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On our walk to Conic Hill, Loch Lomond in the distance

Like the rest of the UK we have been suffering ‘variable’ weather, though I don’t think we’ve had it too bad. On Monday it stopped raining as predicted about one o clock, so we had an early lunch before going to ‘The House For an Art Lover” a House in Bellahouston Park built between 1989 and 1996, based on a competition entry submitted in 1901 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It was a thoroughly enjoyable visit, the house is beautiful, the audio guide, which we are often not sure about, was very good and the artwork in the gardens also interesting. Really enjoyed our visit, and Brian could finally see where my inspiration for our house in Alvechurch came from. 

Mackintosh's House for an Art Lover

One end of the Music Room in House for an Art Lover

Sadly we have no pictures of our house, though maybe we do on the harddrive back in Alvechurch, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Wednesday we were planning a little walk Simon from Edinburgh had recommended, but the weather wasn’t quite up to it. Somewhere I have lost a day though as I couldn’t believe yesterday, when we did do it was Thursday! We started at Drymen and walked about 12km of the West Highland way over Conic Hill. The return from Balmaha was 5km along the road, or wait half an hour for the bus.... guess!

The other end of the music room

The hall and dining room beyond

We met lots of interesting people en route, spending a while with three ladies from the US on day two of ten doing the whole walk, carrying daypacks while their bags were driven from hotel to hotel. We also passed French parents with huge rucksacks carrying everything for themselves and two children to camp the whole route! Last night, and this morning, it has poured, and poured, and the weekend forecast isn’t much better. Our hearts go out to them, it would be so miserable.

Anyone for skiing? The dry ski slope in Bellahouston Park, next to the House for an Art Lover

Walking the West Highland Way to Conic Hill

We’ve spent time in with the cats who seem settled with us. True to form though, cats don’t like jigsaws. Mild mannered Mrs.P sat on it threatening to bite if you try and put that bit in near me. This is a phenomenon first experienced with Maggie in Solihull where we could only jigsaw for a certain amount of time before being savaged. This was a brand new jigsaw, so we know it was complete, however we have a bit missing, we’ve asked her where it is but she is denying all knowledge..... she didn’t like the way the pieces stuck to her paws, so had to be shaken off, though she did like sitting in the box!

Lots of other people on the 9 day trek to Fort William, many with very heavy packs

Highland Coos on Conic Hill, Loch Lomond in the distance

We’ve been creative with courgette as we’ve had two in danger of becoming marrows, so we are currently on courgette cake. It’s also been in salsa and fritters.... We stand no chance with the rocket though that is just growing rampant through the garden, but works well with everything!

We’ve been for a little walk in the nearby park, with grotto and lake, or as it was described to us by a local, polluted pond

This one getting a little close

Crowds of people on the way down

As ever time is flying by, just as we are getting settled it’ll be time to go. We have been asked back in December but expect to be away in Ted by then, it would be so easy to say yes though, never have we done a Housesit where a laser pointer in the shape of a mouse, and a cat tickler have been left for us on the bedside table!









Our walk over Conic Hill:

Didn’t get to post this on Friday when I wrote the above, so it’s now Saturday and we have just got back from visiting the Mackintosh house at the Hunterian museum, before going down to the Kelvingrove Museum, as recommended by the receptionist at the Hunterian - the Kelvingrove museum hall is built round a very large organ, and there was due to be a recital in 20 minutes. We walked through the lovely university building to get there, not really minding if we got lost. We had a little look at a couple of exhibits before the recital started. It was all very splendid.

The pond in nearby Rosshall Park

The little grotto in the park

The Mackintosh house is a reproduction of the house Charles lived in with his wife Margaret, which was actually just round the corner, but demolished in the ‘70’s. Having only seen a postcard of the artwork I reproduced in our house, I was delighted to see the original in the dining room. I think the stencils I cut are still in the loft at mothers, whether I ever get to redo it remains to be seen.

How about this for dinner? We got some scallops going cheap so this is a Thai noodle soup with scallops, chillis and bamboo shoots - yum!

Mackintosh's house at the Hunterian Centre, Glasgow. Decorated just like our hall was in Alvechurch

The hall at the Kelvingrove Museum during the organ recital (he's playing on the first floor just behind that chandelier

The Kelvingrove Museum, one of many fine buildings in Glasgow

And look what we found in the Kelvingrove Museum - a stuffed haggis. Proof that they do exist!!

The little notice next to it