The week in Glasgow Gallivanting: 8th-14th January 2024
The Retired Gentleman has taken to midweek cycles with other retired pals, just because he can. The weather doesn’t seem to matter as this week’s cold and foggy ride from Croy to Stirling proved. At least he didn’t have to be hosed down at the back door after an encounter with a field of cattle as he did last week!
Also just because we can, we took the train to Dundee midweek. The current exhibition at the V&A, Tartan, ended on the 14th so if we wanted to see it, it was now or never.
To start with we looked at a small exhibition about designer Bernat Klein which I enjoyed. I particularly loved this vibrant dress which reminded me of some of the colourful (non-designer) outfits I wore in the 1960s and 70s.
We then had time for lunch in the museum café (very good) and a walk before our 2pm time-slot for the main exhibition. This took us through Waterfront Place and part way across the Tay Road Bridge from where we had good views back to the museum. I liked the whale murals by Adam Milroy which brightened up a set of hoardings.
Tartan was an excellent exhibition covering the history, design, and influence of tartan throughout history. As it is now over, there’s not much point in extolling it any further! I’ve chosen to illustrate it with some of the more contemporary outfits which caught my eye – full details in the captions. I can imagine wearing the last one.
My other outings this week have been more local with nothing much of note to report. We dropped into Maryhill Halls for coffee one morning and looked at their two current exhibitions. 150 years of East Park is a timeline celebrating a local school for children with additional support needs. Today’s much-expanded school, taken on a sunny day a few summers ago, can be seen on the right below, with the original buildings in the background.
A stone, a spark, a shard of glass is an exhibition by 12 local artists with each piece inspired by Maryhill and its history. My favourite was The Collection by Maria McCavana who was inspired by Maryhill women and their work in local industries. She took a selection of porcelain donated by local women whose mothers and grandmothers had collected it over the years, and cut, carved and smoothed its surfaces. Part of it can be seen below. We have several such tea-sets, inherited from our mothers, but in the interests of safety I decided not to try this at home.
Still in Maryhill, several tower blocks on the Wyndford Estate have been ear-marked for demolition and fenced off. Some of the fencing has been decorated by artwork by local school children. Very colourful!
The 13th of January was St Mungo’s Day. He is Glasgow’s patron saint whose four miracles appear on our coat of arms: the bird that never flew, the tree that never grew, the bell that never rang, and the fish that never swam. There are versions of this all over the city, and to celebrate Mungo’s special day I photographed examples on the lampposts at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Can you spot all four miracles?
My minor miracle is that I have now done two of these weekly Gallivanting posts. Will I make it three next Monday? I hope so. In the meantime, have a good week.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
We must return to Scotland for many reasons and one of them is that we didn’t get to the V&A or spend any quality time in Glasgow. Thanks for highlighting both of those. I love that last Tartan look but alas am just too short to pull off a long skirt like that. Bernie
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I have the height but, alas, am no longer slim enough to carry that off!
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I love this colorful post, especially the history of Tartan. That Hillman Imp Caledonian is so adorable! Bondage pants!? And I could see how the Tartan skirt with “Sisterhood is Powerful” is so you! I love that mod dress, but I was never able to dress like that. We were country bumpkins and were always lagging in the latest fashions.
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It was an excellent exhibition. Did you not have punks with bondage pants in the late 70s? Maybe it was just a British think. For the avoidance of doubt, I was never a punk and never wore anything like that!
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If we had punk with bondage pants in the late 70s, I didn’t know anything about them! I must have had my head in the sand, or else, we were too sheltered and backwards where I grew up! Glad you clarified that! lol
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I enjoyed reading about your walk and seeing the museums like the Scottish one. That mod dress was all the rage in the late 60s and 70s. You see such interesting things and places
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Thanks Birgit. I wore very similar colours but cringe at the photographs now!
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A lot to like about this one but my favourite just has to be the Wyndford street art, especially the colourful eye 🙂
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The children did very well at those I thought.
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Your Adventures in Retirement continue to inspire and amaze me. And you’re leaving a wonderful breadcrumb trail for someone like me to follow once I am finished with the corporate life. I love that you’ve done more posts than usual, although I don’t know where you found the time!
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Thanks Kim. The theory is it should be easier and quicker to summarise a week at a time when it’s fresh in my mind. We’ll see how that goes!
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Always liked visits to Dundee. Not been for a while though. Damn! Walked past Wyndford a few days ago with a friend but never spotted the murals at all as we were on the Kelvin Walkway mostly, ( not many little penguins left in the wall, half a dozen at most, so presumably they get nicked from time to time.) I was also very wary of cycling in icy conditions like the past few days as I’ve had plenty of tumbles and falls over the decades, even on dry roads in summer. Bob. BSS.
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You wouldn’t see the murals from the walkway, if you go up Wyndford Rd from Kelvindale Rd there is one set on the right and another round the corner on the left. I think the penguins do get nicked. I met the guy behind them recently and he said there will be more eventually.
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Dundee is yet another place tat’s been on my list for a while. Maybe you’ll be the one to encourage me there?
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It sounds as though you need to do a grand tour of Scotland!
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I think you’re absolutely right!
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I would love to go to Dundee, those Port of Dundee seascapes. Nice fashion exhibitions you have seen, like the look of the tartan one.
