Thankful Thursday

It's the end of the day.  I hadn't even realised that it was Thursday until I read/listened to Jaz's vlog.   In fact I wouldn't have read Jaz's blog nor, indeed, anyone else's blog if I hadn't read Mark's comment on Facebook that Jaz had done a vlog and I was curious to see what one was.  So now I know.  

Jaz I am overawed by your courage in doing the vlog and I'm wondering if I will be able to muster the courage to do the same.   And Jaz, it was wonderful to see you looking so beautiful, happy and well.  Long may it continue.

The last seven days has been very mixed in many ways:  what I've done and where I've been;  what I've read and what I've seen;  what I've experienced and how I've reacted.  In short it's been a fairly typical week in many ways.

One of the things that I have done a few times during those seven days is complain.  I complained because I was cold and wet in the croquet tournament at the weekend and had to wait so long between games when I was cold and wet.  I complained because of the weather during the week and because I was cold.  I've complained about a few things.  OK some of these complaints were not so much complaints as general grumps.

Then I was made aware of just how much some of my friends really have to complain about.  Then I read Fiona's Blog about the ongoing problems caused by the earthquakes in Christchurch.  Then I heard from a friend whose daughter ...... and another friend who's father is in hospital ...........  I could go on but I won't.

This evening when I saw Jaz I realised just how much courage and fortitude she has.  When I read Fiona's blog I realised how much courage and fortitude she and so many in Christchurch have. And how little they complain compared with how much about which they have to complain.

So tonight I am thankful for those around me who make me realise just how fortunate I am,  give me a true reality check and make me stop and take stock.

Thanks guys.

People and Toast

There are three types of people in the UK:  those who eat their toast hot with the butter melted into it (yuk); those who eat their toast cold with the butter on top (yum); and those who fall into neither of those categories.  This is a totally impartial post.

A Day in Glasgow

Written: Tuesday 14th June

The Nighthawk went into the Car Hospital today at 0800 so I was left with no transport.  I caught a bus (one of those big things which hold lots of people, stops a lot and swarm all over the City) from the Hospital into the City Centre and then caught another one out to The Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery.  Anna came there for lunch and then took me to collect the Nighthawk.

When I got into the City Centre first thing this morning (ie around 9am) I decided to have some breakfast.  On Sauchiehall Street I found Bradford's Tea Room (it's also a bakery) with a very enticing menu.  Like so many of these places in the UK it promised much more than it delivered.  Its bacon roll might have been delicious but as they had no Earl Grey tea and the coffee came in a paper cup I declined their offer and went elsewhere.

I was once a member of the former Scottish Royal Automobile Club (an old-fashioned Residential  Club in Blytheswood Square in the centre of Glasgow).  As it had closed some years ago I wondered what had become of it.  Well it is now The Blytheswood Hotel and a very exclusive place it is too.

 

The SRAC Arms are still on the wall

'Motherless' about which I have blogged before.

Portrait Head by David Gauld about 1895.  Out of the thousands of pictures this one always captures my heart

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From the sublime to the ridiculous!

At 1pm most days there is an organ recital.

Stiltwalkers in Durham

When I was in Durham there was a real carnival atmosphere on the Saturday morning.  These stiltwalkers were making their way through the crowds and traffic.  I've seen plenty of stiltwalkers at parades in New Zealand but I can't recall seeing them in the UK before.