The week in Glasgow Gallivanting: 22nd-28th January 2024

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Tree down in the Botanics – this is from an earlier storm and is now being chopped up for removal

After the previous week’s sub-zero temperatures last week was warmer, but opened with torrential rain and very strong winds which brought a lot of trees down. We were quite anxious about two willows behind our house, but they stayed up, and we have a tree surgeon booked to deal with them as soon as the weather is suitable. The damage below, the aftermath of Storm Isha, is within 5-10 minutes walk from us.

Tree down on Kelvindale Rd
Tree down on Kelvin Walkway

We were lucky when walking up to Stockingfield Bridge on a wet day that a break in the weather allowed a beautiful rainbow to appear over Louise McVey’s sculpture, The Voice. I think that is my favourite photograph of the week. The sea-serpent’s head is still under wraps – the orange dot on top is a man in high-viz securing the tarpaulin. It might look calm, but it was still really windy and I was quite worried about him, especially when he started to climb back down the ladder. I didn’t want to spook him by photographing that, and he reached the ground safely.

“The Voice” with rainbow
Securing a tarpaulin

The weather picked up as the week went on and John got out on his bike a few times, though I’m not sure cycling was always what you would call it judging by the evidence below. Good views though.

Call that cycling?
Approaching Gelnshilloch Burn
Daff Reservoir

Celtic Connections continues, and we attended two more concerts. The first was in the Mackintosh Church, so as always there were lovely architectural details to appreciate. The band was the John Martyn Project. The Scottish singer-songwriter died in 2009, so it was rather lovely to see musicians who were probably only in their teens or early twenties at that time appreciating his music and giving it new life.

Awaiting the band
The John Martyn Project
Door to backstage
Door detail

The second concert was in the Pavilion, the Glasgow theatre I have visited least often – only once before. Although the foyer and other public areas are very cramped, the auditorium itself is beautiful. The bands we saw this time were the Daoiri (pronounced Derry) Farrell Trio from Ireland and Blazin’ Fiddles who were celebrating their 25th anniversary (though I think only one founder member remains). We have seen the latter several times so knew they would be good. We didn’t know what to expect from the Irish trio, but they were excellent and very funny with it. In fact, both bands were great craic.

Auditorium
Daoiri Farrell Trio at the Pavilion
Blazin’ Fiddles at the Pavilion
Blazin’ Fiddles at the Pavilion

What else caught my eye this week? I might have posted before (pun intended) about Edward VIII post-boxes. Because he reigned for less than a year they are quite rare, but Glasgow’s West End has three that I know of. I hadn’t noticed this pillar box on Shields Road in the Southside before, despite having walked past it many times on my way to meet a friend in Pollokshields. As you can possibly see, it was a very wet day so I didn’t linger.

The tiger mural is on a hoarding at the expanding Glasgow University campus. I had noticed it before, but hadn’t looked closely enough to spot the baby tiger, blissfully asleep nestled into its mother’s tail.

Shields Rd, Pollokshields
Tigers by Conzo Throb

And the penguins? They have been hiding since Christmas, but came out to celebrate Burns Night with a haggis and a ceilidh. I actually met the man behind the penguins recently. Having used my little grey cells to deduce from social media who he must be I came across him in a different context and asked him outright. He confirmed that I was correct, after a half-hearted denial along the lines of “I couldn’t possibly comment”, but his secret is safe with me!

Piping in the haggis
Burns Night ceilidh

We’ve also had our haggis, and there are plenty of other waistband-challenging events hidden in this post! A full confession would include:

  • 2 coffees with friends, with one scone and one morning roll
  • 1 curry with another friend
  • 2 pre-theatres before Celtic Connections concerts

Will next week be any more slimming? It certainly won’t!

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51 Comments »

  2. It seems impossible to find many waist-slimming activities to do! I love the rainbow and the countryside photos from John’s bikeride. Gorgeous! That tree damage from the storm looks pretty substantial.

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  8. I must say that I am not convinced of the joys of winter mountain biking. I expect it is like some others things that are quite enjoyable only when you stop doing them.

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  11. Quite a week. I must admit that John is braver than me going for cycling in this type of condition…Fun to know that you figured out who is behind the penguins as they are so much fun. (Suzanne)

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  12. I envy you the entertainment you have on your doorstep and the lovely vistas. You have given everyone who reads your posts an entirely new idea of Glasgow. Loved all your images and as you say, the rainbow over The Voice has to be the best of the month. And don’t even think about cutting out the scones and the tea-cakes, you do enough walking to take care of the calories and it’s winter after all.

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    • It’s a brilliant place to live, Mari. Though as I just said to Suzanne, my weight plummeted in lockdown when I couldn’t eat out – so I know that’s the answer, but of course I don’t want to do it. I picked up from a comment on another blog that you have had a fall – hope you are recovering from that.

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  13. So lucky to have all those entertainment choices, Anabel. No wonder you’re not in a hurry to live elsewhere. I’m currently eating my way back to my normal size so I shall utter no word of censure. Have a great week!

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      • From my experience of people around me, it does pay to have a wee bit of excess just in case you need it. If that helps. As long as you’re healthy and fit in my humble opinion I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

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  15. I’ve done quite a few cycle rides like that though sadly I’ve passed that stage now when I thought nothing of fording rivers knee deep with my bike or carrying it up various summits like Arthur’s Seat or Croy Hill just for the fun of it. Still have the wonderful memories though as it was only ten years ago. Bob. BSS.

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  20. I would love to see that auditorium, it looks fabulous. How nice that you got to meet the man behind the penguins – I hope he knows how well liked and appreciated they are even through internet pics. Favourite this week just has to be the tiger though, especially the cute little baby 😉

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  21. Perfect timing to capture the rainbow over The Voice. And I agree with Shazza, winter is not the time for slimming or any self denial of any sort!

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    • Oh yes, there are usually many musicians from the US and Canada. Sarah Jarosz, for example, whom we saw last week is American. We have two more concerts coming up one of which is Transatlantic Sessions which we go to every year and which by definition covers both sides of the ocean. Its joint curators are Aly Bain (Scotland) and Jerry Douglas (USA).

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  24. Who needs a slimming week in the middle of winter! Not me. The auditorium in The Pavilion looks beautiful, straight out of a film. Bands must love performing there.

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