Westender Magazine - Mar/Apr 2024

Editor’s Letter

Life is starting to happen after the winter gloom and our schedules are waking up to events happening here, there and everywhere. Well, we are lucky enough to be blessed with some amazing venues in the West End and it’d be rude not to, really!

Dedicated event organisers toil for months to arrange our live music, art, theatre and dance shows and festivals. And without them, and the venues to host them in, our culture lives wouldn’t be a patch on what they are. They’re a huge reason why we choose to live here, after all, and they continue to need our support too.

So we kick off our Mar/Apr edition with Greg Kane interviewing the man behind the Riverside Festival, Dave Clarke on Page 6. Back for its 11th outing at the Riverside Museum, the roll call of artists has someone for everyone – if you’re into Techno.

Our interviews continue with Elena Taggart digging into the creative drive behind two design entrepreneurs on their sustainable fashion journey. Read about their vision on Page 40.

Most Westenders know The Nancy Smillie Shop (how could you not) – but is she in fact a real person too? Interiors enthusiast Anne Marie Hillan discovered the truth and found out so much more than she bargained for when they sat down to chat, surrounded by Nancy’s original artwork and ceramics (Page 44).

Please enjoy, as always. We do it all for you!

To advertise call Suzanne on 07905 897238, or email suzanne@westendermagazine.com

Publisher: Westender Magazine

Whilst

Image © Gregor Reid Photography

Suzanne

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No, No It’s Techno!

Are the first words out of Dave Clarke’s mouth after I ask him about his EDM (Electronic Dance Music) festival this year. I’m authoritatively made aware that The Riverside Festival is NOT an EDM festival, it’s a techno festival. I’m then schooled on the differences between EDM and techno… it quickly becomes apparent that Dave Clarke cares very passionately about techno. What he doesn’t know about techno is probably not worth knowing I begin to think.

By Greg Kane

There are three stages:

Fifty-something, Dave Clarke is the director of Glasgow’s two day techno festival which takes place in and around the site of the beautiful, Zaha Hadid designed Riverside Museum on the banks of the river Clyde on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of May. This is it’s 11th year.

The Satellite Stage – which hosts up and coming local and Scottish talent.

The Waterfront Stage – which is behind the main museum building next to the Tall Ship, it has a more left field, purist musical ethos.

The Square Stage – which is the main stage at the front of the museum and will have all the headline acts on it.

The festival will attract nearly 10,000 people over that weekend and will take up nearly 6 months of Dave’s time and endeavour to put it all together.

Dave Clark is a Westender. He has lived in the West End since he was at University aged 16. ‘When I was at Uni, my friend Stuart and I started putting up posters and handing out fliers for gigs at Glasgow University’s QMU and Strathclyde Uni’s Level 8 venues. That earned us free tickets to gigs and I was lucky enough to see The Smiths at the QMU and REM at Level 8.

‘Stuart and I got a job at the pub Chimmy Chungas (now called Coopers) on Great Western Road and it’s there I met Stuart’s friend from his time at Sheffield University, Orde. Him and Stuart would wrestle on who’s mix tape would be played from behind the bar. We were all searching out new music and were keen to get it out there, for people in the pub to hear it’.

The Stuart and Orde that Dave’s speaks of went on to form DJ duo SLAM in the late 80s and they became a Global success as techno pioneers with Dave at their side helping organise events and club nights.

‘We all loved this weird new Acid House music that was starting to happen around the late 80s, driven by the Roland Tr 909 drum machine and TB 303 bass synth and we wanted to put on nights celebrating that sound. We made flyers and encouraged all our friends to come down to nights at Fury Murry’s, Tin Pan Ally and The Sub Club.

‘There was a craze going on in Ibiza and London at that time (1988) and we latched on to that and just put our own nights on. We’d reach out to a network of people all over the UK and Europe who were doing similar things and even brought up the DJ Jon DaSilva from The Hacienda in Manchester to play at one of our nights in Glasgow. We’d also head over to Ibiza in ’89, ’90, ’91, to party and listen to new music and at the same time broaden our network, I had a filofax full of contacts of people from this scene. It was known as The Balearic Network.

‘In 1991 we formed Soma Quality Recordings, we just wanted another creative pursuit that didn’t involve us having to be up all weekend running clubs, not seeing much of the daylight’.

Soma is most known for releasing the original vinyl version of French dance music superstars Daft Punk’s track “Da Funk” in 1995 and the record company is still going strong some 33 years after it was formed. Dave is still a director of Soma but since the formation of SLAM Events Ltd in 2002 he found himself concentrating more on live events including 20 years of the Slam Tent at T-In-The Park and organising tours for many of the artists on Soma records.

I steer Dave back to talking about the Riverside Festival this year. ‘Although a lot of people come for the whole weekend, we’ve got a musical split in the genres on both days.

‘The Saturday is more house orientated with the likes of Eliza Rose (who had the Global hit “Baddest Of Them All” in 2022), Chicago House legend Green Velvet and Maceo Plex playing.

‘And on the Sunday we’ve got a kinda harder, faster end of techno with Dutch techno producer/DJ Reinier Zonneveld, British whiz kid Charlie Sparks and Portuguese techno woman Biia playing. Sunday is geared up for high octane, younger 20-somethings will be well into it. There’s definitely a split between the Saturday and Sunday.

‘The Satellite Stage has been such a success for us over the last few years. It’s situated amongst the food outlets and cocktail bars around the side of the museum building. And on that stage we have completely Scottish based or home-grown talent and what we’ve managed to do there is a combination of us choosing people who are doing well in the underground clubs around Scotland and artists that just get in touch and put themselves in front of us. We ran a DJ competition this year to win a spot on the stage too, which was a great initiative. They’ll be 20 home-grown acts on The Satellite Stage this year and I think this gives me the most pleasure when you’re seeing people coming through there.’

@ Robert Hood

I asked Dave if he had seen any new trends in techno music. ‘I’ve found that postcovid and with the affect of Tik Tok, beats have sped up almost to a level that it doesn’t sound pleasurable to my brain and my ears. But between the age group of 18-22 there’s an audience that that’s what they love, hard, fast, bouncy. People started doing nights last year that started at 160bpm and upwards… for me it kinda lost the groove but we’ve had to embrace it as promoters at the festival because it’s a movement, it’s a cult almost, it has a following.

‘If I was to pitch the Riverside Festival to someone who was unfamiliar with Techno and electronic music, I would say, it’s an amazing atmosphere in a great location that’s so handy for Westenders. I would say if you’re a novice to dance music then the Saturday would suit you better as you might have heard some of the music being played, but the Sunday is more for the aficionados for sure.’

The Riverside Festival is on Saturday the 25th and Sunday 26th of May 2024 at the Riverside Museum on the banks of the river Clyde.

WIN! Westender has TWO weekend tickets to the Riverside Festival up for grabs! Simply head to westendermagazine.com and click on Competitions by 30th April 2024.

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LIVE

March

Hania Rani

Thursday 7th March 7pm

TV Studio SWG3 swg3.tv

Hania Rani makes beautiful music that’s haunted and enchanted. The 30 something Polish composer and pianist blurs the lines of classical, ambient and house — submerged beats pulse under ripples of piano, synths and her delicate voice (she sings in English). She regularly performs in concert halls across Europe and now divides her time between Berlin and Warsaw. Between these two cities, the pianist composes sensitive and subtle music reminiscent of the works of Erik Satie and Philip Glass. She is out on a European tour which runs up to June this year promoting her new album ‘Ghosts’. Although it may sound like it from my description, her music is neither complex nor a demanding listen, but it’s more playful, melodic, even childlike at times, it fits her personality.

Choice Track: Hania Rani 'Eden'

Barry Can't Swim

Saturday 16th March 7pm

QMU qmunion.org.uk

Barry Can’t Swim is an impetuous, colourful and bold voice in electronic music. Edinburgh born Joshua Mainnie (his real name) spent his youth in the Scottish capital, studied music there at Napier University and embraced the Club culture Edinburgh had to offer frequenting seminal electronic hangouts, Sneaky Pete’s and Cabaret Voltare. 'It wasn’t just about clubbing,' he points out. 'There’s a real sense of community. You’d go to after-parties, and meet people who

were doing interesting things – like running nights, or they had their own labels. I was really involved in all of that'. He is fundamentally a DJ/ Producer of dance music, but uses the energy of electronic music to support a more organic live element in his tracks. He likes writing music for real instruments. His debut album 'When Will We Land’ dropped at the end of 2023 and he is out on a UK/European tour in early 2024, with festival appearances in the US in the summer. Most of his shows are sold out which indicates his exponential rise in popularity. Catch him while you can.

Choice Track: Barry Can't Swim 'How It Feels'

The Smile

Wednesday 20th March Doors 6.30pm SEC Armadillo sec.co.uk

The Smile are an English alt rock trio, comprising of singer/bassist Thom Yorke, keyboardist/guitarist Jonny Greenwood and drummer/percussionist Tom Skinner. They play a kind of warped version of classic English alt rock from the 90s, but with way more subtleties and intricacies then usually found within this genre. Yorke is a strong, capable and emotive singer, his melodies and deliveries drive the whole project. Greenwood seems to have a mastery of harmonic invention very few in rock would want to explore, but this makes listening to them a real journey of surprises and intrigues. Poor Tom Skinner has the unenviable task of making sense of it all, laying down rhythm tracks that deploy multiple time signatures to affect some sort of followable arrangement. It ain’t an easy listen, but it is an enjoyable one.

Choice Track: The Smile 'Friend Of A Friend'

April

Omni

by Greg Kane

Monday 15th April 7.30pm

The Hug And Pint thehugandpint.com

Omni are an American post-punk band from Atlanta. The band is a trio consisting of Philip Frobos on vocals and bass, Frankie Broyles on guitar and keyboards and Chris Yonker on drums. Their sound is influenced by post – punk bands like Talking Heads and Television, with mathematical rhythms, wiry guitar chords, nervy baselines and jolting beats. To me, Philip Frobos voice is a mix of Mike Love from The Beach Boys and Gary Numan, but the music does not have much electronica in it, it’s the guitar that leads the band around their often complex arrangements. I really do like the guitar playing on this band’s stuff, it’s really what stopped me from skipping when I discovered them. As usual I’m pretty late to this with Onmi releasing their fourth album 'Souvenir' in 2024 on Subpop Records. Choice track: Omni 'Exacto'

Jane Weaver

Tuesday 23rd April 7pm Òran Mór oran-mor.co.uk

Jane Louise Weaver is a 50 something English singer, songwriter and guitarist. She released her first solo album in 2002 after being part of the Britpop phenomenon during the 90s with her band Kill Laura (a favourite of godfather of indie radio John Peel).

She has released 14 albums over the last 22 years with her new album ‘Love In Constant Spectacle’ set for release in April this year. Her vocal delivery is classic English Indie pop, but she is not afraid to just hang on to the notes a little bit longer than most, just to let you know she is actually a very good singer, rather than disguise the fact.

I really enjoyed listening to her music – old school Brit Pop Indie. What’s not to like.

Choice Track: Jane Weaver 'Perfect Storm'

Olivia Dean

Thursday 25th April 7pm

Galvanizers Yard SWG3 swg3.tv

Olivia Lauryn Dean is a young English neo soul singer from London. Her music is described as 'devastating heartbreak ballads and sing-along self-love anthems'. She has released one studio album: Messy (2023) and five EPs. In 2021, she was named the breakthrough artist of the year by Amazon Music and, in 2023, Dean was selected as BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year. What a beautiful voice she has, not a classic soul one, although she can rhyme off a Beyonce cover at the drop of a hat, but in the next breath she can also drop your jaw with a choice Leonard Cohen cover. She’s different than most playing this style of music. There’s something about her, I just hope she keeps us guessing what version of Olivia Dean she decides it is.

