Thursday’s puzzle...

Across

1 Putting on the stage about here in Stirling, finally (12)

9 Imagine having to rent out first three departments (7)

10 Gets to grips with the gears in winches (7)

11 Material taken from artificial fibre alone (4)

12 Was thoughtless society found wanting (5)

13 Entertain in a cafe, tea-room or bistro (4)

16 Reds hit out, suffering quaking fits (7)

17 Draw back 10 in search for suspect character (4-3)

18 At one time, forward top-soil to specialists (7)

21 Place to find a pilot in a battleground (7)

23 Mechanism used to take back the spoils of war (4)

24 Opposition candidate in competitive match (5)

25 Sign of holiness in the church, a long time ago (4)

28 To work with one in force could be devastating (7)

29 They often take a chance, like their superiors (7)

30 Would a tycoon run off with Peter and Rene? (12)

Down

2 A gentle arrangement can be quite polished (7)

3 About to take iron back into a chain, in the main (4)

4 Empty vessel getting round burdens (7)

5 Perceived that there was a lack of frost (7)

6 A piece of land in the river in Winchester (4)

7 It’s good everyone took a long time to build an old ship (7)

8 Ian sets out to become flamboyant (12)

9 Get through danger, by chance (12)

14 Tried to have paid attention to press, we hear (5)

15 Design trap-door to allow escape (5)

19 Understanding the potential of a written agreement (7)

20 Inform the French about heavy coarse gravel (7)

21 Can leave some red Burgundy in the room (7)

22 Helping to take a turn at table (7)

26 Clue may be hard to take in, at the end (4)

27 Knock out some of the best units (4)

Wednesday’s solution:

Across: 1 Colossus of, 6 Taxi, 10 Saudi, 11 Eavesdrop, 12 Rhodes, 13 Avocado, 15 Inbred, 16 Feldspar, 19 Cleanser, 21 Chorus, 24 Pub quiz, 26 Sedate, 28 Ingrained, 29 Issue, 30 Erne, 31 Keeping fit.

Down: 1 Cask, 2 Laughable, 3 Swindle, 4 Uneasy, 5 Obviated, 7 Aorta, 8 In progress, 9 Osmond, 14 Discipline, 17 Pirates of, 18 Penzance, 20 Nougat, 23 Hadrian, 23 Used-up, 25 Begin, 27 Jest.

Thursday’s puzzle...

THE Soviet Union’s domination of world chess from the late 1940s to the mid-80s was achieved by a nation whose territory and people were ravaged by war and invasion, with many geopolitical casualties along the way.

One such was the Riga-born master Vladimirs Petrovs (1908-43). He played in seven Olympiads for Latvia from 1928 to 1939, winning individual gold in 1931 and bronze in 1939. He had an outstanding performance playing on top board in Buenos Aires undefeated, drawing with world champion Alekhine, former world champion Capablanca, and rising superstar Keres.

In 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Petrovs – who was playing in Moscow at the time – was unable to return to his family in Latvia. He was forced to remain in Moscow but was arrested in 1942 for his outspoken views of the living standards in Latvia after the Soviet annexation of 1940. Petrov was then sentenced to ten years in a gulag and he was never heard of again Only in 1989 did it become officially known that he had died in 1943 from pneumonia.

Last week in Jurmala in Latvia there was a rapidplay tournament held in memory of Petrovs. Russia’s Alexander Morozevich dominated with a score of 5/7 to capture the title half a point clear of Alexei Shirov and Igor Kovalenko.

Final standings: 1 A Morozevich, 5/7; 2-3. A Shirov and I Kovalenko, 4.5; 4. I Khairullin, 3.5; 5-6. D Fridman and V Ivanchuk, 3; 7. S Mamedyarov, 2.5; 8 M Krasenkow, 2.

A Morozevich - D Fridman

Petrovs Memorial Final, (7)

French Defence, Advance variation

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 Nce2 c5 6 c3 Nc6 7 Nf3 Qa5 8 a3 cxd4 9 b4 Qc7 10 cxd4 b5 11 Bd2 Qb6 12 Rb1 Be7 13 Bc3 f6 14 Nf4 fxe5 15 dxe5 Nf8 16 Nd4 Nxd4 17 Bxd4 Qb7 18 Bd3 g6 19 0–0 Bd7 20 Qg4 a5 21 Rfc1 axb4 22 axb4 Ra4 23 Bc5 Bxc5 24 Rxc5 Qb6 25 Rcc1 Qd4 26 Qg5 Rxb4 27 Nxg6! hxg6 28 Bxg6+ Nxg6 29 Qxg6+ Kf8 30 Qf6+ Kg8 31 Qd8+ Kf7 32 Qxd7+ 1–0

Thursday’s puzzle...

This deal comes from the Scottish Womens Teams. West led the ace of spades, looking for an attitude signal from partner. East would encourage with a doubleton, or the queen, but, playing upside down signals, she discouraged with the ten. This card denied possession of the jack, so West knew that if she cashed her second top spade she would establish a trick for declarer – but she feared that if she did not, declarer’s spades might disappear on dummy’s diamonds. After cashing the second spade West switched to a club. East was quite happy at this point, since it appeared that declarer could not reach her hand in time to discard the losing club.

Maida Grant confounded East’s hopes by rising with the ace of clubs and crossing to the ten of diamonds to discard dummy’s second club on the jack of spades. She then played trump, and there was nothing the defenders could do.

West does better to switch to a club at trick two. If declarer finesses, East wins and promptly cashes the second spade trick. So she must rise with the ace and play three rounds of diamonds to discard her two remaining spades. Then she plays a low heart to the queen, which scores. If she now plays a heart to the king East wins and plays her fourth diamond to promote a trick for West’s ten of hearts. The winning play is to duck the second round of hearts in both hands – which looks very silly if East has A10x.

Thursday’s puzzle...

