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The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
'Eighteen cushions in this room. That is grounds for divorce'
**** It takes a lot to leave Banjo Beale gobsmacked. The genial SHOTY judge has the laid-back temperament typical of his Australian homeland, yet nothing had prepared him for this. 'Eighteen cushions in this room. That is grounds for divorce,' he said sternly. Except he had missed a couple, taking the grand total to 20. From last week's cushion drought in Skye we had arrived at a pillow tsunami in Peebles. 'Someone really takes their cushions seriously, don't they?' asked Banjo. But can you have too many cushions on a bed? Discuss. Heatedly. This was the penultimate show before the final, and the South duly pulled out all the stops with some terrific homes, including a Victorian semi-detached near Dalbeattie that, whisper it, looked like it could be the series winner. Before that, however, the judges called at the Artful Townhouse in Dumfries. 'Georgian maisonette anybody?' asked Banjo. 'You're so clever,' said Anna. Danny, the qualified architect of the trio, was straight in there, pointing out the Georgian fan light, the authentic plaster, a magnificent cupola, and the long twisty bannister. He was less than keen, however, on the under-lit kitchen. 'I'm not sure I could see what I'm cooking in here.' Anna was on hand with advice. 'Well, you just light a candelabra darling, when you want to dice your carrots.' Sure enough there was such a thing to hand on the worktop. Not quite Liberace standards, but it would do. Read more The bathroom, described by owner Fiona as her 'therapy room', drew gasps of approval from all three judges. Banjo imagined the place as party central, the huge bath filled with ice cubes and bottles of Champagne. 'It might just be the best bathroom I've ever seen.' With the Artful Townhouse walls covered in paintings and objets on every surface, Danny was finding the clash of styles 'a little bit jarring'. Or as we non-architects would say, it was doing his nut in. Fortunately, the dining room had only one painting, leaving the walls clear for paper. Not just any wallpaper, mind you. Even Anna, who loves a loud pattern, described the swirls of blue as 'quite excitable'. Had there been more stuff in this room, said Danny, his head might have 'exploded'. Not that anyone would have noticed with that wallpaper. Craigmount, a Victorian semi near Dalbeattie (Image: PHOTOGRAPHER: IWC Media) Next was Craigmount, a Victorian semi-detached near Dalbeattie, home to Ozzy, Laura, daughter Grace and Ethel the pug. Gran had been a fan of the programme and would have been delighted at the house getting on the show, said Grace. The judges returned the compliment, and then some. They loved everything, the wrap-around extension, the woven rug upholstery ('I've never seen it in the flesh before,' said Anna), the colourful kitchen, the charming first floor terrace, and the showstopping bathroom complete with a real copper bath. 'That bath is just a stage,' said Banjo. 'I would sing in there, eat my charcuterie board … it's perfect.' (Don't try that charcuterie board thing at home, kids: one spillage and you'll be fishing salami out of the plughole for eternity.) 'Ah, let's just stay here,' said Anna, and so chorused all of us at home. The Coachhouse near Peebles had the unenviable job of following Craigmount, and for a long time it put up a noble fight. Everyone loved the meticulously restored exterior and Anna liked the luxury hotel style interior, but then came Pillowgate and a high-gloss black kitchen that Anna thought impractical. Scoring perfect tens all round, the winner was inevitable. But does Craigmount have what it takes to lift the grand prize in next week's final? Not so fast with those assumptions. A wise contractor once told me that anything major to do with property was like childbirth. Everybody says never again, but mostly they do. The same amnesia applies to the SHOTY final. Everyone thinks they've spotted the winner but then they are reminded of winners from previous heats. Let the final battle commence.
