ImpulseFinalMag (2)

Editor
Nadia Younes
Deputy Editor
Louise Clark
Lifestyle Editors
Rachel Campbell,
Jessica Lindsay
Arts & Culture Editor
Cassie Doney
Arts & Culture Team
Michael Gardiner,
Richard Jones,
Calum Macdonald,
Josiah Whitworth
Sports Editors
Gary Henderson, Andrew Ross
Sports Team
Lewis Carr, Alan Clark
Online Editor
Morag Robertson
Social Media Editor
Julie Larsen
Multimedia Editor
Michael Millar
Online Team
Lisa Brown, Karen Kelly,
Eilidh Walker
Production Editor
Sean Geddes
Chief Sub-Editor
Rachel Small
Deputy Sub-Editors
Andy Harbison,
Owen O’Donnell
Design and Picture
Editors
Amy Grant, Sarah Slater
Design Team
Claire Dickerson, Vicky Garcia,
Katie Hogg, Youran Li,
Chris Martin, Shannon Sargent,
Xiaotong Zhang
Distribution Manager
Craig Watson
Advertising &
Fundraising Manager
Alix White
Advertising Deputy
Saoirse Docherty
Fundraising Deputy
Rebecca Jolly
Advertising &
Fundraising Team
Ellis Beattie, Josh Greatorex
Amber Smith, Heather Thomson
W
ITH all eyes on Scotland this year,
Impulse is back to provide you with an
insight in to the nation’s burgeoning
culture from the world of sport, art, music and more.
Take our stunning cover star LAW, for instance: she
is a prime example of the kind of raw, home-grown
talent many people may not be aware of, yet. Bursting
on to Edinburgh’s music scene last year, LAW caught
the attention of music fans aplenty and 2014 looks
to be a big year for her. We spoke to her before she
achieves her imminent world domination.
As well as showcasing emerging Scottish talents,
however, we also take a look at established figures like,
championship golfer, Colin Montgomerie OBE, who
spoke to us about family life and his golfing legacy.
We also delved deeper into the lives of some of
Scotland’s power couples and how they’re making it
together in their businesses.We spoke to the well-
established interior designers James and Mary of
Hollijon and Phillips, the up and coming Rich and
Amanda of urban fashion brand Abandon Ship
Apparel and the ever-expanding luxury chocolatiers
James and Paul of Cocoa Mountain.
Make sure to try out our Augmented Reality feature
by scanning the cover with the Layer app - flip over
to the last page for more information. This will lead
you to our website for more unique content. We hope
to get you as excited
as we are about some
of the country’s most
promising talents. So sit
back, relax and indulge
yourself in this year’s
edition of Impulse.
With special thanks to Clare Trodden & Neil Braidwood
Nadia Younes
Impulse magazine is produced by BA Journalism students from the
School of Arts & Creative Industries, Edinburgh Napier University.
The views and opinions within this publication are not necessarily
those of Edinburgh Napier University themselves.

www.impulsemag-online.com2 3Impulse
C NTENTS
20 Breaking LAW
Exclusive interview with up-and-
coming musician, and this issue’s
cover star, LAW
37 Luck of the draw
A peek into the life of an illustrator
32 Turn & face the strange
Is alternative art on the rise?
38 Rhyme & reason
Scotland’s oral tradition gets a hip makeover
40 The writing’s on the wall
World renowned artist Elph discusses street art
44 ScienceGrrl power
Breaking the glass ceiling in the science labs
46 Perfect in print
Throw out your Kindle because books are back
48 Once upon a dream
Fairytales aren’t just for children
50 Peeling off the wax
Aberdeen’s music producers on vinyl legacy
54 DIY or die
How technology has changed music forever
55 Sound & vision
VJ Planet Arm lights up the capital
56 The Kenyan trail
McColgan is following in her mother’s footsteps
59 Square go
Wrestling’s back, so get in the ring
60 Millar’s last lap
Exclusive interview before
the cyclist hangs up his helmet
62 A glimmer of gold
Ones to watch at the
Commonwealth Games
24 A bite of something special
The café starting a social revolution
26 Wingin’ it
Meet the Lord of the Wings
28 24 hours in Brooklyn
The best of the Big Apple borough
30 I want Scandi
We’ve caught Scandimania, have you?
31 When the golfer’s away
Escape the great outdoors in these
luxurious spas
64 Sweet like chocolate
Where to find Edinburgh’s tastiest treats
4 Meet Monty
Golf legend Colin Montgomerie
reveals his life off the course
16 We’re with the brand
The designer who is casting a
spell on the fashion world
10 The business of love
Scotland’s own First Couples
share the secrets of their success
ON THE
COVER
Lifestyle
Arts &
Culture
Sport
SUMMER 2014
20
28
16
40
4

4 www.impulsemag-online.com 5Impulse Sport
C
OLIN Montgomerie is one
of the greatest golfers this
country has ever produced.
Yet despite all of his success and
the wealth he has acquired over his
professional career, he remains a
humble, pleasant and humorous man.
He does, however, have the one
thing required to be a true champion
– a burning desire to win at all costs.
Even now, aged 50, ‘Monty’ still
has the hunger and desire to succeed.
His recent entry on to the Champions
Tour is a testament to that.
“I have that huge ambition still,”
he said. “I have never lost that. I’m
finding that the more I am playing
out there on the Champions Tour, the
more I am enjoying it.”
Colin laughs at the claim that he is
widely regarded as the greatest golfer
to have never won a major: “Well
I would rather be seen as the best
player to have never won one than
the second best. Obviously it does
pain me to have been second
on five occasions, but at
the same time I wouldn’t
change my career.
Now I have to look
forward; onwards
and upwards.”
I glanced over
at a cabinet in
the room, filled
with trophies
and medals. It
was inspiring to
see that a man
who has already
achieved so much
still has the desire
to win. Looking
back on his career, it is
remarkable what he has
achieved in golf: 31 titles on
the European Tour, the fourth
highest of all time. >
Colin Montgomerie talks family, golf and
why he is happy to be known as the best
golfer to have never won a major
MEET
MONTY
Colin
Montgomerie
Fact File
Born in Glasgow on
23 June 1963
Joined pro tour in 1988
Won 31 titles on the European
Tour (fourth highest) with his
first win in 1989
Now plays on the Champions
Tour for over 50s
Awarded an OBE in 2005 for
services to golf
Inducted to World Golf Hall of
Fame in 2013
Opposite: Monty
at home with his
family
This page: The
Maggie's Centre,
Aberdeen
All photos courtesy of Lynsey Knowles

> As we discussed some of the high
points of his career, it was clear what
ranked highest on his own personal
list of achievements: “The three in a
row at Wentworth was the highlight
for me. To win the flagship event on
the European Tour three times in a
row, that was special. They definitely
stand out for me.”
However, the life of a professional
golfer is not always as glamorous as it
seems. It can be hard constantly being
the subject of tabloid scrutiny and
being separated from your loved ones
for long periods of time.
His wife, Gaynor, reminded Colin
that he was going on a family outing
later that day. The time he does get
to spend at home with his family is
cherished: “I’m away sometimes for
over half of the year so it’s family
time when I come home. We go to
St. Andrews to walk the dogs and
we just spend time together. People
ask me: what is my favourite holiday
destination? I just say my own bed.”
Moving away from golf, I
asked Colin about The Elizabeth
Montgomerie Foundation, which
was set up in his mother's honour
and helps cancer sufferers and their
families: “It’s something that I feel
obligated to do, to give something
back to the world.
“I’m incredibly proud to be a part
of this. We have raised over £3m for
the Aberdeen project, and over £1m
for the Lanarkshire one, which opens
in June. We build centres for cancer
patients and their loved ones to come
in and receive help and advice. We
wish that nobody had to come
to the centre, but we are
there for people and their
families and that is so
important.”
He is a man grateful
for what golf has
given him in life.
It’s refreshing to
see such an elite
sportsman so eager to
give something back.
This is highlighted in
his work with the Colin
Montgomerie Academy at
Turnberry golf course: “It’s all
about opportunities, and giving
children a chance to play the game.
I was lucky enough to be given an
opportunity from a young age as my
father was a keen golfer.’’ >
The Elizabeth
Montgomerie
Foundation
The foundation
was established
in 2007, in
memory of
Colin's mother
who died from
cancer in 1991.
It began a
collaboration
with Maggie's
cancer care in
2010.
Together they
opened a
Maggie's Centre
in Aberdeen.
The foundation
is working with
Maggie's to
open another
centre in
Lanarkshire
in June.
The centre
offers care
and advice
for cancer
sufferers
and their
families.
To donate
towards
the funding
of the new
centre, or
to find out
more about
both charities
work, visit their
websites, listed
below.
www.elizabethmontgomerie.org
www.maggiescentres.org
‘‘We are
there for people
and their families
and that is so
important”
Opposite: Memorial to Elizabeth Montgomorie
This page: Colin helping to build a Maggie's Centre

