No. I've not been behind bars. In fact I've not even been in bars. I've been in hospital for my routine kidney stent change. Mind you that was only a small part of my two weeks away. During those two weeks I stayed with a dear friend (with whom I usually stay when in the Glasgow and whom I originally met in New Zealand in 2006 because our two families were friends). As always we did lots of things including seeing Mozart's
Requiem at The City Halls, a cinema simultaneous live performance of Mozart's opera
Don Giovani from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and we also went to a Scottish Opera
Mozart and The Bard (Burns) workshop.
Glasgow is a wonderful city and very reminiscent of the city of my birth, Liverpool. Both were built on shipbuilding and trade and were, 'in their day', cities of great wealth and centres of culture and homes to a large and varied immigrant population largely used in its building and construction industries. Both have had a renaissance.
One day we went to the West End for coffee in Byers Road. Byers Road is in the centre of 'studentland' being near the University and a large student population. It's always been a great place to explore and eat and I've been very familiar with it since the late 80's when our elder child started University there. I go there often. We had coffee in Café Françoise
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| It was NOT a day for sitting outside |
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| We'd missed the breakfast rush |
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| Studentland encourages a slightly more 'alternative' approach |
I wondered what had happened to you knowing that you usually follow what I have written but no sign of you. Thanks for the photographs of Byers Road, I will go there myself next time I am in Glasgow.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I'm sure that you would love it. Glasgow has so much to offer. I have been reading more than I've been commenting on. It's not so easy commenting on the phone because of the need to sign in each time.
DeleteCafé Françoise? I wonder if they have the equivalent in Paris... "Jimmy's Scottish Caff" where sophisticated Gallic [people can consume white pudding, haggis suppers and those little circular scotch pies swimming in lard.
ReplyDeleteYP, I'd be surprised if the Scots haven't got a café in almost every major city. Like Yorkshiremen they get everywhere. However I think the black pudding is likely to be more frequently advertised than the white pudding. The little scotch pies you mention escape me.
DeletePerhaps they escape you because they are slippery with lard. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_pie
DeleteIf you look closely (or even cursorily), YP, you will see no lard being swum in. The pies offered in Scotland are full to the brim with good solid meat and gravy: not a heart threatening morsel to be had (black puddings on the other hand......).
DeleteWhen I am in Scotland, I make a great effort to eat haggis in some form at least once a day. I've had haggis patties with breakfast, haggis with neeps & tatties for supper, haggis pies for dinner, and once even a "haggis tower" at a posh restaurant. LOVE THE HAGGIS, ME!
DeleteWish I could get myself some that cough syrup!
ReplyDeleteKay, it's not something I've tried.
Deleteso pleased you are out. you do make great use of your time in glasgow i must say
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea. Yes, it's a wonderful place to have time to spend.
DeleteHow did the Mozart-themed activities come about? I must say I admire the man greatly for his musical genius, although not for his personal traits. The Requiem is very touching, and Don Giovanni is of course another of his many master pieces. The workshop sounds interesting. There are a few bits in "Le Nozze di Figaro" that I find irresistible.
ReplyDeleteGood to know you were not only in hospital, but also had a good time by the sounds of it!
Meike, it was sheer luck that all those Mozart concerts were on in the two weeks I was down. Oddly the Scottish Opera workshop also featured the Commendatore's last aria from Don Giovani and it was far more spine chilling than the Covent Garden production.
DeleteOh I am so jealous of your Mozart viewings! Sounds like on a whole you had a great time away.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you were only in hospital for a routine visit, and hope that is all sorted now until next time.
Serenata, I had a wonderful time. Even the time in hospital was worthwhile and I got a lot of crosswords done.
DeleteHow good you stay with a friend when in Glasgow and did lots of entertaining things while there, in addition to your hospital routine visit. I love that French cafe and your photo, reminds me of the months I stayed in Paris.
ReplyDeleteTerra, the café is an expression of the cosmopolitan nature of Glasgow.
DeleteI'm glad you are able to combine the necessary medical treatment with fun! Was the name of the cough syrup anything to do with the New Zealand connection? - I know NZ weather can be a bit damp and windy at times.
ReplyDeleteJenny, I did wonder about the possible New Zealand connection. However, I was in a bit of a hurry when I photographed them. If I remember I'll pop in and ask next time.
DeleteI hope you go for a while without having to be laid up with medical issues.
ReplyDeleteRed, it's a routine 4 to 6 month stent change. If all goes well it's just 24 hours in hospital as a rule and I come out as good as new.
