Elvis Costello + Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Just one more post before leaving...

Last night was one of the most enjoyable evenings in recent memory. Music legend Elvis Costello joined the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for a unique evening of orchestral music, including extracts from his first full scale classical work, Il Sogno. I’m certain that for most rational people, crossbreeding rock with classical music must seem like the ultimate bastardization, but then few artists have Costello's artistic intelligence and uncanny ability to create music that sounds exciting and new.

After intermission the crowd's excitement grew as Costello and long-time keyboardist Steve Nieve performed a few favorites from a long and illustrious repertoire. I especially liked his jazzy rendition of Watching the Detectives, definitely one of the highlights. Other favorties included—Veronica, Allison, Accidents Will Happen, Shipbuilding, She and God Give Me Strength. If you get the chance to see Costello perform his first full scale classical piece, book yourself a ticket. It really is a concert not to be missed.

Glasgow Art Club

I have just returned home from a most memorable lunch with the lovely artist Connie Simmers. Connie invited me to join her at the Glasgow Art Club. It is a wonderful old club with a fascinating history.

William Dennistoun, a young amateur artist who had been forced by ill health to leave the city, founded the Glasgow Art Club in 1867. William, along with a small group of amateur artists, began holding preliminary meetings in a tearoom above a Candleriggs baker's shop before launching the club in the Waverley Temperance Hotel.

In 1893 the Glasgow Art Club moved to its current day location. A beautiful building that boasts Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s ornamental details in the Artist’s Gallery. The Art Club is well known for exhibiting the work of many brilliant artists.

Many thanks for a wonderful afternoon Connie and enjoy your trip to Italy!

Luss Photo Tour

One of my favorite stops on the way to the Highlands is the picturesque village of Luss on the west bank of Loch Lomond. It is one of the obligatory stops when we play tour guide to our out of town guests.

Through the heart of the village runs a narrow street flanked by lovely cottages. The village was once known as Clachan Dubh (the dark village) because of its mountain setting which steals two hours of sunlight in the evenings, particularly in the winter time.

Many of the cottages that distinguish Luss were originally erected to house workers in the cotton mill and slate quarries of the 18th and 19th centuries. The homes have been fully restored and Luss has been designated a "Conservation Village". Oh, how I would love to own one some day. A perfect little holiday cottage!

The streets of the village are laid out in a linear pattern with the main street running down to the shore of Loch Lomond and Luss Pier. The views from the pier and shore are stunning.

A visit to Luss is not complete with out stopping by the Coach House Coffee Shop for tea and scones. Normally when we visit it is either cold or rainy (imagine!) so we crowd around the fire and sit at one of the tables made from salvage packing crates. This time however it was warm and sunny, so we sat on the patio.

Just last week we had the pleasure of meeting the lovely owner Rowena Ferguson and her adorable Schnauzer named Parsley. Parsley and our wee Schnauzer Izzie got on fabulously.

I know our son has been fully immersed in the Scottish culture when he proudly breaks into song and serenades everyone in the car as we drive into the village…
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond…

The George Hotel Inverary

We first had dinner at the George Hotel in Inverary on our first visit to Scotland in December 2004. It was exactly what I had imagined and hoped for in a Highland hotel. The stone floors, roaring fires and delicious seafood sold me on the place immediately. It wasn’t until a year later, after moving to Scotland, that we booked a room for an overnight stay.


Hotel is an absolute delight and has been run by the same family since the 19th century. It is the must go to spot for all of our out of town guests. The hotel is a classic 18th Georgian building overlooking the main street of Inverary and a stone's throw from the beautiful shores of Loch Fyne.

Of course being a pet friendly hotel and pub is a big plus in my book. The rooms are huge (especially by British standards) and the bathrooms are well appointed. The mixture of tartan carpets, antiques and oil paintings all add to the ambiance. Certainly the beds are not the best in the world, but with all of the other perks and charm I tend to overlook that one fault.

The George Hotel beer garden is a lively haunt for both local characters and visitors alike with a wide choice of real ales, 100 malt whiskies and an extensive wine list. The garden is particularly nice on a bright sunny day like to ones we have been witnessing lately.

Perhaps my favorite part of the stay is breakfast in the conservatory-style room at the rear of the hotel. In my opinion the breakfast is legendary. A full Scottish breakfast (if you are brave), Loch Fyne kippers, smoked haddock, cereal, croissants and yogurt are all included in the cost of the room. The hotel is extremely popular and books up months in advance. I highly recommended this little jewel and yes we will be back very soon.

