Glasgow Gallivanting: September 2023

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Looking down on Ullswater, Cumbria, from the Lowther Castle Loop

In September we gallivanted well beyond Glasgow. We spent the first week in Cumbria, the second in North Wales, and the third in Dumfries and Galloway. Much walking was done, and various gardens, castles and other historic buildings visited.

We also made some new acquaintances, some more welcome than others. A posse of  rather scary and determined (though possibly just curious) cows followed us along part of the Annandale Way (they got a lot closer than shown), though we felt very sorry for the drookit ones in the second picture (and we were glad that this lot were safely behind a fence).

On the Annandale Way
Drookit coos near Lochmaben

We found the sheep a lot friendlier, surprisingly bold in some cases – though others seemed rooted to the spot.

Selside, near Kendal
Selside, near Kendal, don’t know what this breed is.
Sheep in Shap
Surprisingly bold sheep
On the Great Orme, Llandudno
Spotted in Wrexham, North Wales
Sculpture celebrating the fact that Lockerbie has been home to Scotland’s largest lamb market since the 18th century.

And we interacted with some humans too! The last week was particularly sociable. As we drove down from Cumbria to Wales I noticed that Wigan, home to Mick of the blog Down by the Dougie, was very close to the motorway. On the off chance, I emailed to see if he’d be around the following week when we drove back up to Dumfriesshire, but it turned out that he and his wife had already arranged to spend that day in Kendal – actually the nearest town to where we’d been the week before! It was just as easy to come off the M6 there, so we agreed to meet at Abbot Hall art gallery which, for no discernible reason, was closed that day. Never mind, we met in the carpark instead and went in search of a café where we spent an enjoyable couple of hours chatting. I think it’s fair to say that the four of us got on very well together.

A couple of days later we had a lovely afternoon with some of my cousins who live in Castle Douglas, then a couple of days after that I made the real-life acquaintance of another blogger! Our cottage was an easy drive to Langholm which many of you will know from Tootlepedal’s Blog. Tom and his wife also graciously agreed to meet up so we went to their house for coffee and a tour of the famous Tootlepedal garden (from where we were supplied with a large bundle of runner beans which I can report were deliciously tender when I used them the following evening).

The Tootlepedal garden
The Tootlepedal garden
The Tootlepedal garden

After coffee we attempted a walk, the idea being to go up a nearby hill for its extensive views. However, as you can see from the gallery below, the weather was not playing ball and no views would have been seen so we abandoned that idea for a delicious lunch in a local café instead. Back Chez Tootlepedal, we had time for one more picture (posted with permission) then John and I were off having made two more new friends.

Langholm
Langholm
The Baggra
The Baggra
Mr and Mrs Tootlepedal

I think Mick and Tom are the 8th and 9th bloggers I have met, and like all the others they were very much as I expected them to be from reading their posts. It seems we all put ourselves into our writing, and if you like a blogger online you will almost certainly like them in person. So thank you to Mick, Tom, and their wives for all being just lovely!

On my return, I made sure to check on my two favourite projects: the Stockingfield Bridge and the Glasgow Penguins. While away I spotted on social media that the head of the Beithir, the giant water serpent which snakes through the Stockingfield site, had been installed but I was very disappointed to discover it was all under wraps.

Stockingfield Bridge with Beithir’s head under wraps
Beithir’s head under wraps

I took some consolation from the fact that more of the benches have been tiled. The one behind the barrier features scenes from local history, so I’m keen to get a closer look at that.

Stockingfield Bridge bench
Stockingfield Bridge bench
Stockingfield Bridge benches

We also found a new sculpture celebrating nature further along the canal at Firhill. The central wording is from Robert Burns’ To a mouse and there are some of the wee, sleekit, cowrin’, tim’rous beasties sitting on top. Scottish Canals and the city council are doing really well at improving this area.

