Glasgow Gallivanting: October 2020
October was another month of increasing restrictions as the number of virus cases continued to rise again. Because we had a short break coming up we had a moment of panic when those of us living in Scotland’s Central Belt were advised not to travel out of our local areas, but relief set in when it was clarified that pre-booked breaks could go ahead. We therefore had a lovely week of coastal walking with a cosy apartment in Cellardyke, Fife, to return to in the evening. More to follow soon.
Other than that, our walks have continued to be fairly local. One of our favourites is the Forth and Clyde Canal where big changes are taking place on the sections near us. One part opened in October: the new bridge and boardwalk at Claypits. In August it looked like this:
In October, we were able to cross the bridge and walk along the previously inaccessible side of the canal. This boardwalk took us towards Firhill, home of Partick Thistle Football Club. Matches are being played without spectators these days, but an intrepid few had gathered on the towpath where they could get a reasonable view. The unkind might say that it wasn’t a bad crowd for the team often known as Partick Thistle Nil, but I wouldn’t be so cruel …
Another section of canal is about to be closed off to us. At Stockingfield Junction, a spur breaks off the main canal and continues to Glasgow city centre. At present, the only way to cross between routes is to take this horrible tunnel under the canal. It’s narrow, so not good for a mix of vehicles and pedestrians, and often floods.
We’ve been watching construction here since August: unfortunately, the towpath is now closing for a considerable time, but the end result will be a fabulous new bridge and park!
Another favourite is the River Kelvin. I took my car for repairs to a garage near Cluny Park in Bearsden, and walked back home along the river.
The v-shaped weir is quite close to home. On this walk, I could see the pipes the water was coming through – compare to the photographs below which were taken in September when the river was much fuller. I don’t remember it being that wet!
Once again, we did a few short walks from the start of the West Highland Way in Milngavie: round the reservoirs and Kilmardinny Loch and up to the doocot (dovecot).
It’s been a good month for spotting new street art, or at least, decoration, some of it pandemic related. At the start of term, many students were quarantined in their halls – “Save us! Send beer” was the message from the residence nearest us. The other sign is from the Ubiquitous Chip – many other bars and restaurants had similar pleas to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after she imposed stricter regulations on hospitality venues.
Round the corner from the Chip in Ashton Lane, this splendid orangutan has appeared. It’s one of two in the city (the other is at Park Lane Market off Pollokshaws Road in Shawlands) by London-based artist Louis Masai. They are part of a project to highlight the plight of orangutans in the wild, which also includes murals in Birmingham and Manchester. Here, a baby orangutan clutches a pencil alongside “Stop eating palm oil” written in Gaelic.
About 15 years ago we visited an orangutan reserve at Sepilok in Borneo which rescued animals whose homes had been devastated by deforestation for palm plantations. Since then, I have always had an “adopted” orangutan baby, most of whom have been successfully returned to the wild. Of course, that “wild” continues to decrease as palm plantations encroach on the rainforest, so I have also learned to read the labels carefully before I buy anything which might contain palm oil, and to put it back unless I also see the word “sustainable”.
On a walk through Woodlands we spotted these flags with hopeful messages and a colourful sunset scene.
October has been Black History Month. As part of this, four Royal Mail post-boxes – in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast – have been painted to honour black Britons. Footballer Walter Tull, who became the first black player to sign for Glasgow Rangers (before he was killed in 1918), appears on the Glasgow post-box in Byres Road. He was the first black Army officer to command troops in a regular unit, and featured in a set of stamps released in 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of World War One.
And, of course, October ends with Halloween, which was very different for most children this year with none of the usual guising round houses. Instead, many houses, gardens, and windows were decorated. Some areas had official window trails to follow, but it was such a wet weekend that I’m not sure how many people would have braved the elements to do so. We certainly didn’t, but here are a few decorations that I happened to pass and which caught my eye.
And that’s a wrap for October! More restrictions, poorer weather, darker evenings – and more of the same to look forward to in November. At least nature can still put on a show.
