Thursday 7.02.2019

Much quieter today: cunningly waited until the morning fog had cleared (mine and the day`s) so we had a beautiful afternoon to enjoy.

Plenty of snow and, more particularly,ice still about, plenty of photogenic moments

especially as we were coming back down the road and the sun was setting - by then you could taste the cold.

But goodness, where patches of grass had re-emerged it was a lot easier on the eye - and the legs - and the birds were in Spring-like voice in the sun.

Monday 4.2.2019

Today, despite a warm sun, it was all about the wind, an icy southerly that nipped and snapped at noses and ears as we made our way up the road, shook the melting snow from the trees, often catching us in a cold shower, and set the crows swooping and diving overhead cawing indignantly.
Yesterday up on the back field it was a different story, still and peaceful enough to encourage a little quiet contemplation .....

.....though not for long.

And here was beauty in destruction: this tree, which has stood solitary and dead for as long as we`ve been here, finally succumbed to a storm but still makes a striking landmark.....hopefully no-one will want to "tidy it up" too soon.

Finally one last word about Celtic Connections 2019: Kris Drever and Karine Polwart were brilliant; Rhiannon Giddens the following night was genius (2 encores and a standing ovation) and as for Frank Turner....he never disappoints and it was a cracking way to end the week.
Until next year!

Saturday 2.2.2019

First proper snow-trudge out into an exquisite world of sparkle and glitter.

Once in the woods, out of the stinging little swirls of wind which nipped at the ears, the sun had a surprising amount of warmth in it but not enough to melt much of the snow, perched on top of fence posts giving them the air of be-wigged magistrates

or decorating trees like blossom.

The silence was total bar the occasional rustle and gentle, very gentle, thud as a little snow slithered from a branch. The usual paths were blocked in places by boughs laden with the white stuff.

Fun and games all round

and the sheer glory of it.

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 23.01.2019

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 19.01.2019

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 17.01.2019

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