Glasgow Gallivanting: September 2017

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Forth Bridge View

Let’s start with the highlight! That has to be our trip to the top of the Forth Bridge, part of a charity event in aid of Barnardo’s. Here we are 361 feet above the Firth of Forth. In case of doubt, we are holding hands romantically, not clinging on to the rail for safety 😉

We had booked the sunset slot, hoping for colourful skies, but it had been a cloudy day so they didn’t materialise. However, we still got great views both on the ground and from the top. There are now three bridges crossing the Forth from South Queensferry to North Queensferry (where the event took place), each from a different century – full history on the Forth Bridges website, but here’s the potted version. Until the Forth Bridge opened to trains in 1890, the only crossing was by ferry. In 1964, a road bridge was added, but by the 21st century it was proving inadequate for the volume of traffic passing over it. This year, the new Queensferry Crossing has opened with the original road bridge now reserved for pedestrians, cyclists and, eventually, public transport. Unlike many public infrastructure projects, the new bridge actually came in under budget (by £245m). Well done Scottish Government!

We arrived early to look round the village of North Queensferry and admire all the bridges.

North Queensferry
Forth Bridge
Forth Road Bridge
Queensferry Crossing
Forth Road Bridge
Forth at dusk

Then it was time to don our hard-hats before riding the shoogly hoist to the top of the North Cantilever. The hoist was a tight squeeze, but the viewing platform was surprisingly large and we had about 20 minutes to wander about and take photographs. Several trains passed underneath us, each producing another little shoogle.

Your View 2017
North Queensferry and bridges
Forth Bridge viewing platform
Anabel
North Queensferry
Train passing underneath
John
Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing

Then it was back down to earth, and dinner in one of the local hotels before getting the train back to Glasgow – across the Forth Bridge of course!

Doors Open Days

For the week of 11th-17th September, many institutions in Glasgow which would not normally be open to the public threw wide their doors for tours and events. I took part at two venues myself – on Wednesday, I was part of a Glasgow Women’s Library event on the hidden histories of women and how we can uncover them through, for example, heritage walks and a database of monuments and memorials. On Saturday, I led a canal walk at Maryhill (and totally forgot to take any photographs).

Sunday was our day for exploring, so I booked a back-stage tour of the Citizen’s Theatre for the morning. Our guide, Martin, was fabulous and gave us a bit of history before taking us behind the scenes. Originally opened in 1878, what became “The Citz” is the second oldest operational theatre in the UK (Leeds Grand opened 6 weeks earlier). Once we got out of the 1990 foyer this certainly showed, and I can understand why the theatre is closing next summer for two years of much-needed redevelopment. It’s what I would call a bit of a guddle.

Tour guide Martin
Backstage guddle
Motto!

However, the Citz will not dispose of its historical artefacts. It has the most complete working Victorian theatre machinery in the UK, and is the only theatre in Scotland still to have its original machinery under the stage. We got to visit that – and also stand on stage looking out to the auditorium.

Below stage
Anabel on stage!

Another piece of history is the original Victorian paint frame which is still used today to paint backcloths.

Paint frame
Paint frame

The Christmas production of Cinderella is coming up, and we saw a huge clock in preparation, which presumably will chime midnight at the appropriate time.

Prop building
Prop building

Designs for Cinderella were also in evidence in the costume department. I somehow don’t think any of these shoes will be suitable to play the glass slipper!

Costume design
Shoe store

After lunch, we visited St Columba’s Gaelic Church, and Scottish Opera’s HQ. This was of interest less for its current role than for its origins (1907) as the home of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, as illustrated in the splendid stained glass by Stephen Adam.

Shipbuilding crests
James Watt
Glasgow crest
Lusitania
William Rankine

I really appreciate the work of the hundreds of volunteers across the city who make these days such a success every year.

Blogging news

A new badge has appeared in my sidebar! I was very pleased to be included in a list of Top 30 International Retirement Blogs 2017 by Maxwell Salo of WeLoveCostaRica.com – thank you so much! I haven’t had time to explore the other 27 yet, but I did spot two friends, Donna of Retirement_Reflections and Debbie of Deb’s World. If you don’t know them too, why not visit?

I also joined in with Ishita of Italophilia and her #ItalophiliaPostcards project. Exchange a postcard with her and share the results on social media. Ishita’s card of Vienna has arrived here, but my card of Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens seems to have got lost somewhere on its way. Maybe it will have arrived by next month’s roundup….

