November December 2019 Westender Magazine

www.westendermagazine.com | 1 

WESTENDER 

nov/dec

2 | www.westendermagazine.com 

Real Christmas Trees 

FREE DELIVERY @ West End Garden Centre 

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We will be stocking 100s of freshly cut real Christmas trees 

in all sizes from 1st December … 

X Nordmann Firs 4-15ft 

X Fraser Firs 4-9ft 

X Pot Grown Trees 3-4ft 

X Christmas Wreaths 

Come and enjoy some Mulled wine and shortbread whilst 

picking your perfect tree from your Christmas tree forest. 

We will have members of the team to help select 

your favourite tree. 

West of Scotland Cricket Club 

40-44 Peel Street Glasgow G11 5LU 

Call 07964672211


Contents 

Regulars 

4 Editor’s Letter 

24 Mum’s Notebook 

42 Cover to Cover 

Lifestyle 

7 READER OFFER! 2-4-1 

Tickets for The Country 

Living Christmas Fair 

17 West End Christmas 

Gift Guide 2019 

34 A Shop That’s Close 

To Home 

Fashion, beauty & health 

8 Mono Fashion 

25 WIN! At Rainbow 

Room International 

Going out 

26 Top Things 

28 West End Live 

with Greg Kane 

30 Musician Interview: 

The Pastels 

41 Restaurant Review: 

Five March 

Westender living 

45 Winter Warmer


Editor’s 

Letter 

Iapologise in advance but I am going to 

say it…the dreaded ‘C’ word – Christmas! 

There you go. That wasn’t too painful now 

was it? Ok, maybe a bit. The 25th December 

does seem to whizz round earlier and earlier 

each year but as always we are helping you 

to prepare with our Christmas Gift Guide 

loaded with goodies from our West End gift 

boutiques (Page 17). 

Keeping it local remains our theme for 

Pamela Palongue’s shopping guide on page 

34. Visiting the local florists, grocers and 

markets of the West End, Pamela promotes 

the great value and choice we have right 

on our doorstep – whilst supporting local 

businesses and families too. 

As the nights draw in and the weather 

deteriorates what a great excuse to cheer 

ourselves up by visiting one of our great 

music and entertainment venues. We could 

all do with some cheering up (oh yes we 

could!). There are pantos for young and old at 

Websters Theatre and Oran Mor, Elfingrove 

magic at Kelvingrove, street parties and 

Christmas markets on Vinicombe Street, plus 

many more – so check out our Top Things 

happening in the West End this winter on 

page 26. 

SWG3, the QMU, The Hug and Pint, and 

the Armadillo are all featured in Greg Kane’s 

top music listings this festive season on page 

28. We are blessed with venues from intimate 

spaces to world class facilities hosting the 

likes of Scottish songstress Magpie Blue 

to the 80s icons a-ha. And to add to this 

bounty, The Great Western festival launches 

this November, bringing top bands such 

as Songhoy Blues and Cass McCombs to 

community spaces around Great Western 

Road. Heading the line up at the Maryhill 

Community Central Halls are The Pastels. 

Read Nicola Maule’s interview with Stephen 

Pastel on page 30 about why they chose to 

get involved. 

This is our last edition of Westender for 

2019. A huge shout out must go to our regular 

advertisers who’ve supported us throughout 

the year. Without you we couldn’t do it. 

Literally. So let’s give a huge cheer for small 

local businesses sharing the love this winter! 

Suzanne Martin


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EDITOR 

SUZANNE MARTIN 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

GREGOR REID 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

AMY GLASGOW, 

MICHELE GORDON, 

GREG KANE, NICOLA MAULE, 

TRACY MUKHERJEE, 

PAMELA PALONGUE, 

SUSAN ROBERTSON, BRIAN TOAL 

HAIR & MUA 

TERRI CRAIG 

STYLIST 

JACKI CLARK 

WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM 

INFO@WESTENDERMAGAZINE.COM 

07905 897238 

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& INSTAGRAM 

Publisher: Westender Magazine 

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Country Living Magazine Christmas 

Fair is back at the SEC from 21-24 

November 2019. The annual 

celebration of all things festive is a must for 

anyone looking to find everything for the 

perfect Christmas celebration under one roof. 

Source beautiful decorations and original 

gifts from gorgeous garlands and beautiful 

baubles, to glassware, scented candles and 

stylish cards. Arts and craft lovers can pick 

up haberdashery, ribbons, fabrics, sewing 

kits and craft essentials – everything required 

to get seriously creative this Christmas. 

Over 350 of the UK’s finest designers, 

makers and boutique businesses will gather 

together under one roof to offer unique gifts, 

decorations, crafts, food and drinks and 

inspired interior ideas. 

For the foodies, the temptations and treats 

are endless. An exclusive collection of artisan 

food and drink producers will give visitors 

the chance to sample authentic regional 

delicacies such as gourmet sausages and 

hams, local cheeses and pâté, Christmas 

cakes, puddings, chocolates and tempting 

festive drinks. 

The day out wouldn’t be complete without 

a glass of fizz. The Viking Cruise Champagne 

Bar is a great place to review purchases, plan 

the rest of the day’s shopping or just relax 

with a glass of Champagne. 

2-4-1 TICKETS* 

Guarantee your place at the show by 

purchasing 2 for 1 tickets for £19. Simply 

quote promo code: 241CLGPR16 when 

booking online at countrylivingfair.com 

or call 0844 209 7348. 

* This offer provides 2 tickets for £19, the advanced 

entry cost for one adult visitor. The offer is not 

valid for VIP tickets or add on ticket items. No cash 

alternative is available. A £2.20 book fee applies 

per transaction. The closing date is 17 November 

2019. Calls cost 13p per minute plus network access 

charges. 

2-4-1 TICKETS* 

QUOTE: 241CLGPR16 

CHRISTMAS 

FAIR 

GLASGOW 21-24 NOVEMBER 

Unique gifts 

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More than 350 artisan exhibitors 

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Inspiring style ideas 

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Top tips for festive entertaining 

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Crafting workshops and free to attend talks 

TO BOOK 

* 

TICKETS, VISIT: COUNTRYLIVINGFAIR.COM CALL: 0844 209 7348 

Discount valid on advance adult tickets only. Not valid on VIP or add-on ticket options. A £2.20 booking fee applies per 

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The must-attend Christmas event


LIVE 

LIFE 

IN 

MONO 

photography GREGOR REID 

stylist jacki clark 

mua terri craig

top, river island. 

