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Sunday Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Travel: G&Ts and glamour on a girls' work trip to Kimpton Blythswood Square
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up I challenge anyone to name a better feeling than hearing the words 'we have upgraded you to a suite' at a reception desk. Especially in Glasgow's only five-star hotel. Standing in the lobby of Kimpton Blythswood Square, black and white marble tiles beneath my feet and crystal chandelier drooping above a dark grand piano to my left, I was already feeling pretty fancy. I politely declined the offer of a concierge taking my battered backpack upstairs to try and maintain that aura. My friend Julia and I looked at each other as we selected the top floor in the lift and headed up, not exactly sure what we were about to walk into. I can honestly say I have never seen a hotel room like it. One wall of the suite was made entirely of windows, with a view out onto a sprawling balcony and the city beyond. Waiting for us were all the makings of a Glaswegin G&T, which we assembled before continuing to explore. © Supplied by Kimpton Blythswood S We moved through the large seating area, along the windows and onto the bedroom, passing the black marble bathroom between. The balcony had not one, but two seating areas, the TV was hidden in the foot of the bed and the bubble bath was primed and ready to be poured into the huge tub. Though everything screamed luxury, it also felt homely. I would quite happily have moved in. Julia and I were in Glasgow for a big awards ceremony, taking advantage of the occasion to have a bit of a girly sleepover. Of course, part of the fun of going to an event is getting ready with friends. We sipped our G&Ts in front of the huge bathroom mirror, slightly ruining the vibe by scattering our make-up everywhere, and turned the corridor between the rooms into a catwalk as we finalised outfit choices. © Supplied by Kimpton Blythswood S While we were out, we took great pride in telling people where we were staying, and – a tad boastfully – showing off pictures of our suite. We got back late, but still with plenty of time to have the genius idea of ordering room service breakfast for the following morning. After a glorious sleep, we started the day in the only way you should after a late night: in the spa. Right on the bottom floor of the hotel, it felt a little like we were going down to another world; one of ultimate calm. Used to spas with a pool, sauna and steam room at best, maybe a jacuzzi if lucky, I couldn't believe how many things there were to do. It was almost like the most tranquil of water parks. The pool had a dark section, with stars on the ceiling mimicking the night sky. There were multiple saunas, one that was raised above the pool so you could sit inside and watch others swim. We didn't last long in the snow shower but it was fun to try, and the clarifying air of the Himalayan salt room really cleared us out. I think the tepidarium was my favourite area, with the heated marble loungers hard to leave. © Supplied by Kimpton Blythswood S Just as we had planned, breakfast arrived in our room as we did. We had ordered an array of fruit, yoghurt, pastries, tea and coffee, which were delivered on a tray for us to enjoy. Though we had a lot of fun on our trip, we were also there for work, so this was very convenient to give us time to catch up on emails. Continuing on the work theme, the hotel's gorgeous Iasg restaurant is the perfect place for meetings, which we had set up for the morning. We nattered over coffee, and it was lovely to be able to do that in the peace of the hotel rather than having to rush out into the city. Before heading for our respective trains home, we decided we had to try out some of the dishes on Iasg's new menu. The restaurant space itself is so stylish, with a 360 bar in the centre and black and white flooring tiles carrying through from the lobby. I sent photos to my boyfriend in the hopes we could take inspiration during our house renovations. © Supplied by Kimpton Blythswood S Luckily, both Julia and I are the kind of people who enjoy ordering a little bit of everything to share. We opted for the seared scallops, beef carpaccio, Shetland mussels and burrata, tucking in and mixing and matching. Everything was delicious, championing Scottish produce to the max, but our standouts were definitely the scallops and carpaccio. We had mocktails on the side because that felt like a necessary addition to finish off our girly sleepover. And, why not? There are cheaper hotel options in the city, but if you want a guaranteed treat Blythswood Square will deliver on all levels. The decor is gorgeous and you are made to feel special – even if your backpack is a little battered. From the calming spa and branded robes to the balcony views and delicious food, I will be dreaming about my next sleepover. © Supplied by Kimpton Blythswood S Factfile Rooms in Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa start from £190 for bed and breakfast. For more information, go to P.S. Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa has been a prestigious address since the early 19th century. It boasts 114 rooms and suites, ranging from double and twin rooms right up to a new two-bedroom penthouse. The hotel is around a 10-minute walk from Glasgow's Central Station, and not much further from Queen Street, so it's an easy option even if you are on a quick trip to the city.
