A towering achievement

on a pinnacle, living as he does with his wife Susan in a 100ft high

water tower at Eskbank, a few miles from Edinburgh.

Gerry, an architect and watercolour painter, designed the unique,

B-listed home which the couple moved into five years ago. Before the

Goldwyres bought it, the water tower had been derelict. ''It was like

buildinga block of flats,'' says Gerry. ''You did one floor then moved

on to the next.''

Seven level high, the structure has one fabulous, crescent-shaped room

on each level, which wraps itself around the spine of an elegant black

spiral staircase curving up through the building.

There's a basement cellar for storage; a hall and study on the ground

floor, and the couple's bedroom above.

Next comes the dining room, with its table positioned between the

windows, looking out over the lush countryside. On one wall remains the

measure for the float which once gauged the amount of water in the tank,

which sat at the very top of the building storing water brought from the

Edinburgh boundary.

One level above this is the kitchen which received Gerry's closest

attention and is the epitome of efficiency and looks good too.

''I pride myself on having got the kitchen spot-on,'' says its owner

proudly. ''It's made for working, as a tool; it's no good for anything

else - it's not a social kitchen.

''Susan will come in and say, 'Can I help?' and I say, 'Yes, sit down,

pour two glasses of wine, and keep out of the way'.''

Sound likes a wife's dream.

''It had to be designed in such a way that you can reach everything -

it's really the crown jewels, this room,'' Gerry continues.

Continue climbing the stairs, admiring Gerry's watercolours as you go,

and you come to the bathroom. Black and white like the kitchen, it is

another attractive, easily kept room. The windows have been cleverly

positioned at mid-calf height for privacy. Yet, from the generously

proportioned bath, the views are superb.

One more storey and the lounge is reached, sitting pagoda-like with a

surrounding balcony, right on top of the tower were the water tank once

sat.

Its white walls are studded all round with floor-to-ceiling windows

which flood the room with light. The profusion of house plants clearly

love it and show their approval with a vigorous,verdant display.

A french window leads to the balcony, and those glorious views...

Dalkeith, Eskbank, rolling green fields and lush trees. Don't look down

though - between the boards can be spotted the perilous drop to the

ground! Back inside, there's time to admire Gerry's Masterchef award

sitting on the coffee table, and reflect on this peaceful eyrie of a

room, where no one could help but feel relaxed. It has an

other-worldliness about it, hardly surprising considering its lofty

position, high above every other house in the vicinity.

In answer to a question on fire safety in such a tall house, Gerry

Goldwyre says:''Every room is linked to a central fire alarm system. The

stairs are made of brick which,in a fire, will give you two hours, and

there's emergency lighting on the stairs. It's probably one of the

safest houses in the country.''

Gerry's life since becoming Masterchef has been a whirlwind. He is

working on a 12-part cookery series for GMTV, which should start around

mid-November.

He has been working with a series of chefs around the UK in their own

kitchens, finding their enthusiasm and interest in him openminded and

heartwarming. Then there's the enormous challenge of recipe development

in hand for school catering within Lothian and Central regions, an

attempt to encourage healthier eating habits.

The new year will see his cookery classes where the emphasis will be

hands-on, begin in the adjacent cottage, currently being fitted with a

fine new kitchen. Next year also, he plans to conduct cookery holidays

on foreign soils.

Living in a water tower is clearly inspirational.