STRICTLY DR PUNAM KRISHAN RETURNS AFTER CANCER

Pic dr Punam Krishan insta 

Strictly star Dr Punam Krishan has returned to work at her GP surgery do the first time since having breast cancer and says her diagnosis has forced her to stop and unlearn over twenty years of conditioning. 
As she revealed she had new insight, Dr Punam said: “Today’s a big day. Today I’m back in my GP for the first time since finishing my breast cancer treatment. And being here has really made me think about something that I hear a lot. I hear it from my friends, I hear it from patients, I hear it from my colleagues, so many people that just say, I can't take time off or I feel so guilty for resting or I should really just be pushing through.
And the thing is, that that guilt just doesn't help healing them. In fact, it often makes illness harder, and it makes recovery longer. And it's because we live in a society that essentially teaches us to push on, even when we're not well.
And that's especially true, I think, if you are a parent, if you are a carer or a professional, or the one who usually holds everything together, that guilt can really feel real. And I realise how deeply that message runs, even in me, honestly. It has taken a cancer diagnosis to force me to stop and unlearn over 20 years of that kind of conditioning.”
Practising doctor Dr Punam went on to say that she has learned  ‘healing actually requires unapologetic, proper rest.’
She added: “It requires proper time.And it requires a serious sense of duty of care to yourself first, and that's not something that I was ever really taught at medical school, especially as medics or healthcare workers, we are taught of duty of care to others to show up, to cope, to keep going no matter what. But the truth is, when you're not well, you just can't get 100%, and as as a doctor, that matters because my patients, they deserve me well, they deserve me present and able to care properly, not exhausted, not running on empty, even though lots of us can be guilty of doing just that.”
Smiling as she retained to  her office after being diagnosed six months ago, she added: “So I am easing myself back now slowly, intentionally, and without guilt.
And I wanted to share this for anyone else who's off work just now, anyone who is recovering from illness, anyone resting and feeling bad about it, please don't.
Like, you're not weak, you are not letting anybody down. You're doing exactly what your body needs to do right now.
It needs to heal. So slow down, tune inward. Your health matters, you matter.
And when you're truly well, you'll be able to give back in the way that you want to again.”
So today, I am back where I belong back to what I love in my GP clinic, and I feel so incredibly grateful to back on this side of the consultation table again. It's been a really, really tough six months, but I know that I've come back stronger with new insight as well, and I hope that that helps me take even better care of my patients.
So let's go.”

RUBY WAX BUYS FINDHORN HOME

Pic Ruby Wax insta 

Beverley Lyons 

Ruby Wax has always had a love of Scots eco village Findhorn and its surrounding area and now she’s confirmed she has bought a home there because it reminds her of her childhood. 

The Illinois born comedian and TV star,  who has talked openly about her battle with depression throughout her life, has always been drawn to the community in Findhorn, explaining before that it has given her an inner peace. 

She has admired the ‘eco houses, sumptuous gardens and the free spirited nature’ of the 600 people that live in the little community and she’s often sought comfort in it when things have become too hectic. 

Mum of three Ruby even wrote her 2021 book A Mindfulness Guide For Survival, while living apart from her TV producer director husband Ed Bye in a “nano house” in Hertfordshire while he remained at their family home in London.

 And she stayed at Findhorn, when she completed her latest book ‘I'm Not as Well as I Thought Was’ as well as through lockdown, being interviewed by Louis Theroux at ‘Rainbow Lodge in the Field of Dreams’ 

Such is her draw to her Scottish ‘Mecca’, Ruby has now revealed that she has purchased a house there before even seeing it. It comes just as her son Max is also moving to Washington. 

Ruby, who was spotted there in recent days enjoying a sauna in nearby Hopeman East Beach, Elgin twenty minutes away, told her followers in the Travel Secrets podcast this month: “Well, I have a little house in Findhorn, which you'd never expect because I like five star. So I bought a little house where I'm going to tomorrow. This is so bizarre because I have another side of my personality that's quite bohemian, well hippie and kind of grungy, because it's my childhood.So I bought a place, tiny, and I'm going to see if I lost my mind in two days. It's got something.”

Ruby then went on to explain the appeal of Findhorn. 