Sunday Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Life according to... Myra Dubois
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Myra Dubois on cosmic powers, Paris in spring and Scotland in autumn… How are you, Myra? I am very well thank you, how are you? I love how professionally blurred your background is (on Teams). I feel like I'm watching a very important piece of independent cinema. Thank you! Can you tell me about your new show? Your past shows focused on helping people, but this one seems more introspective. The shows relate to each other, because that's just my natural progress as a creative person. My previous show, Be Well, I was manifesting my manifesto of 'Ad-Myra-ism' across the UK and Ireland (I have to say 'and Ireland' even though I only played Dublin). People started asking questions, I started asking questions – where does this gift of compassion that has been bestowed upon me come from? And my only conclusion is that it comes from the stars. That's nice, isn't it? That's a nice bit of poetry. So, it's really an exploration on where these powers that I have come from, and our connection to the cosmos. There's a little bit of spirituality in there as well, and a lot of reflection on the self. But it's not just going to be a sermon of self. I invite the audience to talk to me, and we'll be discussing some things and having fun along the way. Lest we forget that it's also a fun night out at the theatre. Your fans look to you for advice. Is there anyone you look to for guidance? Oh, yes. Did you see my last show? Don't be bashful if you didn't. I didn't! I was making it easy for you to say you didn't, but you came in there fast like a freight train. Well, I talked about this in my last show, if you'd have been there. I have my own personal wellness guru, Malcolm. He has a practice, a wellness detention centre, that's just on the north-west… it's south… well, it's in Blackpool. But I go there to rebalance myself and bring myself back to me as well with a mixture of things. We do little bit of Reiki, little bit of yoga, and every Thursday, they do bingo. Are you excited to come back to Scotland? Well, I'm not performing at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, but I'm doing a few shows in Edinburgh and Glasgow in October. And when you're at the Fringe, you're playing to, you know, Jean and John from Swindon who've come up for the weekend, and they sit there in their cagoules, and you only really get the Scottish audiences towards the end of the Fringe. I like coming to Scotland outside of Fringe season to meet genuine Scottish audiences because I find that they're a little more up for fun, a little rowdy in a positive way, a little more engaging than your standard Edinburgh Fringe audience. People say: 'Aren't you going to the Fringe?' and I'll say: 'No, I'm going in October.' And they'll say: 'Oh, we won't be there then,' and I'll say: 'Well… exactly!' Are Scots really rowdier? Every time I do a press interview, it doesn't matter where it is, they'll always ask 'how do audiences here differ?' and, for the most part, people are people – I think people are largely the same and usually wonderful. However, Scotland does have a reputation. People used to say that Glaswegian audiences in particular would let you know if you're not very good, and that's probably true, but I'm very good, so I've never experienced that. What surprises people about you? People might be surprised to know that I've never visited Paris, it does surprise people – I think it's the Dubois name. But I am rectifying that this year, although I shouldn't say that because I'm not going professionally, I'm going privately, and I can't assure the same international security that I might do if I was going publicly. So – maybe – I'm going to Paris in August. Who can tell… Myra's new show, Cosmic Empath, will visit Glasgow and Edinburgh on October 25 and 26.
The Courier
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Dundee Oor Wullie statue targeted by vandalism
Locals have condemned the actions of 'mindless' vandals in Dundee city centre after an Oor Wullie statue was covered in pink paint. The Oor Wullie statue, which depicts the iconic cartoon character aiming a pea shooter at a nearby statue of Robbie Burns, was found covered in pink paint on Wednesday morning. A pornographic drawing and an obscene message had also been written on it. The bronze comic book which sits next to the statue was also vandalised. One passer-by called the damage a 'complete disgrace'. Another branded the vandal's actions as 'mindless'. A Dundee City Council also condemned the defacing of the statue. A spokesperson said: 'This type of graffiti is completely unacceptable. Our rapid response team are aware and will be taking the necessary action.' A council clean up team was spotted working to remove the paint at 3.30pm on Wednesday afternoon. The statue was installed at the Albert Square site outside The McManus Galleries in 2016. It was created to mark the 80th anniversary of the character's first appearance in The Sunday Post. The statue also features a satchel containing Wullie's pet mouse, Jeemy, as well as a catapult and a bag of peas to refill his pea shooter. Beside him is a poem entitled 'Tae Rabbie Burns'. Scottish artist Malcolm Robertson, who created the 4ft tall sculpture, said at the time the project was one of the most enjoyable and fun of his life.
