Around Town
Name Euan Bruce
Profession I run Scotland's only mobile surf school Surfariscotlandcom, organising all-inclusive Surfing trips for beginners, going wherever the waves are best.
So you willingly enter the waters around Scotland. Explain. Scotland has some of the best waves in the world — without the crowds and hassle you find in mOre stereotypical surf zones. The water does come with a nip. but wetsuits have improved to the point where they're actually warm and comfortable to wear. Plus. Scottish sharks are very small and have bad teeth.
But why should anyone else want to do it? Surfing is the perfect balance of dumb adrenaline sport and intelligent artistic expression. Contrary to popular belief. you don't have to be Patrick Swayze a la Point Break and ladies often learn faster than the gentlemen. You simply can't have more fun.
What’s the best bit about the job? Watching people stand up on their first wave. Nothing beats the buzz. Then sitting round a campfire afterwards and reliving it over dinner. Also, not having to phone in sick when the waves are good is a bonus.
And the worst? The long drives and rinsing out wetsuits. I can't really complain, mind.
Best day surfing ever? Jeffrey's Bay. South Africa. chasing dolphins in a perfect, double overhead swell; the fastest waves on the planet with a beautiful sunnse.
Plans for the future? Sell to RiChard Branson. hit the road. What would you do on your ideal day off? Head to Thurso in Caithness. one of the best places for tube-riding in the world. Two long surfs with a few good friends followed by a selection of cold beers in a sketchy van. Bliss.
I w. surfariscot/and.com, 07980 65 7 739, surfing lessons from £40
30 THE LIST 7—21 Jul 2005
Events are listed by date, then type. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to sportGllst.co.uk for sport or morag.bruce@llst.co.uk for all other events. Listings compiled by Morag Bruce.
Glasgow
Activities 8 Events
Indian Head Massage Borders Books. Fort Retail Park. 390 Provan Walk. 773 2910. 6—8pm. £8. The perfect pre-weekend wind-down with resident therapist Liz Forrester. Each massage lasts around 15 minutes. And. relax . . .
Workshops
Hip Hop Dance Classes CCA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. 7—8pm. £5 (£4). Apparently it's your civic duty to shake your booty.
Manipulate Media CCA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. Free. by application only. Experimental workshop exploring innovative approaches combining principles of media production. tangible interfaces and creative practices from the performing arts. Free but by application only. For full details log onto www.manipuIatemediaorg.
Friday 8
Workshops
Manipulate Media CCA. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. Free by application only. See Thu 7.
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CRAFT SESSION
STITCH & BITCH The Glasgow Women’s Library, Trongate, Glasgow, every second Tuesday (next session Tue 12th Jul).
Food 8 Drink
Mansfield Park Farmer’s Market Mansfield Park. off Dumbarton Road. 341 0844. 10am—2pm. Who needs supermarket tosh when you‘ve got happy produce from happy places and made by happy farmers in happy fields? Taste the difference.
Activities 8 Events
The Local Pool Tournament The Local. 427 Sauchiehall Street. 332 8100. 7pm. £10. Sharks at the ready. get set to win £250 in teams of two. Drinks promos and DJs keep you entertained when you're not playing.
Activmes 8 Events
Poplife! 13th Note Cafe. 50—60 King Street. 553 1638. 8.30pm. £1. In this monthly pop quiz the questions are secondary to getting drunk. singing along to Spandau Ballet and moaning about the scores. Hosted by Radio Magnetic's Molly and Brendan O‘Hare.
Stitch and Bitch Glasgow Women‘s Library. 109 Trongate. 552 8345. Free. All newcomers welcome. but call in advance to say you're attending. See panel. below.
Wednesday 13
Talks
Curator’s Talk Burrell Collection. 2060 Pollockshaws Road. 287 2550. 12.30pm.
Free. Patricia Collins. curator of Medieval and Renaissance Art. gives a talk entitled
The place to go for a bitchin’ night out, Glasgow’s Stitch & Bitch group, is for women of all ages who like to knit, put matters right in the world and sample a good home baked scone while they’re at it.