Family news

I’m sad to say that one of my uncles, Ian McKay, died in September, just short of his 89th birthday. Ian was married to Elspeth, one of my Dad’s three younger sisters, and although they settled in Brisbane before I was born I still had opportunities to get to know them on their visits back to Scotland. It was Elspeth who looked after Dad and me when Mum was in hospital having my baby sister and it was Ian who taught me to swim. The last time I saw them in person was on our only visit (so far) to Australia, in 2004 when this picture was taken. Ian will be missed.

John receiving Chengdu Jinsha Friendship Award
Thank you speech

On a much happier note, John has been presented with the prestigious Chengdu Jinsha Friendship Award for “foreign experts” in recognition of his role in the development of the relationship between the University of Glasgow and the University of Electronic Science and Technology China in the city of Chengdu. As you usually see him wearing walking gear (and now a hard-hat) you might not recognise him in this smartly turned out gentleman. Doesn’t he scrub up well? More info on the University of Glasgow news page if you are interested.

The last bit

And finally, on to Scottish words of the month! I’ve used three that might not be totally familiar. If you’re puzzling over Firth of Forth, it means the mouth of the River Forth. (Firth is pronounced the same but spelled differently from furth meaning outside, e.g. outside Scotland would be “furth of Scotland”.)

The shoogly lift and bridge were shaking, but I think shoogle is a much more evocative word than shake. The Glasgow Subway makes extensive use of it in its advertising. It is also used in the phrase “yer jaiket’s on a shoogly nail” meaning “your jacket is hanging on a loose peg”, i.e. you could be out on your ear at any time.

Earlier, I described backstage at The Citz as a bit of a guddle, which is my favourite word to describe a mess of impressive proportions. It’s also possible to guddle about, which I quite enjoy doing, or to find yourself in a bit of a guddle, or a confusing situation where you don’t quite know what to do. I enjoy that less.

Of course, guddle rhymes with puddle – plenty of those here at the moment, where the weather is getting colder and wetter and the nights are fair drawing in, as my Grandad used to say. Who can believe we’re into the last quarter of the year already?

Let’s see what October brings.

Scotland, UK , , , , , ,

102 Comments »

  1. Hi Anabel. Here I am at long last! I’m sorry to hear the sad news of your uncle. It sounds like you were close in spite of the distance. Big congratulations to you on your blogging award and to John for his Chengdu Jinsha Friendship Award! I loved reading about your Forth Bridge adventure (complete with some good Scots words!). I love the first photograph and am a little envious of the dry weather you had when you were up there! 🙂

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  2. I’m very late coming to this one! I’m so sorry for the loss of your uncle. It sounds like he was very dear to you. Congratulations to John for his Chengdu Jinsha Friendship Award! Going to the top of that bridge was certainly an adventure. You got fantastic views from there! And congratulations for your award for the top 30 international retirement blogs. Also, love learning the new Scottish words, but it’s unlikely I’ll be able to remember them! So much happened in September. 🙂

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  4. I’m a bit late catching up with this! How marvellous to visit the bridge like that – it must have been amazing. Also amazing is the backstage tour of the Citz – a theatre I visited in the dim and distant past. And finally – the words! Shoogle and guddle are two of the best words – I really must try and use them more often. 🙂

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  6. Sorry to hear about your Uncle Ian, such incredibly somber news. But I was thrilled to hear that congratulations are in order for both you and John. Delighted that you’ve been recognized for being the awesome blogger that you are. And John receiving the Chengdu Jinsha Friendship Award is an incredible tribute to his work. You two are a dynamic duo…and still romantically holding hands!
    Love, love, love the pictures with the one from the North Cantilever of the train passing under the Forth Rail Bridge being my favorite. Wow!!!

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  9. What a busy time you’ve had gallivanting. My friend abseiled off that bridge on Sunday for charity. I think going up on the shoogly lift would be enough for me. Congratulations to hubby and yes he scrubs up well.

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  10. I am sorry for your loss, such things are the most difficult part of growing older.

    How did the charity/bridge thing work? I think in America we have too many lawyers, it would never happen but I would so love to be on top of a magnificent structure like that.

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    • Thanks.
      We just saw it advertised and bought tickets, nothing special required. We had a health and safety briefing at the beginning (don’t jump off in essence) and there were staff there from the company which maintains the bridge. They operated the lift and were around on the platform so I felt it was all very safe and nothing to worry the lawyers!

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  15. As a Scot, the trip to the top of the Forth Bridge must rate very highly. Better -and maybe cheaper- than an ascent of Sydney Harbour Bridge, in all probability!
    Sincere congrats to your husband, John on his recent honour. Good to see Uny of Glesca people making their impact on the world stage.