Choice Track: Olivia Dean 'UFO'

Rob Auton on The Rob Auton Show

Comedian Rob Auton on his self-reflective live show which arrives in Glasgow this March. Words LOUIS CAMMELL Image JULIAN WARD

While working in advertising in 2007, would-be stand-up Rob Auton was invited to read aloud from his notebook of personal doodles and musings. 17 years later, he has published three hilarious, moving poetry books. The latest was in 2021 and was quintessential Rob Auton. I Strongly Believe in Incredible Things showcased his strength for taking the everyday and reminding the reader not just to laugh but to cherish it. His latest hourlong live show, The Rob Auton Show, was a hit at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We catch up with him as he prepares to take it on tour.

Tell me about The Rob Auton Show. This show feels like the one I should have started with, really. Back in 2012 or so, instead of doing a show about the colour yellow or the sky. But I didn’t have the toolkit to do it back then. After a decade of doing solo shows, it’s like I finally felt equipped to look back at my childhood. The show has a lot of firsts in it. First memory, first girlfriend, first gig. And I think that’s one of the good things about getting older. You get further away from some of your past so you can see it more clearly. Almost like driving away from a city and looking in the rear view mirror and going, ‘oh, right. That’s what it looks like.’

So, this is the tour of your most recent Fringe show. How was Edinburgh?

Fringe was good this time, thank you. I made the decision to go into a bigger room, so it was a bit of a gamble, but it paid off and it was a really nice space. The best thing about making a show, for me, is starting with very little, working on it really hard, and making it good enough to take to Edinburgh and then on tour. And even to keep making it better there.

This year I figured out where to have the confidence in like the slowness in it and things like that. That made me have faith in it because they kinda came with me on it. I’m always just learning to try to put myself in the correct mindset. It’s almost like doing a really big ski jump or something and just trying to get yourself into that focus mode to try and give yourself the best chance of setting off and landing.

A lot of people loathe starting things. They put it off forever. But it seems that’s the part you enjoy most. Absolutely. I love the start of things. Yeah. I love the start of shows, all of the optimism that comes with the start of things. My favourite bits of films are the beginnings, you know, when it starts and you’re going, this could be brilliant. Before it’s not and you turn it off after ten minutes. It’s good to get excited about new things. I’ve got that Rick Rubin book at the moment, and he’s always just talking about ‘start the new thing.’ I think you’ve gotta put yourself in a position where you are in the mindset of, ‘I’ve gotta make something happen’. You’ve gotta have your receptors up.

Rick Rubin is fascinating. Do you tend to dive deep into the habits of other creative people and that kind of thing?

I’d like to say yes, because I buy a lot of those books, but they sit on the shelf, you know? Apart from this Rick Rubin one, which I am ploughing through. But I want to be a better writer so I’ve got to become a better reader.

Your subject matter is always quite quotidian, quite everyday, yet you manage to end your shows in a way that puts a ball in people’s throats.

I always try to make the endings of my show quite strong, just so it almost tricks people into thinking that they’ve seen something that is better than it was. Like Phoebe Waller Bridge [who created Fleabag] said, making people laugh loosens them up. So make them laugh first and then say something serious.

There’s a bit in the show where I talk about breaking my sister’s friend’s Super Nintendo when we borrowed it. I’d hidden it under my bed. And I didn’t know what to do, so I just went into my bedroom and got my cricket bat. I went into the living room and then just started smacking myself in the face with it. And she can’t remember it. [What] was such a key memory of my childhood, my sister couldn’t remember.

So I made that into a bit of the show about how our memories don’t all look the same, do they? And about the ridiculousness of trying to handle things when you were a child but you haven’t got a clue. I still haven’t got a clue, you know?

Would it be fair to say there’s a running theme of hope and celebration in your work? Specifically, it’s often about the beauty of being able to convene together and feel strongly about things.

I’ve got to stay sensitive to everything really, yeah. I keep returning to the theme of I’ve been born onto a planet and I can’t believe it, look at all this stuff. I’ll never stop saying, what the hell is going on? And whether that’s a sunrise or a crisp packet on the top of a railing, or the stuff you see on the news. It’s hard, especially right now, because it is just all so overwhelming. But I want to keep myself open to be overwhelmed, because if I shut myself off, then I feel like I’m kind of done. I want to stay excited about being alive. I want to tap into the miracle everyday.

Rob Auton performs The Rob Auton Show at The Stand, Glasgow, on Thursday 7th March. Tickets are available via thestand.co.uk or robauton.co.uk.

Top Things To Do

Spring already, but as you read this the wind and rain are battering against my window on a miserable February day. Not a bad time to look forward to the brighter days ahead, with some fantastic events to see us through early spring.

Top for Comedy

A year since the fully revamped Glasgow Comedy Festival arose from the embers of Covid. If we thought 2023 was a belter, hold on to your hilarity hat! Celebrating it’s 'all grown up' 21st birthday, the festival returns for three weeks this March. With over 500 events across 45 venues, the event is set to be one of the largest in the festival’s history.

There are big names on the programme like Frank Skinner, Elaine C Smith, Stewart Lee and Frankie Boyle. Look out too for some of the best names on the comedy circuit. In particular, Luisa Omielan’s Bitter. The woman who asked What Would Beyonce Do is back. She’s SO over the haters and is rewriting the rule book. Don’t miss the monumentally talented Luisa at Oran Mor.

Another highlight is the king of the bored expression Stuart McPherson. Probably best known as the IT expert cop on Scot Squad, Stuart is also the co-host of Some Laugh podcast. Stuart is bringing his one hour stand up Stuart McPherson: More of the Same TBH to Van Winkle West End. As well as a talented actor, Stuart’s stand up has been critically acclaimed with both The Times and Rolling Stone lauding his hysterical performance.

A full review of this fabulous festival is impossible to do in this column. But in summary – it’s enormous, it’s on in our town and it’s hilarious!

The Glasgow International Comedy Festival Various Venues

Wed 13th – Sun 31st March 2024 w:glasgowcomedyfestival.com

in the West End

by Tracy Mukherjee

Top for Classical

This spring sees some absolute musts in the world of classical music and ballet. The RSNO are pulling out all the stops with a season of concerts. At the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the magnificent Nicola Benedetti will perform with the RSNO for the Scottish premiere of a concerto specially written for her by composer Mark Simpson. Nicola Benedetti Plays Simpson is a masterful work. Plus, the orchestra will close the evening with the thrilling fifth symphony by Shostakovich.

Later in the season the behemoth that is Holst’s The Planets suite really does take you on a monumental journey. From Mars the bringer of war, ferocious and menacing, to the uplifting lyricism of Jupiter (the world in union, for us philistines), it is quite astonishing that one composer could put such diverse compositions together in one beautiful union.

If we saunter across to The Theatre Royal, another classic glides into Glasgow this spring: this time in classical ballet. Swan Lake will be performed by The Scottish Ballet in April. To the stirring notes of Tchaikovsky’s unmistakable score, Odette and Siegfried fall in love, only for the seductive Odile to lead him mistakenly astray. If you’ve never been to a live ballet performance, this is the one to make you fall in love with the art form. Breath-taking choreography and exhilarating performances combine with a perfect musical backdrop.

Nicola Benedetti Plays Simpson with the RSNO, Sat 23rd March

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Holst The Planets Suite

RSNO, Sat 20th April

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall w:rsno.org.uk

Swan Lake, The Scottish Ballet

Thurs 4th – Sat 6th April

Glasgow Theatre Royal w: scottishballet.co.uk

Top Things To Do in the West End

Top for Lecture Series

Here’s a left fielder for top things… education! But these are lectures with an edge. To start off the utterly glorious Ben Fogle. The nation’s favourite nature lover (and my fantasy husband) brings his show Wild to The Pavillion Theatre this March. Ben says regarding the ethos of the show 'Adventures, expeditions, and journeys have helped shape and mould me. They have strengthened me emotionally, physically, and mentally and armed me with the skills for life.' Well, need I say more? But obviously I will. This show is inspiring and uplifting, not only for lovers of the natural world, but his tale of selfdiscovery is good for the soul.

Over at The Armadillo real life superhero Bear Grylls brings his show Never Give Up to Glasgow. Adventurer, host and author, Bear is known for his survival shows and books. Bear takes us through his early life in the SAS, to being one of the youngest ever climbers of Everest and looks at what it takes to overcome adversity and developing a relentless determination to reach your goals. Hold tight for a hair-raising show!

Ben Fogle – Wild

Fri 22nd March

Pavillion Theatre

w:pavilliontheatre.co.uk/shows/benfogle-wild

Bear Grylls – Never Give Up

Thursday 18th April

SEC Armadillo

w: sec.co.uk/events/detail/bear-grylls

Top for Easter Events

Nothing says spring more than a joyous Easter Egg hunt in five degrees with the rain running off the end of your nose. And so it is that we head to Mugdock Country Park for the poppets to engage in some outdoor fun.

Wildlife Weans, Mugdock presents The Great Egg Hunt for one – six year-olds. The rangers will lead some fab activities as you search for some treasure. The birds in the park have lost their golden eggs and the kids will have to search the woodland and meadows to find them. With fingers crossed for some pleasant weather, this is a lovely day out for the kids.

In the Easter Holidays The Box Hub Warehouse in South Street is holding the Glasgow Toy and Collectables Fair, with 120 tables full of absolute must-have toys. From vintage to modern, it’s a lovely way for the family to spend the day perusing the stalls.

Wildlife Weans: The Great Egg Hunt

Fri 29th March

Mugdock Easter Activity Day

Sun 31st March

Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie

Glasgow Toy and Collectables Fair

Sat 13th April

Box Hub Warehouse, South Street

And Best Of The Rest…

A Play, a Pie and a Pint have launched their spring programme. Running from Feb till June, check out the afternoon delights at: w:playpiepint.com

Websters Theatre also have some brilliant productions coming our way this spring. For a preview visit:

w: webstersglasgow.com/whats-on-2 And for young and old alike, the always fantastic ACME ComicCon hits the SEC for the spring event on Sat 9th and Sun 10th of March.

Prepare for some of the most devoted fans around. For information and tickets visit: w:acmecomicon

West End

Letter to Glasgow’s

A Student’s Love

I’m Eva Curran! I moved to the West End two years ago and instantly fell in love with its charm and warmth. I was drawn to the diverse community, with its array of unique characters and exciting opportunities. As a student navigating new surroundings, I felt welcomed wherever I went. Whether that was chatting with a stranger over the new edition of Westender, or hearing stories about the antique pieces hidden within the Ruthven Mews Arcade, the West End quickly became home. In this column, I’ll be sharing my love and knowledge of the West End with other students. From quirky vintage shops, to bustling bars, hidden gems waiting to be uncovered, and cosy study spots, this will be a students guide to being a Westender.

Just outside of the city centre, Glasgow’s West End has quietly established itself as a hotspot for students. It’s endearing cafes and trendy bars have an invisible pull, drawing students in from every corner of the city. It’s no wonder that young people are flocking towards its vibrant atmosphere – for a guaranteed good night out. But if you look closer, it’s evident that Glasgow’s student population has been welcomed with open arms by locals, bursting to share their home with wide-eyed students.

