OPINION: You really can get it all in Inverness
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How are your preparations going for Christmas?
Right about now I should be sending out invitations to our annual Christmas shindig, which we archly refer to as ‘Christmas Cocktails with the Marrs’.
I should be checking we still have all the parts for our ‘tasteful’ light-up cocktail fountain and nipping to Morrisons for the ingredients for the Woo Woos it usually holds – vodka, cranberry juice, peach schnapps, and wedges of fresh lime.
I usually add a good glug of Cassis; it deepens the flavour and satisfies my smug notion that in tinkering with a classic recipe, I somehow know what I’m doing.
This year there will be no cocktail extravaganza. This year, for the reasons we know far too well, it will be enough if both daughters make it home for Christmas. I have never been happier that we live in Inverness. We really do have it all here.
As well as giving easy access to all the wild delights of the Highlands, Inverness city centre provides everything I want and need to make this extraordinary Christmas special.
Instead of resorting to impersonal online retailers for my gift shopping and decorations, I’ve pledged to spend my money locally.
With two hours of free parking available in Rose Street Car Park till the end of January, it’s delightfully easy to access the city centre shops, bars, restaurants and salons – two hours is long enough to get my Christmas nails done at Sleeping Beauty Salon too!
Sparkly nails aside, over the festivities I’ll be swapping my usual sequins and heels for clothes that are designed to keep me warm in all weathers.
Grahams on Castle Street carry a fantastic range of stylish, outdoor jackets, and covetous Aigle boots which will last for decades.
They’ll be ideal attire for the tiny, Covid-compliant gatherings of close friends and family that we’ll be holding (weather permitting!) around the fire-pit in our back garden.
I’ll be serving warm ginger toddies, (hot apple juice, ginger beer, cinnamon sticks, and a generous dash of vodka) alongside a mountain of cocktail sausages. I stockpile the skinny Cumberland ones from M&S, they’re gluten-free to satisfy our resident Coeliac. Try this; oven-roast them, then drain them of their fat. Smother with a generous coating of grain mustard, chilli flakes and maple syrup, then roast again till they’re finger-licking sticky.
Top tips: make twice as many as you think you’ll need and cater for the vegetarians (we have one of them too!) with grilled halloumi, served with Mango and Chilli sauce from Sandy and Colin at Oil and Vinegar. Delicious.
Follow up with a few mince pies, either home-made (I top mine with marzipan stars instead of pastry for an extra hit of festive flavours) or get them from Harry Gow for a real treat.
No fire-pit in the garden? No problem! Primark has a selection of thick Sherpa throws in bright checks and soft grey Scandi patterns, which will do a grand job of keeping out the chill.
Stock up on hot water bottles – TK Maxx had a great selection when I popped in. They’re useful for working from home too – no-one can see your hot water bottle on a Zoom call!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be back in town to crack on with my Christmas shopping – I tried that this week but ended up buying myself a beautiful jumper from Jenny in Judith Glue instead!
But I did spot some sparkly jewellery for my girls from Colin Campbell in the Victorian Market (no spoilers!), and I’ll be investing in HMV vouchers for my many, many nephews. Choosing music/DVDs for them is really not my strong point!
Next week I’ll be baking my cake, prepping some dishes for the freezer, and meeting a friend for coffee, either in Blend or Artysans – I can’t see past their cheese scones.
We’re so lucky in Tier 1 to be allowed to meet for drinks too, so I hope to catch up with my girlfriends (one at a time, just to be safe) in one of the city’s best bars.
The investment Johnny Foxes has made in their outdoor heaters will keep us warm if we can’t get a table inside. And have you tried the new sharing platters at MacGregor’s (pictured left) yet? We were seated right by the stove last time we were in.
Don’t forget December’s Inverness Farmers’ Markets are on Saturday 5th and 19th.
Join me next week – till then, keep it local!
