Tag Archives: scotland

Channel 4 Dispatches Investigates The Scottish Referendum

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scottishreferenduminvestigationreferendumChannel 4 Dispatches looked at claims of personal attacks and mudslinging on both sides of the Scottish referendum debate. (The Great British Break-up? Channel 4 Dispatches. aired 8pm Monday 7 July, available on 4OD)

Among the stories covered in the programme are allegations that many businesses have been pressured into staying silent; accusations that the Westminster government has been misleading voters in Scotland and the revelation that British embassies have been instructed to support the case for a No vote.

Polls show the single most important issue for voters is what might happen to the Scottish economy after independence. While business leaders are probably best placed to answer some of these questions, Channel 4 Dispatches investigates allegations that many have been pressured into staying silent.

Channel 4 Dispatches contacted 50 companies and business leaders believed to have concerns over independence. Five told the programme privately they’d been contacted by the Scottish Government and said they felt pressured to stay quiet about their views. Of the five, one claimed they had been visited by a Minister, two claimed they received a phone call from a Minister, and two claimed they had received a call from the First Minister’s office. And a further 14 claimed to know of other businesses who felt under pressure.

Gavin Hewitt, the former Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association tells Channel 4 Dispatches that he or senior members of his staff met with Angus Robertson – the SNP leader in the House of Commons – on at least six occasions over the past two years:

“He and the SNP have regularly tried to get the message to the Scotch Whisky Association that the Scotch Whisky Industry should stay out of the independence debate. He was, I think, trying to neuter business comment. There was a genuine fear that in fact if we were seen to scupper by coming out publically against independence, there would be retribution down the track.”

“Regardless of whether the SNP win or lose the referendum vote in September they will be in power for many years to come and that those people who have stood against them or worked against the central plank of their policy, independence, will be singled out and will be remembered.”

In response, the Scottish Government told Channel 4 Dispatches that Mr Hewitt’s claims about Mr Robertson are ‘utterly false’.

The programme interviews Professor Patrick Dunleavy, Public Policy Chair at the London School of Economics, who says the UK government’s statement that the Scottish taxpayer would have to fork out £2.7 billion in set up costs misused his figures.

“It’s very hard to describe it in polite terms actually, it’s very crude, it’s alarmist, it’s not been checked and it rests on a whole series of, you know, false steps…That makes this a very dubious document. A dodgy dossier you might call it…. When you take into account all the factors that I’ve been just considering, my actual set up costs, you know the costs that you lose irretrievably just from going independent would be I guess around £150 to £200 million, that compares with numbers given in the treasury document which range from £1.5 billion to £2.7 billion. Given this is quite a polarised debate you should be checking your facts and contributing unimpeachable information.”

In response, a government spokesperson told Channel 4 Dispatches that it had ‘cited several external sources’ to provide context in their calculations for the set up costs.’

The programme reveals new information about what happened following the decision by the CBI to publicly back a No vote. This led to many of its members pulling out, most of whom claimed they’d made the decision in order to remain politically neutral. Channel 4 Dispatches has obtained emails which reveal the role played in this pull-out by the SNP’s John Swinney.

The emails reveal how Mr Swinney seized on the decision by Scottish Enterprise to pull out of the CBI to push others to do the same, with his media advisor urging Visit Scotland to follow Scottish Enterprise’s lead and pull out of the CBI: ‘Mr Swinney has made said that other public bodies should follow suit, if they are CBI members,’ one email states.

Another senior official in the Finance Office emailed the CEO of Visit Scotland, asking him: ‘Can you please let me know … when a resignation letter can be issued.’

In response, a spokesperson for the Deputy First Minister told Channel 4 Dispatches: “A poll from the British Chambers of Commerce concluded that the referendum and the prospect of an independent Scotland “has left most [UK] businesses unfazed.” John Swinney’s comments “were in the context of the CBI” taking “a political stance” that raised “questions as to whether public bodies could remain members of the CBI and continue to meet their statutory obligation of impartiality.”

The programme also includes details of cables, released under the Freedom of Information Act, which the Foreign Office has sent to its embassies around the world. While the government has said that it is neutral on the referendum, one cable, sent out to embassies and consulates, suggests otherwise. It states that the British Government is: ‘Not neutral… and will be actively campaigning to secure a referendum result that will keep the United Kingdom together.’

In response, a government spokesperson told the programme: “The Prime Minister has always been clear that this is a decision for people in Scotland to make but it is no secret that he believes those living outside Scotland should make their views known.”

Lord Sutherland, Former Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh University claims that some of those running Scottish universities have also come under pressure to stay out of the debate despite concerns about the impact of independence.

Professor Chris Whatley from Dundee University tells Channel 4 Dispatches what happened when SNP Sports Minister Shona Robison caught wind of his appearance chairing a Better Together event in a personal capacity, and wrote an urgent email to the Principal of Dundee University.

“I think people did see this as, as an attempt to stifle, public debate, I mean there isn’t any threat or there hasn’t been any threat to public speech in Scotland as long as you’re saying yes. I guess I was seen as a threat,” he tells the programme.

Lord Sutherland adds:
“To be questioned by a Scottish Minister about the propriety of his expressing views in public is disgraceful. It sends the message that you’re being watched, if Big Brother’s looking down on you, then there’s an implicit threat. … The danger is that you have a regime that does things by stealth rather than argues things out in public.”

The spokesperson for the Deputy First Minister told Channel 4 Dispatches that: “Shona Robison’s questions related to the impartiality of the Five Million Questions project” and that “In terms of wider academic views, we welcome all contributions.”

