Glasgow Gallivanting: May 2021

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Glasgow Endures: Charing Cross May 2021

Glasgow endures – it certainly does! May was another unsettling month. Scotland expected to move to a lower level of restrictions on the 17th, and indeed most of it did. Rising numbers of Covid cases in Glasgow, however, left us in Level 3 as everywhere around us dropped to Level 2. By staying the same, we actually became worse off: when everyone was Level 3 we could travel around freely. Now, we couldn’t cross into a different level. From a personal viewpoint, this was a blow. We had a week in a cottage booked in the Scottish Borders which was postponed for the third time. Fourth time lucky? Watch this space! On the plus side, we have both had our second vaccine so musn’t grumble – much.

So as law-abiding citizens who stick to the rules, what have we been up to in Glasgow? We were pleased to see the Highland cattle back in the fields by Dawsholm Park. There are more than this, but the rest were uncooperatively lurking in a corner out of reach of John’s lens. One at least had no such inhibitions and wasn’t going to let the camera get in the way of a good dinner.

Highland cattle
Highland cow
Highland cow

I mentioned in April that we were closely watching three swans’ nests on the Forth and Clyde Canal. May brought cygnets! First, the Lochburn nest with Mama Swan and six cygnets. This nest has been empty every time I have passed since, but I spotted an adult and three cygnets on the other side of Maryhill Locks last week – could this be the same family? The following day, we both passed the same spot and John had his camera so was able to get close ups of the adorable cygnets.

Lochburn swans
Maryhill swans
Maryhill cygnets

When we first saw the Ruchill cygnets they were on the far bank of the canal, darting in and out of overhanging foliage and too far away for a phone zoom to be worth using. There were four or five at that time but I’ve only seen two on subsequent visits, so either the others were hidden below the canal bank or some have been lost. You might spot a creature in the gallery below which is clearly not a swan. I have never seen a cat walking along the towpath before – could this be one answer to the mystery of the missing cygnets?

Ruchill swans
Ruchill swans
Canal cat

The third nest is at Firhill, and this one worried me for a while because I wasn’t sure there were going to be any cygnets. The swans had obviously been disturbed, because over the month different forms of fencing appeared. We had seen the adult swans several times, but the nest was sometimes unattended, even although there were quite clearly still eggs in it a good ten days after the other nests’ eggs had all hatched. Then on Sunday I checked – they had one little cygnet and I was so happy for them! I don’t remember being so interested in obsessed by the swans before. Last year, in the first lockdown, we were avoiding the canal towpath because it was so busy, and before that we were travelling much further afield to walk. It’s another example of the changing perspectives that the pandemic has given me on my own area.

Firhill swan
Firhill swans
Firhill swans
Firhill swans
Firhill swans

A walk in the other direction on the canal took us to Lambhill Stables, the community garden of which overlooks the route of the Antonine Wall. Say “Roman Wall” and most people will think of Hadrian – but this is also a Roman Wall, though with less extensive remains. Built in the AD 140s for Emperor Antonius Pius, it ran across Central Scotland from the Clyde to the Forth and, for a generation, was the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. A new trail is being created including two giant heads, one at Lambhill and the other at Croy Hill which we will visit when we’re allowed to leave Glasgow again. The head at Lambhill, named Aurelius, had not been fully installed when we visited, but he looks impressive already.

Aurelius, Lambhill
Aurelius, Lambhill

Distance stones were placed along the wall to record each section as it was built, and there is a replica here of one which was found nearby at Summerston Farm. The original is now in the Hunterian Museum and can be seen on the information panel below.

From the canal to the river, specifically the Kelvin which has several huge sites with drainage work going on. I noticed a nice collection of children’s artwork at one of them: here are some favourites. I particularly like the rainbow with vertical stripes.

River Kelvin Poster Competition
River Kelvin Poster Competition
River Kelvin Poster Competition
River Kelvin Poster Competition

More art on fences, protest art this time, at Whiteinch Library. Glasgow’s cultural venues, including libraries, are slowly reopening. However, some appear to be threatened with permanent closure, Whiteinch being one of them. I say “appear” advisedly, because communication from the council and Glasgow Life, the organisation which runs cultural and sporting venues on its behalf, has been so appalling that it is hard to know what is going on. The local community is, quite rightly, very unhappy. I make no apology for the number of images in this gallery because I want to record them. I like the creative use of book covers, and if you look at them in any detail it might be useful to know that Susan Aitken is the Council Leader and Bridget McConnell is the Chief Executive of Glasgow Life. A numpty is a stupid or silly person.

