Sunday 27 January 2019

Sunday 27.01.2019

Although there`s been every kind of weather in the last few days - from snow to driving wind and rain and everything in between - today has been another gloriously sunny one in this fair city







Went out for sunshine and coffee and called in at the museum again for another look at this rather wonderful lady:don`t we all have days like this? :)




Spoilt for choice then:the other day it was Black Pine Coffee https://www.instagram.com/blackpinecoffee
which rejoices in the legend "Death before Decaf" in bright lights above the counter while today it was The V&V Cafe, on the other side of the road https://www.thevandv.com/



Meanwhile there`s been plenty of variety in the musical offerings: Huntza, a fantastically energetic young Basque band https://huntza.eus/en/gu-geu ; modern jazz and the almost indefinable Fofoulah http://www.fofoulah.com/ to name just two...and Ronnie Spector was brilliant btw,

And it must be said that all this variety (and there`s more) is the perfect antidote/rejoiner to Brexit and all it stands for.




On Friday a change of scene as dog-walker in chief out at Lennoxtown: always a pleasure along the river



and good bridges, love a good bridge. :)












So the sun is going down over Glasgow.

Time to get some tea and head out again this evening: Kris Drever and Karine Polwart at the King`s Theatre. A "proper" sit down event this one!




Wednesday 23 January 2019

Wednesday 23.01.2019

Glasgow looking at its absolute best at midday - very cold and bright through Kelvingrove Park







and on to the magnificence which is the Kelvingrove Museum and Art gallery.






Had done no prior research so was surprised - and delighted - to be greeted by the wonderful sound of organ music ringing out across the central hall (apparently the organ`s been there since 1902 and the recitals are a daily event).
and what`s more the place was heaving. There was a magical mix of tourists, students, mums with buggies and toddlers (enjoying the special exhibit of a travelling diplodocus*) and folk obviously there just to enjoy the music. Only scratched the surface of this fabulous place: definitely one to return to time and time again.




In other news, this is nine days of pure self indulgence at Celtic Connections. https://www.celticconnections.com
Every night a different gig - on Sunday it was Roaming Roots Revue celebrating 50 years - 50 years!! - since the Abbey Road album with a group of brilliant musicians** not to mention a full scale orchestra covering the songs. Simultaneously nostalgic and bang up to date.
Since then there`s been folk and jazz and tonight it`s Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes and I can hardly believe I`m writing that!


During the day there`s plenty of exploring to do: yesterday I went and found the Glasgow Women`s Library which is another beautiful building and a rather wonderful place. https://womenslibrary.org.uk

For now though....off to the Old Fruitmarket - one of the best venues https://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/old-fruitmarket for a night of rock and roll........


* "Diplodocus carnegii, named after Scottish-American millionaire Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). The exhibition explains why Andrew Carnegie decided to create copies of this huge fossil skeleton (found in Wyoming, USA in 1899) and why they were shipped to many different countries around the world, including the Natural History Museum in London."



** "Teaming with curator/MC Roddy Hart’s Lonesome Fire line-up as ‘house band’. were the mighty KT Tunstall, spine-tingling harmony sorority The Staves, and You Tell Me, the newly-formed duo of Admiral Fallow’s Sarah Hayes and Field Music’s Peter Brewis, Temperance Movement's Phil Campbell, Lomond Campbell (also known as Ziggy from Edinburgh Collective FOUND) plus many more very special guests."

Saturday 19 January 2019

Saturday 19.01.2019

A perfect winter`s day: proper crunch and sparkle in brilliant sunshine under a flawless blue sky, the glacial air prompting shoulder straightening and deep breaths.






The wispy low-lying mist softened the shadows falling through the trees,









There were "diamonds on the branches of the trees" (pace Paul Simon)


and birds singing from the tops of them as if they could see Spring on the horizon. Could have walked for ever.



And tonight there`s a hard frost glittering across the snow under a nearly full moon in a sky full of dancing stars. Perfection indeed.


Thursday 17 January 2019

Thursday 17.01.2019

Frequent snow showers this morning that began to peter out after lunch and left a sunny winter`s afternoon, an icy road






and snow in the woods that didn`t exactly crunch underfoot - more of a sort of squeak - but made for a bracing walk.
As we turned for home down the hill, the sun had set, the air snapped at the nose and ears while the waxing moon hung suspended as if frozen into place.









No snow in the Cotswolds last week though it was cold enough. Beautiful walks,







signs of spring






including the general madness and jollity of a good old wassail.


An unscheduled stopover in Glasgow afforded more wintry, bonny walks










before a brief return to the frozen north..........heading south again on Sunday for a bit of the very wonderful https://www.celticconnections.com Can`t wait!



Meantime: first post today on new blog: https://thebookgourmand.blogspot.com

Wednesday 2 January 2019

Wednesday 2.1.2019

Much more benign day: cold but not bitter and miraculously still, such that even the grasses seemed frozen in place.










The sun, which the BBC had been saying all day we were bathed in, eventually emerged from under the clouds at about half two, bathing everything in a golden glow and casting long shadows.


Later as the sun went down, the clouds dispersed and we`re in for an icy night. Light the candles, stoke the fire, start that new book* and make the most of winter.

*Just finished The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. What an absolutely cracking yarn - and perfect for this time of year.

Tuesday 1 January 2019

Tuesday 01.01.2019

Bitter wind out there today, it felt like the first real bite of winter as we trudged up the road and round the woods. Stayed dry but dull and we seemed to be the only ones out there.
Perhaps more of a shock because mostly the Festive Season has been all about mild temperatures and sunshine. Christmas Eve had been wall-to-wall sunshine and though Christmas Day itself started cloudier we decided on a walk up Bennachie anyway, from the Rowantree car park which affords a boskier, gentler climb than some of the other starting points.

The day was positively balmy, despite the cloud, and the views spurred us on.


Mither Tap is soon in view on this route




and the effort rewarded once at the top.









Briefly, very briefly, considered going on, the path to Oxen Craig beckoning









but hey, it was Christmas Day, presents to open and meals to cook, so we headed back down as the sun finally emerged.








And so, with a few work days in between,holiday walking has been about mild temperatures, wintry silhouettes,magical skies and an almost mysterious stillness in the air.....

......which may account for the re-emergence of unicorns.

Happy New Year!