Canal sculpture at Firhill
Canal sculpture at Firhill

I formed the impression that the penguins hadn’t been up to too much mischief while we were away. One seems to be channelling his inner George Formby, link provided for those too young to know, and another shows off his painting. The yellow Beatson banner is left over from a charity run in support of the local cancer hospital (in which our friend Jayne won a medal, go Jayne!).

George Formby tribute
Artist
Beatson supporters

We visited the Barrowland for a PJ Harvey concert. Sadly, though she sang her heart out for us, my main thoughts were with the niggly knee I’ve been nursing for a few weeks. Standing for two hours has exacerbated it and I’m now, as one friend observed, hirpling. The joys of ageing.

Barrowland Ballroom
PJ Harvey

Like many of you I’m sure, I was outraged to read of the vandalism which felled the iconic tree at Sycamore Gap on the Roman Wall in Northumberland (see the damage here). As someone who grew up in the North East of England I have happy childhood memories of trips there, and I’m glad that earlier this year John and I hiked past it so we have our own photographic record of it. I can’t understand the mindless destruction of something which gave so much pleasure to so many.

Sycamore Gap
June 2023

I spent the last week of the month catching up with some of the people I had not seen for a while because of being away. For example, I took my aunt and cousin to the Botanic Gardens where my favourite trees are starting to show their autumn colours. Now that the tea-room patio has closed for the season I was able to get closer to something that has intrigued me for a while – the green post-box. Turns out it’s a poetry post-box, though the link on it is dead. A nice idea though, and it’s still quite pretty.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
Poetry Postbox
Poetry Postbox

I’m sad to say that there is one person with whom I’ll never be able to catch up again. Our good friend Pat, whom we have known for almost four decades, died just before we came back from holiday. It wasn’t unexpected, but we had hoped to see her again on our return. It was not to be.

So a very good month overall, but tinged with sadness at the end. Have a great October.

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70 Comments »

  1. A very interesting post as always Anabel 🙂 So sorry for the loss of your friend – a sad time. Also saw the felling of that iconic tree – what a senseless act of vandalism. Do hope your knee is better and you’re gallivanting about again (I know this an older post but I’m catching up!) 🙂

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  3. Lovely post Anabel, it’s so nice to meet up with other bloggers and you have done very well. It’s lIke penpals from decades ago. The penguins look just like Pingu and family! Sounds like a wonderful few weeks away.

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  5. Is PJ Harvey still in her Victorian school mistress phase or does she still play loud songs from her rock and roll period? bob.

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  7. I’m so sorry about your friend; even though it was expected, it’s still a shock.

    I love the blogger meet-ups you were able to fit in. They are such fun and it’s amazing how they feel like getting together with old friends.

    I hope your knee is getting better and that you will be back gallivanting soon!

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  8. Mindless vandalism is just about right. Good post but I have to say (probably out of line) that you are not looking your cheerful self. I fully understand about the knee – got one of those. (right knee) I got out with Benji today – first day in nearly a week. Herself has not had a great week. The sheep and cows were interesting and I appreciated the flowers from the Botanic Gardens.

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  9. Wow, you have been really busy as per usual! I see you have been in Shap. We were there two weeks ago, didn’t see any sheep, but did spy some cross looking cows.
    Hope your knee is feeling better. And great that you got to meet up with some blogging friends. I’ve met one quite by chance. I think he recognised my dog Hugo before me. 🙂

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  11. Busy as ever, Anabel! I don’t think I’ve ever stroked a sheep, but I loved the George Formby penguin. Nice meeting up with folks. Andrew Petcher is in our neck of the woods at present. We spent most of Friday with them, then they whisked off to Cadiz. Back tomorrow and we’ll have supper before they head home. Sorry about your friend.

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  12. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend! Even when we know it’s coming, it’s still so hard.
    But I am glad that you got to meet more bloggers. Like you, I believe that bloggers are very genuinely themselves in their posts, and that’s one of the many things I love about the blogging community!

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  13. Yes, it’s been funeral week in my road, too. One sadly too early, the other of full years.
    Look after that knee. Both mine are killing me today, I blame the weather.