trousers, h & M 

bag, pink poodle 

Jewellery, cassiopeia 

shoes, daniel footwear 

www.westendermagazine.com | 9


dress & shoes, next 

BAG, pink poodle


jacket & Trousers, jasmine 

boots, daniel footwear 

COAt, ted baker. Dress, next. Shoes, daniel footwear


top, river island. Skirt, top shop. bag, monsoon 

necklace, cassiopeia. shoes, new look


dress, h & M


Dress, ted baker 

Jacket, top shop 

hat, jasmine 

bag, monsoon 

shoes, primark 

stockings, eurasia crafts

photography www.westendermagazine.com gregor reid, gregorreidphotography.com | 15 

stylist jacki clark, jackiclark-stylist.co.uk 

MUA terri craig, terricraig.co.uk 

model kate boyle 

blouse, river island 

skirt, topshop 

shoes, primark 

model courtesy of 

coloursagency.com


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Christmas 

a merry west end 

Gift Guide 

for kids 

Peter Rabbit Egg Cup Set 

Made from Eco-friendly Bamboo 

£10.95, Cassiopeia 

Dinosaur Lights 

£25, Spirito 

Recycled Pencil Range 

Boxes from £12.50 

Nancy Smillie 

Mini Fox Terrier Toys 

£5.95 each, Nancy Smillie 

Sophie la Giraffe Star Activity Toy 

£22.99, Cassiopeia 

Jellycat Leek Soft Toy 

£9.95, Papyrus 

Nape Textiles Scrunchies 

£12 each, Wuid & Stitch 

Alex Makes Kids Lampshade 

£35, Wuid & Stitch 

Magnetic Dress Up Game 

£12.99, Spirito

18 | www.westendermagazine.com

for her 


Arthouse Unlimited Gifts 

from £4.95, Nancy Smillie 

Stork Print Kimono Gown 

£69.95, Nancy Smillie 

Silver, Gold and Opalite Ring from 

Banyan £95, Cassiopeia 

Miami Vice Tote Bag by Freitag (various colour 

options) £75.00, CoLab Store 

Green Thomas Houndstooth Shawl 

£110, Hoos 

Lab 6 Candles and Diffusers 

£25 each, Wuid and Stitch 

Necklace £105 

Spirito 

Keyrings £9.99 

Cassiopeia 

Original Duckhead Olive 

£26, Hoos 

Alice Dansey-Wright Tote Bag £40 & Purse £20, 

Love & Squalor


for him 

The Whisky Game £22 

Cassiopeia 

ESWS RAF Ejector Seat Parachute 

Wind Shirt £55, Wuid and Stitch 

Chilly’s Matte Blue Water Bottle 

£20.00, Papyrus 

Green Thomas Semaphore Black Scarf 

£130, Hoos 

Light Up Globe 

£90, Spirito 

Roka Urban Bags selection 

from £32.50, Cassiopeia 

YLF Shower Gel from Triumph & 

Disaster £25.00, CoLab Store 

Olive Pearson Rugby Cowal 

£46, Wuid and Stitch 

Click Clock £54.95 

Nancy Smillie 

Large Book Light £64.95 

Nancy Smillie

for home 


Sada Blue & Green Steel Vase 

by House Doctor £75, CoLab 

Wagging Tail Clocks £44.95 each 

Nancy Smillie 

Santa Ducks starting 

from £9.95, Cassiopeia 

Octopus Bowl 

£145, Spirito 

Light Up Folklore Circle Large £44 

Small £24, Spirito 

House Doctor Scented Candle 

£12.50, Hoos 

Upcycled N Salvaged Lamp 

(heat gun lamp) £85, Wuid and Stitch 

Glass Terrarium £49.95 

Papyrus 

West End Suppliers 

Cassiopeia 165 Hyndland Road G12 9HT cassiopeiaonline.co.uk 

CoLab Store 11-13 Dowanhill Street G11 5QS colabstore.co.uk 

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

Love & Squalor 427 Great Western Road G4 9JA loveandsqualor.co.uk 

Nancy Smillie Shop 53 Cresswell Street G12 8AE nancysmillieshop com 

Papyrus 374 Byres Road G12 8AR papyrusgifts.co.uk 

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

Wuid and Stitch 86 Dumbarton Road G11 6NX


1 

The Nickel Boys 

by Colson Whitehead 

BY BRIAN TOAL 

WESTENDER’s 

COVER TO COVER 

Colson Whitehead’s previous novel, The Underground 

Railroad, won a Pulitzer prize and was endorsed by 

Barack Obama. 

It conveyed the testimonies of 

former slaves who had escaped 

the American south, neither 

exaggerating the brutalities 

endured nor pulling any punches 

when depicting the attitudes of 

the white slave owners. In his new 

novel, The Nickel Boys, that same 

raw depiction of the harsh realities 

of being black in a white world is 

utilised to stunning effect. 

The main protagonist, Elwood, 

is thrust into The Nickel Academy, 

a reform school where education 

is minimal and work in the form 

of cheap labour for the white 

population is par for the course. 

Elwood’s crime: simply being in the 

wrong place at the wrong time. 

As the novel progresses, we begin 

to understand that very few of 

the ‘students’ at Nickel Academy 

have done much to merit their stay 

there, as the seemingly arbitrary 

arrests of black youths provide a 

constant stream of free labour to 

fulfil a plethora of manual tasks, 

bringing in a handsome profit for 

the white governors of the school. 

Students are regularly beaten, 

isolated for days at a time, as well 

as simply disappearing. 

For students who have really 

overstepped the mark there is 

The White House, a building in the 

middle of the complex where boys 

are taken at night and beaten to 

within an inch of their lives. This 

is the fate Elwood suffers not 

long after arriving at The Nickel 

Academy, intervening in a fight 

and getting caught up with the 

rest in a group punishment. He is 

inspired by the words of Dr. Martin 

Luther King, and is determined to overcome oppression through 

non-violence, just like his hero. Whitehead describes the ensuing 

brutal beatings briefly and the injuries and long-term damage is 

catalogued, but these stark, sparse accounts are actually a more 

effective way of conveying the true horror of what went on, where 

others could lean towards ghoulishness or gratuitous gore. 

The novel opens with a grisly find by construction workers 

on the site of the former reform school, so we know from the 

beginning the fate that often awaited these boys. What makes 

this novel so terrifying is that it’s all based on real events, as 

the endnote confirms. The inspiration for this book is the Dozier 

School for Boys, which was a reformatory school in Florida which 

ran for more than a hundred years. Just recently, Florida officials 

announced that they would begin the search for more bodies on 

the site. 

There was a lot of hype surrounding the appearance of this 

book, mainly because of the huge popularity of The Underground 

Railroad, and many saw this as a sequel. Whilst that’s not entirely 

true, it is certainly a continuation of Whitehead’s exploration of 

black history in America and what underlies the still simmering 

racial tensions plaguing that land.


Top Marks For 

Murder 

by Robin Stevens 

2 

Top Marks for Murder is book 8 

of the Murder Most Unladylike 

series, a series which focusses 

on a group of high school super 

sleuths. I must admit, I’m new 

to this series but if number 

8 is anything to go by, many 

younger readers will find this 

series highly entertaining. 