Yes, knitting is the new yoga. Uma Thurman does it. Young professionals are casting on as they sit on the underground. And while the group of women busily clicking their needles together does contain a couple of older members, a good proportion of the ladies are in their early 20s. Anika Hoppel, for example, is 25. She has been attending the group for around three months and is knitting ‘probably a jacket or cardigan-type-thing’ with a speed that would put a dedicated granny to shame. Pausing to explain how to cast on, she reassures that anyone with a little patience can master the skill. ‘I learned knitting in primary school but forgot about it until about a year and a half ago. Then I just taught myself, using a book.’
Getting your knuckles around the needles is possible with such helpful knitters on hand, but be warned - the concentration required can result in what is termed a ‘knitting face’. One member suggests a collection of photographs of such expressions could make a great exhibition. “Just think about it, you could keep the knitting out of the shot and title it: “Katy —
scarf”.’
If you start that bobble hat now, you may just have it ready in time for Christmas. Ladies - don’t get cross; get crocheting. (Katy McAulay)
I See listings for details.
‘Venus Rising: The Nude in the Renaissance'.
Activmes 8 Events
Indian Head Massage Borders Books. Fort Retail Park. 390 Provan Walk. 773 2910. 6—8pm. £8. See Thu 7.
Talks
ArtBites! .‘\1c1.ellan Galleries. 270 Sauchiehall Street. 565 4l00. 1pm. Free. Short talk on ‘The l.oing at Saint Mammes' and ‘The Foot Bridge - September Morning‘.
Workshops
Crime Fiction Reading Group ()ttakar's Bookstore. L'nit 6. Buchanan Galleries. Buchanan Street. 353 1500. 6.30pm. The novel under investigation will be Rosemary Rowe's (i/msls iif'G/i'i‘tmi. Hip Hop Dance Classes (‘(‘A. 350 Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. 7—8pm. £5 (£4). See Thu 7.
Saturday 16
Food 8 Drink
Queen’s Park Farmers’ Market Queen's Park. 520 Langside Park. 287 7273. 10am—2pm. Free. Forget about all that mass-produced rubbish — farmers‘ markets are all about organic. quality produce direct from the chaps and chapettes that make it.
Workshops
Write-Tron for All Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 4267. 11am—1pm. £5 i£2.50). Stephen Barnes runs this creative writing workshop for adults. Booking essential.
Fairs * Mela Kelvingrove Park. ()tago Street. 423 2210. Free. See Hitlist.
Talks
Curator’s Favourites Burrell Collection. 2060 PollockshaWs Road. 287 2550. 12.30pm. Free. Vivien Hamilton. research manager for art. gives a talk entitled ‘V'enus Rising: Degas and the .\'ude'.
Activities 8 Events
Indian Head Massage Borders Books. Fort Retail Park. 390 Provan Walk. 77.3 2910. 6—8pm. £8. See Thu 7.
Workshops
Ottakar’s Reading Group ()ttakar‘s Bookstore. ifnit 6. Buchanan (ialleries. Buchanan Street. 353 1500. 6pm. Free. Sue Monk's children‘s novel Secret Life of Bees is up for discussion at this book group hosted by Matt Meade.
Hip Hop Dance Classes (‘(‘:\. 35f) Sauchiehall Street. 352 4900. 7—-8pm. £5 (£4). See Thu 7.
Archiprix International 2005 The Lighthouse. 11 Mitchell Lane. 221 6362. L'ntil Sun 7 Aug. Mon 8; Wed Sat 10.30am 5pm: Tue 1 lam—5pm: Sun noon-5pm. Exhibition featuring work by all the candidates shortlisted for the prestigious Hunter Douglas Awards.
Edinburgh Em_
Food 8 Drink
Fine Food at Vermilion Vermilion. Scotsman Hotel. 20 North Bridge. 556 5565. 6—7pm. £10 for welcome drink and event; £25 for event and dinner. Taste the liner things in life with head chef (‘hris Smart as he shows you how to \\ hip tip a yummy summer pudding.