Glasgow Gallivanting: May 2024
May on the blog has been busy with Becky’s challenge, which explains why there has been no Gallivanting post since just before we left for Ireland in mid-April. We were still in Donegal at the beginning of May, returning on the 3rd, and finished the month, more or less, in the Scottish Borders where we spent the late May Bank Holiday weekend.
In the Borders we stayed in what was formerly the Head Groom’s accommodation at Wells Stables between Jedburgh and Hawick.
On the Saturday we walked from our front door via the Borders Abbey Way to the pretty village of Denholm where we had lunch, returning over the summit of the local hill, Ruberslaw.
We went up the gentle slope of Ruberslaw and back down the steep side. As a result, my feet demanded an easier day on Sunday and so we explored the abbey town of Jedburgh. As well as the Abbey itself we visited the site of a Franciscan Friary, now a garden, the house where Mary Queen of Scots stayed on a visit, and the Carnegie library. We were too late to get into the Castle Jail Museum, but the view back down into the town was attractive.
I was still a little footsore when we got back from Jedburgh so stayed in the cottage while John went on another short walk to Bedrule, the nearest hamlet. It has a pretty church with beautiful windows.
In between our two trips away we have had the usual round of cultural events and socialising, combined with local strolls in Glasgow. What has caught my eye around the city? The Women’s Library has a new flag, designed by Yoko Ono no less. It’s part of a new exhibition called Peace Arbour.
Bella the Beithir at Stockingfield Bridge continues to delight. Here are a couple of close ups of the tiling on her head and an attempt at photographing the world egg she carries in her mouth as a symbol of hope. Not easy as you have to crouch down to look through the perspex between her teeth!
Walking home through the Western Necropolis we saw the horses being returned to their horse box after a funeral, and I was intrigued by the grave marker for Agnes Morrison, 1889-1923, “A Forgotten Lady”. I would love to know the history of this but can’t find anything online.
The swan graffiti on the Kelvin Walkway is new (to me), and credit for the two jokey signs goes to our friends Jayne and Mark who spotted them on their way home after an evening at our house. They were cycling, and fully clothed when they left here – but who knows what happened after that?
The resident cyclist continues to go on adventures both solo and in groups. Also fully clothed. Sometimes he gets good views.
And sometimes he doesn’t!
As well as leading two women’s history walks myself, I had a jaunt to Edinburgh with my friend Esther to attend someone else’s. I didn’t take many photos, and these are not specifically women-oriented – they just caught my eye. The first three are in Tweeddale Court. They show the home of Canongate Books, an old pulley system once used for furniture but now for hanging plant baskets, and the oldest listed building in Edinburgh. Yes, that shed-like structure is a listed building – it’s a sedan chair garage! The 1633 door is in Bakehouse Close.
What next for the blog to get me back on track after Squares? Well, you might think that after 31 posts about Northern Ireland I’d have covered it all, but there’s always more to say – photos which didn’t fit the theme, or which wouldn’t square, or both. For my own satisfaction I want to finish that off before I return to my trudge down memory lane, which I think I left in the middle of our London trip of May 2023. When I have time in between gallivants of course. Happy June!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
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