Happy November!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Anabel, I’m always impressed with how much interesting street art you have nearby. Here we have very little. And as for pandemic restrictions, save us — send beer!
Jude
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We have so much, and it is ever changing. I like it.
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Very interesting account of your October gallivanting Anabel! So glad you got your trip in before the latest restrictions. I have checked products for palm oil for some time now – it’s terrible what is going on with the rain forests in Borneo and other places 😦 The orangutan murals are lovely. Hope you can still get out and about to some extent in November!
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Glad you enjoyed the post! We were lucky that we had booked that break some time in advance: we are much more restricted now so November is turning out quite quiet 😟.
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You’re lucky to have still managed to squeeze in a few short breaks this year! I’ve not been anywhere other than a few day trips. That poor sweet orangutan! I do try to avoid palm oil, but I don’t understand why it’s in so many bloody things still!
I’m glad you included the Halloween decorations! I especially like the goofy monster silhouettes. We normally decorate outside but didn’t want to put much out this year in case it attracted trick or treaters, but the people across the road put out a giant homemade Tripod from The War of the Worlds, whilst playing Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds album and running a smoke machine. I did go out to have a look from the front garden, but didn’t get too close. We briefly debated just leaving a bucket of sweets outside for kids, but then we decided we’d rather eat the sweets ourselves whilst watching Halloween movies, so that’s what we did!
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We managed two self catering breaks – definitely the way to go! Current travel rules make any more breaks unlikely before the end of the year. Palm oil is often a surprising ingredient where you don’t expect it. Fortunately, as a long term vegetarian, I’m an expert in reading labels. Your neighbour sounds inventive! There are very few children in our street so we haven’t had any Halloween visitors for years anyway, so this year was no different.
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A value for money post, Anabel. 🙂 🙂 The canals are always a great place to walk and the orangutan art is beautiful. I’ve taken note to check for palm oil in unexpected places, thank you. People have been inventive with Halloween decorations this year, haven’t they? I’m not one for ghoulies and ghosties but I love the pumpkins.
You are still including loads of photos- old style galleries? I’ve had to play around with mine a bit to make them look the way I want.
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Thanks Jo! The Halloween window displays were lovely – I’m less keen on the racket outside tonight with the fireworks. Suspect the no household gatherings rule is being abused somewhat …
Yes, still using old style galleries and the classic editor. Much prefer it and clinging on by my fingernails till they prise me off!
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Wow, there is so much to see! This is a great post, it’s really interesting to see what’s happening there. 😀
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Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed seeing a bit of Glasgow.
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I did, it was lovely 🙂 Thank you 🙂
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Glorious Halloween decorations, Anabel!
I wish more people were aware of the devastating environmental impacts of consuming palm oil. Maybe the Gaelic message could be added in English as well? We avoid buying products with palm oil. Many a day when shopping, I return products to the shelf when spotting that ingredient. Oftentimes, palm oil is present in breads and snacks. Beware! I’m happy to see you’re still out and about frequently; October didn’t appear to be a dull month at all!
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I know, I was surprised to start with how many things included palm oil. I used to assume it was just soap. No, October was not dull! November on the other hand …
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It is getting very depressing, isn’t it? But I’m so glad you were able to go on your pre-booked trip. I take comfort in the fact that we are getting much better at treating this and that scientists all over the world are working on a vaccine.
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It is getting depressing, with no end in sight. That break was very welcome: we wouldn’t be able to do it under this month’s regulations.
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Weirdly the text overlapped your photos, I’m using my mobile. Using Art for to spread the word about conservation is always a good thing. Take care, Anabel
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That is weird, sorry about that! It’s supposed to be a mobile friendly theme 😟. Hope it wasn’t too illegible.
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It could’ve been at my end. I have now gone back to have a proper viewing now that I am on my computer 🙂
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Another busy month with some good & bad weather so typical of October in the Northern climes. I quite like the sunset image; a fitting end of your review of October activities…(Suzanne)
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Yes, very typical. Back to dry and cold after all the rain at the weekend. I’d rather be cold than wet!