DeleteI do hope that your kidney stent went successfully, I guess you wouldn't be blogging about it if it hadn't right? Sending good thoughts and prayers here. The cafe photos I love, the interior reminds me of our local chocolatier shop and cafe, very similar, I love that rustic look and feel.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy. It was a success. My brain always enjoys a chocolatier shop and café but as a recovering chocoholic I'm always tempted!
DeleteGlad that all went well. Good to see you back again.
ReplyDeleteThank you JayCee. I'm hoping to spend more time in Blogland this winter but I think I said that last year too.
DeleteGlasgow! That is one to put on my European bucket list. Hope the procedure has gone well, that you are recovering.
ReplyDeleteCough syrup used to be concocted of alcohol, cocaine, morphine, and laudanum. An FB reader found a bottle in the attic and this was the label, from late 1800s. Life was different back then.
Susan, I'm recovered and fighting fit thank you. It's funny you should mention the cough syrup contents. I have (stashed away somewhere) an old bottle of medicine for tummy troubles containing kaolin and morphine.
DeleteThat sounds like it would take care of a lot more than tummy troubles! No idea what kaolin is, but if it's anything like morphine - BANG ZOOM!
DeleteMarcheline, kaolin is, if I'm not very much mistaken, a type of clay.
DeleteI think it was the Irish 'Theme Pubs' who started leaving old bikes outside. It has since become almost obligatory, and always makes me smile. We even see them over here these days. Nice looking Café and shop.
ReplyDeleteCro, I have photos from Italy and, I think, France with bikes outside various café type emporia. I can't recall too many ones in the UK but my observational skills and memory are not good!
DeleteIt's good to know you're OK and all went well with your procedure. Glasgow is definitely on my list of places to visit, now that Lily has said she would like to go. Hopefully next year.
ReplyDeleteJules, I do hope you and Lily get to Glasgow. It's a wonderful, friendly city with lots to see for children and adults alike.
DeleteThank you for clarifying "the bard" with "Burns", because of course I thought "SHAKESPEARE!"... carrying on the trend of bardversation, I must recomment the new(ish) film "All Is True" - Kenneth Branagh as Shakespeare, Dame Judi Dench as his wife, Ian McKellen as the aim of the sonnets... what a wonderful film! Blubbed my eyes out, but only because I love Shakespeare so very much, Branagh nearly as much, and Judi Dench perhaps even more.
ReplyDeleteMarcheline, that is a film of which I have not heard. I shall keep my eyes peeled.
DeleteOutside HMP Kirkham is a sign Welcome to ..... and another asking for old bicycles. I somehow find them faintly amusing. Come and go sorted.
ReplyDeletePotty, I am left wondering what HMP used to use old bikes for: restoring in their workshops presumably. I suppose they are an attraction and certainly rustic postcards from Italy and France make good use of old bicycles.
DeleteRUSTic being the right word.
DeleteVery droll, Potty!
Delete'Napiers' must have reminded you of New Zealand...? Or at least my mind is making the connection now, because of you! Have to admit I've never really gave any thought to where Napier NZ got its name from though. Any connection to that shop??
ReplyDeleteMonica, Napier in New Zealand was named after General Sir Charles James Napier, a seasoned officer and Commander-in-Chief in India who ended up in Napier and many place names reflect his colonial era career in India. I suspect the name on this bike is simply the name of the person who had the original shop from whence it came.
DeleteI looked up "Napiers" and I'm thinking the cough syrup is herbal rather than "herbal", right?
ReplyDeleteThe cafe is beautiful, inside and out. Cafes here are popularly "industro chic" all polished concrete floors and hard walls. I can appreciate the aesthetic but it's hard and noisy. Cafe Francois is modern but also traditional, looks a lovely spot to have a bite to eat or a coffee.
I'm glad the stent went well!
Thanks, Kylie. On the subject of cafés the number and style of coffee shops in the UK is beyond counting. I've not been in an 'industro chic' one though so far as I can recall. I'm assuming that the cough syrup contains herbs.
DeleteYou social butterfly, you!! There is no stopping you! :)
ReplyDeleteLee, I hope that nothing stops either of us for a while yet.
DeleteI'm glad you are out. And about.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kate. Today is a day 'in' making my first two Christmas cakes and, hopefully, catching up with 'in' things. If the rain holds off I might even get into the garden.
DeleteI have had me fruit on the bench soaking for a month. You are one of the traditional people who has inspire me to make a CC each year. Do you do mince pies too?
DeleteThat's good to hear, Kate. I just leave my fruit to soak in brandy and port for about 3 or 4 days. I tried mince pies last year but the pastry was a disaster. I may try again this year although I have a feeling I was so disheartened last year that I gave my mince pie baking tray to a charity/op shop.
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