Still in Glasgow in the rain

Relaxing on Sunday with a disguised Mr. T cat (requested by the homeowners)

Sunday we had lots of rain, all day rain, I didn’t step out of the front door. B popped out to get a newspaper, well it was Sunday after all.

I’d woken up on Sunday morning and thought the river looked different, wasn’t there an island there yesterday? Asking Brian if there wasn’t now something that there had been was like banging my head against a brick wall... “wasn’t there an island yesterday?” “There isn’t an island now “ “I know there isn’t now, but was there yesterday?” “ I don’t know, I can’t see anything....” anyway, by the end of the day there wasn’t a path to the river or access to the raspberry canes either, the water had risen a good 3’ to the back gate! Fortunately there is still a big bank up the garden so we didn’t worry about flooding....

Photo of the river from the upstairs window in relatively normal flow

(Brian: No wonder I feel 'got at' sometimes. I had just been reading an exciting section of a book about the Zulu war in South Africa in 1879, my mind was on that. "Wasn't there an island there yesterday?" 'What?'. 'What's she talking about now?' "In the river. wasn't there an island in it yesterday?" 'Uh, no idea, there isn't now' I said looking out of the window, 'it's in flood and looking very angry and fast flowing' I'm not a person of detail, but I can tell you what the weather forecast is for the day and whats happening in the world. An island in the river? I don't know, I didn't pay that much attention, why should I?)

Photo on Sunday in flood. Looking at the two photos, yes, you can see an island in the first one, but who would have noticed? Jackie, obviously, but how many other people?

At the bottom of the garden, river up to the gate

Monday it had finally stopped raining and wasn’t threatening any more till the afternoon so we went to the Riverside Transport Museum. Like most of the museums here abouts the museum is free, but sadly the parking is not. Very good museum, not just vehicles, but street scenes with little shops as they would have been along with some recordings of how life used to be.

Inside the River Transport Museum

Silly photo in the museums wavy mirror

Tuesday, the island was back “there is an island in the river “ he called excitedly from the bathroom “think it was there before....” doh! (Brian: Yes, having now seen it there it did look kind of familiar and, yes it must have been there before but didn't particularly register because it wasn't that important at the time. I'm sure a lot of blokes can identify with me here). Now though it was inhabited by very tired looking ducks who had probably been paddling frantically, just to stay in place for days. We had a trip into Paisley to look at the abbey as recommended by my father. 

Interesting steering mechanism on this old vehicle

Beautiful old buildings seemed to abound in Paisley as they do in Glasgow making both quite attractive. We couldn’t be out too late as we had a dinner date, just up the road, with some friends of Elizabeth and my father. Susan and Bobby were all of 15 minutes away, it’s a small world. We had a lovely evening with them and their dogs, Molly and Wanda, drinks, dinner, a little drive around and up to a fabulous view point, before a pint in the pub. Home at 22.30 to shocked cats who just didn’t know where we had been, or what we now smelled of!

On the tall ship at the Riverside Transport Museum. All this is free of charge

The fabulous Paisley Abbey

Today, should be packing up and heading off, but actually no. The homeowners are returning from Vietnam via Hong Kong. It probably seemed like a good idea when they booked it, but sadly due to the demonstrations going on in Hong Kong that have caused closure of the airport for two days they are still there! They have just let us know that they have flight for Thursday, so all being well they should be back, this time in two days....! Hopefully there will be no more demonstrations and everything will go smoothly. 

Inside the Abbey that dates back to the twelfth century

We’ve had to ditch our plans to catch up with Dave and Pol in N Yorkshire tonight, but hopefully we’ll make it back in time to catch up with Corinne and Helen and Ian on Friday! Glad we had a couple of spare days!

With Susan and Bobby at Robertson Park

Bobby, Molly dog, Wanda dog, Susan and Jackie enjoying the sunset and view on the top at Robertson Park

View from the top. Ben Lomond and the hills around Loch Lomond are visible

Latest news from Glasgow

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

A wee pause in Glasgow

Glasgow from The Lighthouse

We are thoroughly enjoying our stay here, just south and west of Glasgow. The house is beautiful, overlooking the river, lovely gardens and the beautiful cats who are both so sweet natured. As brother and sister they don’t look at all alike, Mr.T big and tabby and Mrs.P petite and grey. You certainly know which one is walking on you in the night!

They are indoor cats, but they like a little bit of outdoor life, Mrs.P wanders about a bit, attempting the fence to go to next door. This is quite usual, but I did scoop her off the fence when she was going over on our first day, too scary for me... Mr.T doesn’t seem quite as adventurous but enjoys sitting on the step sniffing the air. They have an exciting range of indoor cat trees, scratching posts and sleeping areas all over the house. 

