Glasgow Gallivanting: August 2017

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Union Canal, Falkirk

With just coming back from Canada at the end of July, John having two business trips during the month (to Singapore and China) and replacing all the windows in our house, August has not seen us travel very far – at least, not together. Perhaps the most unusual thing we did was going to a play, The Resurrection, which took place on the banks of the Union Canal, including inside the Falkirk Tunnel. Based on the infamous Burke and Hare murders in 1827/8 it was quite scary in parts!

In the 1820s, there was a lucrative trade in selling cadavers to Edinburgh University (for use in the study of anatomy) which produced a spate of grave-robbing leading to the term “resurrection men”. Strictly speaking, the title of the play is a misnomer as Burke and Hare cut out the necessity for “resurrection” by murdering the victims themselves. Four actors met us in turn as we walked along the canal and through the tunnel on which Burke and Hare had been labourers. Below, you can see Margaret Logue, landlady of the lodgings in which the murders took place, and William Burke himself.

Margaret Logue
William Burke

It was impossible to take photographs inside the tunnel, but if you are interested, this very short video shows how spooky it was. It was very different to any other event we have been too, and really enjoyable. I’m just glad I wasn’t the person right at the front when Mr Burke suddenly appeared as we exited the tunnel. The first woman out screamed blue murder!

Dinosaurs in the park

Jurassic Kingdom has come to Glasgow! This collection of animated dinosaurs has been touring the country and is currently in our Botanic Gardens. Over a week or so, we watched the models develop from a collection of body parts into rather impressive life-sized models. Once the event opened they were screened off for paying customers only, but we could still hear them ROARRR!

Jurassic KIngdom setting up
Jurassic KIngdom setting up
Jurassic KIngdom setting up
Jurassic KIngdom setting up
Jurassic Kingdom setting up

Blogging friendships

Donna at Retirement_Reflections has been hosting guest posts over the summer through which I’ve met some interesting new friends. On August 20th it was my turn. Thanks, Donna, for hosting me. Everyone else – I definitely recommend a visit to Donna’s blog. She and her husband have just finished hiking the Camino Trail which makes my walks look like mere ambles.

Another recommendation is Sarah at The Old Shelter who recently tagged me for the #MyFirstPostRevisited Blog Hop. Thank you Sarah but, honestly, my first post is really not worth the effort! Three lines saying little more than that I’d started a travel blog (though it does have quite a cool picture of me at the Grand Canyon). Nobody visited. Nobody cared. If anyone cares to visit now (here), they’d probably double the page views. Just saying…..

The last bit

In which I occasionally teach you some Scottish words and phrases. Today: reek, meaning smell or smoke. Burke and Hare lived in Edinburgh, the old town of which was so dirty that it was nicknamed Auld Reekie (Old Smoky / Smelly) – but reek can also be used in a phrase wishing someone a long and healthy life. Literally meaning “long may your chimney smoke”, I finish by saying to all my readers:

Lang may yer lum reek!

I hope your August was great too. See you in September!

Scotland, UK , , ,

55 Comments »

  3. I love the outdoor plays. We had Pride and Prejudice in the Curraghmore House this summer, but it was raining that week and I didn’t go. Instead, I went to the Romeo and Juliet in Cahir Castle ruins, under the roof 🙂 Was cold but very fun.
    Animated roaring dinosaurs in the park sounds scary 🙂 I hope they don’t sneak around snatching joggers 🙂

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  7. hi A – I have to tell ya that I at first expected the resurrection play to be religious – ha- far from it – but my first thought was the resurrection of Christ and all that-
    Anyhow – sounds like this was riveting and then being outdoors – oh wow would I like to see this – I am going to play the video now – and how chilling and sad that they used to do this for cadavers – !

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  9. That tunnel tour sounds like something I want to go to. I must remember when I come to Glasgow –
    whenever that’ll be 😉

    And thanks for the mention, Anabel. I don’t think your first post was skinner than many other I’ve seen. My own one wasn’t really a post either. But I enjoyed reading all the first posts.

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  10. Love the setting for The Resurrection! I remember following a moving play through Central Park once and it was such a delight. I know the story of Burke and Hare and can imagine myself screaming Blue Murder emerging from a that tunnel during the show!

    Very much enjoyed your post on Retirement_Reflections. Thanks for the introduction to Donna’s blog.

    And Lang may yer lum reek is a phrase that is now forever tattooed in my mind 🙂

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  13. Travel or no, you certainly kept life interesting in August, Anabel. I think I might have been a bit too scaredy cat for that play. Just reading about some of those goings on sends shivers. Happy September! 🙂 🙂

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  17. That interactive play sounds like quite the experience. It is a great way to involve the audience, but – like you – I wouldn’t want to have been the first one out of that tunnel. You keep surprising me with all the different and new things there are to do in Glasgow!

    August was extremely busy for us, work-wise. We did move into a new house sit with lots of attractions nearby. Our weekends were – and will be – all but relaxing! 🙂

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  18. This is a cool way to see a play. What an ingenious idea and it makes me think of Ben Franklin who lived in Britain for quite a while and “partook” in dissecting cadavers. The dinosaurs are fun for kids especially. I hope you have a more restful September

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    • I don’t know who came up with the canal idea, but it was definitely a brainwave. There seemed to be 1000s of kids in the park when the dinosaurs opened at the weekend.

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  21. Hi Anabel,

    I’m just in the midst of reading an absolutely fascinating book called “The Geography of Genius” by Eric Weiner. One entire chapter is devoted to Edinburgh, which is where I, just yesterday, first read the term Auld Reekie. I love these little moments of synchronicity!

    The Edinburgh chapter also makes extended reference to Glasgow, to comparisons between the two cities, and to the particular brand of Scots genius. My dad grew up in Mary Hill and was indeed a creative genius. I thought Weiner did a great, and accurate job, of describing the culture. If you have a chance to read it, I’d love to know your perspective.

    Thanks for the post. I’m off now to double your page view.

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    • Sn’t it funny how often that happens! I haven’t heard of that book – how interesting that your Dad grew up in Maryhill. That’s one of the areas I do historical tour guiding in.

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  22. Never knew he worked in that tunnel although I know the story well. I was wondering how that play would go and glad you enjoyed it. That waterspout in the tunnel must be connected to an underground spring or something as water always pours down like a tap through that hole, rain or shine.
    Never heard about that Dino show in Botanics at all. One drawback of not buying daily local papers anymore I suppose :o(

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    • I didn’t know that about the tunnel either until I saw the publicity for the play. As for the dinosaurs, living so near the Botanics we weren’t able to escape knowing. We walked through the park on Sunday and you could hardly move for excited weans!

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  23. Interesting Theater- in a canal.. Interesting comment about dinosaurs coming to Glasgow; I thought they were already there in that big building at the far end of George Square :o) My Annabell worked in there. My August was very busy – hope September is quieter. Anyway, May the smoke from your campfire forever rise above the tents of your ancestors

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  24. Hi Anabel – that theatre group looks to be so interesting … though I’d be calling blue murder too – what a fabulous way to bring a story to life … even one as gruesome as the Burke and Hare tales of gravedigging or murdering. You’ve been busy … cheers HIlary

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