Sunday Post
3 days ago
- Sunday Post
Forget NC500, lesser-known routes are waiting to be explored by campervan
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up The road snakes out ahead, rising and falling, twisting and turning for endless, timeless miles. One minute we pass through a canopy of native forest, the next a wide expanse of golden sand opens up, giving way to a mirror-like sea. Soon, the road carves a giant semi-circle into a cliff, leaving us peering nervously to the valley below. As the road rises once more, the sun dips behind a hill, silhouetting a stag on the summit like something out of a Visit Scotland advert. We have been driving for nearly four hours through this dreamscape of Munros, lochs and forests, but the last time we passed a car was an hour and a half ago – and it is quite simply glorious. We weave and bob along the empty roads, cruising from the high vantage point of a VW California campervan my family of four have hired from Roadsurfer, the world's leading motorhome and campervan company. © Shutterstock The camper eats up the miles with ease and the extra driving height and comfort of the seat make the hours in the cockpit a joy – which, coming from someone who doesn't always enjoy driving, is saying something. You'd be forgiven for associating a thrilling Scottish road trip with the now-famous North Coast 500, but our journey across a lesser-known part of the country merely shows that the NC500 isn't particularly unique. These roads, these scenes are scattered all over Scotland, just waiting to be discovered. In fact, it is precisely because of the NC500's popularity that we are determined to take the road less travelled. Our journey has taken us along the tourist trail through Callander and Crianlarich to Glencoe but from there we take a right at Ballachulish and board the Corran Ferry, a small car ferry that crosses Loch Linnhe to Ardgour. From Ardgour we travel on narrow roads out to the Ardnamurchan peninsula and the Ardnamurchan campsite. It is here that the VW California can fully stretch out and reveal all its party pieces. The van is a marvel of modern engineering, with every inch of space used to maximum effect. The camper has everything; a gas cooker, sink, outside shower, a table for dining, an electric heater for comfort during the night, tonnes of storage and of course two double beds (the pop-up roof bed is immediately claimed by the kids). © Shutterstock / Lukassek We crank up the heating and cosy in for the night. Our pitch facing the windswept Sound of Mull makes for a fantastic bedtime panorama. The next morning, we travel back down the road a mile to Kilchoan, a tiny hamlet that is the most westerly village in mainland Britain. We aim to return here later but for now we are straight onto another boat, the Kilchoan Ferry that runs between here and Tobermory on Mull. Tobermory is rammed with tourists, but thanks to taking the campervan (return ticket a bargain at £17.20), we can grab coffee, do a quick bit of souvenir shopping and then head out into Mull proper. Calgary Bay is a well-known beach but, seeing as how we are all about avoiding the tourist hotspots, we pick out Port na Ba beach, just along the coast. Parking is pretty much non-existent here but a helpful local tells us we can squeeze the camper in next to his house. From there it's about a 1km walk to the beach. But, oh my, it is worth it. Port na Ba is a picture postcard of golden sand, blue-green water and rocky cliffs and we slip into wetsuits for a swim on our private deserted beach. Back in Kilchoan, we opt to go for a little bit of comfort and have dinner at Kilchoan House Hotel, which is alive with locals who, like us, have just come off the ferry. The laughter and joking over good food and a few drams carry on well into the wee hours. The versatility of the campervan means the options for the journey are limitless in this wild, untamed corner of Scotland but we head for Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, the most westerly point on the British mainland. The road out to the lighthouse is completely empty so we are slightly perplexed when we arrive at a single traffic light, with the road ahead disappearing around a giant rock. We soon realise the reason as we slowly creep round the rock, the narrow road hugging the cliff with a vertiginous drop into the North Atlantic Ocean on one side. No room for passing places here. © Thomas Hawkins Highlighting the remoteness of this place, we need to retrace our steps for 20 minutes before we turn off and drive for another 20 minutes to get to our next destination, Sanna Beach. From the car park, all we can see is a wide plain of short grass that instantly puts us in mind of a links golf course. We zigzag through a labyrinth of sand dunes and soon an arcing disc of white sand and turquoise sea is all at once right in front of us. The kids spend ages catching crab, their leggings hitched up, wading in and out of the rocky pools. The only other person we see is a man whose dog is sprinting into the infinite sand ahead of him. It feels like we have found something special. A hidden road trip full of amazing wildlife, great food and breathtaking beauty. The best bit, however, is that these places are everywhere, you just have to hit the road and find them. All that is left for us is the long drive back home – and I can't wait to enjoy it. Factfile Roadsurfer offers more than 10,000 fully equipped motorhomes, campervans and RVs across the UK, Europe and North America. Enjoy flexible booking, unlimited mileage and the freedom to explore, your way. Visit for more information. Special offer From now until the end of August, Sunday Post readers get an exclusive discount of 10% off the cost of a Roadsurfer rental. Visit and enter the code RSFTHESUNDAYPOST at the checkout page.
