Published at 10:50, Thursday, 19 November 2009

Dumfries & Galloway Life The magazine worth coming home to... every month

You can’t beat live music – and as I’m still on a high after The Proclaimers’ awesome sell-out show at DGOne in Dumfries – where I was also lucky enough to see The Tennessee Three two weeks earlier – I can’t wait for more. Music lovers like me will be spoilt for choice during St Andrew’s weekend when Dumfries plays host to a four-day feast of music and dancing as part of its finale to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations. The prestigious MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and Gala Concert take place at DGOne on November 28, while Moishe’s Bagel, the Maurice Sutherst Band and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will be among a host of performers by the Midsteeple the following day. It’s enough to put you in the mood for dancing – which is exactly what organisers of Dumfries Fling – The Reel Thing are hoping for. Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association needs at least 1,400 people to come dancing in the town centre on Sunday, November 29 as it attempts to set a new world record for the largest-ever Scottish reel. See page 54 to find out how you can become a record breaker by joining in the specially commissioned threesome reel. I actually managed a bit of dancing myself recently at the Halloween Masquerade Ball organised by friends Gayle Johnstone and Donna Walls (pictured left, with me in between) which raised over £9,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The ladies did a tremendous job of organising a wonderful night at the Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries, which was a fantastic excuse to get all glammed up. I’m looking forward to my next reason to dress up: on November 26, I’m heading up to Edinburgh with the Dumfries & Galloway Life team for the finals of the Scottish Magazine Awards 2009, organised by PPA Scotland. We have been shortlisted in four categories, including Consumer Magazine of the Year, so fingers crossed! Finally, let me draw your attention to the first of our special Dumfries & Galloway Life special publications: Food & Drink. This free taster magazine celebrates the region’s enviable reputation for being a food lover’s paradise, boasting some of the best food and drink in the country which has impressed royalty, celebrities and top restaurateurs. Featuring some of our best food and drink features and your favourite recipes, it’s sure to provide you with plenty of inspiration in the countdown to Christmas.

Andrea Thompson,

Commissioning editor andrea.thompson@cngroup.co.uk

Published by http://www.dgblife.co.uk