 

 

 

Le Di-Vin Wine Bar Edinburgh Review

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ledivinLe Di-Vin on Randolph Place is very different from the neo-classical and Georgian architecture that make up the New Town of Edinburgh.The building looks half French farmhouse, half Tudor Free House. It was formerly known as the Oratory of St Anne but once you are through the iron gates and blue doors, it feels like you have stepped into a wine cellar not a chapel.

The black painted walls, with white ceiling and cornicing, give way to two entrances. Turn left and you reach La Petite Folie – the first of this restaurant and wine bar chain owned by Virginie Brouard. Look straight ahead and you see the entrance to Le Di-Vin Wine Bar.

This dark passageway leads to another wooden door with presence. There are two large wine casks on either side of the door, which act as tables to the miniature trees made from fairy lights that reside elegantly on them.

There is also a chalkboard with today’s menus on it. Le Di-Vin offers a choice of two daily food menus – one set menu and one all day menu – and two drinks menus. The set lunchtime menu is £11.50 for two courses.

After taking a quick peek of the set menu, we pull open the wooden doors and are greeted by an unexpectedly large and light space.

Wine Bar

 What instantly draws your eye is the wall of wine bins to the left of the entrance – the bins are so high that you need a ladder to reach the top four rows. It’s lovely to see so many bottles of wine on display. It makes you eager to start tasting them…

The whole of Le Di-Vin is open plan. There are seats at the bar for those who want to pick the brains of knowledgeable staff. And there are long rustic tables and quiet corners to sit at within the main street level space. But a waiter takes our coats and seats us somewhere special.

“Would you like to eat on our mezzanine level,” he says in a well-spoken Edinburgh accent.

“Yes please,” we reply.

There are only six tables on the mezzanine level and today only one other table is occupied here – making it a peaceful area from which to observe and savour.

I cannot get enough of the wine casks that are used as tables and the trees that are made from fairy lights. They are scattered about Le Di-Vin and I think it adds an authentic and feminine touch.

 Wine by the glass

 When our waiter hands us the menu and wine list by the glass, we are stunned by what we see. There are 26 different varieties of white wine by the glass and 26 different varieties of red wine by the glass – a phenomenal amount and much more than I have personally encountered before.

This is a hand picked selection of unique, quality wines. And with prices ranging from £3.65 to £10.00, they represent an affordable treat.

The three whites that interest me the most are the Macon Uchizy, Domaine Talmard – Chardonnay; the Chablis 11, Domaine Fevre – Chardonnay; and the Sancerre, Lucien Crochet 11 – Sauvignon.

Kirsty is finding it difficult to choose only one wine too and ponders over three reds: the Atacamea Carmenere; the Merlot, Domaine Astruc; and the Rioja, Dominio de Heredia.

There is another, bigger wine list too selling even more wines – this time by the bottle.

Merlot and Sancerre

 Our waiter walks up the wooden steps to our table…

“Would you like a little more time, Ladies? Or are you ready to order?”

Kirsty and I look at the menu again, then each other.

“We’re ready!”

The lunchtime set menu, served from 12 noon until 5 pm, and the all day menu, served from 12 noon until 10 pm, sells traditional French fare. There is Croque-Monsieur, snails in garlic butter, Les Tartines (toasted country bread with a choice of two fillings) and four different sharing platters to name but a few.

We decide to order a rustic board of mixed cheese and ham to share, as well as a glass of Merlot and Sancerre.

I’ve visited France many times and one of the things that I love most, is the individual family run shops that make up each town’s main street, or each cities ‘quarter.’ Tesco is handy and quick. But there is nothing like meandering down a beautiful French boulevard, with buildings that have tall windows and ornate balconies, and wandering into a wine shop, cheese shop, delicatessen and bakers. It’s so French and fun. And I like the fact that this wine bar is trying to bring all these different cultural elements together to give you an experience, rather than just feed and water you.

Mixed Cheese and Charcuterie Planchette

The wines come first, followed by a wooden board covered in chunks of cheese and slices of cold meats.

Kirsty’s Merlot tastes of black forest gateau. It is a good choice and will go perfectly with the cheese and ham. My Sancerre is a beautiful colour. It reminds me of sand at sunrise. It tastes fresh and lively –  like spring in a glass. It’s a good wine to sip by itself or to have with salads and fish. But for my palette, I think it’s a little light and bright to be having with strong cheese and spicy meats.

The sharing platter looks colourful. There is a selection of Saucisson, Salami, Parma Ham and Terrine. And cheeses from Chaource, Brie de Meaux, Tomme de Savoie, St Agur, Comté, Pont l’Evèque and Reblochon. All served alongside gherkins, grapes and bread with butter.

Kirsty and I knock glasses before digging in to our favourites. I love Salami and Brie and quickly grab these of the board first…

Très chic

Kirsty and I both enjoyed our quick lunchtime treat. The medium-sharing platter is more than enough for two people – we are both feeling contentedly full. And my glass of Sancerre was a lovely alternative to the Italian whites that I normally drink. It’s not a wine that I would have bought buy the bottle when dining out, as apart from being expensive, I had not tasted it before. So the opportunity to buy this by the glass was most welcome.

I can’t fault Le Di-Vin. Virginie Brouard has got the location, the design and the wine right. She’s built a classy establishment that is not pretentious – no mean feat in a city.