She said: “The story is so bizarre that I wrote it in one of my books. 60 years ago Eileen Caddy heard a voice from God. He said, go to Finthorn, right? So she leaves her six kids and she meets the brigadier and he's got a voice from God, too.So they get a caravan that's about five feet long and it’s tiny and they live there and God talks to her. He says, meet me in the outdoor loo. So she goes to the outdoor loo and at two in the morning, God talks to her and he tells her how to plant these cabbages.She's not a gardener, right? But she takes the seeds and she plants them along where the water is and they become gigantic and people come from around the world, especially hippies and scientists, and they don't understand how it happened. So for the next 60 years, they develop it. The vegetables are gigantic.” “And there's 600 people living there, but 2,000 in the outside community. It’s the first big kind of hippie community. It’s called an intentional community. You can go and stay there in one of those caravans. There's not many places to stay, but there's pagan rituals on Saturday. There's yoga during the week. It’s like Sun City, except it's hippie.”

Ruby said of her new abode: “I bought it.It was being built. It's teeny. So I have extremes.”

“But I go in the North Sea, because that's my thing.I’m a cold water swimmer in December in the North Sea. There's a high you get. There's no question. You come out of there and you're hot.

“Then you get hypothermia a little later, but it's worth the high. I mean, they've taken everything, cigarettes, alcohol. So my last high is cold water. At Findhorn, I will be doing it.”

SCOTLAND’S FIRST LISTENING BAR COMES TO GLASGOW

Glasgow’s renowned South East Asian Bar & Brasserie, Mamasan, begins a new chapter as it transforms into Scotland’s first listening bar with a programme of impressive global DJs and exceptional sound quality set to soundtrack the city.  

Starting this weekend (Good Friday, 29th March), it reinvents itself as an audio bar, following a comprehensive hi-fi overhaul and the installation of a bespoke, state-of-the-art sound system designed by sound engineers to elevate late-night cocktails and dining to an unparalleled auditory experience - a first for Scotland. With DJs from Belle & Sebastian and Sub Club already signed up to play, Mamasan enters a new era as the country’s first dedicated listening bar.

Despite being named the vinyl-collecting capital of the UK, Glasgow hasn’t had an audio bar concept to call its own. Until now.  Originating from 1950s Japan, the listening bar concept blends intimate dining with audiophile-grade music listening. These venues, which emerged in Tokyo's small bars, cafes, and record stores, serve as a hub for music lovers seeking a relaxed environment to appreciate high-fidelity sound.

Catering to a change in nightlife habits and a love for high-fidelity audio, the new Mamasan direction introduces a trio of new core pillars Bar, BBQ and Records. With an exciting roster of programming set to play: Chris Geddes of Belle & Sebastianfame as well as Harri from Glasgow’s iconic Sub Club, & Nick Peacock from The Buff Club and session drummer & DJ Toni McVey, who plays with Joesef, and recently completed a tour with Jungle. Curated by music specialists, Open Ear, guests can expect an interesting lineup of global musicians playing vinyl in the heart of Glasgow. This auditory feast is complemented with a brand new cooked over fire casual sharing menu crafted in partnership between top Scottish chef, Finn Steel-Perkins, and Great British Menu star, Ali Borer, alongside innovative cocktails from the bar.

The cutting-edge sound technology in Mamasan, complete with Danley’s renowned audio file quality, ensures every record is played back with the integrity and richness it was originally intended to convey. The venue has collaborated with leading music-tech brands including Technics, Pioneer, Master Sounds, Small Town Audio and Danley to unlock the full potential of recorded music, to elevate the guest experience for audiophiles and vinyl lovers alike. 

Alongside the music, guests can indulge in experimental cocktails from Mamasan’s bar or enjoy a brand-new Thai BBQ menu, featuring innovative sharing dishes, all cooked over coal on a bespoke grill. With fire at the heart of so many South East Asian flavours, Ali Borer of London’s renowned Thai BBQ restaurant, The Smoking Goat, and Mamasan head chef Finn Steel Perkinshave crafted the menu together in an unique collaboration that pushes boundaries with flavour. All of Mamasan’s fish, meat and produce are slowly cooked or smoked over fire, using a combination of charcoal, wood and freshly pressed coconut husks to develop a real depth of flavour. 