Sunday Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Dick Dynamite: the maddest film ever made in Scotland
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up It took three years, a tiny budget of £10,000 and the help of some of the world's hardest rockers and a literary icon to make Scotland's 'maddest film'. Robbie 'Steed' Davidson, 46, from Kirkcaldy, initially thought his budget would easily pay for Dick Dynamite: 1944, an action-packed Second World War film featuring Nazis, zombies and cyborgs. Failing to get money from UK film bodies, the guitarist – who currently plays for Scots punk legends The Exploited – had to raise the budget through crowdfunding. And he appealed to rockers from Queens of the Stone Age, Rancid and Electric Six, as well as Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh and Game of Thrones' Clive Russell, to complete the film. It was also a family affair with his kids and even his mum appearing. © Supplied He used guerrilla tactics to feature a Spitfire and C-47 Dakota planes which would have cost thousands to hire and had to sell some of his guitars by the end of filming to make sure he could complete it. Robbie said: 'Before we started I thought 10 grand was a lot of money to make a film. Previously I'd made short films for practically nothing, roping in friends, family and guys that I know who play in bands. This is largely what I did with Dynamite but on a larger level. 'In hindsight I didn't know what I was doing. A film on our budget should have a minimal cast and be set on one location to save on cost. 'But I wanted to make a grandiose action film so I had a big cast and we were all over the place – bars, theatres, airfields, underground bunkers, sugar silos, abandoned hospitals, hotels, churches and even a Victorian toilet on an island.' © Supplied While the UK failed to show any interest in it, Dynamite was snapped up by an American film company and has enjoyed sold-out screenings Stateside. Catching up, the film is now available in the UK on streaming sites like Amazon Prime or to buy on DVD and Blu-ray at supermarkets and HMV. Robbie decided to do the bulk of filming in his home patch of Fife and started in 2019. It took three years to shoot, mainly because of Covid and the minimal budget which meant he could only film at weekends. But the Kingdom was a fantastic playground of old bunkers and outdoor coastal defences Robbie could use for backdrops. He is full of praise for his home turf. He said: 'When the film got going, it gathered momentum, a real snowball effect, and the local community was so supportive that they decided to get involved. From a local business supplying vats of coffee, to friends' cafes making enough chilli to feed an army and a local paint shop donating paint for our sets. That being said, we did run out of money towards the end and I may have sold a few guitars to keep us going.' The idea for his feature film debut, Dick Dynamite: 1944, came to Robbie when he was on tour with The Exploited. Looking around on a plane at what people were watching, he wondered what Saving Private Ryan would be like if it starred Arnold Schwarzenegger. © Supplied His story is set in the dying days of the Second World War, with Nazi scientists hatching a plan to turn the population of New York into zombies. To stop them, the Allies call on Austrian maverick Dick Dynamite, played by Snars – the drummer in Certain Death, another band Robbie played in – who battles Nazis, zombies and ninjas across Europe. It has the hallmarks of a future cult classic and looks more expensive than it was, with great special effects and some heavyweight war paraphernalia including era-defining planes. He explained how he got them in his film for nothing: 'The Spitfire was shot at a local airfield in Scotland but the big planes from D-Day were stopping off at Prestwick on their way to Normandy for the 75th anniversary. I used to work in TV so I managed to bag some press passes. 'I knew I'd be able to film the planes on the runway but getting to film inside the planes would be a different ball game. 