Farewell, Inverness

I'm packing up the old suitcase ready for my train journey back to Glasgow this morning.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in Inverness so a massive thank you to Zizzi for giving me the chance to meet some of you fine folk.

At the restaurant opening last night, one diner told me - 'Think of Inverness as your second home."

I think I'll do just that.

Until next time, Inverness.

Ciao, xo.

Opening Night!

The time has come! Zizzi Inverness has opened its doors for the very first time! There has been a real-build up of excitement today amongst the staff and us artists and writers in residence alike. It's been a great privilege to be part of a team which shares such drive and passion for the success of their restaurant. After all, it is their restaurant. Team Zizzi Inverness have invested so much time and effort into preparing for tonight. It represents a part of them. It has been theirs from the building stages to the finished product. Now, let it be yours.

Zizzi Inverness invites you to sample their beautiful Italian cuisine whilst you are surrounded by views of the River Ness. Your city, your restaurant. By speaking to a wide variety of residents, from 'true Invernesians' to those who have relocated and are now proud to call Inverness home, I have learnt something. The city remains a 'big town', enjoying all the benefits of larger stores and restaurants like Zizzi, whilst mantaining the charm and comforts which come from being a smaller part of the world.

It's 5.30pm and Zizzi welcomes its first guests into the restaurant. General Manager Ross Sharratt is on hand to greet the diners with a glass of wine. Soon, Zizzi is filled with curious locals, eager to test out some of the culinary delights on offer. The guests take their seats, ready to sample a wide variety of dishes that are circulating the restaurant: rustic pizzas on wooden boards; large dishes of calamari and taster portions of pasta to name but a few. I doubt there will be leftovers tonight!

One of my personal favourite interviewees, Robin Munro, returns to give his opinion on the restaurant as a finished product: "It's looking great, definitely!" Several diners comment on the beautiful layout of Zizzi: "It's so spacious inside even though there are lots of different placs to sit. I can't believe how stunning the views are. Especially at this time of night. The river when it's lit up is just gorgeous and it's great to be able to take it in with a glass and wine and good food!"

It certainly is shaping up to be a wonderful night, filled with, first and foremost excellent food, wine, conversation and the chance to meet a bright and enthusiastic Team Zizzi Inverness. As two of the restaurant's very first diners are leaving, I get the chance to find our their thoughts on the night. "The authenticity of the food is really what makes it. The pizzas were just excellent. The calamari as well was to die for. To say that Zizzi's is just another pizza/pasta place would be ridiculous. You can really taste that authentic Italian cooking. I'll definitely be booking a table and coming back. It's a great contribution to Inverness."

As the first round of diners leave, a fresh wave enter the restaurant and there's one thing that everyone can agree on – the food is outstanding! The diners all tuck into the freshly prepared courses. I manage to sneak a tiramisu. Delicious. I think my best plan of action is to befriend one of the waitresses and blink forlornly at the dishes whizzing by me. It works. I sample one of their vegetarian boards. Sundried tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, buffalo mozzarella. I really do like my job sometimes.

Anya, a local resident, is kind enough to chat to me about her first Zizzi experience: "It's fantastic. I work in a B&B very near to here and I'll definitely be recommending it to all the guests. I'm from Poland but I have lived in Spain and sometimes I really miss that Latin spirit. So here, it's great. It's like I'm sitting at the seaside of some Italian village."

One thing's certain – tonight's guests have the makings of great regular customers!

Teresa Machado Perez

Teresa Machado Perez, originally from Spain, is the store manager of H&M, and tells me why she's proud to call Inverness her home.

"I was born in a small village in Spain which had 15,000 people.  Nearly 20 years ago, I moved to the UK and lived in Brighton, staying there for 5 years.  I then went travelling around the world and spent all my money!  I decided to come up to Inverness because my partner knew people here.  We knew that that would make it easier to set up home here.  We were thinking about only staying a year and then it turned into 5 years.

We've since bought a flat which meant that we were definitely going to stay here for much longer.  Just now, we're quite happy here.  It took us a while to make friends here but now that we have really close friends, we're definitely going to stay for a long time.  I guess when you get older, it just takes a bit longer to make friends!  The scenery really makes me want to stay here but, to be honest, it's just the people in Inverness.  That's what makes us really want to stay here.  My partner's not from here either so together we've found a brand new place that's home to us both.