Brad Stevens, Founder of Mamasan, commented: “When Mamasan opened in 2020, our vision was to create a stylish dining concept that was as much about the drinks and music as the food. Due to the restrictions in place throughout the pandemic, we couldn’t finish the job we started. Now our new state-of-the-art sound equipment, combined with incredible Thai BBQ food and drinks means we’ve elevated the guest experience and we can’t wait for Glasgow to join us at Scotland’s first dedicated listening bar for an outstanding line-up of music.

Speaking about programming, Kevin McCrorie of Open Ear Music and DJ Matthew K said: “It’s a great honour to curate the lineup for Scotland's first audiophile bar. In a world where any song is available to anyone at the click of a button, it's important to have a place where music can be heard as it was intended. People will get the opportunity to hear music, with clear, pristine sound on an amazing system, yet will still be able to hold a conversation without the volume being overpowering. For a music loving city such as Glasgow, this is a much welcome addition.  Look out for some special names over the next few months.”

Mamasan Bar, BBQ & Records is open seven days a week from noon until 1am, with curated DJs spinning vinyl from Friday + Saturday from 9pm, and Sunday from 2pm.   The spring music programme is below, to book your table please visit mamamasan.co.uk.

GLENEAGLES HOTEL WELCOMES BURNS NIGHT WITH WINTRY COCKTAILS

WHEN it comes to Burns night there are few venues in Scotland as impressive as the famed Gleneagles, nestled in the heart of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire. 

The revered hotel which has captivated travellers for nigh on 100 years is inviting discerning customers to indulge their Burns night this month at The American Bar, winners of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award at The World's 50 Best Bars. 

The showbizlion.com believes there is nothing better than a luxury hotel which offers both adventure and outdoor pursuits combined with fine dining and a drinks menu to challenge your tastebuds. 

In keeping with true Scottish tradition, Gleneagles are pleased to present the Honeyberry cocktail - an elevated Scottish Whisky cocktail using  Aberfeldy 12 year whisky, Honeyberry and Kefir 13. 

Combined together the liquid is a perfect complement to whisky and when combined, results in an Alexander-style cocktail – creamy but deceptively light with a spicy finish. 

Renowned Head of Bars, Michele Mariotti, has taken its luxury offerings to the next level, focusing on locality and taking an innovative approach to incorporate ingredients sourced from the Gleneagles’ rolling hills of Perthshire, resulting in a truly unique bar experience. 

Whether guests choose to visit The American Bar or The Century Bar, they can indulge in the most tantalising and inventive cocktails crafted with the finest ingredients found both locally and within the hotel's existing ecosystem.

Gleneagles' American Bar offers beautiful decor that playfully evokes the glamour of the 1920s and ‘30s.  The walls of the bar exude opulence, wrapped in a unique Scottish heather dyed cashmere, woven exclusively for Gleneagles.

The stunning original fireplaces, restored to their former glory, boast lilac marble and custom-made brass mirrors, while vintage glass column wall lights add a touch of old-world charm to the luxurious cashmere panelling. This bar is a visual feast for the senses, transporting you to a world of excitement and elegance. 

The bar team is passionate about creating imaginative and exciting drinks, as demonstrated by their highly anticipated Book of Berries menu launched in 2022. Inspired by the 20th-century Observer Books, this menu features eighteen cocktails, each dedicated to a single botanical berry sourced from the local area and produced sustainably.

The Book of Berries menu is not only a celebration of the classic cocktail, but also a statement of Gleneagles' commitment to creativity and sustainability. By using waste and non-prime parts of produce, the bar team has created an extraordinary cocktail menu that showcases the diversity of botanicals and their origins.

The menu's hero serve is the Juniper Martini. 

To showcase how the different varieties of juniper can enhance the taste of this ultimate classic, the team partnered with South Loch Distillery in Edinburgh to create three bespoke gins, each using only one botanical - juniper. 

