Airth Castle Hotel

Airth Castle Hotel is proof that you don't need to travel far from the central belt of Scotland, or far from the city, to enjoy a taste of relaxation and luxury. The first view as you enter the car park is of the impressive Airth Castle, which sits slightly downhill from the main hotel and reception, and offers a beautiful venue for a wedding ceremony.

Airth Castle

The main lounge area inside Airth Castle

But it isn't just the quiet elegance of the main castle building that makes this hotel worth a visit. Whilst there are some aspects that could be improved, the hotel itself offers a wonderful spa with fantastic facilities including a gym, a pool, jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna, as well as a variety of treatments (...massage, yes please). The hotel boasts a sleek and very chic main reception with a lounge area and bar, with a modern vibe that doesn't conflict with the historic castle vibe.

Facilities 

Food

Vegan aubergine and courgette "lasagne" starter.

Next up was the vegan pie, which was very tasty; however, it was served with honey-roasted vegetables which is a bit of a disappointing mistake for such an up-market venue. Honey isn't vegan, so including it in a vegan meal is a pretty big faux-pas. The head waiter was very apologetic and said the kitchen should know better and I agree - they should. They did bring replacement vegetables and they were in the middle of a busy Saturday night so it is forgivable, but it was just another thing that slightly detracted from the whole experience.

Vegan pie (served with  roasted vegetables).

I asked what vegan option was available for dessert in lieu of the vegan brownie and was met with a rather underwhelming trio of fruit sorbet. It was nice, it cleared the palate well after a heavy main and it stopped me from feeling overly full so although I wouldn't have chosen it, it did close out the meal quite nicely.

Mixed Fruit Sorbet

Would I Stay Again?

If it wasn't already obvious to anyone in the scene - promoters, musicians, fans - Tenements and company really showed why supporting local bands and venues is the lifeblood of the alternative music industry in their headline show at the effortlessly cool Glasgow venue The Ice Box last night.

It's not often that you can attend a gig that features a line up with 5 different bands and come away having loved all of them, but that was the case at this small and intimate show, with the bands managing to compliment each other's style and genre without being identical copies of one another. It really was a showcase of the kind of talent that Glasgow's music scene has to offer, proving yet again that Glasgow deserves its recognition as a UNESCO City of Music.

Fresh from the release of their debut album, Shapes & Sounds (read my review and interview with Kris here), IKARI delivered an impressive set that wouldn't have been out of place at The Avalanche Stage of Download Festival (seriously, if someone doesn't pick these guys up for the newcomer tents at festivals then you're missing a trick). When I was reviewing Shapes & Sounds, the album struck me as having a maturity to it that was surprising for the band's youth - that was echoed in their polished yet charismatic set, and you would be forgiven for thinking this was a band with numerous albums already under their belt. With an amazing live sound and an obvious and infectious passion for the scene, IKARI should definitely be on your "ones to watch" list.

IKARI showing their love of the music scene in their impressive set at The Ice Box

IKARI throwing their everything into their first gig since the release of their debut album, Shapes & Sounds.

When headliners Tenements took to the stage, it was transformative - I've been to gigs with ten times the audience numbers and half as much energy. Proof that venue size has no bearing on the atmosphere of a show, the audience were lapping up every note and every move that Tenements offered up, dancing, moshing and jumping along like their lives depended on it. The fact that The Ice Box operates a B.Y.O.B policy (revolutionary) makes for the perfect mix and it was just pure, unsullied fun. It epitomised everything that I love about this genre - people letting go and coming together whether they knew the lyrics or not.

The energy of Tenements' set would put some gigs in legendary venues like the O2 to shame.

I had the privilege of catching Tenements when they supported Novelists in late 2018 and since then it's obvious how much they have come into their own and they owned that stage. Finishing up with an energetic cover of Linkin Park's Papercut (I was front and centre in about it, obviously) the band threw out a confidence that is frankly, more than well deserved. This is another band that I'll be expecting to see frequenting festivals in the coming years; I'm excited to see where these bands go next.

In an industry that's being threatened by the straight-to-fame culture fostered by social media channels and talent shows, it's refreshing to see bands that are dedicated to honing the skills of promotion and live performances. With streaming services being a constant spectre over those that create and distribute music, shows like this and small, local venues are the pillars on which the alternative scene are built; the nurturing of new and true talent and accessible shows are what will keep the heart of this industry beating.