Working in Inverness compared to other places is definitely a lot quieter.  Because I work in the Eastgate Centre, it's always a lot more happening there.  Compared to Spain, apart from the weather of course, it's just a different way of life here.  Much more relaxed.  I miss my family but I will go and visit them quite a lot.  That's always what you miss the most, the people in different places.  I definitely see Inverness as my home.  When I go back to Spain, I say I'm going on my holidays.  I never say I'm going back home.  When I'm there for a bit of time, I always say that I'm ready to go back home!

Here, at Zizzi, is such a lovely spot.  I always wondered why the space wasn't being used for so long because it's beautiful here.  It's nice to be able to sit and watch the chefs at work and look at the river.  I didn't realise it would be so big inside.  There's lots of tables and the kitchen look very good.  You can even watch the pizzas being cooked in the big fire ovens."

Lindyann Alvares

Lindyann Alvares, 26, has lived in Goa but discusses why her plans to return there have been put on hold since having children in Inverness.

"I was born in a place called Bettyhill which is actually 2 hours north of Inverness. There were about 500 people spread over 5 miles. So everyone knows everyone and everyone's related to everyone! There's no buses or anything.

I only moved to Inverness 2 years ago. I've lived in Goa, India but me and my husband moved here initially to save money for our wedding. Now, we've had a baby and there's another on the way so we're here to stay!

I'm looking forward to raising my children here. We were actually meant to be moving back to Goa permanently at the end of next month but now that I've got another baby on the way, we're definitely going to wait! I think we're going to wait around here, try and save some money again and then possibly move back to Goa. It's just too cold here in the Summer!

It's looking fabulous in the restaurant. I had a prior motive for popping by because my friend's the assistant manager. It's just fab that there's somewhere bright and open. It's something different for Inverness. There's so many restaurants here already but this just seems to have more of an edge."

The Run-up to Opening Night

It's day four in Zizzi which means that opening night is upon us. The chefs are busily organising the kitchen, making all their final touches in preparation for this evening. In comparison to the laughter and activity in the restaurant yesterday, there's an entirely different atmosphere when I take my seat at a back table to set up my laptop. Instead of proudly showing off their pizzas, as was the case yesterday, the staff have been set an entirely new task.

Each member of the waiting and front of house team have a table to themselves and are quietly concentrated, heads down, fussing over a test paper. Think exam hall! I pass them, heels squeaking on the floor, breaking the silence. Well, every examination needs an invigilator. The team leader tells me that everyone is being quizzed on what they have learned over the past week's training. "You know when you're doing team exercises and there's always that one person who answers everything?" she asks me, stopping for a quick chat, "well, this way, we can test everyone to make sure that it's not just that one person who knows all the answers!"

I watch the staff as they scribble down their answers, flipping over the pages of their questionnaire. I'm pretty sure they've got this material sussed. No notes under the desk or answers written on the back of their hands. The team leader assures me that this focussed silence isn't going to be the order of the day: "Don't worry, we'll be getting back to some fun team exercises and role-play in a minute!" Phew, the school day's over and thankfully the chefs have prepared something a little more appetising than packed lunches.

As well as the team getting organised for tonight's launch, artist Katy Thomson is dedicatedly applying brush strokes and pen lines to her enormous work of art. Everything is going smoothly for the young artist with the exception of her ladder! "It's ok for the lower sections but when I need to get to the highest bits, I have to enlist somebody to hold my ladder steady for about 20 minutes!" Not a fun job for the person on the ground, but all in the name of artistic progress. And, well, health and safety.

At tonight's opening launch, you can watch Katy for yourself as she transforms the walls. It's strange to think that less than a week ago, there was little more than white paint. It's been fascinating to watch it develop and become more and more defined each day. Katy's confident that she will have it completed for her deadline – Sunday. However, if not, by her own admission, she'll be staying until it's finished!

My Final Day in Zizzi

Well, it's Friday and that means my last day in the restaurant.  Make sure to come in and bid me farewell between 1pm and 3pm.  It's your last chance to share your stories and get a picture of your mug on the blog!

