The Colour of Jazz

The May Bank Holiday weekend saw the special 25th anniversary of the Bute Jazz Festival.  Crowds flocked in, a harbour full of boats, rows of camper vans lined up on the esplanade and even the sun had put his hat on (although the wind was still quite chilly).  Unfortunately ‘someone’ had left before the music started.

VIC 32 leaving Rothesay

For five weeks VIC 32 makes a short visit to Rothesay every week, usually a Wednesday or Thursday.  She had gone before we went to hear Richard White’s Fivers at the Pavilion cafe.  This was a great start to the Festival’s Silver Jubilee programme.

On Saturday morning was the traditional ‘decorated brolly’ competition and parade from Guildford Square to the Fountain.  A good crowd turned out although I think there were fewer children taking part this year.

Winning Outfit

This is the very glamorous winner of the adult section.  It must have been hard for the judges because all kinds of sartorial outfits were on display.

An ‘oompha’ with no oomph

I find the above photograph fascinating although slightly sinister – has this sleepy sea monster squirmed out of the grill round one of the trees in the square?  It gets worse as the next time I saw it, it was tightly wound around a gentleman who seemed singularly unperturbed.

The Parade Marshall

The Parade was led as always by Jenny Brown who must be the sprightliest 84 year old I know.  This year her outfit was in Royal silver and purple in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  Jenny’s brolly was decorated with photographs of the Royal Family and her sash had the dates picked out in sequins.  At the other end of the age spectrum were these young mums with babies in buggies.

In the Parade although not walking yet

Multi tasking

At the same time as all this jazz related fun was going on two local charities raised a great amount of money.  The Rotary Club ran a bottle stall and the Macmillan Campaign a book and bric a brac stall – the magnificent sum of well over £1100 raised between them, Jazz goers are generous.

Coats on but no rain repellant brollies needed

The Colourful Crowd

We listened to many different bands over the weekend in many different venues – from the glamour of the Glenburn Hotel ballroom to the madly decorated 292 Club to the homeliness of Craigmore Bowling Club and back to the familiar and well loved Pavilion.  The bands were an equally eclectic selection.  My favourites were again Rose Room – musicianship of the highest order, very relaxed and clearly they enjoy playing so much.  I have to admit that by Sunday night I was flagging – the spirit is still willing but the increasingly ancient flesh is slowing down a bit.

‘Orchard’ Update

All the new fruit trees continue to thrive and in spite of another stormy wild weekend ( the ferry was ‘disrupted’ again yesterday) the three apple trees have managed to produce a little bit of blossom.  I haven’t been up to inspect today but the fragile little flowers have probably landed in Largs by now.

Worcester Permain blossom

Sorry About the Gap

I have been a bit busy lately and neglecting my Blog, resulting in a backlog of things to say – if I can remember everything that has been happening.  The Stewardship Campaign at church has really kicked off now.  All four Roadshows have been completed and it is only one more week before the identity of our star attraction can be revealed for the ‘Event’ on the 9th June.  I have been away for a few days,   had a visitor to stay for a few days, and then an unexpected 24 hours in Glasgow and currently having a few hours break from the Jazz Festival (photographs in the next post).

The weather in Edinburgh was mostly dry, beautifully sunny but with a chilly north east wind.  If you can ignore the appalling mess of the never ending ‘tram works’ and the current rebuilding of Waverley station, Edinburgh is still a very beautiful place with a plethora of tourist attractions.  In just under 48 hours cousin A and I managed to cram in a considerable amount of site seeing, eating and talking.

Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace with its history of intrigue and murder was as exciting as ever, and the exhibition in the Queen’s Gallery was exquisite.

Holyrood Abbey

Having my own personal art expert with me in the form of cousin A was an extra treat.  She is very polite and never balked at any of my stupid questions.  Our first gallery was the recently reopened Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Queen Street.  I have always loved the outside of this building with its fine red sandstone slender turrets.  I think I was vaguely aware that it reminded me of somewhere else and last week when we walked into the entrance hall there was distinct deja vu – I was in the marble hall at Mount Stuart without its top storey of stained glass.  Not surprising really as they were both designed by the same architect, Sir Robert Rowand Anderson.

The newly set out exhibits were just perfect – the paintings and photographs beautifully lit and hung and the notes by each work of art had exactly the kind of information I like, both about content and context.  They also do a very nice lunch!