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's Home of the Year: Careful with that charcuterie
**** It takes a lot to leave Banjo Beale gobsmacked. The genial SHOTY judge has the laid-back temperament typical of his Australian homeland, yet nothing had prepared him for this. 'Eighteen cushions in this room. That is grounds for divorce,' he said sternly. Except he had missed a couple, taking the grand total to 20. From last week's cushion drought in Skye we had arrived at a pillow tsunami in Peebles. 'Someone really takes their cushions seriously, don't they?' asked Banjo. But can you have too many cushions on a bed? Discuss. Heatedly. This was the penultimate show before the final, and the South duly pulled out all the stops with some terrific homes, including a Victorian semi-detached near Dalbeattie that, whisper it, looked like it could be the series winner. Before that, however, the judges called at the Artful Townhouse in Dumfries. 'Georgian maisonette anybody?' asked Banjo. 'You're so clever,' said Anna. Danny, the qualified architect of the trio, was straight in there, pointing out the Georgian fan light, the authentic plaster, a magnificent cupola, and the long twisty bannister. He was less than keen, however, on the under-lit kitchen. 'I'm not sure I could see what I'm cooking in here.' Anna was on hand with advice. 'Well, you just light a candelabra darling, when you want to dice your carrots.' Sure enough there was such a thing to hand on the worktop. Not quite Liberace standards, but it would do. Read more The bathroom, described by owner Fiona as her 'therapy room', drew gasps of approval from all three judges. Banjo imagined the place as party central, the huge bath filled with ice cubes and bottles of Champagne. 'It might just be the best bathroom I've ever seen.' With the Artful Townhouse walls covered in paintings and objets on every surface, Danny was finding the clash of styles 'a little bit jarring'. Or as we non-architects would say, it was doing his nut in. Fortunately, the dining room had only one painting, leaving the walls clear for paper. Not just any wallpaper, mind you. Even Anna, who loves a loud pattern, described the swirls of blue as 'quite excitable'. Had there been more stuff in this room, said Danny, his head might have 'exploded'. Not that anyone would have noticed with that wallpaper. Craigmount, a Victorian semi near Dalbeattie (Image: PHOTOGRAPHER: IWC Media) Next was Craigmount, a Victorian semi-detached near Dalbeattie, home to Ozzy, Laura, daughter Grace and Ethel the pug. Gran had been a fan of the programme and would have been delighted at the house getting on the show, said Grace. The judges returned the compliment, and then some. They loved everything, the wrap-around extension, the woven rug upholstery ('I've never seen it in the flesh before,' said Anna), the colourful kitchen, the charming first floor terrace, and the showstopping bathroom complete with a real copper bath. 'That bath is just a stage,' said Banjo. 'I would sing in there, eat my charcuterie board … it's perfect.' (Don't try that charcuterie board thing at home, kids: one spillage and you'll be fishing salami out of the plughole for eternity.) 'Ah, let's just stay here,' said Anna, and so chorused all of us at home. The Coachhouse near Peebles had the unenviable job of following Craigmount, and for a long time it put up a noble fight. Everyone loved the meticulously restored exterior and Anna liked the luxury hotel style interior, but then came Pillowgate and a high-gloss black kitchen that Anna thought impractical. Scoring perfect tens all round, the winner was inevitable. But does Craigmount have what it takes to lift the grand prize in next week's final? Not so fast with those assumptions. A wise contractor once told me that anything major to do with property was like childbirth. Everybody says never again, but mostly they do. The same amnesia applies to the SHOTY final. Everyone thinks they've spotted the winner but then they are reminded of winners from previous heats. Let the final battle commence.
Ottawa Citizen
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
More than flowers: This year's Tulip Festival will shower Ottawa with photo ops, fireworks and free movie screenings
The Canadian Tulip Festival stems from a gift. Article content Each spring, twenty thousand tulip bulbs are sent from the Netherlands, half from the Dutch royal family and half from growers in the country. Article content The gesture began in 1945 as a thank-you for sheltering the monarchy and helping to liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War. The festival itself followed in 1953, proposed by photographer Malak Karsh, whose tulip images helped shape Ottawa's public image mid-century. Article content Article content It has evolved into an event involving drone shows, heritage installations, themed food stalls, and more than three hundred thousand blooms planted in city parks. Over the decades, it has drawn royalty, Liberace, Alanis Morissette, and several thousand baby strollers. Article content Article content This year's edition, which runs from May 9 to 19, marks the eightieth anniversary of the Netherlands' liberation and includes twenty-six display gardens, nightly programming at Dow's Lake, and a victory party complete with restored military vehicles and swing dancers in uniform. Article content It remains, officially, a celebration of international friendship. Unofficially, it is one of Ottawa's most photogenic exercises in crowd control. Article content