In addition to the Martini, the Book of Berries menu boasts a range of exciting cocktails, such as Blueberry, which uses Gleneagles’ Garden Café blueberry muffins to create a vodka-based cocktail, and Avocado, which incorporates leftover avocado seeds to create an orgeat, which is then combined with white rum and Amaro to make a Mai Tai-style cocktail. 

Another standout cocktail is Banana, which uses leftover peels that are caramelised to infuse bourbon, creating the ultimate twist on a classic Old Fashioned.

Gleneagles Hotel's Century Bar, designed by David Collins Studio, is a masterpiece of artistry and sophistication, inspired by the changing seasons of Scotland. The bar's elegant interiors feature garnet red as the central theme, with locally sourced accents that pay homage to the country's rich heritage. By day, the bar is the perfect spot to rendezvous with family and friends over coffee or a bite to eat. By night, the Century Bar transforms into an alluring space where guests can indulge in a glass of champagne or a rare malt whisky from Scotland's finest collection.

At the Century Bar, where a journey of flavour awaits, the menu features four categories of cocktails, each with its distinct style and essence. 

The Great Adventure Book menu seeks to celebrate the contrasting landscape of Scottish countryside, split into four sections The Lochs, The Seas, The Forests, and The Glens.The menu dives into a wild and beautiful world of the great outdoors, encouraging guests to embark on their next big adventure. Though for those who would prefer less adventure and more sipping, a ‘Too Long Didn't Read’ summary is a perfect place to pick the tipple from. Visit the Century Bar and indulge in a full sensory experience that's wild, beautiful and uniquely Scottish.

Burns, if her were alive today, would surely choose to sit and take in all the opulent surroundings as he wrote his wit and wisdom. 

SIX BY NICO MERCHANT CITY GLASGOW HAS ARRIVED

SIX By Nico have opened their new flagship restaurant in Glasgow’s Merchant City - and they launched with a Mad Hatters Tea Party. 

Theshowbizlion.com has watched the ascent of Six Company, the Glasgow-based company behind the Six by Nico restaurants, since thry began their incredible journey in 2017. 

 

Now, having  opened fifteen sites throughout the UK and Ireland in the same time frame, the brand is moving into a new phase with a new look Six by Nico restaurant in its hometown of Glasgow. 

The new Six by Nico Merchant City on Albion Street will provide the experience guests all know and love in elegant surroundings that compliment all aspects of their product.

 

An earthy and inviting interior  is inspired by the number SIX, and designers Studio Two developed ideas for Six by Nico by using the six-legged dragonfly as its muse, honing in on characteristics of the insect's body form, colour, and natural habitat.

 As Six by Nico continues to develop the brand across multiple venues, restaurant sites will gain a harmonious design style whilst maintaining individuality inspired by locational concepts.

Since St Andrew's Square, Saltmarket, and Trongate are all part of the neighbourhood known as Merchant City with its rich history around trading goods such as tobacco, sugar and salt, designers opted for an earthy, rich colour palette inspired by the tobacco leaf.

Authentic timber panelling is influenced by mahogany cigar cases, fixed seating is upholstered in antiqued leathers reminiscent of opulent home lounges and joinery pieces are embellished with antiqued brass hardware. Furniture pieces are complimented by plush patterned fabrics like those seen in the wealthy merchants homes.

 

Studio Two said, "We're excited to be working on such dynamic schemes with a strong creative brand who continue to push boundaries within their sector".

 

Every six weeks, Chef Nico and his team completely reinvent their food offering, serving a brand new six-course tasting menu, each one themed around a different location, memory, or idea. 

The menus combine different ingredients, flavours, and dishes to create a brand-new dining experience, drawing inspiration from both home and abroad. Every six weeks, foodies in Glasgow will be treated to a completely new six-course menu at the new Merchant City location, with the first concept theme based on The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. 

 

Six Company Chief Executive and founder Nico Simeone said, “Our team is driven daily by the challenge to constantly create and reinvent. We are dedicated to being different, never resting on our laurels, and continuously striving to create the best customer experiences. Marking our six-year journey with such a significant evolution of experiences in our home town and reaffirming our commitments to the city seems like the best way to celebrate the next stage in our company vision.“

Since launching their first restaurant in 2017 in their hometown of Glasgow, Six by Nico has served over 350,000 customers across the city's locations in Finnieston, Byres Road and Glasgow Southside and a staggering 2 million dishes. 

