Glasgow Gallivanting: February 2017

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 The Citizen’s Theatre

Citizen's Theatre

After Celtic Connections finished I had withdrawal symptoms and got on the internet straightaway to book tickets for something else to go to! As a result, we had a lovely evening at “The Citz” which first opened as a theatre in 1878 when it was known as the Royal Princess’s Theatre. The Citizens company was founded in 1943, and moved to this site in 1945. Since then it has been extended, as you can see in the photograph above, but the foyer retains reminders of the old days with a stained glass window from the Royal Princess and a collection of statues which used to adorn the façade.

Citizen’s Theatre
Citizen’s Theatre

The play we saw was Cuttin’ a Rug by John Byrne, set at the staff dance of a 1950s carpet factory – hence the punning title (to cut a rug is to dance really well). It was funny and had a great 50s soundtrack.

Of course, going to the theatre requires a pre-theatre meal and that, added to various dinners and lunches with friends, means that February has been almost as unkind to the waistline as January. Did we get a chance to walk it off? Not really…

Finlaystone

Clyde view from Finlaystone
Clyde view from Finlaystone

A combination of weather, socialising, both being struck down by horrible colds, and John having a trip to China meant we only had time for one country excursion. We went to Finlaystone Estate, about half an hour down the Clyde from home. The view from the highest point of the forest walk was magnificent – but you would never know from the photo above that both the busy A8 and the railway run between the estate and the river, so you never quite get away from the noise of traffic. However, the snowdrops were blooming and John got to play on the children’s boat when no-one was looking. Some people never grow up!

Bridge detail
Snowdrops
Snowdrops
Snowdrops
Waterfall
Finlay’s Phoenix
Finlaystone House
House detail
Finlaystone House

Woman on the Shelf

Woman on the Shelf
Woman on the Shelf

I’ve written before about my connection with Glasgow Women’s Library where I’ve been volunteering since I retired over four years ago. As a charity, it has a constant need to raise money and one way is the Women on the Shelf scheme. A single book, a shelf, or a whole section can be sponsored in honour of your chosen woman. I’m so grateful to my lovely Mum who sponsored a shelf in my name because she wanted to support the organisation where I am so happy working. Sponsored shelves are marked with a wooden block and I was excited to find mine had been delivered last week with the latest batch.

Sponsored shelf blocks
Sponsored shelf blocks

The inscription says –

To my book-worm daughter Anabel, a dedicated librarian who loves libraries and has found a niche in GWL

Thanks Mum!

I’ll be taking Mum into the library to see the block in place very soon, so watch this space.

The last bit

Last month, I introduced you to the word bawbag. Not long afterwards, #presidentbawbag trended on Twitter – nothing to do with me of course, but thanks to West Wing actor Richard Schiff. He’s just a tad more influential than I am, but I hope you were suitably grateful that I had given you advance warning of what it meant 😉

I thought I’d offer you another Scottish word this month, wabbit – partly because I’ve been feeling a bit wabbit myself, but also because it too has turned up in the news. Scientists at Edinburgh University have produced a paper arguing that people who claim to be feeling tired all the time might be doing so because of their genes. It’s probably the only scientific paper ever published to start with a definition of wabbit:

The Scots word wabbit encompasses both peripheral fatigue, the muscle weakness after a long walk, and central fatigue, the reduced ability to initiate and/or sustain mental and physical activity, such as we might experience while having flu.

So there you have it! I hope none of you are feeling wabbit, but if you are you have a new word to describe it.

How has your February been?

Scotland, UK , , , , ,

65 Comments »

  1. That is so sweet that your mom sponsored a shelf in your name for the library. Thanks for introducing us to a few Scottish words. I know the wabbit feeling. I seem to have it more than I’d like. 🙂

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  2. Sponsored shelves?? I LOVE that idea! But so how does it work? You sponsor the shelf and the librarian will buy books going on that shelf?
    This is a truly intriguing idea 🙂

    Hey, Anabel! I see a new line in your list of AtoZ Challenge partecipation up there. Are you taking part? 🙂

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    • Nothing so fancy! The books are already there but the donor gets to choose which shelf her sponsored woman is represented on. No, there’s nothing new on A to Z – in fact, I was thinking I should take that heading down now that the next one is about to start. I’ll not be taking part – as last year, I have ideas but no time to execute them 😦

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  3. Hi Anabel,
    hope that you got rid off your colds, both of you.
    We love the idea to sponsor a shelf in the library, such a fun and great way to raise money.
    Looking forward to learning more Scottish words! We’re going on an extensive road trip to all remote places in Scotland this coming May -June and a few door opening words would be nice.
    🙂

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  4. Lovely photos Anabel though sorry to hear you both had horrible colds – hope you’re well and truly over them now! I love the idea of the “women on the shelf” – great way to raise some money for the library and a lovely thought from your mum. The word of the week is great “wabbit” – I will incorporate that into my repertoire!