If I were to pull up anything, it would be the choice of cheeses and cold meats in the sharing platters. The wine at Le Di-Vin is not the norm. And I think the food should not be the norm either. The cheeses and cold meats are delicious, but what you would expect. Maybe an additional sharing platter offering rare fromage and charcuterie would be a nice addition…

Kirsty and I take our last sips of wine while looking straight ahead at a wall mural that is a modern take of The Last Supper. Instead of Jesus sharing a last meal with his Apostles in Jerusalem, there’s Oscar Wilde surrounded by the great philosophers and artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. I like it. It’s a quirky take on Leonardo da Vinci’s work and it reminds me of a quote by Wilde.

“I have the simplest taste. I am always satisfied with the best.”

Le Di-Vin more than satisfies my simple tastes. It is one of the best wine bars that I have ever frequented. And I will be going back to sample more of these extraordinary wines by the glass.

 

Our light lunch for two:

1 x Merlot, Domaine Astruc, 250ml glass £6.95

1 x Sancerre, Lucien Crochet 11, 250ml glass £10.00

1 x Mixed Cheese and Charcuterie Planchette, small, £15.00

Total: £31.95 + tip (£16.00 per head for a cheese and ham sharing boar with bread and large glass of quality wine.)

 

We like…

 

THE LOCATION

 

THE DESIGN

 

THE WAITERS

 

THE BINS OF WINE DISPLAY WALL

 

THE LIST OF QUALITTY WINES BY THE GLASS

 

THE MERLOT, DOMAINE ASTRUC

 

THE SANCERRE, LUCIEN CROCHET 11

 

THE PLANCHETTE DE FROMAGES

 

THE MEZZANINE DINING AREA

  

THE PRICES

 

 

Contact details:

 

Le Di-Vin Wine Bar
9 Randolph Place
Edinburgh
EH3 7TE

0131 538 1815

info@ledivin.co.uk

http://www.ledivin.co.uk/

 

Stephanie Manns Come Closer Album Review

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Stephanie MannsMy first thought on Stephanie Manns album is how cool the actual CD is; it is designed like a vinyl record. Pretty cool. Next up is how upbeat and happy the album is. Starting with the optimistic and happy ‘Follow You’, singer/songwriter Stephanie Manns has made a truly impressive debut album. She has a beautiful voice and a talent for songwriting. She writes wonderfully heartfelt lyrics.

Country, Americana and folk artist inspired; the use of guitar and ukulele really adds to the (mostly) upbeat tracks. The album is 10 tracks long and there is not even one dud song. An accomplished debut. Impressive.

“Without a doubt, Stephanie Manns is a singersongwriter with the raw talent, and sure promise of future success.” – Maverick Magazine

 

“Anthemic Americana… Catchy guitar and pristine vocals.” – Diva Magazine

 

Stunning Debut Album from Glasgow Based Singer-Songwriter Stephanie Manns

Multi-talented singer-songwriter Stephanie Manns has released her debut album Come Closer – a positively beautiful collection of original songs from the UK’s most exciting new country, Americana and folk artist.

 

From the heartfelt and optimistic tones of opening track “Follow You” to the genuinely moving missive “The Way You Want Me To” and the melancholic yet hopeful “All Over”, Come Closer is an accomplished album of exquisitely performed songs, infused with inclusive and attractive melodies, which also deeply captivates the listener through Manns’ heartwarmingly sincere lyrics.

Refining her skills on the Scottish acoustic music scene, Stephanie has supported Blues Legend Joan Armatrading, Ultravox’s Midge Ure, alt-country troubadours Ahab and Brit award winner Emeli Sandé. It was during this time that Stephanie was discovered by national arts organisation Creative Scotland, who strongly supported her cause, helping Stephanie to fund the album as an independent artist.

Manns’ songwriting has been heavily influenced by Tift Merritt, Madison Violet and Patti Griffin, which is apparent throughout the album and serves to enhance the body of work as a whole. Come Closer illuminates Manns as a brilliantly gifted artist, who writes charmingly enjoyable songs that have the ability to move a diverse array of music lovers.

 

Come Closer is available to buy on iTunes

 

www.stephaniemanns.com/

 

https://en-gb.facebook.com/Stephaniemannsmusic

 

https://twitter.com/StephanieManns

 

Amarone Edinburgh Restaurant Review

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HPlogoAmarone restaurant is majestic inside and out. It is situated in Edinburgh’s financial district, St Andrews Square and is a former safe – known as the ‘Vault.’ The high domed ceiling and archways are the two centrepieces and the tall windows fill the place with light – albeit street lights, as we are booked in at 7 pm.

We are greeted by two male hosts near the entrance and pass the bar and open kitchen, on the way to our romantic candlelit booth – situated right at the back of Amarone, on an elevated dining area. The restaurant is completely full, with an eclectic mix of diners from students to sophisticated retirees.

The white walls compliment the dark walnut floor and the drop lighting, ceiling decorations and rows of gallery style photographs, give that contemporary look which Amarone promise on the website. Our Italian waitress offers to take our coats as we get settled in the booth and hands us the wine list and a la carte menu.

Vino e mangiare

The wine list is the best that I have seen in a UK Italian restaurant. Not only do they offer six different versions of Amarone (a rich, Italian dry red wine that is 15-16% alc/vol), their house whites and reds are better than the norm and still reasonably priced.

We ask our waitress what is most popular by the glass and opt for the house white Sauvignon – Altana di Vico Sauvignon Triveneto – and the house red Merlot – Ardesia Merlot IGT Veneto – both £18.95 per bottle and £6.45 per large, 250 ml glass.