The Six by Nico brand has created 49 tasting menus since the conceptual brands launch in Glasgow and raised over £700,000 in two years for the groups charity partner Beatson Cancer Charity. Since the partnership's inception less than two years ago, the restaurant group and their customers have raised funds across their fifteen Six by Nico locations in England, Scotland, and Ireland as well as 100% of the proceeds from the Beat 6 restaurant in Glasgow Bearsden going directly to Beatson Cancer Charity. 

 

For further details on Six by Nico Merchant City and to book now for The Mad Hatter's Tea Party please visit https://www.sixbynico.co.uk/glasgow

 

Please view The Mad Hatters Tea Party menu here

 

Address: Six by Nico Merchant City,  84-86 Albion St, Glasgow G1 1NY |www.sixbynico.co.uk

 

EDINBURGH MUM IS A HIT ON NETFLIX SQUID GAME CHALLENGE FOLLOWING SPLIT

Beverley Lyons 
EDINBURGH IT worker Trudy McCabe wanted to experience life again after splitting with her husband so she entered Netflix blockbuster Squid Game: The Challenge. 
Trudy, 47, who is mum to 16 year old singer Danny McCabe from Scots boyband Just The Brave and his 18 year old brother Ben, joined 455 other contestants to battle it out for a prize of $4.56 million (£3.6 million) on the show. 
Trudy, who is number 427 on the series, said: “I couldn’t tell anyone I was doing it and when I eventually told my family they thought I was crazy. My sons were so proud of me and are still excited in case I’ve won. The winner doesn’t get any prize money until around thirty days after it is shown on TV."
Although she can’t say how far she got in the competition yet, Trudy says she  deliberately stayed out of the limelight as part of her tactic on the gruelling programme. 
Unlike some contestants who have complained about the show’s harsh filming conditions,  Trudy says she loved every minute of the experience.  
She explained: “I recently split with my husband after twenty seven years of marriage and was looking for something to challenge me and allow me to experience life again. 
As soon as I heard they were looking for contestants, I filmed a one minute video that night, and started training myself up for it.”
Trudy, who went swimming with sharks and ran a 5k every day to get herself geared up for the show, said taking part was mentally and physically exhausting. 

But she wanted to prove that a 47 year old woman could be just as fit as the younger ones in the show. 
She said: “I might be getting a bit older but physically I could outdo most people in there. 
Age is just a number and it’s mind over matter. Mentally you need to stimulate yourself because life gets a bit monotonous and you’ve got to live it.”
Fans can now watch the first five episodes with games like Red Light Green Light and cookie cutting being played for real. 
Instead of being killed, contestants are squibbed ie shot with black ink cartridges to signify they are out of the game. 
Trudy said: “I made some really good lifelong friends on the show and it was really sad and emotional when someone got shot. We’ve remained in touch and I plan to see some of them in Canada next year.”
Players were given stacked high bunk beds to sleep in and their diet was so meagre that many lost weight or went to bed hungry.  Trudy’s trousers began to fall down during filming. 
She said: “I tried to be strategic about where I slept. I didn’t chose the bottom or top bunk cause I thought one of the guards might come in during the night and take us out the game. I also picked a block near the toilet because we didn’t have time in the mornings to get showered properly once the music woke us up.”
She added: ”Food was horrendous - porridge everyday and it was not cooked properly, more like slime. I’d force others to eat it because it would give them a bit of energy.  We had small tins with rice and dry chicken in them.  I felt sorry for the big guys because I was starving. I lost a lot of weight and I thought my tracksuit bottoms would fall down at one point.”
For Red Light Green Light, the first game in the show, Trudy admitted it was so cold she couldn’t feel her hands or feet. 
She explained: “It was really cold. It was in January and there was a lot of waiting about.  
When they got squibbed or inked they did verification checks and that took time. 
At one point I was standing still and snot was running out of my nose and I couldn’t wait to wipe it.  
“I couldn’t feel my feet and hands and my shoe came off and I didn’t even know. A really big guy fell on top of me as I was running with just seconds to spare, and I thought I can’t go back to Scotland and tell the boys I didn’t pass the first game.”
“It was everything I thought it would be, the most physical and mental thing I did in my life. I was sleep deprived, didn’t know what day it was and living on rations but afterwards I felt I could get through anything.”
It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to win all that money and I would definitely do it again. I loved every second of it.

