Blog

An Oasis of Happiness

September 1, 2024

Good morning lovely people Nonna G was the master of moderation. Only ever the very best, little but often. This applied to her eating habits […]

Summer Broth of Claims, French Beans & Pesto Genovese

August 16, 2024

Victor has grown an abundance of Genovese Basil in the polytunnel this year, enough for all three of our venues and a sneaky plate of […]

Hymne A L’Amour

August 2, 2024

Good morning lovely people What makes you want to visit a city? Family, friends, culture? Have the Olympics tempted you to Paris? Celine Dion’s (renamed […]

What’s the definition of great?

July 19, 2024

Good morning lovely people On 13 March 1996, Britain’s deadliest gun massacre occurred at Dunblane Primary School. This tragedy eventually led to legislation in the […]

New Prime Minister : Job Advert

July 5, 2024

Good morning lovely people That felt like the longest six weeks of our lives. The days seemed to go on and on. The journalists commentating […]

Who crossed the road first, the chicken or the egg?

June 20, 2024

Good morning lovely people Where has the summer gone? Thank goodness for the sunshine we’re getting from Italy via our Italian produce as it’s been […]

Who cares?

June 7, 2024

Good morning lovely people Who are you voting for? Many people don’t seem to care as they sadly feel it won’t make much difference. Political […]

Get on your bike.

May 22, 2024

Life, and sometimes death, gets in the way. The next stage consultation for the “George Street Operational Plan & Project” took place last week. I […]

Mamma Mia

May 10, 2024

Good morning lovely people, 1928 was a good year. Equal voting rights for women and men, pre-sliced bread, bubble gum, Mickey Mouse, and on the […]

Perfect Partnerships: Who’s the melon to your prosciutto?

April 26, 2024

Good morning lovely people Strawberries and cream. Super sweeties covered in a silky blanket. A perfect partnership. Prosciutto e Melone; a little more adventurous […]

What are we not allowed to do this week?

April 14, 2024

Good morning lovely people What are we not allowed to do this week? Am I smelling a smoke screen perhaps? Out of the […]

Don’t let gestures posture for the wrong purpose

March 29, 2024

Happy Easter lovely people, When a Marathon was renamed to a Snicker and Opal Fruits became Starbursts who would have known that this was the […]

The source is important

March 15, 2024

Good morning lovely people, I’ve been writing for The Scotsman for over 10 years. My last headshot was taken in 2019. I had a panic […]

PC has many meanings

March 1, 2024

Good morning lovely people, I’m in big trouble. Inadvertently I’ve clearly been insulting almost everyone. Victor and John in the garden, “good job boys”. The […]

Mother’s Day

February 27, 2024

MOTHER’S DAY AT CONTINI RESTAURANTS Mum’s the World – Sunday 10th March. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, mum’s the word – and it’s […]

Let’s Take the High Road

February 19, 2024

Good morning lovely people Is it just me or is this year “marching” on very quickly. Victor and John the gardener have seen the first […]

A Game of Fate with a Difference

February 4, 2024

Good morning lovely people My father and I used to spend hours playing Rummy or Scopa (an Italian card game). The scene had traces of […]

Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year

February 1, 2024

Celebrating Lunar New Year in Edinburgh? 2024 marks the Chinese Year of the Dragon. Chinese New Year in Edinburgh has become the largest celebration of […]

Self Belief Is The Start Of Success

January 26, 2024

Our world changed 20 years ago today, the day we got the keys to 103 (Centotre) George Street, Edinburgh. It was the right time for […]

There’s Daggers in Men’s Smiles

January 21, 2024

Good morning lovely people Edinburgh is in the thick of “Ralph Fiennes” mania. He’s appearing in Macbeth at Ingliston until 27th January. We thought he […]

Hands Up

January 7, 2024

Good morning lovely people, Happy New Year. My new year’s resolution is to pay off our Covid loan. That aside, January for most is reviewing […]

Thank You For Your Presence

December 24, 2023

Good morning lovely people There is no room at the inn, the stables or the police station, but it’s warm and cosy in all our […]

The Naughty List

December 11, 2023

Good morning lovely people, On the morning of the last post, I stayed in bed all day. It felt like an early Christmas present. I […]

Maybe Not Tonight Honey

November 27, 2023

Good morning lovely people, Hearing inquiries is a bit like listening to a post hangover debrief. I can’t remember facts from yesterday, never mind three […]