Robin Munro

Robin Munro, 66, is a charming, local resident who provides me with a wealth of insight into the changes that Inverness has seen over several decades.

"I moved to Inverness 20 years ago from Buckie which is along the coast but I was born on the Black Isle which is just on the other side of the bridge. I used to work in the building just over the bridge. I don't think people would want to know what I worked as because I was the tax man! I studied history at university so I'm interested in history to a degree. I think that history is where we come from and that's very important.

When I was a very small boy, back in the late 1940s, we lived in Inverness for a short period. In the 40s, it was much, much smaller. The thing is, over the years, Inverness has doubled and re-doubled in size. There are pros and cons to the expansion of the city. It has got much more in the way of facilities than it used to have with the shopping centres and so on.

There's also a lot more restaurants. There's a good array of restaurants so Zizzi will be in good company! This particular restaurant is on the site of an old, old house called 'Queen Mary's House' which they decided to knock down in the 1960s along with other buildings on this corner. Inverness does have enough history but not enough of the historic buildings left which reflect that.

I've more or less raised my family in Inverness. My son would have been about 7 or 8 when he came here and my daughter was just a few months old. My daughter regards herself very much as an Invernesian. It's a beautiful place to raise a family. It's close to wondeful scenery. 2 or 3 minutes away and you can see everything. The river's wondeful, I like that. It's a pleasant walk to the islands down the river. You can cross from one side of the river to walk down and come back on the other side. Really beautiful. Inverness was the place that I thought I'd be retiring in and I'm happy to be retired here. It's probably the best place I've lived.

As a very small child, I remember being taken by a neighbour who had the leasing of the salmon fishing on the River Ness. He had two boats and men working with him. We rode out onto the river with our nets. We made a loop and pulled back in the net with the salmon. That's quite a pleasant memory of Inverness that I have from being a small boy. That would have happened not very far from where we are now in Zizzi. Salmon fishing doesn't exist here anymore as an industry but there is still salmon fishing on the river today. You can see a great stretch of the river here from the restaurant. I like that you're able to watch the chefs at work too. That gives you extra confidence in your food!"

What a Day for Team Zizzi Inverness...

It's 2 days until Zizzi opens their doors and the waiting staff have been set a challenge! To understand just what it's like to work in the kitchen, the waiters and front of house staff are placing aside their notepads and reservation books to don a chef's hat and apron. The task ahead of them? To each cook just one perfect margherita pizza! What a great way to introduce them to the chef's working day. The orders are in (a dozen margheritas!) and the staff take to the kitchen to begin their culinary adventure.

The kitchen is soon filled with a buzz of activity as the staff prep their pizza bases and fuss over basil leaves. "I didn't realise how difficult it was going to be," one waiter admits. However, a member of the front of house team is in his element: "I love cooking, I really enjoyed that! I love being in the kitchen." His enthusiasm and passion for food is certainly well placed as his pizza is named as the winner. However, despite this, one of Zizzi's chef's cheekily comments that it was 'over cheesed'. All of the staff share a great love for Italian cooking and busily analyse each other's pizzas, before coming to the conclusion that after today, all the cooking will be left to the chefs!

I manage to sneak a slice or two of the winning pizza. It was delicious! I feel as if I should be paying and leaving a tip. It just goes to show the quality of the ingredients. Soon, there's a row of pizzas all lovingly created by the waiters and front of house team. I ask to take a picture but the team leader tells me that 'these aren't the real pizzas, just a little experiment!' I convince him that the experiment sure does look a lot like real pizzas and he agrees to let me take a snap, giving you a look at the team's creations. Now, I bet you wish you had my job today.

The chefs regain control of the kitchen and are soon testing out all the brand new appliances, quickly rustling up bowls of salad and pasta with ease. It's fantastic fun to watch. With the open plan kitchen situated in the middle of the restaurant, the diners are able to observe their meals being prepared. A daunting prospect for the chefs! The waiters and front of house time are now back out into the restaurant and have been split into teams. Team A – the waiters and Team B – the customers! They take it in turns to test out their waitressing prowess even in the trickiest of situations. These 'customers' are certainly making their waiters work hard!