Across

1 Person (coll) (10)

7 Serious loss of cognitive ability (8)

8 Draw (4)

9 Platform (5)

10 Seizes (coll) (7)

12 Established forms of government (13)

15 Unfamiliar (7)

17 Facilitates (5)

20 Criminal band (4)

21 Worried (coll) (8)

22 Couriers (10)

Down

1 Unfit (5)

2 Deepens a river, harbour, etc (7)

3 Ballot (4)

4 Verbal exchange (8)

5 Horrify (5)

6 Old coin (6)

11 Line drawings (8)

13 Bandit (6)

14 List in detail (7)

16 Point of view (5)

18 Push with force (5)

19 Satellite (4)

Wednesday’s solution:

Across: 1 Circular, 5 Crag, 9 Class, 10 Coerced, 11 Christchurch, 13 Ceding, 14 Compel, 17 Arctic Circle, 20 Incline,

21 Tacky, 22 Acid, 23 Beechnut.

Down: 1 Cock, 2 Reached, 3 Unscientific, 4 Alcott, 6 Racer, 7 Godchild, 8 Technocratic, 12 Sciatica, 15 Pelican, 16 Scheme, 18 Cacti, 19 Cyst.

THE owners of a five-star hotel that closed suddenly have called in another hotel chain to help out brides let down just weeks before their weddings.

Online travel site TripAdvisor has been inundated with complaints after the Cromlix House Hotel in Dunblane shut without any explanation.

However, it has emerged that owner Ian Grier has drafted in Halo Hotels, which runs two hotels in Bridge of Allan, to try to rearrange weddings booked for the next few months.

Halo managing director Anne Peters said she was doing everything she could to help couples.

IF your existing kitchen cabinets, worktops, appliances and lighting are in good shape but you want a new look for spring, try the following tips.

Clear the space of everything that is not fixed. That means not just a de-clutter, but also taking down curtains, pictures, mirrors and memo boards. Temporarily remove or pack away all kitchen paraphernalia, including cooking equipment, on-view storage and accessories, tables and chairs. Then take stock of the features you like most in the room and any you want to conceal. Note light levels and effectiveness. Identify the main colour scheme and any co-ordinating or contrasting shades.

Now think how, ideally, the space might look and function and assess what changes you could make. For a modern, streamlined look, keep to a single colour family. Bright shades can look stunning but remember that fashions change quickly so be prepared to change your colour scheme too. Neutrals maximise space and light, and are easy to liven up with accent shades.

If cabinet doors are looking worn, consider repainting them with two coats of an oil-based eggshell paint. You may find all that is needed is new cupboard and drawer handles.

If choosing new accent colours, citrus shades pep up a contemporary scheme while pastels open up a space. Try exciting mixes such as pink and purple or turquoise and yellow. Bear in mind that more than three different accents can give a cluttered feel.

Gradually re-introduce useful or much-loved accessories, disciplining yourself about how much you will have on show. It is amazing how quickly we become blind to the living spaces around us.

• Pat Elliott, The Borders Design House.  Visit our online shop for our design services and courses together with unique, eco, chic home accessories. Learn to ‘Be Your Own Designer’ with our distance-learning interior design course (07765 057409, www.thebordersdesignhouse.co.uk)

]]> 1.2132404 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:31:43 +0000 http://www.scotsman.com/interiors_style_doctor_1_2132401

Q: I love 1950s-style furniture and have bought quite a few pieces at auction. I am currently trying to find bedside tables, without any success. Could you help?

P Johnson

A: Interior designer Doreen Smith says, the Mid Century two-tone solid wood side tables with drawers will look stunning in your room. This classic 1950s-style retro cabinet has two-tone drawers in dark and light wood, aged metal handles and angled legs, which give it a vintage appeal. It stands at 45cm (w) x 40cm (d) x 45cm (h) and costs £259.

Artisanti (0845 259 1410, www.artisanti.com)

Doreen Smith Interiors (0141-884 2319, www.doreensmithinteriors.com)

Q: I thought I had come across a coffee table with stools that sit under it, but can’t remember where. Do you know where I might find one?

A Hill

A: Dwell does a square walnut veneer coffee table with hidden legs, creating a space for four faux leather stools – extra seating that tucks neatly under the coffee table when not needed. The table measures 45cm (h) x 90cm (w) x 90cm (d), while the stools are 41cm (h) x 43cm (w) x 43cm (d). It costs £499.

Dwell (0845 675 9090, www.dwell.co.uk)

OVER the coming weeks I will be speaking to nursery folk around Scotland about how to mix new plants with old favourites in a way I hope will inspire you to transform or create borders in your garden. Remember, don’t think of plants in isolation – good plantings are about smart partnerships of colour, texture and shape.

Perennial Performers: Astrantia major ‘Ruby Star’ (masterwort) – a relatively new cultivar that is proving popular and that Gavin McNaughton from Macplants (www.macplants.co.uk) believes is the best red Astrantia around. Dark red flower heads with black-tipped bracts appear from June to August. It looks good planted with Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ and Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Ruby Port’.

Agastache ‘Black Adder’ (hyssop) – another long-flowering perennial with attractive scented leaves and purple flowers, and loved by bees. Reliably hardy, it adds height to a border and works well with ornamental grasses and echinaceas.

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ (black-eyed Susan) – easy-to-grow, reliable, long-flowering plant that doesn’t need staking. Debbie McIsaac of Maclarens Nurseries (www.maclarensnurseries) says: “Anyone can grow this.” It works well with the Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and the Russian sage (Perovskia atriplifolia) which come into their own in late summer.

Scabiosa ‘Crimson Cushion’ (pin cushion flower) – Stan Green of Growforth (www.growforth.co.uk) is a fan of this low, compact, hummock-shaped plant which produces crimson button flowers from June to August. It works well with vertical flowers of Veronica, Lupinus (lupines) or Antirrhinum (snapdragons).

• Rebecca Govier, Garden Designer (0781 750 5571; info@greenedgegardendesign.co.uk; www.greenedgegardendesign.co.uk

STANDING at the centre of a group of ancient yew trees, you begin to understand the magical nature of Traquair. Only a few metres away, a well-clipped maze can hold you as tightly as any embrace. It’s this duality of nature and formality that runs through these grounds.

On the banks of the Tweed, near Innerleithen in Peeblesshire, Traquair is both an ancient seat and working grounds, with many secrets to be revealed.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart almost apologises for not referring to Traquair as a garden, because of the lack of formal design or herbaceous borders. But the grounds are split into various uses or have pivotal features that mean this is far more than a wild landscape and woodland. There is no great plan to return the grounds to the formality they once had, but the family and the two full-time gardeners have begun restoring plants that would have been grown in the 18th century, such as quince trees.

