Cousins
My cousin Tracy and her husband have just bought a new boat. We were able to inspect it before a family lunch at Kip Marina. Doesn’t she look delighted?
We also had dinner with another of my cousins, Ian, and his wife Lynn. No photos were taken at that event, but here we are as kids on the back green of our grandparents’ tenement flat. That’s their kitchen window behind us. I think this is 1971, so I would be 14 and Ian 4. His wee brother and my younger sister are also there, and a small girl at the end who, I think, must have lived in the same building. I have no recollection of her at all.
Voice from the past
Talking of things popping up, and in the blowing-my-own-trumpet department, I was touched and delighted to find my name in Update, the professional journal for librarians in the UK (third paragraph). One of the most satisfying aspects of my career was mentoring and encouraging younger librarians so it’s great to know it was appreciated. Thank you so much to Jennifer for mentioning me.
The Elephant Park
Glasgow has many fine parks, and I’ve written about the major ones, such as the Botanic Gardens, many times. All over the city, however, you can find pocket-sized parks amidst the urban sprawl. Last year, these two concrete elephants near my home were sending out an SOS signal because redevelopment of an adjacent building put them under threat. When I passed by the other day they had obviously just been made-over (one still has its Wet Paint sign) so I’m hoping this means they have been reprieved.
The last bit
Four theatre / concert hall visits, three guided walks, a visit from my sister – I’m running out of time to write about everything this month, so I’ll quickly finish by returning to my programme of expanding your vocabulary with Scottish words! The Women’s Library guided walks that I’ve co-led have not been blessed with good weather – an understatement to say the least. Both guides and partcipants were drookit. If you can’t guess what that means from the pictures, click on the link! I have more walks coming up in June, so I’m hoping for better luck.
So that was my May – how was yours?
Isn’t it nice to know how much you influenced and encouraged a young librarian? Good for you!
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Thank you! I was very pleased.
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Hi Anabel – wonderful to see the accolade from Jennifer – so heart-warming for you . Looks like you’ve had a fun-filled May … and seen lots of delightful places … looking forward to the posts – those elephants are a delight. Libraries are special aren’t they … and offer so much – cheers HIlary
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Thanks Hilary – always good to get your lovely feedback!
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A post with so much variety and different subjects I’m having to think where to start so that I don’t forget anything. Can’t beat the May weekends.if you are a 9 to 5 type worker – chance of good spring weather and nature coming back to life just as your nose lifts off the grindstone briefly for a glorious two long weekends.
School photo looks spookily like mine at that age. Same jumpers, haircuts, clothes, line up of pupils, and wee ones sitting crossed legged at the front. Same position for teachers. Makes you wonder if they were all taken by the same schools photographer or if they had strict guidelines to follow regarding the set up for the photo.shoot.
Libraries have always been a huge part of my life for introducing me to new books,records, films and art outside of the narrow confines of material I would actually buy for myself so like most working class kids on limited budgets it’s a great way to broaden the mind and a genuine ticket to adventure. I still prefer reading real paper books you can hold and keep in a bookcase although I write books myself on kindle as a fast means to get them out there without waiting years for a publisher to notice one. Hope like vinyl they will make a strong comeback as although they they need more space to store a filled bookcase or record collection is like a life CV of personal tastes at a glance for any observer walking into a room.
Only discovered the elephants on a bike ride a few years ago as they are well tucked away. Still don’t know what they mean or the connection to that district though? Must look it up now.
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Thank you for the lovely detailed comment! Re school photo – it doesn’t actually look that different from my mum’s school photos in the 1930s! I don’t think children’s fashions changed much in those decades. Always glad to hear of a library fan! As for the elephants, I don’t know how they got there either and can’t find anything via Google except the campaign to save them – which even went as far as the House of Commons.
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Congratulations on the mention. You should feel proud to have mentored someone who will nourish your knowledge. I also like to mention that Elephant Park, love that!
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Thank you! The elephants are very popular with local children so I hope they stay.
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*Nelson*
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My May is when I pretended to be Willie – “On The Road Again ” which means I spent a good part of it traveling to meetings. One thousand kilometers from home and I was in the city of Mount Gambier, South Australia, for two days. Two days doesn’t sound like much but overall it’s a five day trip that covers some 1360 miles of driving, plus three funerals, volunteer word for the Royal Flying Doctor Service – RFDS- more traveling and illness (me). It’s been an interesting sort of month. Oh and today (1st June) if the official first day of Winter.
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Yes, your distances are vast! Sorry about the funerals and illness – hope things improve. I suppose I would get used to winter in June but it does sound strange.
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What a great way for your Mum to record her memories and photographs. I like her description of you and your sister as being a bit obstreperous in your teenage years. 🙂 (aren’t we all!)
And how nice for Jennifer to give you a gold star for your hard work and professionalism. It sounds like you’ve had a very pleasant month. I completed a single bed size crochet blanket for my daughter. She’s living in Canada now, so I told her she will have to come home if she wants to collect it! You can see photos of it on my Instagram page.
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Yes, I’m sure we all were! The blanket is lovely, gorgeous shades of blue.
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Another great post….and language lesson! “Drookit”….I LOVE it! And, unfortunately I will be able to use that word often in my neck of the woods!
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Thanks, it’s very expressive isn’t it?
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Sounds like a busy month, but the good kind of busy! I’m happy to hear that those adorable elephants seem to have been given a reprieve!
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I’ll have to keep walking round there to check up on them!
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What a lovely shout-out that young librarian gave you! You deserve to be proud. I spent all of May outside of the country… I’ll be sharing my adventures soon.
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Oh good – I look forward to that. I thought you’d been quiet!
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