The novel is set in 

Deepdean, a private school 

for girls – girls of the highest 

echelons of society only, don’t 

you know? There is the usual 

banter, cattiness and snobbery 

you would expect from this 

setting (fans of Malory Towers 

will enjoy this) before a 

murder rocks the school to its 

foundations. 

One of the group of sleuths, 

better known as the Wells 

and Wong Detective Society, 

spots a murder from their 

dorm window and the game 

is afoot. Through dogged 

determination, guile and wit, 

the girls, with the help of a 

friendly local Police Inspector, 

manage to narrow down the 

list of suspects by a process 

of elimination. Another murder 

along the way only serves to 

complicate matters. 

Do they catch the culprit 

in the end? What do you 

think? It’s not going to tax the 

brains of any young readers, 

but they’ll enjoy the chase. 

The characters are amusing, 

the plot speeds along with 

many twists and turns along 

the way, and the concept of 

teen detectives will appeal to 

many younger readers. This 

would be an ideal stockingfiller 

and will entertain the 

youngsters during those long 

winter nights. 

Jason announces after years 

of silence that he identifies as 

a girl and wants to live life as 

a girl. He starts to grow his 

hair and wear more feminine 

clothes, and these very visible 

changes lead to consternation 

amongst his family and friends, 

despicable name calling and 

online comments, as well as 

support from some surprising 

quarters. 

The novel focusses primarily 

on his younger brother, Sam, 

who struggles to deal with 

the loss of his big brother and 

can’t accept that his big sister 

is essentially the same person 

with whom he loved spending 

time. Sam is bullied mercilessly 

at school for his brother’s 

situation and takes this out on 

Jason, who is now known as 

Jessica. 

To add to this tension, 

his mother is a high-profile 

cabinet minister who is 

vying for the top job, and 

this situation is at best a 

distraction and at worst an 

embarrassment to her and a 

real obstacle to her chances 

of becoming Prime Minister, 

as her rivals use this as 

ammunition against her. 

This book has caused a 

bit of a backlash from the 

trans community over Boyne’s 

representation of a trans 

teenager and he was criticised 

for making the focus of the 

novel the family, rather than 

the person transitioning. 

However, others have 

commented that this is the 

book’s strength, and I’d agree. 

The ending is perhaps a bit 

too neat. Nevertheless, this is 

a thought-provoking book for 

any teenager to read, whether 

cis or trans. 

My Brother’s Name 

Is Jessica 

by John Boyne 

3


Endmum’s 

West 

notebook 

by Michele Gordon thelanguagehub.co.uk 

Is it just me or has this last year been a 

particularly fast one? It seems not that long 

ago we opened our multilingual lending 

library in September, hosting Halloween 

parties, preparing for St. Andrews events and 

planning our Christmas festivities at The Hub! 

As you know, I like Christmas a lot: 

particularly the time in the run up to the big 

day. There is so much anticipation of things 

to come, lights and decorations everywhere 

and the smell of Christmassy things. It is 

especially lovely to see children bursting 

with excitement, asking all sorts of questions 

around Santa and how it works. Just Magic! 

I also like Christmas as it gives a little 

extra time to do things as a family. I do miss 

some of the German Christmas traditions. 

I miss celebrating the four Sundays of Advent 

and a proper Christmas market. In Germany, 

Christmas markets are the place where you 

spend hours with friends, singing carols while 

enjoying some Glühwein and eating either 

very greasy or very sweet food. I have always 

thought that the West End should have its 

own little Christmas market on Mansfield 

Square and I still live in hope that one day 

this will become a reality. In the meantime, 

we have decided to get a start on things by 

hosting a one day only Christmas market 

inside The Café Hub on the 1st of December 

(11am-5pm). But maybe our scheduled 

Advent Sunday family brunches (11am-1pm) 

are more to your taste; either way, we hope 

to see you. 

But there are many more things to 

do throughout the West End starting in 

November. One of the early events is the 

musical at the SEC ‘How The Grinch Stole 

Christmas’ (13th-17th November) which has 

been described as ‘A genius of a show! A 

total delight for both kids and adults’. 

If you are looking for events where you can 

purchase some gifts and yummies instead 

then check out the beautiful range of handmade 

crafts, cards, gifts and delicious baking 

at the annual Paul O’Gorman Christmas Fair 

on the 24th of November at Knightswood 

Community Centre (201 Alderman Road). 

And if you missed the opportunity last 

year to make your own Christmas wreath, 

sign up to the wreath making workshop 

hosted by The Floral Design Boutique at 

McPhapps on the 28th of November and 5th 

of December (23 Sandyford Place). 

If you are looking for more entertaining 

things for children then visit the Riverside 

Christmas Festival weekend (7th & 8th 

December). Its event square will be 

transformed into a traditional fairground with 

free rides and carousels for all to enjoy. 

There are also various pantos available. 

We have tickets again this year for The 

Webster’s Theatre production of ‘The Pure 

Amazing Wiz of Oz’ (416 Great Western 

Road). We love the cast and the theatre, they 

always put on a very funny and interactive 

show; last year I had tears running down my 

face with laughter. However, the one ‘must 

do’ thing this year will certainly be Elfingrove 

at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum 

between the 5th and 23rd December. 

The team behind GlasGLOW is turning 

Kelvingrove into Elfingrove, with a night time 

tour of the museum (5.30-10.30pm) where 

‘the magic of Christmas is brought to life’; 

we’ll definitely be buying tickets for this! 

And don’t forget the official ‘switching on the 

lights’ on the Vinicombe Street Christmas 

tree on the 1st of December at 5.30pm, 

always a great event among the many 

Christmas stalls and live music bands and 

choirs. 

This leaves me to wish you all Frohe 

Weihnachten und ein frohes neues Jahr, until 

next year!


CHRISTMAS 

AT 

RRI 

by John Parker 

What a quick year it’s been and at 

Rainbow Room International, we 

have so many things to celebrate. 

Throughout the year we have been 

celebrating our 40th anniversary but as well 

as this, we’ve also been celebrating Co- 

Owner and Director of the George Square 

salon, Dylan Brittain, finalising for the 

Scottish Hairdresser of the Year category at 

the prestigious British Hairdressing Awards. 

This month we will attend the awards to 

support Dylan and we all have all our fingers 

crossed for him. Should he win he will take a 

space on the British Hairdressing Awards Hall 

of Fame for winning the category three times. 

In the lead up to Christmas we have 

fantastic treatments and colour services 

available. If you want to keep your hair 

looking full of life, in a healthy condition 

and with super shine, we have many hair 

treatments including a Glossing service 

to ensure your hair is vibrant during the 

Christmas party season! Do also be sure to 

pop in for your winter trim to keep you hair 

free from split ends! 

317-319 CROW ROAD G11 7BU 

0141 337 3307 

SPIRITOGIFTS.COM 

WIN! Rainbow Room International 

are offering one lucky reader a hair 

makeover in their Great Western Rd 

salon. For your chance to win go to 

westendermagazine.com and click 

on competitions by the 31st Dec ‘19. 