Catherine’s aim is to ensure that the house and grounds are an authentic piece of living history, but it is no museum. It is a home to her and her husband and young family. The grounds open for the last weekend in February under Scotland’s Gardens, primarily to show off the snowdrops in the woods. “There has been quite a lot of flooding this year, but we thought we would risk it,” says Catherine. Far from fighting battles with the elements, there is a sense at Traquair of a deal brokered over centuries, allowing nature its successes, and the Stuart family their own.

The maze is the most famous of these. It lies where the formal garden would have been. That comprised a parterre and pavilions designed by the Edinburgh architect James Smith, but by the 1900s it had disappeared. Catherine’s parents planted the maze in 1980 with 1,500 leylandii. A severe winter in 1981 killed off two-thirds of the young trees, so it was replanted with hardier beech. The maze took a long time to establish, says Catherine, with visiting children making their mark by crawling through the lines. Twenty years on, the maze is a pleasing mixture of green and copper. Half a mile to the centre, it is believed to be the second-largest maze in Scotland, after the one at Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen. The design comprises four sub-centres that must each be visited before reaching the middle, and every Easter Sunday the maze is the perfect place for an egg hunt.

Traquair, Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, is inextricably linked with dramatic times in Scotland’s past. Dating from 1107, it was first a hunting lodge for Scottish royalty. After the Reformation it became a refuge for Catholic priests, and the Stuarts supported Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobite cause. Traquair’s strategic position in the Scottish Borders turned it into a fortress that was periodically seized by English troops. The Bear Gates, installed in 1738, next to the main entrance, take their name from the stone bears that flank them and support the family’s coat of arms.

You won’t be able to resist touching the thatched heather hut, built in 1834. Hazel branches form seats and a table, and walls are packed tight with heather. It shows how materials such as willow and hazel could be used today to create a gazebo with much more character than the mass-produced pine versions. It was so admired by Catherine’s great-uncle, Arthur Maxwell Stuart, a champion croquet player, that he had it moved to the croquet lawn, where it sits today. From the inside you can sit and look out through the open double arch, towards a children’s play area – which includes a willow play tunnel – and the house.

The line of lime trees along the avenue and the poplars next to the Well Pool convey a sense of what was in the past a formal garden. The extensive tree planting in the 18th and 19th centuries also included Douglas firs, ash, horse chestnut and beech. Some hulking specimens tower over the start of the woodland walk that runs from the house to the burn and passes the Tweed before returning to the maze.

But it is the yews that will have you catching your breath. Some of the yew trees may have stood in the face of more than 500 Scottish winters. They were thought to have been part of the Ettrick Forest and one group of four appear to form in a circle, designed by nature, about halfway along the woodland path. The bark is so old it’s smooth, but so pitted by the weather it looks like a frozen waterfall. Gnarled branches sweep overhead before swooping down to envelop visitors in a Harry Potter-like cavern.

A craft community has thrived at Traquair since Catherine’s mother, Flora, brought some of the outbuildings back into use in the Seventies. The workshops for self-employed craft workers can be visited when the house is open. A domestic brewery that had lain untouched since about 1800 was rediscovered by Catherine’s father, Peter, in 1965. He brought it back into production and brewing is now one of Traquair’s main businesses. Following the path back towards the house, the faint aroma of hops hints at the brewery. It looks out over the Well Pool, a large pond that was part of the Tweed before the river was re-routed away from the house in the 1600s. But nature finds its way back. Catherine adds: “When the river floods, it’s like it’s trying to come back to the Well Pool.”

After the 20th laird died, Catherine and her mother Flora continued to run Traquair and carried on improvements. Now, as the 21st Lady of Traquair, Catherine has brought the walled garden back into use, and it is the venue for Traquair’s annual fair in August. There you’ll find some great examples of espaliered fruit trees, with branches trained along the walls or against trellis. Last year, some of the land next to the walled garden was brought back to use as ten allotments for local people, and the next stage is plans for the land around the walled garden to include a community garden.

With a rerouted river, the neatness of the maze and arrow-straight lines of poplars and limes, a “wine glass lawn” that owes its name to the shape of the surrounding path, it could be easy to forget that nature writes the rules for most gardens. But with regular river floods, ancient yews, carpets of snowdrops and frosts that saw the mass destruction of leylandii, Traquair has never forgotten this.

So what do Traquair and its grounds mean to Catherine? “It’s the trees and the woodlands I’ve always loved. You can feel history in the house but you can feel it outside too. It’s a bit more kept than it was, but it’s been the most fantastic playground.” Luckily for visitors and the community, it’s one that can be shared.

• Traquair’s grounds are open next Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 February, 11am-4pm (www.traquair.co.uk)

Designer tidbits to get your creative juices flowing

Eat your words

WE ALL know kids love messing around in the kitchen, but if they are looking for a change from the regular gingerbread men or star-shaped biscuits try these cool double-sided letter-press cookie cutters. Let them make a statement by punching out the shape then turning the cutter over to stamp the letter. The set contains all 26 letters plus an ampersand and an exclamation mark, and is made from durable, food-safe plastic. Creative cookies guaranteed, although you’ll probably still have to do the clearing up.

Letter Pressed Cookie Cutters, Folly (01455 631984,

www.follyhome.co.uk), £12.95

Community spirit

Head to Edinburgh’s Open Eye gallery for Primavera, an exhibition of new jewellery for spring. Featuring the work of three artists, it has leaf necklaces and coloured-edge bangles from Sarah Packington, beautiful bird brooches and pendants from Sue Gregor and striking leaf-patterned acrylic cuffs from Caroline Temple.

Primavera, 20 February to 24 March, Open Eye Gallery, 34 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh (www.openeyegallery.co.uk)

Light source

DESIGNER Louise Campbell’s intention was to create a new pendant light with a minimum of processes involved, based on a single shade. The challenge of simplicity resulted in the LC Shutter, derived from just three processes: turning the shade, stamping the pattern and painting it.

Available in white or patterned colour, the end result is glare-free lighting. The designer says, “The shade and diffuser are integrated: a single unit with a clear function – protecting against glare, creating atmosphere, but also spreading the light.” One for creating the perfect ambience in any room.

Louis Poulsen (www.louispoulsen.com), £345 (white), coloured (£425)

WHEN designer Bernie Hurst went on holiday seven years ago, she was dismayed to find the footwear she had packed was going to cost her more than £200 in excess baggage charges. Which is when she came up with the idea for... detachable shoes. “I have always loved shoes and have more than 100 pairs,” she explains.

