Glasgow Gallivanting: March 2020

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Maryhill Window Wanderland 2020

Many of you liked the photos I posted of the two Window Wanderlands we attended in February, so I thought I’d start with more of the same – Window Wanderland Part 3! As with the other events, Maryhill’s took place on a wet, cold night, but the colourful displays cheered us up. I think cheering up is what we all need at the moment, with so much closed down because of the coronavirus, COVID-19, so I’m going to show you lots and lots of windows and gardens in this post.

The top image has a musical theme with The Beatle’s Yellow Submarine on one side and Pink Floyd’s The Wall on the other. The Beatles cropped up again with Norwegian Wood, which included the song itself playing, one of two windows we found with sound effects. Round the corner, this seascape was accompanied by the sound of rushing waves.

Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood
Seascape

The Wanderland took place on the eve of International Women’s Day (8th March) so we appreciated that one household had chosen to celebrate this. The nearby Be Kind message is also very relevant today.

International Women’s Day window
Be Kind

Here’s a great big gallery for your delectation!

Friends of Maryhill Park

Finally, one householder had set up a cinema in his back garden, complete with popcorn and – because the film was Whisky Galore – a wee dram.

Whisky Galore
Back garden cinema

Stank Glen

Ben Ledi from Stank Glen

The last weekend before everything started to shut down was amazingly dry, and we got a couple of outings. A circular route took us up the forested Stank Glen, above Loch Lubnaig, and in the shadow of Ben Ledi. Dry it might have been but, after all the rain we have had, some of the paths were like small streams, and crossing the actual streams was tricky because any stepping stones, natural or otherwise, were submerged. Cue wet feet!

Stank Glen
Stank Glen
Stank Glen
Stank Glen
Stank Glen
Stank Glen
Stank Glen
Stank Glen

Snowdrops

That same weekend, we visited a couple of the gardens advertising snowdrops through Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. It was right at the end of the snowdrop season, and not much else was out, but it got us into the fresh air again at a troubling time.

Kilbryde Castle has been home to the Campbell family since 1659. The current owners, Sir James and Lady (Carola) Campbell were out gardening when we arrived and greeted us from a safe distance. We had a rather slithery, muddy walk round the property.

Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle
Kilbryde Castle

We dropped into nearby Dunblane for lunch. The restaurant we chose, Allanview, had just opened the week before. What an unfortunate time to start a new venture: I feel so sorry for the owners. The food was excellent, but now they will have had to close like every restaurant in the country.

Things we noticed in Dunblane: I’ve posted Andy Murray’s gold post-box before (all home-grown 2012 Olympic gold medallists got one in their home town), but not since it had a plaque celebrating his special stamps, and I don’t remember his Wimbledon bench either.

Andy Murray postbox
Andy Murray postbox
Andy Murray bench

We loved this quirky signpost.

Quirky signpost
Quirky signpost

And we also loved the mosaics decorating the bridge over the Allan Water.

Allan Water
Mosaic on bridge over Allan Water

Finally, on our way back to the car we spotted a ghost sign. This house is called The Old Bakery, and the ghost sign tells us why – Tea Room.

The Old Bakery
Ghost sign on The Old Bakery

From Dunblane, we drove to our second garden of the day, Braco Castle. The oldest part of this house dates from before 1600, a rectangular tower built by the 3rd Earl of Montrose for his son, William Graham. It has been owned and adapted by several families since – judging by the surname, the current owners might be Dutch.

Braco Castle

The gardens were more elaborate here than at Kilbryde – still not much out, but there was more colour than just snowdrops.

Crest over doorway
Sculptures in grass park
Ornamental pond
Ornamental parapet
John in 19C garden
View to the hills
Blooming marvellous
Blooming marvellous
Burn
Anabel on old tennis court
Blooming marvellous
Blooming marvellous
Sundial on old tennis court

The last bit

Drymen Lunch Club
Gallus article

I gave my talk, Jessie Stephen: Scottish Suffragette, to the Drymen Lunch Club – the last talk for some time, and the first one to actually have my name on a ticket! I quite liked that. I also saw my talk in print for the first time in Gallus, the journal of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society, who hosted me back in September. They have made a clever acronym out of Gallus – Glasgow Ancestry Links the Life of Us. I’ve explained gallus before: in fact five years ago I did a whole A to Z Challenge on Gallus Glasgow – here’s the explanation if you don’t know what it means.