Shopping on Saturday

Sorry for the delay in posting. We have friends visiting from the States and went up to the Highlands for a few day. For us, no tour of Scotland is complete without an overnight stay in the village of Inverary. I will have a complete profile on The George Hotel in Inverary (our favorite) on Monday. The George uses locally made Purdie's toiletries throughout the hotel. Last June Purdie's opened their first retail shop in the village. Of course I had to stop in on the way out of town for a few products to take home.

Glengoyne Malt Whisky & Ginger Liquid Soap. Specially made for distilleries the soap contains no Parabens or colouring. Great for sensitive skin. £7.95

Sweet Orange Dead Sea Salt. Salts have been used for thousands of years as a natural cleanser and preserver. Great too for detoxing and relaxing aching limbs. £6.95

Highland Healing Cream. Packed full of healing butters and oils. £8.95

Profile: Connie Simmers

'Lock Gate' (acrylic on canvas)

I am crazy for the work of Scottish artist Connie Simmers. Based in Kilearn, near Loch Lomond, Connie’s beautiful work has been exhibited throughout Britain.

Born and educated in Glasgow, Connie took advantage of non-diploma courses offered at the Glasgow School of Art. She attended the art school from 1981 to 1983, began exhibiting in 1984 and had her first solo show in 1989.

Connie’s work graces many public and private collections across Europe. I hope to have one in my own home someday. I think her work would look brilliant in our hallway. I especially love 'Lock Gate' - stunning!

'Highland Smoke House' (mixed media on board)

What artists, historical or contemporary, do you most admire?
Historical: Picasso, Tapies, Chagall, Matisse, Diebenkorn, Nicolas de Stael, Joan Eardley. Contemporary: Jimmy Robertson, Barbara Rae

What inspires your art and ideas?
Travel has played a large part - an excuse to use colour. I always try to see subject matter differently. I like shapes and colour i.e. harbours, urban material and people.

What is your most prized possession?
My home

What is the one thing in life you can’t live without?
My family and my car

'Graffiti Man' (acrylic on canvas)

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
Scottish Arts Club prize, Visual Arts Club prize and represented at National 50 Over 50 Exhibition at Brighton.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
A good marriage, a happy family and contentment.

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?
Atticus in To Kill a Mocking Bird. Jung Chang in Wild Swans. Shirin Ebadi in Iran Awakening. Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks.

'Cloths Drying in the Wind, West Africa' (mixed media on board)

What books are on your bedside table?
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. The Pillars of Hercules by Paul Theroux.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The surprises - maybe an unexpected sale - winning a prize in an open exhibition - meeting people in art world - dealing with galleries.

Profile by Ronda Carman
ALL ART/PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST

New Feature

Why do people think artists are special? It's just another job.

Andy Warhol

Warhol may have been right, but it’s a profession that I have great respect for. In doing my research for my guest blog post on Design*Sponge I realized just how many talented artists there are here in Scotland and have decided to do a weekly feature profiling art in Scotland. I will highlight the work of an artist living in Scotland along with profiles and interviews. I am very excited about this new feature and I hope you will enjoy it as well.

Blair Thomson
‘West Wind, Killreggan’
Japanese Ink on paper

Elaine Wilson
‘Beacon's Closet’
Mixed Media

Jamie Primrose
‘Scott Monument’
Indian ink

Hai Huang
‘West End Back Lane’
Watercolour


ALL ART/PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST

Isle of Jura

Jura, a small Hebridean island and producer of Jura single malt is home to 3,000 deer and 180 people. Many have described the island as isolated and otherworldly. Little wonder George Orwell came here to write 1984 more than 50 years ago. Orwell described the island as "an extremely un-get-at-able place". That much hasn't changed. Even for those of us who live in Scotland.

You can fly to neighboring Islay (pronounced eye-la) from Glasgow but most people drive. It’s a three-hour journey from Glasgow to Kennacraig, followed by a two-hour ferry to Islay and a five-minute hop across to Jura.


Jura is an island rich in history, myths and superstitions. Excavations show it welcomed some of the oldest settlements in Scotland over 8,000 years ago. It also became a Viking stronghold, while its ancient graveyard at Kilearnadil boasts a number of Knights Templar gravestones and is reputedly the resting place of a saint.

