Added on Tuesday 31 Mar 2009

It's great to say goodbye to all those grey skies. Glorious sunshine this morning, the daffs are out and our baby cherry blossom tree has some blooms. These last few weeks Jim and I have been for walks in the Botanics and Kelvin Walkway and even got started planting in our allotment. We took a walk along to see the ducks at Bingham's pond and had an al fresco coffee at Booly Mardy's - in the delightful company of Gill Maxwell.

We've also enjoyed a few jaunts out of the city and investigated some garden centres (the hunt for the shed continues) and even had a bit of a hike along the West Highland Way.

Trip to Birnam and Dunkeld

Last week we spent a day in Birnam and Dunkeld and stayed overnight at the very charming, Waterbury Guesthouse. Jim had a gig in Perth so we decided to take the opportunity to visit Birnam CD, as the swathe of songs for the next album is swiftly growing. It's a brilliant set up and Martin and Mike made us very welcome, who would think that one of the most successful CD production companies in Scotland would be tucked away in this lovely little village - whose other claim to fame is the location of the witches in Macbeth.:-)

It really was a very enjoyable wee trip and we will definitely return to The Waterbury, a very attractive and friendly establishment, where we were made to feel very much at home. Chantal Winning may have served some of you in, The Grosvenor Caf?, a favourite West End haunt her family ran for many years.

Her mum and dad, Ghislaine and Larry, were over on a visit from their home in the South of France and it was interesting hearing all about their life amid the mimosa and reminiscing about giant doughnuts and melted millionaires' shortbread and other delicacies served in The Grosvenor.

Aye Write!

Back in the West End we've been having lots of fun meeting up with friends, dining out and going along to gigs. I thoroughly enjoyed the Aye Write Festival, although, as usual my plans to get along to loads of events were over-ambitious. Ultimately, I only managed to go to two but they were both very interesting: 'Days Like This' Scottish Book Project, where ordinary people write their stories and was particularly impressed by William Letford's story 'Waterfall'.

Sylvia Rossie and I went along to hear Brian McGilloway, Peter James and Anne Cleeves talk about their crime novels. Three very different approaches and highly entertaining discussions. I'll need to catch up with Sylvia again soon because we made a deal to swop books.

It was great just wandering around the fabulous Mitchell Library - what a brilliant venue for this hugely popular festival. We saw lots of familiar faces and enjoyed a wee chat with Maggie Graham, who's story for 'Days Like These' was one of those featured on the radio.

Afterwards Sylvia and I went along to check out the new Ad Lib at the bottom of Byres Road, we both had lots of happy memories of the first restaurant in Hope Street many moons ago. We ordered the same special 'Obama Burgers' - pretty tasty but so huge it required some effort in the demolishing.

Launches

Jim and I were invited to another enjoyable literary event at Borders - the launch of Aidan McEoin's book of poetry 'In the boat I don't yet have'. As usual Aidan gave a first class performance and David Hayman was the ideal man for the job of introducing this collection of sassy, sad and humorous poems about Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands and Islands. Great stuff!

We had another brilliant night out at the Captain's Rest at the launch of Dave Arcari's 'Got Me Eletric" cd and "the king of uncompromising alt. blues" treated the audience to some first class entertainment.

Apart from the many enthusiastic fans the great and the good of Glasgow's world of music were at the launch so we got the opportunity to catch up with some folk and make some interesting new acquaintances. We had a little chat with Duncan McCrone, whom we met at Linlithgow Festival last year, when he and Jim played on the same bill. Duncan is also head honcho at MCSP and knows all there is to know about music copyright issues.

Lining up 'the local characters' candidates

It was also good to meet Peter McCalman, composer and promoter, and I met up with Peter again for a longer chat at The Lansdowne last week. A bit of a Monty Python type scene ensued as the place was not yet opened when I arrived but the man in charge kindly let me in and gave me some lovely coffee. However, when Peter then showed up - he found the door locked and took off with the manager in full flight after him - but in the wrong direction. Anyway, we eventually hooked up and had a great chat. Peter is definitely on my list as a 'Local Character' and I am looking forward to catching some of his fantastic 'Acoustic Affairs' concerts at the City Halls.

Another prime candidate as a local character is in Gerry Carruthers, director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at Glasgow University. Gerry is an old friend that I worked with many years ago in Clydebank, when I was involved in community development work with young musicians. He has certainly come a long way since then and I went along to meet him at the University to find out what he was up to and was fascinated to learn about his work. His enthusiasm is spectacularly contagious and he almost had me signed up for a series of lectures.

Festivals and Gigs

So lots of features to write up for the site. I've also had a fair bit of work with activities relating to this year's West End Festival and have been along to the White House to meet Michael Dale, Festival Director, to discuss a new acoustic music fringe event with him. Also involved are lots of very talented and hardworking young men (Dochan MacMillan, Mike Clarke, John Deery, Alexander Murray, Chris Barrett, Chris Rodgers and Chris Blai) who organise acoustic music events in some of the West End's most popular venues; in conjunction with them I've been busy pulling together 'Folk, Blues and Beyond'. This event will involve some of the most popular West End venues, including The Liquid Ship, Jinty McGuinty's, The Quiet Riot, Rio's, The Hidden Lane Cafe, The Aragon and Lebowski's.

