Winter Wonderland

The cold snap during the middle of December made for some truly magical views. The trees were thick with frost and with the – 9 degree cold and mist it gave the landscape a surreal look. I had a lovely walk around Loch Ardinning on the edge of Mugdock County Park. One of the comments on Instagram said “the trees looked like waves”.

The Snowman with the RSNO and Aled Jones

I had a lovely festive time at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Star of radio and television Aled Jones joined the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for special performances of The Snowman, marking 40 years of the iconic film. He did make a joke about the Irn Blu advert too and it made everyone laugh. There was a great atmosphere in the hall. The music was magnificent and the junior chorus were sublime. There was some great banter with Aled and conductor Neil Ferris. The show played Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh too.

The Wasps’ Studio Artists Christmas Market

The Briggait in Glasgow is a magnificent building.  Originally built in 1873, the Briggait was the city’s fish market for over 100 years. I love going along to see the Wasp’s studio artists at work on their stalls. After the last years of covid restrictions this years the market comfortably beat the previous market’s attendance, with over 2,200 visitors on the first day alone. My picture of artist Margaret Archbald, as the Christmas grinch, holding the mistletoe over ‘Jimmy the dog’ was the press picture that gave everyone a smile. 

Christmas Dinner

I am no cook but I would love to learn, so its always nice to photograph a chef and see if I can get any tips. I had a morning with Masterchef winner Gary Maclean. He was promoting the Mary’s Meal’s Big Family Christmas. Gary, a  long time supporter of Mary’s Meals, was at the photo call on Buchanan Street in the pouring rain to raise awareness of the event to feed children in the worlds poorest countries. He was truly a great sport. 

Pantomime Fun with Aladdin

Christmas would not be Christmas without the pantomime season. I always cover The Pavilion panto. It’s always great fun to go in and get to see the show before anyone else during the final dress rehearsal. The show this year, The Magical Adventures of Aladdin, was brilliant . My picture shows Stephen Purdon (Shellsuit Bob from River City), Grado (from Scotsquad) and panto favourite Nicola Park.

Another newcomer to panto is wrestler Jack Jester who was great as the baddie Abanazer. In fact the whole cast were fantastic.

Anyone For Tennis

Everyone that knows me knows I am a real tennis fan and try to play a few times a week. I have photographed the lovely Judy Murray more than a few times and I am always up for listening to her coaching in case I pick up any tips. I was delighted to be asked by charity Mary’s Meals to cover the launch of their Double the Love Campaign. Judy was joined by Mary’s Meals care manager, Suzy Harley at the tennis court at Caledonian University. We had a few hits up and down and then the challenge to see how many tennis balls we could get in the air at the one time. The only thing we were not up for was jumping over the net at the end of the match.

A Trip to the V&A in Dundee

I had my first visit to the V&A in Dundee this month. What an amazing building inside and out. I was invited along by a group of amazing people from the charity Housing Options Scotland.  They provide information, advice and support to help people find the right home, in the right place. I have been working with them over many years and have seen at first hand the difference they make to people’s lives. The event was for their 25th Anniversary celebration. The ministerial address was given by Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice. The event was really terrific with lots of fascinating talks and speakers. There even was a cake to cut ,which tasted brilliant.

Pride & Prejudice (Sort of) out on Bath Street

I joined Scotland’s favourite actress, Elaine C Smith, who welcomed the cast of Pride & Prejudice *(*sort of) back to Glasgow. The show was first performed here in the summer of 2018.  The show, a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s classic love story. We decided to take the cast outside onto Bath Street right outside the theatre and joining us was the Duke of Wellington’s horse complete with a traffic cone on its head. The cast and Elaine were really up for the picture. Fortunately for us the rain that had been chucking it down all day had stopped for our picture, which was good as we had the chaise lounge sofa. Fortunately someone brought a brolly, which added to the picture too.

Frankie Boyle at The Kelvin Hall

Another Assignment that made it to the BBC iPlayer was covering Frankie Boyle’s New World Order that was filmed at the new BBC Studios set at the Kelvin Hall. I have covered the show before and it’s always hilarious. One of the shows was on the day Liz Truss had left number 10 Downing Street and the jokes were bang up to date. I imagine there had been a lot of last minute script changes that day. It was nice to be covering the show this time with no Covid masks on.