Robert Fergusson

The lovely little statue of the very young poet Robert Fergusson (1750 – 1774) hurrying under the cherry blossom at the Canongate Kirk was irresistible.  We walked the length of the Royal Mile, up Calton Hill, from St Andrew’s Square to Charlotte Square and never once into a shop except in the Palace and Galleries.  My memory was good enough to let us avoid Princes’ Street as much as possible – just too depressing for words.

Blue Sky Over Edinburgh

When we returned to Rothesay for the second half of this mini holiday the spring weather followed us.  Lots of walks in Bute.

From Canada Hill

If the skies are clear enough we always try to take visitors up to the top of Canada Hill as this vantage point affords some spectacular views.  The one above is looking north to Loch Striven and below is looking the other way over to Loch Ascog with Arran in the background.  Most of Canada Hill is Rothesay Golf Course but luckily no one was playing as we wandered around.

Looking towards Arran

Another day we walked up the road towards Glecknabae and were entranced by the abundance of bluebells.

Bluebells at Ettrick Bay

Our last walk of the week was up through the community forest to Balnakailly.  I found this tree both fascinating and sad at the same time.

Near Balnakailly

Bursting into Bloom

The mixed spring weather continues.  Last Tuesday I managed along to the second of the weekly walks with the Strollers and Striders group from church.  All day I had watched the five minute long torrential showers rolling in every hour, increasingly thinking that staying by the fire with my book was looking  more attractive.  As is often the case the evening turned out to be far more pleasant and a vigorous walk was much appreciated.

Port Bannatyne Marina

I am delighted that the spells of warm spring sunshine have encouraged the ‘mini orchard’ into life (see ‘Will I Live Long Enough?).  It is barely seven weeks since the trees were planted and now all have some leaves, or leaf buds, and, in two cases, pretty blossom.

Cherry Blossom

This is the full extent of the flowers on the Stella Cherry – one cherry each if we are lucky, but I suspect the birds will get there before us.  The first apple blossom (from the three varieties) is on the James Grieve.  Already there are four clusters of buds and the flowers should open in the next few days.

Apple Blossom Buds - James Grieve

The wee birds descending on the seed feeders in the garden are also very aware that it is spring.  They are very busy doing ‘other things’ elsewhere and swoop onto the fat balls for a quick feast – already exceeding their daily quota.  One tiny little blue tit has taken to landing on the glazing bar half way up the kitchen window and then fluttering up to the top of the window and giving the glass a hard peck.  I can only presume that he is seeking miniscule insects but I don’t think he is going high enough.

For Readers on Bute

I hope you have all seen the posters and adverts for the United Church of Bute Roadshows taking place over the next two weeks.  If you can, come along on one of the following dates to hear about the work and challenges of the church and learn a little bit about Bute’s rich Christian Heritage – Monday 23rd April, 7.30 in Port Bannatyne Village Hall; Wednesday 25th April, 2.30 in Kingarth Hotel; Tuesday 1st May, 2.30 in the United Church of Bute; Thursday 3rd May, 7.30 in Ballianlay Hall.

The New Rowan Tree

It is Spring

That is if I define it by changeable weather.  April is doing its showery thing with some really nice spells in between.  The day we helped with the Rotary clean up at Ettrick Bay was a bit grey, dry and a cold easterly breeze.

Admire that Action

The fifteen or so people were equipped with ‘grabbers’ and a sturdy plastic sack each.  I quickly gave up on the unwieldy grabbers and resorted to my well gloved hands.  Most of the rubbish being collected was nylon rope, twine or fishing line – much easier picked up with fingers.

The Rewards

As well as feeling good by having done something altruistic and worthwhile we were all rewarded with tasty hamburgers and sausages.

All Non Biodegradable

Altogether it was a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon – good company, beautiful location and a marginally cleaner bit of beach by the time we were finished.

I didn’t take any photographs at the Easter sunrise service at St Blane’s this year.  Although not actually raining it was very misty and damp.  The Christian community of Bute are not wimps and nearly a hundred hardy souls climbed the hill for a joyous ecumenical service.

Over the last five days I have been working in the garden quite a bit.  All the new fruit trees have leaves or at least leaf buds and one of the apples has the beginnings of blossom buds.  I am wearing a path across the grass by a daily compulsive trek up to inspect the trees.

Not Completely Dead

I was very surprised to spot this tiny little green shoot appearing from the rotten core of the big rowan tree we had taken down after the winter storms caused it to rock on its roots. (see RIP Big Tree ).  I suppose it does have a huge root system to feed on but sadly it will not be allowed to continue.  This is making me feel like a murderer.  Then I justify my actions by remembering that we have planted 10 trees to compensate.

