paired with a buttery curry sauce – just 

make sure you mop every last ounce of it up 

with some of their deliciously flaky paratha, 

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

In fact, the last time I visited I must have 

eaten about three of them, they are that 

good. 

Dishes range from between £3.50 to 

£7, so depending on how much you order, 

it can suit any budget. If you’re anything 

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

everything. 

Horn Please 

914-916 Sauchiehall Street G3 7TF 

0141 573 3021 

hornpleaseglasgow.co.uk


CRAFT BEERS & ALES 

WINE & CHAMPAGNE 

SHERRY, MADEIRA & PORT 

FINE WINE 

WHISKY, BOURBON, GIN 

VODKA, RUM, TEQUILA 

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0141 334 4312 

thegoodspiritscoclarencedrive 

@GoodSpiritsCoCD 

goodspiritsclarencedrive 

clarencedrive@thegoodspiritsco.com 

www.thegoodspiritsco.com 

Hyndland 

Train Station

@ 

1051 GWR 



Reviewed by 

Emily Donoho 

You can’t miss 1051 GWR when driving 

along Great Western Road with its 

grand formal design. A former railway 

station in the Beaux Art style it was designed 

by Glasgow architect JJ Burnet whose other 

works include the Clydeport Building on 

Roberton Street and the Glasgow Savings 

bank on Ingram Street. Once a railway line 

connected Maryhill to the city centre, but 

the line closed during the Second World 

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

devastated the building. It lay derelict for 

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

when it was transformed into a restaurant. 

It opened as 1051 GWR in 2015, after further 

refurbishment. 

Apparently, it wasn’t easy as old buildings 

are often challenging to refurbish, and this 

one sits over a railway tunnel. If you look 

out the back, you can see the old platforms. 

The owners, according to their blog, stripped 

back some of the façade to reveal more of 

its original character, wanting to show the 

elegance and craftsmanship of the Victorian 

builders. 

The interior is reminiscent of the 

glamour and class associated with 

Victorian railway stations, with columns, 

high ceilings, chandeliers, and 1920s-era 

posters advertising places one might travel 

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

the restaurant only occupies the ground floor, 

but according to their website they plan on 

refurbishing the upper levels and providing 

an outdoor seating area on the rooftop patio. 

In the meantime, you can enjoy the spacious 

dining area and bar. 

GWR feels like more of a restaurant than 

a bar in terms of its interior design. However, 

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

back of the large room a long bar has twenty 

taps for craft ales and they offer a rotating 

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

but the breweries they regularly stock include 

Williams Brothers, Belhaven, their own 

house lager and pilsner, and various guest 

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

two craft ciders, a selection of wines, and 

plenty of single malts. 

Like many places, they’ve jumped onto 

the gin boat, offering an array of craft gins 

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

thrown into some tonic water. These include 

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

Apple,’ which is infused with juniper berries, 

coriander, and fennel, or another called 

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

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

does have chillis floating in the glass and 

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

Door’ as well and found that fennel and 

coriander bring out something special in the 

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

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

of experimenting. They also have cocktails, 

which are fairly affordable as far as cocktails 

go – at £6.50 each. 

Some bars are cocktail bars, others are 

purveyors of craft beers or whiskies, but 1051 

GWR does everything. And they do it well. 

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

sort of drinks you’re after, it should make 

everyone happy. 

1051 GWR 

1051 Great Western Road G12 0XP 

0141 339 5575 

1051gwr.co.uk


Guilty Pleasures 

from Westender’s 

American in Glasgow 


Guilty Pleasures from Westender’s American in Glasgow

y Liberty Vittert 


Summer's 

semi-freddo 

While we are in the midst of summer the thought 

of firing up my oven is seriously stressful. When I 

first moved to Glasgow and was looking at flats to 

rent, I remember asking my letting agent where 

the air conditioning was… he opened the window. 

Ovens heat up a kitchen like none other, so I 

needed a go-to summer dessert that did not require 

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

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

requirements. Serve the traditional way as a loaf 

pan or go crazy finding any fun individual serving 

dishes (think wine, champagne, martini glass) for 

a new twist on an old favorite. 

K 

Shopping List 

300g blueberries 

+ 100g blueberries 

100g strawberries 

100g raspberries 

100g blackberries 

180g caster sugar 

1 tsp lemon zest 

1 tbs lemon juice 

1.5 tsp vanilla bean 

500g (1 pint) vanilla 

ice- cream 

260ml whipping cream 

extra berries for decoration 

L 

Method 

1. Combine berries (except the extra 

100g blueberries), sugar, lemon zest, 

lemon juice, and vanilla in a large sauce 

pan using a smasher (or the back of a 

spoon to break up the berries). Bring to 

the boil and then reduce to a simmer for 

about 25 minutes. 

2. Strain the mixture into a bowl 

pressing hard on the solids. Discard the 

solids and stir in the reserved 100g of 

blueberries. Let cool. 

3. Let the vanilla ice-cream sit out for 

about 20 minutes and then stir in the 

cooled berry mixture until slightly 

combined. 

4. Whip the whipping cream into soft 

peaks. Gently fold the whipping cream 

into the ice-cream mixture. 

5. Pour the mixture into a 23 x 13 cm 

loaf pan or into wine glasses or any 

other type of individual serving dish. 

Cover with cling film and freeze for at 

least 8 hours or overnight. 

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

for 5 minutes before serving. 

PAPYRUS 

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OFFER 

Half 

Price! 

Set of 4 Mikasa 

Crystal Dishes 

RRP £45 

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WESTENDER readers 

at Papyrus, 

374 Byres Road


Writer’s Reveal 

meets Helen Taylor 

WORDS LORAINE PATRICK 

Here’s a thought for you Westenders… 

what would the streets of Partick be 

like if there was an infamous master 

painter from 17th century Italy on the loose? 