Colin’s
Ryder Cup
Moments
Montgomerie’s
Ryder Cup
record is 20
wins, 9 losses
and 7 draws,
which gives
him a total tally
of 23.5 points –
just 1.5 points
behind all-time
record holder
Nick Faldo.
He was the
match-play
master, having
never lost a
singles match
at the Ryder
Cup.
In 1997 he won
a crucial match
to clinch the
cup for Europe,
and also sank
the winning
putt in the
2004 event.
In 2009, it was
announced
that he would
captain the
European team
in the 2010
Ryder Cup.
Europe won
14 ½ - 13 ½ at
Celtic Manor.
He was named
BBC Sport’s
Personality
of the Year’s
Coach of the
Year in 2010
following his
Ryder Cup
triumph.
> ‘‘However without opportunity, how
do we know how good some of these
kids are? There could be another Tiger
Woods down the road, or round the
corner. How can we know if we don’t
give kids opportunities? The academy
was set up with this in mind. Not to
necessarily find the next big talent, but
to give our children the opportunity
to try new things.”
We had been chatting for quite
some time, and his dogs were now
barking in anticipation of their walk.
However, before it was time to say
our goodbyes, we quickly shifted our
conversation on to the state of the
game in Scotland: “You go through
stages, there are always good times
and bad times. It wasn’t long ago that
England only had one player in the
top 100 in the world and people were
asking what was wrong. What we need
to remember is that we are a small
country and we do okay. England has
around 58 million people, but we only
have around five million. So on that
basis, I think we do fine. I do think
we are coming out of a bad time now
though. We have some good up and
coming players like Stephen Gallacher
who could put us back on the map as a
golfing nation.”
It was clear now that Colin had
other things to do. It was time for
some quality family time, with his
wife and children, and of course the
dogs. I took one final glance around
the interior of his elaborate estate and
marvelled at this place that he was
lucky enough to call home.
Although it has been a rocky road
for Monty, both professionally and
personally, he has always bounced
back. Now, as he prepares to settle
down and enjoy spending some
quality time at home with his family,
he hopes to be remembered for his
charity work and the golfing legacy he
has established.
Gary Henderson
Monty at the
Majors
He may be one
of Scotland's
greats, but
Monty has had
his fair share of
disappointing
Major finals.
At the 1994
US Open,
Montgomerie
missed out to
Ernie Els in
a three-man
playoff.
At the PGA
Championship
in 1995, Monty
missed out
again, in another
playoff. This time
against Steve
Elkington.
In 1997, the US
Open slipped out
of his grasp once
again, when he
was beaten by
Ernie Els, who
won by a single
shot.
Monty’s
best finish
at The Open
Championship
was in 2005,
where he
finished second
to Tiger Woods,
who won by five
shots.
In 2006, he
finished second
at the US Open,
having been
beaten by Phil
Mickelson, again
by only one shot.
Opposite: Colin on the course
This page: With the Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor, 2010
“It’s all about
opportunities, and
giving children a
chance to play the
game”

10 www.impulsemag-online.com 11Impulse Lifestyle
J
EN AND Brad, the White Stripes and even
Eamonn and Ruth from This Morning:
couples who work together often find that
it takes its toll on their relationship. But these
twosomes have made it to the top of the career
ladder together, and somehow seem to still
really get along. What’s that all about?
James and Mary Kelly own Hollijon and
Phillips, a successful design firm in the West
End of Glasgow. They’ve been married since
1981 and have worked as a team for 30 years.
Rich Davies and Amanda Wilson have been
together for five and a half years and are
already giving the Scottish fashion scene a
kick in the right direction. Along with his
business partner Duncan, Rich runs urban
fashion label Abandon Ship Apparel. His
fiancee Amanda’s works for them as
product developer. James Findlay
and Paul Maden met in 1998
and run Cocoa Mountain, a
luxury chocolate company
popular with the rich and
the famous.
Professionally, there
is little to fault, with
Abandon Ship boasting
a swish new shop in
Princes Square, 37,000
followers on Instagram
and their clothes
now being stocked
by Topman and Asos.
Hollijon and Phillips is
holding its own > >
Watch out Kimye, you’ve got nothing on these Scottish power couples
THE BUSINESS
OF LOVE
“Two such
creatives planning
a wedding is like
putting kids in a
candy shop”
Abandon Ship photography throughout: Nicole Reekie

13Impulse Lifestyle
> as the place to go for sumptuous designs tailor-
made to your exact specifications, and Cocoa
Mountain, specialising in high-end organic
chocolate, has attracted fans such as Yoko Ono
and even Prince Charles.
Yet, when I utter the phrase
“power couple” it is met with
embarrassment. Rich and
Amanda visibly cringe; the
reaction from the others was
the same. To them, working
together comes naturally
and always having someone
to keep you in check doesn’t
hurt either.
James and Mary have this
technique down. Mary says: “I
tend to get the client that suits my
temperament and style better, or I’ll pass it on to
James if it’s more his kind of thing.”
Delegation is key in Paul and James’ life too.
For them it’s all about “division of labour and
doing different tasks” to keep things fresh and
ensure there are no clashes within their team.
On the other hand, Rich and Amanda
aren’t afraid to just throw it out there
when their opinions differ. The pair
has been known to disagree
on occasion – a snake print
T-shirt, that caught my eye,
seems to have caused a bit
of controversy between
the pair. When I mention
it, Rich starts to laugh as
Amanda pretends to retch.
It’s all in jest, though, and
the conversation quickly turns to
their impending nuptials. Two such
creative people planning a wedding is
like putting kids in a candy shop, and fashion
blogger Amanda, AKA Honey Pop Kisses, has
given the dressmaker strict instructions. >
“I would have
Phillip feeding
from a bottle and
be on the phone
to clients”
From top: Inside Abandon
Ship’s flagship store, a
selection of chocolates from
Cocoa Mountain, inside the
Hollijon and Phillips store.
Right: James and Mary Kelly
of Hollijon and Phillips
Hollijon and Phillips photography
throughout: Esme Kirsch

15Impulse Lifestylewww.impulsemag-online.com14
> The guest list will be a who’s who of Scottish
fashion but a certain two VIPs will not be in
attendance - their beagle pug cross dogs Lady
and Honey Bee. The ‘puggles’ are ‘Insta-famous’
and seem to have the status of the children
in the household. Amanda says: “A
couple of our friends said we
should get them to be our
ring-bearers. I was like ‘No,
they will run away.’ Our
rings will be in a forest
lost somewhere!”
James and Mary are
a perfect example of a
couple who have learnt
to balance family life with
business. The company
is even named after their
children. Mary laughs: “I would
have Phillip feeding from a bottle
and be on the phone to clients on the other
side.” It’s obviously in the blood as both their
sons went on to do architecture and product
design at university.
With their first grandchild on the way in
August, it seems there might even be another
little designer in the family too.
For Durness based chocolatiers Paul and
James, marriage and family is not on the
cards, just yet, as the pair are focused on the
expansion of their business. Cocoa Mountain
has continued to grow since its inception in
2006. What began as a shop in a remote village
on the edge of the British Isles is now
world-renowned. They have sold
their chocolates to everyone
from US senators to Russian
oligarchs. The shop has also
featured on Channel 4’s
Big British Food Map.
Paul and James are
intensely focused on
expanding the business
into a global brand but
one day will “hopefully have
some time off to enjoy the
fruits of [their] labour”. They’ll
certainly be kept busy too by their
brood of four Labradors and three cats.
So what’s the secret? These couples seem
to have it sussed without really even thinking
about it. “It really is just compatibility. So
much of our life is laughing,” says James.
“There is no secret,” jokes Rich. “We just
like each other.” And it really is that easy.
Jessica Lindsay
Opposite: James Findlay and Paul Maden
of Cocoa Mountain
This page: a selection of their Easter treats
Cocoa Mountain photos courtesy of James Findlay and Paul Maden
“They have sold
their chocolates to
everyone from US
senators to Russian
oligarchs”

www.impulsemag-online.com16 17Impulse Arts&Culture
S
AT AMONG the cosy couches
of Fredrick’s Coffee House,
fashion newbie Lynette Gray
sips her coffee and stares out on to
the sunny capital. She’s wearing a
grey beanie hat and a glamorous
leopard print coat. She has an aura of
enchantment surrounding her. She’s
glued to her brand’s Instagram page.
She looks up, catlike, and explains:
“Without social media I wouldn’t
be anywhere. There would be no
Angelpixielove without Instagram. It’s
an amazing thing.”
Although drawing is her passion,
Lynette admits that she went through
a chaotic journey before finding her
feet. She hated school and lacked
confidence, so at the age of 16 she
left and took up a full-time position
at Next. After five years she left the
company and indulged in jaunts to
London, Australia and Ibiza before
training as a hairdresser for two years.
This career path was also not for
her: “I loved the creative side of stuff.
The actual hairdressing I hated, I was
nervous. I was pulling my hair out,
and I was thinking ‘what can I do that
will get my creativity across?’ But I
hadn’t drawn for years. I read a book
called The Artist’s Way which gives
you little exercises and makes you
realise that everyone’s creative.”
She adds: “I used to draw all the
time and I just stopped drawing when
I was 16. So I hadn’t drawn for so
long and then after reading the book
I thought ‘I’m going to start drawing
again because it’s something I’d like
to do.’ So I would just sit with a pencil
and paper and just draw away.” >
WE’RE WITH THE
BRANDThe creative genius behind Angelpixielove talks about
being new to the fashion world, tattoos and motherhood
‘‘There
would be no
Angelpixielove
without
Instagram”
www.angelpixielove.com
Opposite: Photo taken from
Lynette Gray’s Instagram
(@angelpixielove)
This page: Lynette’s
famous slogan tees and
leggings
Photography throughout: John Need

The Future
The brand Angelpixielove is starting
to make waves in the Edinburgh
fashion scene, although Lynette
dreams of bigger things: “I want it to
go massive! We’ve named
APL, [the men’s range]
and I’ve met with
tattoo artist, John
Hamilton, to work
on designs. My
designs for them
are very girly and
inspired by me, so
I want him to come
in and do some bits
and pieces and make
the guys’ side. I’d like to sell
other people’s products. I remember
ASOS when they started up years ago,
they were a small company and now
they are a massive success.
To be something like that in 15 years’
time is my absolute dream.”
The Dream
>Lynette teamed up with her brother
and started designing. She explains
the idea behind her ‘I love your face’
slogan designs: “From a young age
my son was obsessed with my face:
‘Mummy I love your face, I’ll touch
your face.’ So that’s where that came
from. We weren’t going to put it on a
T-shirt - I asked my brother and he
thought it was a bit cringey. But we
did it and they are probably the only
T-shirts that sell. People like it and it’s
all about love.”
Last September, the brand’s first photo-shoot took place
and, in December, the website launched. Lynette called in
favours from her friends and
utilised social media as much
as possible to publicise her
pop-up shop events. This has
worked in her favour as stars
such as singer Rita Ora are
said to be fans. But she hasn’t
stopped there: “I’m actually
reaching out to a lot of people
with my designs. I love pin up
girls, I love tattoos.”
Lynette passes me a business
card with her Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram and email on it, exposing
the fairy tattoo on her forearm. She
is a woman of many talents;
discovering her calling
and becoming a
settled mum and
businesswoman in
her 30s. I ask her
for the best advice
she can give to a
budding fashion
designer. She thinks
for a moment then
smiles: “It doesn’t really
matter if it doesn’t happen
because at least you’ve tried to do
something you want to do. Do what
your heart tells you.” This seems to
have worked for Lynette’s business
venture so far.
Katie Hogg
Instagram
Inspiration
Follow these
accounts for
tips on how to
become
#instafamous.
@ScotStreet
Style is a
community
for Scotland’s
photogenic
fashionistas,
from designers
to bloggers.
@cherwebb
makeup is
the senior
artist for MAC.
Her celebrity
canvases have
included the
likes of Grace
Jones, Tom
Hardy and
Dame Helen
Mirren.
@chrisjohn
millington
is Scotland’s
fuzzy-faced
poster boy. He
uses Instagram
to promote
his range of
male grooming
products and
modelling
portfolio, as
well as posting
a selfie or two
with fans.
Opposite and this page: More of Lynette’s
designs, including a selection from the
menswear range
“To be something
like ASOS in 15
years’ time is my
absolute dream”

