Glasgow Gallivanting July 2024 (2)
Welcome to Part 2 of July 2024’s gallivants!
I’m sure Degas needs little introduction, so all I will say about the Burrell Collection’s current exhibition Discovering Degas: collecting in the time of William Burrell (on till 30th September) is that it brings together the Burrell’s own 20+ works with around 30 on loan from elsewhere and is well worth visiting.
While at the Burrell we took the opportunity to walk in the surrounding Pollok Park. The local herd of highland cattle was in a very friendly mood. Usually they are brown dots in the distance, but in two different places they were feeding by the fence. As cows go, this breed seems quite docile – but I still wouldn’t have stroked them as some people did. Those horns are big and scary!
A few other shots from the park: in particular, I’m pleased to see that the Police Dog Memorial now has its plaque and a paved area round about (it was a sea of mud before).
Some odds and ends, including a poetry book launch (by one of my Women’s Library friends, the multi-talented Lesley O’Brien), new murals by Frodrik in Victoria Park, and Bella the Beithir clearly growing new scales:
The cyclist has been out and about with two 100+ mile rides in recent weeks. From Glasgow to Dunfermline involved crossing the Forth Road Bridge with a good view of the original rail bridge.
A loop from Wishaw to Wanlockhead took in a spur to the ‘golf ball’ radar station (used for Air Traffic Control) on Lowther Hill. The road to the radar station is the highest paved road in Scotland, but it is private and only accessible to walkers and cyclists. John left home around 07:15 and returned 14 hours later. Despite having had two lunches and plenty of snacks instant feeding was still required!
The penguins have also been busy with visitors and a birthday party. I hear they have a book coming out so they must have been writing too!
That brings July to an end, and I haven’t even mentioned that I had a birthday. Another one – they keep coming round and I don’t like the numbers any more. Still, it’s a lot better than the alternative so in August I shall keep on keeping on. Have a good month!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
You are certainly keeping busy…we are back on the blog after being quiet for a while. We did travel a bit but nothing that deserves posting on our blog. Now we are back from a 5-weeks journey in the Arctic so we will be posting for a while. (Suzanne)
LikeLike
Ooh, I will look forward to reading about that!
LikeLike
You had me at highland cows. Throw in the biking views and penguins and wow! A women’s library.. think I will look up the history of that. So many great photos.
LikeLike
I do love highland cows! They are so pretty and seem to be more docile than other breeds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never met a cow I didn’t like, but the highland take it for cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And wow to the Glasgow Women’s Library. Sounds like a super interesting place.
LikeLike
My happy place. I volunteer there.
LikeLike
Hi Anabel – congratulations on the birthdays – yes they do keep coming … thankfully! Gosh John’s mammoth trip – amazing … no wonder fuel was required on getting home. The Highland cows always beguile … and are fun to see – so pleased you had some close up, though none to be touched by you I noted! Cheers Hilary
LikeLike
Thanks Hilary, glad to say the birthdays do keep rolling round. John has done another couple of long trips since then – don’t know where he gets his energy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy belated birthday Anabel.
The Highland cows are beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you! And they are.
LikeLike
Well, John is still super sporty! He’s putting his retirement to good use and leaving youngsters in the dust, no doubt. I love the murals and the penguins. They are a riot!
LikeLike
Not sure about that! Most of his cycling pals are “of a certain age”. But he’s far from the slowest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A 14 hour bike ride is a marathon. Well done, John. I have a July birthday too, so Happy Birthday to both of us. 🙂
LikeLike
There was a train ride at either end so not quite as long as that, but long enough! Happy birthday to us, there have been a few other July babies in the comments too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A belated Happy Birthday to you and excellent Gallivanting. The Highland cows look very cute and lovely to see the police dog memorial and the beautiful murals. X
LikeLike
Thanks Sharon!
LikeLike
Happy belated birthday! And I like the fact that they have a memorial to police dogs.
LikeLike
Thank you! The police dog training school is in the same park so it’s a good place for the memorial.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Belated birthday greetings – and another busy post from you! We no longer have to go to Scotland to see Highland cattle. They’re increasingly popular down here.
LikeLike
Thanks Margaret. Perhaps they’re bred from Pollok semen (sorry to introduce such a topic so early in the morning but the notice does say they export worldwide)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Possibly too much information …
LikeLiked by 1 person
So interesting Anabel, I marvel at how much you fit in a month. That covid memorial is an interesting one. Such a traumatic period, I still class everything as before and after covid.
LikeLike
Thanks Pauline. I measure time that way too, and there’s that weird lump in the middle where I measure which lockdown things happened in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel exactly the same about birthdays Anabel. But a belated Happy Birthday anyway 😉
LikeLike
Thanks Mick! Here’s hoping for many more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seconded!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely to see the Forth Bridges…and of course the penguins.