That’s the premise of Helen Taylor’s 

debut novel The Backstreets of Purgatory, 

where she brings Caravaggio – the bad boy 

of post-renaissance art, who brawled his 

way through his short life at the same time as 

producing some extraordinary works of art, 

back to life in present day Glasgow to help 

struggling artist Finn McGarvie. 

Under the veneer of Glasgow’s black 

humour and Caravaggio’s fine art, the story 

tackles issues of mental health, addiction and 

abuse and is the first published work for the 

former doctor and research scientist. Helen 

has a diploma from the Open University 

and an MA from Lancaster University in 

creative writing and the book has been well 

received with one critic saying they cannot 

recommend it highly enough. Helen now lives 

in France, but we caught up with her by email 

to find out more. 

Congratulations on the book Helen, 

how did the tale come about? 

The idea for the novel came after I read 

Andrew Graham-Dixon’s biography of 

Caravaggio. The real Caravaggio was a 

violent, troubled man and a convicted 

murderer. With a penchant for brawling 

and a taste for wielding a sword he 

clearly considered himself a hard man. 

My immediate thought on finishing the book 

was to wonder how he would survive on 

a night out in Glasgow. That was the root. 

The rest grew from there.


Caravaggio is not the only troubled 

character in the book, tell us about the 

rest of the cast. 

At the centre of the story is Finn, a troubled 

art student with artist’s block and an 

unhealthy obsession with the maverick 

painter. Finn spends his time messing 

around in a makeshift studio in a church 

hall in Partick, chain-smoking roll-ups and 

failing to do any work that he is satisfied 

with. Misunderstood by his friends (or so he 

believes), he obsesses over Caravaggio while 

his self-confidence veers between an overinflated 

sense of his own artistic genius and a 

crushing, crippling level of insecurity. 

From Finn’s point of view, he is 

surrounded by people who misunderstand 

him or generally let him down. Lizzi, 

his girlfriend, treats him like one of her 

psychology patients; he has a disconcerting 

professional rivalry with his best mate Rob 

who is a tattoo artist; his alcoholic, decrepit 

next-door neighbour Maurice is feckless and 

Finn can’t count on him for support; Tuesday 

McLaughlin, a recovering heroin addict, 

gives him constant grief for his attitude; 

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

at his jokes and refuses to let him paint her. 

Of all the painters around, infamous 

or influential, why choose to bring 

Caravaggio back to life? 

He has all the qualities of an ideal character 

for a work of fiction. His life and his character 

are full of contrasts and contradictions. 

Under the patronage of bishops and 

noblemen, his career flourished, but at the 

same time he lived in the squalid artists’ 

quarter of Rome. He sought acceptance 

by the church for his deeply religious 

masterpieces, and yet used his impoverished 

neighbours and prostitutes as models even 

though he knew this would be interpreted 

as blasphemous. Jailed several times for 

carrying illegal weapons, for brawling and 

assault, and finally convicted of murder, this 

violent man was the same person who was 

capable of producing works of incredible 

sensitivity and beauty. 

Do readers need to be familiar with his 

work to understand the book? 

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

but it isn’t necessary to be familiar with it 

to understand the story. The chapter titles 

(named after his paintings) refer either to a 

painting that appears in the chapter, or to 

the main theme of the chapter. Finn leads the 

reader through the most important works and 

explains the critical parts of Caravaggio’s life 

story. 

Why base the novel in the West End of 

Glasgow? 

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

Although it is part of a big city, in many 

ways the West End has a small town feel 

to it because of the close links between its 

inhabitants. Even now, having lived away for 

several years, whenever I come back I always 

bump into someone I know. 

Glasgow also has a character all of its 

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

contrasts. It has a reputation as a tough, 

hard city but it is also the friendliest place 

I have ever lived. It overflows with art, 

culture, education and there are pockets of 

great prosperity and yet a large percentage 

of its population live in poverty with limited 

access to these privileges. And speaking 

personally, it is the place where I have 

spent the happiest days of my life, but also 

the most terrible. These extremes – these 

contrasts – suit the themes of Caravaggio’s 

art and life exactly. 

You mention your worst days here – 

you have experienced both depression 

and post-traumatic stress disorder. Is any 

of this reflected in the book? 

When I was writing the novel, I wasn’t 

particularly thinking about my own 

experiences although I deliberately 

shied away from making my first novel 

autobiographical, perhaps in the end it 

reflects a subconscious preoccupation. 

What it did allow me to do is explore 

ideas about where the line between ‘normal’ 

mental health and mental illness is crossed, 

particularly because for many conditions 

there is a spectrum of disease. I wanted 

to explore how much the person who is ill 

remains themselves even when they are so 

changed that others believe they have lost 

the person they knew, and to what extent 

their actions are governed by free will versus 

the effect of the illness on their thinking and 

behaviour. Having experience of both being a 

clinician and of being a patient helped in that 

respect, I think.


There is a definite increase in awareness 

of mental health these days. Does this 

help in talking about it? 

Without doubt. Modern life is hard. Levels 

of poor mental health are compounded 

by the awful difficulties many people face: 

poverty, stress, bullying, homelessness, 

addiction, prison. And there are massive 

levels of anxiety in our kids. The more we talk 

about these issues, the more we can exert 

political pressure to try to eliminate some of 

these factors, and make sure there is good 

provision of social and mental health services 

for everyone. And the more we talk about 

it, the more the stigma surrounding mental 

illness lessens, and that can only be good 

as far as prevention, early intervention and 

treatment are concerned. 

Your publisher, Unbound, has an unusual 

way of raising money to publish new 

authors. Tell us about their crowdfunding 

platform. 

It’s essentially the old-fashioned model of 

subscription funding that Charles Dickens 

and Samuel Johnson used to publish their 

work, but up-dated for the technological age. 

The writer pitches an idea to the publisher 

and if Unbound think it will fly, a funding 

page is set up with a short video and the 

opportunity for readers to pledge for a copy 

of the book. 