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    • Thank you for the congrats. I’ve now done both Forth and Sydney bridges – both good, but different. There is definitely more freedom at the top of the Forth to wander and take your own pictures.

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  16. Lovely photographs of the Forth Bridge – the viewing platform looks pure dead brilliant. I have taken the train over the bridge several times on the way to Dunfermline and to stand on the top of a cantilever would, I think, be fantastic.

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  17. Whoops. I think my last comment failed to save. Let me try again.
    When it comes to the three categories of retirement, you put even the “go go” people to shame, Anabel. You’re in a category all your own – go go squared?
    Congratulations to John and you’re right – he cleans up very well.
    Love the words, especially guddle and shoogle.

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  18. If I was there and it was a windy day, I’d probably be gripping that railing with both hands. Your gentle grip is certainly nothing to be embarrassed about! I missed the London equivalent to Glasgow Open Days this year, but based on past experience, I don’t really mind. Looks like your Open Days experience was far better than mine in London has ever been!
    Congrats to John, and sorry to hear about your uncle.

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  19. Your bridge walk looked fantastic — shoogly hoist notwithstanding! Great that you got to go “behind the scenes” a the theatre and opera HQ. I loved those stained glass windows! And huge congratulations to John; building relationships has never been more important. Condolences too on the loss of your uncle.

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  20. Wow – that was a very full few weeks! The bridge walk would have been my favourite too … although the theatre tour behind the scenes would have been very interesting.
    Congratulations to John! .. and my condolences for the loss of a loved family member.

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  21. That trip to the top of the Forth Bridge looks wondeful. I’ve taken photographs of it, but never above it. It is a shame the new road crossing did not include a pedestrian link. I made a point of walkng across the old road bridge a few years ago as at the time the rumours were that it might close for good once the new bridge opened. Otherwise I’d have to walk the long way around! It is good that is not happening now, but I think it’s days are still numbered, just that the numbers are a little bigger than was first thought.

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    • The view from the top was a great experience! The old road bridge probably has a while left if it’s only going to be for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. It’s quite eerie at the moment because the buses haven’t been rerouted yet. The new Crossing is part of the M9 so no pedestrian access at all.

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  23. Congratulations to John on his Friendship Award! And to both of you on making it to the top of the Forth Bridge (more than I could do, certainly!) I was also intrigued by your visit behind the scenes at the Citizens Theatre. I knew they were fundraising for renovations but I didn’t realise they were closing for two years! I hope they will be able to continue performing somewhere in the interim. We are regulars there, and my son has just joined the Citizens Young Company. Looking forward to seeing him perform in the Studio Theatre in November!

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  24. It sounds like another happy and fulfilling month, Anabel. 🙂 🙂 South Queensferry is lovely and that trip to the top looks amazing! Something else for the list- darn it! 🙂 The postcards thing sounds interesting so I’ll have to pop over there. Never a dull moment! Have a great week!

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  25. Wow, that’s quite a post! First off, congrats to you and John for your individual recognitions… both well-deserved. Amazing view from the bridge… I would love to get up there. Too bad that you didn’t have a spectacular sunset, but what an experience! And, I love the idea of opening the doors to establishments that are normally closed to the public . I can think of a few buildings around here that I would like to get inside. Last… love, love the word guddle. I wondered what it was when I first saw it in your post so I’m glad you defined it. It is now the official name of my office.

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  26. Well done getting right to the top of the bridge. I used to enjoy the Doors Open Day when you just turned up if you felt like it any time that day but went off it a bit when so many places adopted the book in advance only policy/or set times for visits and it became too popular for me.

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    • Yes, I agree – and if you don’t book on the first day it’s almost impossible to get what you want. The other problem I see from the other side as a provider – if it’s free, people will book then not turn up if they get a better offer or the wether’s not great. But it’s still possible to find places you can just walk into and enjoy in peace, there was hardly anyone in St Columba’s or Scottish Opera.

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  27. Another packed month for you both, with all kinds of different experiences. Congratulations to John for getting this prestigious award! I love your bridge adventures, and especially liked the photo straight down the span of it. It reminded me a little bit of the Golden Gate Bridge. The theater tour looks special as well.

    I hope the weather clears up again for you. Drizzle and rain are not my favorite either (getting plenty of both where we are now). And then… it started to snow. Five inches! I miss September already.

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  28. Your post has me all nostalgic. As a Fifer, I was feeling quite homesick with all the bridges and views of the Firth of Forth. You’re made of sturdier stuff than I am though as I’d freak out being high up like that. Then your post about the Citz brought back many happy memories of seeing great productions there, including the best version of The Crucible I’ve seen (out of lots). Congratulations to your husband.