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Totally agree with you. Here, we have had our first snow which has already melted and we should have a period of Indian Summer with temperatures climbing to 17C on Sunday…It should stay mild for a few weeks which is good news. Not really looking forward to winter.
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What a marvellous roundup for October with amazing photographs for this time of year. Loved the orangutan of course, and your last view, from your window, is a knockout!
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Thanks Mari! I really like the orangutan and hope he hangs around for a while.
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Amazing the difference that one place took from August until now. I am glad you can enjoy your walks and see so many different things. Love the Halloween pics and some great pumpkins.
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Horizons are closing in again and we’re back to the very local walks – often in the dark after John finishes work! At least the Halloween decorations gave a bit of light.
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Anabel, you summed October up perfectly at the end – “more restrictions, poorer weather, darker evenings – and more of the same to look forward to in November.” I could have said the exact same thing about Toronto too. All the same though, autumn does provide a beautiful background for photos.
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It does, and we have to hope for the best – even if that’s tricky at the moment.
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Hi Anabel – what a glorious collection of photos and where you’ve been – glad you were able to escape for that week … must have made a difference. Loved the cynical remark about Partick Thistle Nil … I could hear the tv presenter’s voice saying it! Ah well small minds down here.
They are making big changes to the canal and surrounds aren’t they – by Easter or so … it’ll be wonderful to be able to wander along. Those are wonderful areas to stroll around near your home with lots of water …
The beer scenario and lockdowns are just sad … and are being run by Mumptys down here … with a ghoul in the background. The Orangutan is magnificent … the ability to be able to create art like this always astounds me …
Hopeful flags today of all days … the sunset scene is delightful … as too the Halloween creations … I hadn’t noted the fact about the Royal Mail Post-boxes for Black History month … interesting to see them.
Take care, relax and let’s just hope these horrors can be overcome quickly without any more rancour … and we can have a peaceful world. Hilary
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Thanks Hilary, I think your assessments are very accurate! We do have to hope we can get through all this as quickly as possible, but at the moment I’m finding hope hard.
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Masai did lovely piece in Dulwich woods promoting the conservation of our local bat populstions. Good to see his work spreading
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Oh, that’s interesting! I hadn’t come across him before.
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The orangutan mural is stunning. The more people understand about deforestation and palm oil plantations, the better.
I love your photos of reflections in the water, and the sunset.
Hope November’s not too dreich, and that the latest set of restrictions do their job quickly!
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I love that mural, and hope it brings the message to more people. Thanks for the good wishes for November!
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As you wander through all these areas, I keep wondering just how big IS Glasgow?
Loved the orangutan mural and the fact you support the rescue agency. I don’t recall seeing palm oil on any ingredient list – I am aware of the destruction going on for it.
Looks like you did have some sunny, blue-sky days before the rainy Halloween. Those were some fancy carved pumpkins!
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Well, I looked it up and it’s about 68 miles² / 175 km²! What you see is usually, but not always, the west of the city, after which places like Bearsden and Milngavie continue seamlessly from the city boundary so the urban conglomeration is bigger. Palm oil pops up in a lot of food where you might not expect it, and soaps etc. I’m an expert label reader having been a vegetarian for so many years!
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That does seem rather sizable!
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Loved walking around your local area with you, Anabel. I love the friendly bear and also the black mailboxes. Happy November.
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Thanks Sylvia, and to you!
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Huge collection of different topics there. Love Fife. Look forward to any new park. Like the new murals. Switching from a manufacturing country to a service and tourist industry one is certainly hitting the UK hard at the moment as every second shop is a food or drink unit on any walk I go.
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It certainly is. There’s going to be a tsunami of unemployment soon, it’s tragic.
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That’s some good Glasgow gallivanting for October. You may or may not be aware that in the United States we don’t use the term guising; from the context you provided I understood what it means.