Unbound have all the facilities of a 

traditional publisher (editors, layout, cover 

design, etc). Supporters receive special 

editions and their names are listed in the 

back of all editions. A successfully funded 

book will also have a trade print run and 

distribution. 

What are the advantages of this 

approach? 

Because the publisher takes less financial 

risk, they are very open to original ideas 

that don’t necessarily follow current 

trends. Readers decide which books get 

published and I think readers are much 

more adventurous than many marketing 

departments would have us believe. 

As a writer, I was very involved in the 

publication process. I blogged regularly on 

Unbound’s site and had a close link with my 

supporters which was brilliant. I also had a 

big input into the cover design. 

On publication day, because I had nearly 

400 pre-orders, it meant I already had a 

solid readership which was great. And it was 

fantastic to know that the book was being 

distributed to bookshops and libraries up and 

down the country. 

Of course, the crowdfunding was difficult. 

Trying to persuade people to buy a book that 

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

the process was surprisingly uplifting. 

My supporters were enthusiastic and patient. 

And, especially because all the contributors 

are listed in the back, there is such a lovely 

feeling of warmth and generosity surrounding 

the finished book. 

The finished book features the Timorous 

Beastie print ‘Glasgow Toile’ on the cover. 

It looks like a work of art itself. Why 

choose it? 

I love the idea that the print is not what it 

seems at first sight. At first glance, it looks 

Competition! 

We have two copies 

of The Backstreets of 

Purgatory to give away. Visit 

westendermagazine.com 

and click on competitions 

by the 31st of August 2019. 

The 

Backstreets 

of Purgatory 

£3 

OFF 

* 

RRP £18.99 

*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers 

at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road 

branch only, by 31st August 2019.


like a very traditional, old-fashioned print, 

scattered with Glasgow landmarks (the 

Armadillo, the Necropolis) but look in detail 

and you see scenes of the seedier side of 

the city. I couldn’t believe it when Timorous 

Beasties gave us permission to use it. I was 

thrilled. 

What impact do you hope this book has? 

Most of all, I want my writing to touch 

someone emotionally in the way that other 

books have touched me. But for all my 

ambition, whether or not I am successful, 

none of it is relevant until someone reads 

the novel. Until then – until it comes alive in 

the reader’s imagination – the book is just 

a pile of paper and ink. Quite a large pile 

of paper and ink though, so it would make 

a decent doorstop. If nothing else it has a 

practical use! 

Are you doing any book events? 

I have a few book club appearances 

lined up, and a couple of workshops and 

talks at schools and universities. If any of 

your readers are interested, I’m happy to 

participate in face-to-face or online book 

groups. I can be contacted via my web page. 

One book reviewer says it’s a Scottish 

novel of significance and can’t be 

recommended enough – are there more 

reasons why Westenders should pick up 

a copy? 

If you are looking for a novel that will make 

you laugh, cry and think, a novel that is 

full of terrible jokes and unorthodox and 

generally uncalled for profanity, a novel set 

on your own (slightly fictionalised) doorstep 

featuring a cross section of the brilliant 

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

then The Backstreets of Purgatory might 

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

worth it for the laugh of hearing Caravaggio’s 

nickname alone. Is it wrong to laugh at your 

own jokes? It is, isn’t it…! 

You can find Helen at helentaylor.com, or 

on twitter as @TaylorHelen_M 

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1 

The Backstreets 

of Purgatory 

by Helen Taylor 

BY BRIAN TOAL 

WESTENDER’s 

COVER TO COVER 

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

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

End of Glasgow but not the boutiques and eateries 

advertised in our beloved magazine. 

The setting, as the title suggests, 

is the seedier underbelly which 

many of us are aware of but often 

ignore. 

Finn Garvie is a struggling 

artist of Italian stock, obsessed 

with Caravaggio, wasting his 

life and his talent by taking 

drugs, squandering any hope 

of a successful relationship and 

generally ostracising himself from 

any functioning adult who might 

be in a position to help him. So far, 

as a character he fits the mould of 

many a struggling artist. However, 

the plot twists when Caravaggio 

himself makes an appearance, 

apparently sent back from 

Purgatory to help the struggling 

artist fulfil his potential. 

There are many enjoyable 

capers through the West End 

as Finn, his mate Maurice and 

Caravaggio traipse from place to 

place, stumbling from watering 

hole to watering hole, stealing 

props from various places to use in 

their paintings. 

You’ll chuckle when you hear 

them shout his nickname across 

the street, as ‘Caravaggio!’ 

would be too conspicuous, 

whereas the alternative is 

something we hear much more 

regularly in Glasgow. You may 

also enjoy the punning and 

allusions to parts of the anatomy. 

Certainly, as an avid reader of ‘Viz’, 

I was chortling away on several 

occasions. 

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

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

realistic narrative which explores the harsh realities of life in 

Glasgow and the train wrecks that people often mistake for real 

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

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

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

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

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

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

chaotic and filled with regrets and dissatisfaction. 

The denouement is satisfying and the twists and turns of the 

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

times paths cross becomes borderline unbelievable, although 

anyone who walks up Byres Road regularly will know that several 

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

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

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

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

can make us uncomfortable.


Odd Girl Out 

by Laura James 

2 

Laura James struggled 

throughout her childhood to 

adapt to a world which was 

confusing and overwhelming. 

It was only in her forties 

that she was diagnosed 

with autism and, while this 

diagnosis helped her to 

understand why she was 

the way she was, it was the 

beginning of a journey rather 

than the end. James provides 

a raw, unexpurgated account 

of her failed first marriage, 

losing her two girls, spending 

time in hospital, struggling to 

cope with being adopted, and 

finally, her relationship with 

Tim. It’s this relationship which 

sustains her and the honesty 

and candour with which she 

conveys this relationship is 

admirable. 