Also gearing up for the Partick Folk Festival, which will take place at the end of May. Mick West, who has been doing a wonderful job of organising Partick Folk Club, ably assisted by his wife Irene and other stalwarts, has great plans for the festival and I'm expecting to receive information any day now.

We had another super night out at the Club last week, where everyone enjoyed hearing music from Cruachan, plus their singer Jim Shearer's daft jokes. It's always a treat to hear Mick West perform as his voice is totally amazing. There were lots of entertaining performances from the floor and Jim was invited to play a couple of his tunes. He was delighted that his latest song 'Under these Scottish Skies' - a kind of kitch country tune - proved to be a hit and folk were still stopping us on the way out to say how much they enjoyed it.

So looks like it will be firmly within his repertoire for the numerous gigs he has coming up. You can find out more on our Gig Guide and Jim's myspace.

Jim had a great time as special guest on the Mary Kathleen Burke show on Celtic Music Radio, even surpassed the rather remarkable evening we spent afterwards at The Butterly and Pig (If you've never tuned into Celtic Music Radio then you are missing out, especially Sunday evenings with Ciaran Dorris (5 - 7 p.m) and Mary Kathleen Burke (7 - 9 pm) 1530 AM or listen online Both the Irishman and Irishwoman are talented performers in their own right, great company and they are very entertaining both on and off the air. )

Another gig we really enjoyed recently was at the Free Candy Sessions in The Liquid Ship, where we went along to see our good friend Dochan MacMillan peform with The Ballachulish Hellhounds, who were super as were The Carlton Jug Band - a night when all faces were wreathed in smiles.

My friend Anne came along with us to The Hidden Lane Cafe a couple of Sundays back when Jim was playing there and that was another great wee jaunt. I particularly enjoyed Chris Barrett and Mhairi Morrison's performance. We are very attached to this venue and chose it for Jim's cd launch.

We had a great time at Woodend, one of the best West End Venues used by Sound in the Suburbs. Issi, Davie, Maggs, Craig, Joan and Louise all came along to see Jim and Graham play so now we are all planning a jaunt through to Edinburgh to the Folk Club for another performance.

Celebrations

I went back down to Finnieston to Cafe Bayan for a celebration of International Women's Day with a gang of Clydebank lassies including Lesley Coyle, Maureen O'Neill, Susan McLachlan, Val Tonner, Frances Gilroy and another forty or so more. We had great fun and the spirit of sisterhood was certainly alive and well.

Another good night was held in the company of the usual suspects (Eleanor, Joan, Jackie, Rena, Linda, and Janet) and we enjoyed a beautiful meal at Cail Bruach when we went out to celebrate Eleanor's birthday.

We stayed at home for Ryan's 5th birthday party and that was great fun, he was in seventh heaven with his best buddy Cal McGreevy, the rest of the McGreevy Family and the MacIntoshes. The highlight of the event was the easter egg decoration competition - everyone a winner, although we hadn't anticipated adding a category for 'the scariest egg'.

On the eating out front I am missing my buddy Roy Beers, who is working too hard these days, however, we have a plan to try out Paradise, a fairly new Persian restaurant at Kelvinbridge. I popped in for a little peep and it certainly seems very friendly and tempting so should be able to report back on that pretty soon.

The Bead Company

On Roy's advice I went along to check out The Bead Company in Keith Street at Partick Cross, what a marvellous place. An absolutely essential visit for any aspiring jewellery desingners among you. It's a most impressive shop with a truly remarkable selection of beads, allsorts of jewellery making paraphernalia and very friendly staff. They also offer various jewellery making courses, which are proving to be very popular - they will also help you arrange a very unique party for children, aged five and upwards, or adults. Sure is lots to get hooked on at The Bead Company.

Favourite Haunts

I always find Partick a very vibrant place for a wee jaunt and like nipping into Handbags and Gladrags, Eunice Whyte's and always enjoy a natter with, the always effervescent, Ross Parry in Rio's. Thanks for arranging the half portion of chicken enchiladas, Ross, delicious!

A couple of weeks back I spent a lovely morning along at Kelvinbridge, where I bought some fabulous earrings in Nancy Smillie's Jewellery Boutique, and found out about all the latest fashions in Doll. I had s super browse and blether with Maureen in the Caledonia Book Shop and caught up with the Pelosi's in Sonny and Vito's. Afterwards I met Jim in Offshore. Despite his plan for me to join him Wifi-ing in assorted cafes throughout the West End and my admiration for his approach, I have not yet taken to this idea. I think I am bit too interested in all that is going on around me to focus on my work and do my cafe culture stuff simultaneously. Maybe I need to try harder!

What's New

However, what I really want to do is give myself a shake and get some exercise so need to get the puncture fixed on my bike and make some plans with Jackie and Catherine and hit the Western Baths. You can check up on me next month. :-)

Lots of new stuff on the site:

• Hillwalking with Helen Rose
• Barry Paton's update from Rural France
• Courses in Salignac
• Jim's acoustic adventures blog
• Issi's West End Advenutures
• Kelvinside Allotments Spring Newsletter
• Poetry by Paul Wright
• Jim's photodiary - statues in The Kibble Palace
• Wellbeing words from Dawn Murray
• Munch: New Exhibition at The Hunterian
• Theatre Royal - Entertaining a Nation
• What's On
• What's New