Browsing the starters, we see classic favourites like minestrone, crostini, homemade chicken liver pate and beef carpaccio. I like to eat locally sourced food where possible and choose the Capesante con Pancetta – seared Scottish king scallops served with grilled pancetta ham, with a sun dried tomato and chilli dressing. My partner opts for seafood too, to allow space for a carbohydrate-laden maincourse, and picks the Cozze Vapore  – mussels with white wine, flat leaf parsley, garlic and olive oil.

I can’t visit an Italian restaurant and not have a pizza or pasta dish, so we decide to share the pizza verdi – fresh spinach, rocket, ricotta cheese and shaved parmesan with garlic and chilli oil – and the Petto d’Anatra all’Amarone – pan seared duck breast, served pink, with an Amarone wine sauce, braised Savoy cabbage, sautéed potatoes, pancetta and confit of figs.

Focaccia

As our waitress walks off with the food and drinks order, another appears with a focaccia. We look at this pizza plate of Italian bread, topped with Parma ham, parmesan shavings and rocket, and wish we had not ordered a pizza for maincourse…

Our second Italian waitress sees the ‘I don’t know how I’m going to eat all of this’ look on our faces and provides some encouragement.

“Compliments of the house,” she says. “Mangia, mangia!”

 ’Mangia, mangia!’ is my most treasured Italian phrase and the first word that I could truly understand without translation when I visited my father’s family as a child – it means ‘eat.’ I have not heard it for some time now though. My nonna (grandmother) used to repeat this during every meal that we spent together in Florence and you could see the joy in her emerald eyes as we tucked into her four lovingly prepared courses with enthusiasm. I smile at the memory and look at the focaccia. It smells too good to waste, so we each take a slice.

I am not easily impressed when it comes to Italian restaurants in the UK – after being brought up on my father’s and nonna’s cooking – but this bread is exceptional. It’s lighter than traditional focaccia, but the dough is flavoursome and the consistency is just right. I try not to eat half – as I want to enjoy the rest of this meal. My partner, however, cannot restrain himself and ends up eating three quarters of it himself.

Antipasti

The scallops and mussels arrive in large white bowls, with an extra bowl set aside for the empty mussel shells.

There is a handful of spinach and rocket separating my four scallops and each one has a teaspoon of dressing on top. It’s a simple arrangement that works. I have a tendency to overcook scallops – a cooking trait that I get from my mother, who overcooks most food – so it is a real treat to eat scallops that slide down the throat just like oysters. Yum.

My partner is almost finished the mussels by the time I have eaten two scallops – my nonna would be proud of his enthusiasm – but manages to show me a novel way of eating them before they are all gone. He uses an empty shell to pick out the rest of the mussels. It’s a unique idea that’s much easier than using a fork – and one that I must remember.

Pizza e carne

I’ve been looking forward to the maincourse – as I’ve not tried duck in Amarone sauce before. But when our waitress places this plate of carne in front of me, I notice how thin the sauce is. Instead of allowing it to simmer into a heavy reduction, which I like, it looks like the chef has just splashed some Amarone straight from the bottle onto my plate.

I keep an open mind though and tuck in. The sauce does not stick to the meat, like I thought, but the duck is tender and tasty nonetheless – and the sautéed potatoes are addictive.

Happy, contented sounds come from my partner’s side of the booth – making it obvious that he is enjoying the pizza verdi. But he gives up after two slices – this selection of Italian food has defeated him. I taste a slice of pizza and immediately fall in love with the soft ricotta cheese. It’s too good to leave.

“Could you box this up for us,” I ask our waitress. “We’ll have it tomorrow for lunch.”

Dolce

Being used to large portions of carbohydrates, I have left just enough room for il dolce.

There are 7 desserts on offer in Amarone and all are traditionally Italian. The prices are reasonable, with the most expensive being the Formaggi Misti at £6.95 – a selection of Italian cheeses served with oatcakes and honey. The Tortino di Formaggio – mascarpone, honey and ginger cheesecake on a crushed gingernut biscuit base – sounds unusual and delicious. But I opt for the pannacotta – as it’s light.

Pannacotta con Lamponi

Our waitress puts down the plate in front of me – but leaves two spoons, which makes my partner smile. This is a simple dessert, arranged simply on the plate. No fuss or embellishments – just the vanilla pannacotta with 5 large dabs of raspberry compote surrounding it. My partner puts his spoon in first.

“Mmmm,” he says with closed eyes.

I scoop a piece of pannacotta – and do the same.

Not everything in Amarone is as perfect as the focaccia, seafood, pizza, duck breast and pannacotta. The red wine list, however good, is pricy when you opt for something other than the three house reds. The restaurant could do with an Italian host at the door who oozes my nonna’s love of food and wine. And the Amarone sauce that drenched my duck, could have had more substance…

BUT, Amarone is all the more charming for a couple of imperfections. It is the only Italian restaurant that I’ve tried in the UK so far – bar my father’s – that is worthy of my nonna’s cooking. Most Italian restaurants have front of house charm. Fewer have food with charm.

Amarone’s food is made with love and is the perfect place to take your love. Well done to owners, Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta. As they say in Italy, a dopo (see you later)…

 

Editors note: We did eat the pizza for lunch the following day – and it was just as good cold.