She only really begins to 

find peace with herself when 

she realises, through speaking 

to an online network of fellow 

travellers, that her struggles 

come from trying to fit into 

a neurotypical mould, rather 

than trying to live life as an 

autistic person. She says that 

she is flawed, but not by her 

autism; rather, she is flawed by 

her insistence on fighting it and 

the stresses this places on her. 

She compares herself 

to Kintsugi pottery – the 

Japanese art of mending 

broken pottery with precious 

metals. She comes to see that 

the breakages and repairs 

are part of the history of any 

object, or person, rather than 

something to hide. 

This book is humbling to 

read. It gives a brutally honest 

insight into the life of an adult 

with autism and should be 

educative for neurotypicals 

too. 

Sue Black is a professor 

of anatomy and forensic 

anthropology at Dundee 

University and so deals with 

death every day. 

She analyses corpses in 

her lab, assists the police with 

murder investigations and has 

also been one of the leading 

British investigators of mass 

fatalities such as in Kosovo, 

the London bombings and the 

Boxing Day tsunami. 

This fascinating book allows 

the reader an insight into her 

key cases, as well as providing 

the author the opportunity to 

reflect on life, dying and death. 

She has learned a lot in her 

illustrious career and shares 

her knowledge generously 

with the readers, employing 

a writing style which is lucid 

and straightforward without 

being patronising. The book 

has some funny moments in it 

too, which were unexpected 

given the subject matter, and 

it was a book I found hard to 

put down. 

All That Remains won the 

Saltire book of the year last 

year, and rightly deserved 

to do so. She begins her 

account by detailing her 

first experiences of death in 

her family, then moves on to 

her increasing interest and 

specialism in anatomy and the 

dead. Each chapter focuses 

on a different case, where 

we learn of the state of the 

deceased when discovered, 

the challenges facing the 

authorities and the investing 

forensic team, as well as 

reflecting on lessons learnt. 

The subtitle of the book is 

A Life in Death. There’s nothing 

like a book about death to 

make you reflect on life. 

All That Remains 

by Sue Black 

3

44 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com 

Magazine Promotion 

Image I Gregor Reid 

Accountancy 

Matters 

by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison 

MTD – the bigger picture 

As you know the digital revolution is 

happening all around us – how we 

shop, bank and do business. Now 

HMRC is rapidly progressing its digital 

transformation. 

As of 1st April 2019, VAT registered 

businesses (with £85k threshold turnover) are 

keeping VAT records digitally, automatically 

submitting quarterly VAT returns to HMRC 

via online software. Soon all businesses will 

need to be MTD ready. 

Should I go digital now? 

It is not mandatory, for your business to go 

digital – yet. However, the 2020 deadline is 

fast approaching. 

To survive in business it’s better to stay 

ahead of the curve. Now is the time to break 

old habits. 

Cash flow is easier than ever to manage. 

From your mobile you store receipts 

electronically, send and track invoices 

anytime so you get paid quicker. 

We understand every business is unique. 

We offer two HMRC approved online 

accounting software packages: Kashflow 

and Quickbooks with different levels of 

functionality, scalability and tiered pricing. 

Murrison & Wilson, CA is a full service 

accountancy firm specialising in 

business and tax planning. Get in 

touch for a free consultation plus 

fixed and competitive fees. 

Advantages of going digital today? 

Going digital brings a wealth of advantages. 

You spend less time on admin and more time 

running your business. 

Plus real time financial data is at your 

fingertips. You and your accountant can 

make informed decisions, identify problems 

and opportunities early. You can put checks 

in place to monitor turnover and flag up if you 

are approaching the £85k VAT threshold. 

You will know how much your next tax 

bill is, have the money in the bank and never 

miss a submission deadline. 

Murrison & Wilson Chartered Accountants 

10 Newton Terrace G3 7PJ 

0141 290 0262 

info@muwca.co.uk 

muwca.co.uk


Legal Matters 

Being An Attorney 

Words from Laura Burns Associate at Mitchells Roberton: 

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

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

We often hear of the importance of 

having a Power of Attorney in place 

but not so much about the duties 

involved in being someone’s Attorney. It may 

be flattering to be asked to be an Attorney 

but there are responsibilities attached to 

such a role. 

Who can be an attorney? 

Attorneys in Scotland must be aged 16 or 

over and in the case of a Continuing Power of 

Attorney they also cannot be bankrupt. 

How many types of attorneys are 

there? 

There are two types of Attorney in Scotland: 

√ A Continuing Attorney who has authority 

to manage the granter’s financial and /or 

property affairs 

√ A Welfare Attorney who has authority 

to manage matters relating to the granter’s 

personal welfare 

You could be appointed as a sole or a joint 

Attorney. As a joint Attorney you could be 

required to make decisions along with other 

attorneys. You could also be appointed as a 

substitute Attorney and will only be able to 

act if a sole Attorney is no longer able to do 

so or if they have resigned their appointment. 

What are the duties of an Attorney? 

√ You must ensure that every measure is 

taken to support the granter of the Power of 

Attorney (PoA) to make their own decision 

on any matter or otherwise to allow them to 

exercise their legal capacity. 

√ You must ensure that any decision made 

on behalf of the granter respects their rights 

and takes account of any known wishes and 

feelings, past or present. 

√ You must maintain communication with 

relevant parties and take account of their 

views. 

√ You will act within the scope of the 

powers granted to you. 

√ You must keep records of how you use 

your powers. Continuing Attorneys must also 

keep the granter’s financial affairs separate 

from their own. 

√ You must also notify the Public Guardian 

about certain events, such as changes 

of address, the death of the granter or 

bankruptcy. 

√ Beyond such principles, your rights 

and responsibilities will depend on the PoA 

document itself. 