L
AUREN Holt, also known as LAW,
is one of Edinburgh’s brightest new
musical talents. Her eclectic fusing of
pop, hip-hop, soul and just about every other
genre under the sun has been gathering praise
from music moguls up and down the country.
Along with her good friends and recent
touring pals, Young Fathers,
LAW is part of Edinburgh’s
exciting experimental music
movement, which is quickly
picking up speed.
Meeting at Edinburgh’s
Underground Solu’shn,
LAW seems completely at
home browsing through
the store’s wide selection of
records. She has an incredibly
striking look, with her shaved
head, flawless skin and heavy eyeliner:
“Well, this isn’t anything to do with the music,
I’ve always looked like this so it wasn’t really a
conscious decision, it seemed to fit together.”
The look on her face upon noticing a Young
Fathers CD at the front of the store is one of
sheer pride. Since being introduced by their
mutual manager, Tim Brinkhurst, aka Timothy
London of 90s pop group Soho fame, they have
worked incredibly closely together: “It’s good to
meet like-minded people who want to do mad
stuff, so I met the boys and Graham and Tim
asked if I wanted to go in to the studio and write
to a beat. We did Hustle that day and just kept
doing more and more.”
Graham, ‘G’, Hastings from
Young Fathers and Tim
Brinkhurst produced the
music for LAW’s debut
EP, Haters and Gangsters,
which was released free
online in February, just
a day after the release
of Young Fathers’ debut
album, Dead. With their
unique take on hip-hop beats
and soulful vocals, the collective
are considered to be part of a growing
experimental music scene in Edinburgh: “I
think it maybe comes across as more of a scene
here because Edinburgh doesn’t really have
much of a scene...so it’s kind of coming through
a bit more and that’s good because people want
to try and make something out of it.”
When we meet, LAW has just come back >
Rising experimental artist LAW talks pushing
boundaries and playing by her own rules
BREAKING
LAW
Opposite: LAW outside
Underground Solu’shn on
Cockburn Street
This page: We love LAW’s
wristwatch tattoo and
unique style
Photography throughout: Zoe McArthur
“It’s good to meet
like-minded people
who want to do
mad stuff”

> from supporting Young Fathers on
a full UK tour, which took them from
Glasgow’s Stereo, for the band’s album
launch, to London’s Elektrowerkz.
She spoke about how she feels she has
benefitted from being a developing
artist in Edinburgh, rather than
London: “There’s a lot of benefits to
being in London but it’s good if you’re
trying to develop yourself to be out
of it for a bit because it’s kind of high
pressure there. But here you can come
back and just know that it’s fine trying
to do stuff and then go there when
you choose to.”
Still very much in the infancy of
her musical career, and already being
championed by tastemakers such as
Vic Galloway and Lauren Laverne,
LAW is on track to become one
of Scotland’s most promising new
exports. And with the luxury of being
surrounded by such a talented group
of friends, this “family project,” as she
calls it, is certainly blossoming nicely.
Nadia Younes
Head to impulsemag-online.com and check out our
exclusive video of our day record shopping with LAW
St. Vincent -
St. Vincent
“I think she’s probably one of
the women right now who is
doing something really forward-
thinking and cool. She’s a proper
musician and I like her voice
too.”
Jimmy Cliff -
Brave Warrior
“I think out of all the reggae
artists, he has the most
distinctive, mad voice. He
has a really great tune to
his voice, it’s really clear.”
LAW’S TOP PICKS
Nuggets - Original Artyfacts
from the First Psychedelic Era,
1965-1968
“I have this at home, it’s great. It’s
a compilation of loads of psych
bands. It’s always good to get
these compilations because you
can find so much more
from them.”

The book looks at how to tackle different
social problems such as homelessness, feeding
the poor and protecting our planet.
Josh threw away the new and exciting events
company that he set up after university to
chase a life he knew would never make him an
exceptional amount of money, but instead might
help change the planet, one bite at a time.
It sounds like an
idealistic view but
Josh believed he could
make a difference. So
he and Alice decided
to pay Muhammad
Yunus a little visit.
Far from their
Edinburgh home,
in Bangladesh, Josh
claims he was “treated
like David Beckham”
as many people there
had never seen a white
person. Here the ideas started mounting.
He came back to Scotland and was inspired
to sacrifice his company and open up a social
business which donates all its profits to charity.
SOMETHING
I
T TOOK one idea. It took one trip to
Bangladesh. And it took one selfless act by
one couple from Edinburgh. It might sound
like the beginning of an exotic expedition in
some far off land, but it was actually the setting
up of a social business in the city.
Social Bite was the brainchild of Josh
Littlejohn and his girlfriend Alice Thompson.
The concept of the
business is that it
doesn’t aim to make
money; no one who
works for or with
Social Bite will ever
get rich.
Every single penny
of profit goes to
charity, co-founder
Josh coolly remarked
as he shrugged off
the selflessness of it:
“I just thought it was
a cool idea.” An idea which was birthed when
he read Nobel Peace Prize Winner; Professor
Muhammad Yunus’ book ‘Creating A World
With No Poverty’.
In 2012 their first shop Social Bite,
opened on Rose Street. Not only does
their profit go to charity but they let
customers buy a suspended coffee
or something to eat. Josh said: “Our
customers are office workers mainly.”
So, while you’re buying a sandwich
and drink on your lunch break, you
can pay for another meal. Then later
on, a homeless person is able to pick
up something to eat or drink that was
paid for in advance. “It saves them
waiting around at the end of the day,”
explained Josh.
So far 90 operations to cure
blindness have been donated to an
eye care hospital in Bangladesh and
money has been raised for Shelter
Scotland alongside a micro-loan
foundation in Malawi.
And the wonders don’t quite stop
there. Currently, one in three people
employed by Social Bite are ex-
homeless people who Josh believes
“might not have got jobs anywhere
else”. So it’s not only helping people
who are in a bad situation, but it’s
helping others out of them.
The company’s success is
growing, as are their branches. A
second Edinburgh store opened on
Shandwick Place at the end of last
year and their first Glasgow store
opened earlier this year.
Executive chef, Mike
Mathieson has worked
in Michelin starred
restaurants and
prepares delicious
seasonal menus.
If you feel like
eating something
that does good as
well as tastes good,
drop in to experience
Social Bite.
It will only take you
one meal to fall in love
with this social revolution.
Rachel Campbell
A young couple changing their city, one sandwich at a time
Opposite and below: Inside Social Bite
This page: The Social Bite team with their
donation for Shelter Scotland
Photos courtesy of Josh Littlejohn and Nadia Younes
A BITE OF

If you’re not too chicken, get down to the bones of the matter at Wings
J
UST off The Royal Mile on Old Fishmarket
Close the unassuming shop-front does
very well to disguise the craziness inside.
“I’m not a scientist, I’m just a chicken seller,”
says Adam Hepburn, founder of Wings
restaurant in Edinburgh, who
is so laid-back he’s almost
horizontal. He speaks
matter-of-factly, modest
about his unique
brainchild which seems
to be creating a huge
buzz all over the city.
As for the menu, if
you don’t like chicken
wings, you’re pretty
much scunnered, although
vegetarians can get a cheesy
chenga (deep fried, cheese filled tortilla) with
any sauce on the regular menu. And, there are
a lot of sauces. Among these are the mouth-
watering Chickano chipotle ranch wings, the
New Worlders smothered in maple syrup, dill
and bacon bits and the Nam Phrickin’
Amazing sriracha buffalo wings.
By far the most refreshing
thing about the place, however,
is the atmosphere. Adam
prefers Wings to be called a
‘snackstaurant’ rather than
a bar or restaurant. He says:
“I wanted it to be the kind of
place where people can turn
up, have something to eat, have a
beer, play a game (on the Nintendo
64 and wide screen TV downstairs),then
WINGIN’ IT
hang out or do whatever they want.” This is
an antidote to many a restaurant - no stuffy
atmosphere, no dress code, just a bucket for
your bones and loads of great quality food.
When Adam is asked why he thinks people are
shunning fine dining in favour of this more
relaxed style, he thinks it’s fairly simple: “People
don’t want to have to find an excuse to go out to
eat, like an anniversary or birthday. They
just want to come down and get
some chicken.”
Wings began as a
pop-up last year.
Adam used this as
a sort of project
after seeing that
there were
“more places
to get chicken
wings in
the US than
there are pubs
here.” It was
extremely well
received, and the
restaurant (sorry,
snackstaurant)
opened at the end of
last year. He attributes this
success to a high concentration
of students in Edinburgh, particularly
from the US - home of the hit television show
Man Vs. Food. That and delicious food with
laid-back, friendly service, was a winning
combination for success.
Another term that Adam has coined is
“rushed chic,” regarding the décor in the
restaurant. Upstairs the style is very relaxed
with quirky interiors and tables covered in
pop-culture magazine clippings and postcards.
So, when you order your food, you won’t have a
table number but you might be at the Star Trek
table, or the 50s pin-up table. Squishy sofas
downstairs add to the vibe.
A feature of note is definitely the “wall
of flame” which documents the triumphant
winners of the aptly named “suicide
challenge”. Brave diners have to consume a
bowl of seriously hot wings. When quizzed
as to what was in them, Adam said: “Some
of these challenges have ghost chillies or
habaneros, but what I decided to do was just
use all of the chillies. I just took all of the
bad bits from all of the chillies
and put it in the sauce.” He
says: “We don’t see the
point in using a legal
waiver like some
challenges, but
we definitely
warn people off
it. I’ll just be
like ‘Seriously
do not eat
these.” Gulp.
One tale
involved a
guitar player
in The Lion King
orchestra. On his
break between the
matinee and evening
performance, he decided,
against his better judgement,
to go up for the “suicide challenge”.
This resulted in some very sore fingers when
playing later that night. Another involved a
rugby player who completed the challenge
only to immediately go to the toilets.
Need I say more?
Despite the scary challenges, however,
the service is anything but. It’s the perfect
place to kick back and fill up with as much
chicken as you can handle. As Adam says:
“I don’t understand why people can’t just be
served good food by friendly, smiling staff and
everyone is happy.”
Jessica Lindsay
This page: Owner, Adam Hepburn
Opposite: Staff member, James Slaven
Photography: Nadia Younes