 

Our meal for two:

1 x Focaccia di Parma £7.95

1 x Cozze Vapore £6.75

1 x Capesante con Pancetta £7.95

1 x Pizza Verdi  £10.25

1x Petto d’Anatra all’Amarone £16.95

1 x Pannacotta con Lamponi £5.25

1 x Altana di Vico Sauvignon Triveneto 250ml glass £6.45

1 x Ardesia Merlot IGT Veneto 250ml glass £6.45

Total: £68.00 + tip (£34.00 per head for two people having starter, maincourse and dessert + one large glass of house wine each)

 

We like…

 

THE LOCATION

 

THE BUILDING

 

THE ITALIAN WAITRESSES

 

THE WINE LIST

 

THE FOCACCIA

 

THE SEAFOOD

 

THE PIZZA

 

THE PANNACOTTA

 

THE FOOD PRICES

 

 

Contact details:

Amarone
13 St Andrew Square

Edinburgh

EH2 2AF

Telephone number: 0131 523 11 71

Email: info@amaronerestaurant.co.uk

Website: http://www.amaronerestaurant.co.uk/edinburgh_amarone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Survey Reveals Men Are Healthier Than Women

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Men are healthier and happier than women in general according to a new survey. 

battle of the sexes

Health and Happiness, a nationwide study of 2,000 men and women found that men reported a higher rate of happiness when it came to their weight, shape, appearance, and the way they are perceived by others (55%). Women, on the other hand, were more self-conscious and slightly less satisfied with their happiness levels at around 49%. Women are also much more likely to try dieting (71%) compared to men (47%).

Men don’t feel stressed as often either. Almost 60% of male respondents said they only felt stressed once a month, whereas 60% of women said they felt anxious once a week or more.
Over 70% of men also claim they rarely felt depressed or had mood swings, compared to half of women (50%) who admitted to feeling low or unhappy at least once a month, if not more.

Male respondents reported that they were less likely to have trouble sleeping at night – 51% said restless sleep occurred around once a week or more, compared to 60% of women.
Headaches, bloating or poor digestion were less of a problem among men. Almost half (49%) said they rarely got headaches, compared to 64% women who said they experienced them at least once a month or more. For 70% of men, bloating and poor digestion would only occur once a month or less, but almost half (43%) of women said it was a weekly or daily problem.
Men also reported higher satisfaction levels when it came to their professional lives, from job security (51%) and salary (45%) through to career prospects (46%) and overall finances (50%).

 

Londoners rate themselves the healthiest
Londoners rate their city the health capital of the UK, with 59 per cent of people describing themselves as ‘healthy’, the highest proportion in the UK and above the national average of 54 per cent.   The average units of alcohol consumed per week was relatively low at 5.5 units, compared to Manchester, which saw the highest average of 6.7 units. 79 per cent are non-smokers, and only 12 per cent classed themselves as regular smokers.  Londoners are also keen exercisers, with half doing at least 20 minutes of exercise twice a week or more. They have a high sleep average of 6.7 hours per night and get their serving of five a day an average of 3.16 times per week, compared to the lowest average of only 2.6 times a week in Belfast.

 

Sleep leads to happiness in Sheffield
Sheffield has been revealed as being home to the happiest residents, probably because they are most likely to get the right amount of sleep. 40 per cent said they get a healthy average of seven hours sleep per night, compared to the national average of 34 per cent. Under half (48 per cent) said they were only likely to experience difficulty sleeping once a month or less.  That might be why one in ten said they never feel stressed or anxious. They were also happiest  in the country with their  family life (75 per cent), where they live (66 per cent), shape and weight (54 per cent), and appearance (55 per cent), compared to their respective national averages of 69 per cent, 62 per cent, 52 per cent and 52 per cent.

 

Feeling glum in Brum
Birmingham was revealed as the unhappiest and most stressed city in the UK. The city had the highest number of smokers and its residents suffered the most ailments in the country.  Brummies had the lowest average when asked to rate their happiness in terms of their relationships (56 per cent), family lives (63 per cent) overall health (55 per cent) and their appearance (50 per cent), below the respective national averages of 60 per cent, 69 per cent, 60 per cent and 52 per cent.

 

Over 30% are smokers and the city has the second lowest quitting rate.  When it came to stress and anxiety, 62 per cent said they experienced one or the other once a week or more. Jobs were cited as the biggest cause of stress (31 per cent) closely followed by money (29 per cent). Brummies also suffer the most ailments, with 48 per cent experiencing bloating and poor digestion, 44 per cent having headaches, and 47 per cent complaining of low moods once a week or more. Nearly half (44 per cent) reported difficulty sleeping most nights.

 

Unhealthy but loved up in Belfast
Almost half (46 per cent) of respondents from Belfast described themselves as ‘unhealthy’ when asked to rate their current health status – the highest percentage in the country.  Over half (53 per cent) complain of difficulty sleeping once a week or more and one in ten say they get daily headaches. More than one in four (27 per cent) experience low moods or depression once a week or more, and 37 per cent admitted that they would only do 20 minute workout sessions once a month or less. They were also the least likely to get their portions of five-a-day each week.

 

Although Belfast had the fourth highest number of smokers in the UK, it also had the best quitting rate, with a quarter of people saying they have given up smoking – the highest in the country. They also came top of the poll when questioned about how happy they were in their relationships and love life, with an average happiness score of 67 per cent. They also reported the most satisfying sex lives, with an average happiness rating of 55 per cent – above the national average of 51 per cent.

 

Cardiff is the capital of cardio
People living in Cardiff are the exercise pros of the UK with over half (54 per cent) doing at least 20 minutes of exercise twice a week or more, the highest percentage in the country. But despite high levels of exercise, Cardiff residents are the least content with their shape and weight, with an average happiness score of 49 per cent, just below the national average of 52 per cent.
When it came to money, however, the city was the happiest with their overall finances, with an average happiness rating of 52 per cent, compared to the national average of 49 per cent.