If Laura Burns can help please 

call her on 0141 552 3422, or email 

lcb@mitchells-roberton.co.uk 

Mitchells Roberton Solicitors 

& Estate Agents 

George House 

36 North Hanover Street G1 2AD 

0141 552 3422 

www.mitchells-roberton.co.uk


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Endmum’s 

West 

notebook 

by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk 

The weather may not be suggesting it but 

the summer holidays will be here pretty 

soon. For many it is a time to look 

forward to as most will take time off work, 

go on a well-deserved holiday and hopefully 

enjoy sunnier days and higher temperatures. 

However, I know just as many who dread the 

summer holidays! 

Yes, for those with children, especially for 

families with working parents, it can be a very 

stressful time. School summer holidays are 

longer than anyone’s annual leave. So, what 

do you do? Child care and activities to keep 

everyone amused is in high demand and very 

often comes at a high cost. 

I usually take Ruby and Leon with me to 

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

But this is a luxury which very few parents 

have. Some take unpaid leave, while others 

divide up annual leave between family 

members and many, of course, make use of 

various kids camps which offer not just child 

care but also fun activities to keep children 

entertained throughout the day. 

Although I can take my children to 

work, I usually book them into a camp for 

a few weeks so they spend time with peers 

rather than just with me. This year will be 

no different: Scotstoun kids club, here we 

come! There is a variety of camps to choose 

from, anything from drama to dance or 

football. Outdoors, indoors, you name it, 

you are certain to find something interesting. 

If you don’t want to spend much, check 

out Glasgow Life’s leisure centre camps. 

There are various sports activities on offer, 

just be quick, they tend to fill up quickly 

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

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

it can be difficult to book something for 

both at the same time. I would really have 

liked Ruby and Leon to do some sessions 

with Fearless Theatre School but sadly 

the logistics are against us this summer. 

But check out their holiday sessions, they 

sound great (fearlesstheatreschool.com). 

If your child is interested in acrobatics 

then you also need to take a look at the 

summer camp run by Aerial Edge based at 

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

can learn skills on Flying Trapeze and Silks 

as well as Unicycling, Parkour or Juggling 

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

It is one of the more costly activities but it 

sounds amazing. Another popular summer 

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

at Kelvinside Academy which is open to 

ages 5-14. 

One of my new discoveries is based in 

Maryhill: Computer Games Development 

Boot Camp run by The British Youth IT 

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

are taught IT skills in different areas such as 

Software, Hardware, Games Development, 

Web Development and Graphic Design. 

It sounds absolutely fabulous although it will 

probably stretch most people’s budget to the 

limit. 

If you have set yourself a smaller budget 

and are just looking for the occasional activity 

then look up Glasgow Life’s website again, 

where you will find anything from Bounce 

& Rhyme to story book sessions, arts and 

crafts to sports activities in various parks, all 

of which are free. 

Or alternatively, check out one of the 

sessions at The Hub. We will be running 

weekday language activities for children and 

adults, make sure to book in advance. At our 

Café Hub you can start each day with a free 

drop in activity for the under twos. All sorted 

now? I hope this has given you some ideas 

anyway. Einen schönen Sommer Euch allen 

und bis bald!


It’s Good To Talk 

How a cancer charity is tackling the emotional 

needs of cancer sufferers head-on 

WORDS Mike Findlay 

We all know someone affected by 

cancer. The stats speak for 

themselves: in 2018 alone, 16,300 

women and 15,800 men were diagnosed 

with cancer in Scotland. There are numerous 

cancer charities out there and, unless you’ve 

been hiding in a bunker, you will have noticed 

large national campaigns supporting the 

latest medical breakthrough in tackling the 

‘biggest killer’. 

While this work is clearly critical, 

I’ve often wondered beyond medicine, what 

other support is available to deal with the 

complex needs of cancer patients? Emotional 

support, mental health and wellbeing are all 

so important – we are constantly reminded of 

the need to consider our mental health as an 

equal partner to our physical health. So, what 

can be done about it? 

And the answer to these questions are, 

literally, right on my own doorstep. I recently 

found out about the brilliant work of the 

charity Cancer Support Scotland, who are 

based at Gartnavel Hospital Campus which 

I walk through every day on the way to 

Hyndland Station. 

Cancer Support Scotland is a charity 

dedicated to supporting cancer patients and 

their families through their difficult journey of 

diagnosis and ill health. They were founded 

in 1980 by Professor Kenneth Calman, 

a leading light in cancer research and 

previous Chief Medical Officer of Scotland. 

He’s also father to the comedian Susan 

Calman, who happens to be an ambassador 

for the charity. Professor Calman’s vision was 

to have emotional support readily available 

to cancer patients in a way that matches 

professional standards of clinical service. 

The Calman Cancer Support Centre, 

where the charity is based, is set within the 

old Gartnavel Royal Hospital Chapel. The 

chapel was renovated and reopened its doors 

in 2012 after an extensive refurbishment 

which has seen it redesigned in an 

appropriately sympathetic way. The building 

includes therapy suites, counselling rooms, 

an information centre with internet access


and library facility, hairdressing and wig 

fitting salon, offices and a peaceful sensory 

garden. 

It’s not just here in Glasgow where 

the good work happens however, Cancer 

Support Scotland has Outreach centres 

throughout the central belt of the country for 

those that cannot travel to Gartnavel. 

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of 

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

‘take care’) the predecessor to Cancer 

Support Scotland, which set out to meet the 

needs of patients and their families within an 

informal setting. 

Cancer Support Scotland’s mission 

remains simple yet ambitious: to support 

the wellbeing of people who have suffered 

the emotional, physical and mental strains 

of cancer. Tailored emotional and practical 

support comes from trained counsellors 

and qualified therapists specialising in 

oncology. For example, cancer patients are 

offered counselling sessions, complementary 

therapies, podiatry, bereavement and stress 

management. And it’s all completely free. 

‘Emotional support and counselling 

services are essential to help people 

through the cancer journey,’ explains Rob 

Murray, CEO of Cancer Support Scotland. 