24 HOURS IN
10AM: If you’re lucky enough to be in Brooklyn
on a weekend, a visit to the Brooklyn Flea
Market (stall pictured opposite page) is a must.
Throughout the summer, the market is held
outdoors at several locations across Brooklyn,
where you can enjoy a leisurely day perusing an
array of items; ranging from antiques, vintage
clothing, jewellery and collectable records from
up to 200 vendors. During the winter
months, however, the market is
held indoors and this year
it moved to a new, and
much larger, location in
Williamsburg, allowing
you to mingle with
the local hipsters
while you browse
through the stalls.
TIP: If you can,
try and make it to the
Brooklyn Flea for one of
their twice-yearly record
fairs where various vendors,
including popular indie record labels,
Captured Tracks and Mexican Summer, set up
stalls selling a wide range of new and second
hand records.
1PM: If you’re feeling a bit peckish after
all that shopping, grab a bite to eat from the
Smorgasburg section of the market. Here,
you’ll find some of Brooklyn’s most renowned
food vendors, offering up a wide variety
of foods from all over the world. From the
famous Ramen Burger to the S’more Bakery,
there really is something to tingle everyone’s
taste buds.
TIP: The Mac &
Cheese from the Milk
Truck (pictured left)
is delicious washed
down with a Hot
Spiced Apple
Lemonade Cider
from the BeeHive
Oven. And for
the sweet-toothed
among you, Dough
has the most incredible
selection of doughnuts
you are likely to come across.
3PM: Once the market has taken its toll
on you, go for a wander around New York’s
trendy Williamsburg area where you’ll find
many unique cafes, bars and vintage
shops. Williamsburg is also home to
one of New York’s most illustrious sex
shops so, if you are that way inclined,
pop in to SHAG for a bit of harmless
afternoon fun.
TIP: Grab a coffee from Cafe El
Beit, which boasts “the
best coffee in town”,
and their peanut
butter cookies
aren’t bad either.
If the weather’s
nice, take a seat
on one of the
benches outside
and have a gander at
some of the eccentric
Williamsburg locals.
7PM:If you’re looking for an
authentic Italian pizzeria experience
for dinner, then look no further
than Grimaldi’s. Located directly
underneath the Brooklyn Bridge,
Relive it in
Edinburgh
For a similar
Flea Market
experience,
look out for
one of Judy’s
Affordable
Vintage Fairs
(www.judys
vintagefair.
co.uk) held
in various
locations
across the
UK.
If you’re after
an American
dining
experience,
then
Wannaburger
is as close
as it gets.
Serving
American
style fast
food burgers,
it’s the Shake
Shack of
Edinburgh.
Look out for
their monthly
deals.
The best
coffee in
Edinburgh
can be found
at Artisan
Roast. With
two cafes
in the city, a
visit is a must
for any coffee
lover.
Grimaldi’s has been ranked New
York’s number one pizza and it
certainly lives up to the hype.
TIP: Due to its popularity, the
restaurant is normally very busy and
you may have to queue for a table, but
try not to be put off as it is well
worth the wait.
9PM: Take a walk
over the Brooklyn
Bridge and enjoy
an illuminated
view of the
Manhattan skyline
at night. It’s well
worth the trek.
TIP: If you are even the
slightest bit scared of heights, don’t
look down. Trust me.
Go to www.visitbrooklyn.org for
more information and tips.
Nadia Younes
“Enjoy
an illuminated
view of the
Manhattan skyline
at night”
BROOKLYNThe essential things to do in the hip New York borough
Photos courtesy of Milk Truck and Brooklyn Flea

I WANT SCANDI
O
VER the past year or so you may
have noticed that the UK has been
slowly but steadily invaded. Not
necessarily an invasion of our land,
but of our minds; the topics of
our workplace conversations,
our politics and even our
fashion choices. We are being
influenced by people who
don’t even know they are
doing it – Scandinavians.
They have crept onto our
television screens with addictive
crime dramas such as Borgen and
The Killing. They have slunk into
our kitchens with cookery shows
like Jamie Does… Scandinavia
with the Naked Chef Jamie
Oliver, and the more recent
Scandimania where Hugh
Fearnley-Whittingstall travels
from Denmark to Sweden,
sampling traditional dishes.
Our clothes are also becoming
Scandi-cool too, thanks to brands
like Monki, Cheap Monday
and Acne. Our airwaves are
always being flooded with
Scandinavian pop stars like
Robyn and Lykke Li.
Ambassadors of the
‘Yes’ campaign for Scottish
Independence have even
referred to states like Finland and
Norway when discussing the benefits
of being a small, independent nation.
Some still believe in the stereotype of
Scandinavian people spending their days buried
under six feet of snow or crammed into a
sauna. But, while they do love a good
steam - the Finnish army has been
known to build rudimentary
saunas out in the field - there
are more similarities than we
think, which may be what
endears us to such a seemingly
alien people.
The winters are harsh,
something we can certainly
empathise with in Scotland. Their
way of having fun in sub-zero
temperatures is also not entirely
different, as they definitely
enjoy a tipple or three. Just like
our own celebrations, heavy
drinking is accepted, if not
compulsory, for the Norse
people. Our meat and fish heavy
diet is also similar to theirs.
One major difference, however,
is their “just get on with it”
approach. It is very rare to hear
Scandinavians complain, a
favoured pastime of the Brits.
But perhaps it would be a
welcome break.
It’s not hard to see why
people find the Scandinavian
way of life so appealing. The
bandwagon is in town, why not hop
on and see what all the fuss is about.
Andy Harbison
S
COTLAND is world renowned for its
outstanding golf courses that attract some
celebrity names and big tournaments.
But for many of us a birdie is nothing more
than a chirpy flying creature and a wedge is a
comfortable summer heel. Luckily many of the
country’s premier golf resorts feature luxurious
spas to hide away in if your companion is ‘holed
up’ on the green.
The five-star Gleneagles Hotel will play
host to the Ryder Cup this year, which means
they’ve really stepped up their game in terms of
amenities. They have partnered with upmarket
skincare brand ESPA, and quality is at the
forefront of the spa’s ethos. You are advised to
arrive at least an hour before treatments to fully
immerse yourself, enjoying the crystal steam
room, sauna and massaging vitality pool. There’s
even ice rubs and an arctic mist shower for those
looking for a truly luxurious experience.
The spa at the Old Course Hotel in St
Andrews boasts the first Kohler Waters
experience outside of the US. The company
specialises in hydrotherapy and bathing
treatments, using Vichy products, encouraging
guests both to invigorate and unwind.
Closer to Glasgow is Mar Hall, whose spa
uses only Decleor products. Decleor are famed
for their facial aromatherapy oils.
Back in St Andrews is the Fairmont. The
spa is designed around Celtic folklore and has
the ingredients to match; Scottish oats, North
Sea salt and Highland pine all appear in their
massages, scrubs and facials. The Crest of the
Cliff treatment lets clients enjoy a foot massage
and full body oatmeal scrub. Perfect after a
brisk walk in the country - or time spent
begrudgingly following someone round a golf
course in the Scottish drizzle.
Jessica Lindsay
WHENTHE
GOLFER’S
Escape from the green and get into
the steam
AWAYScandinavia is more than just Eurovision and crime dramas
Helsinki Harbour
Barosund
Loviisa
Photography: Sofia von Bonsdorff
Above: photo courtesy of Gleneagles Hotel
Below: photo courtesy of Fairmont Spa, St Andrews