The week before Glasgow Women’s Library closed down (though we didn’t know that at the time) we had a tea party to say goodbye to one of my fellow volunteers, Eleanor, who is moving to Berkshire to live nearer her son. We’ll miss her – that’s Eleanor in the middle with me and Anna. The three of us comprised the Thursday morning cataloguing team.

As you might expect, all of these events took place in the first part of March before life changed utterly. I don’t expect anything worth writing about to happen between now and the end of the month so I’m clearing the decks and publishing early. We can still walk outside, and we’re lucky to live near a river and a canal – however, the banks are quite narrow and it’s hard to keep the recommended 2m distance from passers by. At least the weather is now dry. To illustrate the difference, here are two pictures taken across the Kelvin in February and March. In the first, the little seating area is completely flooded. In the second, the river has retreated to its natural level.

River Kelvin Feb 2020
River Kelvin Mar 2020

COVID-19 is already spawning its own art. Street artist Rebel Bear, who has featured here several times before, has contributed this mural on Bank Street.

And Twitter, which can be an absolute cesspit sometimes, has the lovely hashtag #COVIDCeilidh in which traditional musicians post videos of themselves performing to create an online ceilidh (a social event with Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling). You don’t have to be on Twitter to see it, just click my link above. Here’s one of my favourites so far, Anna Massie of Blazin’ Fiddles, a band we’ve seen a few times, accompanied by her mum on the spoons. Watch for the head movements at the end!

Will there be another Gallivanting post when I can’t gallivant? At the moment I haven’t a scooby*, but at least I have plenty of backlog to keep up with, and I’m thinking of joining Becky’s latest Squares challenge in April, SquareTops, hopefully with a travel theme. Virtual travel is the best we can do at the moment.

*I’ve already had two Scottish words in this post, but Scooby is my actual Scottish word of the month – I didn’t realise it was Scottish, but it’s in my book 100 favourite Scots words so it must be! It means I haven’t a clue and is rhyming slang for the cartoon character, Scooby Doo. First found in print in the Glasgow Herald in 1993 apparently!

Stay safe everyone. As we practice social distancing, or self-isolate, our online buddies are even more important. Till the next time.

Scotland, UK , , , , , , , ,

98 Comments »

  3. As I have ancestors who are Scottish (and I have never been to Scotland), I appreciate all of your photos and stories about places in Scotland. Makes me feel like I have actually been there! In January (before everything got shut down), I was asked to sing ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ for a Burn’s Night Supper–here in Texas U.S.A. I had never been to anything like that before. It is was wonderful!
    When my ancestor’s came from Scotland– their last name was Stark. Two of them fought in the Revolutionary war. Years later, two more fought in the American Civil War. That is when the name was changed from Stark to Strong. I have their old photos from the Civil War time period, so I put that on my website. If you would like to see, here is the link:
    https://storieswithnobooks.com/2019/05/26/strong-civil-war-connection-to-fredericksburg

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  4. Your windows and garden are a nice pick me up, indeed. Especially love the seascape windows, can almost hear the sounds of the rushing waves. Pleasant to wander with you at Stank Glen. And how cool was it that you met the current owners of Kilbryde Castle, from a safe distance of course. Love that Andy Murray’s got a bench in Dunblane. And nothing can calm the fears arising from a global pandemic like the smile of John walking through 19C garden. Your smile at Eleanor’s goodbye tea reinforced the calm. Stay safe

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  5. Thanks very much for the virtual tour of your travels! Those windows are amazing. And so is Braco Castle. I’m so envious of all the beautiful flowers out already. I just barely have a few crocuses starting to pop up. Ah, well, just have to be patient. Thanks again for the good cheer! Love the oddball signpost.