HEADLESS HORSEMAN SEEN AT INGLISTON ESTATE AND COUNTRY CLUB

A group of holidaymakers at a Scots country club couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw a ‘headless horseman’ during an evening walk.
Tommy Gillan and his friends were staying in the on-site RV Park at the luxury Ingliston estate and country club in Bishopton when they decided to go for an after dinner stroll.
They were in the middle of filming some of the surrounding countryside to show their family before they were stopped in their tracks by a figure on horseback.
And they had to do a double take when the mysterious figure began cantering then galloping towards them on a dark horse.
Tommy from Glasgow, who was still visibly shocked after the incident, said: “My pals and I decided to take an early weekend break in Ingliston and were just enjoying the outdoor scenery.
We couldn’t actually believe it when we heard hooves then saw what looked to be a headless figure on a horse. It kind of came out of nowhere.
We didn’t know if we’d had too much to drink. One of my pals, Sharon, was freaking out when she saw it and shouted out ‘it’s got nae heid’. I was just running in the other direction by that point.”
He added: “I’m really not sure what we saw - the body on the horse was dressed in a black outfit, with a cape and the horse seemed bigger than normal. We tried to film it but to be honest we were all a bit shaken.”
The group managed to get a video of the ‘headless horseman’ as it came towards them.
Staff at the venue, which hosts a Christmas party with telly star Mark Wright on December 2 refused to comment though one insider said: “Ingliston House was built in 1846 on the old Greenock Road and the area has a history of some spooky going ons. With October and Halloween celebrations coming including their Masquerade Ball on October 28 theres definitely something in the air.”

WORLD FLOWER SHOW COMES TO EDINBURGH

FLEURS de Villes, the world-renowned floral show behind international blockbuster exhibitions in cities including Sydney, New York, Chicago, Miami and Toronto, has announced the fifteen Edinburgh florists who will star in the UK premiere - in Edinburgh - of its major new exhibition; Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE, along with the fifteen countries being celebrated. They are:

Scotland X KDM Event Styling & Floral Design 

Canada X Petals Flowers

United States X Flowers by Kerry

Australia X Sugarbush Flower Studio

Holland X Nikki’s Fleurs

France X Papaver

Madagascar X Flowers by Minty

China X Simpsons Florist

Japan X Quate & Co

Türkiye X Feather Grass Florals

Peru X Charmed Floristree

Argentina X Flowers for All Occasions

South Africa X Ribbons & Rose

Nepal X Petals by the Shore

India X Gillytree Studio

 

In a coup for the city, and for Scotland, the experiential flower show sensation – known as the “floral disrupters” of the floral world – has announced Edinburgh as the host city for the UK premiere of VOYAGE, which opens this month. Theshowbizlion.Com has seen a preview of the show and it’s something else. 

Now, fifteen of Edinburgh’s stars of the flower world, each of whom have been paired with an iconic country, will be bringing the exhibition’s theme of travel to life in an unmissable globe-spanning floral spectacle. 

This major new show will be staged at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for ten days, opening to the public on Friday the 15th of September and running until Sunday the 24th of September, 2023.

The fifteen Edinburgh florist extraordinaires will take inspiration from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s awe-inspiring botanical collections, with each talented florist creating fresh floral mannequins celebrating the cultures, people and heritage of the country they have been partnered with. 

 

Visitors will be taken on a fresh floral journey of discovery to experience the vibrant bazaars of Türkiye, marvel at a floral Lone Piper from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, catch a glimpse of a captivating geisha from Kyoto, Japan, and many more displays at this feast of cultural storytelling - bringing the world to Scotland through flowers like never before.

 

Set within the magnificent grounds of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; one of the finest botanic gardens in the world, and located just a mile from the city centre, Fleurs de Villes VOYAGEwill be staged inside a beautiful marquee at the heart of the Edinburgh Garden. 

