Where does the time go?

Added on Friday 29 Jun 2007

I've started updating my diary at least half a dozen times but been life has interrupted and I've been caught up in the West End Festival, going to hospital and adjusting to life as an Annieslander.

May was a very busy month and we were out and about a lot - one particularly enjoyable event was Basia and John's wedding, where we had a great time. The bride was looking wonderful and the groom was no slouch either. Lots of familiar faces from Nancy Smillie's could be spotted among the large Polish contingent. It was a truly eclectic wedding with Polish vodka flowing freely, a Ceilidh Band and young Californians enthusiastically attempting the Eightstome Reel and Gay Gordon.

Jim and I met up with Alan Steele, an old buddy of mine from Save the Children and his partner Phyllis, whom Jim knows through his work, and we enjoyed catching up with them. It was a great night so 'Many Congratulations' to the couple.

I've managed to see quite a few friends recently and even bumped into Jess in Cresswell Lane, where we had a chat with Sandy Welch about the extension to his Felix and Oscar shops with the opening of Honey Bea's House, set to be a big attraction. Jess and I went for a stroll through the Botanics, as she had to pick up a painting by Ann Nicholson, a friend from university and now a talented artist, from the Art Exhibition at the Visitors' Centre. Then we had a pleasant stroll through to Kirklee.

I was back in the Botanics for one of the highlights of this year's West End Festival, Kibble! - a great show and, apart from the sheer entertainment, I now know much more about the history of the Palace. Another great festival night out was at The Venue, OranMor, where Jim and I went along to see 'The Poozies' - what a brilliant and unusual band. Women with talent, humour and tremendous presence. The show was superb.

Michael and I also had fun taking the children along to the puppet show 'The Witch Who Stole Happy Endings' part of Glasgow City Libraries. The kids lapped up the story and we got a kick out of their enjoyment. Then the other event we just could not miss was the Open Day at the Allotments. This item in the Festival Programme gave us a little prod to get our wee garden into shape so there was a fair amount of weeding and planting to be done. I was thrilled to see our first giant red poppy in bloom and the children are having a great time digging up spuds and picking the strawberries. Next venture is to get a shed up. Just as soon as the rain stops.

Jim and I went along to The Hunterian, Art Gallery to see the exhibition 'My Highest Pleasures' and we are aiming to make it over to the Museum, which recently re-opened in time to celebrate the gallery's bicentenary. A little extra interest was added to our visit to The Hunterian because around the area beside the University of Glasgow Library you can see the street gymnasts practising their parkour. Very nimble lads complete with bandanas - an interesting addition to city life - so long as they stay off the roofs.

We also had a fantastic time at the Mela - Anna, Holly, Ryan and myself went along there after spending a wee while at the Gibson Street Gala, where we enjoyed some great burgers from Louis' Grill.

Kelvingrove Park is a great setting for the Mela because the children have more freedom and everyone is able to see the bands because they can sit on the hill. The astmosphere was wonderful and this festival is a real highlight on festival calendar. Holly had great fun playing with a dog - as it turned out Libby McArthur's dog (Libby is Gina in River City) so Holly was thrilled to have her photograph taken with the actor.

The children also had great fun on the bouncy castle and slide and we picked up some lovely kaftan tops for bargain prices. We bumped into the Wilsons' on the way home and reminded them of their important duty in helping to judge the awards for . You're not too late to let us know what establishments you think deserve the awards - you can place a comment on the page.

For many the main event of the Festival is the Mardi Gras Parade and Street Party but it needs a lot of stamina, and height, - Byres Road was mobbed so we took a bit of a back seat and hung out in Little Italy. Met up with my son John, Michael and Jim Bowes and chatted with Remo and Paulo. Then later on Jim and I enjoyed a lovely meal, away from the bustle, in Stravaigin2 - where we asked for the wee balcony seat so that we could chill out and simultaneously keep an eye on the revelry. We could not resist popping into Starry, Starry Night to check out all their great retro and vintage collection. Their staff were looking good in some amazing outfits, which you can see in Jim's photo diary.