'The plan was hatched to arrive in my friend's DeLorean. When we pulled up, all the pilots came running out and asked if it was real and wanted to have their photo taken with it, to which I asked: 'If it's OK to film on your plane tomorrow?' and they obliged. I had some actors on standby and we came back the next day to film their scenes. 'It was incredible, although when it started to rain, all the spectators ran for cover and we were able to film a great all-in-one-take shot with multiple planes and vehicles.' © Supplied Most low-budget films have a small cast but Robbie managed to rope in lots of faces rock fans will know. Before lockdown he was playing guitar in a package tour featuring eight bands. He packed a blue screen and filmed many of them while on the road. He also asked friends who were playing in Scotland, like Nick Oliveri from Queens of the Stone Age or Dick Valentine from Electric Six, to film. Friends of friends helped him secure Irvine Welsh, who played Bond-style villain Mikael Leznik. Robbie said: 'I knew he knew of The Exploited as he wears an Exploited T-shirt in both Trainspotting movies. He's been very supportive and professed that it's a miracle any indie film gets finished in this climate, never mind one with such ambition and tiny budget.' Clive, 79, who has appeared in Game of Thrones and Outlander, and plays The Abbot, couldn't believe what the film achieved. Robbie said: 'He said what we'd pulled off was miraculous and one of the big action scenes alone should have cost the same as the budget for the entire movie.' Robbie also roped in his family. Eldest daughter Cammie helped on the make-up for Welsh and the zombies, second daughter Lucky worked on editing and effects, son Harry played different characters including a Hitler youth, and youngest Ava, three, also got a part. Their mum Val played leading lady Agent Jennings, while Robbie's brother Shaun played another main character, Dash Dalton. Robbie laughed: 'My wee mum, Margo Davidson, got mown down in a hail of machine gun fire by cyborg stormtroopers.' His dad Geoff, an artist for the likes of Iggy Pop and Motorhead, helped make props and wrote some of the parts. But during filming he was knocked over on his Harley Davidson and died after 17 days in hospital. Robbie said: 'We filmed for such a long time three other cast members died and my Uncle Jack, who put money in the film, passed away from cancer. He was too ill to appear in the film so was immortalised on screen in the form of Uncle Jack's Whiskey.' Americans have already labelled Dick Dynamite Scotland's craziest film – quite something from a country that's brought the world the likes of Dog Soldiers and Trainspotting. Robbie said: 'I've heard a few times that Dick Dynamite is the maddest film to come out of Scotland. I didn't set out to secure such a great moniker.' However, Robbie does despair at Scotland's 'permanently closed doors' to grassroots films. He said: 'Filmmaking in Scotland should be for everyone and there should be help out there to help nourish this talent. Scotland has a long history of fantastic storytelling and filmmakers need encouraged – not shut down. Not everyone wants to be a runner on Outlander; some people are incredibly talented and have their own stories to tell.' © Supplied Recently playing in South America with The Exploited, Robbie hasn't been put off making films in Scotland and is working on new projects, but he doesn't think he could go through making a DIY film again like Dick Dynamite. The rocker, who quit film school in Edinburgh in 2000 to play with The Exploited only to return to finish his studies a decade later, said: 'While we may have had the time of our lives making a film for three or four years at weekends, it also took over my life and cost me a relationship. 'People say to me I'm living the dream, I'm touring in these amazing and incredible countries, whether it's with the band or the movie, and they might see me on social media hanging out with superstars, or rocking out on a big stage, or filming in the Hollywood Hills, but the reality is I'm as skint as the next man. I don't have a proper home right now or even a car. 'Without proper funding, I don't know if I could endure another movie like Dick Dynamite.' Dick Dynamite: 1944 is out now on Blu-ray, DVD and digital as well as to buy and rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Sky Store, Virgin and YouTube