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    • Hi Lori, how good to hear from you! I was thinking of you last week, actually. I looked at an old post in preparation for a challenge I am doing in April (not the A to Z) and you had commented. I wondered how we had lost touch: in fact my blogging circle seems to have changed completely since then. I’ll hop across and see what you’ve been up to in the meantime.

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  6. Anabel, I found the Window Wanderlands in your past posts captivating. You are right, cheering up is what we all need and appreciate. It is as if the windows transport us to another world and another time.

    Getting into the fresh air seems to be an indulgence right now. Surreal. Definitely a quirky signpost.

    Great you were able to give your talk sharing your knowledge. Yes, ‘life changed utterly.’ The artwork is beautiful, yet poignant. Interesting about “Scooby.”

    I extra loved the video. Last time I heard spoons being played was when we were Back East (Quebec) at Christmas and a family member played the spoons. I also love Mamma Mia. Hang in there Anabel. You and your loved ones stay safe and healthy. xx

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  8. Technically speaking, what was created from Gallus was a reverse acronym, also called a backronym, because someone made up a phrase whose initials would come out to the existing Gallus.

    How nice that people created that Window Wanderland. Now someone will have to appropriately back-fit the words to the Christmas song “Winter Wonderland.”

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  9. So many great things in this post! I loved getting to see more of the decorated windows, especially Mary Poppins (and the snakes and skulls, because I’m still morbid me). How exciting to have your name on the ticket as the featured speaker – I didn’t get my name anywhere for my talk, I was just “museum staff”. And I like the Covid mural too. Hope you’re all doing OK!

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  11. Thank you for that Wanderland window display. So cool! And such a creative endeavor from everyone involved. I’m glad to see and read that you’ve been able to get out quite a bit still in March, before the madness hit. I’ll watch the video when my internet is better. In the meantime, stay healthy, you two, and enjoy your virtual traveling and socializing!

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  12. Thanks for a lovely post to cheer us all up. I especially liked the windows, because they’re so unusual. But I also enjoyed scenery and the bit of historical information. Your posts are always worth reading!

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  13. Wow, you managed to get in a lot of gallivanting in early March. I’m glad you did, because we couldn’t have imagined how life would change for us all. I love all your windows, mosaics, COVID-inspired street art, and the Mama Mia! song for Mother’s Day. You squeezed in a lot for the month. It’s maybe a good thing you’ll have to slow down and keep sequestered for a while, but also good you have a lot of places to walk without encountering others. Keep safe, healthy and hopeful! 🙂

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  15. The whole post was a delectation, not just the gallery. Thank you so much Anabel. Stay safe and keep that 2metre distance when you do go out for your one walk a day xxxx

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    • Thanks Becky! 2 metre distance is very hard – joggers are very inconsiderate. We veer out of the way, they keep on at us, exhaling vigorously as they go. Almost run off the path by a group last night, but at least that’s now banned. The streets are safer than the canal / river walkways.

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      • Local streets are going to be the way to go me thinks . . . I am just so pleased my Mum has such a large garden so at least I know she can exercise outside whenever she wants

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  16. I hadn’t realised that’s where Scooby Doo originated, Anabel. A personal hero- him and the Beatles. Must play Norwegian Wood today 🙂 🙂 The windows are fabulous, that dusting of snow on the Tops (starting already? 🙂 ) made me shiver, and I’m sure you’ll find plenty to keep you busy in the days ahead. Awful for small businesses though.

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  17. Virtual travel is a great alternative when the real thing can’t be done! And oh my goodness, how exciting! I’ve actually been to a ceilidh at the Winnock Hotel in Drymen! It was in 1999 when we were visiting our UK friends, who now live here in Australia. Our friend Jock grew up in Drymen and we visited his parents there.

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  18. Well, Anabel, this post was longer than your usual one. Loads of information. I especially loved that you captured more window displays. We can certainly do with more lighthearted fun.