Everywhere you look – culture is jumping out at you. And a lot of it is extremely accessible. Especially on a student’s budget! During breaks from lectures, students can head over to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery to enjoy their daily organ recital. In the evenings, they can check out the latest art on display at The Alchemy Experiment. Not for you? No worries – you are almost guaranteed to find a trad band hidden in the snug corner of a bar any day of the week. Theatres, art galleries, music venues, clubs, cinemas, the list of things to do is endless. And there is always a friendly face helping to make younger audiences feel welcome.

For many international students, the West End quickly becomes a second home. The impact and importance of the local’s friendliness cannot be understated. It fosters a strong sense of belonging that makes all the difference while studying away from friends and family. And that’s what separates Glasgow’s West End from the rest. It’s a place where locals are not only happy, but proud to warmly welcome students.

If you haven’t already guessed, I could go on forever about how much I love the West End. I look forward to sharing my admiration and advice from what bar has the best pub quiz on weekday, to where you can find the best iced oat latte. I hope you find it helpful and makes you feel more at home – from one student to another.

WARMING MONKFISH CURRY WITH

WILSON’S CATCH OF THE DAY

Monkfish is a robust, meaty fish that’s great in a curry as it holds its own well with a variety of spices. Red lentils and coconut provide richness and make this dish feel substantial yet it is still light – the perfect cosy late-winter feast. Serves two.

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large non-stick sauté pan over a medium-high heat. When hot, add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or until softened and starting to brown.

2. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli and cook for a couple of minutes. Now add the curry leaves, turmeric and ground coriander and cook, stirring for 1 minute or until fragrant.

3. Add the tomatoes, stock and lentils to the pan. Stir, bring to the boil over a medium heat and simmer for 12–15 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and the lentils are tender.

4. Meanwhile, cut the monkfish into 4cm pieces. Trim the green beans and cut them in half.

5. Add the monkfish and coconut milk to the pan and cook over a gentle heat for 2–3 minutes. Add the beans and cook for a further 3–4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, taste to check the seasoning and stir in the coriander. Serve in warmed bowls.

Image © Gregor Reid Photography

recipe: stuart wilson

cooked by: amy glasgow

@theglasgowdiet

KShopping List

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 large onion, finely diced

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2.5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated

1 long red chilli, finely sliced (with seeds)

A handful of curry leaves

1 heaped tsp ground turmeric

1 tsp ground coriander

2 medium tomatoes, diced

400ml fresh vegetable stock

50g red lentils

400g monkfish fillets

100g green beans

100ml tinned coconut milk

2 tbsp roughly chopped coriander leaves

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

LCall Stuart to pre-order your fresh fish and shellfish.

Watch Amy Glasgow cook Stuart’s curry on insta @westendermagazine or Fb @westendermag.

ross recommends…

The Sentidiño Albariño from the Rias Baxias region of Spain really gives off aromas of springtime which is nice as it still feels quite far away. Like most Albariños this one pairs well with a range of seafood dishes however its vibrant aromas of tangerine and jasmine really get you in the mood. So why not combine the two?

Grapefruit and peach flavours are abundantly present, which along with the typical zest of an Albariño, pair magnificently with the spice and creaminess a curry brings. It has a long, refreshing finish and is certainly a wine you can sit and sip at for hours after dinner! I think this one will be a real favourite. Available for £17.95 in store or online and a great pair to seafood dishes.

The Piper Bottle Shop has a brilliant range of wines, whisky and spirits for every occasion and menu!

Get 10% off all online orders with discount code WESTENDER at thepipershop.com or come and browse our full range instore.

0141 204 4456

wilsonscatchoftheday.co.uk

The Piper Bottle Shop 305 Crow Road G11 7BU 0141 357 6953

Wilson’s Catch of the Day 85 Lauderdale Gardens G12 9QU

Image © Gregor Reid Photography

The Brunch Club

Reviewed by Amy Glasgow

/theglasgowdiet

Walk past this corner of Old Dumbarton Road and Yorkhill Street almost any day of the week, and you’ll often find a number of folk hanging around in what might seem like an aimless fashion. In reality, they are eagerly and hungrily awaiting a table at one of the West End’s most popular brunch spots these days – the aptly named Brunch Club.

If you show up any later than 11am, especially on a weekend, be prepared to wait. This dog friendly, walk-in only cafe offering all-day brunch is almost always queued out the door, and having visited on more than one occasion, I have to say, I understand why.

What The Brunch Club offers is not just your classic brunch menu, but a whole host of recognisable dishes alongside others that are new, unique and exciting. If you want to keep things simple, opt for the massive T.B.C Breakfast, a good old Eggs Benedict, or if you have more of a sweet tooth, Pancakes with Bacon and Maple Syrup.

If, however, you are feeling more adventurous, this is where the fun begins. Swap the classic Eggs Benny for Eggs Carnitas, with pulled pork, sriracha hollandaise and crispy onions, or take your waffles to a whole new level by topping them with fried chicken.

I must admit, this is my guilty pleasure. Soft, fluffy waffles topped with Hennessy butter, maple syrup and crispy fried chicken. It is, above all else, extremely indulgent, but it is an absolute treat on an occasional lazy Sunday after a wander around Kelvingrove Park.

The menu is completed by some more healthy options, like granola bowls, porridge, and smoothies – I recommend the Jump Start, a mix of passion fruit, blueberry, lemon and pineapple. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more adult though, they also offer a great selection of classic cocktails – they even have FOUR different Bloody Marys to choose from.

If you want to treat yourself on a Saturday, although it’s available every day, go for their Boozy Brunch deal, which includes a main, a Bellini or Mimosa, and two cocktails of your choice for £30.

Personally, I’m heading back soon to get my hands on their French Toast soldiers served with Nutella for dipping. Can you tell I’ve got a sweet tooth?!

The Brunch Club

67 Old Dumbarton Road G3 8RF 0141 237 7374 thebrunchclub.co

Writer’s Reveal

meets Robert McNeil

Words TRACEY MCCALLUM

Born in Partick in 1947, Robert McNeil MBE FAAPT left Glasgow for London at the age of eighteen to enrol at Art School. He returned three years later in 1969, taking a job in the old Western Infirmary. Following a long career as an Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT) Robert is now filling his retirement with painting and his roles as an ambassador for Remembering Srebrenica UK and Affiliate Artist for UNESCO’s Refugees Integration through Language and the Arts.

Robert’s new book Grave Faces tells the story of his painstaking work in Bosnia and Kosovo. His work in exhuming bodies from mass graves was vital in bringing war criminals to justice for genocide and crimes against humanity. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, Robert’s story is a must read – as genocide is once again in the headlines as the wars in Ukraine and Middle East rage on.

‘Welcome to Hell, ethnic cleansing in Bosnia’ (donated to the Bosnia UK Network, Birmingham). The graffiti on the wall was put there by Dutch UN Peacekeepers @ Robert McNeil

How would you sum up this book for our readers?

In 2014, Remembering Srebrenica UK invited me to join a delegation to Bosnia to meet victims’ families and survivors of the genocide of 1995 and visit the

beautiful cemetery and memorial centre near Srebrenica. I was deeply moved when listening to the stories of horror and deprivation endured by them and also shocked to learn about the level of genocide denial that continues to this day.

I helped gather evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Bosnia and Kosovo from 1996 – 2002. I kept a diary whilst on deployments, and so I decided that I should use my experiences to challenge the denial and help support the people whose lives were devastated.

My hope is that my book will remind people about a largely forgotten war in Europe, where over one hundred thousand people died in a war of aggression against Muslims. Over two million were ‘ethnically cleansed’ and made refugees. Forensic experts rarely talk about their work, so I wanted to shine a light on the important work that they do sometimes in difficult and challenging places.

From Art School to Forensics, how did that happen?

I’d planned to go to art school and become an artist, but personal circumstances instead forced me to find a job quickly, and I was offered a job as curator of Glasgow University’s Museum of Pathology in the old Western Infirmary. I often attended the postmortem room and sometimes was asked to help the pathologists with autopsies when their technicians weren’t available. After studying for a diploma in anatomy, physiology and autopsy technology, I decided that this was what I wanted to do full-time.

When you first arrived in Bosnia, it must have been a complete shock to the system – the brief you were given must have been overwhelming?

At our first briefing from the lead investigator from the International Criminal Tribunal (ICTY), we were all taken aback by the enormity of our mission ahead. Over eight and a half thousand men and boys from Srebrenica were alleged to have been executed over just a few days and thrown into mass graves. When I was taken to the first grave and witnessed over two hundred commingled and decomposing bodies, it was indeed a shocking sight, but I realised how important it was to recover, clean, examine and identify each one in order for the victim’s families to give them a decent burial. In addition, to help ensure that those responsible for such terrible crimes were prosecuted to give a sense of justice to the bereaved.

Did it take you a while to adjust to the primitive living and working conditions or was it the case that you had a job to do and simply didn’t have time to think about that too much?

The temporary mortuary we used to examine the victim’s bodies was a bombed-out garment factory with no running water and sporadic electricity. Security was also an issue. At one point, we had to abandon the mortuary on advice from the UN Peacekeepers. The war was technically over, but there were still occasional outbursts of violence. We had little choice but to adjust to our working and living conditions and try to get on with our job. Life for the civilian population was much worse than ours.

It seems like you bonded quickly with your colleagues – that must have helped lighten your days a little? Humour is important even in the worst of situations, would you agree?

Yes! Humour is often important in situations like these. Most of the team bonded quickly, partly because we spent so much time working and eating together that we almost became a substitute family.

Reading your story, I was amazed how many news stories I’d read about in the 1990s but had completely forgotten, namely the cellist Vedran Smailovic who played Adagio in G minor for 22 days and the U2 concert featuring Miss Sarajevo – a song performed by Bono and Pavarotti. You attended that concert – it must have been hugely emotional?

Yes! The U2 concert in 1997 in Sarajevo was the most emotional event I’d ever attended. It was the first public event allowed after the war. Many tears were shed by the packed audience (and by us) when the band sang Miss Sarajevo. In the book, I describe the background of this amazing event.

It’s difficult to comprehend the levels of violence that humans can inflict on one another – you mention having depression and suffering nightmares on your return. Painting seems to have been just the therapy you needed?

Thankfully, there were only a few who found the work difficult emotionally, they preferred to spend their free time alone and unsupported. After they returned home from their deployment, they understandably didn’t want to come back. I cherish the friendships I still have with former colleagues.

When carrying out the examinations of the bodies, you talked about being careful to look for clues that might identify the person such as tiny pieces of rolled-up paper or repairs to clothing – it must have felt like finding a little nugget of gold when you did find these things?

When we examined the clothing and recovered items found on the victim’s body, we knew they would be helpful when the bodies were finally identified. Unfortunately, we couldn’t be certain then that the clothing or, indeed, the items found belonged to the victim wearing them.

I dismissed as nonsense the advice I was given by a PTSD Counsellor following my return from a difficult deployment to Kosovo in 1999. By then, I’d spent over thirty years working with the dead with no mental health issues whatsoever. However, when I retired in 2009, I began to show signs of PTSD during the night. With profuse sweating and serial nightmares, my wife would tell me I would cry out like a child. It was as if I’d bottled up in my mind some of the horrors I’d seen, and they began to pour out at night.

