Blog

Happy New Year

January 2, 2025

Happy New Year Good morning lovely people 2024 was a busy year on every front and cancelling Hogmanay didn’t stop us either. 20 years at […]

Thank you

December 23, 2024

Good morning lovely people It’s almost Christmas. It’s almost 2025. Our team are looking forward to our annual two days off. We’ll be closed on […]

You are worth it

December 6, 2024

Good morning lovely people Edinburgh has embraced its full Christmas spirit. The locals may be slightly Grinchy but our visitors do love the city at […]

Magical moments

November 22, 2024

Good morning lovely people, My family is super excited about Christmas this year.  We’ve not been together in the same country for many many months. […]

It’s Personal

November 8, 2024

It’s personal Good morning lovely people I’ve learnt a new phrase: “Dial down the emotion”. Who doesn’t love the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks film […]

Worth Waiting For

October 11, 2024

Good morning lovely people Good things take time. A bit like Nonna G’s Christmas pudding. The pressure to make one this year for home, that […]

In Vino Veritas

September 27, 2024

Good morning lovely people  It’s feeling cooler than we’re comfortable with.  Jumpers are on.  We have been able to pick courgette flowers almost every day […]

Just the tonic

September 12, 2024

Count Negroni must have been having a hard day. Goodness knows what the barman at Cafe Casoni Florence’s reaction was.  The fashionable drink, then in […]

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 […]

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 […]

Everyone Needs a Home

November 13, 2023

Good morning lovely people We all have our habits. I’m creeping back into an old bad habit of mentioning the “C” word. With the weight […]

Turning Back Time

October 30, 2023

1975 or 76.  New Year’s Day around 5pm. I can remember every detail. Lunch was always 2.30pm so second pudding was served early evening. Green […]

We’re all Brothers and Sisters

October 16, 2023

Good morning lovely people,  One of my first negotiation lectures at University was a group workshop.  We were all excited to be doing an activity.  […]

It’s not black and white, it’s all the colours in between

October 2, 2023

Good morning lovely people, Autumn colours are ever so slowly creeping in and with the darker nights, I lost Rocco.  We’d gone for a walk […]

Happy New Year

January 2, 2025

Happy New Year Good morning lovely people 2024 was a busy year on every front and cancelling Hogmanay didn’t stop us either. 20 years at […]

Thank you

December 23, 2024

Good morning lovely people It’s almost Christmas. It’s almost 2025. Our team are looking forward to our annual two days off. We’ll be closed on […]

You are worth it

December 6, 2024

Good morning lovely people Edinburgh has embraced its full Christmas spirit. The locals may be slightly Grinchy but our visitors do love the city at […]

Magical moments

November 22, 2024

Good morning lovely people, My family is super excited about Christmas this year.  We’ve not been together in the same country for many many months. […]

It’s Personal

November 8, 2024

It’s personal Good morning lovely people I’ve learnt a new phrase: “Dial down the emotion”. Who doesn’t love the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks film […]

Worth Waiting For

October 11, 2024

Good morning lovely people Good things take time. A bit like Nonna G’s Christmas pudding. The pressure to make one this year for home, that […]

In Vino Veritas

September 27, 2024

Good morning lovely people  It’s feeling cooler than we’re comfortable with.  Jumpers are on.  We have been able to pick courgette flowers almost every day […]

Just the tonic

September 12, 2024

Count Negroni must have been having a hard day. Goodness knows what the barman at Cafe Casoni Florence’s reaction was.  The fashionable drink, then in […]

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 […]