photo The Scotsman
What’s the verdict on the Edinburgh Festival ? A load of old rubbish !
Not the shows of course, they’re great. We saw some excellent things at the Fringe, like Boom, a combined Czech and Ukrainian circus and dance act, and the Irish comic trio Foil, Arms & Hog. Frankie Boyle’s “scathing verdict” of the Fringe performers was rather less flattering than the reviews of his show which were pretty good.
But what about the rubbish ? Everywhere I look there’s a bin laden (though no sign of the two brothers who donated £1m to the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund allegedly in a suitcase). A bin laden – with rubbish – not a Bin Laden – with cash. But as they say in Yorkshire “where there’s muck there’s brass” !
The issue with the bin workers is actually all about cash. The last time they went on strike was in 2009. The present strike, ending on 31st August, will be their second. And they’re planning another on 7th September. Lucky for them that Nicola Sturgeon hasn’t been replaced by Bill Clinton – he who quoted the “Three strikes and you’re out” policy in his State of the Union presidential address in 1994.
It all looks pretty grim. The gloomsters predict we’ll be overrun with rats. So let’s drown our sorrows before our views become too jaundiced.
Given we’re talking Edinburgh, it has to be a Leith Pre-Mix. Devised by Hugh Stewart, author of “Cocktails & Kicktails – Recipes and Rhymes to Lift Body and Soul” and film maker & photographer Michael Brooks (who took the stunning pictures in the book, example below), it packs quite a punch.
Leith Pre-Mix
Named after a sign outside an Edinburgh cement works this cocktail combines Scotland, the Auld Alliance and the Caribbean.
4 parts dark rum
1 part Cointreau
0.8 parts creme de framboise
1 part lime juice
0.8 parts clementine juice
1 part raspberry syrup
7 ish parts ginger beer
Mix and chill the liquors and juices in a shaker, top up with ginger beer and garnish with slices of clementine and lime and a couple of raspberries.
Photo Michael Brooks
This one comes with a poem:
There’s something about a Leith Pre-Mix
Its seafaring’ scent is so seedy
It will hit your senses for six
So beware if you tend to be greedy
There’s something about a Leith Pre-Mix
As the contents begin to cement
Your heart will soon strum
To the pace of the rum
It’s too late for you to repent.
A seriously frivolous book – now available, along with its sister App
The above recipe is an extract from Shaker, a brilliant App containing “over 400 cocktail and mocktail recipes in the palm of your hand”. It also has handy features that will help you to plan your party with panache. Shaker is a sister to Cocktails & Kicktails – Life-saving Recipes and Rhymes to Lift Body and Soul, a seriously frivolous book of anecdotes, recipes and rhymes, with beautiful photographs and cartoons that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. It is published by Rowan Books and priced at £13.99. Shaker is downloadable as a stand-alone App for £3.99 or is free if you buy Cocktails & Kicktails. Learn more from the Rowan Books website.
Responsible Drinking
The Shaker App and the Cocktails & Kicktails book contain recipes for cocktails, most of which are alcoholic (by the way, the non-alcoholic ones are delicious). They often contain more than one alcohol. So please enjoy these cocktails but don’t let alcohol become your master. Stay within your limits and within prescribed guidelines, be aware of the risks and if you’re worried that you’re becoming dependent seek advice for example from Drinkaware.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS: The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that adults do not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A single pub measure of spirit equals 1 unit. Drink responsibly.
