Glasgow Gallivanting: May 2018

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Yes, we’ve been to Amsterdam again! I wrote extensively about the city after we were there in November, so when I get round to posting about this visit I’ll try to be briefer. It’s the first time we’ve been in warm sunshine and, wow, it looks good that way!

Inchmahome Priory

We actually had sunshine at home too – though not all the time. A visit to Inchmahome Priory at the beginning of the month was a bit grey. The priory (c. 1238) is on a small island on the Lake of Menteith, so you arrive by boat which is exciting. The island’s main claim to fame is as a haven for Mary Queen of Scots – she spent a few weeks here, aged 4, after Scotland lost a battle with the English in 1547.

Ferry
Inchmahome Priory
Inchmahome Priory
Inchmahome Priory
Inchmahome Priory
Lake of Menteith
Inchmahome Priory

Edinburgh

Muriel Spark Exhibition

We had a sunnier day in Edinburgh. I wanted to visit the exhibition at the National Library to celebrate the centenary of Muriel Spark’s birth, and we caught it just before it closed. It was excellent. No photography was allowed inside for copyright reasons, but we took a few pictures in the entrance hall. I loved what they had done to their staircase.

We also managed to fit in two more exhibitions, and a wander through some of Edinburgh’s pretty streets.

Victoria Street
Dean Village

Cairnhill Woods

If you go down to the woods today …

… you’re sure of a big surprise!

Surprise one was that I didn’t know about Cairnhill Woods, despite having lived within half an hour’s walk for thirty years, until a friend posted pictures on Facebook of his kids playing near some of the chainsaw carvings. Surprise two was that as I left the woods after my first visit, who should I run into but that same friend and his son? The carvings are the work of Iain Chalmers of Chainsaw Creations and have only been there since 2014, but even without them the woods are a lovely Sunday afternoon stroll, especially at this time of year when the bluebells and primroses are in full bloom.

River Kelvin

On a walk through Kelvingrove Park, two of the West End’s most iconic buildings can be seen peeking at each other from opposite sides of the river (Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and University of Glasgow).

Art gallery seen from university
Glasgow University and River Kelvin

I was pleased that George Wylie’s sculpture was in a complimentary mood, and even more pleased to discover small signs of growth on the storm-damaged Suffrage Oak. It’s hard to see against surrounding trees, but some of those leaves are definitely attached to the oak. There is hope!

Vital Spark by George Wylie
Suffrage Oak – growth!

Another day, I walked in the opposite direction along the Kelvin to the Garscube Estate, formerly the site of a country mansion and now home to parts of Glasgow University including the Vet School. Coming home via the canal I felt very lucky to have these two waterways almost on my doorstep.

Garscube Estate
Lock 27

John in China

For the third month in a row, John has spent time in China. This time, to make the travelling even more difficult for himself, he went to a conference in California first! It was a long journey from San Francisco to Chengdu, but at least he had a day to sight-see before starting work again. On my only visit to Chengdu, many years ago, I remember visiting this museum to Du Fu (Tang dynasty poet) with its replica of the thatched cottage he built in 759.

Du Fu’s Cottage
Du Fu

The last bit

Just because I liked them – two windows with a similar theme: the one on the left spotted in Southampton, and the one on the right in Amsterdam.

You might remember I’ve been answering Kim’s Sunshine Blogger nomination questions two at a time each month. Questions five and six are Who inspires you? and Why do you blog? For inspiration I could give many answers, but I’m sticking with my current project, promoting Suffrage Pioneer Jessie Stephen. The more I read about this woman, the more awe-struck I am. Next month’s roundup might well have more news about her. As for why I blog – it started as a personal record for myself, but now it keeps me in touch with all you lovely people who are reading it!

On that very subject, are you an (ahem) older blogger like me? If so, perhaps you could help Rachel at Write into Life by completing her short survey on why you blog and the benefits (if any) you get from it.

Finally, my Scottish words of the month which I’ve chosen to put together because they rhyme. If I said to you “A wee girl chapped on my door and asked if she could clap the dog” you might be puzzled – not least because I don’t have a dog, but please imagine I do. Why is this child applauding it? Well, she isn’t – chap and clap are words which confused me when I arrived in Glasgow as they had extra meanings I hadn’t encountered before. To chap is to knock and to clap is to pat or stroke. So now you know! If you have a real dog, please pass on a few imaginary claps from me.

So those were some of my happiest moments in May – how was your month?

Scotland, UK , , , , , , , ,

62 Comments »

  1. I love those Chainsaw carvings and the photos at Kelvingrove Park, as well as the windows with the horse and zebra in them. I never made it to Chengdu while I was in China, so it’s nice to see a few bits from there too! 🙂

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  2. What a fantastic collection of photos!
    Your photos about Edinburgh made me want to visit agian. I’ve been there only once, very swiftly, but I fell in love with the city.
    I am trying to visit an author’s exibition too: The Bodlain Library exhibiiton about Tolkien in Oxford. End of August, if everything goes smoothly. Let’s see.

    What charming wood carvings. Ilike the own in particular 🙂

    And poor John! That must have been a weaking journey… but at least he had time to sightseeing 🙂

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  3. It’s always so wonderful to discover a new walk close to home. The many lovely trails nearby is one of the things I love about our new home; I go out with the dog (and sometimes Rob) for a ramble almost every day. However, my walks are through forests and along rivers and ocean shores, rather than through beautiful old cities and to historic sites.

    Jude

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  5. Understood the clapping and the chapping! Wondered if you knew anything about the country mansion that was at Garscube? I discovered ages ago that John Dickson of Knightswood lived near the (now) vet school and since he is a great grandfather of mine x about 6, I’d be interested if he had lived on that site…..