A
RT USED to be a clear-cut
construct; it was oil paintings
in gilt frames and marble
statues selling in auction houses
and galleries for the price of a small
mortgage. However, art has taken
a step away from the traditional.
Artists are experimenting with new
mediums and themes in their work.
They reinvent old techniques like
photography or sculpture in order to
say something new about our society.
But are alternative art forms gaining
the recognition they deserve? And
how does Edinburgh embrace this
new form of culture?
Tania Kovats is a sculptural
artist who works primarily in non-
traditional landscapes. She uncovers
patterns and movements from the
natural world in an abstract way, and
believes that the role of modern art is
to “be apart from everything else,
and hold its own status or space
that takes you out of what
is familiar.”
Her most recent
exhibition was held
in the Fruitmarket
Gallery and was a
conceptual piece
about the oceans
of the world. It
incorporated
bottles of seawater
that people sent her
from all over the
globe. She has also
previously exhibited
in the Natural
History Museum in
London. Tania says
Are we ready to accept modern art from modern people?
THE STRANGE
TURN &FACE
that Edinburgh is a uniquely inspiring place for
contemporary artists to work.
“Edinburgh is an important cultural city
that is interestingly self-reflective. It
seems to think deeply about what
it is, where it’s come from and
where it is heading. Not many
cities have such an interesting
conversation going on about
their own identity.”
Sam Jack, a textiles artist
and gallery curator, sees
contemporary art as a way to
handle and promote discussion of
social issues. “There’s less of a focus on the
‘gallery setting’ and more of a focus on opinion,
public setting and politics.”
Art has always been used as a means to give
a voice to those who lack one, and Sam’s views
on how alternative art can influence change are
apparent through the community art shows she
has curated. She is optimistic at how new art
forms will continue to develop and earn regard
in Edinburgh; “I think there is potential for
an even stronger community element
to the scene.”
Robyn Myna is a photographer
and sculptor living and working
in Edinburgh. Her work
challenges the idea of sex and
gender, and explores the role of
the internet in the modern world.
Contemporary art is often used
to examine the parts of life that are
seen as taboo; it acts as a distorted funhouse
mirror with which we can take a rare and
honest look at ourselves, society and the human
condition as a whole.
Like Sam, Robyn sees alternative art as a new
form of activism, and agrees that it is >
To see more of Sam Jack’s work visit:
www.sajackart.wix.com/thespacebetween
Photo courtesy of artist, Sam Jack
Photo courtesy of artist, Tania Kovats - Mountains
“Edinburgh is
interestingly
self-reflective”

The National
Gallery of
Modern Art
is a favourite,
displaying
work by
Tracey Emin
and Andy
Warhol.
Pop into the
Fruitmarket
Gallery next
to Waverley
Station –
home to a
wide variety
of modern art
pieces.
To step off
the beaten
track, try the
Collective
Gallery on
Cockburn
Street, which
displays work
by emerging
Scottish
contemporary
artists.
Also on
Cockburn
Street is
Edinburgh’s
first gallery
dedicated to
photography,
Stills.
> gaining respect from more
traditional sectors. “The first ever
digital art auction recently took place
in New York. I think that’s symbolic
of the shift towards more recognition
and respect of modern art practices.”
As alternative art spreads out from
the cultural epicentres of New York,
London and Paris, it gains more
legitimacy and becomes an accepted
form of expression. The Turner
Prize – one of the most prestigious
art events in the calendar – focuses
mainly on conceptual work. It was
most recently hosted in Derry/
Londonderry in Northern Ireland;
the first time it has left England since
it began in 1984. Alternative art is
beginning to travel and this will not
only help artists gain recognition –
it will also inspire others to start
their own work.
Edinburgh has art running through
the veins of its streets; there will
always be the need for new blood.
There is certainly no shortage of
talented candidates working, living,
and exhibiting in the city today.
Although artists are challenging
the boundaries of traditional media,
the overriding themes of their work
remain the same. Sex, death, politics
and nature have been fundamental
motifs in art since cavemen dabbed
images of their kill on stone walls.
Just because art can now be created
on a computer or using bottles of
water, it does not mean that it has
become more removed from us.
With alternative art gaining a
footing in galleries and grassroots
organisations alike, we venture into
new territory - one where nothing
is off limits.
Cassie Doney
Edinburgh
highlights
Robyn Myna
Sam Jack
To see more of Robyn Myna’s work visit: http://datsueba.com
Photo courtesy of artist, Robyn Myna
Robyn Myna
www.stills.org,www.collectivegallery.net,www.fruitmarket.co.uk,www.nationalgalleries.org/modernartgalleries

37Impulse Arts&Culture
She’s the new girl on the block
I set up Leopards Lunch as a brand for my
illustrations in 2012, although I really didn’t
know what direction it would take at the time. I
picked up freelance work through contacts and
agencies and am now starting to produce my
own illustrated products to sell online
(www.leopardslunch.com) and
also at different boutiques and
markets in London.
She’s already made
waves
My career highlights
so far have been
the work I did
on Kopparberg’s
Eclectics range
- seeing my
illustrations
printed on the side
of their festival bar
at Field Day was
pretty awesome. I
also loved working
with nail artists H&H
Nails on their 2014
Lookbook, which was
displayed at their nail bar
at Paris Fashion Week.
She’s always had passion
I have always enjoyed drawing and was good at
art in school. My dad was an architect and is an
amazing illustrator so I think the arty gene was
passed down to me. Bizarrely, even though both
of my parents have jobs in the arts - my mum is
an opera singer - I didn’t really consider this as
a career for me when I was 17. I think that may
have been down to my school which was very
focused on the academic side of education.
She’s got ambition
My aim is to build the brand and
product range gradually - I am
working on my business plan
at the moment so it’s fairly
embryonic at this stage,
but my dream would be
to have my products
stocked in Liberty’s of
London.
She’s a grafter
Financially it has
been hard - I went
from a full-time job
to ad hoc work. Also
when I started, I did
a lot of free work to
build my portfolio
and get my name out
there. I have a part
time job which helps
me to pay the bills but
I’m just very lucky I have
an understanding husband
who supports me. For someone
like me who started later in life and
has still got so much to learn, it can be very
daunting. There is so much talent out there and
it can be hard to maintain confidence in
your own ability.
Katie Hogg
LUCK OF THE DRAW
London-based artist and founder of Leopards Lunch, Kate Philipson, talks
about her life as an illustrator
JUST G BOUTIQUE:
Guilt-free fashion
J
UST G Boutique sits on West
Port, among the Edinburgh
Grassmarket’s scene of
independent shops. Its glass front lets
out a warm inviting glow, mirroring
the reception you receive inside.
The stylish interior is home to
rails lined with clothes from exciting
brands including Petit Bateau,
Fever Designs and A Postcard from
Brighton. The clothes are high
quality, ethically produced and sold
at high street prices.
Unlike the high street, however,
the pieces aren’t mass-produced and
there is often only one in each size;
so you won’t have to worry about
anyone else turning up to a party in
the same dress as you.
Gail, the owner, is happy to talk
you through the clothes and will help
you find something you love. For a
special event with a difference,
why not try one of the store’s
private shopping evenings, which
are available on request – the
perfect party present for your
fashion-savvy friends.
If you are in to high-end, ethical fashion that
won’t break the bank, then look no further than
independent boutique, Just G.
Visit us: www.justgboutique.co.uk
Like our Facebook page
or follow us on Twitter
Advertising feature

H
AS EDINBURGH ever seemed so
fruitful? Probably, for it is a very
fruitful city. But in the world of spoken
word performance, it is certainly a ripe scene
ready to be picked up, made into jam,
eaten up by an audience and called
a poetry slam.
Call it performance poetry,
call it spoken word, call it
post-modern-lo-fi-vocalism-
pop, call it whatever you
like; it’s happening all over
Edinburgh, if you know
where to look.
Scots love an “aul shtory” and
a chat. They love whining, moaning,
getting things off their chest, expression.
Look no further than Billy Connolly or
Arab Strap. Both brilliantly funny, wry story
tellers and wordsmiths. Perhaps that’s why
performance poetry has fed its way into the
minds of the city’s creative population, as well
as its pubs and literary haunts.
It all originated in mid-1980s NYC,
when inspired performance artists
began to introduce spoken
literature to their movement
pieces. Soon after this,
competitive poetry "slams"
emerged in jazz lounges
and clubs across America.
These slams proved to be
very popular. They mixed the
gladiatorial nature of competition
against the art of written word along
with the emotion of performance.
The first national level slam kicked off in
San Francisco in 1990 and, in 2002, HBO
broadcast the first poetry-based
commercial TV programme Def
Poetry Jam. Here the medium
gained the attention of a mass
audience through the likes of hip-
hop influenced Saul Williams and
presenter Mos Def.
The slam movement has been
likened and contrasted to the revered
"Beat Generation" of the 1950s. This
movement spawned some of the most exciting
writers in living memory, from Ginsberg,
to Kerouac to Kesey. Could Edinburgh be
cultivating such talent within its bonnie crooks
and crannies?
Miko Berry, Scottish Slam Champion, and
Kevin Mclean of the Loud Poets spoke to me
about Edinburgh’s poetical prospects and their
self-proclaimed "spoken word revolution".
So, who are the Loud Poets?
Miko – Loud Poets is a collective of slam style
poets trying to do something a little bit different
from the sort of stuffy image that poetry has -
give it some oomph, (with old man accent) "fuh
the young ones y’know, keep it excaating".
Slam poetry has that competitive element, can
that affect the artistry of poetry?
M – It depends who you ask really. I think a
lot of poets are quite introverted and socially
nervous, so a slam can be a really daunting thing.
Like any art, it’s very difficult to say "that was the
best poem" or "that was the best poet" because
everyone’s got a different opinion so, there’s a lot
of criticism for slams.
What defines a great piece of performance poetry?
Kevin – It’s getting a good mix of really funny
Forget Wordsworth, slam poets are stepping on to the scene
or topical issues and presenting them in an
accessible way. A lot of the time I find - I
didn’t do English lit or anything like that - I
sometimes don’t really "get" a lot of the more
literary poetry.
M – The meadows are like your eyes and
the green of the envy of my heart and the
metaphors of the similes.
K – (laughs) It’s just talking about real things
in a real way and making it interesting for
someone who can’t plough through the
language of Shakespeare or whatever and
going "here are the same issues" but presented
in a more accessible way
M - It’s about having the impact. There’s
a lot of poetry out there that is absolutely
unspeakably beautiful but doesn’t have the
impact because it’s not as accessible.
If you come to Loud Poets, whether you laugh,
cry, get angry, or a mix of all three, you’re
going to feel something and that’s really the
point. Like any great piece of art, be it a song
or a film or anything else, it should resonate
with you throughout the rest of your life.
Josiah Whitworth
RHYME & REASON
Opposite: Rachel Amey performs at the
Teviot Underground slam
This page: Loud Poet’s founder, Miko Berry,
performs at the group’s launch night
Photography: Chris Scott (Literary Paparazzi)
“It’s just talking
about real things
in a real way
and making it
interesting”