 

Sleep deprived Scots
Edinburgh is home to anation of sleep deprived residents with nearly 1 in 10 people only getting up to four hours sleep a night, a good two and half hours below the national average. When they do sleep, over 70 per cent said they have restless nights or difficulty sleeping. Feelings of stress and anxiety were a weekly occurrence among 47 per cent of respondents and money was cited as being the biggest cause of stress (39 per cent). The city also experienced a high proportion of daily ailments with one in five suffering from arthritis and joint problems every day – the most in the country.

 

Manchester drinks the most

Manchunians have admitted to being the biggest drinkers in the UK with the highest weekly average units of alcohol consumed. Residents admitted to drinking an average of 7 units of alcohol per week, compared to the national average of 5 units, and 15 per cent disclosed that they consume on average over 15 units per week.

Despite this, almost half (49 per cent) of residents described themselves as healthy when asked to rate their health status. Manchester was also revealed to be the second keenest city when it comes to exercise. Nearly one in four claim to do at least 20 minutes of exercise four times a week or more, closely behind the highest which was Cardiff at 26 per cent.

There is also a relatively low rate of smokers, with only 12 per cent of people regarding themselves as regular smokers.
Bristolians best at beating the bulge
Bristol is the city of successful dieters, with 42 per cent saying they have tried dieting and that it has worked for them. 17 per cent of respondents said they hadn’t tried to diet but would be willing to give it a go. They get their serving of five a day on average three times a week but happiness levels are below the national averages when it comes to their salary, career prospects, appearances, job security and overall finances.

 

Liverpool high anti-diet rate
Liverpool has the highest rate of anti-dieters with a quarter of residents saying they would be reluctant to try one – the highest in the country. Only 14% who had never tried one before said they would be open to the idea, still the lowest percentage in the country.  They are also one of the least likely cities to get regular exercise with 36 per cent reporting 20 minutes of exercise once a month or less.  76 per cent said they felt stressed once a month or more, the second highest in the country after Birmingham.

 

Leeds stressed and losing sleep
Over half of Leeds residents (54 per cent) experience stress once a week or more. Money was cited as the biggest cause of stress (34 per cent), followed by jobs (24 per cent) and then family (14 per cent). Leeds also experiences frequent levels of sleep difficulty, with 64 per cent saying they have trouble sleeping once a week or more.  Over one in ten admitted to only getting up to 5 hours of sleep a night.

 

The Adamson Restaurant Review

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The Adamson Restaurant reviewThe first thing that strikes you on walking towards The Adamson are the words ‘Post Office’ carved into the stone structure of the building, above the entrance door. (It used to be the main post office in St Andrews from 1907 until 2012) The second thing is the fairy lights that can be seen through each south-facing window.

The inside is different from what I expect – but in a good way. The tables, chairs, ceiling lights and artwork are contemporary and have that trendy city vibe going on. The wooden floor, brick work walls and natural foliage add a rustic element, which I like.

Lindsey Kirk, the house manager, is the first person to greet us. She guides us through the small bar at the restaurants entrance and seats us at a table near the open kitchen. Our waitress, Adrienne, offers to hang up our coats in the cloakroom before handing us the menu.

I take a quick glance and know immediately what I’m ordering – Pittenweem crab with lime and chilli butter on toasted sourdough bread to start, then char-grilled fillet steak with peppercorn sauce and skinny fries for main course. Pittenweem is a coastal village near St Andrews that is famous for fish and it’s nice to see their crab on the menu. My mum opts for the crispy calamari with pomegranate, satsuma and watercress, followed by Atlantic sole with kale, pine nuts and root vegetables.

Some of the dishes are pricey – The Adamson sell chateaubriand for two, with hand cut chips, roasted garlic mash, green beans, and peppercorn & béarnaise sauce for £59.95 – but it is evident that they are trying to cater for all budgets, as one of their signature dishes is The Adamson burger with bacon, gruyère cheese, skinny fries & house ketchup for £11.50.

Starter

Sipping my virgin mojito and looking around the dining room, I spot snazzy looking deer antlers with a crystal-embellished skull on the wall.

“That’s Austin,” says Mike Lewis, the General Manager here at The Adamson, as he passes our table. “He was handmade by a friend of my wife’s.”

Mum and I say a toast and tuck into our starters – under the watchful, sparkly eye of Austin. My crab is just right, temperature wise – not too cold – and the lime and chilli butter adds a delightful Mexican kick. My mum, who is not normally a fan of whole calamari, has finished her starter within seconds.

“It’s melt in the mouth,” she says.

The only downside to this feast is the techno pop style background music – which really does not go with the surroundings.

Main course

I’ve been eating fillet steaks with peppercorn sauce since I was 5 years old – and it’s safe to say that the combination not only brings back childhood memories, but would also be on my ‘last supper’ list. That pairing of lightly pink meat with ladles of cream based peppercorn sauce is heavenly – in my opinion. So I am a little sad to see a gravy based peppercorn sauce arrive on my plate. That aside, the presentation is spot on and the steak is cooked just the way I ordered it – medium rare.

Three cherry tomatoes on the vine rest on top of my chargrilled meat and a mound of vibrant green rocket sits alongside it. The peppercorn sauce sits behind this meat and salad centrepiece in a small steel ladle. I’ve never seen this sauce presentation method before, but I like it – a lot. The idea may look minimalist, but as I start drenching the steak with sauce, there is more than enough to go around – even for a sauce lover like me. The skinny fries are served separately in small metal buckets and a choice of sauce options is available.