Whiteinch Library
The Joy of Cuts
Save our Library
Reading is FUNdamental
Small is beautiful (except in Glasgow)
The department of dead ends: Susan Aitken
Lady Chatterley’s Over
Ways of sinning: Bridget McConnell
Worst Witch: Susan Aitken
1984 – we did try to warn you
Darwin for numpty councillors
Whiteinch needs books
Glasgow’s Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Jimmy Reid – a Clydebuilt man turning in his grave
Librarians must be magic
Great place for a library

The library sits across the road from Whiteinch Burgh Hall. It would be very sad to see it degenerate to the same state of dereliction.

Whiteinch Burgh Hall
Whiteinch Burgh Hall

I mentioned earlier, as I have done many times in the last year, how I have looked much more closely at my local area while walking around it again and again, and have tried to find ways of making it more interesting by recording details that I had previously missed, as well as Covid-specific rainbows, teddy bears, and graffiti art. Journalist Dani Garavelli recently wrote an interesting article in The Scotsman about this phenomenon and how other people have handled it. Walking back to happiness features, amongst others, Louise McVey, whose graffiti ceramics I have mentioned a couple of times, and the mystery granny who crocheted emojis and hung them on gates and railings. I really enjoyed reading it, and it gave me a few ideas.

Finally, a story about the kindness of strangers. My doorbell rang the other evening, and at the end of the path was an elegantly dressed young woman whom I did not recognise. She was clutching a bunch of white tulips and said “I’d like to give you these”. I must have looked nonplussed, so she explained that she had been given them, but she had a cat, and tulips are toxic for cats. She didn’t want to waste them so offered them to me! I’m not sure why she picked our house, but I’m glad she did – after thanking her profusely I have placed them in my kitchen window (which faces front) so that hopefully she can see them, though I still don’t know where she lives.

And finally finally – I am finishing this post off on Tuesday, 1st June and can add the happy postscript that it was announced this afternoon that Glasgow is moving down to Level 2 on Saturday. We can now gallivant a bit further and maybe this will be reflected in my end of June post. Hooray!

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  1. When I click to read the information panel “Victory and Defeat,” I get a message that the page can’t be found. Likewise for the picture of the replica panel.

    I couldn’t help noticing that the book cover for Nineteen Eighty-Four bears a little speech balloon saying “We did try to warn you.” In the past year, our world has unfortunately become more Nineteen Eighty-Four-ish than at any time in my life.

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  2. Such an interesting post Anabel and upbeat despite the frustrations. So glad you are finally moving down to Level 2 and hope you can soon do your postponed trip! Love the photos of the swans and cygnets 🙂 What a lovely gesture too – the tulips look very pretty on your window sill.

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  3. 1) I need to visit those heads. 2) Where would we be without libraries – but how do we get them to be used more? 3) Love the tulip episode! But being a suspicious southerner, I’d be looking for an ulterior motive!

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    • 1. You do need to visit those heads! They are fabulous. 2. On the whole, politicians here are fairly supportive of libraries, which I can’t say is true of the U.K. govt, many of whom have probably never needed to rely on a public library in their lives. So I was surprised when this happened in Glasgow: I think it is covid desperation and a failing of the funding model (run by a sort of arms-length charity rather than directly council funded). I wish I knew the answer to your question! 3. No harm came of the tulip episode, and I have never seen the woman again so I still don’t know who she is.

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  4. Pingback: Silvanus and Croy Hill – The Glasgow Gallivanter

  5. Very clever use of book covers in the protest to keep the library open. Glasgow must have a very unenlightened council to propose closing libraries.

    Jude

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  6. What a really imaginative campaign to keep the library open. I do hope they are successful. It’s a hard struggle as shutting libraries is seen as an easy option to save money by politicians- they think everyone just reads ebooks or doesn’t read at all – other than social media. Sadly, several branch libraries were shut around here some years ago, including the one where my daughter worked.
    Anyway, hope to see you able to gallivant a little further next time. Although l don’t know exactly what hour tier 2 involves. Of course, in England we’ll all be running sround carefree on the 21st. There’s no evidence to not remove restrictions. Exponential rise in cases or not. “I see no ships” .