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  14. It sounds like you had. Great time meeting fellow bloggers and seeing some great sights. Love the penguins and the penguin looks a little like George. I just don’t understand why a beautiful landmark would be destroyed. Is there any reason why that 61 yer old buzzard and the 16 yr old did this horrendous act? Maybe something they cherish and can’t be replaced should be taken away( as long as it doesn’t harm someone else). I am also sad to hear about your friend’s passing. It’s always sad.

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  16. I am sorry to hear about your knee flaring up. A bad knee makes life very uncomfortable.

    It was a great pleasure to welcome you to Langholm and I am only sorry that the weather was so dour. Thank you for lowering our runner bean mountain.

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  17. Great post Anabel, pleased to hear you met more bloggers..”if you like a blogger online you will almost certainly like them in person.” I totally agree! Like you,I was Saddened by the mindless destruction of that ancient sycamore

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  19. So happy to see you two on your travels and understand your sadness. We have had 3 funerals in a matter of less than two months. You’re an inspiration Anabel and John.

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  20. You seem to have had a marvellous month (apart from its ending) and met Bloggers too! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting various of the bloggers whom I follow – as you say, they all live up to the image we form of them. You’re on my list of ‘Would like to meet…’s.

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  21. Another busy month, which was mostly fun and enjoyable. I enjoyed the photos of you two running into the “local wildlife”, am always intrigued by and impressed with the Glasgow art scenes, and am sorry about your loss of a good friend.

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  22. I look forward to hearing more about your jaunts after I have returned from my gallivant to Iona, God, weather and Calmac willing! Sorry you have a gammy knee. I hope it wears off soon.

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  24. Pingback: Halima Cassell:Reflections at Blackwell | Down by the Dougie

  25. Hi Anabel – the trips sound lovely and how wonderful to meet like-minded friends through ‘our’ blogs – many of us would just gel I feel sure. Desperate about ‘the tree’ – cruel and pointless … I hope the culprits are caught and given some really challenging community punishments, which help local communities … and bring people together.

    I found this … seems similar:
    https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/poetry-postbox-257856
    hope you don’t mind the link … cheers Hilary

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  26. I’m sorry to read of the death of your friend, but otherwise enjoyed reading about all you got up to this month. It’s always fun to meet other bloggers ‘in real life’ 😀 And always fun to see the penguins too – I love the casual pose of the George Formby one!

    Like you I was appalled at the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree. However I’ve read one optimistic post from a ‘tree expert’ who reckons it will eventually regrow from its stump. I do hope so! I’m also conscious that while there’s been a huge outpouring of horror at its loss, we’re not always as vocal as we could be about the daily loss of so many trees around the world, in the rainforests and elsewhere.

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  27. You certainly had a busy gallivanting month Anabel. It’s a shame I didn’t know you were travelling down this way – it would have been nice if we could have met up somewhere and Wigan is only a 15 minute train journey for me. I’ve only ever met two other bloggers up to now so maybe if you travel south again sometime…
    I like the Lockerbie sheep sculpture and the colourful creature in Wrexham, and the Botanic gardens flowers look very pretty 🙂

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    • Some other time, Eunice, that would be lovely! There was no forward planning really, my sense of geography is very poor so it was a bit spur of the moment when I realised how close we were going to be to Mick and Tom. I know Sharon is in the same general area too.

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  28. It was lovely to meet you and John in Kendal. I’d definitely agree that the four of us got on very well together. We had an enjoyable evening – meal and concert – after you’d headed off to Lockerbie.
    I’m quite jealous of you getting to se Polly Jean – I missed out on tickets for her Manchester concerts – left it too late as they were snapped up pretty quickly.
    (Oh, and George Formby – you know where he was from, don’t you?)

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    • I’m glad you had a good evening (and I see a post about your day has popped up which I’ll read later). I do indeed know where GF came from, but I didn’t know till I googled him to add a link to this post that he actually wasn’t a very nice person. As for PJ, you have to be quick off the mark to get tickets for some of these gigs!

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