Storytelling
Saturday Storytime Sat 20 Jan & Sat 27 Jan, 11am. Free. Borders Books, 283 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. Ages 3—8. Weekly storytelling sessions.
EDINBURGH
Activities And Fun
Quickies For Kids Royal Museum Of Scotland, 2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. Free entry to museum for visitors aged 18 and under. Ten-minute talks for children held every Saturday at 2.15pm and every Sunday at 3.15pm.
Music
Adventures In Music — Kaleidoscope Sun 21 Jan, 3pm. £9 (£4—£5); family ticket £24. Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. Children’s Classic Concerts and the RSNO explore the magic of colour through music to produce a symphonic rainbow. Jump on board at Grand Central Station and explore the various sections of the orchestra. Paul Rissman presents the concert which features Purcell’s ‘Abdelazar Suite’ and Arlen’s ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’.
Theatre &. Dance
Peter Pan Fri 19 Jan, 3pm & 7pm. £4 (£3). Netherbow Arts Centre, 43—45 High Street, 556 9579/2647. Ages 3+. See Glasgow. Chinese New Year Celebrations Sun 28 Jan, 1pm. £3.50. Festival Theatre, 13—29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. See photo capnon.
Exhibition
Snowballs And Runny Noses Until Sat 27 Jan, Free. Museum Of Childhood, 42 High Street, 529 4142. This exhibition recreates a child’s view of Christmas, complete with
woolly jumpers, frozen toes and Christmas stockings.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Activities And Fun
Instant Portraits Thu 18 Jan, 1—4pm. £2. Bellshill Cultural Centre, John Street, Bellshill, 01698 267515. Ages over 8. Get snap-happy at this fun workshop to capture your image on film.
Digital Badges Workshop Sun 28 Jan, 1—4pm. 75p. Motherwell Heritage Centre, 1 High Road, Motherwell, 01698 251000. Ages over 6. Have your photo taken and then help turn your image into a badge. Animal Magic Sun 28 Jan, 2—3pm. Free. Calderglen Country Park, Strathaven Road, East Kilbride, 01355 236644. Calderglen is transformed into a miniature zoo and members of the public can take a closer look at guinea pigs, rabbits and some more unusual creatures. Meet at the conservatory.
Film
The Little Vampire (U) Sun 21 Jan, 2.30pm. £1.50. MacRobert, University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 461081. See Film lndex.
Theatre & Dance
Tam O'Shanter Thu 25 Jan, 7pm. £4.50 (£2.50). Dundee Rep, Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. The Edinburgh Puppet Company bring Robert Burns’ classic ‘Tam O’Shanter’ to life. With over 40 puppets, this is an imaginative production for children over eight years.
The International Purves Puppets Biggar Puppet Theatre, Broughton Road, 01899 220631. £5 (£4); family tickets £23 8: £36. Book in advance as times are subject to change. Reductions for parties of five or more. Shows on offer over the next two weeks are:
The Nutcracker Sat 20 Jan, 2pm. The classic ballet about a magician who can make toys come to life is performed using puppets, and the show takes children on a magical journev into sweetie land.
Pips And Panda In Circusland Sat 27 Jan, 2pm. More fun and adventure for Pips and Panda as they find themselves in Circusland and Cloudland, meeting lots of colourful characters along the way.
. I listings
glasgow@list.co.uk
ON YOUR DOORSTEP Everything you ever wanted to know about MOTORBIKE LESSONS
If you’ve ever fancied hitting the open roads and living the life of a biker, then get up off your lazy car-driving ass, book some motorbike lessons and turn your dream into open road reality.
The whole process is very straight- forward and more exciting and nerve- racking than you could ever imagine. But before you can take to the road, it's a legal requirement that you pass
your CBT training and this can be done in one day. The training starts with a talk about motorcycling basics, legalities and safety such as recommended types of protective clothing, boots and helmets. Then it is up to the training area where you can get to know your bike, before swinging your leg over and taking the controls. You are taught manoeuvres such as starting and stopping, left and right turns, figure of eight, U-turns, and emergency stops. This may sound fairly easy, but once in the driving seat you suddenly remember what it feels like to be a learner again (and not to mention realising how nonchalant a car driver you are).
Once the off-road training has been completed, it is into the classroom for some biking theory on how to be a safe and sensible driver whilst avoiding boy racers, pedestrians, dogs and taxis. Then it is the moment you’ve been waiting for it's time to hit the road. All of a sudden you feel seventeen again and the road is a scary place full of big bad cars. But this doesn't last long as the training soon kicks in and you are amongst the traffic practising your manoeuvres whilst following the instructions of your ever-present trainer.
If all has gone well, you are presented with a CBT certificate and you can start planning your route to a full bike licence, because once you've gone this far, you won't want to stop. Personally I am going to go the full hog and take the Direct Access course, sit my test on a bigger bike and become the token biker chick in the Glasgow office of The List . All thanks to the patience of my trainer Chuck.
(Jane Hamilton) Fun factor S/5
Informative 5/5 Value for money S'/5
Added extras Bike hire, loan of helmet, gloves and waterproofs. Shop selling everything from gloves and helmets to leathers and bikes.
How much it costs One day CBT £69—£99. Guaranteed restricted licence 125cc £lO9-£199 + test fee, guaranteed licence 600cc £399 + test fee. Two-hour
lesson £25.