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    • We haven’t lost any libraries in Glasgow – so far. We prided ourselves on being more enlightened on libraries than “down south” but I fear that might not last. I hear the dreaded term “community hub” which to me signifies volunteers and / or generic staff doing various types of council business and nobody with specialist knowledge of libraries. I think Glasgow Life has been taken aback by the public reaction and have backtracked slightly – though, as I said, communication has been horrendous so it’s hard to know what they are thinking.

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  7. You always find something to see in lovely Glasgow. Wonderful that you have Highland Cows. What a treat to see them. The swans and cygnets are so pretty and Aurelius looks impressive. Lovely that you received those tulips. Xx

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  8. Those little cygnets are adorable! It helps to see all the new life around us. I’m so happy you’re getting a bit more freedom; these lockdowns are miserable. Happy travels!

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  9. Sounds like you’ve been making the most of your lockdown walks and exploring locally. THere is always so much to see on your own doorstep isn’t there? Including swans and cattle of course. Love the tulip story, restores your faith in human nature doesn’t it? Enjoy the easing of restrictions.

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  10. You always seem to have a filled month in spite of not being able to go very far. The cygnets are so cute, I always used to look out for ‘my’ Ludlow ones each year. And the Antonine wall looks very interesting.

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  11. Oh, Anabel, you have an exciting weekend coming up!! What will be your first out-of-town destination, I wonder… 🙂

    Those swan babies (I forgot again how they’re called, cygnets?) are so adorable. It is, indeed, interesting how your focus and attention shifts during a pandemic. And, I love how the return of Highland cattle back in the fields announces summer to you!

    Have a fabulous weekend!

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  14. I’m so glad you’re going down a level in restrictions too! And thanks for the photos of the swans, I’ve never seen baby ones before or even realized they were called cygnets. As for closing the libraries, I really hope that doesn’t happen. Is that a result of Covid, or was it coming anyway?

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    • The cute cygnets make a mockery of the Ugly Duckling story I think! The library (possible) closure wasn’t coming anyway as far as I know. Glasgow Life has lost so much money over the last year that it says it can’t afford to reopen all its venues.

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  15. I like the little fence around the swan nest, although, really, it’s too small and flimsy to deter either people or predators! And I see the Antonine statue made it in. 🙂

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  16. How lovely to see the cygnets. Here’s hoping the cat keeps its paws off them. Hooray for a drop in levels, lets hope this is the first steps towards something like normal life…or at least a life less restricted! We are pretty free down here in Wiltshire but I have noticed people are getting complacent with masks and distancing so will we stay that way? who knows!

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  17. Lovely to see cygnets. We had a family in a local park and how they tolerate all the peering is anyone’s guess.
    But about the extra restrictions but this too shall pass. It does make it difficult to plan anything. We went to the cinema yesterday and it was like a first time. I was a bit on edge in the settling in phase but by the time the interminable adverts began I was back to normal ie moaning at them.

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  18. I think I feel safer in lock down. This week I was talked into taking my grandchildren to the seaside. The place was rammed with visitors, there was zero social distancing so we only stayed for an hour or so.

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  19. oh no your trip was cancelled, how frustrating. You have though created a wonderful post, and just loving the creative protest. I do hope they are successful. Councils waste millions on PR and yet become obsessed by spending pennies on libraries

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  21. There are so many positives in your post, Anabel – kind strangers and tulips, beautiful artworks by children and adults, cute fluffy babies and the good news that you can go a little further now. Hopefully things will continue to improve as the weeks go by.

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  22. This is quite an eclectic post, Anabel. The tulips are a nice piece of serendipity to add to your day. I didn’t know that cats are allergic to tulips. My daughter often has tulips in the house and her cat happily curls up next to the vase. Glad your restrictions are gradually being lifted.

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  23. Nice set of photos. Some new stuff there I’ve not seen yet. I have to say…. after over a year of altered living/lock-downs…. any urge I had to go further afield has totally gone for the moment. Different levels mean nothing to me these days. Probably due to the fact that it’s always so mobbed everywhere when we do open that I’m happy in my own bubble as I’ve adapted into my altered situation quite contentedly now and it will no doubt return when the outdoors gets quieter again. Can’t say I miss it either as I’ve moved into doing other things recently to keep me occupied. Covid restrictions reminds me of a famous prison quote in a film said by a smiling prisoner to a disgruntled guard. ” you are only in a cage in here if you think you are..”

