Glasgow GTG 2014

[Sundae]

I did mention that the weather was on the turn, right?
Not that you can tell by my perfectly coiffed hair... Just one of many wind-sculpted looks I sported.

[DanaC]

You so need a travel blog.

I love your reportage. I swear if you wrote travel books, I would absolutely read them.

[Sundae]

Before I left, Limey told me very strictly to stay away from the water.
The winds were getting up and High Tide was going to be high.

Keep away from the seafront.
Yes, Limey.
Don't get too near the water.
Yes, Limey.
Be careful, there could be large waves.
Yes, Limey.

I did listen, honest. And take on board everything she said. But I also have eyes and a brain and I know if she'd been there she would have realised that I was in no danger whatsoever. She did pick me up on it when she saw the photos though.
That was the day I told you to stay away from the seafront, wasn't it?
Yes, Limey

As you can see, the wind picked up and the sky greyed out, but there wasn't a big tidal surge while I was there.
Other places on the island were harder hit that day, although nothing like as bad as the previous week. I know the boat wasn't running, and some children were sent home early from school, but Whiting Bay just had some rain and sea-spray.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I swear if you wrote travel books, I would absolutely read them.

Only to name-check yourself

[DanaC]

Hahahahahahahahah.

I got a mention...I win!

[Sundae]

Actually you get a win and a gold star for paying attention.

Off "home" on the bus.
I think it might have been raining again by the time I got back to Limey's.
But at least I didn't fall in the water.

For dinner that night I soaked the leftover lamb and some dried apricots in red wine.
I'd bought a mini bottle and can honestly hold my hand on my heart and say I used it all for cooking. Risky business, but it worked.
I can't actually remember what else I did to it. I expect it was some sort of stove-top stew, because that's my forte. Oh yes, I went for a quasi-Moroccan style adding onion, carrots, tomatoes and pretty much everything else I could find. Bulked out with a barley mix and served with warm crusty bread.

Limey noticed my preferred method of cooking and eating whilst I was there.
Cook in one big pan, eat from a bowl.
Had I been there longer I might have learned The Way of the Slow Cooker, but this time round they just got my usual.

Oh, in case you wonder why Limey was absent from my account, she was working.
Ditto tomorrow (Tuesday) in order to free up Wednesday for our trip to Machrie Moor.

[Sundae]

Off to Lamlash with Mr Limey.
He was going to work, Limey was chauffeuring us both.
I didn't think much of Lamlash on previous visits and didn't expect to spend that long there, intending to get the next bus to Whiting Bay and spend my time there instead. Perhaps in the much-maligned Coffee Pot.

But in fact it yielded up unexpected pleasures and I was happy to potter about for quite a while.
It stayed dry, but it was grey, so the photos of the actual bay don't do it justice.
I've just snuck in some trivial ones hoping you won't notice.

Oops.

1) Okay this was just weird.
An abandoned crutch. And no nearby church even.

2) There's something about the minutely manicured grass on a bowls green that really appeals to me. And there are quite a few on Arran. Something for the auld folk to do. To make up for the absence of hostelries I expect.

[Sundae]

1) Limey did tell me what these were. Not technically palms. But they look tropical and that will do for me.

2) Moar Holy Isle.

[Sundae]

Cocks!
Well, chickens anyway.

[Sundae]

Another shop window.

Skull bag I liked.
And me.

[limey]

[Correction: the home baking in the Coffee Pot is excellent and the establishment itself is always bursting with old farts and middle-aged farts stuffing themselves whenever it is open. ]

Sent by thought transference

[Sundae]

I stand corrected, Ma'am.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Delays, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
Except I'll mention them - Dani can't walk past a beggar with a dog. Or just a dog actually.

Whilst I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that assessment (:P):

I would like to clarify, that only one of the beggars I stopped to say hello to had a dog. I did however spend a little longer talking to the guy with a dog, because I was talking to him about dogs. I have no idea if the other guy would have wanted to discuss dogs, since he didn't have a dog. Therefore I did not stop and talk about dogs with him; I just gave him a couple of quid and exchanged pleasantries.

I find it very difficult to walk past a beggar. I find it very difficult to walk past a dog. But for different reasons. A beggar with a dog I find difficult to walk past for both reasons.

[Sundae]

I honestly don't know if it's age or penury which has slowed down my street-giving.
I always preferred to give to performers anyway, and will still buy the Big Issue when I have enough in my purse, but I'm unlikely these days just to give to someone on the street.
It's certainly not a moral decision on my part and I will always acknowledge someone who asks me for money or assistance, even if I can't give.

Although I admit to deliberately steering clear of chuggers.

My real confession of course is that I can't walk past a cat.
And I don't even have to engage with another person. Hahaha.

[DanaC]

Oh I don't give anywhere near as much as I used to. I just can't. When i had it, I was generous with it. Now I don't have it, I have to be careful with what comes in and goes out.

That was an unusual day. It all got slotted under Trip to Glasgow. Along with grabbing a latte on the way up. I relaxed my rules for a couple of days. If I'm going to do that, it feels right to include a couple of quid for a guy with fuck all. Now I'm on the other side of the trip and paying off the credit card. Those few coins I gave to two blokes in Glasgow centre get lost in the whole