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  8. Last time I was in the Citz was to see Tam White and the Dexters (big band sound- blues- jazzy numbers) many moons ago but really enjoyed it. I buy loads of books from library book sales now for 20p each and only a few years old; most of them best sellers of some description. I don’t actually visit libraries for anything else now as it used to cost me much more in late fees to borrow them and forget to return some so it means I now keep the best ones I like to read again. Don’t know if it does much for the authors though as I think they changed the royalty payments duration in libraries for authors a few years back..

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    • Authors still get Public Lending Right payments from library borrowings (though not GWL which is a charity and not connected to the public library system). I’ve never been convinced that fines are an effective way to get people to bring books back – I always felt embarrassed charging them!

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  9. February has been very warm here, and we are getting blooms that usually don’t show up until the end of March. I just hope it doesn’t mean we’re going to get a hot, dry summer, but it probably does.

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  10. I think I’ve said this before, but the Glasgow Women’s Library seems like such an amazing place, and the block sounds like such a meaningful gift from your mum! I think the inscription is particularly lovely. Also, I think I might be a bit like John…I would have scrambled up on that boat too, and struck a pose as soon as no one was looking! Or probably even if they were, but then I’d be wearing a sheepish grin.

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  11. Hi Anabel,
    We went to see Cuttin’ a Rug too, and I loved the black-and-white set. Great opening too, in the movie theatre. I found myself wishing we’d seen The Slab Boys first, though, to properly meet all the characters. Sadly missed that show’s revival two years ago. The Citizens is a great resource and we are so lucky to have all sorts of excellent theatre in Glasgow! I’ve already booked tickets to see Henry IV and the musical Chess at the Royal Conservatoire, where the calibre of talent is always impressive.

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  12. What a fabulous month you have had, and John looks very ‘Wellington’ on his ship, or is he recalling a Scottish captain such as Captain Kidd?!

    PS Think the shelf idea is brilliant

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  15. ‘Women on the Shelf’ is such a brilliant idea! Kudos to your mom for providing such a heartfelt and lovely tribute to her daughter!

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  17. I love the pictures of those pretty flowers-looks magical and i am with John-I’d be right beside him:) As for Wabbit-I thought you were channeling Elmer Fudd at first:) I can relate to this word but, thankfully, I have not been ill, just tired. I am not sure where the first 2 months went but they are gone!

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  19. “Bawbag”…..love it, and I’m now following Richard on twitter. 🙂 I was feeling a tad wabbit after gym yesterday. Think I pulled a muscle. 😦 Your mum will be thrilled to see you up on the library shelf. What a great idea.

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  20. Gosh, I’ve not heard “wabbit” since I was tiny. I think my gran’s the only one I ever heard use it. Sadly, it describes exactly how I’m feeling today 😦

    I love the Women on the Shelf scheme; anything that helps libraries is good, but this is a lovely way to acknowledge women who are/have been important to us as well.

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  22. You have a wonderful mom, Anabel, to state the obvious. Mark is feeling a bit wabbit today, unfortunately. And, tomorrow is his birthday. I hope the “bit” doesn’t become worse. As I mentioned in the past, it is so nice to live in a place like Glasgow with lots of activity and events! At the moment, we are house sitting 10′ away from a vibrant and eclectic town with a theater, movie theater, wine and beer tasting rooms, lots of bars and restaurants, live music and concerts. It will be busy!

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  27. Hi Annabel – well the main thing is – that February is done and dusted for this year – and we can all start feeling less ‘wabbit-like’! The play sounds great fun … while that walk looks delightful but deserves a good old fashioned afternoon tea afterwards that blends into early supper – no reason to leave the fireside …

    I do love the block – what a clever idea in the Library .. and a great way for your mother to support her book-loving daughter and her daughter to support the local library so well … wonderful gesture …

    Cheers and onto March after Pancake Day today … Hilary

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  29. Love the stained glass window in the theatre, it’s gorgeous.

    Brilliant idea to sponsor a shelf in the library, what a great way to raise money.

    Have to confess the only ‘wabbit’ I’ve ever heard of is that cartoon character who couldn’t pronounce the letter ‘r’ properly. You learn something every day 🙂

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