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I sometimes used to go to meetings there when I was working and never thought of it as a tourism destination, but it has really come into its own since they opened the V&A.
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Wonderful exhibition, Anabel, and I would’ve enjoyed tagging along with you. The museum is stunning and very modern architecture, and the tartans are colourful to brighten any Scottish winter’s day.
Hasn’t John heard of mud guards? 😊
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I will spare you the graphic details, but be assured this was a situation where mudguards would be of no help!
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Haha, luckily I have a good imagination 😊
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Milroy’s whales are magnificent! From one angle, the V & A reminds me of the science museum in Amsterdam. I’m sure you’ve been there. Those sculpted teacups are amazing!
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I was trying to think what museum V&A reminded me of, so thanks, Eilene 😊
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Yes, they both have ship like qualities, though the architect says this one represents sea cliffs. I’ve always seen a ship!
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I have been very impressed by the retired gentleman’s cycling exploits on Strava. I can see that a mountain bike might be a good thing to have in winter.
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He thanks you and says, yes it is – much better grip.
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Another pleasant and busy week. Glen likes to say every day is Tuesday because he can choose to do whatever he wants!
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Oh very clever, I like that! I’m already thoroughly confused by the days without the marker of John going out to work (eg I got a friend’s birthday wrong because I was convinced Friday was Saturday – at least i was early) so they might as well all be Tuesdays / Choose Days.
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I did the same thing this morning. I sent a “how did your appointment go” message to a friend, which it turns out is today not yesterday. I was early too.
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Definitely better than late!
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That’s true 😁
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Bernat Klein – a name from the past! Obviously I was far too young to have any of his clothes, but I remember the name for some reason. Odd how our memories work!
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Strangely, I had never hear of him till last summer when i saw some of his designs with a friend who knew all about him. So I felt quite knowledgeable here!
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I have a memory of a shop on George Street in Edinburgh but that could be totally wrong. Lovely to read about him here!
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Possible! I don’t remember either way.
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So St. Mungo’s miracles were for things that didn’t work and yours was for something that did… I’m thinking that you win in the miracle department.
Playing mid-week is the best! I’m glad the RG is enjoying his separation from work!
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You’re right, i hadn’t looked at it that way! Thanks Janis 😃
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Thank you for another very interesting and colourful post. Fantastic whale murals and the V&A building looks amazing! I remember wearing dresses in those bright colours/designs in the 60’s but tartan wasn’t seen very often in Wales at that time!
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Thank you! I think tartan has spread everywhere now. When I was young I think it was restricted to kilts, in my experience anyway.
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Hi Anabel – I had curtains using some of those strong colours on a beige background – not quite so ‘out there’ … but yes colourful era to say the least. You’ve both been places and seen lots – good for you – cheers Hilary
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Thanks Hilary. I can’t believe some of the colours when i look back. Dazzling!
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Last time I was in Dundee, the V&A wasnt there! Maybe there was a building site and I didnt register what it was for. I did go and see the famous ship in the harbour – one of the polar explorers; So famous I can’t remember which, but this must be twenty years ago!
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The Discovery was Scott’s ship – the museum is right next to it. I remember that area being a complete mess for years as they built the museum and realigned roads, but not as long as 20 years ago, maybe 10, so you weren’t inadvertently missing it!
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Another busy week…always interesting to read. I particularly like the colourful art works. (Suzanne)
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Thank you, the colourful art was a surprise. I obviously hadn’t been along that street for a while.
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A delightful read 🙂
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Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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You are a true art lover. I always enjoy reading about the museums/galleries/street art that you visit.
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Thank you! I like to visit as many exhibitions as I can.
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I hope so, too- I enjoy your gallivanting. Makes up for all I haven’t been able to do this January, Anabel. Dundee looks a great place. Sorry I didn’t go when I had the opportunity. Glad the Retired Gentleman is enjoying life too. One of our good friends does the same on Mondays- off cycling with mates. Doesn’t often need to be hosed down though!
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Thanks Jo – hope you perk up soon and make up for what you have missed by being poorly. That was the muckiest I had ever seen John. He often comes back muddy but the cow sh*t was something else!
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Lucky 🤣🩵
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Congratulations on your minor miracle 😀 Lots to enjoy this week – I love the whale murals, the porcelain exhibit and the Alexander McQueen dress, Widow of Culloden. The children’s artwork is fun and colourful, and yes, I wore clothes in the vibrant shades of that dress once upon a time (I shouldn’t have done, I look dreadful in orange!) Your husband’s cycling of my husband who since he has retired has taken fortnightly walks with another retired friend.
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Oops, should read ‘Your husband’s cycling REMINDS ME of my husband’ 😆
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One reason the yellow / orange dress caught my eye is that I had recently been looking at my youngest cousin’s christening photos (not randomly, we were visiting his older brother last week). My sister and I, aged about 10 and 13, were both resplendent in clashing dresses in those sorts of colours. And, no, we didn’t suit them either!
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I’ve never been to Dundee, but would love to visit – V&A has been on my wish list for a while now. V&A Dundee might not be nowhere near as big as its London parent, yet it is one of the most eye-catching public buildings. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thank you Aiva, have a good day too. The building always makes me think of a ship but I believe it’s meant to be sea cliffs.
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