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  19. Thanks for such a cheery (essentially non-virus) post, Anabel! The windows are so creative. I loved the carousel one. Sorry about the wet feet, but it sure looked lovely – I am looking forward to being able to hike again.

    I have something that looks like those snowdrops in my garden. I don’t recall planting them and have no idea how they got there. Just a small clump and come up every spring.

    Great video, too! I’d love to be able to do the spoons like that (guitar is out of the question).

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  20. A good varied mix. Nae mair gallivanting for anyone as of this evening with the UK on lock down now and reports of fit young people needing hospitalized as well- something I always suspected- so not just the elderly at risk. Never knew Dunblane could be so interesting. Hope you are using paper or gloves when filling up with fuel- something most drivers forget touching the pumps at a garage I’ve noticed.

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  22. Well, as usual, you certainly keep yourself busy with your varied interests ( pot calling kettle, to some extent, I know). Love the photos of the snowy mountains.

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  25. Love the windows and the flowers are lovely. I always thought Scooby was Cockney rhyming slang but I’m not averse to being re-educated 🙂

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  26. It’s good that you packed so much into the first half of the month. Did you manage to borrow plenty of library books? I was amazed when I went into the local library on sat and was told I could take out thirty books. I managed ten! It will be nice to read your future posts of your past times gallivanting round Scotland. Keep safe. Xx

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  28. I had no idea that we Scots had coined the term “Scooby”. You’ve educated me once again, Anabel!

    I love those lighted windows every time I see them in your blog posts about them or on Facebook – as I have a friend who lives there. I would love for my neighbourhood to do something like that. We have been on lockdown for a week and a half now and one of the things my neighbourhood has been doing is setting up “safari” walks for the youngest folks. We all decorated with rainbows, for instance, which they had to spot and yesterday the theme was “Going on a Bear Hunt” so we put teddy bears out on our lawns for the kids to spot when out on their walks around the neighbourhood. We don’t have a theme today because it is raining. Maybe having created this neighbourhood habit in this time of crisis, we can continue it when it is all over and I can suggest the lighted window idea.

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  29. Hi Anabel – love the Mary Poppins one … and the minions (never thought I’d say that!) … then to hear Norwegian Wood as you look at the windows … fascinating. What a great idea to have Whisky Galore showing with accoutrements … looks like it was the right idea with the weather.

    Gorgeous photos of Stank Glen – what a great name … love the snowdrops too and Kilbryde House – glad to read the owners were out gardening …

    Fun to see Andy’s extras – he came through in the end … and yes I too love the sign post … Braco Castle – interesting to look at … again with beautiful views …

    Love the photo of the three of you – pretty good to have your name on the ticket … I’ll be over to look at Gallus. I hope Eleanor will be happy down south in Berkshire … sad to lose one of your major volunteers – those cakes look good!

    What a great post … very happy to have read it! You’re obviously in tune with what’s required … see you in April – I didn’t know Scooby was a Scottish word … fun – cheers Hilary

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  31. Those windows were certainly a real treat during the winter months. I have never been a Beatles fan but I loved the song ‘Norwegian Wood’. You are lucky to get in two garden visits – the weather here only improved last week for a wee spell, and then the lock down hit us. I rather like the grand houses! Or castles. I have just been out into the garden to photograph the tulips and daffs that are looking so pretty in the sunlight. Probably as far as I will be going this week – though a stroll up the hill might be feasible. Chilly wind!

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  32. Keep safe. I love the window pictures and I am glad I have a back catalogue of gallivanting posts to read.

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  37. Good to read your gallivanting post in this troubling time. You certainly got a lot done in half the normal time. We certainly hope that this crisis will end soon as it is so devastating. We are back home two weeks early from our winter travel. We will start posting soon…it will give us something to do as we are in self-isolation for 2 weeks having come back from regions where the virus was present (but luckily we don’t have symptoms yet so we might be clean). Take good care of yourself. (Suzanne)

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