Article content The first weekend, which includes Mother's Day, tends to draw the largest crowds. A live Tulip Meter, updated by the NCC, tracks the state of the bloom. As of May 1, roughly halfway to full spectacle, early-season tulips are open, and mid-season varieties are in bud. Article content Article content The main site is Commissioners Park, where over two dozen tulip beds line the path between Preston Street and the Rideau Canal locks. The flowers are grouped by colour, species, and symbolism, with some signage explaining the history behind specific plantings. Article content Article content More blooms can be found at Major's Hill Park, around Parliament Hill, and throughout city-managed and NCC-maintained spaces. In total, more than a million tulip bulbs are planted across Ottawa each year. Article content What's new and what's back Article content This year's festival brings back core programming, including outdoor films, guided walking tours, and the Dutch Pavilion hosted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Article content The insect-themed Big Bug Boardwalk returns with its usual two-part identity. By day, it's an oversized educational exhibit. After sunset, it becomes a blacklight installation designed for phones and small children. Article content
The Guardian
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tom Gleisner: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)
Like many people, my earliest internet videos came courtesy of YouTube and most involved self-injury. Pre-internet, if you wanted to watch people hurting themselves, you had to sit through Australia's Funniest Home Videos on Channel Nine – or a high school eisteddfod. In recent times, my viewing has moved largely to TikTok. I'm fascinated by how their algorithm determines what I am interested in. Lately, I have been getting a steady stream of defence personnel returning home to surprise their loved ones, testimonials from recovering alcoholics and random people unblocking clogged drains. I have obviously been deemed a sentimental heavy drinker with unresolved constipation. Humour has always been a highly subjective taste. As a rule, if someone forwards you a clip accompanied by the phrase 'thought you might find this amusing!', you generally won't. So, no offence taken if these following offerings fail to resonate comedically. I grew up watching TV in the 70s, when there were only four channels to choose from, and so we were forced to endure endless bad variety shows with cheesy singers miming through someone else's song. This clip of Liberace performing Feelin' Groovy has it all: lame dancing, precocious kids and off-the-charts fashion choices. Enjoy, as we go back to a joyful time before online trolls and working with children checks. YouTube is replete with compilations of musical theatre fails. There are entire clips made upof things going wrong during the quick wardrobe change moment in Let It Go from Frozen. As someone who has recently written a musical, I am all too aware of what might go awry during a performance. Luckily, my show, Bloom, does not involve any animal actors. Unlike this clip of Toto from The Wizard of Oz. Over the years, many high-profile Australians have been persuaded to run for political office. Remember Mal Meninga – whose campaign lasted about two minutes? This ad from Brant Webb (one of the two men rescued from the Beaconsfield mine collapse in Tasmania in 2006) has just about everything you could want from an ill-fated electoral tilt. A hilariously bad start, awkward handshakes, even more awkward banter, flies and references to Aussie 'battlers'. (Spoiler: he didn't win) If you've never seen this Bert Newton clip of a yard glass drinking competition going exactly where a yard glass drinking competition is likely to go, well, you're welcome. What a total pro. Plus bonus @mrtonymartin. Many years ago, I was part of an ABC TV series called The Late Show. It was 60 minutes long, and to help fill the airtime, we often played old video clips from the vaults. This one features the legendary Bert Newton, who decided having two blokes take part in a live beer-drinking competition might be a good idea. It wasn't. I was never a huge Family Guy fan (preferring The Simpsons), but every now and then, a clip pops up on YouTube that highlights the show at its culturally cleverest. This opening titles scene is one of those clips. I know there were not a lot of laughs during the Covid pandemic, but endless live press conferences certainly served up the occasional moment of comedy gold. Exhibit A: this attempt by our then health minister, Greg Hunt, to fit a face mask. Every week on Have You Been Paying Attention, we like to end the episode with a moment when someone is clearly not doing so. This correspondent on MSNBC could not have done a better job. This article includes content provided by TikTok. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. I adore old TV ads, especially ones that begin with 'Ladies …'. This piece of vintage hard-sell is funny on so many levels. Including the fact that I suspect the store owner may well have cast herself as one of the models. This article includes content provided by TikTok. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Another example of brilliant comedy created for online viewers is this beautifully written and performed clip from Georgia Productions. It made me laugh out loud, which is different to LOL because you are actually laughing. There is nothing I can add to this by way of set up or explanation. It is just exquisite. To quote the final words: 'Thank you Lord for the joy …' Bloom, with lyrics and book by Tom Gleisner, is playing at Roslyn Packer theatre in Sydney until 11 May