Rainbow Room International 

607 Great Western Road G12 8HX 

0141 337 3370 

rainbowroominternational.com


Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

by Tracy Mukherjee 

Top For Festive Festivals 

The West End celebrates the coming of winter 

with some fabulous entertainment for all the 

family. Take a wander to Ashton Lane on 1st 

December for the Winter Wonderland. The 

lane will be transformed into the North Pole; 

there might even be a visit from Santa himself! 

The kids will love to get into the feel of this most 

magical of seasons, especially as, rumour has 

it Elsa and Olaf from Frozen might be making 

a guest appearance. Expect a fair few festive 

food stalls serving warming goodies on a cold 

December day. If that isn’t enough, why not 

take a weight off in one of Ashton Lane’s many 

welcoming taverns and listen to the Christmas 

choirs that are taking part in this fantastic day? 

Meanwhile along on Vinicombe Street it’s time 

for the Christmas Lights Switch On. As well as 

Vinicombe Street, Cresswell and Ruthven Lane 

will also be joining in on the 1st December with 

Christmas shenanigans beginning at noon. There 

will be entertainment all day on the main stage 

and in the lanes all leading up to the big switch 

on at 5.30pm. 

If you still have some festive spirit left over, head 

along to the Riverside Museum on 7th and 8th 

December for the museum’s annual Christmas 

Festival. With traditional Christmas markets 

lining the resident Victorian street, you may well 

happen upon Mr Scrooge! There will be Victorian 

fairground rides and free carousels, so this is 

definitely not one to miss. 

Winter Wonderland at Ashton Lane 

Sun 1st Dec, 12 – 6pm 

fb:Winter Wonderland at Ashton Lane 

West End Christmas Lights Switch On, Sun 

1st December, 11am - 6pm, Vinicombe St, 

fb:West End Christmas Lights Switch On 

Riverside Christmas Festival, 

Sat 7th - Sun 8th Dec, 11am - 4pm, 

Riverside Museum, Pointhouse Place 

fb:Riverside Museum 

Top for Christmas Magic 

We’ve long been aware that Kelvingrove Museum 

is a magical place, but this December experience 

the magic up close as Kelvingrove is transformed 

into the spectacle that is Elfingrove. Events 

company ITISON have made a spectacular 

success of Halloween’s GlasGLOW; but now 

(with the help of Santa obviously) visitors will be 

able to have a magical night at the museum too. 

The show promises a 70-90 minute tour of the 

museum with light and sound installations not to 

mention the big Magic of Christmas finale. There 

is even a mystical ancient secret to be revealed 

as you make your way through the museum’s 

ethereal glow… 

The event is a super addition to our many 

Christmas staples. Roll on December and 

prepare to be dazzled! 

Elfingrove, Kelvingrove Museum and 

Art Galleries, Thurs 5th – Mon 23rd Dec 

w:itison.com/elfingrove 

Top for Christmas Present 

It’s Good 2 Give may not be a charity well known 

here in the west, but it’s one that’s making 

waves across Scotland. The charity supports 

young cancer patients and their families in many 

ways not least of which through their stunning 

Ripple retreat set on the glorious shores of Loch 

Venachar in Loch Lomond National Park. 

In support of the tremendous work this charity 

does, the inaugural Glasgow Blingo will be 

taking place in January at the Radisson Blu 

Hotel. This sparkling ladies lunch is a chance 

to dress up with the gals for a fizzy drinks 

reception, followed by a sumptuous three course 

meal. Included in your ticket is some superb 

entertainment throughout the afternoon and of 

course, eyes down for the main event – BINGO!!! 

There really is very little anyone needs at 

Christmas these days when we can buy buy buy


Top Things To Do 

in the West End 

with a click of the computer mouse. And that 

purchase rarely gives us the pleasure that we 

hoped it would. But helping others whilst having 

a ball at the same time? Well that’s a Christmas 

present that LITERALLY will keep on giving. 

It’s Good to Give Blingo 

Radisson Blu Hotel, G2 8PD 

Fri 31st Jan 2020, 12.30pm – 5pm 

Tickets: Tables of 10 - £550 

Bookings t:07428737516 

e:shonagh@itsgood2give.co.uk 

w:itsgood2give.co.uk 

Top for Christmas Markets 

It’s always lovely to open a pressie on Christmas 

Day to find something unique and thoughtful. 

And those gifts are often those chosen with love 

at the myriad of craft markets taking place at 

this time of year. Making a welcome return to the 

Botanic Gardens, Tea Green Festive Market are 

gracing the elegant Kibble Palace once again 

with their fine art, craft and design pop-up event. 

The markets are running for one weekend in 

November and one in December. 

Along in Knightswood the annual Paul 

O’Gorman Christmas Fair and Tearoom gives 

you the chance to pick up some unique home 

furnishings, children’s clothes, jewellery and 

much more whilst raising funds for local causes. 

If you are in the City Centre, Art On The 

Exchange in Royal Exchange Square provides 

a great opportunity to choose from lovingly 

designed products from local talented creatives 

and designers. With so many opportunities to 

purchase that special something there really is 

very little excuse for a boring present this year! 

Tea Green Festive Market 

Sat 16th – Sun 17th Nov & Sat 7th – Sun 

8th Dec, 10am - 4pm Kibble Palace, 

Glasgow Botanic Gardens w:teagreen.co.uk 

Paul O’Gorman Christmas Fair and 

Tearoom, Sun 24th Nov, 1pm – 4pm 

Knightswood Community Centre G13 3DD 

fb:The Paul O’Gorman Christmas Fair 

Art On The Exchange, various 

dates throughout Nov and Dec, 

Royal Exchange Square, G1 3AH 

fb:Art On The Exchange 2019 

Top for Pantos and Shows 

There must be something in the water, because 

never before has there been such a choice for 

live entertainment over the Festive period to 

suit all age groups. Glasgow Mask and Puppet 

Theatre have a fantastic programme of events 

for younger audiences. Look out for The 

Snow Child and Handsome and Gretel. If it’s a 

Panto you are after, there are several choices. 

At Websters Theatre join Dotty for a Glaswegian 

twist on a very famous tale in The Pure Amazing 

Wiz of Oz which young and old will enjoy. 

Meanwhile at Oran Mor, Dixie Whittington: The 

Hamecoming is a tale of our heroine trying to 

make her way back to her Granny in Glasgow and 

is aimed at an adult audience. 

The broadway musical Elf takes to the boards of 

the colossal SSE Hydro for one weekend only as 

everyone’s favourite Buddy puts on a Christmas 

spectacular with a 30 ft Christmas tree in tow! 

Better get those tickets soon as these shows are 

bound to be popular. 

Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre 

w:maskandpuppet.co.uk/whats-oncalendar 

The Pure Amazing Wiz of Oz, Websters 

Theatre, Sat 30th Nov - Sat 4th Jan, 

w:webstersglasgow.com 

Dixie Whittington: The Hamecoming 

Oran Mor, Mon 25th Nov – Sat 28th Dec 

w:playpiepint.com 

Elf – A Christmas Spectacular 

SSE Hydro, Sat 14 & Sun 15th Dec 

w:thessehydro.com/events


LIVE 

November 

a-ha 

Friday 1st November 7pm 

The SEC Armadillo, sec.co.uk 

a-ha are a Norwegian band formed 

in Oslo in 1982. Founded by Morten 

Harket (vocals), Magne Furuholmen 

(keyboards, guitars) and Paul 

Waaktaar-Savoy(guitars), the band 

rose to fame during the mid 80s and 

are most notable for their global 

hit record Take On Me. They have 

sold in excess of 50 million records 

worldwide and continue to tour every 

year. Another notable fact is that 

singer Morten Harket is listed in the 

Guinness Book Of Records for the 

longest live note held; he held a note 

for 20.2 seconds. Now I don’t know 

who is timing these things but I’ve 

always felt sorry for Morton having 

to hit that E5 note in Take On Me on 

stage every night. Anyway it should be 

an 80stastic night full of swooning 

quinquagenarianettes. 

Choice Tracks: a-ha 'Take On Me' 

Marc Rebillet 

Wednesday 6th November 7pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

Artists breaking through on their 

YouTube channels is a common 21stcentury 

occurrence these days 

and Franco/American Dallas born 

Marc Rebillet’s craft is tailor-made 

for the YouTube generation, who watch 

to see the bedroom hipster perform 

music, comedy and performance art 

with an array of musical instruments 

and a loop station. 

He began publishing YouTube videos 

of himself improvising songs in his 

apartment in 2016. These videos 

began to go viral through Reddit and 

Facebook garnering a huge, hyperengaged 

loyal fan base. 

Watching him do his thing on 

YouTube is truly mesmerising. He 

builds his songs from scratch using 

only his prodigious natural talent 

and his trusted Boss RC-505 loop 

station referencing Prince, Vulfpeck 

and classic R’n’B along the way. 

He takes calls from his fans when he 

does live streams on Sundays with 

the broadcast morphing into a sort 

of radio show with him presenting, 

chatting and creating music on the 

fly. It can be a bit chaotic at times 

but the 300,000 subscribers he has 

suggests no-one seems to mind. 

He’s out on his quirkily named 

Comeback World Tour in 2019. 

Choice tracks: Marc Rebillet 

‘You Were there' 

Magpie Blue 

Tuesday 19th November 7pm 

Hug and Pint, thehugandpint.com 

Millie Hanlon-Cole aka Magpie Blue 

is an incredibly gifted 19-yearold 

female singer songwriter from 

Edinburgh. I think I’ve caught this 

one early as she has only two songs 

listed on Spotify, but what assured 

and compelling recordings they are. 

You get the sense listening to her 

of an old head resting on young 

shoulders, of someone who has the 

emotional intelligence to channel 

real feeling into their music. Having 

already gained comparisons to the 

likes of PJ Harvey and Anna Calvi, her 

Jeff Buckley-esque vocals inflect with 

a sense of raw melancholy. Once again 

the Scottish music scene produces 

another prodigious talent. I look 

forward to watching her meteoric rise. 

Choice track: Magpie Blue ‘Haunted’


by Greg Kane 

December 

Beak> 

Friday 6th December 7pm 

QMU, qmunion.org.uk 

Featuring members of Portishead and 

Moon Gangs, Beak> is the musical trio 

of Geoff Barrow, Billy Fuller and Will 

Young from Bristol who craft dense 

and atmospheric music inspired by 

Dub, Krautrock and The Beach Boys, 

quite a mix. 

But the band have a pretty simple 

ethos of playing music for enjoyment 

sake and laying it down live and as 

one in the studio. What comes out 

of these sessions is, to these ears, 

a contemporary take on 'prog' that is 

soulfully executed and both playful 

and serious in equal measure. In the 

10 years that they’ve been together 

they’ve toured extensively all over 

the world and released three albums, 

the latest one '>>>' was released in 

2018. At times they remind me of the 

iconic 70s band King Crimson but 

they definitely have their own sound. 

The city of Bristol’s mantra is Keep 

Bristol Weird and Beak> certainly 

subscribe to that. Very enjoyable 

modern prog. 

Choice track: Beak> 'Sex Music' 

Clairo 

Sunday 8th December 7pm 

QMU, qmunion.org.uk 

Claire Cottrill known professionally 

as Clairo, is a 22-year-old American 

singer-songwriter from Carlisle 

Massachusetts. Her fame escalated 

after releasing the song Pretty Girl 

in 2017, a lofi produced song that 

attracted over 40 million views on 

YouTube. Now describing your music as 

'lofi' often hints at a 'do it yourself' 

attitude to creating your stuff, 

but this girl is the daughter of one of 

the most influential marketing men 

on the planet, namely Geoff Cottrill 

(Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Converse, 

The Grammys, to name but a few). 

So I’m thinking not much of what she’s 

doing is left to chance. Nonetheless 

she does create a sound that is 

compelling in it’s delicacy. She’s 

surrounded herself with some clever 

and thoughtful music makers too who 

help her produce some genuinely 

beautiful music. 

Choice Track: Clairo 'Pretty Girl' 

The Japanese House 

Monday 16th December 7pm 

SWG3, swg3.tv 

The Japanese House is an English 

indie pop act from Buckinghamshire, 

aka 23 year old Amber Bain. She makes 

dreampop electro music utilising 

the smarts of Bon Iver’s producer 

BJ Burton and recording at said Iver’s 

studio in Wisconsin, USA. She’s also 

been nurtured and supported by the 

guys from the band The 1975. There’s 

just something about left-handed 

guitarists, to me they come across as 

more genuine than their conventional 

contemporaries and playing her 

Fender Stratocaster upside down, 

Amber Bain delivers honest, beautiful, 

heartfelt music. She also plays most 

of the instruments on her lastest 

album Good At Falling admitting to 

being a bit of a control freak, but it’s 

definitely not to the detriment of the 

record. Pretty English Rose pop music. 

Choice track: The Japanese House 

'Maybe Your The Reason'


Talking Shop With 

The Pastels 

WORDS NICOLA MAULE IMAGES JOHNNY MCLAUCHLAN 

Nicola Maule speaks to Stephen McRobbie from influential Glasgow band, 

The Pastels, about record labels, record shops, and the ever changing 

musical landscape. This November The Pastels take to the stage at 

The Great Western, a brand new multi-venue festival right on our doorstep. 

The Pastels are playing at The Great 

Western festival in November, which 

is showing to have a great line-up of 

bands, at a number of venues throughout 

Glasgow’s West End. What was it about 

this festival that made you sign up to play? 