Olympics for cats. From fridge to shelf to balcony

Three beds, for two cats, on the landing sounding a little excessive but they use them all in rotation. When they are not disco dancing in the night! There is a motion sensitive nightlight on the landing, helpful when going to the loo in the night, not so when cats are wandering, or dancing! The most exciting thing they have though is a mezzanine in the kitchen, accessible, for humans, through what looks like a loft hatch, though we haven’t been shown a pole, but accessible, for cats, via the dining table, fridge freezer, and for Mr.T a shelf in the wall, though Mrs.P does it in one! Return is via the top of the kitchen cupboard!

Glasgow Central railway station

Macintosh styled Willow Tea Rooms, Buchanan St. Glasgow

Aldi is within walking distance, but we haven’t really needed to stock up much yet. Nicky and Tony sent us off with a lamb joint and lots of fruit and veggies, and the comment it was a shame we weren’t coming straight here as we could have been fed for the fortnight and helped them clear some freezer space! Unfortunately with a two night stay in between we felt we could only take what we could eat once defrosted! So trying to get back to our normal eating habits, the lamb joint has done us four meals, a roast, two portions of biryani with a mushroom, spinach and chickpea veggie curry (I’m really getting into my veggie curries) and a salad with broad beans, rocket from the garden and spinach and feta. Tonight is a risotto using turkey stock (that I have to confess I did re-freeze) and some chicken that was left. The risotto will be a challenge, B wants me to recreate the one he had in the local Italian before our arrival here which he really enjoyed. Do I need that sort of pressure?

Glasgow cathedral

And inside the cathedral

Friday we ‘touristed’ in Glasgow. Going in by train and visiting the cathedral, necropolis and oldest house, all within spitting distance of each other, with a diversion into a Charles Rennie Macintosh Willow Tearoom, and the Lighthouse. A building designed by Mackintosh to be used as the offices of the Glasgow Herald, now Scotland’s centre for design and architecture. The view from the top of the ‘Lighthouse’, or water tower as it actually was, is stunning. I have a soft spot for the designs of Mackintosh, coming to Glasgow on a day trip, with mum, when Brian and I first bought our house together to look for inspiration for our 1930’s house. I cut stencils for what I thought was a great mural up the stairs. I was really pleased with it, though I gather this is a view not shared by everyone. The tenants asked permission to paint over it not long after moving in!

The cathedral and Glasgow from the Necropolis

It appears Dr. Who was around, we saw his Tardis in various places

Yesterday we went back into Glasgow, it’s not far, to meet up with Simon and Diane from Edinburgh, further for them, but still only an easy train journey. We had a lovely afternoon, a long slow lunch, followed by B acting guide and taking them up the lighthouse, and a last drink. We spent a very happy five hours catching up and talking travels past and future. Today? Just waiting for the rain to stop before heading off to the ‘House for and art lover’ the car will be driven for the first time since our arrival!

The Provands Lordship - Glasgows oldest building, built in 1471

Glasgow City Chambers building from George Square

Inside the City Chambers building on our free guided tour

Looking down the spiral staircase in The Lighthouse building. This is the only way to the highest viewing platform, but there is a lift to a separate lower viewpoint, but not such good views

Another view from The Lighthouse, this one looking up Mitchell Street and W. Nile Street, Glasgow

The only photo of Mrs P cat we will show. The rest of her is just as cute as her paw

Mr. T cat relaxing in his bed

Wemyss caves, Scotlands secret bunker, The Kelpies and on to our housesit

Glenrothes Wetherspoons hotel. Good beer, good food, what more do you want?

We have now arrived at the Housesit which is beautiful, as are the cats, Mr.T and Mrs.P. A first however we have been asked not to put pictures of the cats or house on the blog, a request we respect, so it’ll just be us, though the odd paw or whisker might be visible occasionally...

We enjoyed our stay in Glenrothes, it’s not an exciting town by any means, but that was probably what we wanted. We were staying in a Wetherspoon hotel, above a Wetherspoon pub, so a decent pint at a good price and reasonable food both for dinner and breakfast.

Coastal walk to Wemyss caves

Obviously most of our talk on Sunday was about the build, we decided that the rafters probably weigh about the same as I do, no wonder carrying them got boring quickly! Even shifting the pallet of plywood was noticeable, each sheet was fine, but by the time Tony and I had moved the whole 1500kg pallet that was boring too. My injuries form the week are healing well, I scraped a shin falling over, too busy talking and not looking where I was going! The weirdest thing though are the first two fingers on my right hand, I really burned them on my fish, on Friday night, most surprising having left the shop, driven to the harbour, walked to the end, sat down and unwrapped it! It must have been superheated somehow!

Entering one of the caves

I’d love to say that we woke on Monday bright and refreshed after a good nights sleep. It was a good nights sleep though I did wake to male voices and been confused as to why Tony was showing people around the new build in the middle of the night, till I realised it was our neighbours going to their room! A good breakfast set us up for the day, no more to eat except an ice cream till dinner.