THE WRITING’S
ON THE WALLHow our streets are being transformed into a canvas for graffiti
Artwork throughout: Elph
See more at www.akaelph.com
I
T DATES back to the ancient
civilisations of Greece, Rome and
Egypt. It’s been sold for hundreds
of thousands; exhibited in galleries;
and you probably walk past it every
time you leave your house. With its
growing popularity, graffiti is moving
out of the shadows and taking pride of
place on the face of our cities.
Elph is a street artist who has been
painting Edinburgh's walls for over
20 years, covering the city with his
unique style of colourful illustrations.
He has also become a world famous
talent and has exhibited all over the
globe alongside icons like Banksy. He
spoke to us about why street art is so
enduringly popular. >

> Elph explains that the street art scene in
Scotland has developed organically over the
last few decades. “I started to do graffiti when
there wasn’t a real ‘scene’, so I suppose that
has changed a lot. In Edinburgh in the 90s it
was still mainly graffiti writing that was going
on. Some artists did stickers, plus there were
some people from the art college who messed a
little with putting up posters, but on the whole
I rarely remember anyone doing posters or
paste-ups until the end of the 90s.”
He says that he and the crews he worked
with were inspired by other artists around the
globe, including those operating in San Diego
and Melbourne.
He credits Adam Neate (one of the best
known street artists in the world) for the
development of his own ethos: “He got me into
the idea of putting artwork up in the street.”
Elph also mentions some home-grown
heroes, such as Derm, who he has worked
with in the past, and Bernie Reid, who brought
stencil techniques back from Paris at the
start of the millennium: “He did a load of
multi-layered stencils around the
city centre and Leith that were
quite influential. His work was
quite important; date wise, he
was pre-Banksy.”
Part of the appeal of the
artwork, Elph says, is its
accessibility: “A lot of people
like it because it’s not as
pretentious or silly as what is
presented to the public as art;
it’s fairly straightforward in its
presentation. I also think that the
subject matter helps people relate
to it as it is mainly character based.”
Overall, Elph believes that street art
adds to, rather than detracts from, the
beauty of our urban landscapes: “The colour
plays a big part. Scotland is a grey place a great
deal of the time. A little colour goes a long way.”
Take a walk around Edinburgh’s streets or
up to one of the ‘legal walls’ - places that the
council have designated as free-for-all graffiti
zones - and see if you agree.
Cassie Doney
Artwork throughout: Elph
Advert
www.revolution-bars.co.uk/bar/edinburgh
30a Chambers Street
Edinburgh EH1 1HU

R
ECENT figures suggest that while
one-third of undergraduates studying
STEM subjects – Science, Technology,
Engineering and Maths – are women,
only 9% of university professors
in these sectors are female,
suggesting it is still difficult for
women to progress in science.
But thanks to a number of
schemes, women are finding
it easier than ever to achieve
within the discipline.
“When my plans fell
through to be an astronaut I
decided to go into science,” says
Sam Hawkings, a biomedical science
student in Edinburgh. She is half joking, but
her choice of career path makes perfect sense.
“I’ve always loved science. It’s what I
have always wanted to do. I want to go into
research, perhaps in genetics or immunology,
and so far I’ve never experienced any specific
discrimination because of my gender”.
ScienceGrrl, a broad-based grassroots
organisation which celebrates and supports
women in science, is trying to end prejudice
Many women find it hard to make it in science
but one organisation plans to change all that
SCIENCEGRRL
POWER
Opposite and this page: Biological science student at work
Photography: Leona Jade Clark
in the field. ScienceGrrl (which can be found
at www. sciencegrrl.co.uk) has a division in
Edinburgh and runs events through local
universities where established female
scientists can pass their knowledge
on to the next generation. How
young students view science is
key to encouraging women
towards STEM careers.
Sam was encouraged by
their outreach events and
hopes to go into academia
or research. She found that,
while she was not discouraged
to study sciences at school, there
was a lack of information on how this
could translate to realistic employment: “No
one really explained what jobs you could get
after studying physics or chemistry.” She now
volunteers with a STEM outreach programme
which works with students interested in a career
in the field of science.
With organisations like ScienceGrrl
making progress, perhaps the next major
scientific discovery will be made by a woman.
Heather Thomson

PERFECT
T
HERE is no greater pleasure than
curling up on the couch with a good
book. Books are companions which
can be carried through life. Tucked in a
backpack to read on the train or the bus, while
eating lunch, and kept by the bed for late night
reading. For a while, it seemed
that ebooks and e-readers were
going to take over, but that has
proved not to be the case. A
recent survey revealed that only
4% of people read books on
e-readers alone. Why is this?
There are some aspects
of a physical book that an
ebook just cannot replicate; a
folded down corner to mark a
favourite passage, a handwritten
note casually scrawled in the margin, even a
stain or scratch or fold that tells of the book’s
history. The favourite book that you spilt coffee
on but kept nonetheless.
Ebooks do have some advantages. The main
one is that they are light - you can carry a
whole library around with you, something
that would cause, at the very least, major
back problems with physical books. There
are even some ebooks that have incorporated
multimedia content, such as videos. There
are some fantastic interactive textbooks with
videos, interactive graphics,
and audio.
However, these advantages
cannot take away from what
physical books bring. They
say you should never judge a
book by its cover, but some
are just so beautiful that it
would seem churlish not to. In
a recent survey, the cover of
Joseph Heller’s Catch 22, with
its distinctive graphic red devil,
was voted the most iconic book cover ever. To
some, no HD retina screen can do justice to
the raised engraving and leather bound covers
of the old classics. They are tactile, they have
a pleasing heft in your hands; you can literally
size up a physical book and consider if you are
up to its challenge. When you read War and
Peace in print you are more than aware of the
journey that you are about to undertake.
Those in Edinburgh are lucky that the city
is full of fantastic bookshops. When buying a
physical book there is no better place to
do it than a bookshop.
Not only do they offer
a much more tangible
experience, they are chock
full of knowledgeable staff
who are ready and willing to
help people find what they
are looking for.
Looking Glass Books is
a gorgeous little bookshop
and cafe tucked away inside the
Quartermile’s warren-like streets.
Opened in May 2012, Looking Glass Books
is home to a great selection of books for
children and adults.
The shop hosts lots of events, as well as a
book club, and they also have a writer-in-
residence, Cat Clarke. Cat writes in Looking
Glass Books every other week and manager
Gillian Robertson says that “lots of people who
are interested in writing” stop by for a chat.
Edinburgh also has more than its fair share
of secondhand bookshops. Armchair Books
in West Port is a book-lover’s paradise.
This tiny shop has so many books
squashed inside that sometimes
they literally jump off the
shelves and into hands. But
with its brilliant selection
of tomes in every possible
category, from sci-fi to sports,
and poetry to politics, there is
something to suit everyone.
There is a West Port Book
Festival every November. The
festival’s aim is to “offer free events to
a diverse audience who share our passion for
books, bookshops and fun”.
Edinburgh’s literary scene is well established,
so get out there and visit a bookshop, because
physical books are here to stay.
Rachel Small
Opposite and this page: Old Town Book Shop is
nestled in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.
Photography: Nadia Younes
It’s the final chapter for e-readers
as books make a comeback
IN
PRINT Grab a book at...
• Looking Glass Books Ltd,
36 Simpson Loan,
Quartermile,
Edinburgh EH3 9GG.
www.lookingglassbooks.com
• Armchair Books
72-74 West Port, Edinburgh, EH1 2LE
www.armchairbooks.co.uk
• West Port Book Festival
www.westportbookfestival.org/about
“They say you
should never
judge a book
by its cover, but
some are just too
beautiful not to”

the Seven Dwarfs. It was a resounding
success and took in $8.5m at its
original release, the equivalent of
$416m today.
Even though Snow White is nearly
80 years old, it is still as popular as
ever and in 2012, Universal Studios
decided to retell this story for a
modern audience. Instead of a damsel
in distress, Snow White was portrayed
as a strong, courageous woman,
ready to go into battle to reclaim her
kingdom. No more singing down a
wishing well or cleaning the cottage
I was terrified of her, but I was so drawn to her.
She had this elegance and grace, and yet she
was so cruel.”
With the early reaction to the trailer of
Maleficent proving to be positive, Disney
has set about re-telling another one of their
classics, Cinderella. Due for release in
2015, the film already has some
big names attached to it such
as Cate Blanchett and Helena
Bonham Carter, who have
signed on to play the Wicked
Stepmother and Fairy
Godmother respectively.
There is also a brewing
box office showdown between
Disney and Warner Bros. as both
of these studios have announced
they are remaking Beauty and the Beast.
With the director of the dark Pan’s Labyrinth,
Guillermo del Toro, attached to the Warner
Bros. version, it will be interesting to see how
the two fare when they go head-to-head.
While the revamp of these classic stories
may never match the frightening tones of
the original tales that they are based on,
these new live-action remakes are sure to
be a hit at the box office – especially with
adults keen to see familiar faces from their
childhood updated for the 21st century.
Amy Grant
A
LL CHILDREN love
fairytales; tales of princesses
with their beautiful dresses
and Prince Charmings ready to sweep
them off their feet to live happily ever
after. But now some of these classic
tales are being retold and are ready to
be unleashed upon a generation eager
to see their childhood reinvented.
In 1937, the Walt Disney
Animation Studios saw the potential
of telling a fairytale through moving
images and unveiled its first feature
length animation, Snow White and
ONCE UPON
A DREAM
The stories of our childhood are getting darker and a bit more Grimm
with the help of woodland creatures; instead,
in came a modern-day feminist hero with
weapons, armour and attitude.
With the darker take on the classic tale
proving a victory, Disney has decided to go one
step further and devote an entire film to one of
their most popular villains, Maleficent
from Sleeping Beauty. This wicked
fairy with a menacing laugh
and heart of stone was feared
by all. It was her curse which
caused Princess Aurora to
be put under the medieval
version of witness protection
- living with fairies in the
woods. When Sleeping Beauty
was released in 1959, Maleficent
left children running from cinemas
crying in fear; an ideal antagonist for
Disney’s desired dark fairytale and more akin
to the earlier publication by Brothers Grimm
which dates back to the middle ages.
Maleficent puts the villain at the centre of
the story and retells the tale from her point of
view. What used to be a delightful children's
movie has been stripped apart and rebuilt
from scratch. Even the iconic song Once Upon
a Dream has been re-recorded by Lana Del
Rey, whose haunting tone creates a sinister
atmosphere. Angelina Jolie’s performance of the
evil fairy is powerful and dark. Jolie revealed,
at the Disney D23 expo last year, that she was
so terrifying when in character that her own
daughter Vivienne Jolie-Pitt had to be cast as
young Aurora; because she “was the only four
year old who didn't scream when she saw me.”
When asked about having the chance to play
Maleficent in the retelling, she said: “Since I was
a little girl, Maleficent was always my favourite.
Illustrations: Katherine Castro
“She had this
elegance and yet
she was so cruel”
Angelina Jolie on
Maleficent