“At that point, it suddenly crossed my mind that I could develop a range of shoes that had interchangable uppers and heels. You could attach your own colours to the same base of the shoe.”

Several months later, she had her first pair made in China. “It wasn’t the quality that I was looking for, so I did further research and found a fantastic craftsman in Brazil who hand-makes all his shoes, and for the last five years he has been my supplier,” she says.

Singers Alexandra Burke and Kelly Rowland are already fans of her shoes, and Bernie is hoping Michelle Obama will follow in their footsteps. Having always been a fan of the US First Lady, Bernie contacted the White House three months ago and eventually managed to speak to her aide. Having explained what she did, she was given the First Lady’s foot measurements and asked to make her a pair.

A self-taught designer, Bernie has also worked as a chef in the south of France and as a personal trainer. However, when she broke her shoulder in an accident seven years ago she received a substantial compensation payout, which enabled her to invest in her new shoe business.

Growing up a few miles from Worthing, where she now lives, Bernie was part of a large family. “I had seven brothers and sisters, and shared a room with two of my sisters,” she explains. “Our house was so small in comparison to the house I live in now.

“I love living on the south coast. My son and husband both love fishing and the south coast has some wonderful fishing spots, and I love the landscape and beaches.”

Her husband Pete is a builder, so the couple created their own dream home. They found a two-bedroomed detached house with a swimming pool in the back garden and decided to demolish part of it and rebuild to their own specifications. They kept the living room, dining room and one bedroom, while Pete built up and around the rest of the house, adding four bedrooms and three bathrooms. In contrast to the original house, today’s kitchen is huge. “It had such a tiny kitchen, I could cook and do the washing up at the same time,” Bernie says.

It is now the perfect family home for Bernie and her children, Peter, 11, and Alicia 13, while elder daughter Janine, 26, lives nearby. At the top of the house is the master bedroom, which is decorated in a muted range of turquoise and blues with a wooden floor, while Alicia’s bedroom is decorated in cool plum tones. The large living room has two huge sofas, which Bernie had made in Italy, and a table from a nearby antique store.

Bernie’s office is also on the ground floor, and that’s where she keeps all her shoes and packaging. “I love working from home. At the moment, with the state of the economy, there is no point opening a shop. Lots of the large shops are already in trouble,” she says.

“I love making ladies I work for feel like Cinderella,” Bernie adds. “All of my designs have three layers of padding on the insole and I give all my shoes what I call the ‘12-hour Bernie test’. I have to be able to wear them for 12 hours; work in them, walk in them, do the school run, go shopping and even do housework in them. If, after that, they don’t hurt, then I know I have achieved something.”

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

What is your favourite film?

The Shawshank Redemption.

What is your favourite perfume?

Amber, by Prada.

Who is your favourite designer?

Roberto Cavalli.

Where is your favourite holiday destination?

Dubai.

Who is your favourite artist?

Claude Monet.

Who is your favourite singer?

Madonna.

What is your favourite book?

The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.

• Nooshooz (01903 261806, www.nooshooz.co.uk)

SEEING potential in some properties can require a huge amount of imagination. In December 2009, when builder and developer Ian Murray viewed an A-listed garden apartment at 31a Heriot Row in Edinburgh’s New Town for potential clients Grant and Laura Clouston, he needed all the imagination he could muster.

The previous owner had been a taxidermist and 31a was his home and workshop. Each room in the basement level flat had one tiny access window, and all were boarded up so there was no natural light.

Ian is managing director of the Edinburgh-based SI Construction, which specialises in everything from refurbishments to extensions and new builds. Grant Clouston, had asked for his thoughts on the property. Was it possible to transform a tired, gloomy, partially subterranean apartment into a vibrant, design-led, aesthetically exciting second home for himself and his wife, Laura? And could Ian tackle the project, working closely on the design concept with Grant and Laura, while the couple were based 3,600 miles away in Dubai?

The answer to both questions was yes. Looking at this immaculate interior, it would be easy to overlook the work required to create this five-bedroom home. Number 31a is the lower two levels of a Georgian townhouse and, because the building is A-listed, various permissions were required before work could begin.

The property was rewired and replumbed, and new drainage was laid. Light wells were built at the front, with large iron grilles inserted into the stone patio, pulling light into the two guest bedroom suites.

The master bedroom was reconfigured to create an en-suite bathroom behind a wall of bespoke storage. This involved losing some bedroom space but it improved the proportions, while adding wardrobe space and a striking en suite. French doors were also installed here, opening onto a stone patio and the rear garden.

There was substantial structural work involved in the refurbishment, both at basement level – especially the master bedroom – and above in the new L-shaped kitchen-dining-living space. The most problematic task was removing the wall between the dining-kitchen and the snug, as this wall formed the main spine that extends up the townhouse. Ian says: “The structural work to achieve this opening was staggering.”

The kitchen-dining-living area, the master bedroom suite and the drawing room at the front were the three areas that took priority in Laura and Grant’s brief to Ian. “We both had quite a clear vision of what we wanted, and in particular with the kitchen, which Ian created exactly as I wanted,” says Laura.

Ian, Grant and Laura shared ideas via the Dropbox app, enabling Ian to take progress or product photos on his iPhone and share them with the couple, which in turn allowed Grant and Laura to upload images for Ian to view. Between them they shared just under 4,000 photos during the whole process.

“It was a fantastic way to watch the photographic progress and milestones that Ian was achieving,” Laura agrees. The couple, who have a nine-month-old son, Henry, and a daughter due in May, scoured online sites and magazines for design ideas, plus, as Laura says: “Living in a city full of amazing interiors and architecture gave us inspiration.”

The kitchen was inspired by photos the couple spotted online, and reproduced in detail, down to the handles and chrome edging under the worktop, by bespoke kitchen designers Murray & Murray. The cabinetry is painted in Strong White by Farrow & Ball (the company’s paints were used throughout), and contrasted with dark walnut cabinetry and Ceasarstone Misty Carrara worktops, while retaining the original range was part of the planning consent.

The bold chrome pendants came from Marks & Spencer, and the couple added individual touches, as with the colourful mismatched dining chairs from Annie Mo’s. Laura says: “Opening up the kitchen and snug absolutely made it for us; it’s our favourite room.”