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  24. Yay for moving down a level!!!
    I’m happy to see the cygnets hatched and (hopefully) thriving. It’s amazing how attached you can become to the eggs and parents, and how anxious for happy outcomes.
    I love the creative responses to the threatened library closure — those book titles alone should be proof enough that libraries are essential!
    Hope you manage to get away to the Borders soon, and have a lovely — freer — month ahead.

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    • Thanks Su. Fingers crossed our new date for the Borders will work. I haven’t checked on the cygnets since Sunday, but I’ll be back out there soon and hope to see most of them grow up. There is certainly plenty proof that the library is considered a vital community asset.

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  25. I have to say to you, thank you, so much, for keeping your gallivanting going through all these trials and tribulations. I wish I had set out at the start to explore my new area, and follow your example.
    But every week my spirits are raised by the sights of all these things going on in your neck of the woods.
    Thank you, Anabel (and him). ❤

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  26. Quite a mixed bag from you in this post, from cygnets to libraries via a Roman wall – all very interesting, of course, and I could have read more. Loved your pictures, especially the ones that made me good ooh! and aah! and boo! to the cat that prowled along the canal bank. Enjoy your trip away when the time comes. I’m holding my breath and will just hop on a train when we get the go ahead although that won’t bring me any closer to my family to need to come by plane so I’m still a bit of a saddo. Never mind, at least the weather is good.

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  28. Glad to hear you’re finally moving down a level, and lovely to see coos, as always! Hope they manage to save the library – the last I heard, the council I used to work for has a sinister sounding plan for most of my local ones, but I don’t know when they’re planning on enacting it.

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  29. I love your photos once again and learning about the Hadrian’s wall a bit more and love that Roman head. I bet some pussy cats or other animal grabbed the cygnets. They are cute and not ugly ducklings. I hope they will do something with that old building because it is so great looking and deserves to be saved. Things are to open today here but I just hope it is not too early since people can be dumb and not behave. I think that lady is so sweet and must have seen you and your husband and just liked what she saw. How wonderful to receive these tulips.

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    • I know, I’ve been thinking about The Ugly Duckling story, because they’re really not ugly at all, are they? The only thing I can think of about the tulips is that I had recently come back from a walk and maybe she saw me passing and knew that there was definitely somebody at home in our house.

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  30. Cygnets are the cutest aren’t they. How lovely the tulips look, although I would be a bit suspicious taking a bunch of flowers off a stranger, but a wonderful act of kindness. Well I hope you manage a trip soon Anabel. Also that the library is saved.

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  31. Yes, I watch the Scottish Government Web Site and stay up to date with the Covid in Scotland and I had noticed that there was a bit of a rise in the numbers. At the time, I thought this was just a tad concerning. Interesting choice of subject this post all of which were most interesting. People don’t seem to realise how deep into Scotland the Romans came. Apart from the Black Swans we now have three Pelicans who have taken up residence at the Wetlands for the time being. Quite a mix of bird-life there at the moment.

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  32. Hi Anabel – great selection … and I do hope that library won’t close … love the swans and goslings … while Aurelius looks pretty amazing – that’ll be interesting to see when it’s finished.
    The Antonine Wall is appearing in places … while the protest posters outside the library are rather interesting. Those tulips – how wonderful … enjoy the freedom … cheers Hilary

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  33. An interesting mix of topics here, I like the children’s poster with the fox on it and love the swans, the cygnets are so cute. The other day I visited part of Manchester city centre which I’d never been to before – nothing to do with the flowers show – and there was a swan with seven lovely little cygnets in the canal basin 🙂

    The tulips from the unknown young woman are a lovely gesture, when so much is wrong in the world these days the kindness of a stranger somewhat restores your faith in human nature 🙂

    It’s good to know that Glasgow are now going down to level 2, I hope you can now enjoy gallivanting much further afield 🙂

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    • Seven cygnets – that’s impressive. Here, all the little groups seem to have diminished since they first hatched. The fox is good, but something about the vertical rainbow tickled me more. I’d love to know who the young woman was, I was too taken aback to ask. She walked back up the street where there are blocks of flats so maybe she lives in one of them.

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