PEELING
OFF THE WAX
The Aberdeen label creating eclectic vinyl for a new age of music lovers
C
LOISTERED in the centre
of Scotland’s music scene
is Tuff Wax Records; an
offbeat, boutique label whose host of
experimental producers and budding
artists have helped bring vinyl to the
21st century.
Founders Tom Banks (aka Lockah),
Shaun Fowler and Calum Minellas
(aka Bones and Money) spoke to
Impulse about how they launched
their vinyl revival.
Tuff Wax first emerged onto
the scene back in 2009 with the 7”
Aberdeen Truth Vol.1. It was Tom’s
debut release and his brainchild’s
first tangible creation, stemming
from his love of the hip-hop vinyl
culture: “I wanted to add to vinyl
legacy, but I also had an aim to build
an expectation - that Tuff Wax could
put out good music and people would
know to trust it,” says Tom.
“We all have a background of loving
a wide range of musical sounds and
since getting together creatively that
has only expanded,” says Shaun. “Like
a lot of people, I spent a good part of
my youth in my bedroom making music with
keyboards or guitars.”
Tom agrees, and waxes nostalgic
about his own musical development.
“When I was younger I used to
buy vinyl and tapes from the local
record shop. Once I finished
school and left home I had to
make music on headphones so
DJing and production took centre
stage, and now here we are.”
Shaun describes how the vibrant club
scene in Aberdeen at the time played a big part
in the birth of the label. “A lot of passion and
motivation was building up. Club music was
king. Loads of friends were making really
great electronic music and we wanted
to create a platform for them to
showcase that.”
Their diverse music range defies
categorisation. When trying to
put a pin on their sound, Shaun
stumbles: “After 15 releases
it’s pretty difficult to generally
describe our music. Our sound is
broad and we’re always open to new
artists because there’s not really a Tuff Wax
shaped box that they need to fit into. >
“I wanted to
add to vinyl
legacy”
Opposite: Tom Banks (Lockah)
This page: Shaun Fowler and Calum Minellas (Bones and Money)
Photography throughout: Dean Gray

Everything’s online. Every note, beat and lyric is
transformed into its own rhythm of ones and zeroes
- digital music for the digital age. In 2013, nearly
800,000 vinyl albums were sold. The bestsellers were
Arctic Monkeys’ AM and Daft Punk’s Random Access
Memories. Annual
events like Record
Store Day have
helped boost
vinyl sales, with
artists releasing
limited edition
vinyl to be stocked
in independent
record stores.
Life moves so fast
now that we’ve
forgotten about the simple pleasure of putting on a
record, moving the needle, sitting back and drifting
into another world. For young people wanting to
stand out from the crowd, vinyl is an appealing
alternative to the impersonal nature of digital buying.
Michael Gardiner and Calum Macdonald
> Our label’s image has always been
more about the people behind it than
any one major style.”
After almost five years, they’re
optimistic about their future.
Calum says: “At the moment we’re
concentrating on getting our next
few records out, building up the
catalogue and constantly improving
everything we do. New interesting
artists approach and opportunities
come up. Whatever happens over the
course of that year rarely reflects our
initial plan.”
Tuff Wax has become a Scottish
cultural touchstone in the midst
of a booming vinyl revival. With
their musical background, range of
styles and dedication to exposing
new artists, they’ve added to the
vinyl legacy and inspired the next
generation of music moguls.
Calum Macdonald
HIGH FIDELITY
THE VINYL COMEBACK
Visit our website for free music
downloads from Scotland’s
hottest labels
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How did you first get involved in VJing?
I was VJing as a hobby for three years whilst I worked in
a call centre. Finally last year I made the decision to put
all my time into creating visuals and getting gigs. I’m still
waiting for a foot in the door when a DJ scoops me up and
asks me to go on tour, but hopefully it won’t be long.
How would you describe your visuals?
I try to create a dreamlike sequence of distorted shapes and
patterns. It’s a free flowing entourage of colours that change
as the music progresses.
What has been your best VJ experience?
I think the best visual display I have created to date
was with TLF Presents for Pleasurekraft and Bontan in
Aberdeen. I had the stage space to create a large 3D display
that fully surrounded the DJ. I felt like I had created
something very surreal and the feedback I received after
the gig was phenomenal.
What’s next for you?
My first big booking of the year was Dunbar’s Audio Soup
in March. I should be busy throughout summer playing at
festivals and events. I love playing at festivals so hopefully I
can take my visual shows to as many as possible.
Karen Kelly
F
OR YEARS underground music could
only be found in dingy basement bars
and low rent crash pads. It could
only be bought on crude home-
recorded cassettes, and
read about in shabby,
handwritten fanzines.
Thriving in the
darkest corners
of the world, as
pop polluted the
airwaves above,
the underground
was almost literal.
However, in the
current digital age,
it has taken on a
new guise.
Critics may argue
that the underground
is dead, with all music now
easily accessible online, but the
underground is not simply about access.
It is an attitude, a philosophy that has been
revitalised through digital innovations.
Scotland’s underground scene is no
exception. Many web-based Scottish labels,
such as Song, By Toad and Olive Grove, still
retain the underground’s DIY ethics and
distribute physical products. “DIY or Die” has
become the scene’s unofficial motto,
summing up the situation for both
musicians and listeners.
Jon Adam, of Edinburgh experimental
rock outfit VASQUEZ, believes social
media and websites like Bandcamp and
Soundcloud have revolutionised the way
bands distribute music: “The web has made
the tools needed to create music of any kind
readily available for anyone, anytime, anywhere
and given everyone the opportunity to share and
distribute their output for free if they choose.”
This new reality may be a far cry from the
days of dusty, static-ridden four track recorders,
but audiences remain the same and physical
music is still selling well, according to Darren
Yeats, co-owner of VoxBox Music: “Cassettes
are undergoing a revival. The first
Cassette Store Day was last year.
The vinyl revival has been
powered by grassroots
support too. It’s
still niche.”
The advances
in digital
technology have
also broken up
tribalism between
scenes. Prior
to the Internet,
underground
scenes were very
much isolated from
each other. Now
bands can converse with
fans, provide updates, and
book gigs all using social media.
VASQUEZ’s Jon Adam says: “I would
consider myself part of a digital scene now.”
The practice of the underground may have
changed in the years since bootleg tapes and
fanzines, but at its heart the scene is still
one of unbreakable camaraderie and artistic
freedom and it continues to defy the status quo..
Michael Gardiner
T
AKE a look at the charts today
and you will undoubtedly
notice that many of the top ten
hits are by DJs. Most of us will have
been to see these DJs, in concert or at
a festival, crushed in a crowd, or knee
deep in the mud. But while the music
is great, it’s no secret that watching a
DJ spin decks does not always make
for the most enthralling viewing; enter
the underappreciated VJ.
The job of a VJ, or video jockey, is
to produce and display manipulations
of selected visuals that are often
combined with performance art,
such as music.
We spoke to VJ Planet Arm, also
known as Matthew Ralph, an up and
coming Scottish VJ, whose work you
may have already seen, without even
knowing it.
See more of Matthew’s work
www.stagevisuals.com/vjplanetarm/
VJs are vital to any music
show but you’ve probably
never heard of them
SOUND & VISIONDIY OR
How subculture has survived
the internet
Photography: Zoe McArthur
Photography: Matthew Ralph
DIE

57Impulse Sportwww.impulsemag-online.com56
in advance as it allows me to focus on the
Commonwealth Games, rather than
chasing a qualifying time.”
With the competition less
than four months away, Eilish
has been pushing her body
to the limit at a high-altitude
training camp located in
East Africa.
Dwarfed by the impressive
Great Rift Valley, the small
Kenyan town of Iten lies hidden in
the remote African mountains. >
THE
KENYAN
TRAIL
Olympian Eilish McColgan
goes from high numbers to
high altitudes
A
FEW years ago, mere
mention of the McColgan
surname in athletics circles
would immediately conjure up tales
of a young, fair-haired, Dundee-born
runner, Liz. But fast forward to the
present day and it’s her daughter Eilish
who has been making significant
strides on the athletics track.
Over the last two years, the
steeplechaser has completed a
remarkable rise to the top of
international athletics, just like
her Mum, who ran to gold in the
10,000 metres at the 1986 Edinburgh
Commonwealth Games.
Chasing the family’s legacy on the
running track hasn’t always been
on Eilish’s agenda though: “I was
never fully aware my Mum was a
professional athlete. After I finished
my maths and accountancy degree,
I then decided I wanted to become a
full-time athlete.”
It has been a whirlwind journey
for the 23 year old, who went from
studying for a degree to competing at
the London Olympics, in her first experience
of a major championship: “I had gone
from competing at the Scottish
University Championships
in Grangemouth to 80,000
spectators inside the Olympic
stadium. It was a huge jump up
in competition for me.”
Eilish was named one of
the first 27 athletes chosen to
represent Scotland at this year’s
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow:
“It’s a bit of a relief to be selected so far
‘‘After finishing
my degree I
decided I wanted
to become an
athlete”
All photos courtesy of Eilish McColgan
Eilish training in Iten, Kenya