Soon, orders are being called out in the kitchen in gorgeous Italian voices. Tickets are deposited and spiked. Waiters carry plates to different tables. The 'customers' are changing their minds. There's certainly no let-up in today's role-play session! I'm certain that at any moment now, Gordon Ramsay will swing open the doors with his camera crew. It's a real insight into the busy, vibrant restaurant that it will become in a matter of days. There's a sense of excitement amongst the staff as the managers oversee the restaurant like proud parents. This excitement soon escalates as the staff are treated to a banquet of Italian delights prepared by the chefs. All in the name of learning! The staff's knowledge of the dishes is soon put the test as they are asked to rhyme off the ingredients of the dishes they are tucking into. Luckily, they are Italian food pros, eating and answering with little difficulty.

In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the Zizzi team, artist Katy Thomson is quiet and concentrated as she continues her artwork. It's really starting to come together. What was once a sketch a mere three days ago is now much more defined as Katy goes over her work using black pen and paint. "It's coming along well, I just find that I'm spending a lot of time on small sections," our artist in residence tells me. Katy's dedicated to the work's completion, laughing that she'll just have to work harder this afternoon. I have complete faith that by the end of the week, the diners of Zizzi Inverness will be the proud audience of a beautifully intricate piece of original artwork. It's a real joy to work alongside someone with such passion and talent for their craft. Zizzi has given us young artists and writers a great opportunity and it's something that we're both very thankful for.

John O'Connor

John O'Connor who describes himself as 'over 50' has lived in Inverness for 35 years and just so happens to be a Laird! I feel rather privileged at being able to chat with a member of the Scottish Gentry to find out his views on the city.

"I certainly love living in Iverness. I fell in love with the towns and the countryside. I moved here from Edinburgh when I was in my teens because it just got too big! Originally when my family moved here it was Old Inverness Town which was the town centre here and Old Culloden. That was it. But because of tourism and an influx of people moving to Inverness it's got a lot bigger.

I've definitely seen a lot of changes in my 35 years here, especially regarding businesses and retail. They've grown immensely. If you look at the retail parks, when I first came here, they were fields! There was a pub and that was it!I definitely see this kind of growth as a positive change. The businesses have grown in Inverness over the last 20 years, I would say, for the good.

For the future, I would love to see more businesses opening up around the city centre. Sometimes, I feel like when you look around the city centre, all there is are pubs and charity shops!

I've raised a family in Inverness. My son's still here and my daughter's in Edinburgh. It's a great place to raise a family. I would say that the education here is the best in Scotland because of the teachers and the facilities in the Highlands from rural to semi rural to city centre here. I'm not moving anymore. I can't move! I've got too much land here!"

Restaurant Day Three

Today marks my penultimate day in Zizzi so make sure you pop in between 1 and 3 to say hello!

The restaurant's really starting to take shape.  Yesterday, there were chefs in the kitchen, waiters organising the table settings and the managers eagerly rushing around to get everything ready for opening.  A real hive of activity!

I'll be taking some more photos inside today to give you another peek into Zizzi's and to let you see how Katy's phenomenal artwork is progressing.

I interviewed some great local residents yesterday so my ears will be glued to my dictaphone! I hope you'll look forward to reading them.  They include a chat with a Laird and a very knowledgable resident who gives us insight into Inverness in the 1940s. 

Sharon Carswell

Sharon Carswell, 29, is a full-time mum who has lived in Inverness with her husband, Thomas, for just over 4 years and like me, is a born Glaswegian.

"I'm originally from Glasgow but when I was studying at university there, I met my husband who's from Inverness.  Before we got married, we discussed staying in Glasgow but he's got such a strong connection with this place. All his family are here and, to be honest, I fancied a change.  Don't get me wrong, I love Glasgow, but Inverness has just been a breath of fresh air.  The scenery, the people, everything.  It's so much calmer here.

Our son was born just over a year ago and I'm so happy to be raising him here.  Growing up in Glasgow didn't do me any harm but it certainly is a different way of life here!  I'm glad that he'll be an Invernesian and spend his childhood in a place that's just so beautiful.  I really hope he appreciates how lucky he is when he's older!

