Glasgow Gallivanting: August 2022

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Photo by Dave Nolan

We went to an engagement party this month. Normally we appear on here in hiking gear, but I think we scrub up quite well, don’t you?

Once again, life has been very busy. A fabulous day out was had at Jupiter Artland, near Edinburgh, which I have written about twice before, in 2014 and 2016. There is more information at the links – this time it’s highlights only. These include:

  • Lunch at Café Party. Every bit as good as it looks.
  • A view over the Firth of Forth with all three bridges (you might have to enlarge that one).
  • An obligatory shot of me imitating one of Laura Ford’s Weeping Girls.
  • Various views of parts of Charles Jencks’ Cells of Life, an enormous landform which is always a favourite. I don’t remember the two wordplay inscriptions, so maybe we haven’t climbed that particular mound before.
  • A large scale bronze female figure, I Lay Here for You, by Tracy Emin, newly installed this year. On the site’s map, the title continues: An expectation of love. Distant memories that become unrequited moments. She lies alone, perpetually in wait, her gaze turned in towards herself. Rather poignant.
Café Party
View of Forth Bridges
Anabel and Weeping Girl
Cells of Life by Charles Jencks
Anabel at Cells of Life
Cells of Life inscription
Cells of Life inscription
I Lay Here for You by Tracy Emin

We had a fabulous weekend with my cousin Ian and his wife Lynn at their home in Strathspey. They are surrounded by lots of beautiful forest and loch walks, some of them populated by fairies judging by the little houses.

Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks
Strathspey forest walks

Speaking of little houses, Lynn is a very talented needle-woman and their home is full of her art. These are two examples from our bedroom.

Made by Lynn Gourlay
Made by Lynn Gourlay

In book news, I attended the first in-person Story Café at Glasgow Women’s Library since before the pandemic. Three of the four poets who contributed to the anthology Daughters, wives, resilient lives were there to read from their work. The book is a tribute to the poets’ foremothers: working class women who had few opportunities, but who were strong and loving and passed on their own rich stories and memories. As someone who recently lost her own mother, I found it intensely moving.

Daughters, wives, resilient lives
L to R Lesley Traynor, Morag Smith, Mairi Murphy

On the way to the event I had a rare chance to see the Doulton Fountain on Glasgow Green actually working for once. It’s allegedly the largest terracotta fountain in the world.

Doulton Fountain
Doulton Fountain

I read another book by a local author specifically because of my mother: Sarah Smith’s memoir of her father, Glasgow businessman and philanthropist Bill Mann, who died, like Mum, with dementia. Sarah was asked the very insensitive question “why do you keep visiting him when he doesn’t know who you are?” and her reply forms the title of her book – Because I know who he is. I never had to face that – Mum always knew who I was, but so many of the other scenarios were so similar to my experiences that I found it quite reassuring. I knew nothing about Bill Mann, but John did and was able to point out evidence of his philanthropy on one of our walks. He was heavily involved with the local cricket ground, for example, which has a W.M. Mann Gate.

West of Scotland Cricket Club
West of Scotland Cricket Club

He is also in evidence at the Western Baths, where he was Secretary for many years and where he saved the original 1870s building from dereliction. Looking at the modern W. M. Mann extension made us realise for the first time that it had been carefully designed to reflect the façade of the former Salon Cinema (1913 – now a restaurant) at the other end of the terrace. Not only that, we had never noticed the carved heads above the main door before. I always find something new to learn about Glasgow!

Western Baths WM Mann Building
Western Baths WM Mann Building
Western Baths
Western Baths and ex-Salon Cinema
Western Baths – entrance heads
Because I know who he is

As usual, we spent a lot of time wandering the canal, observing our favourite swans and canal boats. I was also overjoyed that a section of towpath which has been closed for over two years opened up this month. The closure was for the construction of a new bridge at Stockingfield Junction – the bridge is now complete, but there is still a lot of activity to landscape the site and add artworks. One of the two Women’s History Walks I led this month was also along the canal (image courtesy of Aurora Segnan of Maryhill Burgh Halls).

Firhill swans
Firhill swans
Maryhill swans
Canal boat at Firhill
Canal boat at Firhill
Stockingfield Bridge
Stockingfield Bridge
Stockingfield Bridge
Maryhill Women’s History Walk (photo by Aurora Segnan)

I do like a good graveyard, as you know, and revisited the Western Necropolis this month. This was a favourite lockdown haunt*, but we’d not been back for a while.