LikeLike
John got good views of the bridges. The Forth Bridge is a classic from any angle (we went to the top once).
LikeLike
Oh gosh! My mother and a friend and I once walked across the road bridge in the days when they allowed it. I was terrified the whole way but they loved it.
LikeLike
It’s only for walkers, wheelers and public transport now since they opened the Queensferry Crossing, so you’d be quite safe walking across these days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was more the fear of being on a bridge than cars……
LikeLike
Ah, you definitely wouldn’t have liked going to the top of the Forth Bridge then!
LikeLike
Good gallivanting and sensational cycling. Neither of you seems much troubled by passing birthdays.
LikeLike
Thanks, Tom. Somebody suggested counting backwards now, so maybe that’s a good idea!
LikeLike
Counting down seems a little ominous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those penguins always crack me up. And how gorgeous are the highland cattle?! Very!
LikeLike
Gorgeous but with scary horns! The penguin creator has a good imagination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Birthday! Interesting cycle ride and lovely photos of the Highland cattle.
LikeLike
Thank you! The cattle are always cute, and there seem to be more of them than usual this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope, I would not pet the cattle, either. That’s an interesting way to serve shrimp. Hadn’t seen that before. And a belated happy birthday to you, Anabel!😊🎂
LikeLike
Thanks Eilene. I’m sure the shrimp tasted exactly the same as normal but it looked so impressive I took the photo. John looks happy with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy belated birthday Anabel! It’s definitely the best time of year to have a birthday 🙂
LikeLike
Another July birthday? Hope yours was happy if so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A belated happy birthday! July is the best month, of course. I hope you checked the maths decorating the building. 😉
LikeLike
All the best people are born in July, I agree! I checked the maths and it was all totally correct. Honestly, I did *crosses fingers behind back*.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was expecting the penguins to be in Olympic mood, but I see they have been busy elsewhere. They must have heard about your birthday! Hope you had a good day. I have decided that now is the time to start counting back.
LikeLike
No Olympic activity spotted as yet! Counting backwards sounds like a good idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Belated birthday wishes, Anabel 🎂 I know what you mean about the numbers, but as you so rightly say, the alternative is worse! There can’t be many blogs featuring cows and penguins in a single post, I reckon! Both are lovely and I also really liked the mural with the swan and cygnets 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Sarah! Cows and penguins both “living” in the same city – yes, quite unusual!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stellar photos as usual, Anabel. And belated congratulations on another trip around the sun successfully completed. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you on both counts!
LikeLike
My son regularly visits the Highland cattle at Pollok Park: it was te first place we visited with him last year and, yes, I did stroke the cattle 🙂 He told me he plans to visit the Frodrik murals in Victoria Park soon. I love the little penguins!
LikeLike
And you lived to tell the tale! I’m sure the cattle are fine, they did seem very contented and docile, but I didn’t want to push my luck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy belated birthday, Anabel! Woohoo! I sure wouldn’t want to get skewered on the horns of those highland cattle, so you wouldn’t find me stroking them. The murals are great and John’s views from his cycling circuits are fabulous. The poetry book launch must have been fun as well as Lesley’s band playing some of her lyrics. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Cathy. I definitely would not touch the cows just in case they might skewer me accidentally, but someone who commented after you has done so and lived to tell the tale. They did seem fairly oblivious to the people around them and carried on munching, but you never know!
LikeLike
I also visited the penguins this week and Victoria Park. Noticed that many Glasgow parks have long grass and weeds now. Not sure if it’s deliberate policy or just staff cut backs as Fossil grove area looks very abandoned this year. I suspect cut backs. That monster is looking really good now. I’ll need to go there next. Invested in a fit bit watch to count my steps… that might well become my new addiction. Bob. BSS.
LikeLike
I didn’t go as far as the Fossil Grove this time, juts to the murals and back. I think is an attempt at a wild flower area because they have mown round it, eg in the Botanics. I have had a Fitbit for about 8 years and I definitely find it an incentive to move more.
LikeLike
Those Highland cattle look happy, as did John at Zizzi. You found some interesting murals, great views and a reflection. Belated Happy Birtday, and keep on keeping on!
LikeLike
Thanks Sue! The cattle and John were all happy – probably for the same reason, all feeding!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A belated Happy Birthday Anabel 🎂 I hope you had a nice day even if you don’t like the numbers. I love the mural and it’s good to see that the police dog memorial has got its plaque 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Eunice! It was a lovely day, though we didn’t do much, just a nice meal out at night. I thought you might pick up on the police dog memorial, I remember you being taken with it last time.
LikeLike