In the drawing room the couple opted for a more traditional feel, and the surprise here is that the period detailing isn’t in fact period. The cornicing, dado panelling and ceiling rose were all added by Ian, and are complemented by decorative cast iron radiators and distressed oak flooring, while the bespoke leather button-backed wall panels were an inspired addition.

Technology was also important. Grant specified 3D flatscreen TVs for the main rooms along with a high-specification integrated sound system, all requiring extensive sound insulation. Laura explains: “We wanted to retain appropriate period detailing while including as many modern gadgets and features as possible to create a luxurious individuality.”

Coloured lighting plays its part in adding drama. In the wet room on the upper level, it adds a vibrant glow to the honey-toned porcelain tiling and mosaics, and again in the guest bedroom on this floor where the lighting in the dressing area punctuates the monochromatic palette.

The lighting is used to best effect, however, in the master suite. At one end of the space, a raised walk-in shower featuring a giant rain shower and body jets is bathed in blue light, while the other end of the space features a Victoria & Albert Amalfi contemporary slipper bath with a floor-standing Crosswater Love Me tap. The ceiling above is peppered with colour-changing fibre optics, creating a beautifully soft effect. The walls are lined in giant-profile Porcelanosa tiles that look like marble, while the bespoke walnut cabinetry is a continuation from the adjoining bedroom.

Ian readily credits his clients for having the vision to go for such bold ideas, and for challenging him at times, as when Laura suggested using Cole & Son’s Orchid print wallpaper in the hallway upstairs and down. She says: “I think it’s fun, vibrant and welcoming, which is hopefully how our home feels to visitors.”

And, in the end, distance wasn’t an issue. “There are always challenges when you’re not on site, in decision making and visualising where everything had to go, but modern technology allowed us to make those decisions,” Laura says. “And Ian really went above and beyond the call of duty to make this into a fantastic home.”

• Offers over £945,000; contact Rettie & Co (0131-220 4160, www.rettie.co.uk)

SI Construction (0131-332 1002, www.siconstruction.co.uk)

WITH backgrounds in fashion, it is no surprise that John and Marie Owen’s property is one that sets trends rather than follows them.

The couple bought their five-bedroom bungalow in Eskbank ten years ago, attracted by the layout and its potential, as Marie recalls: “The house had been well looked after and was very clean, but dated. It also had a lovely feel and an almost circular layout, which we really liked and we knew we could do a lot with it.”

When John and Marie moved in with their baby, Grace, they wasted no time in starting their renovation plans. “Over a period of two years we did the serious work such as replacing the windows, taking out the back boiler, installing new central heating and upgrading the bathroom, but we lived with the threadbare carpets and the woodchip décor which, looking back, was pretty horrendous. We then found out I was expecting twins so we put the plans for the loft conversion on hold and put in a new kitchen and added a conservatory. When the twins (Ralph and Lily) were two we did the loft conversion, which gave us another two bedrooms, a bathroom and an office. Apart from when the builders were knocking through the staircase, we lived in the house through all the work. When I look back and remember being heavily pregnant with no kitchen, and foundations for a conservatory in the back garden I do sometimes wonder how we did it.”

Today, according to Marie, the only things that are still original in the house are a few internal doors. The avocado bathroom suite is long gone. What this house has now is a fabulous, bold interior. “The décor is probably a reflection of my entire life – busy and a lot going on,” says Marie. “If I see something I like I buy it and then make it work. For instance, I went to TK Maxx to buy a photo frame. I saw the Union Jack chest of drawers and really liked it. I didn’t have a place for it but I bought it anyway. For larger pieces of furniture or wallpaper I probably take a little more time before I spend, but I still just go for what I like. I don’t really have colour schemes or an end result in mind, for me the rooms just grow.”

The colour scheme is bold, but it’s also flexible. A white backdrop dominates many of the rooms with just one feature wall adding interest, while it is the accessories that do all the talking.

“I do like things that clash – matching takes time which I don’t have a lot of. I really enjoy being in people’s houses who have a mix of things and everything has history – that’s what this house is like. It’s a mixture of pieces from different periods of our lives.”

The couple aren’t afraid of their critics either. “The leopard-print chest of drawers provoked great hilarity in my office, being named the most hideous piece of furniture ever seen,” Marie says. And even the woodburning stove prompts mixed results, such as ‘why didn’t you put in something more modern?’ But John had one in a previous house and we really liked it and we like the effect of having it on so we just looked for one in a design we liked.

John is a fashion photographer and Marie runs Location Scotland, sourcing locations for fashion and advertising photo shoots. “I do think we take inspiration from our work and it perhaps makes us a bit more risqué in our choices. We see a lot of styles and designs that push the boundaries and that perhaps shouldn’t work but do, and that gives us the impetus to have a go ourselves.”

The dining room is a perfect example. “I’ve always wanted a dark dining room and if didn’t work I thought, I can change it. I’m not scared to try things – you can always redecorate. Although, I really wasn’t looking for a black glass table and pink chairs as I already had dining furniture, but when I saw them in Martin & Frost they looked really good together so it was another instance of making it work.”

The kitchen is in complete contrast to the dramatic dining room with a gentle, country design in calming cream with pretty printed Laura Ashley wallpaper. I saw the kitchen in Ikea and instantly liked it. The fashion was for white, high gloss but that just wasn’t me.”

This house certainly reflects the personalities within it but now the Owens are ready to take on another project, as Marie explains: “There’s not much else we can do in the house and because of the company I run and the shoots we handle, we’ve always had a dream that we could find a house that we could use as a home and as a location for photo shoots. So, we’re taking the plunge and seeing what’s out there. I imagine we’ll find something by accident, just like most of my purchases!”

• This house will be coming on the market soon. Offers over £410,000. For further details contact Simpson and Marwick (0131-525 8600)

Location Scotland (www.locationscotland.com)

I HAVE been trying to streamline our home life – again – in a bid to make it to the car in the morning without returning to the house half a dozen times. Progress to date has involved clearing the passageway to our garage, where coats, boots and shoes converge, assaulting me from all sides as I attempt to squeeze past.

This area is now working well, largely because I’ve chucked everyone else’s stuff out and am using it as my own personal coat-donning space.