I love the city centre, all the shops and cafes.  There's already a great selection of restaurants but I think that Zizzi is a great wee addition.  It's in such a perfect location as well.  With the glass fronts, I'd imagine that no matter where you're sitting, you get a great view of the river.  What more could you want, really? Lovely food with a lovely view.  It's nice to see that a bigger chain of restaurants is setting up in Inverness.  It's definitely a sign of the times.  Things are really progressing here and it's lovely to see the place gaining all these great places and keeping its own identity at the same time."

Virtual Tour of the Victorian Market

Nancy

Nancy, 68, is one of the first 'true Invernesians' I have interviewed, coming from a family that have lived in Inverness for several generations. She runs an open stall in the Victiorian Market which stocks the weird and wonderful.

"Here, we do fancy dress, wigs, dress-up clothes, accessories, bird food, plants and seeds. I have lived in Inverness my entire life! My whole family have lived in Inverness, I couldn't even tell you how far back we go. I'm definitely a true Invernesian!

It was wonderful growing up here. I grew up in the 50s and 60s when it was good. Now, everyone's very prosperous but back then it wasn't the same case. Everyone was in the same boat.

I have two brothers and a sister but they've moved to England. I'm really the last of my family here. I definitely see myself staying here. Oh aye, I'm not shifting now, I'm nearly 69! I'll hopefully always run my stall."

Brenda Treasurer

Brenda Treasurer works in the Victorian Market's 'Uppercut' jewellery boutique which has been open for over 30 years.

"The Victorian market is a great place to work. We have a lot of local trade here. Although it's really nice to see the tourists here over the Summer, it is great to have that local business. I will absolutely not be moving the business anywhere else and have no plans to expand."

Debbie McKenzie

Debbie McKenzie works in 'Kist' charity boutique which is an extremely new venture compared with the surrounding units which have been established for several decades.

"Kist has only been open for 6 weeks now. A charity boutique is what we call it. The charity is 'Health and Happiness in the Highlands' but the shop's name is Kist because I don't think that would fit on the sign! I'm really excited about the shop because it's just so nice and friendly here.

I think Inverness will take to vintage shopping because I reckon it's much needed. Most of the charity shops in Inverness sell a bit of everything but we specialise in the women's line. I went around and did a few surveys with local people and friends of mine and found that folk didn't really go charity shopping.

I tried to make Kist look as high street as possible so it appeals to a wide audience, especially in times of a recession where people don't have as much money to go shopping. If you're not used to shopping in charity shops, I felt that this would make the transition a bit easier. We try and put out the best of the donations we receive. What we don't use, we sell to a textile merchant and we're also starting to make our own bits and pieces, working on an alteration service."

Ann Storey

Ann Storey has justed arrived in Inverness from Dingwall and the Victorian Market is one of the first places that she has visited.

"I actually used to live near Kilmarnock so I have Scottish connections already but I'm living in Dingwall at the moment. I think the Victorian Market's quite nice but then I really like old-fashioned markets. I didn't even realise it existed until I got here this morning but it's definitely worth a look round."

The Victorian Market

When I first arrived in Inverness, I walked out of the train station and was met by a sign directing me to a 'Victorian Market' on Academy Street. It was strange and intriguing. I enjoy Victoriana and the odd market so this sign seemed like, well, a sign. I entered the market and was immediately met by a beautiful, sprawling corridor peppered with quaint, little shops. The Victorian cast-iron and wooden-domed roof transports you to an entirely different era. Have a quick glance around the shops and you would be forgiven for thinking that you have taken a step back in time.

There's the local fishmongers (a nod to the Market Hall's previous place as Inverness' fish market) the florist's, the confectionery stall and the tobacconist's. It's eerily yet beautifully archaic. But you must take a closer look. Only then will you discover the record shop, the Belgian chocolatiers, the Oriental food store and various boutiques specialising in contemporary jewellery and selected vintage clothing.

The Victorian Market charmingly blends together traditional Victorian design and layout with a modern collection of retail outlets. It isn't surprising that it's such a hit with both tourists and locals alike. It's certainly a landmark in Inverness's Old Town and I would urge anyone visiting the city to take some time out from the high street to visit the wonders of the Market.

I was fortunate enough to speak with some of the locals who work in the various shops in the Market and a tourist, much like myself, who surreptitiously stumbled upon it...