I found that teaching myself how to paint was therapeutic, especially when I painted some of the images from my dreams. I painted over thirty works depicting events in the war.

A local Art Gallery in Partick, Iota, ‘discovered me.’ The owners, Monica and Duncan, curated exhibitions in the Mitchell Library and in the Scottish Parliament, as well as in their gallery. St Mungos Museum acquired three of my paintings, and I have donated others to museums in Nuremberg, France, and other parts of the UK. All proceeds from those paintings are donated to charity.

‘West End Festival Woman’ (Private collection)

@ Robert McNeil

How does it feel to have played such a vital role in bringing war criminals to justice?

I feel proud to have played a small part in the most comprehensive forensic investigation in history that resulted in the conviction of both the military and political leaders who orchestrated this terrible war and gave some justice to the victims and their families. This was the first genocide to occur in Europe since the holocaust. However, many of the perpetrators are still free to carry on with their lives. This is very painful for the bereaved and those who suffered physically and emotionally and have been denied justice.

It’s 30 years since the war in the Balkans and yet the world seems to have learned nothing. That must frustrate you after all the work you’ve done?

I naively thought that after seeing what happened to many of the leading perpetrators in Bosnia, potential war criminals would think twice before committing similar crimes that could cost them their liberty, but sadly, as we see every night on our TV screens, this has not happened.

You seemed particularly moved by the sexual violence inflicted on so many women and the proceeds of this book are going to a Woman’s Refuge in Sarajevo. Can you tell us about the work they do? It’s been reported that up to fifty thousand, mainly Muslim women and girls, were raped during the war. The Serbs used sexual violence as a cheap weapon of war against women, and some men, to humiliate them and their families. For example, in the town of Visegrad, a luxury hotel was used to imprison hundreds of Muslim women and girls who were systematically raped. Some traumatised women threw themselves from balconies to escape their torture.

Bakira Hasecic, a courageous woman from the town who herself and her daughter were victims of rape, formed The Association of Women Victims of War to support women of all ethnicities who suffered violent sexual abuse. After being nominated by Remembering Srebrenica (Scotland) in 2017, I was privileged to see Bakira receive an honorary degree from Glasgow’s Caledonian University. I donate all the proceeds of my book to the Association.

You’re an Affiliate Artist for UNESCO’s Refugees Integration through Language and the Arts – what does this involve?

I was thrilled to be appointed an Affiliate Artist for UNESCO RILA. Their Chair, Alison Phipps, and her colleagues are doing wonderful work bringing people from around the world together to share their arts, cultures and experiences.

Between your art and charity involvement, you seem to be packing a lot into your retirement. What’s next for you?

I’ll continue to deliver presentations in schools and other venues about the war and the consequences of hate crimes. I also encourage young people who’ve experienced any form of trauma, if they feel they can, to express their feelings through art, music and literature.

Next year will be the thirtieth anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. There will be a lot of coverage on that, so I’ll continue to support Remembering Srebrenica as one of their ambassadors.

Perhaps after that, I’ll return to painting more sedate and traditional works for pleasure and pick up my guitar again after a long absence. I’ll also be able to spend more time with my dear wife, Kathy.

Book Cover painted by Robert McNeil. Book available to buy from beharpublishing.com.

1

The Bookseller of Inverness

by S.G. MacLean

BY BRIAN TOAL

WESTENDER’s COVER TO COVER

The Jacobite rising of 1745 is over and those loyal to the Stuart cause are dead, lost or crushed by the brutal defeat at Culloden.

The years following this military drubbing by the Hanoverian forces are a series of relentless humiliations, imprisonments and torture. The women are raped, the castles pillaged and burnt to the ground, and the Highlanders forbidden to wear tartan or carry any weapons. The Hanoverians begin a campaign of road building under General Wade, as well as forts such as Fort Augustus and Fort George, in order to keep the locals cowed and compliant, as well as ensuring that any new insurrections are quickly stamped out.

This is the context for the action of ‘The Bookseller of Inverness’.

Iain MacGillivray is trying to piece together his life after seeing his friends killed, his father disappear, and the cause he once fought for as good as dead. However, James is still plotting away in the Palazzo del Re in Rome, Charles is still being sheltered by sympathetic countries in Europe, or at least countries keen to deliver England a bloody nose, and several Scottish noblemen are still trying to drum up support in the form of arms, men and money, in order to mount another campaign.

One day Iain sees a stranger poring over the books on his shelves, clearly looking for something specific.

The next morning the stranger is found dead in the bookshop, his throat cut and the murder weapon – a sword with a white cockade on its hilt – left in plain sight. How did he get into the locked shop? Who killed him? What was he looking for? And what is the significance of the white cockade?

So begins the investigation by Iain MacGillivray, taking him to castles full of English soldiers, the houses of old Jacobites, the hills and moors around Inverness, and to a thrilling game of hide and seek on the shores of Loch Ness. At times there are echoes of ‘Kidnapped’ and ‘Waverley’ – indeed, The Times described it as ‘Walter Scott meets tartan noir.’ I do like a bit of tartan noir, and I’m a huge fan of Stevenson and Scott, so this was right up my kilt.

MacLean is a specialist in 16th and 17th Century Scottish history, and has written two historical series, both of which have escaped my attention, but I’ll set that right next time I’m in Waterstones. She has won the Historical Dagger twice, so she has a proven track record. This latest novel delivers intrigue and historical accuracy with plenty of adventure and derringdo, all set at a breakneck pace.

Our Wives Under The Sea

by Julia Armfield

2

Allen-Paisant won the Irish Times book of the year for his first collection of poetry, ‘Thinking with Trees’. This second collection is sure to scoop many more.

The poet explores his Jamaican roots through a fairly brutal exposition of our imperialist past, looking to create new perspectives for this much travelled landscape. He uses the central trope of Othello, a figure we should all be familiar with, especially those studying the text for Higher English right now, and this would be a great supplementary text for any English class studying this classic tragedy.

Yet, Allen-Paisant cleverly intertwines his reimagining of Othello walking the streets of Venice with the poet’s own journey through the streets of various European cities, a stranger in a strange land, just like the eponymous

That’s right. Wives, not lives. The title intrigued me, as did the stunning front cover. This is one of the most fascinating novels I’ve read in a while. It tells the tale of Miri and Leah: Miri is the wife waiting anxiously for Leah to return from the depths. She has been on a research expedition, and it all goes wrong. They are stuck without power for months, slowly going mad, and the denouement is dramatic.

It’s also worth noting that in this dual narrative, we know that Leah returned because Miri recounts how changed Leah is on her return and how these changes continue to develop rapidly with horrendous consequences.

tragic hero. The Othello of seventeenth-century Venice represents a narrative just emerging in Europe due to the burgeoning slave trade and the reliance of European powers, especially naval powers such as Venice, on the brute strength and military prowess of its Moorish warriors.

Had this fascinating collection been simply a retelling of an old story through modern eyes, had it simply been an ekphrastic exploration of famous paintings of Moors in a European context, this would have been compelling in itself. However, what makes this collection soar is the suffusion of the poet’s own experiences; his own search for identity; his own frustrations at the assumptions of Parisians, and the dual identity which many immigrants wrestle with.

Armfield is not a writer I’ve come across before. She was only born in 1990, so she’s just a young thing and only at the beginning of her career, but if this novel is anything to go by, her career should be long and illustrious. She has already won some short story prizes, but this debut novel should propel her into the consciousness of a much wider reading public.

I’m not sure if I preferred the narrative on land dealing with Leah’s return or the submarine narrative with all its drama and suspense. Both were enjoyable in different ways. The trope of people returning altered from an encounter with the unknown is a very popular one on Netflix these days, and I can see this being optioned for similar televisual treatment.

Self-Portrait As Othello

by Jason Allen-Paisant

3

Meikle Bin from Queenzienburn with Pocket Mountains Books

Distance 14 km Time 4 hours

Terrain minor road and access track; boggy moorland and forestry firebreaks Map OS Explorer 348

Access regular buses to Queenzieburn from Kilsyth

Rising high above the long escarpment of the Campsie Fells, the 570m summit of Meikle Bin is a familiar sight for drivers heading north past Glasgow. Although the more popular route up the ‘Big Hill’ starts from the Carron Valley side in Stirlingshire, there is another much less frequented way up from the village of Queenzieburn, west of Kilsyth, on the southern Lanarkshire side. This challenging route is steep and boggy in places with exposed moorland, which can be confusing in poor visibility.

Start from Mill Road, off Kilsyth Road, in Queenzieburn (parking available at the Community Hall opposite the school) and bear left up Dykehead Road. Keep on this steeply rising minor road which soon shadows the Queenzie Burn to reach a crossroads. Pass a tempting bench to continue on the rough track ahead, enjoying the view back down over the Kelvin Valley and Croy Hill as you go. Eventually there’s some respite from the climb as the track turns right towards the ruined Corrie farmhouse. Rather than continue through the gate, however, take the signed stile into the small plantation on the left.

Make your way up through this deerfenced woodland to emerge on trackless boggy moorland with a little waterfall up ahead to the left. Bear northeast up the damp hillside to soon meet the much firmer access track to Birkenburn Reservoir. Follow this all the way over the top of the escarpment and down the other side to the isolated reservoir, known locally as Johnnie’s Dam.

The prominent summit of Meikle Bin on the other side of the forestry is the next target. Cross over the dam and the outflow of the reservoir to pick up a vague path through the rough ground to meet the corner of the plantation. Continue along the boggy edge of the trees on either side of the wire fence until you reach a firebreak.

Make your way steeply down through the firebreak to emerge in a quiet little glen and cross the burn. Climb steeply back out of the plantation on the other side to gratefully pick up the clear path over open ground to the summit.

The wonderful view of the Southern Highlands which abruptly greets you as you near the summit trig point is well worth the slog through the trees. Pick out your favourite peaks and no doubt welcome other walkers who have made it up the more popular route from the Carron Valley below. As well as the view north, you should also be able to see right across central Scotland from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde on a clear day. Just below the summit is a part of the wreck of the Royal Navy Fairey Firefly that crashed here in low cloud in January 1950. Both crewmen were killed and other scattered sections of the plane can be found further down the hillside.

After enjoying the views, the return is mostly by the same route; from the reservoir it is easier to stick to the access track all the way down to Corrie farmhouse to avoid some of the boggy ground climbed through earlier. Bear right towards the woodland, however, as you approach the ruin to cross a stile by the gate and return down the track and road to Queenzieburn.

Project6:Layout 1 3/10/22 14:18 Page 1

pocketmountains.com

SHOP LOCAL...

Scotland The Brave?

…or just pure baltic?

With lives forever on fast-forward it can be difficult to build in much needed breaks. So how do we slow down and capture precious fleeting moments before life rushes on again? Diana McLeish finds beachcombing, ice bathing and Mother Nature steps in to create moments of joy.

I’m a great believer in not waiting for the perfect moment but in seizing each moment and making it perfect. For me, for various reasons the timing was now or never.

Scotland is full of hidden gems but what many don’t know is that our beaches are rich with treasure and some of it has tumbled back and forth in the North Sea for over 100 years.

Finding sea glass and sea pottery creates glimmers, precious little moments that spark joy within me. The more often you look for them, the more often they appear.

So as we approach a new season full of hope, love and positivity my message to you is to spend more time doing what you enjoy with an attitude of gratitude to benefit wellbeing and look for glimmers.

