What the Team Have Been up to
Craig
I hear that New Year is a good time to do something new and so I've been trying my hand at reading a bit more poetry... in public. It was the news that the works of Dylan Thomas had entered the public domain that prompted the concept. I want to find and read interesting poems that belong to all of us and none of us.
I've started a YouTube channel called Public Domain Poems where you can follow me weekly. https://youtube.com/@PublicDomainPoems
Feel free to send me some suggestions for something to read.
Nicola
Last month was a busy one for me, gearing up for the festive season.
It started with a visit by my friend from California, who spent a weekend in Glasgow while travelling through the UK. Seeing a visitor’s perspective on what we all see every day – from the traditional Scottish hospitality to the delightful Christmas markets, from Irn Bru to the humble pizza crunch – was a refreshing experience, and she is already looking forward to her next trip here. Haste ye back!
Among our many stops that weekend was The Absent Ear – the Van Gogh themed speakeasy hidden in the heart of Merchant City. While it may not be within everyone’s budget, it is absolutely worth paying for the experience. The set cocktail menu is inspired by the works of local artists, and every drink is a work of art in itself.
I was also fortunate enough to take a trip down to Manchester last month. The city absolutely lives up to its reputation, with its vibrant culture and friendly people. However I was most impressed with its transport and accessibility. The city centre boasts a tram stop on almost every corner, and with the success of their recent campaign to bring the buses back into public ownership, their joined up network is an affordable way to see all the amazing sights.
Rory
Things to read: My brother smashed it out of the park for Christmas, getting me John Le Carré’s The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. I always find myself reading non-fiction or ideas-based books so to have a new fiction to read is really great, and I’ve sped through it in under 3 weeks. The book is so readable, and I love the way that Le Carré paints his characters, having really enjoyed the Smiley trilogy this was another pleasure to read.
Things to Watch: My partner and I have been hooked to The Traitors (UK), having watched the first series before Christmas. Not since watching Succession have I felt a real need for the next episode. On top of that, as everybody else seems to have we found the Mr Bates vs the Post Office series incredibly compelling - I felt sick to my stomach at the way the sub-postmasters were/have been treated. Something about the performances of the main characters connected with me and I felt myself continually putting myself in their shoes and the sheer stress I’d feel if I was them. I desperately hope they see the compensation they deserve and those responsible are properly held to account.
Things to Listen to: I recently watched the film Tár, about a manipulative world-renowned conductress played by Cate Blanchett - stunning visuals, and captivating performances all round, but I’ve been hooked on the Mahler/Elgar soundtrack since I watched, great focus music, but also just for relaxing. It prompted me to go and delve deeper into the performances of conductors - I really love Gustavo Dudamel, go find a brilliant clip of him online rehearsing Felix Mendelssohn’s 3rd Symphony in A Minor, shows you just how much of a role the conductor plays in an orchestral performance.
Where to go: I was in London over New Year and revisited some old favourite areas from having lived there in the past. My girlfriend works in the culinary industry so we naturally plan most of our holidays around food, and this was no exception. We had some of the best pastry at Popham’s bakery in the People’s Republic of Islington, honourable munchion to the honey and smoked salt bun, which was soft, buttery and melted in your mouth. I also highly recommend a trip to Manteca in Shoreditch, a pasta small-plates restaurant with an excellent wine list, all prepared fresh in front of your eyes; once you know what good quality pasta tastes like you’ll never want to stop eating it - game changer. Scotland has a great food scene, but it’s very European and since moving back we have missed the Caribbean culture in London a lot, so we made sure to sample the goods again from White Men Can’t Jerk - succulent jerk chicken and rice bursting with flavour. Finally, also in Peckham, swing by Bar Levan for some top quality wine, good tunes, and just all round good vibes.
Kaitlin
Last month was a busy one, as it is for most people, then January comes and hits you in the face. But it also provides an opportunity to cosy up on cold evenings and watch some good TV and movies.
However, I would highly recommend giving the Scotsman Picture house in Edinburgh a visit. We went to see White Christmas which was quite a magical experience, as it's my favourite Christmas movie, if not my favourite movie all together. They show movies through-out the year, so a good option on a dark and cold January evening.
Trying to keep spirts up at this point of the year is important and if you're in the mood to escape for a bit I would recommend Alan Carr and Amanda Holden's Italian Job. Injecting a bit of sun and laughter into January it follows the duo as they renovate a 1 Euro villa in Italy, which eventually gets auctioned off for charity. An easy watch for sure.
If you're into podcasts you'll more than likely be aware of Gary Lineker's Goalhanger production company which pumps out the likes of The Rest is Politics, Football, Money etc. Well he's done it again with Entertainment. The Rest is Entertainment hosted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde lifts the lid on things such as gameshows, how our TV shows are commissioned, the role mainstream TV still plays and how streaming could be changing everything, among other topics. Not just Love Island drivel, this is actually an interesting podcast.