I got rid of all the too-small, too-old, too-ugly coats and cagouls, as well as the bargain buys that never were, and released the lovely Hang-It-All coat rack in the hall from several layers. I found a basket for hats, scarves and gloves, and stuck that by the front door so that:

a) I would never send either of my children out in the cold again without a hat, scarf or second glove, thus reducing the bad mother marks that rack up against me on a daily basis.

b) We would never be late for school again because we were looking for a hat, scarf or second glove. (Another bad mother mark rubbed out.)

c) My children would be wearing coats instead of looking at me blankly as I screech, “Where are your coats?” at 8.30 every morning.

What are the chances we make it a week without a single un-motherly screech?

This week we take a look at the beautifully bold Eskbank home that belongs to John and Marie Owen on page 4. Both working in creative industries, they have the knack of making unique and unusual pieces work together in their fabulously stylish home. We also get the story behind the long-distance renovation of an A-listed Edinburgh Georgian apartment, which turned a dark, dingy space into an immaculate home. See for yourself on page 10. And on page 14, shoe designer Bernie Hurst reveals how an excess baggage charge led to business inspiration.

THEATRE

Funny Peculiar

An outrageous all-star comedy which guarantees a raucous night of fun. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, 7.30pm, £15–£28, 0131-529 6000

Of Mice and Men

In Steinbeck’s gripping masterpiece, two migrant field workers travel through California in search of their very own piece of the American Dream. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 7.45pm, £14.50-£29, 0131-248 4848

Beyond the Barricade

A selection of the best-loved songs from new and classic West End shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, The Lion King and Les Miserables. Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, 7.30pm, £16–£24, 0844-847 1660

COMEDY

Simon Munnery

Hats Off To The 101ers, And Other Material: Simon Munnery presents a brand new show.

The Stand, York Place, 8.30pm, £8, 0131-558 7272

MUSIC

The Six O’Clock Blues and Swing Train

Live acoustic blues from John Hurt. The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 6pm, free, 0131-220 4298

Great Jazz Jam Session

A night of jazz during which you just never know who is going to drop in to perform with the house trio. The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 8pm, £2 (£1), 0131-220 4298

Out of the Bedroom

Edinburgh’s original open-mic night. Turn up and put your name down - only rule is no covers. Montague Bar, Montague Street, 7.30pm, free, no tel.

Edinburgh Quartet

Lunchtime concert. Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square, 1.10pm, free, 0131-651 3212

Little Dragon

Swedish electronic band. Liquid Room, Victoria Street, 7pm, £13.50, 0131-225 2564

French Wives

Headline set from the winners of the inaugural Scotsman Radar Prize. Sneaky Pete’s, Cowgate, 7pm, £5, 0131-225 1757

The Cast of Cheers and Theme Park

Live music double bill. Electric Circus, Market Street, 7pm, £7, 0131-226 4224

Fairport Convention

Hailed as the originators of British folk-rock music, Fairport Convention is celebrating its 45th anniversary as one of the most entertaining bands on the live music scene. The Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, 7.30pm, £20, 0131-668 2019

Gavin Pennycook

A Leith Folk Club event. Victoria Park Hotel, Ferry Road, 7.30pm, £6, 0131-454 2060

The Diversions

More live music at busy bar. Whistlebinkies, Niddry Street, 8pm, free, 0131-557 5114

CLUBS

Antics

Rock, emo, punk and metal dispatches from Edinburgh’s alt.scene. The Hive, Niddry Street, 11pm, free, 0131-556 0444

Soul Jam Hot

Eclectic funk, soul and hip-hop jams. Sneaky Pete’s, Cowgate, 11pm, free, 0131-225 1757

Choice of cryptic or quick puzzle, and (just in case you’ve been wracking your brains) yesterday’s solutions.

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. Where those who aestivate are accommodated? (6-5)

9. Cut into various indices (7)

10. Leaves a deposit when the lists are revised (5)

11. Caterpillar right inside the mountain ash? (5)

12. Being more spiteful could result in tears (7)

13. Gold transaction becomes a testing experience (6)

15. Fungoid alga from N Chile (6)

18. Two seamen get the last of the mayonnaise dressing (7)

20. Where males were implicated in a witch-hunt (5)

22. One working automatically produces nonsense about outside broadcast (5)

23. He tampers with a fruit tree we hear (7)

24. Minute-men (11)

Down

2. The physical effects of this could be cruel (5)

3. Cosmetic mother used to cover a blemish (7)

4. Equestrianism I had seen in the arena (6)

5. Is so mixed up about a lonely fertile spot (5)

6. It’s not altruistic to market sea-food, one hears (7)

7. They stick an advertisement among the accounts (11)

8. No more stars would certainly disturb them (11)

14. It could be a bad rule but it’s lasting (7)

16. Could he be a convict who’s admitted to the clique? (7)

17. Timber put in favourite window fitting (6)

19. Bustling atmosphere around the street (5)

21. In April I’ll explore French textile centre (5)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Chance (11)

9. Spinning-top game (7)

10. Nobleman (5)

11. Fight (3-2)

12. Exact (7)

13. Idea (6)

15. Accident (6)

18. Ugly thing (7)

20. Light anchor (5)

22. Rummage (5)

23. Opening (7)

24. Property seller (6,5)

Down

2. Braid (5)

3. Sherry (7)

4. Company of actors (6)

5. Dignified (5)

6. Stain (7)

7. Miscellaneous items (4,3,4)

8. Translator (11)

14. Latticework structure (7)

16. Slight suggestion (7)

17. Far-off (6)

19. Musical drama (5)

21. Condescend (5)

Tuesday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Stocking; 5 Ammo; 9 Frau; 10 Stranded; 11 Guile; 12 Ragtime; 13 White elephant; 18 Regional; 19 Olga; 20 Tenders; 21 Sleet; 22 Deer; 23 Estimate.

Down: 2 Through; 3 Couplet; 4 Natural causes; 6 Madeira; 7 Oddment; 8 Hang-up; 13 Worsted; 14 Ingenue; 15 Erodes; 16 Hoodlum; 17 Neglect.

QUICK

Across: 1 Research; 5 Spur; 9 Comb; 10 Unctuous; 11 Diary; 12 Clement; 13 Unforgettable; 18 Ultimate; 19 Bind; 20 Proviso; 21 State; 22 Dust; 23 Asterisk.

Down: 2 Emotion; 3 Embargo; 4 Conscientious; 6 Proverb; 7 Rosette; 8 Street; 13 Usurped; 14 Fatuous; 15 Remain; 16 Arbiter; 17 Linctus.