‘Our services are proven to improve the 

wellbeing of people who have suffered the 

emotional, physical and mental strains of 

cancer. Our feedback surveys confirm that 

people sleep better, anxiety is reduced 

and physical pain and discomfort from 

chemotherapy and radiotherapy is eased.’ 

The work of Cancer Support Scotland 

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

appointments were made by people wanting 

access to their services, which was a 20% 

increase on the year before. One serviceuser 

comments, ‘This is a real haven, very 

supportive staff, great therapists, lovely 

surroundings and I no longer feel alone.’ 

A recent Scottish Government Cancer 

Patient survey highlighted that just over 

half of respondents (55%) felt they were 

completely supported emotionally / 

psychologically by healthcare professionals 

during their treatment, showing an increasing 

demand for such support. 

Rob Murray continues, ‘Our services make 

life easier for people affected by cancer and 

our services are free. This helps people using 

our services avoid the additional burden of 

financial stress. We do not receive any public 

funding and rely solely on the generosity of 

others to ensure our services are accessible 

for all.’ 

Cancer Support Scotland is calling out 

for members of the public to get involved in 

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

been inspired by what you’ve learnt about 

Cancer Support Scotland, you may want to 

consider the numerous ways you can help, 

such as volunteering as a counsellor, raising 

funds as you run this year’s Great Scottish 

Run, or signing up for the Ladies Lunch at the 

Radisson Blu on 6th of October. 

Rob Murray concludes, ‘Often people 

visit Cancer Support Scotland because they 

simply want a quiet space to sit or have 

the time to talk over coffee with one of our 

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

Visit: cancersupportscotland.org, 

call 0141 337 8199, or email lucy.kirkland@ 

cancersupportscotland.org about 

volunteering opportunities.


Health Matters 

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

discusses the use of medical cannabis to alleviate chronic 

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

and cons of what can still be a controversial topic. 

‘M 

“ other arrested at airport importing 

cannabis to save her child’. ‘Epileptic 

boy seizure free after using 

cannabis oil’. ‘Daily use of high potency 

Marijuana linked to psychosis’. ‘Pot smoking 

in adolescence linked to depression in 

adulthood’. 

So what is the truth behind the headlines? 

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

GP prescribe it now? 

Well, as usual with all things medical, 

there isn’t a straightforward answer. 

In November 2018 the UK government 

changed the legal status of cannabis and 

cannabis based products for medicinal use 

in the UK. This followed a spate of highly 

publicised cases where children with certain 

types of epilepsy were treated abroad with 

cannabis products. 

There is a rare and severe type of epilepsy 

(Dravet Syndrome) which is difficult to treat 

with standard medicines and it has been 

shown that some (around 40%) children with 

this form of epilepsy will benefit. Seizures 

usually continue but are less frequent and 

shorter lasting. Prior to November last year 

the only way parents could obtain supplies of 

the medication was to travel abroad and bring 

them into the country illegally. The change 

means that in certain rare circumstances


cannabis based products will be prescribed 

by the NHS. 

Only specialists will be allowed to 

prescribe the products (so no point asking 

your GP) and only to patients who cannot be 

treated by other more standard medications. 

Currently the only licensed cannabis 

based product is Sativex which is used to 

treat spasticity (muscle stiffness) in people 

with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Another product 

is going through the licensing process and 

may soon be available for use in Europe 

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

other drugs have failed and only in a small 

proportion of people. 

The reluctance to prescribe is for two main 

reasons. First of all there is concern about 

risks. Studies have shown that people who 

use cannabis have a higher risk of mental 

health problems from mild depression 

to psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia. 

Secondly, medical cannabis has not been 

tried and tested enough for us to be sure of 

its safety in other ways and there remains 

concern about the unknown long term effects 

on the developing brain in children. 

Even the purest forms of medical cannabis 

can cause side effects including diarrhoea, 

nausea, weakness, mood changes, dizziness, 

hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. 

Cannabis has two main ingredients: 

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – this is the 

chemical in cannabis which makes you feel 

high – and Cannabidiol (CBD) which is the 

part which has been shown to have some 

medical benefits. Generally, the higher the 

concentration of THC, the higher the risks. 

Cannabis products bought online may not 

be of good quality and might contain varying 

amounts of THC and CBD. THC containing 

products remain illegal to possess in the UK. 

A lot of the CBD oils available online and in 

health food shops will either be contaminated 

with THC, or contain such low amounts of 

CBD that they will be of dubious benefit. 

Cannabis bought on the street has the 

highest risk of all. 

This all sounds very gloomy I know 

but there is hope that in time the good 

bits of the cannabis plant can be isolated, 

tested properly and may be available to 

treat even more conditions. Many people 

with chronic pain use cannabis with some 

reported benefit. It has been used for those 

undergoing chemotherapy who suffer from 

vomiting. 

After all Aspirin was originally derived 

from willow bark (used by herbalists for fever 

since the Middle Ages). Now we know the 

multiple benefits it can bring (prevention of 

heart attacks, reduced risk of bowel cancer) 

but we also know the downsides (death from 

gastrointestinal haemorrhage). It’s all about 

weighing up the pros and cons!


Homes & Interiors 

by Susan 

Robertson 

North Hill Gardens 

Al Fresco 

Living 

This is the time of year where we have the 

biggest chance of an al fresco edge to our lives. 

Susan Robertson speaks to some West End experts 

about how to make the most of our outside spaces.


Us Westenders are blessed to live in a leafy part 

of a beautiful city, with a wealth of parks and 

green spaces on our doorsteps to choose from. 

But, if you also have some outside space of 

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

patio, or a huge private garden, there are many 

great ways to make whatever you have work 

beautifully for you. 

