Glasgow Gallivanting: April 2021
Despite restrictions easing so that we are now allowed to travel beyond the boundaries of our own council, in April we still kept more or less to Glasgow. Tales of crowds, overflowing carparks, and roads blocked by dangerously parked vehicles weren’t encouraging. So, as usual, the local canal featured heavily in our walks. Two sources of excitement: first, more of the new Claypits Nature Reserve has opened, and a path takes you up from the canal towpath to a viewpoint over the city. The nature reserve itself is still looking very raw, but you can see the potential.
Second, we have been watching three pairs of nesting swans on the canal at Lochburn, Ruchill, and Firhill. Which will be the first to hatch cygnets?
Having visited Glasgow’s three other Necropolises, I’ve been wanting to go to the Eastern Necropolis in Parkhead, aka Janefield Cemetery, for some time. Armed with a map and a list of 20+ notable graves, I set out to find the only woman on the list. Disappointment awaited – although the map was accurate for other graves, I could not find Maggie Shields. Maybe her stone has disappeared? Further research required. Overall, the Necropolis is not as grand as the others so we didn’t take many photographs, but it was still a poignant experience: for example, a mother buried with two infant children, and a couple who lived till their seventies but suffered the loss of four children in early adulthood. And who was Agnes? Has someone left a painted pebble in her memory because her headstone has disappeared too?
This is the woman I was looking for:
I’ve written before about the 1889 Templeton’s carpet factory disaster when 29 women were killed by a collapsing wall. Margaret (Maggie) Shields was one of them. This is her paving stone from the memorial across the road from the former factory. Some day, I will try again to find her grave.
It’s been a good month for murals and street art. I’ve already written about the Shuggie Bain and Splintering City murals, but there’s more! These are from Paisley where my mother lives. I drive past Elma Whyte Performing Arts every time I visit, but have only recently walked past to take photos. The fencing makes it difficult to get the gable wall all in at once. Thanks to Buddie and His Camera for the tip off about the mural with three boys.
I found another piece of Louise McVey’s graffiti ceramics, which already seems to have lost a bit, and her golden heart which last month was painted over in pink has now disappeared completely leaving no more than paint splodges. These things are fleeting!
Less fleeting is this bench which has featured before. Earlier in the pandemic I walked past often, and every day there was a different quote. Having not been in that street for a few months, I was curious to see if it was still being maintained – and it is!
Most of the teddies in windows from the early days have disappeared, but here is another survivor. He used merely to wish passers-by good morning or good afternoon, but recently he has had more varied messages. I knew that his people couldn’t wait to see Johnny – I think that was the name – a grandchild maybe? Then, when we were allowed to travel, the message changed. I think Johnny must live in Edinburgh and I’m glad they had a good time! (You might have to zoom in quite a bit to read the messages).
I loved this newly spotted piece of Covid art. It’s a play on a popular Scottish children’s song, Ye canny shove yer grannie aff a bus, sung to the tune of She’ll be coming round the mountains.
The first verse is normally as below, and you can read (and listen to) the full song on the Scots Language Centre site. I’ve been neglecting my Scottish word of the month feature lately, so this can be a contribution.
Ye canny shove yer grannie aff a bus
Naw ye canny shove yer grannie aff a bus
Naw ye canny shove yer grannie
Cause she’s yer mammie’s mammie
Ye canny shove yer grannie aff a bus
Finally, what was the biggest event of the month? Well, John had a birthday, his second of lockdown. He’s partial to chocolate cake!
But was that bigger than the fact that after four months I finally got a haircut? I wouldn’t like to say, but here’s the before and after – and I can assure you that the before image is flattering. It was much worse than it looks!
One of the things I like to spot on my otherwise repetitive walks about town is interesting shop fronts. Speaking of hair prompted me to check my collection for hair salons and barber shops, and I found quite a few inventive ones. Puns and paintwork!
So that’s it for April – over a year of lockdown gallivanting posts. I remember saying in March last year that I didn’t know if I’d have enough to write another one. It’s a good job we’ve all learned, of necessity, to take pleasure in the small things of life. Happy May!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
I am happy to report that I went to a stylist this week for my first professional haircut in 18 months. I was getting very tired of cutting my own hair. I’m still cutting Rob’s hair, however; he refuses to go to a salon or barber to get it cut. He gets his second jab next week, so maybe after that?
Jude
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Yay for haircuts! I need to get another one soon, but John has done his own for years. He has very little and a hair clipper does the trick.
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I remember you mentioning Maggie a while ago – it’s a shame you couldn’t find her. Yay for haircuts though! I got my first one in about two years a couple of weeks ago and it feels great, although I just went from very long to slightly less long, so not as dramatic of a transformation as yours. I like the story of the teddy window. I put little vintage ceramic bunnies in ours for Easter and have just left them up since apparently the local children enjoy looking at them and it’s still technically spring (though it feels more like winter!). I’ll have to find some new figurines for summer.
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One of my friends knows somebody who might know what has happened to Maggie’s grave, apparently, so there is still hope. I’m almost at the point of needing my second haircut! I noticed a lot more Easter decorations last year and this, possibly all the rainbows etc got people into the mood.
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Such an interesting post Anabel with the stories weaved in amongst the photos. The Scottish verse made me laugh. Hopefully people will soon be reunited with their loved ones – it must have been such a long time to have been apart. Glad you can finally go to the hairdressers – I would have found it very hard to have to have managed without! Belated happy birthday to John too – the chocolate cake looks delicious!
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Thanks for the belated birthday wishes! Next week is a big event when we can start socialising inside in small groups. More human contact, both family and friends, will be so good.
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That’s wonderful to hear Anabel especially after so long. Enjoy!
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Except Glasgow has now been made an exception. So depressing 😟.
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Oh no am so sorry to hear that – that is definitely depressing news. Hang in there and hopefully it won’t be for too much longer.
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Has already scuppered two sets of plans. It’s startI got to feel never-ending!
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Such a nice thought of visiting the places around you and finding art, fun and adventure, which is seldom ignored for places nearby. Loved the post. Everything is artistic and I am amazed to read the historic facts. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the post.
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Loving the “Ye canny shove yer grannie aff a bus” verse! 😀
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It’s funny and clever!
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Glasgow has three Necropolises? I visited the one next to the Cathedral on my last visit, and Cathcart is on my list for my next visit. Your photos of the barber shops and hair salons reminded me of a photo I took on my first visit – it was for Rebel Rebel (I loved the name lol!) I’m pretty sure it was on Buchanan Street. The granny song was funny. I love Scotland, but feel a special pull for Glasgow. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts 🙂
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Four! “The” Necropolis which is the one you visited, plus this one (Eastern), Western and Southern. Rebel Rebel is, I think, on Union Street, but I haven’t been into the heart of the city centre for so long that I can’t be sure. Thanks for commenting.
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Well, not only have you been successful at keeping your gallivanting posts going during the pandemic, but they have remained interesting as well! 🙂 I just love the creativity of a big city like Glasgow. Never does anything stay the same. Sad thing about people and kids who die so young!
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Thanks Liesbet! I’m glad you find my “micro-gallivanting” interesting. It’s certainly made me look at the city more carefully and notice small things that I might previously have walked past. As for the cemeteries, i’m always drawn to the stones with long lists of losses. Infant mortality was so high, thank goodness for modern medicine (and social conditions – not perfect, but so much better).
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You’ve certainly made the most of a difficult situation Anabel, and I’ve enjoyed seeing so much of your local area. Hopefully your restrictions will continue to ease as the weeks go by.
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Thanks – I really hope so too!
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