My mum’s Atlantic sole is browned nicely on top, creating a crispy coating that reminds me of pork crackling. But what is most innovative about this presentation is how the chef has served the lemon. He has covered half a lemon in muslin cloth and positioned it on the plate like a wedding favour – a brilliant idea that stops your fingers getting wet when seasoning the sole.

“How are the main courses,” asks Mike.

“Delicious,” we reply.

Dessert

We are handed a narrow piece of card with a selection of six desserts and a choice of dessert wines on one side and a coffee list on the other. The dessert is always my favourite part of the meal – and I always make sure and leave room for it. But, this list is not exciting me. There is The Adamson sundae, apple trifle, sticky toffee pudding and a selection of ice cream and sorbet. It’s a ‘what you’d expect’ list of desserts, rather than the original – and innovative – starters and main courses that we have just enjoyed. I’m about to order a cappuccino as dessert when Adrienne walks over.

“We have a very special dessert available tonight. It’s haggis spiced brûlée with oat crumble and rhubarb,” she says with a smile.

Now, that’s more like it! I immediately order the haggis spiced brûlée and persuade my mum to try the apple trifle with vanilla custard and nut crumble – as it sounds the most interesting. She is not a fan of nuts and hesitates for a moment, but Adrienne comes to the rescue – again.

“The nut crumble is made with pistachios and sprinkled on top of the cream,” she tells us. “ But we can easily leave that out for you.”

Haggis spiced brûlée

Nothing can prepare you for the look or taste of this special dessert. It is beautifully presented on the white plate and the colours instantly draw your eye – it’s a picture of pink elegance and I feel guilty about tucking in.

The brûlée looks like dulce de leche and is surrounded by small clusters of oat crumble. A quenelle of rhubarb sorbet rests neatly on top and a few thick drops of rhubarb compote, and rhubarb strands itself, decorate the sides. I give my mum a little smile before tasting my first spoonful…

I’m used to haggis, neeps and tatties, but this is something else. The unique flavour of haggis really comes through – it couldn’t be anything else – but the strong notes of perfume in the aftertaste make it seem like you’re eating a soft version of Turkish delight. I love it.

A coffee for the road

We finish off this three-course meal with a coffee each – my mum orders a black Americano and I a cappuccino.

Taking a bite of the complimentary ginger shortbread that is served with the coffee, we both feel completely and utterly satisfied – not disgustingly full. Normally after a three-course meal, I feel like I’m carrying twins in my belly! Thankfully, that is not the case now.

The portions were just right, with each course filling a hole but still leaving you a little hungry for more. And I think the same could be said of The Adamson itself. It’s a restaurant and bar that excites the senses of taste and sight and makes you want to come back for more.

Our meal for two:

Virgin mojito x 2 @ £3.50 each (£7.00 in total)
Tanqueray gin £3.35
Slimline tonic, 200ml, £1.50
San Pellegrino, small, £1.95
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Fox by John Belsham, 250ml glass £10.50
Pittenweem crab with crème fraiche and lime and chilli butter on toasted sourdough £9.50
Crispy Calamari with pomegranate, Satsuma and watercress £6.95
220g Fillet steak with skinny fries and peppercorn sauce £26.95
Atlantic sole with kale, pine nuts and root veg £15.50
Side of skinny fries £2.95
Haggis spiced brûlée with oat crumble and rhubarb £5.00
Apple trifle with vanilla custard and nut crumble £6.50
Cappuccino £2.75
Americano £2.25

Total: £102.55 + tip (works out at around £50.00 per head for three courses plus drinks)

 

Best bits about The Adamson

ORIGINAL RECIPES USING LOCAL AND SEASONAL PRODUCE

WARM, INVITING DINING ROOM THAT’S BOTH RUSTIC AND CONTEMPORARY

AUSTIN – DEER ANTLER AND SKULL WALL DECORATION

COCKTAILS

PLEASANT AND ATTENTIVE WAITERS

SPECIALS BOARD

 

Worst bits about The Adamson

SMALL BAR

BACKGROUND MUSIC

DESSERT MENU

CAN BE A BIT PRICEY

 

Contact details:

The Adamson, 
127 South Street, 
St Andrews, 
Fife, 
KY16 9UH
Telephone number: 01334 479 191
Email: info@theadamson.com
Website: http://www.theadamson.com/

 