I have been beachcombing since I was a child and continue to do so throughout the seasons, come rain or shine. It is a form of mindfulness and nostalgia. Something I rely on more so now than ever to navigate through life – bringing inner peace and calm.

I think most people could benefit from just slowing down to appreciate the small, simple things in life. We can be guilty of rushing through each day at 150 mph chasing the big things until we are forced to stop.

I was guilty of this too until I took a career break, post maternity, from my fast paced corporate job after 10 plus years to spend more time with my husband and three boys. I will of course return to work but have massively benefited from this extra time at home.

I have always loved the seaside. Each tide brings new treasure and the waves remind us that the highs and lows are part of Mother Nature – part of life.

Over the years I have explored most of the beaches along the Fife Coastal Path looking for sea glass. In recent years I’ve spent more time around the tidal pools where I enjoy wild swimming. Each visit is an adventure, you never know what you might find.

So what drew me to the East Neuk? My gran had a house in a beautiful little fishing village which still holds a very special place in my heart. We spent every summer on the beach as kids and when my four siblings were gathered at the rockpools looking for crabs, I was on the shore searching for treasure.

I used to store my sea glass in jars until my son suggested we make pendants for our neighbours. They all loved sharing our treasure, pieces we had carefully hand picked, washed and reloved, it brought us all great joy. It was a very positive and uplifting experience which gave me the confidence to start a new adventure.

Making jewellery, beachcombing, and wild swimming fills me with positive energy. Being creative helps me feel peace and calm. It’s great for my mindset and has become part of a self healing journey in many ways.

I have always enjoyed swimming and beachcombing. My love for winter swimming however only started in December 2020.

Diana in her Big Bobble Hat enjoying a Pure Baltic dook

Image © Gregor Reid Photography

Intrigued by the buzz surrounding Wim Hoff and the health benefits of cold water therapy I took regular cold showers throughout lockdown and gradually built up the resilience to go to Abies Loch that year before Christmas.

It was exhilarating. Like everyone else we had been confined to our homes during covid and as restrictions eased the loch became our happy place. It was peaceful, and allowed us to escape and reset. I love being in nature and getting in the cold water shocked my system and woke up all of my senses. It was thrilling.

From the lochs I progressed into the North Sea and into the tidal pools. There are now various wellness saunas in Kingsbarns and Elie which I recommend if you want to add more zen.

I think more people are discovering the benefits of hot and cold water therapy for wellbeing – seizing life, staycationing and making the most of what we have here in Scotland. There are also lots of beautiful outdoor spas dotted around our lochs, including at Taymouth Marina. Bliss.

I just wish I had discovered wild swimming sooner. For me it is a very personal thing, almost spiritual, but I know a lot of people enjoy going in groups for social connection so if you do try it, do what works best for you.

Do your research and speak to your GP if you have underlying health issues before you go – and swim responsibly.

On the days I can’t get to the lochs or coast I hop into my ice bath in the back garden and kick start my morning with a refreshing three minute dip. It has been transformative for me. I love it. I got one for Christmas inspired by Wim Hof and the amazing Braid sisters.

The Braid sisters have been cold water swimming every single day since lockdown to heal from the death of their dad who passed in 2018 from terminal cancer. Their dad had introduced them to wild swimming when they were younger, taking them to all the spots where he swam as a boy. So going back to nature reconnected them with him, ‘we were able to be there for each other, to support, love and lift each other up during one of life’s most traumatic experiences. We felt lost for a very long time but during lockdown we felt drawn to the water and slowly began to heal,’ says Amanda.

‘We believe in the healing power of Mother Nature to support our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing and we want to help others via our sisterhood “Ignite Your Fire Within”’, continues Martine. ‘As part of this model we set up Pure Baltic Ice Baths with 10% of all proceeds going to “Fire & Peace Recovery” to help people with their mental health, and suicide awareness. You can find us on Instagram and facebook. So whatever you are going through, you are not alone. We are here for you’.

Amanda and Martine Braid are two of the most inspiring women I know. They have encouraged me to go on my own adventure into the unknown this spring to meet Wim Hoff in the Netherlands on a cold water and breathwork retreat for personal growth – so I shall let you know how that goes.

I channelled this new found bravery and inspiration into setting up North Sea Gifts by D where everything is hand picked with care from the beach, uniquely shaped by waves and hand made with love. It has been a dream come true so far and one of the most rewarding and fulfilling adventures of my life.

You can find me on Instagram, etsy and in gift shops in and around the West End including Plantique in Partick, The Leith Collective at Glasgow Fort and Wilson’s Catch of the Day in Hyndland.

Self love and self care are essential to our wellbeing. Our health is our wealth and family is everything. Time is precious. So do more of what you love and slow down to enjoy small things before they pass. I am so grateful of this little career pause to rest and reset, focus on wellbeing and see what happens next.

Peace and gratitude to you and yours.

purebalticicebath.com bigbobblehats.co.uk

WIN! Westender has packaged together a wellbeing bundle – just for you! Win a Pure Baltic Ice Bath as seen on Page 31, a gorgeous foraged necklace similar to the one opposite (remember no two are alike) and a Big Bobble Hat for all that ice dooking and wild swimming. Go to westendermagazine.com and click on Competitions by 30th April 2024.

Scan the QR code to follow North Sea Gifts by D on Insta

Amanda and Martine Braid in their Big Bobble Hats

Music is so intertwined with our memories, the important times in our lives, writes Tracy Mukherjee. It’s music that stirs emotions – happiness, total joy, sadness, comfort. It’s a comfort then, that as we get older, maybe as we lose certain parts of our memory, we can depend on music to be the…

Playlist Of Our Lives

Iam a child of the 80s. I was watching old episodes of Top of The Pops the other night and there was Boy George on his very first performance with Culture Club. And although I was only cough cough years old then, I remember it like yesterday. I hear Duran Duran and Wham and I am right back there, feeling exactly how I felt with my first crush on Simon Le Bon. Every word, every melody, every note is ingrained.

Isn’t music, then a wonderful tool to evoke memories? To allow us to be transported to those times in our lives?

Playlist for Life is a music and dementia charity founded in 2013. Writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson started the charity following the death of her mother Mamie, who had dementia.

Sally had cared for Mamie at home and had found such power in the music that her mother listened to. Together with mental health nurse Andy Lowdnes, the two worked together to demonstrate just how music could bring such joy to those living with the illness.

And the power of personal music was found not just to lift spirits but to improve function. In working with Harry and Margaret in Craiglea Care Home in Renfrew, Sally and Andy found the effects of the music went far beyond uplifting mood. Harry had not been talking for six months. After listening to music that was meaninful to him Harry began to speak to Margaret. And that’s the power of Playlist for Life.

Laura Redpath is the Communications Officer for the Charity and Westender was delighted to speak to her. Laura explained exactly what a Playlist for life is.

’A Playlist for Life is our life soundtrack. Think songs from your first gig, a song that reminds you of your parents, songs from your school days, your first dance, a special holiday. Those are the tunes attached to our core memories and make up our Playlist For Life.’

The evidence in support of the phenomenal effect the playlists have is quite astounding. In working with Lilyburn Care Home in Kirkintilloch, the charity helped reduce the use of medication by 60%. ‘A personal playlist may reduce anxiety; improve mood; make difficult tasks – such as personal care – more manageable and evoke memories that can bring a feeling of connection,’ explains Laura. ‘Some may respond instantly, for others it might be a more gradual process as everybody’s dementia journey is different. To get the most out of music, it’s important to use songs that are personally meaningful to the person listening.’

With 20 years of scientific research supporting their findings, it’s incredibly encouraging for those living with dementia and their carers. Laura says, ‘Playlists can be beneficial for carers, too. There’s a lot of pressure on unpaid carers, who may find that dementia has changed their relationship with a partner or family member. Sometimes one song can spark a memory or emotion and foster connections, bringing a shimmer of joy to a tough day.’

Such are the benefits, over the past eight years Playlist For Life have trained over 10,000 health and social care professionals so they themselves can deliver ‘person centred’ care through the playlists. Even the Scottish Fire and Rescue as well as the Police, work in partnership with the charity in order to share the information on home safety visits and community policing. Having celebrated its 10th birthday, Playlist For Life isn’t stopping there. With 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, their mission is to ensure everyone living with the disease has access to a personal playlist.

OPPOSITE L-R Chair Sandra Stark, Vice Chair Andy Lowndes, Executive Director Michael Timmons, Honorary President Sally Magnusson at the 10th birthday conference

BELOW The Bluebells performing at the National Playlist Day concert 2023

Laura adds, ‘Last year we were recognised and signposted in the Scottish Government’s Dementia Strategy as a non-pharmacological intervention that “may improve cognition, social engagement, and quality of life and decrease stress and stress” which takes us one step closer to having personal playlists embedded in health and social care.’

The charity aims for 2024 continue to be ambitious. With no sign of a cure for the disease so far, Playlist For Life will continue to keep their feet on the accelerator when it comes to influencing policies on dementia care and keeping the disease in the nation’s conscience. With extremely successful campaigns in the charity’s 10th anniversary year of 2023, National Playlist Day for 2024 looks to be bigger and better.

What a journey the charity has been on. And the proof is in the pudding… or in the music.

The power of meaningful music does seem to extend far beyond happiness, joy or sadness. Playlist for Life are ensuring both patients and carers can reconnect with life and each other. What a gift.

My mum lived with dementia. My love of music came from her and my love of music from the 50s comes from the music she loved. So when I hear ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ I too am transported; to my wedding day, dancing with my wee mum to the playlist of our lives. And that’s a memory I’ll always have – because of music.

Interested in learning more on making a Playlist For Life? Visit the charity’s website at playlistforlife.org.uk for support, information and where to get started.

Stroke Survivors

Improve your quality of life after your Stroke!

If you have survived a stroke, you know just how different things are with your ability to get your affected side to do what you want it to do. What previously was an effortless thing, is now more complicated, takes longer and has sometimes quite different outcomes to what you intended. What’s more, things change as your life after your stroke goes on. It can, understandably, be a very frustrating journey with many challenges and obstacles to overcome and what can’t be overcome needs to be worked around.

As life goes on after your stroke, often what you find is that things start to tighten up, get a bit weaker and often muscles and joints get achey and sore. Because you have not necessarily had these things since the onset of your stroke, you put them down to ‘its because of the stroke’ or, possibly, ‘its just because I’m getting a bit older’ and think that nothing much can be done. However, for many of the stroke survivors I help this is very often not true – I have seen countless stroke survivors suffer from niggling aches to debilitating pain that can either be improved or completely resolved by someone who knows what they are doing.

Aches and pains are a normal part of life, but they do not need to be a permanent part of your life. Often these pains and aches can affect your confidence, stop you from getting out or doing more of what you value and enjoy. In more severe cases, they can also put you completely off your feet.

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Aches and pains are a normal part of life but they do not need to be a permanent part of your life.

This is where getting the right therapy from leading Neuro Physios, like me and my team, can make all the difference to your life. We have helped many stroke survivors, like you, make great improvements in pain, improve walking, get stronger, fitter and more resilient and give you the best support so you can live your life the way you want after your stroke.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help you with your life after your stroke, then contact us now on 0141 530 2092.

Simpson Physiotherapy

0141 530 2092

simpsonphysio.co.uk

Fraser Simpson MSc, Chartered Physiotherapist

IRRI

by Tara Jack

t’s been a great start to the year so far and we are looking forward to a busy and exciting spring/summer. Our new skin testing colour system, Colourstart, is now in full swing and it’s exceptionally convenient for clients – as well as allowing us to be creative with colour. If you haven’t heard of or changed to the new system yet, ask about it during your next visit. There are so many benefits, and it cuts out salon visits to have a skin test and allows complete creative freedom on the day.

