September 22nd
We welcomed Oliver Henderson back from holiday today, o mein proud papa having been in Germany with Britta, his better half, to show off their gorgeous little babby Amelie.
Ever eager to help, I'd offered him some choice German colloquialisms before he left, to be dropped into conversations as and when he pleased.
'Ach du liebe Zeit, meine Kugelschreiber ist an die Busanhaltestelle'
for example, 'Golly gosh, my fountain pen is at the bus stop'.
Can you believe he didn't use it? Not once?
September 21st
Oh what a night! Late September back in, um, 2009. The simply divine Tina the Greek had her leaving do last night, attended by quite a few tearful admirers. After a bibulous meal in Students Under the Stairs (I think that's what it was called), enlivened by an uncalled for assault by the 'sociable' Gregor Sloss on an innocent bystander's mohican hairdo, things became rather confused. At someone's insistence - I blame that Juliet - the entire party decamped to Priscilla's, Edinburgh's leading transvestite bar. Just curious m'lud, honest. Tina actually leaves on the 24th - we'll miss you girl. Well apart from the Gallery's Peter W, who's looking forward to some peace and quiet.
September 19th
Motoring merry-go-round madness worthy of 'Monte Carlo or Bust' afflicted Henderson's today. Dirty Dancer Juliet Henderson has acquired a spanking Mercedes in which she no doubt intends to drive through Paris with the cool wind in her hair. As a result she donated her red rocket Volvo to dad Peter, who in turn donated his Volvo to Young Savage Barrie Henderson. Confused? Not half as confused as Barrie after discovering that his new car's cute little habit of going 'Parp Parp' like Noddy's involved the discharge of copious quantities of carbon monoxide through the dashboard thereby nearly rendering him senseless. Honestly. If I was you I'd just stay off the roads till things have calmed down a bit.
September 18th
The Little Green Map was launched today, an original and invaluable guide to Green businesses and services in the Edinburgh area - and yes of course Henderson's is in it. In fact the launch party was held - where else? - in Henderson's @ St John's. A great time was had by all, and many thanks to Juliet for organising it. Why not pick up your free copy next time you're in the restaurant?
September 15th
Since the Henderson's Box Office and Bookshop closed its doors at the end of the Festival (though the books are still available in the restaurant downstairs) Thistle Street has been in a ferment of fevered speculation as to what would be taking over the 'wee shop'. Well, the answer can now be revealed as......a florist! Renowned Edinburgh florist Caroline Mason will be moving into the premises at the start of next month. This is fantastic news! Now, after an overlong session in the Thistle Bar with Howie Nicholsby and his merry men you can pick up a dozen red roses from Caroline, some Fair Trade chocolate from Henderson's Shop, and stagger off home, assured of a warm welcome. Huzzah!
September 12th
Dirty dancer Juliet Henderson swears blind she saw Christopher Biggins in Henderson's today. Now while I wouldn't want to suggest she was mistaken - the lucky ones died first - I reckon it could have been Santa Claus in civvies, checking up to see if we were being good little girls and boys. Christmas comes earlier every year you see, as does the Christmas Party season, which brings me (seamless link) to my next point.
Henderson's today launched their Christmas events packages for this year. They can cope with groups of anything from 4 to 200: a delicious dinner perhaps in their world famous restaurant; drinks and nibbles in the stylish Henderson Gallery; or an all-dancing, all-singing pa-a-a-arty in the atmospheric surroundings of Henderson's @ St John's. Details of how to book can be found elsewhere on this website.
Don't leave it too late though. Remember last year, when all you could get at the last minute was a night out in the Grassmarket with Slade, shooters, Santa hats and the Dick Vet Rugby XV? I still wake up screaming in the middle of the night just thinking about it.
September 10th
Yet another distinguished group of journalists took a tour of the ever changing world of Henderson's today, this time from the USA. They included reporters from the Washington Post this time from the USA. Juliet Henderson, the hostess with the mostest, did the needful and guided them round, and they did seem highly impressed with what they saw. At this rate we'll soon be getting more international press attention than Silvio Berlusconi's love life. Which would probably be good news for both parties.
September 9th
Tonight's talk by Paul Martin at a packed Henderson Gallery was yet another roaring success, the audience enthralled as Paul, eloquent and insightful, spoke of his work and the philosophy behind it. These evening events are proving almost as popular as the Gallery's hottest-ticket-in-town openings, and long may it continue.
Of course the evening also saw the premiere of an oddly beautiful animation based on Paul's work by our very own Tina the Greek - which also meant a first appearance for Mark Powell's weird and wonderful end of the peir viewing machine. I don't know if 'mantling' is the opposite of 'dismantling', but if it is Mark could be seen mantling away like nobody's business in Thistle Street Lane up until about half an hour before the show. Last-minute Larry strikes again - but then that is so often the way of it with these artistic johnnies.
September 7th
The Festival went out with a bang last night with the traditional fireworks concert. OK, I know it's a horrible cliche, but if every other sad old hack in the country is using it, I don't see why I shouldn't.. I think that Henderson's first Festival has to be considered a great success - I certainly enjoyed it. Thumbs up to John Cairney, who was the Usain Bolt of the team, breasting the tape well ahead of the rest, but, hey, I reckon all the other performers brought plenty to the (world's biggest) party too. Thank you one and all.
Of course, there are those who reckon that Edinburgh is a cultural black-hole for 11 months of the year, only coming alive in August (if black-holes do actually come alive). Well, not at Henderson's it isn't, and the proof comes as early as this Wednesday with Paul Martin's eagerly awaited talk at the Henderson Gallery. Tickets are selling like hot frittata, so I wouldn't want to delay too long. See you there.
September 5th
OK, that's it - we really do have the East Asian market sewn up. After our visit from a posse of Chinese journalists last month (see News, Aug 19th), today Henderson's entertained the gentlemen - and ladies - of the Korean press.
All we need now are the Japanese and it's a clean sweep. The press lads and lassies had a grand old time and seemed particularly taken with the cut of Peter Henderson's jib - as who wouldn't be? - and the young Korean paparazzo had him posing and pouting like the old pro he is fast turning into.
His face could be gazing out from the front page of next month's Korean Tatler you know.
September 1st
Today we said goodbye to the delightful Martina who has manned (womanned?) the Box Office with such aplomb over the Festival.
She's off on holiday with her decidedly butch boyfriend to Slovakia before returning to her job at VisitScotland, and everyone here at Henderson's wishes her well.
In her absence Box Office duties will be performed by that Gregor Sloss lad. Now is it just me, or has he been piling on the beef lately? He looks more and more like Eric Bristow every day.
Less of the beer and pizzas and a bit more exercise needed for you my boy.