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Trick or Treat has largely taken over! Guising is the old Scottish term (from disguise) as you deduced.
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Later I found the word in a few dictionaries:
https://onelook.com/?w=guising&ls=a
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I’m glad that you had some time to get out and about, but also happy to know that you are keeping safe. This latest wave could be worse than the first. One of my favorite parts about autumn are the amazing sunsets and it looks like you have glorious displays there too.
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We are being pretty cautious while still trying to keep active. It’s very frustrating when we see others carrying on as if nothing is happening! And now look where we are …
Hoping some good news comes from your part of the world in the next few days to cheer us up a bit.
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Best wishes to you for the coming weeks Anabel.
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Thanks Carol! We need them.
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Good to see you got your break, and your images are plentiful, evidence of you still getting out!
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I do try to go for a walk every day, but it’s not always easy! The weather doesn’t cooperate.
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The weather often doesn’t!
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I’m glad you were still able to go on your pre-booked break. I like the orangutan and the colourful woodlands road murals, and those carved bears are just adorable 🙂
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So am I! It was just the break we needed with a bracing sea breeze to blow the cobwebs away. I love the orangutan, definitely my favourite.
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What fabulous photos this month. And I am impressed by how much you still manage to get around. That orangutan painting is spectacular.
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Thanks Jude. Nothing too far from home, and some of it places we would consider too dull to visit normally! The orangutan is beautiful, I hope it stays there for a while.
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I have to say that you get around very impressively, even in our restricted times. It’s terrible how humans have impacted orangutans and just about every other species. Many people never will learn.
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It’s all very close to home (apart from Fife) and avoiding as many people as possible! Got to keep walking in case I turn into a couch potato …
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As for the orangutans, when we were in Borneo we drove through deforested areas to get to the sanctuary.. awful!
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Borneo used to be a total paradise. The same can be said for many other parts of the world.
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Nice to see that the virus hasn’t stopped you getting out and about. November could present another challenge.
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The weather is already proving challenging! Waterproof trousers have made an appearance. We now can’t go more than 5 miles out of our council area, though apart from the week in Cellardyke we weren’t anyway. It’s such a mess …
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I can’t believe what a mess UK have made of this. I understand about devolution administrations but surely they can get consistent in all of this!
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Unfortunately Westminster thinks consistent is doing what England does, whatever the other three governments want!
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It is the collective fault of the UK Governments that can’t agree. All rather distressing that London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff cannot effectively communicate in a crisis and be consistent.
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I think communications here have been much better. The First Minister is up there nearly every day explaining clearly, but it doesn’t, unfortunately, mean we are doing any better on getting the virus down. Devolved governments don’t have the power to do more than tweak responses – see, eg, the current muddle over when and where furlough applies.
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Hi, Anabel – I agree that sudden restrictions can be very stressful. Even though we have had no new cases for many days on Vancouver Island, last week we were given the public health order that we could have no more than 6 guests in our home or yard (and these guests must be from our regular social bubble). If you had plans the next day for 7 guests in your yard, you needed to cancel or uninvite someone.
I’m glad that your pre-booked travel was able to go ahead. Your coastal walking and cozy apartment in Cellardyke, Fife look absolutely gorgeous.
Hikes with my husband are my happy place, especially during COVID.
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Cellardyke was a lovely break! Other than that I don’t think we’ve been much more than 5 miles from home, if that! We’ve had no household mixing since the beginning of September, though people living alone can form an extended household with one other (which covers our situation with my mum). I’m not sure how well respected the rule is though 😟.
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Glad you got your break in. I had a couple of orienteering outings but most of my other October walks were rained off (being a coward, with a dodgy ankle at present).
Walked to the library today, and got caught in a shower again on the way back – that happened on my last visit too. At least I had a hat today 🙂 And there was a fab rainbow as I got home!
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The waterproof trousers came out yesterday! I think they will be a feature from now on.
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