Restaurant Day Two

I will be in Zizzi again today (Wednesday 6th) so please drop in between 1 and 3.

From all the exploring I've been doing, I've decided on my favourite spot so far: The Victorian Market.  So, this morning I'll be heading over again to chat to the people that work there and hopefully some shoppers to get their take on it.  I'll be snapping a few pictures to give you glimpse into this lovely little collection of shops.

On a side note, I checked the stats for the blog last night and discovered that there are readers in America and Canada! So howdy and hello, ay.  Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on Inverness!

Always Nice to See your Name in Print

The front page of The Inverness Courier today! That's me, Miss Reid.

Ross Sharratt

Zizzi's General Manager, Ross Sharratt, 30, was kind enough to take some time out of his incredibly hectic day to speak with me. Ross has only lived in Inverness for 3 years but has fallen in love with the scenery and has no plans to go anywhere else.

"I've only worked for Zizzi for a few months now but I used to be the general manager at Pizza Hut. I worked there for 12 years so it's a big change coming to a place like this. I'm originally from Glasgow but I moved down to a wee town in the Borders when I was 8 and grew up there. I've really enjoyed living in Inverness for the past few years. I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I have done, to be honest!

I originally moved up for work and said to myself that I would only stay for 2 years then go back down to the central belt. But after living here for a while, I fell in love with the scenery, particulary the hills, the river and the fact that Inverness is so close to Loch Ness. I haven't seen the monster. But, of course, I think it exists. You have to keep that alive!

I definitely love my history so it's great to live in a place like Inverness where you're surrounded by it. To me, Inverness is like a big town even though it's a city. It's full of people that are really friendly. It doesn't take long to walk from one side to the other and I quite like that aspect.

I have no plans to move at the moment. I think to myself, yes, this is where I want to be. I want to settle down and raise a family here. I've not noticed a lot of change in the city centre since I've been here. The place is still always hoaching with tourists over the Summer and in Winter it's off to Aviemore and the Cairngorms."

A Sneak Peek Inside Zizzi

A look at the beginnings of Katy's artwork and the restaurant itself.

Katy Thomson

As you would expect from a restaurant that is still in the process of being built, there is a lot of noise and construction going on.  At the exact moment of typing that full stop (or period, for you Americanos), there was a loud metal clang to prove my point.  Today, Zizzi is positvely buzzing with activity in preparation for opening its doors to the public.  I take my place at a table with a rather nice riverside view and in spitting distance of a plug socket (phew).

There is an intense amount of work going on around me.  Large boxes of crockery are being ripped open whilst the builders work on the kitchen, ready for opening night on Saturday.  For a restaurant, I guess the kitchen's completion is pretty vital.  I feel like I should be helping.  I did once lend a hand to the construction of a wooden chair from Argos. No doubt, that's the first thing they would look for on a CV.

However, the most interesting bit of work around me comes from resident artist, Katy Thomson, 22.  Katy is originally from Aberdeen but now lives in Edinburgh and graduated from Edinburgh College of Art.  She will be spending the entire week working on her piece which stretches across 2 soon-to-not-be white walls.  A busy, working artist, Katy only has one day off when she returns to Edinburgh before she begins work on building a stage for a local festival.  Katy tells me her vision for the artwork and how Inverness has inspired her.

"I do drawing and installation type work.  The drawings that I usually do are much, much smaller.  They're a lot like the work I'm doing on the walls at the moment, only reduced about a million times so they are very small but very accurate.  In the drawings, I create an imaginary space and then I build it into reality, inviting the viewers to step inside these spaces and have a look around.

I have found it quite easy to blend my own style of art with the Zizzi project.  I had the idea from the outset to make it something that was much more related to what I would normally do.  I think my work's quite well adapted to being given sources of inspiration that I have to make something out of.  Projects like this are perfect.  I can be inspired by Inverness architecture and the Caledonian canal so it came quite naturally to create a blend of a realistic and imaginary landscape.

I wouldn't say that it's a direct representation of Inverness.  I communicate with the drawings my own interpretation.  All the architecture goes through my own imagination and then I put it on the wall.  You could say that it's quite distorted but that's what I see, my own vision of Inverness.  I try to create an atmosphere.  The architecture isn't in its normal setting.  There's loads and loads of condensed architecture that's piled on top of one another and then there's bits of castle peeking out the side.