It was a combination of things. It seemed 

potentially exciting and the timing was good 

for us. We’ve worked with the promoter, 432, 

in the past and we knew that they would trust 

us and help us realise an event that we would 

all be proud of. I’m wary of the word ‘curate’, 

it’s become such a cliché, so it’s more a 

co-operation between us to put something 

amazing in place for one of the shows, 

in Maryhill Community Central Hall. So far 

we’ve got Sacred Paws, Lightships and Molly 

Linen playing, we’re about to add a couple 

more and DJs. We’re hoping it can become a 

real hub for The Great Western festival. 

Your last album Slow Summits was 

released in 2013 through indie label 

Domino Records, and shortlisted the 

same year for Scottish Album of the Year 

– did you enjoy reconnecting with your fan 

base at this time? 

With regards to Slow Summits, we never 

felt disconnected from our fanbase as we’d 

been playing live from time to time and of 

course working on other things that became 

public domain like the collaboration with 

our friends, Tenniscoats, the Two Sunsets 

album. We’d been doing some film and 

theatre things too so it felt not too much like 

a massive comeback. We were very proud 

when it started to get good reviews and 

we could see that people liked it. Great to 

make the shortlist of the Scottish album of 

the year. I think many people always feel an 

affection for a group’s first music but maybe 

we managed to make people feel an affection 

for our most recent music. I only hope that 

we can do it again, we’ll always try to come 

up with something that’s better than we’ve 

done before. 

Being a part of Glasgow record shop, 

Monorail, you clearly love being immersed 

in the music scene – are you always 

on the lookout for new bands and still 

enjoy watching live music as much as 

playing? 

Being involved in Monorail Music gives 

me a different perspective. I get to hear 

so many different records, it’s healthy and 

sometimes daunting trying to keep up. 

For me, I prefer playing music to watching it, 

it’s just a bit more satisfying. That said, I have 

seen some amazing shows this year – Jarv 

Is, Julia McFarlane’s Reality Guest, Trash 

Kit. I’m proud to be working with Spinning 

Coin through our label, Geographic, and 

on a Strawberry Switchblade retrospective 

too. I try to keep learning and try to keep my 

enthusiasm. So far it’s not been a problem.



After your first single, Songs for Children, 

released on Whaam records in 82’ I read 

that you released a cassette tape. Did that 

format give you more control and how do 

you feel about the resurgence in releasing 

tapes recently as an ‘old school’ format? 

I actually can’t remember what came first. 

We were really keen to reach an audience 

and impatient so we were always trying to 

take things into our own hands. Cassettes 

were easy and cheap – a good format for 

where we were. I understand them coming 

back round because they still maybe seem 

more fun than a file. I think they’re extremely 

niche objects but they have a place. I still 

like a well made mix tape with a nice piece of 

handmade art. 

You have always been in what seems to 

be a crowd of musicians that were very 

comfortable collaborating with each 

other. Is this something that you still enjoy 

and are there any new collaborations in 

the offing? 

We’ve not really got anything planned but 

would like to make another record with 

Tenniscoats sometime. I think of The Pastels 

as a collaboration – between the various 

musicians in the group and the sound 

engineer. Sometimes it’s good not to colour 

everything in to the nth. Then you’re leaving 

space for a collaborator. If Kicking Leaves 

had been too realised Craig Armstrong might 

have felt there was nothing for him to do. 

Instead he was able to help give it a particular 

identity which we loved. 

How do see the music industry moving 

forward considering the seismic changes 

that have taken place since The Pastels 

started out? 

I’m not sure what changes are coming next 

– people listen to music in so many different 

ways. Even on our label, Domino, some of 

the artists are reaching their fanbase mainly 

through streaming. I think people are after 

a mixture of convenience and quality. The 

quality part is ultimately really important. 

That’s why so many people still love listening 

to records. 

The Great Western is an all-day multivenue 

music festival on Saturday 23rd 

November. For full listings and ticket sales 

go to: tgwfest.com.


Celebrate 

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10th Anniversary 

this Christmas 

528 Great Western Road 

G12 8EL 

0141 334 3254 

esteembeauty.co.uk 

esteembeautyglasgow@gmail.com 

Purchase a voucher (£99 or over) 

and receive a complimentary 

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A SHOP 

that’s close to home 

When the holidays roll around, you might be tempted to jump online, make 

a few quick clicks, select the standard shipping, and choose the generic gift 

wrap for Auntie Claire. It’s quick, it’s easy…and completely devoid of any 

forethought or sentiment. Yet it’s fun to shop in the neighbourhood where 

all the store owners know your name and greet you with a smile. 

WORDS PAMELA PALONGUE 

IMAGES GREGOR REID 

When it comes to the holiday fare 

you’ll be serving family and friends, 

you’ll want the healthiest and best 

ingredients you can get. By shopping the 

local independent markets, you can ensure 

that everything is fresh, and hasn’t been 

sitting in a warehouse for months. Also, 

shopping local helps to support small 

businesses, which in turn, helps support local 

families. 

One thing the area independent 

merchants all seem to have in common, 

is that they are passionate about what they 

do and how they do it. 

One local business is Anderson’s, 

located at 92 Queen Margaret Drive in 

North Kelvinside. This establishment has 

been at this exact spot for over 100 years! 

And though you may have noticed a new 

name outside (Barvas & James) the family 

that runs it is still the same. Because they 

have pivoted from a fruit market into flowers 

and gifts, they felt they needed a new name 

to reflect the change. But John, who is 

the great-grandson of the original owners, 

will still be offering fruit – just with a slightly 

different twist. People will be able to order 

fruit online and have it delivered right to their 

door! 

With some larger scale businesses, 

ordering produce online might be a bit risky, 

since fruit and veg can vary in quality and 

freshness. The difference with Barvas & 

James is that it is ordered, hand-selected 

and delivered by John and his family. It is 

a plan with all the convenience of online


shopping, but from people that you know and 

trust. Watch for the launch soon! 

The shop itself has lovely pots, candle 

holders, luxurious bath products and even 

speciality chocolates! As much as possible 

John stocks products that are sustainably 

sourced from local suppliers. If you’re not 

sure what to buy someone, why not select a 

lovely plant that will add some colour to their 

home? A surprise bouquet will always light up 

someone’s face as well. John, his wife Nicola, 

and their team of florists create stunning 

displays from top quality seasonal blooms. 

And, as they are an independent florist, each 

bouquet or arrangement is a custom creation. 

From late November, be sure to stop by 

their shop to pick out your Christmas tree! 

Many families have made this their annual 

ritual. They will have Nordmann Firs, and also 

Living Spruce Trees if you prefer to plant your 

tree in the garden after Christmas, and they 

deliver. 

John’s great-grandparents who were from 

Barvas on the Isle of Lewis, would be proud 

of the company that they started in Glasgow 

over a century ago. Barvas & James is an 

enduring family legacy. 

Another familiar face in the neighbourhood 

since 1979 is Roots, Fruits & Flowers. 

Its owner, Garth, has a long history with fresh



produce, which began with working for a 

competitor’s fruit market, before leaving to 

start his own. 