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  29. Well that was a busy month!
    Don’t think I’d have been able to go up that bridge – indeed, I know I wouldn’t have – no head for heights.
    Love those stained glass windows. Art and industry.

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    • I think if you wrote all your posts as a monthly summary you would look even busier! As I said to someone else, there have been a lot of wet Sundays when nothing much happened 😦

      Art and industry – yes, indeed. They were a bonus find.

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      • Yes, you’re probably right! It would take a while to write a longer post covering everything I want to reflect on and relive, so it’s easier to write several shorter posts as it’s easier to fit that into my “schedule”.

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        • Yes, I see that. I write this kind of post gradually over the month. In the past I’d probably have done individual posts about the Bridge and DOD but writing a summary post makes me write less about each thing so I save time that way. Well maybe – because I also include smaller items I wouldn’t have written about at all before. Swings and roundabouts! I’ll review it at the end of the year.

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  30. Hi, Anabel – Thank you for including a link to my blog. I think I will steal (errr, I mean ‘copy’) this idea for my site as well. I greatly enjoyed this post and the views from the bridge. My heartfelt condolences for the loss of your uncle.

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  31. Congratulations on two Awards coming to the family – both hugely deserved I am sure. Loved the post but, oh, the vertigo. I’m just about to put up another one on my Italian Lake trip and even there I had to come down from a steep walk due to the height making me dizzy and rooting me to the spot. And thanks also for the lesson in Scottish demotic: I’ve passed it on to a friend who collects such oddities, well, your phrases aren’t oddities, but you know what I mean – I hope!

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    • Thankfully, vertigo is not something either of us suffers from. I don’t like exposure as i’m not very sure-footed, but behind a nice safe barrier, i’m fine. And, yes, I do know what you mean!

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  32. Wonderful post – and scrolling down the viewing platform came up and my stomach lurched! Whoa! I don’t think I could have gone up there (unless with your husband to hold my hand!!)
    Love the whole post – I should get out more (I think I’ve said that before)
    Maybe a few too many exclamation marks in this comment, but I’m not removing any 🙂

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    • Ha ha – it was really fine, we felt very safe! We don’t get out as much as it seems – there are a lot of wet Sundays to deal with – but concentrating a whole month into one post makes it seem that way.

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  33. Hi Anabel – a blog post full of tidbits …love the views of the bridges – I imagine the views are stupendous from the top … sorry about the cloudy day. Wonderful open days at the theatre and other places … always so good to be allowed inside – the machinery must be a delight to look at

    Great for John receiving his award … and yes he does scrub up rather well! Congratulations to you for opening people’s minds to women and literature … then the stained glass = that is beautiful. Congratulations on the Retirement Award – clever lady … cheers Hilary

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  34. Loved your account of the bridge trip and your pics. Wasn’t it a brilliant experience? Lots of folk have commented to me that they would be too scared to go up but luckily we’re ok with heights and it was fabulous. I also did a DOD event which ironically was out in the open rather than behind closed doors. I know we often do similar trips but if you haven’t been on a guided tour of the Mural Trail then I’d recommend it. It’s been on my ‘to do’ list do cover with only the map but the GCC guide was excellent and gave us lots of interesting anecdotes and info about the artists, the costs etc. that we would never have known without his input. No doubt, we’ll cross paths somewhere soon… 🙂

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    • It was fantastic! I didn’t find it scary, and the platform felt really safe, but I think if you had any problem at all with heights it would be a nightmare. I have the mural booklet and have seen most of them, but a guided tour sounds great. I’ll look out for that happening again,

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  35. Are these life-vests you’re wearing in the first picture? So that you’ll float in case you fall down from the bridge into the water? 😀
    Have a wonderful week,
    Pit

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  36. Obviously, you two make a great team, supporting each other to reach your potential! Well done on the award, well deserved. Enjoyable post, Anabel.

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  39. How interesting all the way. Thanks a lot for the fantastic pictures from top of the bridge. Didn’t know that there are three of them in so short a distance to each other.

    Scotland, resp. Edingburgh will be my journey in 2020.

    Best regards

    Achim

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  43. I would never, ever be on that bridge and it looks so scary…to me:) the views are amazing and slap you got all these beautiful pictures. I’m happy whenever I hear of a building being lovingly restored rather than razed to the ground. Congrats on the awards…for you and John who does look snazzy in a suit. I’m sorry to hear about your uncle. It is always sad when a Loved one passes as the memories come flooding in.

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