Wednesday’s puzzle...

Across

1 and 12 It’s a wonder he stood astride the harbour (8,2,6)

6 Strain first Italian vehicle (4)

10 Middle Easterner coming from Nassau dined inside (5)

11 Listen without speaker’s knowledge when part of roof is to come down (9)

12 See 1 across

13 No start to devastation and fuss with pear (7)

15 Binder broken? That’s natural (6)

16 Mineral from meadows, I left normal amount (8)

19 Detergent washes hesitantly (8)

21 Group of girls on stage refrain (6)

24 Questions asked in the bar (3,4)

26 Said eight said to be composed (6)

28 Impressed on someone’s mind it had been dyed in a fast colour (9)

29 Outcome of marriage (5)

30 Bird during summer nesting (4)

31 Remaining healthy staying with female having sex-appeal (7,3)

Down

1 Large number enquire about barrel (4)

2 Removing a huge ball, that’s ridiculous (9)

3 Cheat be successful in mending sled (7)

4 Anxious one in France, say, confused (6)

5 I veto bad arrangement that had been made unnecessary (8)

7 A fragment, one from main artery (5)

8 Taking place during forward movement (2,8)

9 Man rearranging dominos not individually to start with (6)

14 Orderly conduct from follower much liked inside (10)

17 and 18 Cornish freebooters of note (7,2,8)

20 A gun to remove sweet (6)

22 Rain had frustrated old emperor (7)

23 Exhausted like an umbrella! (4-2)

25 Start to ask earnestly at home (5)

27 Joke from first person in France, good fellow (4)

THE “Kate-factor” was at play yesterday when the Orla Kiely dresscoat worn by the Duchess of Cambridge on a visit to a school sold out on the designer’s website within minutes of it being seen on television.

The brown dove-patterned garment with buttons, long sleeves and a pleated skirt, which was on sale for £162.50, reducedfrom £325, was snapped up in every size following an “absolute frenzy” on the website, said a spokeswoman for the London-based Irish designer.

She also wore a £250 pair of brown suede Aquatalia ankle boots which were seeing their first public outing since she wore them last year during her first royal engagement with Prince William in Anglesey.

The Duchess, making her second solo public appearance, was visiting a group of children receiving art therapy from The Art Room, one of the charities she supports.

During the trip to Rose Hill Primary School in Oxford, the Duchess also revealed the name of the puppy she and Prince William acquired before Christmas. She told the children that the four-month-old cocker spaniel’s name was Lupo – Italian for wolf. It is believed that Lupo’s father is a pet owned by the Duchess’s mother, Carol Middleton.

Lupo is thought to live with the Duke and Duchess at their home in Anglesey, where Prince William is normally based. He is currently working as an RAF search and rescue co-pilot in the Falkland Islands.

The Duchess became patron of The Art Room in the new year.

Gifts are normally presented at the end of a royal visit but two youngsters gave the duchess an apron emblazoned with “Miss Catherine”, some dog treats for Lupo and a bouquet of cream- coloured roses.

Wednesday’s puzzle...

I have written before about the annual Open des Vins tournament in France, where the first prize is the potentially liver-damaging winner’s bodyweight in wine. Ireland’s Bunratty weekend open is another tournament to rival it, with the Guinness free-flowing all night at the seemingly never-closing bar of the Castle Hotel.

The Bunratty Open has always welcomed foreign invaders, who imbibe their legendary hospitality and won’t endangering their Elo ratings, as the event is not FIDE rated. In typical Irish style, everyone is made to feel welcome – from elite-status grandmasters to novices. Six-time Russian champion Peter Svidler was victorious there in 2008-9. Ireland’s own GM Alex Baburin (though Russian-born) won in 2010; and last year top English GM Gawain Jones took the title.

Last weekend, the 19th edition saw another strong line-up, with ten grandmasters and eight IMs among the field of 44. Jones returned to defend his title, but he was only the fourth seed, behind top English pair of Michael Adams, Nigel Short and Andrei Istratescu (France).

Even the top seeds had morning-after accidents (where’s the Irn-Bru when you need it most?). Istratescu defaulted to Jones on the Sunday morning, allowing the defending champion an easy point, and he went on to share first place with Adams and Short on 5/6. Adams though went on to win the blitz (blitzed?) playoff for this year’s title.

L Galego - M Adams

Bunratty Open, (6),

Queen’s Pawn

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 d5 4 Bg2 b5 5 Bg5 Be7 6 Nbd2 Nbd7 7 0–0 0–0 8 a4 b4 9 c4 bxc3 10 bxc3 c5 11 c4 Ba6 12 Rc1 Rc8 13 Re1 h6 14 Bxf6 Nxf6 15 cxd5 Nxd5 16 Qb3 Qa5 17 dxc5 Bxc5 18 e4 Nb6 19 Bf1 Bxf1 20 Rxf1 Qxa4 21 Ra1 Qd7 22 e5 Nd5 23 Ne4 Bb6 24 Rfd1 Rfd8 25 Rd3 Qc6 26 Nd6 Rb8 27 Qa4 Qxa4 28 Rxa4 Bc5 29 Ne4 Rb1+ 30 Kg2 Bb6 31 Rd2 Rb4 32 Rda2 Rxe4! 33 Rxe4 Nc3 34 Rea4 Nxa4 35 Rxa4 Rd5 36 Ra2 Kf8 37 g4 Ke7 38 h4 Rb5 39 Kg3 a5 40 Nd2 Bd4 0–1

Wednesday’s puzzle...

This hand was dealt at the club on the very day that last week’s slam hand explained how a 4-4 fit might provide one more trick than 6NT. Strong no-trumpers could use the quantitative raise to 4NT. South is not minimum, and his 4432 distribution suggests looking for a 4-4 fit. He bids 5D, his lowest four-card suit, and partner raises to slam with confidence. The play is straightforward: there are 11 winners, and the 12th comes from a heart ruff in hand.

Unfortunately one or two weak notrumpers found themselves in 6NT, where there was no twelfth trick. Could they reach the superior slam?