I would have liked to catch more events in the WEF 2007 Festival, which attracted record crowds to the two weeks of events, however, it coincided with my treatment at hospital. Now completed with thanks to Gail, Karen, Kevin and the great team down at the Western Infirmary. My friends were great at scooting me up and down to the hospital and Ann, Anne, Katrina and Eleanor - my chauffeurs - were a great help.
You can find out more about the festival plus recent activities in the West End Drinking and Dining front in Roy Beers' latest column.

I've been hooking up with Roy and Catherine quite a bit lately as there is so much going on with the West End Dining Out scene. We've been meeting up in Cherrybean - a brilliant little coffee house donw in Partick where we were made very welcome by Karen Mckay, who owns the cafe along with her dad Tom. Check it out you will love it.

I also enjoyed a chat with Marc Di Lucca at Cafe Cherubini at Kelvinbridge, which is looking very summery with a new lick of paint and refurbishment of the mezzanine - perfect for small parties. I had a nice lunch time chat and caught up with Saad Shybani and Tone Bjorkestad in Booly Mardy's - Tone can cook anything so if you are having a small function you can contact her at: 0141 337 1128.

Jackie, Eleanor, Rena and myself got together at Louis' Grill in Gibson Street, very friendly staff and super food and I got together with Margaret Brady for some lunch at Cafe Francais. But mainly I have been entertaining as everyone wants to come along and see our new flat. It was great to see Maureen O'Neill and Marie Graham, my old buddies from Clydebank College and Eleanor has been along with Jackie and Linda. I was also delighted to see Maggie Graham and particularly pleased to see her on the mend and starting to write again.

Anne and Ann have both been up and the other night Issi and Davie Wilson popped in - impressed us by walking all the way up to Anniesland from Scotstoun. The flat is very accessible, which is great, so my brother John, who is disabled, can also visit us now.

Jim has bought a bike and makes frequent sorties along to Byres Road and the Botanics, so I think my own worthy vehicle will have to be resurrected. I could be doing with the exercise - that's for sure. Although, I'm enjoying being near the station so I'm down in Partick in a jiffy and can also hop on any bus along to all my usual haunts.

I caught up with Anthony Venditozzi at Rio's Cafe and we had a long blether. I'm trying to entice him to update our Gig Guide so watch this space. I've also been along to OranMor a couple of times; I went to 'A Play, a Pie and a Pint" to see Adrian Osmond's I of the Needle - brilliant but left me a bit shaky. Then I was back in OranMor for lunch and a fashions show - one of Erskine's Fundraising Events - all women apart from one kiltie and a very enjoyable afternoon. Erskine is a bit dear to my heart as I did a bit of cleaning there in the hospital, when I was a student - just a hop and a skip across the Erskine Bridge from Old Kilpatrick. Now the location of the fabulous Marr House.

As usual I've been popping into the shops and recently discoverd the joys of Gallerie Templier, Ruthven Mews, Ruthven Lane, where Mairi Jack has the most unusual and tempting gifts and stuff for the house. I bought some very colourful baskets for my bathroom - very cleverly manufactured from recycled plastic. Then topped up my supply of essential oils from Heart and Soul, another great little shop in the Mews. The children will love Matilda's Bookshop and Damselfly, Craft Shop. There's a lot going on at the Mews during the summer break and it's a great place to hang out in on rainy days with Andre and Ossi's smart gallery and furniture shop and Circa, Sheila Murdoch's vintage shop making a recent return to the lane.

I've also introduced Eleanor to the joys of The Store at Anniesland, lovely staff and three fabulous floors of furniture and home accessories and prints. If you haven't checked this place out then you are missing something.

You will find a lot of new pages up on the site including the latest addition to our Local Characters - Nasreen Aksi
and find out how to get discount tickets for Bard in the Botanics
Catch the Glasgow Group's 49th Annual Exhibition
Find out about Summer Art Camp for Children at Stowe and find out what Barry Paton's been up to in Rural France

We are pleased to have added Ashoka West End to our Restaurant Reservation Service, where you can book some great deals including the Ashoka's free curry offer. Watch out for more restaurants coming on board. Just get in touch if you are interested in this service email Pat

You will find other recent additions to the site on our What's New and for information on What's On see Jess's Jaunt
Then, of course, Jim's latest photo diary

Today I'm looking forward to seeing my brother Liam, who has been on holiday with my sister in Catherine in Canada but right now I'm off to see Shrek 3 with Sarah and Holly - what can you do when it just keeps raining!