His initial foray into fruit, has morphed into 

a company that sells fruit and veg, flowers, 

whole foods, a whole foods deli and catering 

service! (They probably couldn’t fit all of that 

on the sign) They offer fruit and veg boxes, 

which are a mixture of fresh, local produce 

that can be delivered to your door either 

weekly, or bi-weekly. The contents of the box 

changes according to what’s in season, so 

you have to be open to eating with the natural 

variance of harvesting times. 

The Whole Foods Deli, as the name 

implies, uses whole foods and organics in 

the dishes, with vegan and gluten free dishes 

on the menu, which again are prepared 

according to what’s in season. They also 

have delicious gluten-free cakes for dessert! 

You can have Roots, Fruits & Flowers cater 

your holiday meal or party, for innovative 

recipes that are good for you. But don’t delay! 

Kieran recommends ordering by the 1st of 

December to avoid disappointment. This year 

they will be offering organic turkeys. 

If you’re looking for a gift (and who 

doesn’t love food?) you might consider 

one of their lovely cheese hampers or their 

full breakfast hampers. They’ll surely be 

appreciated and well-digested. 

Roots, Fruits & Flowers will also have 

Christmas trees for sale, including organic 

and Living Trees and they’ll deliver to your 

door. The company has been moving things 

around a bit, with the flower shop and the 

fruit market trading places, but by the time 

you read this, they should be all settled in. 

Another great way to shop several local 

businesses in one place is the Glasgow 

Farmers Market at Mansfield Park. Held on 

the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, 

this market may be a bit of a misnomer. 

There’s plenty of farmer’s produce, but 

there’s also lots of other interesting things 

from soup to soap.


The Caurnie Soaperie, located in 

Kirkintilloch comes to the market and sells 

their natural skin care soaps, shampoos, 

shower gels and lotions. They even have their 

own organic herb garden where they grow 

their own nettle for use in their products. 

They happen to be the oldest and last 

working soap makers in the world who use 

a natural soap making process known as 

coldprocess. In two years they will celebrate 

their 100 year anniversary! 

At the other end of the spectrum is 

Root Candy. This energetic group of young 

entrepreneurs just launched in August, 

and sells baked goods and sweets that 

contain healthy ingredients such as beetroot 

and carrots. If you’re needing something 

interesting for a dinner party that will be 

innovative (and tastes great) stop by the 

market for some of their wares. 

And there’s organic fruits and veg offered 

by Bellefield Organics from Abernethy, 

where you can pick up a little farm to table 

action. The market is also home to around 

40 vendors, including those specialising in 

fish, pork, lamb, and even a local importer of 

French Provencal delicacies. Many shoppers 

drive from several miles away to attend 

the Mansfield Park Market. Residents of 

Glasgow’s West End are so lucky to have 

such a lovely market right at their doorstep. 

It’s great to support all the local 

merchants who care so much about the 

products they bring to you and your family. 

barvasandjames.com 

rootsfruitsandflowers.com 

citypropertymarkets.co.uk


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Qi Gong 

with Ulrike 

Taiji Qi Gong – Shibashi 

Learn these gentle and graceful exercises 

that enhance your health and wellbeing 

Now open in Jordanhill 

Family owned and run, the restaurant serves 

modern Scottish food, using seasonal Scottish 

produce. Perfect for friends and family to enjoy 

a meal in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. 

Book online, email or call. 

0141 959 9666 

info@theprancingstag.co.uk 

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1A, Ashwood Gardens 

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@ 

Image I Gregor Reid 

Five March 

Reviewed by Amy Glasgow @theglasgowdiet 

Ithink there is somewhat of a divide 

developing between the people who love 

‘small plates’ and the people who don’t. 

Luckily for Five March, I’m on the loving side. 

Who doesn’t want the chance to try 12 dishes 

instead of two? 

I’ve visited Five March a couple of 

times now and it still feels like one of those 

‘blink-and-you’ll-miss-it’ spots, nestled 

into Elderslie Street, a mere moment from 

bustling Charing Cross. 

If you do manage to notice it as you walk 

by, it is most certainly worth dropping in. 

The minimalist, Scandinavian-style décor 

might leave some cold, but the welcoming 

staff does a perfect job of warming you up 

– and if that doesn’t do it, then their list of 

unusual and inventive cocktails definitely will. 

The ever-changing menu focuses on fresh, 

seasonal produce and celebrates a wide 

range of cuisines, with distinct Asian and 

Middle Eastern influences. 

All plates are, as mentioned, designed to 

be shared, with a fantastic mix of seafood, 

meat and vegetables on offer. In fact, the 

vegetable dishes are often where Five March 

shines. 

Take, for example, the confit garlic 

panisse, with sweet potato, zuni pickle, 

almond and parmesan crumb. A perfect 

plate of textures and flavours that will convert 

even the staunchest of meat-lovers. The fried 

potatoes are also not to be missed – a staple 

on the menu, the only thing that changes 

about them is the flavour of aioli they are 

paired with. 

The real winner though is the charred 

octopus with corn, radish, cucumber, 

grapefruit and puffed rice. Both fresh and 

smoky, this dish pairs perfectly charred and 

tender octopus with a smooth and sweet 

corn puree and zesty grapefruit. It is a dish 

not to be missed. 

If you are looking to cleanse your 

palate after your meal, I highly recommend 

the lemongrass and kaffir lime posset, 

which feels both luxurious and refreshing. 

For something a little richer, the chocolate 

parfait with peanut butter granola is 

incredibly indulgent. 

To be perfectly honest, there was very 

little on this menu that I did not enjoy. 

Some might say that the mixture of such 

different dishes might make the meal feel 

inharmonious, but I feel the opposite is true. 

Every dish is perfectly balanced, and seeing 

that level of skill on every plate only shows 

how talented the team of chefs at Five March 

truly are. 

Five March 

140 Elderslie Street G3 7QF 

0141 573 1400 

fivemarch.co.uk

42 | Westender www.westendermagazine.com 

Magazine Promotion 

Image I Gregor Reid 

Accountancy 

Matters 

by Bruce Wilson & Simon Murrison 

Is There An App For That? 

At Murrison & Wilson we make it easier 

for individuals and businesses to get 

tax right. The secret to keeping the tax 

man happy and managing money is to have 

the correct tools at your fingertips. 

Managing finances in the cluttered digital 

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This is down to the vast number of Making 

Tax Digital (MTD) solutions all promising 

to simplify your life but many actually 

complicate your tax affairs. 

Under MTD spreadsheets are outdated in 

the accountancy world. So how do you find 

the right tools and keep the tax man happy? 

There’s an app for everything but where do 

you begin? 

We can help. Working with small to 

medium sized businesses we identify and 

test the best finance apps and select only 

those that over deliver instead of over 

promise. 

The apps we recommend to clients 

are fully compatible with HMRC systems. 