Did you catch this show? Let me know in the comments! 

Sunnybank's Guest Lounge has that perfect "country home" aesthetic.

This post is not sponsored, promoted or influenced in any way by Sunnybank Guesthouse and is strictly representative of my own experiences and opinions only.

When you picture a classical English countryside escape, it's pretty likely that the image you'll conjure up will be a dead ringer for Sunnybank Boutique Guesthouse. There's a reason they boast a 5/5 TripAdvisor score, with comfort embedded in the fibre of the building and friendly and attentive staff to make your stay as relaxing as possible.

I've talked before about my love for staying in buildings that are old or filled with character and Sunnybank has character in abundance. If you're seeking the exact opposite of a somewhat manufactured, high-paced city break in an impersonal ultra-sleek hotel and are craving something a little more relaxed and a lot more peaceful then Sunnybank Guesthouse is a must for you.

First Impressions & Location

The building is on a relatively steep hill which makes it a bit less accessible than other places but provides a stunning view over the village and the surrounding countryside; the exterior of the building is as pleasant and welcoming as inside, showing off the subtle charm of the country guesthouse. (I've already said "country" a lot, can you tell I'm a city gal?).

The building itself has plenty of charm.

I wish the weather had been nicer on my visit so I could have enjoyed this gorgeous, well-maintained garden more!

The views of the surrounding countryside add to Sunnybank's character and atmosphere.

Location wise, it is perfectly situated for visiting the village in all its picturesque tranquillity or for venturing out further afield into Yorkshire or even Manchester, should you wish to.

The guesthouse is next to this beautiful little church, which is visible from the front garden.

 Facilities 

Sunnybank has 4 rooms, as well as a lodge (which I very much want to experience on my next visit) that is separate from the main building. I stayed in the Patio View room which I found to be spacious and comfortable, as well as having a large bathroom across the hall. I confess that using a bathroom which was separate from my room was a little daunting to me at first, especially as I was concerned about waking people later at night or running into other guests in my pyjamas (and untamed hair) but it was totally fine and I got used to it pretty quickly. It is a private bathroom as the other rooms have en-suites, and it's also the largest of the 4, with the benefit of being well equipped with toiletries and stylishly decorated. I regretted not making more time for a bubble bath!

Patio View Bedroom

Patio View Bathroom

Everything was well-maintained to a high standard, comfortable, and clean; they also provided an impressive spread of tea, biscuits, and coffees in the room which really accentuates the homely and relaxing vibe of the guesthouse.

The assortment of hot drinks and biscuits in the room makes the experience of Sunnybank that bit cosier.

Breakfast & Lounge Areas

By the time I had thought to take a picture of the rest, my toast was half demolished and my coffee almost gone...needless to say I didn't think it would make for the most appetising of photos, so I stuck with the main part!

This has all the makings of a perfect reading spot.

Disclaimer: I have received no payment for this post and this post does not contain affiliate links.

"As far back as I can remember I’ve had music there as an emotional crutch when I’ve needed it. I’m sure many people feel the same!"

Q. What has been the biggest challenge you and the band have faced in getting to your debut album launch?

"Glasgow’s very lucky and still has a number of fantastic venues like Bloc, Stereo, Garage Attic where we’ve been fortunate to play and those places are supported by such genuine, hardworking people who have an interest in the local scene."

"If even just one person feels the way about this record as I do with any of my favourites, then I’ve achieved everything I could [hope to] with this release."

"There’s never been a more accessible time to create."

Recording software, recording videos on your phone, watching YouTube videos, it’s all there for you to soak up and learn from. It's easy to wait for the right opportunity, but you’ve no idea when that’s coming. So just start.
Thank you to Kris for taking the time to participate in this interview at such an exciting time for the band. You can follow IKARI on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Image Rights: Netflix.

This post contains spoilers for the Netflix series "After Life" and discusses themes of suicide and drug addiction. 

If you've not seen it, then what have you been doing with your spare time?

It's the Netflix series that everyone's been talking about: Ricky Gervais' After Life.

I confess that Ricky Gervais' comedy is generally a bit hit and miss for me, but when a few friends told me how good After Life was I thought I would give it a bash, and I'm so glad that I did.