I also worked on the art project in the Zizzi in Glasgow's west end which was quite intense.  I'm glad that I've got a bit more time up here.  I similarly based it on my interpretation of Glasgow, using bits of scenery that really stood out to me, such as the Waverley boats and the Glasgow skyline.  From working on that previous project, it's really taught me to have a time plan and schedule in place because with this work, I wanted to be a lot more adventurous with how much I could include.  I wanted it to be really dense and be able to develop it fully, like I would a piece of my own work.  The planning process always takes the most time.  I think that hopefully by tomorrow, I will have all the initial sketching done then I will start to go over it with marker pens.  I want to get a balance of really intensive bits and fade outs of the smokey mountains that you tend to get around Inverness.  They seem quite quiet and empty and you can really see them when the sun sets."

To find out more about Katy Thomson and to view her past drawing and installation work, you can visit Katy's website here

Drop-in Session Today!

Today, Tuesday October 5th, is my very first day in the restaurant.  I will be there between 1pm and 3pm to hear all your stories.  Have you fallen in love with Inverness? Tell me why! Was it a specifc place or event? That's one of my hot topics for today.

As you can see from the picture, Zizzi is really starting to take shape.  It's filled with builders and important looking people with clipboards.  One of the builders was even kind enough to climb the ladder and pose as the statue of liberty for me.

See you at 1pm, Inverness!

Gillian Grant

Gillian Grant, 39, is the duty manager of Inverness' Redcliffe Hotel. She calls herself an 'honorary Invernesian' as she has spent almost twenty years living and working in the city centre. Gillian tells us about the changes she has noticed throughout the city and how this 'big town' has evolved.

“I was born just outside of Helensburgh in Rue but have lived in Inverness for 18 years. It felt like the big smoke when I first moved here coming from such a small place. I live here now with my partner and my 5 year old daughter, who is definitely an Invernesian! I can really see myself staying here for the foreseeable future. Inverness is home to me now.

There have been a lot of changes in Inverness over the last 5, 10 years. When I moved here, it wasj just a big town. It didn't have all the businesses you would expect. Now, you can see that that's no longer the case and it's a proper city. Housing has expanded a great deal. Sometimes I feel like the shopping side of the city centre is lacking a bit. There are retail units lying empty. I suppose that's to do with retail parks but then we all love our retail parks! It's a real shame when the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker go. Luckily, there are new places opening up all the time to keep the city centre thriving.

Before starting at The Redcliffe, I worked in an Italian restaurant called 'Palio' in Queensgate, in the city centre. A local couple bought the building and renovated it. It used to be a building society. The restaurant was open for 9 years and I was with them from the very beginning, right through to when they sold it. It was a real shame when that happened. It was popular, lots of people liked it and full of great, fresh food. It was probably the only authentic Italian restaurant in the city centre at the time, specialising in hand-thrown pizzas. A lot of Palio's customers visit me here, at the Redcliffe, and they really miss that good quality mediterranean food. It's great that Zizzi is bringing that real Italian flavour back to Inverness. I've been to a branch in Leith and the menu really is beautiful. It seems relaxed and easy going. Somewhere that you can visit with your girlfriends or sit with your partner in a candle lit table in the corner. I want somewhere I can go and have a meal with my daughter that serves great olives and salads. She's not a cheese pizza kind of girl!

Inverness' history is great for drawing the tourists' in which is something that we really rely on. But for the people that live here, it doesn't make a great impact. I suppose it's the same as anywhere else; when something's on your doorstep, you don't bother with it as much. I'm certainly proud to be an Invernesian, or rather I call myself an 'honorary Imvernesian'! The beauty of Inverness and where it is placed is that you can go 2 miles out in any direction and you're in the country. You can cycle, you can hike, you can climb the mountains. There are lots of outdoor pursuits but Inverness is not completely on the outskirts. It's definitely becoming more and more accessible. Inverness is such a beautiful part of the country and now it's opening up to the world.”

For Fans of Bill Bailey...

My hotel room may not have a hosenbugler, but feast your eyes on the impressive tea and coffee making facilities...