It makes all our lives simpler. Clients can 

capture and record financial data and submit 

the information to us easily. What’s more, the 

best apps on the market turn MTD regulation 

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√ Single entry populates multiple fields 

√ Repetitive tasks automated 

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Westender www.westendermagazine.com Magazine Promotion | 43 

Legal Matters 

Hate Thy Neighbour 

Words from Donald Reid, Chairman at Mitchells Roberton: 

West End tenement living can give rise to conflict over noise or use of 

communal spaces. How do you deal with those less than considerate 

neighbours? Read on to find out more. 

The capacity for human beings to fall 

out with each other is amazing. 

A resident in a converted big house 

in Pollokshields thinks it’s OK to store his 

six old motor bikes permanently in the 

communal front hall. A ground floor resident 

in the West End padlocks the door to the 

communal rear garden area to stop an upper 

proprietor exercising his dog on the grass. 

The upper proprietor retaliates by taking the 

dog into the front garden owned exclusively 

by the padlock wielding neighbour. Residents 

of a steading development agree among 

themselves that they can place their own wee 

garden huts in a shared area. A new owner 

moves in and erects an outhouse the size of 

the Taj Mahal. 

These examples come from actual cases 

I have had referred to me. What we have 

here are bullies and victims. Understandably 

the victims turn to their lawyers but there 

are at least two difficulties. First: contrary 

to fokelore bullies are rarely cowards in my 

experience. A ‘lawyer’s letter’ might put 

the fear of death into most people but to a 

bully such a letter is often gleefully received. 

The obnoxious behaviour gets cranked up. 

Second: lawyers are expensive. Even 

to send a lawyer’s letter requires an initial 

meeting with the victim, looking at evidence, 

and then composing the letter. A few hundred 

quid is gone and the bully just laughs the 

letter off. So we need to consider court action 

and if the bully squares up to fight the action 

the costs can move from the disturbing to the 

downright frightening. 

My advice is first to ask the victims if 

they have legal expense insurance. Lots of 

household policies now routinely include 

this but remember, prospects of success 

are not the same as justice or fairness. 

If there is no insurance nor enough money, 

what can be done? All I can suggest is polite 

confrontation. The victim should pluck up 

courage to go and see the bully in the hope 

that an offer to bury the hatchet might work. 

Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t, 

because the bully says he’s not bullying the 

victim but the victim is bullying the bully so 

the victim is the bully and the bully is the 

victim. 

The capacity for human beings to fall out 

with each other is amazing. 

If Donald Reid can help please 

call him on 0141 552 3422, or email 

dbr@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


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

0141 950 1333 | www.thestoreinteriors.co.uk 

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@campbell.design 

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call Kevin on 07984 880199 

or Derek on 07525 202102 

or email us at 

info@bespokedecorglasgow.co.uk 

T: 0141 389 3287 

bespokedecorglasgow.co.uk


Homes & Interiors 

winter 

warmer 

by Susan 

Robertson 

This is the time of year when we really want to 

love our homes the most. Whether we’re everready 

for guests, snuggling in front of the fire, 

or hosting the Hogmanay bash, it’s the season we 

want to feel warm and welcomed. 

The natural touch is a key interior trend for 2019. 

Combining soft wools and woods with warm 

chocolate browns and creams is a relaxing backdrop 

for a festive flourish. 

The classic festive feel never goes out of fashion 

and luxurious touches of red or green velvet 

immediately nod to the nostalgia of traditional 

trimmings. Many of us still opt for the turkey (or nut 

roast) dinner, the mince pies and the old films, and 

alongside the mulled wine – it’s nice to have a touch 

of traditional warmth in our environment too. 

Once you have the soft, warm backdrop, you 

can add the festive touch to whatever greater or 

lesser extent you prefer. Think about the natural 

plants and flowers of the season as the core way 

to effortlessly bring the season into your home. It 

doesn’t take much to create an impression if you’re 

sticking with the traditional favourites. Just a bowl 

full of holly immediately says ‘Santa’ or some 

strategically placed mistletoe adds a festive edge. 

Bring the outside in with some chunky pine cones or 

twisty twigs. Spray with a touch of gold paint, or


hang little baubles from the twigs to easily add that 

understated sparkle to your room. 

The Christmas tree is of course the seasonal 

focus point. For me, when I was growing up, 

this was an annual traipse of a mission, getting from 

forest to borrowed roof-rack to wrong sized pot. 

It was never guaranteed the tree would last to the 

big day, and very often the hoover was full of needles 

before Santa had fired up the sleigh. However this 

is no more. There’s no need to travel or scrabble for 

your tree this year. There’s an array available right 

on our doorsteps. The West End Garden Centre is 

even creating a festive forest. Owner Martin says, 

'We’ll have hundreds of trees for people to choose 

from, locally sourced with non-needle options – all of 

which can be delivered free of charge'. 

Whatever you do to decorate your tree, is a matter 

of taste and tradition. But bear in mind that you 

can also borrow a few snippets from a branch or 

two at the back to create little natural touches in 

place settings, or table displays. Even for your 

present wrapping, think natural and keep it simple. 

Use brown paper to wrap your presents, with a 

personalised red ribbon, or even some traditional 

string then tie it off with a sprig of holly, or a tiny 

pine cone or tree clipping. Make a simple old-school 

printed gift tag with a star or a tree cut from an 

old sponge or a potato, get the kids involved in the 

process and it will be easy, cheap, fun and admired 

under anyone’s tree. 

And our local florists are also gearing up for 

supplying our creative Christmas needs, with a 

wide array of festive florals available. Hyacinth 

House is also running wreath-making workshops in 

November and December. Meaning that not only can 

you pick up everything you need to add that natural 

outdoors touch to your home, but you can also 

learn the creative skills to make a fresh Christmas 

statement with simple plants and products. 

As we’re bringing the outside in this year, think 

about your outside space too. Are there some trees 

you can gaze out on that can hold a few lights, can 

you make a festive bird feeder to bring a winter robin 

to your windowsill, could you hang a few decorations 

from the rose bush? Also have a think if there’s a 

better way to maximise your outdoors too. Outside 

In Garden Rooms are based in the West End and they 

can create standalone new rooms in your garden in 

as little as two weeks. So – if you need a new space to 

put a gym, an office, or a relative this winter, keep 

your options open and consider all your spaces. 

And remember that Christmas is a season of the 

senses, the sounds of jingling bells, crunching frost, 

and carols; the sights of the lights and colours; the 

feel of the velvet cushions and the fluffy slippers; 

and the smell of the fresh pine, cinnamon and clove. 

Invest in a few good quality candles to add that spicy 

scent to your home, or better still – get the mulled 

wine on the stove and light the fire. 

West End Garden Centre 40-44 Peel Street G11 5LU 

Hyacinth House Floristry 950A Crow Road G13 1JD 

outsideingardenrooms.co.uk 

The image on this page is of products available from 

The Store Interiors, thestoreinteriors.co.uk



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November December 2019 Westender Magazine

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