Telegraph
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Introducing the trophy lapel pin: a new style flex for men
James Bond had no truck with an affectation like lapel pins, although he is occasionally fond of a corsage in his button hole. They could be lethal, you see. In the Pierce Brosnan-era The World Is Not Enough film, the opening action scene involves a British aristo who comes to regret his fondness for a family heirloom lapel pin; the trinket has been swapped for a replica planted with a transmitter that sparks an explosion. At least it's a rather stylish way to go. The peacockery of the red carpet parade at this year's Oscars was rather less explosive, although just as bombastic and impactful in terms of making a statement in terms of how men dress. It wasn't quite a vintage season in terms of boundary pushing on the men, but one unifying factor across the dress code spectrum, from the more outré outfits to the classic Armani tuxedos, was that most actors opted for a handsome lapel pin, stud or brooch on their dinner jacket. From the more experimental Colman Domingo donning a Boucheron golden curl and Adrien Brody in a lavish Elsa Jin fan of feathers with his Giorgio Armani tuxedo, to the more discreet pair of Tiffany ruby cherries dangling from Robert Downey Jr's lapel and Sebastian Stan in a sparkling Cartier cluster, there was a subtle glint on the jackets of the best dressed fellows. Of course, their fashion presence is always somewhat eclipsed by the fairytale gowns and opulent jewels on the leading ladies, but it was a way to add a touch of sparkle without going full Liberace. Lapel pins and brooches have featured on red carpets for a while now – see the BAFTAs and Golden Globes – and it seems that every black tie dinner I go to (how very fancy of me), there's a veritable constellation of gemstones on men's evening attire. Men's etail behemoth Mr Porter has seen a rise in searches for lapel pins by 351 per cent in the last six months; sportswear out, sparkle in, it seems. 'A lapel pin lends a classic navy or black blazer a focal point and it's a very easy and instant way to add a touch of glamour and formality,' says Charles Leung, the chief executive of French jewellery house Chaumet. 'They are also a great way to add humour and whimsy, and they're a great conversation starter too.' Chaumet is a particular case in point; the house creates delicate gold bees to sit cheerfully on your lapel, and Leung says the brand has seen male customers – often in store with their wives who are doing the buying of their ultra high net worth jewels – opting for floral lapel pins. The subject of men's jewellery is an expansive one, a topic that could fill an annal (and in fact has), from the rubies of Henry VIII to the pearls of the Maharajas, the diamonds of the court of Louis XVI to the lothario lounge crooner gold chains of the 1970s (not to mention Gen Z boys today taking up grandma's Sunday best pearls thanks to Harry Styles and other belwethers). Traditionally, a certain breed of man – rather blue blood, namely – would wear little more than a signet ring with a family crest, passed on for generations. But lapel pins are a different beast, because they're the final, ritzy flourish on a formal wardrobe – they demand a stately lapel, usually on a black tie dinner jacket, set against satin or grosgrain silk notch lapel. It's a statement of intent that you've made an effort and want a final flourish to add a certain oomph. 'I think men's pins in the past served a practical purpose as they were generally used to hold a stock or cravat in place, and were not generally very extravagant,' says perfumier Roja Dove, who's no stranger to a handsome lapel pin. 'The exceptions to that rule would be wearing an honour of some sort – aristocracy certainly ornamented their clothes and showed social status and position through their adornment, which is still the case.' 'I have worn lapel pins for years; I think they are a wonderful expression of an aspect of our character and I love the fact that people find them surprising, but also captivating. Without question, a pin makes a social statement. The mere act of wearing one reveals something of your views and thoughts on society, albeit often in a subconscious way. Each of the pins I have has a very personal sentimental attachment. Particularly one that was a gift from my life partner Peter.' Not all lapel pins are created equal. If you're inclined but uninitiated, start small; a neat little pin in silver, which is more classically 'masculine' than a sunny gold iteration. I tend to add a pin in bronze, as it happens, because it looks rather antiquated and more like an heirloom than a new piece of trinketry (which it is, albeit some eight years old). As to wearing brooches, if you've got the moxy then by all means go for it, although employ caution not through fear of looking too dandyish but in terms of practicality and what they can do to that pristine silk lapel. For a recent wedding, for example, I was firmly advised against putting a particularly lavish brooch through a lapel (by a Dunhill tailor, no less) because the back pin was too heavy duty to puncture through the fabric without damaging it. Not quite as deadly as nefarious trickery with exploding transmitters, but rather violent to your princely tailoring in its own way. Read the lapel. Get the look
