shylustig

Road Trip – Tarbert, Loch Fyne and Surroundings – Part 1

Early last year, I was in this region, and rather disgracefully, that was the first time that I’d ever been in this part of Scotland. Well, I’ve returned and can only say I’ll be back.

On the way up, we took the normal route to the west of Loch Lomond following the A82 and noticed, that the recent cold weather had brought more snow onto Ben Lomond.

After Loch Lomond, we headed west on the A83 and stopped at Slanj Restaurant, located in an old church of some sorts? After a miniature fish and chips (recommended), continued on the A83 to the first point of interest, the area known as Rest and Be Thankful, worth a visit! An area that is notorious for rock & mud slides and that has had traffic controls on it for some time now.

We got lucky and were first in the queue! With a lovely view of Beinn an Lochain.

Later, we continued with the A83 and wound up in, after driving by the Loch Fyne brewery & restaurant, passing through Inveraray, and then Lochgilphead; our accommodation at Stonefield Castle, where we were staying fro the weekend. More about those first three places in Part 2.

The castle is fab (food, view, service) and the next day we took a trip to nearby Tarbert. With it being the second time there, I noted that it is not a toy town Scotland; people actually live and work here. It may not be filled with Londoners and their organic tofu café’s but still has a certain, realness to its charm.

Enjoy the photos.

TV of the Week – The 1951 Festival of Britain: A Brave New World

This documentary that was re-run this week, is actually from 10 years ago, and just shows how the BBC certainly “don’t make ‘em like they used to do”.

My Lord, with the exception of a slight, though true, anti-Tory comment towards the end as to why the main buildings, with the exception of the festival hall, were to be torn down; it was a fair, enlightening, and most importantly, upbeat celebration of all things from the UK.

I’ve been in the festival hall before, several times, but never realised why it was actually built – now I know.

Neighbourhoods in Glasgow – Hillhead – Part 2

Continuing from a few weeks ago, we’ll look at the central part of Hillhead, and not the circular route around the edges.

New Gym at University, Various shots in the middle of the Campus, Language Building

The area between the edges is largely part of the University of Glasgow, and is a mixture of tenements, student accommodation, Hillhead High School, and the university itself.

Community Garden on extreme north of Hillhead

There exists a new type of community garden; good luck to them as the property prices in this area are sky high!

Various, with a “gate” to the area on the north side of the neighbourhood, and I believe the final shot may have had a church in it some time ago

There’s an older look to the tenements, with a mixture of accommodation, as well as offices for the University.

Various shots of some brutalism and other non-trad buildings, the last being the university Library

Finally, there is the yooni itself, that has a combination of both traditional and many horrid pieces of brutalist 60s “works of art”!

First Hit, Last Hit – U2

That’s right, something DEFINITELY happened about 2009 or 2010 in the music industry. I’ve always blamed it on the rise of social media, and the preponderance of streaming, that resulted in charts being based not on sales, but on non-existent (sometimes) plays by people who would never have bought the music in the old system, but who merely flick a play button on YouTube, Spotify, et al, and shazam, the song is then deemed “popular”.

And many bands – as in a group of people, usually men, who do something like “play” something called “musical instruments” and write, something called “songs” that are then bought, with something called “money” and then enter the charts – are simply no longer around.

Yes, they dominate with miniscule sales nowadays, the album charts, and they completely can make a killing in concerts; which in my opinion are actually “popular” music nowadays; as there is simply NO comparison between a zoomer who clicks a play button and someone who spends their 30 quid to go and watch live music, but I digress.

This trend also happened to U2, whose first hit was the above “Fire” in 1981, hitting in at #35 in the UK, whilst their last, incidentally in 2009, was “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight“, only in at #32.

Glasgow’s Tenements – Hyndland

Continuing the theme that shows off some of the truly stunning, Victorian tenements that we have to offer in Glasgow, I took a walk in the West End (again!) of the city, to the Hyndland quarter.

Thereupon, Kingsborough Gardens, complete with private park, was meandered through. What a world class street! And the hooses (Glasgow slang for “houses”) were amazing!

Equally, there exists a private park in the centre, between both sides of the two lanes; picturesque, subtle, practical – and I just love, the use of the word “proprietors”!

CB

Glasgow’s Tenements – Dowanhill

Another day, and why not more photos from Glasgow, in this case concerning the wonderful tenements that we possess here in Glasgow, in so many different neighbourhoods.

These happen to be in the Dowanhill area (more on this area in the coming weeks), and are of the “red” sandstone variety, which is interesting, as there are also many of the “light brown” variety – that according to many tend to shed their sand quicker or be a little more brittle, which I believe is true.

My opinion is that I prefer the red type, particularly when matched with black window frames – unbeatable!

Quakers in Glasgow – Meeting House & Cemetery

A quick walk about both Partick, near to Partick Train station, and Charing Cross, near Charing Cross station, will have you locate both the Quaker Meeting Rooms and an ancient Quaker cemetery gifted to Glasgow, that has not been used since 1857. An interesting history, can be found here:

https://www.quakerscotland.org/our-history

And as for the cemetery in Partick, please see below, several photos.

Television – Dragons Den

It’s now been on for over 16 years and still, for me at least, compelling, with the suspense of will they or won’t they, get the money.

Dragons Den

The scenery has hardly changed, though the Dragons themselves have, with Peter Jones being the only one who has been there for the entire ride.

This episode had several potential partners, with one wishing investment for his new found bolt / construction device, while another (from Scotland!) wanted some money for her dog treats. One was successful, one wasn’t; with the invariable put downs, grimaces due to the lack of a proper financial forecast, etc, etc, on display.

Still good.

Soft Cell – 7-inch B-side of Say Hello, Wave Goodbye –

B-side of the Original single

What a song! An instrumental of a synch-pop classic, but complete with a clarinet.

Would this even be considered nowadays? Nope. I didn’t think so either.

Glorious.

Music of the Month – Wooden Shjips –

Have you ever wondered about composers of old, who paid little attention to events around them but merely, continued to compose / produce music that THEY enjoyed?

This is what we discover with San Francisco’s Wooden Shjips, who have a big, neo-pysche sound, complete with guitars, keyboards and a certain ambience, that sounds like it should, but is still distinct.

Theirs is a music that can be listened to, or put in the background to enjoy.

Enjoy!