Owing to the continuing lockdown, and the inability to travel, what better than to show Glasgow off! Good idea, but where do we start?
A gem, that is neither in the West End (maybe!) or in the City Centre, and that to most, will merely be circumvented in either direction (east or west), on their travails to both said places.
We started with a very brief walk that took us up, but not to the very top, of the circus, and along by the old Scottish Football Association headquarters, now luxury flats.
But even here, and with the views towards the west of Glasgow, it was still most impressive; both architecturally and vista. More later.
Still remember these lads from Manchester at Reading Festival all those years ago, complete with a marching band (majorette led!), during their finale with Biggest Mountain, a delightful slow number, ending in a sweet rift to finish. Where initially I wasn’t sure if their sound was big enough – it was! They completely filled the farm with a huge, organ led blast.
They to me, combined the early rave / Madchester sound, with an early Britpop feel, largely due their Farfisa organ sound, played by the man, himself – Clint Boon. What a sound!
They always had both a hip, poppy beat, at the same time as having a downbeat or cynicism with the lyrics, though I still have no idea who wrote them, perhaps their always so serious / miserable lead singer, Tom Hingley.
I always felt that it was these two’s band, as in reality, they were much older (I thought) than the others, with them being in their 30s, when they suddenly packed it in – after something like 15 Top 50s in four or five years, with 4 albums being in the Top 20 (2 in the Top 5).
But for the few years, they were not ever out of the charts, and also ALWAYS had their very own keyboard / organ sound, and fashion sense; with them selling trillions of white, long sleeve t-shirts, with the “Cool as F*ck” logos.
Whilst annoyed they quit so soon, it’s my one hope that other bands would do this, as let’s be honest, who really gives a shit about a band after their first several albums.
Equally, they gave me one of my lasting “gig” memories, when after some drunk pelted Boon’s organs with a pint (at a university in Glasgow), Hingley stated; Who threw that? Who FOOKING threw that!, and with the help of their drummer (I believe) both went after the dick / culprit on the dance floor, to give him a doing. Classic!
I am trying to have this as a regular feature, but we do cook and drink(!) just so much, it’s hard to choose! One of the pet likes of mine, is to follow the myriad of TV chefs as they concoct, their often preposterous creations. We digress, as many of these, even if followed “loosely” can still be marvellous, but first, the BOTW:
This is a feature, at times, in a local Polish shop that I frequent. Whilst my Polish skills are non-existent, I can still gather from the label (and my taste) that there is some honey involved here somewhere. The beer’s name Miodne, actually means, you guessed it, “Honey”. The taste was of a non-overbearing honey beer, that was not too sickly with a full flavour. Will buy again.
As for the ROTW, a Broccoli Slaw; it comes from Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn, they of The Big Cookout on the BBC, and was featured on Saturday Kitchen, which is on BBC1 most Saturdays.
Whilst being a huge fan of broccoli, for both the cheapness and superfood benefits, I’d never before had or even thought of having it in its raw form? It was deliciously crunchy and blended in with the cranberries and honied yoghurt. One to make again!
So it’s a dreary winter’s day, and you need something warm to eat. You’re in Tesco’s and you just happen to see something for 75% off, that can be heated and consumed.
That’s what we did. Beforehand, I’d heard, or believe that I’d heard about the maker, as there are many of these older and more traditional businesses here in Scotland.
And whilst I did not hate the product, I will not be running out again to buy it, particularly at the full price! It seemed little on freshness and more about mass production, something that I wouldn’t expect from a company that has aspirations of being a “trad” butcher.
It was a very untypical Hogmanay for us, as whilst normally, we’ve friends around for dinner, and then depart for a ceilidh; this year we could only stay in and watch telly.
As the link states, they simply don’t really know where the word comes from, and I’m never really surprised when people don’t know the term, when I mention it to them – but believe me, virtually no one here in Scotland that I’ve met, will use the term “New Year’s Eve”!
As for the television, this year, as most years, was a mix of Scottish music, and the inevitable countdown, which usually showcases some canon in Edinburgh, at Edinburgh castle.
For the final part of this delightful walk, and one that I shall be wishing to complete some time soon, we headed from the end, in Filey, and walked briefly backwards to Muston, which at one time had a Scarecrow Festival; but was recently axed!
Before we headed off from Filey, we did an incredibly long beach walk from Reighton (Haven Reighton Sands Holiday Park), and headed north towards Filey Beach & Filey, in order to get there; recommended! From the start, Filey was a ways ahead, with a distinctive protrusion that you are welcome to climb if you wish.
Beach towards Filey
Looking back aways towards the Reighton section complete with WW2 formations, I think. It was interesting to note, just how many people who were there on the day. And also, the number of very well-behaved dogs.
Equally, there were certainly some brave souls catching the waves.
Surfing in Yorkshire!