Visitors can admire a striking floral Tesla Model Y before entering the marquee to experience Fleurs de Villes’ signature famous floral mannequins, watch floral demonstrations, and enjoy refreshments from the Moët & Chandon Impérial Champagne and Glenmorangie whisky bars. 

 

The exhibition continues in the adjacent historic Inverleith House where visitors can ‘voyage’ through rainforest, safari and Paris-inspired rooms bursting with blooms, and stop by the Edinburgh Gin ‘filled with wonder’ room to sample a floral gin cocktail. Book here: fleursdevilles.com/edinburgh

 

Enhancing the VOYAGE experience further, visitors can participate in botanical-themed workshops (full schedule here) where they can make floral crowns, tablescapes and bouquets with top local florists, create a Van Gogh-inspired masterpiece, enter a thrilling world of flora and fiction with renowned author of The Fair Botanists, Sara Sheridan, enjoy a sensory scent experience with Scotland’s first fragrance house, or indulge in a botanical gin tasting. Workshops can be purchased as an ‘add-on’ experience when booking VOYAGE exhibition tickets at fleursdevilles.com/Edinburgh.

 

Karen Marshall, Co-founder of Fleurs de Villes said:

 

“We are thrilled to be bringing the UK premiere of VOYAGE to Edinburgh. The iconic Royal Botanic Garden is the perfect stage to showcase Edinburgh’s world-class floral talent, and to bring the global cultural storytelling of VOYAGE to life in flowers like never before through these fifteen Edinburgh florists and fifteen countries. We have been so inspired by the stories shared by fans, florists, and partners in every city Fleurs de Villes has visited across the globe these last few years, and cannot wait to welcome visitors to Edinburgh for what will be a truly unmissable experience.”

 

Kari Coghill, Director of Innovation Projects at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, added:

 

“As admirers of Fleurs de Villes, we are excited to be able to work together to host VOYAGE at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. This beautiful showcase of floral artistry and craftsmanship is a natural fit for the Garden, and we can’t wait for visitors to experience these stunning displays at Inverleith House, located at the heart of the Edinburgh Garden and our magnificent Living Collections.”

 

Tickets to Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE are on sale now and can be purchased at fleursdevilles.com/edinburgh

 

Tickets are priced at £22.50 for adults, £18.50 for seniors and RBGE members, and £10.50 for ages 4-17. A family discount (2 adults & 2 kids) is priced at £55. 

 

The Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE global tour will travel through the US, Canada and UK in 2023, stopping in cities including Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Boston and New York.

 

KAYE ADAMS REVEALS ALL ABOUT FORTHCOMING LOOSE WOMEN TOUR IN GLASGOW

Loose Women is hitting the road for the very first time this autumn with Loose Women Live and Kaye Adams reckons it could be the ultimate girls night out.

Theshowbizlion.com can’t wait to be there as the gals swap the studio for the stage to bring laughter, never-before-heard stories and backstage secrets. 

It’s been twenty four years since the show began and the women will be truly let loose for the tour. 

 

Kicking off at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday September 01, the tour will visit 16 spectacular venues throughout the month and include a night at the world-famous London Palladium.

 

Joining Loose Women Live will be Brenda Edwards, Charlene White, Christine Lampard, Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Welch, Frankie Bridge, Gloria Hunniford, Jane Moore, Janet Street-Porter, Judi Love, Katie Piper, Kaye Adams, Kelle Bryan, Linda Robson, Nadia Sawalha and Sunetra Sarker.

Tickets are on sale now via livenation.co.uk

Panellists Kaye Adams  reckons things will be a bit different from the weekday show? 

 

She told us: “I'm really, really looking forward to it actually. Obviously, we love the show. It feels like your favourite pair of slippers, in the best possible way, but we're going to have to get our tap shoes on for the tour! Just to take it into a different arena is going to be interesting but also just to feel that buzz in a large theatre of all those people. 

We're going to mix things up a lot more, which I think we're all looking forward to. I think we can be a little freer when we're in a live theatre situation. I think people can expect it to be a ‘very loose’ Loose Women. We want it to be fun and for people to have a great time!”

A live audience will also offer a different dimension to Kaye and the panel. 