Burn’s Night At Seven Park Place By William Drabble Review

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Situated in the luxurious St James Hotel and Club, Seven Park Place is a Michelin-starred venue with all the class you would expect. I joined a fun and varied group of women for a Burn’s Night Preview; a six-course meal with matching wine that finishes with a glass of Highland Park 18-year-old whiskey. This is what we had:
haggis ravoli Seven Park Place
scallops(Sorry about the pictures. They were taken on my Blackberry so I could be discreet)
Uig Lodge smoked haddock soup with whiskey
Seared hand-dived Scottish scallops with garlic puree and parsley oil
The wine we had with these courses: Solo Quinta, Cramele Recas, Romania, 2012
I have never had soup with whiskey before but what a clever idea. This soup is just stunning, with perfectly cooked smoked haddock. I love scallops and these seared scallops with garlic puree and parsley oil were perfect on every level.
scottishfood haggis
Poached Scottish langoustine with buttered cabbage, foie gras sauce and truffle
Ravioli of haggis with confit of turnip, whiskey and thyme jus
The wine served with this course: Riesling Trocken Qba, Sybille Kuntz, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany 2010
The poached langoustine was just superb, one of my fellow diners called it a ‘posh prawn cocktail’. It just tastes like some sort of heaven. The ravioli of haggis is a stunning invention from William Drabble. It is such a smart idea and it tastes amazing, as does the sauce which sounds like a weird combination but really works.
venison
Saddle of Scottish highland venison with beetroot
Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon Royale, Koyle Estate, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 2009
The venison is perfectly cooked and the whole meal just works amazingly.
cheese
Selection of British cheese by Paxton & Whitfield
A wonderful selection of cheese. Very tasty.
souffle
Souffle of Scottish raspberries with dark chocolate sauce
Wine: Coteaux-Du-Layon Saint-Aubin, Domaine Des Barres, Loire Valley, France, 2012
This souffle is impressive not just because it tastes delicious, but also because it was huge and arrived from two floors down still  beautifully risen. It is the best souffle I have ever had and the dark chocolate sauce is perfect. The texture of the souffle is great. A wonderful dessert. Seven Park Place is a Michelin-starred venue and even if you didn’t know this before you went, it would soon be obvious. The food will be some of the best you have ever tasted and the imagination of the chef is truly impressive.
truffle
Chocolate and Apple Truffles

These truffles were unbelievable. And the one in the middle was like a very posh apple fruit pastel. I could eat these everyday and not even care if I got fat. Wow and wow.

And to finish….
highlandparkwhiskey
A glass of Highland Park 18-year-old Whiskey
What to say? Great whiskey: true luxury.After the meal we got to have a chat with William Drabble and I promptly made him an honoury Scot. I complimented William on his cooking and he swept away the compliment by saying it was the good, Scottish, ingredients. He is far too modest and also said that the food is simple as you have to realise that the other people in the kitchen cannot cook as well as you. William manages to make food heaven in a small kitchen, two-floors down, with a staff of only six. Both impressive and surprising. Williams mantra is, “Make it simple, think about it and make it idiot-proof.” Sounds like the perfect system. In the kitchen they drink tea in the morning and water to clean their palette so they can taste the food properly.During the evening sommelier Marco Feraldi told us about each wine. Marco really knows his stuff and every single wine was amazing. I am very fussy about wine but I loved it all. Especially the Solo Quinta, Cramele Recas, Romania, 2012. I had never tried Romanian wine before but I am now hooked.I had a wonderful evening, the food truly was stunning. The perfect place for the perfect Burns Night.

You can catch the Burn’s Night Menu at  Seven Park Place between January 20-26.

Seven Park Place, St James Hotel and Club, 7-8 Park Place, SW1A 1LS.

£72 or £126 with paired wines. (£13 supplement for cheese selection) Phone:020 7316 1615

stjameshotelandclub.com

An Independent Scotland – The Implications For Savers And Investors

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·         Cost of financial services will increase, leading to poorer returns for all

·         Diverging tax and regulatory systems will create complexity for all

·         Better state pensions for Scots

·         Potential investment and savings arbitrage opportunities in the longer term

Following the publication of the Scottish Nationalist manifesto for separation between England and Scotland yesterday http://www.scotreferendum.com/reports/scotlands-future-your-guide-to-an-independent-scotland/ , here are a few thoughts on what it might mean for savers and investors.

Duplicate institutions, duplicate systems, more complexity

Tom McPhail, Head of PeScottish flag, scottish independencensions Research ‘As well as the obvious costs of all these duplicate institutions, there is the un-quantified and potentially far greater cost of having to do everything twice. Every bank, insurance company, financial adviser and investment manager North and South of the border will have to invest huge sums of money in running duplicate systems and training their employees to deal with two different regimes; to take just one simple example, if a customer wants to know what rate of pension tax relief they are entitled to, the answer will depend on whether they live in Carlisle or up the road in Dumfries.’

‘This all has a cost to investors North and South of the border; in simple terms a Yes vote would mean poorer returns in the future on ISAs and Pensions due to higher administration costs.’

An independent Scotland would look to create its own financial institutions. It is hard to say exactly what they would all cost; they would be smaller than their English counterparts but equally they would suffer many of the same fixed costs. Here are some of the duplicates the manifesto looks to create, together with the current cost of their UK versions:

·         Financial Conduct Authority £432 million

·         Pensions Regulator £49 million

·         NEST pension scheme £240 million

·         Pension Protection Fund £35 million

Better state pensions for Scots

Scots are being promised a state pension £1.10 higher than the planned new single tier state pension from 2016. Based on current average pension benefits and costs, we estimate this would cost an additional £52 million a year to deliver.

It is also being proposed that the planned increase to the state pension age to 67 could be delayed North of the border. Under UK legislation it is planned to increase from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. Based on previous research from the NIESR and the PPI, we estimate that this could cost the new Scottish government £1 billion.

Potential investment and savings arbitrage opportunities in the longer term

Danny Cox, Head of Financial Planning ‘For now, investors should carry on making as much use of their tax exempt investment allowances as they can; it has been confirmed that existing arrangements would be honoured North of the border in the future. A change to tax rules in the future could open up the possibility for investors to capitalise on preferential investment terms in one jurisdiction compared to the other, or perhaps seeing people move to benefit from preferential inheritance tax rules.’

A vote for separation might unsettle the markets but we don’t expect to see any significant volatility

A fully independent Scottish government would have complete freedom to vary income, capital gains and corporation tax rates. In the longer term we could see companies relocating North or South, and people changing residence to take advantage of preferential personal taxation opportunities. Estate agents, tax advisers and lawyers should all prosper in this new regime.