I spoke to two local professionals to get 

some advice about what you should consider 

to maximise your outside space. Michael 

Dumanski of North Hill Gardens gave me 

some great guidance. He explained, 'Garden 

design is not only about planting but also hard 

landscaping, which adds texture, character 

and structure, leading the eye through the 

landscape. First, take into account your 

plot. Look at the size and shape and take 

into consideration the direction if faces, the 

style of your house it will be framing and the 

surrounding area. Achieving balance is a strong 

aspect of good garden design.' 

Michael continued, 'Then, think about what 

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

you had somewhere to sit, relax, entertain or 

let the children play? Maybe you are just a little 

bored and want a garden design that is more 

colourful, varied or maintenance-friendly. 

Craft an attractive space to give you a beautiful 

environment and design a practical layout that 

allows you to use your garden how you want.' 

Sometimes the hardest part of any process 

of change, or development, is where on earth 

to start. There is plenty of inspiration around 

the West End and Michael suggests, 'Think 

about your taste. Take inspiration from visiting 

garden centres, public gardens, annual garden 

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

at magazines or Pinterest which are filled with 

ideas for traditional gardens, modern gardens, 

family gardens and innovative ideas for gardens 

big or small.' 

Any type of new design will benefit from a 

mood board, take your time to collate pictures 

and ideas to think about what environment 

really makes you happy. Account for elements 

such as scent and sound, do you want to hear 

water for example, would you like highly 

perfumed flowers, do you need to insulate 

from traffic sounds? And think of other 

practical considerations such as, what level of 

maintenance are you willing to do, do you want 

to encourage or discourage wildlife, how often 

do you want to see the colours in the garden 

change? 

Our urban landscape brings some particular 

considerations, for example shared spaces 

are common, so ownership needs checked 

and consensus reached before any changes 

are made. We also often have limited outside 

space to work with. I asked Michael about the 

best approach here, he said, 'Small gardens 

can often end up looking messy – the most



common mistake when decorating them is 

that we buy too many ill-fitting accessories and 

plants that give the impression of chaos. In the 

city garden moderation and consistency do 

matter. When choosing plants, accessories or 

garden furniture, try to combine elements that 

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

harmonious whole. Colour consistency is very 

important – especially in small gardens where 

the accumulation of many colours is risky, 

this solution can overwhelm us, and certainly 

also hinders our leisure. We can also use such 

optical tricks as mirrors – placed on the wall or 

surrounding the garden. The mirror creates 

the illusion of enlarging the space, giving the 

impression of depth. In this sense, even a small 

water reservoir will work - the garden that 

surrounds it will optically expand our space. 

Furniture in a small urban garden must be 

functional and refer to the surroundings that 

we create.' 

Michael summarises that 'the main factor 

is surroundings – the architectural style of the 

building, materials and colours already used. 

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

love striking, lively colours, some prefer plain, 

elegant whites and pastels. We also use different 

shapes for different garden styles – more formal 

in modern gardens and informal in naturalistic 

ones. Having a good garden design in place 

doesn’t mean you need to build the garden 

straight away. You can base your work on the 

design and divide it into stages to transform 

your garden over the years.' 

If you’re looking to enhance your flower beds 

or window boxes, there are also some great 

suppliers in the local area, one of these being the 

new West End Garden Centre. Its owner, Martin 

McCarron tells us that they offer a wide range 

of plants, compost, and increasingly – garden 

pottery, but plants are their speciality and they 

can offer some expert advice in this area. 

When considering planting in the West 

End Martin advises to 'always plan properly 

before you plant, particularly if you have a 

smaller space, so that you can maximise what’s 

available. Stick to locally-grown shrubs (the 

garden centre has a full Ayrshire range), this 

makes sure that they’re tough enough for our 

Scottish winters. Consider the position of your 

garden too, so that they receive the best sunlight 

and conditions to thrive.' 

So we have everything that we need to create 

a beautiful outside space, here’s hoping that the 

weather will support us as we enjoy our alfresco 

elements. 

With thanks to: 

Northhill Gardens 0141 332 5533 

northhillgardens.co.uk 

West End Garden Centre 07964 672211 

40-44 Peel Street G11 5LU 

West End Garden Centre 

Image By Gregor Reid


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garden design 

& maintenance



Blooming Marvellous! 

new garden centre opens in the heart of the west end 

Meet Martin McCarron, owner of the 

West End Garden Centre sited at the 

historic West of Scotland Cricket 

Ground in Partick. Whether you are lucky 

enough to have a small patch of earth to call 

your own, or garden out of a window box – 

Martin is your new best friend. 

‘I have worked in horticulture since I was 

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

about retail in my previous job as plant buyer 

for a large chain of garden centres. From 

there I worked as part of a landscaping firm 

giving me great experience of plant after-care 

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

retail though and had been looking around 

the West End for ages. When this opportunity 

came up – I jumped at the chance! 

‘We stock a full range of Ayrshire grown 

shrubs, Kincardine grown roses, Perthshire 

grown bedding plants, alpine plants, trees: 

most plants you would find in a garden centre 

really. We also take specific orders and do 

our upmost to source unusual plants. 

‘For anyone without outside space we also 

carry plants great for small tubs on a balcony 

or troughs for a windowsill. There are loads of 

options. Bedding plants are always a winner 

however a selection of alpine plants means 

they come back year after year and you can 

get loads of different textures and flower 

colour combinations this way.’ 

Being in the heart of the West End means 

customers can walk or cycle home with their 

herbs and tomato plants, further boosting 

their green credentials, though there is onstreet 

parking just outside should heavier 

tubs and compost be on your shopping list. 

It’s a great way to reintroduce yourself to 

this historic corner of Partick too, where in 

1872 the world’s first international football 

match, between Scotland and England, took 

place. Looks to me like Martin’s the bookies 

favourite for success in 2019! 

SPECIAL OFFER: 10% OFF 

all purchases made by 31st August 2019. 

Simply hand in this coupon! 

Name:___________________________ 

Email Address: ____________________ 

This signs you up to Martin’s special offer 

newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. 