*Unintentional pun which I spotted when proof-reading, but I like it so I’ve left it in.

Western Necropolis
Commonwealth Graves, Western Necropolis
Will Fyfe, Western Necropolis
Andrew Connal Arthur, Western Necropolis
Arthur McCann, Western Necropolis

And this is my street art of the month, from Frodrik at Kelvinbridge and Fearless Collective in the Merchant City.

Kelvinbridge art by Frodrik
Merchant City street art

I have been called for jury duty in September, in the Sherriff (lower) Court. It’s unlikely to last for more than a week, and I might not even be selected to serve, but it makes life very uncertain so, because I can’t commit to much at the beginning of this month, I made sure that I packed August with lots of lovely meetings with friends and family. I’ve had a ball! I hope your month was as good. Happy September!

Scotland, UK , , ,

53 Comments »

  2. Didn’t have time to comment as I whistled past, Anabel, but I’d love to have done the canal walk with you. Sounds like a happy month to make up for some of the sadness.

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  3. Another busy month for you Anabel! And you and John scrub up very well 🙂 Wish I could say the same for myself 😦
    Jupiter Artland is somewhere I’ve had on my list for a few years. I really need to find some time to get up that way and include a visit.
    I like the Laura Ford weeping girl. I saw an exhibition of her work some years ago now at Abbot Hall and Blackwell. Some of the works were really creepy! But it was an excellent exhibition

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      • I’m camera shy and not at all photogenic!
        I agree the crying girls aren’t creepy, but some of her other pieces definitely were – in particular a group of “penguin children” – almost looked real – and an elephant boy that surprised you as you entered the small bedroom at Blackwell!

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  8. So much to like about this post. A delightful photo of both of you to start, I hope you enjoyed the party. I love the Cells of Life photo, that looks like a really intriguing place, and the views on the Strathspey forest walks are lovely. I like the street art and the third photo of the Stockingfield bridge is a lovely view 🙂

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  9. You “clean up” quite delightfully!

    The lake reflection shots are gorgeous. I liked that last headstone that forms the air cross – but the inscription on the right is Greek to me.🤣
    I hope you do not have to spend a week on jury duty. Ugh. But we must do our civic duties.

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  10. What a varied post! Loved the photos, especially of Strathspey and Stockingfield, and loved the idea of a graveyard being a favourite haunt (good decision to leave that in!). The Doulton Fountain is astonishing – I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it working, but I’ve only visited it a few times. Seems like you’re lookin’ good for September!!

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  11. You have been a busy bee! Unlike me, confined to barracks. What a great post to read. I like the Weeping Girl, but must admit that the Emin work leaves me cold. You and ‘im scrub up well 😉

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  14. Sounds like an excellent month. I don’t always engage with Tracey Emin’s work but that piece looks intriguing. I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and street art too.

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  17. Hi Anabel – well you’ve right royally entertained us with all your comings and goings, and dinings too! Fun August – and yes perhaps this year was a good year to be dressed for a summer evening, I imagine there aren’t many hot ones in Glasgow: well spruced and fun to see – thank you. Bill Mann sounds an interesting character – while the title of Sarah’s book about her father is so apt: ‘Because I Know Who He Is’ … excellent – and it’ll be helpful to many – thanks for the update and all the best for the Jury Service. Cheers Hilary

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  18. What a pleasant surprise to see you both looking rather posh in your Sunday best 😉 Noticed you had some lovely sunny days to capture those wonderful reflections and other scenery. Just lovely.

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  19. Isn’t it interesting how our mind jumps ahead sometimes, creating puns when puns are unintended? I’ve stumbled on these as well, after rereading a sentence or blog post.

    You’ve had a fabulous August, Anabel! Happy September and I hope your jury duty works out – or not – depending on your preference. 🙂

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  21. Heck, there’s a lot going on this month, Anabel! The forest reminds me of little doors and houses we found on a Yorkshire forest trail and I love those Stockbridge images. Dining out on a warm Tavira evening, I feel far removed 🤗💗

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  24. I’ve heard about that Jupiter Artland place but not been yet. Lovely Strathspey loch reflections there. That Kelvinbridge mural must be fairly new as I don’t remember it from my last visit. Cells of Life looking better now it’s matured a few years. Water wasn’t blue due to grey skies overhead which really makes a big difference.

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