Those who make the trek to Jura have always come of their own accord. Mostly it has been for the seclusion, Jura’s famous single malts and jagged landscapes. While all are perfectly good enticements, my exacting motivator is the Jura Lodge.



Opened in late 2006 and designed by French designer Bambi Sloan,
the delightfully over decorated lodge boasts high-thread-count linens, a vast kitchen, stags heads, Bakelite phones and plenty of whisky. "No plastic!" was Bambi Sloan's edict when she began conceptualizing and collating furniture and decorative pieces for the lodge.

To capture the spirit of the island, where the rugged meets twee, she combed the flea markets of France and Belgium, as well as Spanish emporia for delicate vintage linens, lace, glass, leather and metalwork to complement the rugged tooth-and-claw elements.

Its two massive floors can accommodate up to eight people and comes complete with a live-out housekeeper. Perfect for endless conversations around a wee dram, peat burning fires and views of the amazing Jura sky.

Edinburgh Photo Tour

Last evening my husband and I went over to Edinburgh for an event at the Parliament. We took the early train to get in a bit of shopping. Princess Street Gardens, a public park at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, was decorated for the holidays and playing host to the German Christmas market. The krapfen (a doughnut made from sweet yeast and dusted with powdered sugar) were particularly good on a cold damp night.

After a jaunt up to the castle gift shop for gifts, we did a mini pub-crawl down the Royal Mile, before making our evening engagement at Holyrood. It was a fun, festive outing and just what I needed during the holiday season.

Glasgow Winterfest

George Square, the central square in Glasgow was laid out in 1781. For the first few years however it was little more than a muddy hollow, filled with dirty water and used for slaughtering horses. Between 1787 and the 1820s, the square was eventually opened up and lined with Georgian townhouses as well as hotels. By 1850 the surrounding area had become a centre for mercantile activity and the square became an established public space.

Today the square is dominated by the ornate Glasgow City Chambers, and for a brief few weeks it becomes a winter wonderland.

Yesterday my son convinced me to go ice-skating. Now mind you I have not been on ice skates in more than 20 years and the ground looks much further away in your 30s. Much to my surprise it was like riding a bike and I did not fall even once!! It was good fun and the perfect excuse for a hot toddie!

Isle of Skye

For the 2007 holiday catalogue J. Crew went on location to the Isle of Skye. Skye is renowned for its spectacular scenery, vibrant culture and heritage, as well as its abundant wildlife. Skye is a popular summer destination, but the winter months on the Isle of Skye are quiet and beautiful with mild temperature and little snow.

If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in this remote area of Scotland, Three Chimneys, a tiny restaurant tucked into Skye's northwestern corner, is a must visit location.

What started as a modest eatery almost twenty years ago has evolved into a top culinary destination. Many celebrities have made the trek to sit in the secluded candlelit cottage and indulge in locally caught wild salmon, Skye oysters, and hot marmalade pudding. The cottage windows offer beautiful and dramatic sea views. On cold evenings a hot stove warms the tiny bar, perfect for cosy pre-dinner drinks or a wee dram.




All photos from the J.Crew 2007 Holiday Collection

Forter Castle

Prior to my first visit to Scotland I had the romantic notion that castles were on every corner. While I did not immediately see any castles surrounding the airport or dotting the M8 I did fall for one in particular after reading a fascinating article on a Christmas afternoon.

Forter Castle in Perthshire was originally built in 1560 and then destroyed by the Duke of Argyll in 1640. For many years the derelict castle remained uninhibited and became yet another ruin in the Scottish countryside. That was until Robert Pooley purchased the property in 1998.

At the time of purchase the stone walls were crumbling, the interior was scarred by fire and the entrance was obstructed by three feet of debris. Mr Pooley hired experienced craftsmen from all over Scotland to restore Forter to its former glory. After restorations were complete Mr Pooley commissioned his daughter Katharine Pooley to design the interiors.

The great hall is an exceptional space with beautiful wool rugs covering flagstone flooring. The main seating area of deep red sofas and leather arm chairs are centered around an enormous open fireplace with tartan rugs and a large ottoman. Also in the great hall is a mahogany dining table that seats 26. The fabric covering the dining chairs is Pooley family tartan. What a fantastic room for hosting a dinner party!

Tomorrow I will introduce you to Katharine Pooley, an amazingly fascinating woman.

click photos to see larger view