“While on a run
along the dirt
paths, you find
yourself running
alongside Olympic
champions”
> It has become a breeding ground
for many of the world’s finest distance
runners. With a population of just
over 4,000, of which roughly a quarter
are athletes, the town has produced
a plethora of world and Olympic
champions, all without the funding or
facilities of western countries.
This noticeable trend has led to
the who’s who of international track
athletes, including Eilish herself,
travelling to the remote region of
Africa to train in the thinner air:
“While on a run along the dirt paths
you find yourself running alongside
Olympic champions and world record
holders. The fact that the town is
situated at 8,000 feet above sea level
means training is extremely difficult.”
Currently, Eilish is ranked fourth
in the world at her discipline behind
three Kenyans. After training with
some of the world’s best athletes, she
hopes to emulate her Mum’s success
at the Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow this year.
Andrew Ross
Scottish wrestlers haven’t thrown in the
towel just yet as Insane Championship
Wrestling is leading a revival
SQUARE GO!
T
ODAY, even just uttering the words ‘professional
wrestling’ in conversation will receive a bit of a
sneer: “You know it’s fake, don’t you?”, “It’s pretend
fighting!”, “I loved it...when I was younger!” are regular
responses. It’s shrugged off as something for children
and taking an interest in the sport after the realities of
adulthood set in is just, well, embarrassing.
But if the popularity of Glasgow-based independent
promotion company, Insane Championship Wrestling
(ICW), is anything to go by, there should be no sneering
in sight. Their cult fan-base is extremely passionate and
notoriously rowdy, creating an ultra-violent Rocky Horror
Picture Show environment.
The company, run by Mark Dallas,
puts on exclusive shows for over 18s,
who have become frustrated with
an increasingly sanitised version of
wrestling: “Everything else seems too
aimed at a younger audience these
days, even though the late 90s were a
time when wrestling was the number
one rated show in a lot of countries
around the world. We go after that
fanbase.”
The last few years have seen
ICW’s success skyrocket. They were
featured in a BBC documentary,
Insane Fight Club, earlier this year,
which showcased their sell-out show
at the Picturehouse during last year’s
Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
With their first show in London
taking place in May this year,
Dallas has very high hopes for the
promotion’s future: “I want to run
every major city in the UK eventually
and then possibly some cities around
mainland Europe. A TV deal is the
end game, and if we have to produce
TV every week of the year, we will
simply have to branch out and run
new cities and venues.”
With mainstream crossover
exposure and endorsements from
celebrity fans, such as Still Game’s
Greg Hemphill and Burnistoun’s Rab
Florence, ICW looks set to grab the
attention of the nation, twist it into a
scorpion deathlock and force
it into submission.
Owen O’Donnell
To purchase tickets for upcoming events
or to find out more about ICW, visit their
website at: www.insanewrestling.co.uk
Ticket Information
Above: Red Lightning and Wolfgang
Below: Renfrew
Photography: David J. Wilson

W
HEN the towering highs of
his early career came to a halt,
after being guilty of using blood
boosting drug EPO in 2004, David Millar
lost two years of his career and found himself
ridiculed by the cycling community. This type
of scandal would leave many athletes utterly
broken but not David.
He has since clawed his way back, achieving
even more success and now he’s Scotland’s
greatest living road cyclist. David retires this
year as he defends his Commonwealth titles
in Glasgow.
David discusses his excitement
and the issues surrounding
his return home to cap
off a standout career
in front of his
countrymen.
This coming
July you’ll be
representing
Scotland at
the Games in
Glasgow. Are
you excited to be
racing in front of a
home crowd?
“It’s the main reason I’m
so motivated. For sure, if
it was in a different country I’d
be going, yet being in Scotland, and in
particular Glasgow, it’s very special. It will be
quite a magic few days for me, something I’ll
never forget.”
Winning both gold and bronze in 2010
certainly gives you momentum. Are you
feeling confident about heading into this
year's Games?
“Confident would be a strong word to use, I
would say I am ambitious. I would like nothing
more than to get a medal in my final Games in
front of a home crowd. Winning a gold would
be a dream. The competition is going to be
fierce, though, as some of the best cyclists in
the world are members of the Commonwealth.
It’s going to be as hard as any race I do on the
professional circuit.”
With your role in the World Anti-Doping
Agency and your recent success, is this year an
excellent end to your career?
“It’s one of the reasons I’ve chosen this year
as my final. It feels like a perfect final
chapter what with the Tour de
France starting in the UK,
the Commonwealth
Games in Scotland,
and the World
Championships in
Spain, my adopted
home.”
How do you
feel about the
track you’ll be
racing on through
Glasgow?
“The course is good,
it’s a racers course.
Tactics aren’t quite as
important as they often are.
Bit of a ‘he who dares..’ sort of
parcours. My type of thing in other words.”
With Scotland holding the Games and the
referendum in the same year, are you worried
that Scottish athletes will get caught up in that
debate at these coming Games?
“I don’t think so. These things [the Games] tend
to transcend politics and it’s one of the reasons
we all tend to enjoy them so much. It’s more
about patriotism than nationalism.”
Michael Millar
LAST LAP
MILLAR’S
The Scottish cyclist defends his title on home turf
Photos courtesy of
Team Garmin Sharp
This page and opposite: Millar
taking part in the Tour de France

62 www.impulsemag-online.com
A GLIMMER OF GOLD
Three to
Watch
1. Chad Le Clos
Swimming
The South
African is the
most likely to
step, or swim,
into the position
Michael Phelps
has left as the
global superstar
of the sport.
While he’s not
yet confirmed
his appearance,
let’s hope he
attends with his
dad in tow for
some poolside
hysterics.
2. Louis Smith
Gymnastics
After taking a
break from the
sport, following
his success at
London 2012,
the Englishman
returned to
training at the
start of the year
and is aiming for
glory at Glasgow
2014.
3. Usain Bolt
Athletics
The undisputed
king of sprinting
has gone on
record saying
he’d love to be
at Glasgow for
the Games. It
certainly won’t
be as much fun
without him.
N
EARLY a quarter of the world’s
population will be watching intently as
the Commonwealth Games get
under way this summer. It will mark
the first time in 28 years the
competition has been held in
Scotland, and will provide a
once in a lifetime opportunity
for many young Scottish
athletes to compete in front
of the world.
Seven years ago, the
decision to award the Games
to Glasgow was announced as
the city beat off fierce competition
from the Nigerian city of Abuja. The
sheer joy and elation of winning the right to
host the Games still lingers in the memory of
many Scots, but it will pale into insignificance
come 23 July, when spines will tingle with
excitement as the opening ceremony
gets under way at Celtic Park in
Glasgow’s East End.
The Games will be the
largest multi-sport event ever
held in the country, with
world-class facilities, such
as the new Emirates Arena,
joining existing stadia such as
Hampden Park (where the track
and field hopefuls will compete).
One of Scotland’s hotly tipped
track athletes, Eilidh Child, hopes to do
one better than the silver medal she received
This page: Glasgow will host the 2014 Commonwealth
Games. Opposite: Althetes from all over the world will
compete.
in the 400m hurdles
four years ago. “It is
a once in a lifetime
opportunity to run
in front of a home
crowd in a major
championship
so I plan on
taking it all in
and enjoying it as
much as I can.”
Another athlete
limbering up for
the games is Glasgow
swimmer, Michael
Jamieson. The returning
Olympic silver medallist
has high hopes of thrilling
the home crowd after his near
death experience in November last
year. Jamieson had to have his heart
restarted after an intensive training session for
this years’ Games. The 200m breaststroke
specialist believes that this setback was
evidence of his hunger to win: “I think it
shows just how much is being put in to
preparing for this summer.”
With the weight of the nation on
their shoulders, the Scottish athletes
wait intently for the crack of the
starting pistol, the roar of the crowd
and the lure of the finish line.
Lewis Carr and Andrew Ross
As the nation awaits this year’s Commonwealth Games, we give you a
run down of the Scottish athletes to watch.
“Jamieson’s heart
stopped during
training for the
Games”
Opposite: Glasgow swimmer in training
This page: Gymnast Ruby Harrold, cyclists at the Sir
Chris Hoy Velodrome, The Road to 2014
Photography: Paul Devlin

64 www.impulsemag-online.com
E
VERYONE loves a good bar
of chocolate, and with the
UK constantly topping
league tables for chocolate
consumption, we’ve
certainly got a sweeter
tooth than most. But if
you’re after something a bit
more gourmet than a Mars
bar, why not check out these
choc-tastic landmarks.
Hotel Chocolat
www.hotelchocolat.com/uk
In this shop off Princes Street
you can find everything a
chocaholic could possibly
want; from solid chocolate
to fondue kits. In the
back of the shop there is
a chocolate bar where you
can warm up with a hot
chocolate or chocolate shots.
If unsure about what you fancy,
the staff will happily give you a
few samples.
The Chocolate Tree
www.the-chocolate-tree.co.uk
This lovely chocolate
shop in Bruntsfield has
walls lined with everyone’s
favourite chocolate
treats. The shop also offers
chocolate tastings in their
back room.
SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE
Coco Chocolate
www.cocochocolate.co.uk
With three locations in
Edinburgh, this is a must
see for an adventurous
chocoholic. These
gorgeous shops offer an
assortment of different
chocolate combinations.
Also, their Chocolate
School at their Midlothian
Chocolate Kitchens offers the
opportunity to learn how to make
your favourite chocolates.
Choco-Latte
www.choco-latte.co.uk
While this shop is small,
it has it all from fudge, to
sweets to cakes.You will
love the cozy atmosphere
as well as all the delectable
samples. This shop can be
found on South Clerk Street,
and the cakes are to die for.
Chocolate Lounge
www.chocolate-lounge.co.uk
Located in Harvey
Nichols, by St. Andrews
Square, this lounge
offers upscale chocolate
cocktails, if you are
looking for a posh chocolate
experience.
Julie Larsen
No matter what chocolate you prefer, these shops have just what
you need to satisfy that craving
Hotel Chocolat
Cakes from
The Chocolate Tree
Gelato from
The Chocolate Tree
Photography: Julie Larsen

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