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  6. These are excellent photos and I love the first one with you above the street with cars. I would love to visit this city since my grandfather was born there. He is not Scottish since this was more a pit stop on his way to North America. I always pet my doggie and try to give him hugs. May was very busy with 7 birthdays plus dinners out, planting flowers and visiting.

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    • Your May sounds really busy! Victoria Street is lovely, both at ground level and from the gallery above which has lots of cafes. Great to sit out on a sunny day!

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  7. Another busy month! I love seeing places in and around Glasgow that I’ve not seen before. My family from Scotland have been visiting, and I repeated your sentence about the wee girl at the door. My sister understood it perfectly, but the younger generation were at a loss. 🙂 It’s good to keep these old words going.

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  8. Poor John. The Big T does that sort of travel (pop over to The UK for a two day conference, Sweden to present at a seminar — not on the same trip mind). He is always shattered afterwards so I empathise with both of you (they’re not much fun to live with in recovery mode). But it does look as though you’ve had a busy and enjoyable month. I’m looking forward to more of your sufferage project 😀

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  10. Yes you had a busy but seemingly productive month. Apart from the hospital and Annabell’s two falls, our month was not bad, lots of local activity and Connor’s Birthday. I loved all the photographs but one thing puzzles me greatly – contained within the words “when I arrived in Glasgow” confusing, very. Do this mean what I think it do? :o)

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  11. Another very varied tour and more info on Glasgow places I didn’t know about. By the way Anabel In case you are on blogger as well I noticed I stopped receiving blog e-mails into my Yahoo News email box although they still appear on the Blog OK. Something to do with blogger no longer supporting open ID as everyone online is complaining about it.. Took me hours to figure it out.

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  12. My month wasn’t any where near as nice as yours, because I wasn’t able to travel in May. Reading your blog always makes me want to pack my suitcase and head out somewhere nice, as soon as possible!

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  14. What an enegetic month, but a good one, you’ve had. Makes this slouch feel almost embarrassed but I plead ancient bones and tiredness due to visits from families with small kids. In case you haven’t noticed, they do tire you out as you get older! When I saw your title I was convinced you were going to give us rooftops of the 3 places but no, a fully thought out blog with great pictures as usual. The chain-saw sculptures are amazing, and sit very well in the woods.

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  16. What a wonderful and interesting month you have had Anabel. I would like to come down to the woods today with you. As for me my happy time was seeing all the gorgeous autumn leaves

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  17. Fascinating post with lots of wonderful pictures … the wood with the carvings – how lovely and serendipity to meet your friends there. John and his travels – well it keeps you in walking shoes I presume!! But delightful memories and I’ll be over to take the survey – seeing as I fall into that category – cheers Hilary

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  18. A very busy and interesting month for you Anabel. I’m not familiar with many Scottish words but I knew what ‘chap’ and ‘clap’ meant – so I shall now go and give Sophie and Poppie an extra clap 🙂

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  20. You’ve had another busy month filled with a variety of activities. I would love to have seen the Spark exhibition. I got married on Victoria Street coming up 22 years ago so it was lovely to see it as the background to your portrait.

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  22. Boy, if a business trip like that doesn’t prompt your husband to retire, nothing will! Beautiful woods and sculptures. Thank you for sharing a few words from A Teddy Bear’s Picnic! It reminded me of my mother… she sang that and a few other silly songs to me when I was a girl.

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    • Yes, I have childhood memories of that song too. No bears appeared to be picnicking in this case! That trip was very exhausting for John – but he’s off to Chengdu again this month for graduation.

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  23. Hi, Anabel – What a timely post. I just finished reading Follett’s “A Column of Fire” that includes Mary Queen of Scots as a recurring character. I’ve been to Edinburgh and have stood on Victoria Street — unfortunately I don’t have a picture of that.
    California to Chengdu?! That’s a loooooong flight! 🙂

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    • I can never make my mind up about MQS – a tragic figure certainly, but how much was she herself to blame. Though in the end, I give her the benefit of the doubt as a woman fighting her way in a man’s world. John was not in great shape after that trip! He is off again this month, but at least he doesn’t have to go to California first.

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  24. I’m visiting friends with a dog right now, so I’ll be sure to clap him for you 🙂 Things do look better with some sunshine, don’t they? Love those wood carvings. I’m always amazed how sculptors turn a hunk of wood or marble and chip away stuff, leaving behind something that looks so realistic.

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    • Oh, thank you Ellen – I hope the dog enjoys being clapped! As someone without an ounce of artistic ability I am constantly amazed at what others can do.

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  25. There is a suburb of Brisbane called Kelvin Grove, similar to your area except it’s two words. I wonder if it was named by someone who emigrated from Scotland. The canals are quite beautiful.

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  26. Such a busy and varied month you’ve had Anabel! I’m in between trips – we head off to Canada and Alaska in August so lots of mundane sorting out to be done. However we are well into wood fire season here which I love! 🙂

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  27. What an interesting month, Anabel. It’s my turn to feel tired out by all of your activity 🙂 But everything you did sounds like fun. I am always marvelling at the sculptures and other art pieces that you find everywhere you go. I love the Cairnhill Woods chainsaw creations and the two windows you’ve included at the end of your post.
    What’s on your agenda for June, or is it a surprise?

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    • Thanks Karen! I find blogging, especially these monthly posts, really opens my eyes because I’m actively looking for quirky things to include. As for June – well, I’m gallivanting elsewhere again and also taking part in a living work of art. And you might not be surprised to know that John has another trip to China 😟

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