West End Garden Centre 

40-44 Peel Street G11 5LU 

07964 672211 

# 

#


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

0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk 

Email: sales@thestoreinteriors.co.uk 

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


Floral Features 


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

with the colours and benefits of nature and reflect its influence 

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

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

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

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

Stoneglow, Heavenly Orris 

Root & Matcha Tea Diffuser, 

£24, Spirito 

House Doctor Vase, 

£18, Hoos 

Gillian Arnold Lampshade, 

£45, Cassiopeia 

Mini Plant Pot Range 

by Louise Madzia, 

£22 each, CoLab Store 

Ceramic Crackled Green Vase, £35, 

The Store Interiors 

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

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

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

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

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


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Hyacinth House Floristry 

by Susan 

Robertson 

Breathing 

the outside in 

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

and so much to be enjoyed in the great outdoors, 

but when we head back inside and shut the door 

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

inside with us? 

Very few of us would deny that some fresh blooms 

can brighten any room, but we rarely make it a 

priority when looking after our homes. In our busy 

lives, it can sometimes seem like too much of a 

hassle to look after flowers and indoor plants, and 

the cheaper flower bunches are often limp before 

you’ve left the shop.


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

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

and even to our health. 

I asked Gary of Hyacinth House Floristry for some 

tips about bringing the outside into our homes. 

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

your garden, for example if you have hydrangeas or 

dahlias in your garden, if you create a floral bouquet 

then it can work well to incorporate those in it to 

tie everything together across your internal and 

external spaces. If you are choosing houseplants 

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

cohesively reflect things like leaf shape or colour, 

especially if the plants are close to the windows.' 

Not only do plants look great, add depth, 

colour and texture to a room, but they are good 

for your health too. They naturally cleanse the 

air, and they’re also believed to actually improve 

concentration, reduce stress and boost mood levels 

so they’re a great addition to any home. 

Have a think about the plants you choose for each 

room. Be careful to ensure that they are positioned 

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

at night time they can have a different effect on the 

air when the photosynthesis stops, so keep them to 

your daytime rooms for the most part. 

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

options to get the benefits of some leafiness without 

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

maintenance spider plant for some quick green 

splashes that are pretty good value, grow quickly, 

and are very low maintenance too. Think about 

investing in a bright statement plant pot and a big 

waxy plant to get you going and make an impact in 

your home, then build on from there as and when 

you can. 

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

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

easy to look after – they only need watered once every 

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

are especially beneficial for cleansing the air in an 

apartment – taking in carbon dioxide and giving 

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

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

Lesley told me, 'I have found that in the 

Thornwood area, where Tulipané is situated, there 

are many young couples buying their first flat. One of 

the things they enjoy doing together for their home is 

buying plants. Even giving them names and we have 

a laugh chatting about how it is comparable with 

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

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

caring for them.' 

There are clearly a wealth of benefits to finding a 

few fresh flowers and potted plant pets to enhance 

your home, and your health. And the expertise we 

need and options for what we can buy are available 

right on our West End doorsteps. 

With thanks to: 

Tulipané Coffee House, 682 Dumbarton Road G11 6RB 

tulipane.co.uk 

Hyacinth House Floristry, 950A Crow Road G13 1JD 

hyacinthhousefloristry.com 

Tulipané Coffee House

www.westendermagazine.com | 63


Westender Magazine 

Interiors & All Trades 

Keeping your home working for 

you. Whatever you need whenever 

you need it – find reliable local 

tradespeople here. 

Painter & Decorator » Plaster Skimming 

Ames Taping & Coving » Period Windows 

Hand-painted Kitchens 

Call Frank – 07906 395341 / 0141 945 3975 

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TRADITIONAL SASH 

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We’re your local experts in all 

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over 20 years experience 

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Contact us for advice or free survey on: 

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

66 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com 

Magazine Promotion 

The Wee Kitchen Shop 

Specialising In Beautiful Shaker Kitchens 

Susan and Ewen, knew exactly what 

kitchen they wanted when they bought 

a plot of land in Gartness to build their 

dream house – A Wee Kitchen Shop kitchen. 

Having seen the bespoke cabinetry in an 

earlier edition of Westender Magazine, they 

grabbed the opportunity to create the kind 

of space that would be custom-built to their 

specifications. 

Says Susan, ‘Right from the start Greg 

took on board all our requests for the 

kitchen and was great at suggesting ideas 

and details that we hadn’t thought of. Greg 

brought a personal touch to the project often 

lacking in mainstream companies and is 

genuinely enthusiastic about what he does. 

His wealth of knowledge was a deciding 

factor in booking him for the job. He always 

answered our questions promptly and kept 

us up-to-date with developments.’ 

Featuring made-to-measure solid wood 

framed Shaker cabinetry – custom painted 

in traditional soft grey and dark blue – Susan 

and Ewen are delighted with their new space, 

‘The quality of the kitchen is superb and it 

looks even better than I hoped. The layout 

works perfectly for the way I use my kitchen,’ 

Susan continues. 

A major feature is the custom-made larder 

with internal drawer storage, SILESTONE task 

area, storage shelves, and door mounted 

oak shelving for spices and jars. Each 

detail designed to be practical, whilst also 

looking beautiful. This theme of beauty and 

practicality is carried across to items such as 

the Villeroy & Boch Farmhouse Belfast sink 

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

Susan concludes, ‘I wouldn’t hesitate 

to recommend The Wee Kitchen Shop to 

anyone considering a similar project. Greg 

gives you expertise, enthusiasm and a good 

chat into the bargain.’ 

Please call ahead for a FREE 

consultation appointment at 

The Wee Kitchen Shop. 

The WEE Kitchen Shop 

304 Crow Road, Broomhill G11 7HS 

0141 334 4747 

www.theweekitchenshop.co.uk 

info@theweekitchenshop.co.uk


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68 | www.westendermagazine.com

Westender JulAug 2019 Magazine

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