When we finally made Filey, after only an hour, it was a very pleasant surprise. But the appropriate British seaside food just made it seem just so right!
Beef burger; even more delicious after a long beach walk!
Whilst in Filey, there was everything to expect from a seaside experience, with huts at the beach, delightful views over the coast and a charming town centre.
From here, it was actually quite easy to meander through Filey, and onto the correct pathway. It is not very long, and with a distance of only about 2+ miles, we were in Muston in no time . . . for a pint, at the Ship Inn.
Along the way to Muston, from Filey
After this, there was a very fast, local connection by bus, back to Reighton to collect our car. It should be said, that Filey is connected with British Rail; for those who would wish to start their way from here, and head towards the start of the Wolds Way, located in Kingston-upon-Hull.
For the final two parts of our trip to Yorkshire, we decided for the third day to start from our base in South Cave, a delightful village’ish, complete with mock castle, golf course and a belter of a pub, the Fox and Coney, on the High Street. Later (and another post), for the final part, we were to start from the end point of the Way, and retreat back into the countryside.
What struck me about this route, was that while I couldn’t readily see any mountains, let alone hills, we were always up and down, up and down, all day!
The start strikes into a beautiful small valley, that overlooks a vineyard! Yes, a vineyard in Yorkshire (there are others), the Little Wold Vineyard, which is on my to do later list.
From there, there were many rolling hills, and a lush and cold countryside, but no opportunities for a cuppa or something to eat; the only drawback to the day.
Until we made Market Weighton, and a well-earned late, lunch. For which we were grateful, during these COVID days. The pub in question was The Griffin, a much-needed Thwaites public house.
With the lockdown still around, I plan on putting more travel from the past on here fairly soon. Trips ranged from the USA to Hong Kong and China, but first, my choices for last year’s music.
It was as usual, a dreadful year in mainstream music, so hence my top faves are probably not the highest hits on Spotify, et al.
Albums of the year:
1) Escape: Expanded Edition, Moon Duo
This trippy, gothicy, new age, type of psychedelic drone, just grows and grows on you. Superb to put on in the background, and just go in and through the waves of sounds.
2) Shore, Fleet Foxes
They returned, with a standard that their earlier stuff would approve of. “Nice”, and flowing, like a big log fire staring out at the forest.
3) Northern Songs, Asteroid #4
Contains my single of the year, the title track, and combines those sixties jangles, with a devotion to a minimal shoe-gazing, that only improves after a few listens.
Interesting that, I’d never heard of this area before we decided to do it due to a recommendation from a fellow traveler. Lucky, we referenced the very excellent, Yorkshire Wolds Way; Tony Gowers and Roger Ratcliffe, 2013, and with their recommendation, sought out this day trip, that can be done, preferably, by car.
We started from our base in South Cave, and then after a stop for breakfast in Market Weighton, also a good opportunity to have a wander and to see the village of the tallest man ever in the UK, William Bradley. Try the steps in the High Street, where you can compare your shoes with his!
High Street, Market Weighton
From here, we traveled to Kirkburn, to see St Mary’s.
St Marys, Kirkburn
After which, we went to Garten on the Wolds to see St Michael and All Angels, that was a strange mixture between Norman and Gothic styles.
And finally, lo surprises!, when encountering Sledmore House, a delightful (even in the start of the cold season), house, farm and café, where there were numerous people, bicyclists and a farm shop, where we partook of needless shopping.
Earlier in the year, I by chance had the opportunity to watch several documentaries on the Beeb, with both being about, or at least some, the Wolds Way. For me, I had never heard of it before and subsequently, have read that it is the least traveled long-distance way in England.
The plan then was to do it, or at least part of it, in more than one trip. For the first part, we did a variant on it via a delightful walk based on the art of David Hockney. The walk started in the glowing village called Warter, and it then was possible to do either part A or B, depending on how you are feeling.
We chose the shorter route B, that happens to pass directly in front of Dalton Gate Cottage, which is the very place where Hockney stayed, when he painted numerously in 2007. One of these paintings, entitled “Bigger Trees near Warter”, is now located at the Tate Modern in London.
Warter village
From Warter, we walked uphill, that gave us splendid views back towards Warter.
Looking back towards Warter
From there, it was to the outer most part at Blanch Farm, before we doubled back and started to return to the village.
Starting to return to Warter
Continuing, we passed over the B1246, and past the Hockney cottage, before we came here to where Bigger Trees was painted,
Near to where Bigger Trees was painted
Before we headed back, via a deep ridge / valley, into Warter.
Ridge on the way back to Warter
The only pity with Warter is that there is no café, and the St James church was closed due to the pandemic. If open, there is an opportunity to sample some of the local history. Warter hence, is really only a place to park (which we did by the local primary school).
The next day, we sampled more in this area, by doing a tour of the renowned church architect Sir Tatten Sykes’ churches, which will be in Part 2 of my review.
Curious Bystander 