We’re pleased to announce that we’ve Shanghai’d ourselves a gardening correspondent. Nicki Slater has just acquired her very own allotment in Edinburgh and is counting down the days until she can start digging, hoeing and planting. This is Nicki’s first attempt at allotment gardening so it will be fascinating to see how she gets on and how the allotment progresses over the months. The best way to garden is to watch
Life is strange, no? Who’d have thought there would be such nostalgia in Germany for life in the now defunct GDR? The 2003 film Goodbye Lenin, which poignantly recalled life in the German Democratic Republic, has been followed by the growth of Ostalgie, a celebration of the fashions, food and everyday hassles that characterised life in the communist state. Is it ok to be sentimental about life under a regime
A trip to Berlin has inspired a German twist to this week's posts. Today we highlight the design joy that is Berlin's Jewish Museum while Wednesday shifts the focus to Ostalgie, the bizarre nostalgia for the good old ways and styles of the GDR. On Friday we look at some interesting developments in German architecture and, this might not be one for the wine snobs out there, recommend a decent German wine to
What is it about Mother’s Day that imagines lobotomised, chocolate-obsessed, flower sniffing, Harvester munching sentimentalists in need of a day’s attention from the very people who should know them best? Give your mother a break with something that’ll make her laugh or something she may actually want, or just give her a break. She may aspire to be less domestic saint and more Stifler’s Mom – shop accordingly. [Oh – and a much deserved happy Mother’s
What’s especially likeable about mid price Edinburgh eaterie The Dogs is that it hits the mark between considered style and a forced, concept driven look. It’s unpretentious and simple with just the right nod to the dog concept. There’s a blow up of a crazy looking hound behind the bar and a few quirky canine motifs scattered around but the interior is a long way from being themed. Mismatched wooden chairs and china, scrubbed tables and worn floorboards