When it‘s open Training available seven days a week. Shop open Mon—Sat
9am-S.30pm.
l Ride On Motorcycles Ltd, 79-21 Nithsda/e Street, 0141 424 0404. wwwride-
on-motorcyc/es. co. uk
SPECIAL EVENTS Festivals
Celtic Connections Until Sun 28 Jan, times & prices vary. Various venues, 353 8000. Celtic Connections continues to brighten up January with a selection of the best folk and world music around. See feature, page 24.
Shows
Torchlight Procession Fri 19 Jan, 6.30pm. Free. Starting at High Street/Trongate, 330 2001. Glasgow University celebrates its 550th anniversary with a procession made up of staff, students, street performers and musicians. Beginning on the High Street, the procession moves to Gilmorehill for further celebrations and entertainment. See photo caption.
3DIZD Craft 8: Design Fair Sun 21 Jan, 10am—5pm. £1.20 (80p). Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 661 6600. The very best in contemporary and traditional craftwork sold direct by the makers. Personal Enterprise Show Sat 27 Jan, 10am—5pm; Sun 28 Jan 10am—4pm. Free. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0845 345 2323. Targeting the business entrepreneurs of
the future, the exhibition should provide all the information necessary to start up a business or realise a money-making opportunity.
Talks
University of Strathclyde Talks At Celtic Connections Thu 18—Fri 19 Jan, Mon 22—Fri 26 Jan, 12.30pm & 6pm. Free. Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 287 5511. As part of the folk music festival, this series of talks and debates covers topics relevant to Scottish culture, with a variety of guest speakers. Wildlife In Madagascar Thu 18 Jan, 7.30pm. Strathclyde Water Sports Centre, Strathclyde Country Park, 366 Hamilton Road, Motherwell, 641 1292. Chris McGuigan talks on behalf of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
God, Fate And The Devil: Some Philosophical Thoughts On Burns Thu 25 Jan, 7.30pm. Free. University Of Strathclyde, Lecture Theatre 1, McCance Building, Richmond Street, 332 9105. Glasgow’s poet laureate, Edwin Morgan, discusses some philosophical issues raised by Burns in this lecture organised by the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow.
listings GLASGOW LIFE
A Vision For Pollok Wed 31 Jan, 12.30pm. £3. Pollok House, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 616 6410. Ian Gow, curator for the National Trust for Scotland, explains the recent changes in the House.
Sport
Auld Old Firm Challenge Cup Sun 21 Jan, 3pm. £10 (£5); family ticket £25. lbrox Stadium, Edmiston Drive. For tickets call Rangers on 0870 600 1993 or Celtic on 0141 551 8653. Celtic and Rangers adversaries of yesteryear take to the pitch for a friendly match with proceeds going towards Cash For Kids. See Tommy Burns, Tosh McKinlay, Mark Hateley and Brian baudrup as they battle it out in a match which should provide good entertainment value whilst the first teams are sunning themselves in Florida. Scottish Claymores Super Bowl XXXV Party Sun 28 Jan, 8pm. £5. Sporto Bar & Restaurant, 17 Waterloo Street, 222 8800. Celebrate the climax of the NFL season with Scotland’s very own American Football heroes, the Claymores.
Rangers v Aberdeen Wed 31 Jan, 7.45pm. £18—£23 (£10—£13). lbrox Stadium, Edmiston Drive, 0870 600 1993. The champions restart their campaign after the winter shutdown against the team who, for fairly bizarre reasons, have become their most bitter rivals. Advocaat’s team simply have to keep winning if they are to catch Celtic.
Burns Night
Burns Night Celebration Mon 22 Jan, 7.30pm. £17 inc meal. Pollok House, Pollok Country Park, 2050 Pollokshaws Road, 616 6410. Celebrate Burns night with a concert from Debra Stuart and Dennis Ha gerty followed by supper. Burns Nigfit Thu 25 Jan. £26.95 inc supper & entertainment. Stravaigin, Gibson Street, 334 2665. Dram drinking, cheerful chanting, reelin’ an’jigging plus a four course supper.
Burns Night Celebration Thu 25 Jan, 7.30pm. Prices vary. Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street, 221 0324. Book into one of the Princes Square restaurants for some traditional Scottish fayre whilst enjoying music from the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra, bagpipes, dancers and a ceilidh in the courtyard.
Alternative Burns Sat 27—Sun 28 Jan, 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Free. Chatelherault Country Park, Carlisle Road, Hamilton, 01698 426213. An informal look at the literary observations of Robert Burns in comparison to our modern day understanding of nature. Advance booking required.
Burns Naturally Wed 31 Jan, 7.30pm. £25. Chatelherault, Chatelherault Country Park, Carlisle Road, Hamilton, 01698 426213. A traditional Burns supper which celebrates the life and times of the Bard and his love of wildlife.
Other Events
Flora Celtica Until Sun 21 Jan. Free. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 287 2699. A travelling display of past, traditional and current uses of native Scottish lants.
Winter Wildfowl Wal Sat 20 Jan, 1.30pm. £2.50 (£1.50). Finlaystone Country Estate, Finlaystone House, Langbank, 01475 540505. An RSPB warden leads this walk to discover the winter visitors making the estate their home for a short time.
Winter Tree Investigation Sun 21 Jan, 2pm. £2.50 (£1.50). Finlaystone Country Estate, Finlaystone House, Langbank, 01475 540505. Take a closer look at the trees of the estate on this guided walk. Animal Homes Sun 21 Jan, 2—4pm. Free. Palacerigg Country Park, Palacerigg Road, Cumbernauld, 01236 720047. Come to Palacerigg Park and learn how to build boxes for birds and bats.
Continued over page
18 Jan-l Feb 2001 THE LIST 79