The show focuses on recently bereaved Tony (Ricky Gervais) and how losing his wife to cancer has impacted his life and his mental health. He is vocally suicidal and changes from a generally caring man to someone who is relatively hostile to those around him because he no longer sees any point in being nice - for him there are no long-term consequences anymore. Ricky Gervais' delivery is perfect; it's brutal yet poignant, heartbreaking yet hilarious. He's a man in pain and it's terrible to witness but still manages to make you laugh.

So often people in the media are scared to touch mental health in any setting other than in very serious and dramatic storylines. It's understandable - mental illness is very serious after all - but this can portray mental illness as a perpetually bleak existence, with extreme and dramatic peaks and troughs. Whilst it certainly can be that way, for many of us the majority of our experience is rather mundane. Most importantly, we have a personality and a life outside of our illness the same as anybody else.

The simple truth is that mental illness or not, we like to laugh too.

So to see a comedy centred around someone openly suicidal and to see him progress to a place where he realises his worth and the meaning of those around him is wonderful. It doesn't gloss over or glamourise any of it, but puts a wickedly witty twist on a horrific time in someone's life.

Perhaps the true triumph though lives in the portrayal of the resident "drug addict", Julian (Tim Plester).

From the moment we meet Julian, he is one thing - a drug addict. Although throughout the series we see glimpses into the fact that Julian was not always so, for us and for Tony, he is simply an addict. We hear that Julian lost his girlfriend too, and is in a similar mental state to Tony yet he is not offered the same complexity in his character, staying firmly one-dimensional in his existence. Tony is a man in pain, lost in the wake of his wife and although he dabbles in Class A drug use, he is at all times separate from Julian. Julian is not afforded the same level of sympathy or understanding in the series, as it breezes past his homelessness and bereavement.

When Tony gives him money for drugs knowing it will end in Julian's suicide by overdose, we are shocked but also...not really? Again the show moves on focusing predominantly on Tony. On Tony's recovery and progression to a better headspace. We forget the horrible things said and done by Tony because we are just happy that he has found himself again. Hurrah, we cheer for the "happy ending".

But what of Julian?

The show holds up a mirror to society in the way we cast aside and forget the homeless, the addicts, and the people we have deemed as hopeless or "other". We root for Tony but not Julian: Why? Is it because Tony is the main character or is it because we already assumed how Julian's story would end? Why do we offer forgiveness and redemption to one of the lost and grief-stricken men but not the other, and what does it say about us? Throughout the series Tony tells Julian they are alike, both bereaved and feeling hopeless, and Julian repeatedly refutes this. We think he means that Tony hasn't truly given up but he's right in another way - Tony isn't like Julian because despite his transgressions we are willing to look on him favourably and with sympathy, he hasn't yet crossed the boundary into a place we will wash our hands of him. Tony has a future and Julian doesn't. Tony has redemption and Julian doesn't. Tony has hope, and Julian has a pre-determined ending. Despite having a similar starting point, Tony's sadness and cruelty is seen as an illness, but Julian's addiction is seen as a choice.
It doesn't have to be this way, as a society we can choose to give the same sympathy and compassion to people with addictions as we do with other mental health conditions. Addiction isn't a choice but treating someone with understanding and kindness is. We can give people hope, redemption and a future, and we can extend help to the Julians of the world.

After Life puts a face to mental illness, one that isn't scary or stigmatising, and that's important. Despite some criticism I can't help but think this show is a triumph for television and for mental health awareness.



If you are struggling right now and feel like you need to talk to someone, The Samaritans can be reached at 116 123.

If you are looking for support for addiction, resources can be found here. 


Interested in more content related to mental health? Click here to view more posts on this blog about mental health.

Intro

== Aesthetics ==

Packaging, Accessories

Design, Build, Microphonics

Fit, Comfort, Isolation

== Sound ==

Specs

Headphone Type	Closed-back in-ear monitor
Driver Type	2x Balanced Armature (1 woofer, 1 tweeter configuration)
Frequency Response	12 � 22,000 Hz
Sensitivity	110 dB at 1 mW
Impedance	30 ?
Cable	1.3m (~4 ft.) OFC cable
Connector	Angled 3.5mm (1/8") gold-plated connector
Accessories	Carrying case (Wide) 6x sets silicone eartips (S/M/L) 1x set Comply T-100 foam eartips Velcro cable tie Shirt clip Instruction manual & warranty card (24 months)

Equipment, Burn-in

Sound Quality

Other Media

Amp & EQ Response

Value

Comparison

== Conclusion ==

About the Company

Changelog