Where South opens 1S North has no good way to describe his hand, so he makes a waiting bid of 2C. When South rebids 2NT, showing 15-19 points, it is useful to have range enquiry bid of 3C. With 18-19 South responds 3D, and North goes slamming. Here South is not maximum, and bids 3NT, showing 15-17 without four hearts or five spades. Now North makes a quantitative raise to 4NT, which South should pass only with an absolute minimum. With his nice 16 he suggests an alternative contract by bidding his second suit, and North raises to slam.

Some prefer to open 1D with this distribution. In that case it helps to have a way to raise diamonds that is forcing – 2NT, or an inverted raise to 2D. When South’s rebid indicates a strong no-trump North can simply cut to the chase by bidding 6D.

Wednesday’s puzzle...

Across

1 Spherical (8)

5 Cliff (4)

9 School form (5)

10 Dragooned (7)

11 New Zealand city (12)

13 Giving way (6)

14 Force (6)

17 Boundary of North Frigid Zone (6,6)

20 Lean (7)

21 Sticky (5)

22 Neutraliser of alkali (4)

23 Fruit of a forest tree (8)

Down

1 Hen’s partner (4)

2 Cad here (anag) (7)

3 Not systematic or accurate (12)

4 Author of “Little Women” (6)

6 Athlete (5)

7 One sponsored at baptism (8)

8 Of government by technical experts (12)

12 Bout of neuralgia (8)

15 Water-fowl (7)

16 Plan (6)

18 Prickly plants (5)

19 Bladder (4)

Tuesday’s solution

Across: 1 Enrich, 4 Fracas, 9 Capture, 10 Canal, 11 Sadhu, 12 Rapture, 13 Intensified, 18 Entitle, 20 Inlet, 22 Curse,

23 Doublet, 24 Relief, 25 Teases. Down: 1 Excuse, 2 Rapid, 3 Couture, 5 Recap, 6 Censure, 7 Salver, 8 Decrescendo, 14 Natural, 15 Failure, 16 Fencer,

17 Status, 19 Theme, 21 Lolls.

]]> 1.2130112 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.scotsman.com/what_s_on_monday_feb_27_1_2129570

THEATRE

Funny Peculiar

An outrageous all-star comedy which guarantees a raucous night of fun. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, 7.30pm, £15–£28, 0131-529 6000

COMEDY

Red Raw

Long-running weekly beginner’s showcase is regarded as the best open mic night in the UK. With Graeme Thomas and host Sian Bevan. The Stand, York Place, 8.30pm, £2, 0131-558 7272

MUSIC

The Jazz Bar Big Band

Jazz from this 17-piece ensemble. The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 7.30pm, £4 (£3), 0131-220 4298

Glamour & The Baybes

Mix of rock, jazz, blues and funk. The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 11pm, £2 (£1), 0131-220 4298

Open mic

Turn up and do your thing. Whistlebinkies, South Bridge, 9.30pm, free, 0131-557 5114

The Jezabels

Four-piece musical group from Sydney. Electric Circus, Market Street, 7pm, £8, 0131-226 4224

Future Classics

Piatti Quartet & Clare Hammond: Here, in its first regional tour, Future Classics showcases two outstanding new talents with an adventurous and imaginative romantic and classical repertoire. The Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, 7.15pm, £5-£15, 0131-668 2019

CLUBS

Notorious

R&B, hip hop and dancehall. Espionage, Victoria Street, 10.30pm, free, 0131-477 7007

Mixed Up

Hip Hop, chart and R’n’B. The Hive, Niddry Street, 10pm, free, 0131-556 0444

Nu Fire

Hip Hop to dubstep and back again. Sneaky Pete’s, Cowgate, 11pm, free, 0131-225 1757

]]> 1.2129570 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:07:31 +0000 http://www.scotsman.com/double_crossword_1_2129300

Choice of cryptic or quick puzzle, and (just in case you’ve been wracking your brains) yesterday’s solutions.

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. Keeping a hosiery item (8)

5. Rounds, perhaps, for doctor after the morning (4)

9. German woman giving the priest gold (4)

10. Abandoned journalist on a London street (8)

11. Glue I mix with cunning (5)

12. When to criticise music? (7)

13. We hit the plane badly - it’s not wanted (5,8)

18. Local that’s number one in beer returned (8)

19. She’s always in gaol (4)

20. Offers for nurses? (7)

21. It may make a wet blanket! (5)

22. Rush back for the animal (4)

23. Guess I am in the car (8)

Down

2. But outside right is finished (7)

3. A brilliant stroke allowed in poetry? (7)

4. Reason for death supported by environmentalists? (7,6)

6. Made Mr Gershwin a cake (7)

7. Strange people getting shirt, or a bit of one (7)

8. Put the phone down when there’s a mental problem (4-2)

13. The least successful journalist’s yarn (7)

14. Terribly genuine, but innocent (7)

15. Wears out the Queen with poetry (6)

16. Home Office breaking mould to find gangster (7)

17. Fail to care for Glen, etc.? (7)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Investigation (8)

5. Incite (4)

9. Search (4)

10. Oily (8)

11. Log (5)

12. Merciful (7)

13. Memorable (13)

18. Final (8)

19. Tie (4)

20. Stipulation (7)

21. Declare (5)

22. Powder (4)

23. Star (8)

Down

2. Feeling (7)

3. Veto (7)

4. Diligent (13)

6. Saw (7)

7. Favour (7)

8. Thoroughfare (6)

13. Arrogated (7)

14. Foolish (7)

15. Stay (6)

16. Judge (7)

17. Medicine (7)

Monday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Incite; 4 Spades; 9 Phrenologists; 10 Lesions; 11 Alice; 12 Enemy; 14 Stags; 18 Ashen; 19 Hospice; 21 Ham sandwiches; 22 Rammed; 23 Leaden.

Down: 1 Impels; 2 Chrysanthemum; 3 Tango; 5 Pageant; 6 Distinguished; 7 Sister; 8 Blase; 13 Montage; 15 Rather; 16 Shade; 17 Lesson; 20 Smite.

QUICK

Across: 1 Mature; 4 Stable; 9 Spill the beans; 10 Enlarge; 11 Liken; 12 In-law; 14 Argue; 18 Evens; 19 Interim; 21 Horse chestnut; 22 Warren; 23 Jersey.

Down: 1 Musket; 2 Trial and error; 3 Ruler; 5 Tubular; 6 Blackcurrants; 7 Easing; 8 Sheen; 13 Austere; 15 Nephew; 16 Light; 17 Smithy; 20 Taste.