Day One

I have arrived in Inverness and to prove it, here's a very generic, touristy shot of the castle.  It's not hard to take a good photograph with subject matter that beautiful.

I've had a wander round and spoken to a few people.  Sadly, I keep chatting to tourists who are, although very pleasant, no help with my task in finding out what it's like to live in Inverness today.  Bring on the locals!

I popped my head into Zizzi which is already starting to look rather swish.  I was on the lookout for restaurant manager Erica.  I was certain it was an Erica.  However, when I asked for the manager, I was pointed toward a rather tall gentleman.  'Eric?' I asked. 'No, I'm Bob*, that's Erica there,' the man said and pointed to the woman next to him.  What a way to make a first impression!  I think the only person I've impressed today was a lovely lady on the train asking me to fill out a survey.  She reckoned I was too 'glam' for that train and thought I might be a bit 'posh', before informing me that the usual commuters tended to wear 'those outdoor clothes'.  If anyone reckons they know what these elusive outdoor clothes are, then please leave a comment letting me know!

I have an interview lined up this afternoon which will be uploaded onto the blog tomorrow so stay tuned.

Don't forgot I'll be in Zizzi on 20 Bridge Street from tomorrow (Tuesday) until Friday 8th between 1 and 3, ready to hear your stories.

Now, I'm off to try and find some outdoor clothes...

(* It might not be Bob, but at times like that, my memory isn't very acute)

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Well, two trains and a taxi.

Tomorrow morning I embark on my 3 hour and 27 minute journey.  I've dusted off my dictaphone and am really looking forward to hearing your take on modern day Inverness. 

In the afternoon, I'll be popping into Zizzi for a snoop around whilst the builders work then will be scouring the streets for some lovely people who are willing to speak with me.

Don't forget to visit me in the restaurant from Tuesday to Friday between 1pm and 3pm for a sit down chat and possibly a cuppa.

Inverness, We Need You!

Zizzi is opening a new branch at 20 Bridge Street and I was fortunate enough to be selected as their humble Writer in Residence between October 4th and 8th 2010.  So what is it I'll be doing?  Here's my take on it to give you a taster...

Inverness' history, although colourful and fascinating, is widely known and available.  So what I want to do is travel forward and find out what it's like to live in modern-day Inverness.  How has it changed in the last 20, 30, even 40 years?  Against a backdrop of historic architecture, how has Inverness evolved and become modernised?  Certainly, the opening of a new Zizzi is a fresh injection of Italian flair, but how else has the city's culture progressed?

This is where you come in.  In order to answer these questions, I need to hear your stories.  How do you think the city has changed?  What's your take on Inverness 2010?  If you have a story to tell, then I would love to hear from you.

All you have to do is pop into the restaurant on the following days and chat to me:

Tuesday 5th October - 1-3pm
Wednesday 6th October - 1-3pm
Thursday 7th October - 1-3pm
Friday 8th October - 1-3pm

Each day, I'll be uploading the blog with your stories to give readers an insight into your own tales from the heart of Inverness. So please do drop by Zizzi on 20 Bridge St and share your memories of past and present Inverness.

Let Me Introduce Myself...

My name's Elaine Reid and I'm a short story writer based in the west end of Glasgow.  I recently graduated from Strathclyde University with a First Class Honours in English with Journalism and Creative Writing.  This year, my short story 'Paulie's Bar Mitzvah' was awarded first prize in the Keith Wright Memorial Literary Competition.  I've taught creative writing workshops for children across Glasgow's libraries and also worked with Unicef's story competitions and seminars, assisting published authors.  I'm currently working on a collection of short stories entitled 'Give Your Fingers a Little Work' which I was lucky enough to preview at this year's Edinburgh book festival at the suitably gut-churning 'Dragons' Pen'.

Now, I think that's enough academia for one day.  When I'm not eagerly selling myself straight from the old CV, I enjoy Wes Anderson films, White Russians and the words of Charles Bukowski.  I'm a pretty good vegetarian chef and love to travel.  London, New York, Berlin.  It's an incurable case of Wanderlust, which brings me rather neatly to my next post.  My itchy feet are taking me to Inverness and I'll tell you why...