We are delighted to offer our clients new blonde tones from Schwarzkopf. These new colours achieve the most perfect, clean, bright blondes and allow us to maximise toning while maintaining a platinum blonde.

In May, we are thrilled that we will be welcoming our Master Hair Designer, Summer, back into the salon from maternity leave. We know Summer’s clients will be excited to see her, to catch up on how motherhood is treating her and have their hair transformed for the new season by the colour expert herself! Get in touch now to ensure your appointments are booked in.

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 30th Apr ‘24.

Rainbow Room International

607 Great Western Road G12 8HX

0141 337 3370

rainbowroominternational.com

We’re listening…

There are things in life we don’t mind waiting for. Our Amazon parcel to arrive, a perfect flat white from our favourite coffee shop or the dentist calling us in!

Then there are things that can’t wait and at the top of that list is prioritising our health. In the present climate, health concerns can’t always be addressed right away. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be.

Westbourne Medical Studios in our Park district have a wealth of healthcare expertise that is merely a phone call away. As well as their GP practice, they have specialisms such as dermatology, cardiology and gynaecology onsite. With three new consultants on staff, there really is no excuse for worrying at home.

Dr Beata Bakos Torokne, Consultant Dermatologist has years of experience in treating skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and in checking your skin health, should you be concerned over for example, the changing shape of a mole. Concerns over skin cancer affect many of us, but a quick phone call and check-up can quickly allay those fears.

Dr Karen J Hogg is a Consultant Cardiologist. Dr Hogg specialises in supporting those who are living with chronic cardiac disease, ensuring they are provided the highest standard of care.

Karen is the clinical lead for Cardiology at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Chair of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Heart Failure Managed Clinical Network. From concerns over chest pain and hypertension to heart murmurs and arrhythmias, Dr Hogg is expertly placed to offer comprehensive assessments and advise.

Dr Claire Higgins is a Consultant Gynaecologist based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital who can help with your concerns over menopause care, contraception, problem periods, as well as worrying vulval skin conditions. Don’t wonder and worry – address issues to Dr Higgins.

With patient centred care at the very core of Westbourne’s philosophy, a consultation with these experts in their medical disciplines is only a phone call away. Appointments are usually then scheduled within the week.

My flat white? I can wait for. My health? Call Westbourne Medical Studios now.

At Westbourne Studios your health is in the safest of hands. Look forward to a brighter, healthier future, call 0141 737 4700 for an introductory consultation.

GP & Studio Founder, Dr Veronica McBurnie

entrepreneurs

…in sustainable design

This edition I have been inspired by my chats with two sustainable start-up brands. Women pushing back against fast fashion and growing businesses locally in Glasgow – time to celebrate them and enjoy. By

Elena Taggart

WHITE PEPPER APPAREL

I spoke with Louise Thomson who founded White Pepper Apparel in 2023 and asked her what inspired her to start? Both of my parents were entrepreneurs and growing up, I was really inspired by them. Watching them run a successful company sparked my desire to do the same one day. I struggled with what to do, and would keep ‘business idea’ notes in my phone. Working as a fashion buyer for a well-established fast fashion brand in Manchester the ‘business idea’ became clear. Although I enjoyed the job, I became very aware of how damaging the fast fashion industry was to the environment and how badly it treated the factories that produced the clothing. I decided to leave and start my own sustainable and ethical brand.

I wanted to understand from Louise, what sustainable fashion really means to her? Sustainable fashion to me is about being committed to the planet’s well-being. It is very challenging to be 100% sustainable and many fashion brands are greenwashing these days – my dream would be to guarantee that we are 100% sustainable by a certain date and in doing so, I want to promise to challenge traditional practices and seek ways to further our sustainable nature.

A woman on a mission, I wanted to understand what Louise felt hers was? My mission is to redefine activewear through a harmonious blend of style, sustainability, and purpose. I aim to be as transparent as I can with consumers, so they can make informed decisions and know that they

are valued by the brand and are not just a number (like so many fast fashion brands perceive their consumers).

Do you have a vision of where you want to see your business go?

I want to build a community of people who want to purchase high-quality, sustainable, and ethically made products that they are proud to purchase.

What will customers enjoy when they buy one of your pieces?

Consumers will enjoy the high-quality, durable, buttery-soft fabric the pieces have and the flattering fit. Safe in the knowledge that they have supported a small, Scottish brand and have purchased an exclusive item. Only 100 units of each style of the fourpiece collection are made, so the capsule collection pieces are limited and unique.

Finally, I wanted to understand the learning along the way? What do you wish you had known or done differently? Looking back at where you were before you started, is there one piece of advice you would give your former self? Yes 100% – I would give my former self so much advice, including to just go do it! I delayed launching the brand for a while, dogged with self-doubt and lack of selfbelief. I realise now that you just have to go for it and if it doesn’t work out, it isn’t the end of the world.

I would also ask others for help and feedback more, I was scared at the start of receiving negative feedback. I learned often that other people’s advice is key for growth. The final thing I would say is to stop comparing yourself to other people or business owners, not everything is as it seems on social media and success rarely happens overnight, so don’t give up and stay true to your core beliefs.

So very true, such great advice!

WHITE PEPPER APPAREL is available online via whitepepperapparel.com or you can follow Louise on instagram @whitepepperapparel

HAYLEY MCSPORRAN

I was lucky enough to meet Hayley a few years ago when I styled one of her early photoshoots and I so loved her innovative designs and have been a fan ever since. So I was really excited to include her sustainable vision in this article.

I asked Hayley what inspired her to start? Because I could never find clothing or bags that were just – simple. Everything I had access to at the time of starting was really fussy or too feminine. I wanted to make clean understated pieces that would fit into anyone’s wardrobe and would suit all bodies but still had something interesting about them, whether it be the cut or fabric. After graduating and working in small design studios, I didn’t want to have to move to London to get a job in fashion and wanted to create something for myself, so I started building my brand in Glasgow. I wanted to do something different from the fast fashion model (which was all I had access to) and start small and slow on a made-to-order basis.

What does Hayley mean by sustainable fashion?

To me, it’s about ethical production, designing for longevity, and boycotting overconsumption. ‘Buy Less, Wear More’ is my brand ethos, and it’s about only buying pieces that you love and can wear with many looks to avoid having to buy more things all the time. Investing in good quality, timeless design will save you money in the long run because it will last.

What is your mission?

My mission is to create the ultimate minimal and modular wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe that has pieces for every occasion and that you can completely rely on! For now, my focus is on accessories while I slowly grow the brand. We are a very small team, and designing and producing accessories is just more efficient as all the production is in-house at my studio in Glasgow.

As for vision, Hayley’s vision for the brand is 100% growth of course!

I would love to grow the team while keeping production in Scotland as it’s a big part of the brand. This year’s mission is to get one of my key lines, the cross-body bags, into many more stockists to have the bags out in the world more. They are such a great everyday bag, really easy to use. And I have just launched a new shoulder bag design which is already doing well.

What do clients think of Hayleys minimally styled pieces?

I think my customers enjoy my bags because they are easy to style, comfortable to wear, and bring an outfit together effortlessly. I want to make people’s lives easier and I think when you have good clothing and accessories that you can rely on, that you can just throw them all on and still feel good, it takes unnecessary stress out of the day.

I have a lovely group of women who I often see at markets and pop-ups that tell me they never have their cross-body bags off, and I can’t wish for anything better than that!

Finally, what advice would she give herself?

Believe in yourself more. And stop overthinking everything!

Sound advice from a modest and very talented entrepreneur.

Hayley McSporran is available online at hayleymcsporran.com or you can also follow her on instagram at @hayleymcsporranstudio. Her collections are stocked in HOOS Glasgow, hoosglasgow.co.uk, at 715 Great Western Road.

Follow Elena Taggart on Insta @the_ closet_stylist.

Westender Insights

…conversations with local artists

We have an amazing range of creative shops and businesses in the West End. But who are these creative business owners and artists, who or what was their inspiration, and why did they settle in the West End?

Anne Marie Hillan chats with the artist owner of one of our favourite art and gift shops, Nancy Smillie, alongside one of the talented West End artists whose work she sells, Damian Henry.

NANCY SMILLIE

The Nancy Smillie Shop down Cresswell Lane is a West End institution. Whenever I take visitors on a West End wander, it’s one of my go-to shops with its beautiful furniture, art, and all things homeware, as well as fabulous designer jewellery, cards and gifts. But I have always been curious about Nancy Smillie herself. Is she even a real person? And why did she set up shop in the West End?

I recently met Nancy in her West End home which is currently undergoing refurbishment works. Nancy was apologising for the building work and everything being a little topsy turvy but for me, her living room had a seemingly effortless natural, artistic charm, with absolutely amazing original art on every wall and piles of art books bundled temporarily, but beautifully, in every corner.

Nancy grew up in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. No one in her family was artistic. Her dad was a police officer and art was not considered a realistic career choice. It was her teacher at Wishaw High School, Mrs McBride, who was the driving force behind Nancy studying Art and from 3rd year onwards Nancy won every art prize. Mrs McBride was insistent and clearly persuasive and Nancy attended Glasgow School of Art. She studied drawing and painting for the first two years, her true love and what should have been her speciality. But instead, Nancy specialised in ceramics. That confused me – why ceramics?

Nancy admits that at this point in the 1970s in Glasgow she did not know of anyone with artwork on their walls – no one! But folk did have pots. And Nancy’s career in pottery began.

The Saltoun Pottery, Nancy’s own, opened off Ruthven Lane shortly after she left art school in the mid 1970s. Running the pottery was a steep and expensive business learning curve, but in due course her unique hand-thrown pots were being sold in The Conran Shop in London and were shipped worldwide, especially to Japan. Such was her success that Nancy was invited to open a store at the prestigious and award-winning Princes Square in 1988, and The Nancy Smillie Shop was born. Initially selling high end ceramics and glass work Nancy soon diversified into sourcing and selling designer jewellery, from there the popularity of the Nancy Smillie Shop was guaranteed. I am old enough to remember that first amazing Nancy Smillie shop. As a young woman in Glasgow this was where I wanted to shop and more truthfully be shopped for!

The shop-in Princes Square traded for a very successful 11 years. By then the pottery was in Cresswell Lane and the shop moved alongside. The shop has extended and now sells a full range of homeware including furniture and textiles, a massive range of amazing designer jewellery, alongside cards painted and designed by Nancy, and a small range of Nancy’s unique hand thrown pots.

ABOVE Nancy Smillie in front of her original art

The Nancy Smillie Shop on Cresswell Lane

An original Nancy Smillie hand thrown ceramic pot

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Tradespeople

It’s a fabulous local store with an excellent website for the convenience of those further away. There is also a friendly team in store, but Nancy herself remains very much involved in selecting the ranges. Nancy loves the designer jewellery and the ‘sculptural element it capitalises on in its design’. Current ranges stocked include Dganit Hen and Lynne McLachlan. In the store, Nancy promotes and sells the work of Glasgow School of Art graduates alongside Scottish creatives. Not because they are local – but because their work is uniquely creative and of the very highest standard.

