October 2024

Glasgow Is Glowing

I am a fan of Halloween, although I was never one for going out ‘Trick or Treating’ or guising as we used to call it. I am also not a fan of horror or scary movies. However, I do like a light show. This years GlasGlow at the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow was certainly a magnificent sight for sore eyes. With all the dull grey weather around a bit of colour, light and sound was just the tonic. I can’t believe that is now seven years the event has been going for. Since its launch over 750,000 have visited.

I loved seeing the Kibble Palace, that I used to visit daily when I lived across the road, looking like something I have never seen before.  The scary clowns at Clowntown did make me look twice though.

Coffee Tequila Instead Of My Usual Latté

I like a dram but its usually a traditional whisky, perhaps going really out there with a gin. I have even, in my youth, had a tequila usually as a slammer at the Art School bar. However I got to try a more refined Coffee Tequila. 

I met Stewart Weir and Adam Alzadjally with their new Coffee Tequila Jalisgow at their Glasgow base. It has a lovely warming scent. I did learn a bit too. The coffee infused tequila crafted by the experts at The Hacienda, Casa Reyes D’Barjas, situated in the town of tequila in Mexico, which is the second oldest tequila distillery in the world.

Christmas In Space

I did love the Planetarium. Its fab if you like learning about the stars and seeing space like never before. It also does the amazing Pink Floyd Fulldome experiences for Dark Side of The Moon and Wish You were Here. I was in the planetarium to meet Santa with Éirinn, a Science Learning Coordinator, as the Glasgow Science Centre launched its magical programme of Winter events. Christmas can never come too early.

Music To My Ears

One of my favourite assignments to come up at this time of year is the BBC Young Traditional Musician semi finals. Hosted by Joy Dunlop, twelve super talented musicians perform at BBC Pacific Quay. My job is to take a studio portrait and then some performance pictures. My favourite part are the performances. It really  puts my guitar strumming firmly in its place. You can see the competition  on the BBC I Player.