The week in Glasgow Gallivanting: 19th-25th February 2024

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Bella the Beithir

By Thursday I thought this post might be very slim pickings. The only image I had ready was the one above of Bella the Beithir, the giant water serpent which snakes around the site at Stockingfield Bridge. The tent covering her head has been replaced with a rather more swanky tarpaulin and she is to be revealed to the public on March 1st. About a year ago I got a sneak peek of the design of the head – I hope to report back on what it looks like in real life next week. Regular readers will know that I am very attached to Stockingfield Bridge and its attendant art works!

Maquette for Bella’s head

The reason I hadn’t done much by Thursday was that my car went for its service, MOT, and one known repair first thing on Monday morning. I expected it to be a one-day job but apparently there was more to be done than I had envisaged. I spent a lot of time hanging around expecting to be phoned any minute to go and collect it – every time I phoned them it seemed to be nearly ready, but I didn’t get it back till Thursday morning! Fortunately, there were two photogenic events at the weekend which will more than fill out this week’s post.

Having said during Celtic Connections that our visit to the Pavilion Theatre was only our second in 38 years of living in Glasgow we have now been again. A concert by Rhiannon Giddens was the event, and she was wonderful.

Rhiannon and band
Rhiannon on banjo

This time we were sitting in the Circle so were able to see more of the theatre’s décor close up.

Upper foyer window
Stage
Ceiling
Figure above balcony
Decorative arch

On Saturday we went to the annual Window Wanderland event in Strathbungo on Glasgow’s Southside. Residents decorate their windows and from 6-9pm you can wander the streets admiring the displays. Our impression is that it wasn’t as good this year – fewer windows, and even fewer spectacular ones, and much quieter which made it easier to walk around but didn’t create the same buzz. However, there was still much to admire. A couple of themed galleries first – I’ll call the one below “Cute critters”.

Phoenix
Farm animals – with giraffe!
Meerkats
Hens
Bears
Cats
It’s a dog’s life
Cats
Mystery peepers
Cats
Camels
Hares and the moon

There are usually some topical windows – this year, several called for a ceasefire in Palestine, or generally displayed peace symbols.

Ceasefire now
Doves of peace
Peace not war, stand by Palestine
Ceasefire now
Free Palestine
Up with liberation, down with occupation

And a gallery without a theme because I just liked the windows! The occupants of the house displaying the heroines in the last image helpfully attached a crib sheet to their hedge, so in case you don’t recognise any of them I’ve listed their names under the gallery.

Explosion of colour
Bye bye
Bungo Books
Magritte style
Ants in yer pants
Heroines

Key to heroines: FK: Frida Kahlo; AT: Audrey Tatou; TS: Taylor Swift; PS: Patti Smith; RP: Rosa Parks; CF: Carrie Fisher; PJH: PJ Harvey; AH: Audrey Hepburn; KB: Kate Bush; MM: Marilyn Monroe; CC: Coco Chanel.

I think the artist did very well conveying their identities in such a minimalist way. Only Taylor Swift eluded me – why just a mouth? I don’t know. Anyway, we were very cold after this so headed into town for a warming pizza. A great night out altogether!

And finally, something from the cyclist who went all the way to Bannockburn and back on Sunday. No pictures of the battlefield, but a reminder that winter has not left us yet.

Snow on Ben Ledi

Have a great week!

Scotland, UK , , ,

57 Comments »

  3. Liked the window designs this year. A lot of anticipation over that S. J. serpent head. Hope it lives up to it when it’s eventually revealed. The body of the great worm looked a bit patchy last time I visited unless its getting an entire fresh coat of plaster to match the new head.
    Bob. BSS.

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  6. Hi, Anabel – Even though you felt the window displays were fewer, and not as exceptional this year, I LOVED seeing them. I would love to have something like this in my neck of the words. Thanks for the crib notes. I guessed some but mostly needed the help! ❤

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  7. I. Looking forward to the snake reveal. Those windows look so good! I love the cat ones in all their different artistic ways. These are so fun and unique. I only knew 3 of the gals,…no, 4. They are well done and the red lips? I thought it was Gwen Stefani

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  8. All the window art was very impressive! I guess Taylor Swift is best known for her scarlet lipstick, but it did seem a bit of a cheat! Did you see the life-size sculpture of Taylor one woman made out of cake? I couldn’t believe how realistic it was. A+ for effort there!

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  9. Hi Anabel – I’m looking forward to seeing the revealing of Bella … while those windows are special … so clever … it looks cold – cheers Hilary

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  13. What a good idea those windows are. And what a great bicycle feat by John. It would have been good at any time of year but to do when it is this chilly makes it even better.

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  14. I am enjoying these weekly roundups. And I was glad to see the windows back again. Some people are so clever and creative. Taylor Swift is here in Australia at the moment performing only in Sydney and Melbourne. The media coverage is incredible but at least it’s a happy story for a change.

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  15. An exciting week especially now your car is mended! Love the theatre and its decor and the Winter Wanderland windows were wonderful! Very impressed with the artistic and creative side of Glasgow- your posts have opened a window into Glasgow for me! Thank you!

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  18. I was a bit gutted to miss it this year, but I was still on my way back from London. My favourites are the meerkats and the political ones, I think that now that Battlefield and Mount Florida are also doing them, the crowds may have thinned a bit.

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  19. Well done that cyclist!
    I might have guessed some of the women – great idea – but it appears Taylor Swift is the icon of our age. Well, maybe somebody else’s age 😀
    The windows are wonderful. Maybe some people are suffering from exhaustion…

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  22. I love the windows, especially the phoenix, cats, colourful camels and the hares, and I’m looking forward to seeing the Stockingfield bridge sea serpent.

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