As Nancy gestures around her living room saying her first love remains painting and drawing, I belatedly realise that the artwork on her living room walls are her own original art. Honestly, I am in awe. What an incredible journey from Wishaw to the Art School, from painting to ceramics, from Ruthven Lane to Princes Square and back to Cresswell Lane. Mrs McBride would be so proud.

Did Nancy keep in touch? Did the influential art teacher know of her success? I was delighted to hear that Nancy visited Mrs McBride a number of times after leaving school and presented her with some of her pots as a thank you. Mrs McBride apparently said ‘I was only doing my job’. What an inspiring story. What an influence a great teacher can have.

So, Nancy Smillie is indeed a real person who has lived and worked in the West End for over 40 years. A talented, artistic, down to earth business person who is clear she will never forget those who helped her.

DAMIAN HENRY

Damian Henry is a Glasgow School of Art graduate, born and brought up in the West End. Art has always been a big part of his life. His mum, Clare Henry, is the well known and respected former Art Critic for the Glasgow Herald and the Scotsman and was actively involved in the formation of the worldrenowned Glasgow Print Studio. If Nancy’s inspiration was her teacher then Damian’s was his mum. The young Damian made the first of many visits to the Print Studio when he was three so it’s unsurprising that Damian is now an artist print maker known for his distinctive figurative images. Damian studied painting but print making is his trademark style. It is a complex technique involving hard manual labour, acid, sharp tools, and old Victorian presses alongside new technology.

Initially Damian’s work was moody, atmospheric and mostly monochromatic, but in 2003 that changed and now his prints of animals, flowers and people are full of colour and character.

One Devonshire Gardens @ Damian Henry

Nancy Smillie in her Saltoun Pottery mid-70s

During lockdown, Damian advertised that he was accepting commissions. That’s how we met. I commissioned Damian to produce a portrait of my home as a surprise gift. Damian creates the image working from photographs. Recently, I was shown the initial sketch of my house as well as his copy of the finished article. We absolutely love our portrait it’s such a good likeness, but he has given it great character too.

Damian has had over 20 solo shows in the UK, USA and Canada but his base has always been Glasgow. Westender readers may remember him from attending the Paintings On Railings art markets at the Botanic Gardens. Damian received great feedback from those visiting the markets and loved talking to locals about prints they liked.

Damian has always remained involved with the Glasgow Print Studio. Recently his work Goldfinches was part of The Love Of Print Exhibition at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery which ran from November 2022 to March 2023. The exhibition celebrated 50 years of the Glasgow Print Studio and Damian exhibited his work alongside famous names including John Byrne, Alison Watt and Alistair Gray.

He is currently working on collections of his work suitable for the gallery walls of our homes. There will be collections of West End and Glasgow landmarks including Oran Mor, One Devonshire Gardens, the Botanic Gardens and Kelvinbridge, in addition to his animal prints and life studies. Damian’s work is available to buy online and in store at The Nancy Smillie Shop and his mum continues to be his greatest supporter! Her home has his work displayed on every available wall. It’s the most charming personal gallery.

As for his future plans, well Damian’s wife is from Tuscany and in the future he would like to spend his time between Glasgow and Tuscany, painting Tuscan landscapes and Italians café scenes as well as Glasgow landmarks and homes. Now that sounds to me a perfect blend of inspiration, lifestyle and therapeutic weather. And we can all look forward to seeing Damian Henry’s Italian collection in years to come at The Nancy Smillie Shop.

nancysmillieshop.com

damianhenry.com

Find Anne Marie at instagram.com/lock. downhouse

Damian Henry with Goldfinches and art critic mum Clare Henry

Damian Henry’s commission for Anne Marie Hillan’s Lockdown House

Preservation Windows

After winning the Scottish Home Improvement Award for ‘Best Window Replacement Company’ last year, the team at Preservation Windows thought it didn’t get much better than that. But with it being the company’s 20th anniversary this year, they don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

Preservation Windows pride themselves on being the leading sash and case window specialists across Glasgow and Scotland offering installation, replacement, and refurbishment. The experienced team are committed to elevating your sash and case windows to achieve heat retention and energy efficiency while retaining the character of your period property. Through natural timber, and other organic high-quality materials, Preservation Windows helps your house truly feel like a home.

Director Brendan Murphy started the company in November 2004 with a small unit in Kirkintilloch and a total of three employees. As the demand grew so did the team, and it’s now been over five years since they made Great Western Road their home. Now with a team of 32, Preservation Windows continues to provide a high-quality service to the likes of Glasgow University and The Scottish Courts; to working with architects and developers on large projects; and to fitting high-end and traditional sash and case windows for domestic clients.

In Glasgow and throughout Scotland it’s important you seek approval from your local council and Historic Environment Scotland before replacing your sash and case windows. But don’t fret, if you don’t feel confident submitting the application yourself, this is only one of the many services Preservation Windows can provide.

All the sash windows on offer are manufactured at Preservation Windows workshop by expert tradesmen. Craftsmen manufacture windows to your exact requirements and measurements making them truly bespoke to your home. The finish of your sash windows or replacements is chosen by you from a vast selection – from Farrow and Ball and beyond. Then expert installers deliver and install your new windows on a day that best suits you.

Not only are these windows a perfect addition architecturally to your house, but they allow beautiful, natural light to flood through your home. Truly a fitting window to your world.

Call Brendan and the team on 0141 352 9910 for all traditional sash & case queries. Or for client testimonials visit their fab website preservationwindows.com.

Preservation Windows

124 Great Western Road G4 9AD 0141 352 9910

preservationwindows.com

Brendan Murphy at 124 Great Western Road

Let’s get moving!

A brighter 2024 is here, and we’re here to help first-time buyers and home movers make the most of it. Our local knowledge and decades of expertise will get you to a place that you’re happy with. Literally.

the path to Financial Wellbeing

Financial wellbeing plays an important part in our health and happiness. Here are three tips to help you feel better about your finances.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS?

Spoiler alert: financial wellbeing isn’t just about money. It can be things that don’t have any direct financial connection like having more time with family or a healthier work-life balance.

When establishing what matters to you, avoid comparing yourself to others or thinking that social media influencers ‘have it all’. Instead, stay focused on you and your loved ones by having an open and honest conversation about what you want to get out of life with them. Talking about money isn’t always easy but it’s a big step towards better financial wellbeing.

THINK POSITIVE

Have you ever thought ‘it’s too soon, or too late, to start investing?’ It’s true that the earlier you get started with investing the more chance your portfolio has to grow. But it’s never really too late, if you have a window of five years or more before you want to use your money. If your timescales are shorter, there are still options available that can help you make the most of your funds.

Investing can feel confusing and full of jargon but it doesn’t need to be this way. If you think investing might be right for you, then speaking to an independent financial adviser can help make the complex simple and give you confidence.

BALANCE & CONTROL

The practical side of financial wellbeing –getting organised and feeling in control of our finances – can relieve stress and improve

wellbeing. At this time of year, a good practical step is to look at whether you’re making the most of your annual tax-free ISA (Individual Savings Account) allowance – up to £20,000 for the 2023/24 tax year.

Good financial planning can help you identify what you really want to get out of life, working back from these priorities to map out a road for your savings and investments that can make your vision a reality.

Janice Dallas is a Financial Planner at Aberdein Considine Wealth, based in Waterloo Street. If you’d like some help with your financial wellbeing or plans, please get in touch on 0333 004 4333, ask@acandco.com or visit wealth.acandco.com.

*This article should not be considered financial advice or an investment recommendation. The value of investments can go down as well as up, so you could get back less than you invested.

New Tax Year

new opportunities for financial success

The new tax year offers opportunities that can enhance your financial future.

This is an ideal time to plan ahead and manage your finances. Take time out and review your financial goals for a more secure financial future. Whether you are preparing to retire, pass on your wealth or even make a life change like a new career or start a business, a solid financial position is the cushion you need.

A key aspect of this planning is making the most of your Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance.

You may be aware that from 6 April 2024, ISA rules will become simpler. A significant change is the ability to open multiple ISAs of the same type within one tax year. This means you can open new cash ISAs if better deals appear, giving you flexibility to distribute funds based on your financial goals.

Investors can also benefit by diversifying investments across different providers, using one stocks and shares ISA for long-term investments and another for frequent trades in the same tax year. Remember always seek expert financial advice.

The annual contribution limit for 2024/25 remains at £20,000, with Junior ISA and Lifetime ISA limits at £9,000 and £4,000 respectively. From 6 April the minimum age for cash ISAs is 18 years old.

It is worth thinking about recent national insurance changes, that came into effect from 6 January. You may have some more money in your pocket with savings potential for the new tax year.

Another option to look at is to set up a Family investment Company or Trust as a taxefficient way of distributing wealth to loved ones. Remember your IHT gifting allowances to reduce inheritance tax liabilities.

Consider reducing Capital Gains Tax and your income tax liability by transferring any company shares you may have to your spouse.

We’d like to remind you to consider capital gains tax implications, particularly when selling a property. Check if you owe capital gains tax and plan accordingly. If you have more than one property make sure you tell HMRC which property should be treated as your home.

Get in touch with Ammu and we can help with your personal and business accounting needs.

No People Problems with ROC HR Consulting

As a small business owner, your top priority is to deliver quality products or services while ensuring that you have the right team in place to achieve success. My goal is to work alongside you, offering flexible HR services that cater to your specific needs without the burden of a fulltime employee.

I’m Carolyn Leigh, and as a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience spanning diverse industries, I recently established ROC HR Consulting to provide expert support and guidance to small and medium-sized businesses that require regular or occasional assistance with their HR needs.

My consulting services encompass various areas of HR, including but not limited to providing the necessary documents, policies, and processes for hiring in the UK, laying the groundwork for future growth, delivering training and development, advising on how to reward your employees, implementing performance review processes, and promoting diversity and equality within your business.

Homes & Interiors

Embrace Your Dark Side

by Anne Marie Hillan

After many years of greys and neutrals being the major interiors colour trend there is a resurgence in dark and bold décor ideas for our homes.

Homes & Interiors

Now it’s not for everyone – and perhaps it’s not for every home. But in the West End there are so many shops selling fantastic art, mirrors, lamps and accessories that will pop against your dark décor and enhance the look of your home. So, the question is, in 2024 are you ready to turn to the dark side? And if you are, how can you accessorise your dark décor to make it pop and keep it personal.

Before I go any further, I should say I don’t really believe in interiors trends. I don’t think we should all slavishly copy what appears to be on trend either featured by the media or favoured by retailers. I am a a big believer in creating a home with colours that you like personally and with items that mean something to you. Interior designers will tell you though to shop your wardrobe. Look at the colours, pattern and colour combinations of what you like to wear and you will get great ideas for your interiors, and many of these will be dark.

There has never been more choice in terms of colours and patterns for dark and bold interiors yet many of us are scared to make the move. But the effect they can have is so striking and you don’t just have to take that from me. Abigail Ahern, Interior designer, presenter and best-selling interiors author says in Everything – a Maximalist Style Guide that Dark Interiors are 'Dramatic, elegant and capable of making any room feel uber sophisticated, chic and timeless'. With dark interiors Ahern explains you need contrast as well as balance, so you need a range of textures and lighter and bolder colours, and 'they will really pop!'

So with that in mind, what delights do our West End retailers stock to highlight how dark and bold interiors can be enhanced by fabulous furniture and accessories – and perhaps reduce the fear. Bearing in mind my whole house is now painted in darker colours this is very much a personal journey for me!

