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 
You have done some nice wandering. I like the tiles. Also nice cycling adventure 😁.
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Yes, thanks, it was an enjoyable month.
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I had to laugh at John’s photo of the missing view. It was just like that when we went up Snowdon on the train. Luckily we saw a video showing what we missed.
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At least he can go back easily! And has been before.
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Yes. We may not be able to go back so easily.
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I am quite in love with the swan and now wondering about the forgotten lady……who was she…
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It is most intriguing! I am sure there must be a sad story there.
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Such an interesting and artistic month
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Thank you, I certainly found it interesting so I’m glad you enjoyed reading about it.
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You do see the most beautiful places! And I have to say that I think naked biking would be a tad painful…..
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I think so too! I went looking for that sign on my walk today but it has been removed. “Don’t feed the trees” is still there though.
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I love places like this! Those stained glass windows are amazing!
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They are, I really wished I had gone to the church to see them, but I was just too footsore!
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Hi Anabel – what an amazing catch up collection … wonderful to see – I’d wanted to see the Carnegie library … but that little church in Bedrule is a delight – love to know more sometime, oh yes and ‘the lady’: hope you can ‘chase her down’. Great views – or not – as the case may be. You certainly achieved much … lovely to see them … thank you – cheers Hilary
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Thanks Hilary, glad you found so much of interest in the post.
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Is it very unusual for a jail to have a view? I love the stonework of Mary Queen of Scots House. I bet you two had the youngsters eating your dust on those walks.
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This jail was in what used to be the castle, so that would be on a high point for defence purposes. I don’t think we left anyone for dust, and fortunately no-one followed us down the steep route so they didn’t have to hear me cursing and swearing at what it was doing to my knees and ankles!
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Yes, of course, the castle. I’m a fast think, sometimes. I loathe downhill, as I’ve had some nasty falls, luckily the only damage was bruises, cuts and one fracture. If I go up the Mount the downhill is so slow, bordering on embarrassing. Though uphill is harder I prefer it. Perhaps we need a personal helicopter?
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Might not do our carbon footprint much good! I agree, downhill is more dangerous. I’d rather be slower and safer.
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Agreed and nor our bank balance. Slow and steady.
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Isn’t it nice to stay in a place where you could just walk out the door to walk/hike and reach points of interest? I enjoyed the fact that you have a Bella to look at and photograph as well. And, that former pulley holding a plant is another one of my favorite photos in this post.
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It is nice to just walk from the door, no hassles about parking etc. I hadn’t thought about the two Bella’s – ours is very different from yours!
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I really enjoyed the posts from your excursion to Ireland but it is good to see more local sights too. My pick of the day was the extensive view from Whitelee, taken by the assistant photographer.
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Ooh, assistant photographer! He won’t like that! Fortunately he has already read the post, so you should get away with it 😉.
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Happy June to you also! I love the picture of the “Points of Interest” that aren’t so much. 🙂
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Not so very interesting at all that day!
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Jedburgh looks lovely and right up my street, with lots of interesting historic places to visit. I love the interior of the little church in Bedrule, the stained glass windows are very striking.
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Jedburgh is lovely. I could have done a whole post on it alone! When I saw John’s pictures of the church I wished I had gone too. Well, almost – my feet were still sore!
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I’m from Edinburgh but have never seen that sedan chair garage – where is it?
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It’s in Tweeddale Court which is one of the narrow openings off Canongate. As you are walking down towards the Palace it’s on the right.
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You certainly get around and that dragon/great worm is really looking special now rather than just the bare grey concrete snake body of a year ago. Bob.
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It is – though it will take 5 years to cover the whole body!
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My goodness, you pack a lot in Anabel.
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One tries!
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Sounds like a busy month and a fun one too! I am intrigued by the Forgotten Lady, and I smiled at the view of Whitelee as it looked just like a viewpoint we stopped at a couple of days ago in Montenegro – fog is a great leveller!
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Yes, it was a good month, thanks. At least we know what is normally at that view, and he can always go back. Not so easy with Montenegro!
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Very true!
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Another full month of activities. The fogged up view made me smile. It has happened to us a few times in the various places we visited. It is always so disappointing but at least John can go back on a clearer day…
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He can! And mostly he has been lucky with weather.
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When it comes to being out and about, you and your husband set an admirable, impressive pace!
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We do our utmost!
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That sounds like a great weekend, Anabel. It’s a long time since I was in Jedburgh. I seem to remember toasted teacakes to ward off the cold in a little cafe somewhere. What an oddity, the sedan chair garage! Happy June to you 🤗🩷
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I remembered a cafe upstairs somewhere that we used to frequent but couldn’t spot it. Other choices were available though!
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Many, I’m sure 🤣🩵
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Not so many on a Sunday!
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🙄❤️
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You certainly did your fair share of gallivanting last month. Such in interesting post with so much to like – the ‘Forgotten lady’ sounds intriguing, I hope you can find some information about her somewhere.
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There must be a story there. The cross looks relatively new.
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