We headed to the coast and Wemyss caves. Don’t know much about them, and the visitor centre is only open on a Sunday, but it was good to have a potter between them and the little castle ruins. We then headed along the coast to Anstruther with its award winning fish shop, only to find neither of us were actually hungry, so another gentle potter before driving to Scotland’s hidden nuclear bunker. On arrival neither of us could actually be bothered so we headed back to the hotel for a doze before dinner.

Carved shapes in the caves, inhabited since pre-Christian times

Jackie just has to find her way into every cave

Yesterday we did wake up feeling much more normal, but with a long day stretching ahead of us, we weren’t due at the Housesit till 20.00. We decided to head back to the secret nuclear bunker. It had been constructed as part of Cold War preparations to be the seat of government for Scotland should the worset happen. Above ground a ‘normal’ house, below ground two floors of dormitories, war rooms, broadcasting studious and everything required for life below ground. On accessing the long passageway in, the first thing we saw was a cat flap and a sign about Cleo, and how this was now her home. There wasn’t actually a cat flap in the blast door, but there were many others. Don’t suppose they were original!

The remains of MacDuff castle above the caves

The inconspicuous farm building containing the entrance to the huge bunker

We got as far as the canteen where I asked about Cleo, to my surprise he went and hoiked her out of the still top secret room, with cat flap, where she was hiding!

There were two movies showing, one a serial of adverts from the ‘80’s called “Protect and Survive” which we both vaguely remember. How to build your blast shelter in your house, and what to store in it. What to do if you heard the four minute warning etc. This wasn’t as horrific however as a black and white movie made sometime about 1965 showing how life would probably be from bomb drop and for the next few days. Incredibly well made, using experiences from heavily bombed German cities and from Hiroshima it described the initial firestorm with 100mph winds that consumed all the oxygen suffocating people with the produced carbon monoxide and dioxide to the police having to end the suffering of the ‘category 3’ victims who had no hope of survival and weren’t even to have had painkillers, to the breakdown of civilised society with looting and appropriation of rations. Very sobering.

Above are the internal walls of the farm building, below a 150m long tunnel leading to the underground nuclear bunker. It's on two floors (so we're told), each the size of a football pitch, protected by 3m thick titanium reinforced concrete walls. It has its own recirculating air supply and can operate sealed from the outside world, power supplied by generators with enough fuel supplies for three months. Down these steps, in the event of a nuclear war, the most important people in the country would have walked (including the bunker cat - can you see her entrance door on the left?)

How to find the secret bunker!

Still not really requiring lunch we had a scone before heading off to see the Kelpies, two 30m high statues of horses heads. Visible from the M9 we’ve seen them while driving, but never for very long. We arrived in the rain, and just made it to the visitor centre to use the toilet, but not in time for a tour, I guess going inside would have been interesting, but ho hum. They are amazing, but I would still like to see them at night, when they are lit up with coloured light and, I should imagine, look amazing.

The inner entrance beyond the 1.5T blast doors

Allowing for traffic round Glasgow it seemed time to head to the sit, stopping for something to eat just before we got there at an Italian restaurant our hostess had recommended, but warned we’d probably have to book. We were lucky, and thoroughly enjoyed it. We arrived at the sit to be welcomed by our hosts, Mr.T cat and Mrs.P cat, a bottle of Prosecco and a bottle of beer.... It got even better when B went to the loo in the night and Mr.T cat snuck in and settled on the bed before he was back, we are going to like it here!

The emergency radio broadcast room that would have given out instructions on what to do if the UK were under attack from nuclear weapons. An actual prerecorded emergency message was playing on a constant loop in there

The operations room where info on nuclear fallout would have been recorded

Desks where emergency services, the treasury and, beyond the police, ambulance and fire services would have been coordinated from. The most sobering thought is that these were actual preparations and departments from where the country would have been run after its total devastation following a nuclear war. They would have carried the burden of the future of mankind beneath a possible devastated planet

Finally we caught up with Cleo, the nuclear bunker cat. Living deep below ground she's well looked after and can freely roam throughout the bunker through her cat flaps

Not all the bunker is open to the public, quite large areas are still top secret and in use. Here's one door we're not allowed to enter, but Cleo is, as you can see!

Jackie forgot to mention the Robinson Crusoe statue in Lower Largo, Leven, Fife. You can just see it above the red door of the building behind. It's there as it was the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, the author of Robinson Crusoe 

Here's a better view of it

Off to The Kelpies in Falkirk, dodging the rain showers

The Kelpies (means shape-shifting water spirits) were designed by Andy Scott and completed in October 2013. They stand 30m high, weigh 300 tonnes each and are built of structural steel with stainless steel cladding. 

A view of the inside. We couldn't get in, just poked the camera through a gap. It is possible to go in on a guided tour but we were too late in the day for that

Jackie peering up at one. It appeared to us that every cladding panel was of a different shape (but we can't confirm that), not just bent differently, but with a different outside shape and with different hole patterns.

My, what big nostrils you have! Some wag had managed to get a football through its nostril and got it wedged inside. Don't think you can quite see it here, but it was definitely there