Time and Tide Stores rose to the challenge beautifully. How amazing does this cream sofa looks against the black wall with the art prints (image opposite)? And then the touches of green and gold in the bowl, cushions and vase. I have black walls in my bedroom – yes in my bedroom, that was a controversial choice I can tell you – and can vouch for the fact that everything pops against it, but this set up looks fantastic. The gorgeous Grand Sofa is available to order, and all the other items can be seen, at the St George’s Cross store which is well worth a visit for interiors inspiration alone.

In my home I absolutely love green, understatement of the year alert, it's throughout my hall and my dining kitchen. So, it doesn’t take much for me to know how fabulous this lush green Ercol sofa from Forrest Furnishing is against the darker green wall (image above). It’s simple, understated but oh so classy! And the addition of the large plant just makes the room.

© Forrest Furnishing

© Cassiopeia

Homes & Interiors

Your dark interiors can be a backdrop to both muted colour palettes, or to the bright and bold. Bright patterned lamps can make a massive statement in a room with a dark palette. I have had my eye on this amazing floor lamp from Cassiopeia for weeks (previous page). It comes in a range of five colours. The yellow colour way is called Summer Tropics and I love it. My living room is Hague Blue by Farrow and Ball and that lamp would just pop against it.

But if you really want to go bright then a bold patterned wall can be a backdrop to the most amazing maximalist colour pops. The Store Interiors at Anniesland has amazing bright orange lamps that look fantastic against a bold floral papered wall. And there are three floors of tables, chairs, cabinets, accessories and beds in The Store to wander around for interiors inspiration too.

So, I have easily identified potential new sofas, cushions, prints and lamps but for my fi nal accessories inspiration then I am heading to two of my favourite newly opened West End stores.

Hyndland Home has a range of quirky and fun prints and decorative plaques which just look great in any décor style. While West by Dykes and Dykes has a selection of vases and sculptures designed by Abigail Ahern herself. The Abigail Ahern pieces are full of texture which add a different dimension to any room. These are the fi nal touches for a room –the decorative accents. Those things that are maybe a little different and which reflect your personality. Whatever your style, you should go with it and be confident.

Dark décor is more than just the colour on the walls. It’s about creating the perfect backdrop for the sofas and artwork, the lamps and the individual pieces that make your home your own. That 'sophisticated, chic and timeless look' that Abigail Ahern speaks of is defi nitely achievable.

I personally made the change to dark décor at the end of 2020, and I have never regretted it. In fact, I love it! So, the question now is – having given it some thought – what about you? Are you ready to embrace the dark side?

Discover more of Anne Marie’s dark interiors on instagram @lock.downhouse

timeandtidestores.co.uk

forrestfurnishing.co.uk cassiopeiaonline.co.uk thestoreinteriors.co.uk

hyndlandhome.com

West @ dykesanddykesinteriors.co.uk

© Nantou Vase from West by Dykes and Dykes

© Hyndland Home

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Dark décor is more than just the colour on the walls. It’s about creating the perfect backdrop for the sofas and artwork

The Wee Kitchen Shop

Specialising In Beautiful Shaker Kitchens

Sheer quality, and thoughtful suggestions drawn from a craftsman with vision and attention to detail, that’s what distinguishes The Wee Kitchen Shop and owner, Greg Bowers, from the rest.

After a few years of visiting Greg’s finished kitchens, and chatting to their happy owners, I can confirm a few repeated themes continue to pop up – great work ethic, timely fit outs, and a top tier team. And over the last few years, repeat custom. Previous clients moving home and rebooking back in for their Wee Kitchen Shop refit.

One such client are Helen and her husband, new residents of Bearsden. After seeing Greg’s Westender advertorial they booked in kitchen #1, and after a move to gain more space (and believe it or not, after seeing the lit up shelving unit in another Wee Kitchen / Westender advertorial) they rushed back to Greg for kitchen #2. This is what Greg’s eye does, it looks for points of difference to create quirky areas that add texture and variety.

Helen moved in December 2022 and woke up to frozen bananas in the kitchen. Her ‘new’ kitchen was dated and literally freezing. It was not a space to spend any time in.

With Greg onboard that all changed. A south-facing room with the only real view to the garden of the whole house, they were keen to keep the small dining area but couldn’t see how. Greg suggested a small reconfiguration including a larger radiator under the picture window, plus a larder cupboard to give them much needed extra storage. ‘It’s the thoughtful tweaks Greg made,’ says Helen. ‘We could never of imagined so much more could be fitted in.’

Going for Silestone Soap Stone worktops this time, the whole kitchen is bolder with custom painted solid Shaker wood doors and antique brass knob and cup handles. A warm space to call home, cook, socialise, sitw – and watch the birds play outside.

Image © Gregor Reid Photography

Make Your Colour Scheme Pop

Shop the West End and find some striking home accessories that will pop against your dark decor! Add that touch of individuality and character to your home by picking up amazing abstract prints from Time and Tide, or a stunning floor lamp from Cassiopeia. Be quirky with a character filled print from Hyndland Home or add textured elegance with a sculpture from West by Dykes and Dykes. And if you really want to push your boundaries buy orange lamps from The Store Interiors and decorate your home in a vivid floral wallpaper. Embrace the darkness – and the bold!

Toledo Table & Floor Lamps, £108 & £186 respectively, The Store Interiors

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

Hyndland Home, 67 Hyndland Street, hyndlandhome.com

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

Time And Tide Stores, 6 St George's Place, timeandtidestores.co.uk

West, 4 Chancellor Street, 0141 286 0224, dykesanddykesinteriors.co.uk

Relax Wall Art, £50, Hyndland Home

Monochrome Print, £295, Time & Tide Stores

Aqua Magna Floor Lamp, £136, Cassiopeia

Abigail Ahern Victoria Sculpture, £32, West

Our windows are made from high-quality materials and are built to last. We also offer a wide range of styles and finishes to choose from, so you can find the perfect windows to complement your home’s décor.

Contact us today to learn more about our sash and case windows and to schedule a consultation.

Legal Matters

LET’S GET LETS RIGHT

DID YOU KNOW…

If you plan to rent out your flat or house on a short-term let, you will shortly need BOTH: (i) a licence AND (ii) planning permission?

Planning Permission is currently only needed where the operation of a short-term let involves a ‘material change of use’.

MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE?

The occasional use of a Flat as short-stay accommodation, which is otherwise a sole or main residence, is unlikely to constitute a material change of use. Where a Flat is being used frequently to provide short stay accommodation there is likely to be a material change of use. Short stay accommodation in a house is unlikely to require planning permission provided it is occupied by a single household. City of Glasgow Licensing & Regulatory Committee – Short Term Lets Policy

CONTROL AREAS?

‘Short Term Let Control Areas’ can now be designated under which ANY change of use – whether material or not – needs a licence and planning permission. So far there are none of these areas in Glasgow, but there are in Edinburgh. In fact, the whole of Edinburgh was designated as a short-term let control area from 5 September 2022.

DOES A CONTROL AREA APPLY TO MY PROPERTY IF I HAVE BEEN LETTING IT OUT PRE-DESIGNATION?

A recent case ( Muirhead v City of Edinburgh Council ) has confirmed that dwellinghouses providing short-term lets

before the creation of a Short Term Let Control Area, are not caught by this rule i.e. the rule does NOT have retrospective effect. In the Muirhead case the Council’s policy claiming otherwise was deemed to be at odds with planning legislation and was annulled by the court.

It took a deal of vigilance and persistence to challenge this policy, but the outcome is of huge benefit to the whole of Scotland’s selfcatering sector.

We shall be watching out for the designation of Short Term Let Control Areas in Glasgow…

NOTE: This material is for information purposes only and does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us. You should not rely upon it in making any decisions or taking or refraining from taking any action. If you would like us to advise you on any of the matters covered in this material, please contact Murtaza Rasul. Email: murtaza@mitchells-roberton.co.uk.

Mitchells Roberton Solicitors

George House, 36 North Hanover Street 0141 552 3422

mitchells-roberton.co.uk

Letting Matters

with Western Lettings

Would you prefer us to be working or networking?

Iwant a job where the focus is on getting better. That’s why at Western Lettings we’re dedicated to lettings. No sales, sourcing, investment, factoring, or property development.

Lettings is a complex service to deliver. That’s a big part of why the sector has such a bad reputation. Pair this with lots of companies competing on price for clients who often don’t appreciate how bad it can be when their chosen agent does not have good systems and processes in place.

To my mind it’s more rewarding to invest in getting better than on marketing to new customers. At some point it makes sense. If you have thousands of happy customers, improving service will bring more opportunities than expensive marketing campaigns.

If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, think back to the slick advertising of Purplebricks. For a time, it brought them the largest market share of any estate agent in the UK. They disrupted the market, lost a fortune for their investors, then sold the business for £1. And they were primarily selling houses, which is nowhere near as complex as lettings.

There may be some truth in the adage ‘your network is your net worth’, but does it make it right for the buyer? You may know them, like them and trust them, but do they have the capability and the will to deliver.

At Western Lettings, we focus on improving. Daily discussions centre on training, systems and technology. At all times clients have our guarantee:

P If we mess up, we mop up.

P If we don’t answer your call, we will return your fees.

P If we don’t answer your email on the same day, we will return your fees.

If you have a property to let, give us a call. Test out that guarantee.

If you have a property to let, please give us a call. We don’t do pushy sales, so you can expect to speak to a friendly and understanding adviser. Alternatively have a trial of our free rental valuation tool by scanning the QR code below.

Western Lettings

Craighall Business Park G4 9XA 0141 357 0436

westernlettings.co.uk

Property Matters

with Walker Wylie Estate Agents

Positive News in Glasgow’s Property World

2024 started off strong for the West End property market and spring is set to continue the positive trend. Thanks to mortgage lenders engaging in a competitive battle we saw long awaited cuts to mortgage interest rates at the start of the year, kickstarting a flurry of activity in the market.

Early in the year showed lots of promising activity, notably stronger than the same period last year. The number of new properties that entered the market for sale surged by 15%, indicating a proactive approach from prospective sellers. Concurrently, buyer demand saw a 5% increase, reflecting a growing confidence among those looking to make their moves in 2024.

Additionally, Rightmove have recently experienced some of its busiest days on record for individuals obtaining a Mortgage in Principle, indicating a proactive approach as individuals explore their borrowing capacity — an early sign of movers getting their 2024 plans in place that we have seen continue through to now.

SPRINGING INTO THE PROPERTY MARKET

As we enter the lighter and brighter days of spring, we anticipate the upturn in the market will continue. We are seeing a growing

number of sellers and buyers coming through the door and are just loving seeing the West End property scene continue to thrive.

Whilst predictions are still hard to be certain on, the lowering of interest rates has led many experts to believe we will see a gradual rise in the average house price across 2024. Demand for properties should be set to continue to increase, making it a great time for sellers.

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Spring is often considered one of the most favourable times, if not the best, for selling. If you’ve been thinking about putting your property on the market, why not get in touch for a free valuation? Our local knowledge and experience in Glasgow property, as well as our instinct and skill, allows us to accurately value your property and ensure your sale gets off to the best start.

Get in touch with us on 0141 404 1333 or email us at info@walkerwylie.co.uk and we will work with you to get your property journey started.

Walker Wylie Estate Agents

148 Woodlands Road G3 6LF 0141 404 1333 / 07855 952298

walkerwylie.co.uk

Sell with con f idence

TWENTY YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

corumproperty.co.uk