 

She explained: “I think it's just going to be amazing on the tour because we obviously have an audience when we’re recording Loose Women and it’s a huge part of the show. It really does give the show a lot of energy. It gives you a lot of information because you can see what resonates with people and what doesn't resonate with them, and the different kinds of reactions to different topics. So to be able to do that on a large scale and just give people a really good night is great. We want the audience to feel part of the experience, rather than watching an experience. That’s 100 per cent what we’re going to be focused on.”

 

Kaye also reckons there could be extra carnage on tour. She said: “How many times are you going to go on tour with a bunch of your mates?  Even for me, who's usually known as the sort of sober one, I think to be in bed at 11 o'clock would be a bit of a tragedy! So hopefully, this will be the ultimate girls’ night out! 

 

“With Judi, Jane and Nadia, [who I’m opening the tour alongside] we know each other very well. We've been away together, for weekends and things. We went to the Cotswolds last year for four nights, which was a riot, I can tell you. So I think you can expect us to be even less discreet than we would normally be!”

Kaye admits she is a tad nervous about going on stage. 

She said: “I expect to be absolutely bricking it. You know, I've got a podcast called ‘How To Be 60’ and we're doing three live shows at the Edinburgh Festival in August. We did a couple last year and I am a bag of nerves because you want people to have a good time and you want to be able to enable that. But also you do need nervous energy because I'm quite a laid back kind of person. I have to almost purposely wind myself up just to give myself that level of energy or it would be dull!”

She said she’ll also be ensuring she brings her dressing gown on tour. 

She said: “I got it when I did Strictly and it’s fabulous and fluffy with my name in gold on the back, so I’ll bring that. 

 

“One of the dates I’m doing will be in Glasgow, where I live, so I’ll sleep in my own bed that night but I will be sleeping in a different bed for the others, which will make me feel 25 again! I have heard that you can get a bus that you can sleep in overnight and, oh my god, that is where I want to be because I want the full Spinal Tap experience. I want to be on the top bunk! I don't think Judi will want the top bunk? Denise might… She is an absolute riot!”

 

For Glasgow Kaye plans of os something extra special. 

She said: “Yes, I’m sure I’ll do something special with the other panellists. Glasgow has been my home for such a long time. I feel so comfortable here. Often it's just the way you speak, the references that you make, and stuff like that. The panel that night are welcome to stay in my house and I will give them very competitive rates for that! 

 

“Do my children really want to come and see their mum cavorting on the stage? I'm not entirely sure…  And Ian would definitely rather be playing tennis. I know I don't watch him play [tennis] so I don't really expect him to come and watch me! “

 

And she said she’ll miss  Bea, her Cockapoo when she is not at home. 

She said: “Bonnie will look after her and Ian takes Bea to the tennis club and she runs about and chases tennis balls all day so she’s quite happy. 

 

Ian and I are both away for work a lot though and it wouldn't work for everybody but I think it works for us. You know, we've been together for 30 years plus… We're never entirely sure because it's so long and can't remember… But it's definitely 30 years plus! We've just always been like that, we've always had our own thing going on and before I had the kids and I was doing Loose Women I was in Manchester from Monday to Friday for a long time and he works a lot in Italy doing tennis stuff so it's just the way that we are. Whether it strengthens us or not I don’t know but I do know that it certainly doesn't damage it [the relationship] because it's just our rhythm!”

 

LOOSE WOMEN LIVE TOUR  2023: 

Fri 01 Sept

Birmingham, Symphony Hall

Sat 02 Sept

Cardiff, St. David's Hall

Sun 03 Sept

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Wed 06 Sept

O2 City Hall Newcastle

Thu 07 Sept

Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall

Fri 08 Sept

Opera House Manchester

Sat 09 Sept

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Thu 14 Sept

Sheffield City Hall

Fri 15 Sept

Leicester, De Montfort Hall

Sat 16 Sept

Ipswich Regent Theatre

Mon 18 Sept

The London Palladium

Thu 21 Sept

Bath, The Forum

Sat 23 Sept

Plymouth Pavilions

Sun 24 Sept

Southampton, Mayflower Theatre

Mon 25 Sept

New Theatre Oxford

Wed 27 Sept

Southend, Cliffs Pavilion