The major garden task has been using my lovely compost as a mulch around the plants and shrubs in the bottom border and especially all along under the beech hedge.  I scraped off the now quite sparse bark chippings, forked in the compost, and will re-cover with more chippings (see Its Hotting Up)

I am not the only one enjoying the spring weather.  The Castle swans have produced another large brood of cygnets.  There were seemingly ten to start with but on Saturday when I took these photographs I think there were only eight or maybe nine.

The Castle Family 2012

The quality is not very good as I was really too far away and facing into the sunshine.  You can still say ‘aaawww’.

The Signboards Saga

At the Puffer Work Week (see last post) I didn’t just swan about taking photographs and playing scrabble – I had my annual task of turning the VIC 32 name boards back into a legible form.  In the last three Springs, with a fairly steady hand, I carefully painted over the existing lettering with a new coat of white and red paint.  In March 2011 it was clear that the 14 year old boards would only stand one more summer of Scottish weather as the wood was rotten and only held together with paint.

Sun, rain, wind and salt - not termites

The decision was taken last year that the boards would be replaced.  As I am certainly no sign writer this gave me time to do some advance preparation – I traced the letters and at home in the winter made a stencil to get the placing right.  I love very old gravestones where the last few letters of the incumbents name are done sideways or on the line below when the monumental sculptor ran out of space, but VIC 32 would be a laughing stock with such a disaster on her side.

Here's One I Made Earlier

The Engineer had made new boards and painted the black background so I had a lovely blank ‘canvas’ to work on.

I had a very nice ‘work station’ – wind and water tight, not too much rubbish around and a sturdy, steady bench to work at.  My fellow workers very kindly dropped by frequently throughout the day for a chat.

Adding the Red Paint

During most of the days the light was good enough for painting accurately but late in the afternoon I was very glad of my head torch – doesn’t help the wild woman hairstyle much.  As well as making the lovely new name boards (and many, many other things too numerous to mention) the Engineer one day baked us scones for morning tea break – much assurance of hand washing first!

Scrumptious

Very Nearly Finished

Five days later the job was done and it was with great satisfaction that the number 2 had its final line of red paint.

The Smile Says It All

My back had survived all the bending over – although I did fashion myself a very comfy seat from an old oil drum topped with a big bag of soft rags.  Because there had been no hold ups during the week I managed to complete my task a day early.  There is no slacking allowed on Puffer Work Party so I was allocated another little sign writing job.

I had no advance preparation for this small board which goes under the steps from the saloon to the deck to indicate where important emergency equipment is stored.  My last day was spent in the cabin of the Duke of Normandy, tied up alongside VIC 32 trying my hand at freehand writing – scarier and not such a good result.  I don’t think I will be  admitted to the Signwriters’ Guild anytime soon!  It was a good week doing something completely different from my usual range of activities, and, of course, almost anything beats dusting.

Way beyond my abilities

The Annual Painting Job

We are just back from a week at Crinan in the joyful company of VIC 32 and her cheery Friends.  It was the annual paint the puffer time, although painting was certainly not the only activity taking place.

Reflections in Crinan Basin

We had the first of the two good weeks of weather with only one day of rain and many days warm enough for coffee breaks outside.  As I type back in Rothesay there is a freezing north easterly wind peppered with vicious, sleety squalls – back to ‘normal’ spring.  The good weather at Crinan meant an emphasis on outside painting work but there were plenty other tasks being undertaken.

Lots of rust needing covered

Some welding jobs

As always on Puffer Work Week there was much chat and laughter intermingled with all the hard work.  The Friends are a multi talented bunch with joiners, electricians, engineers, painters and general DIYers in the group – the ladies work just as hard as the men.

Joiner No 2

As well as the painting, a lot of elbow grease is required in the mammoth cleaning task resulting from the boat having been in the boatyard over the winter.  Major replating work was done involving most of the cabins being removed during the process and then refitted later.

Washing the wheelhouse before getting out the Brasso

There were a few Spring visitors about in Crinan and, of course, they were always welcomed to tour Vic 32 in the hope that they would give a donation to the much depleted Puffer funds.  Other people were also getting on with their daily jobs.

Fishing boat at Crinan Harbour

Colin had an indoor task – to replace the anti slip covering on the steep stair from the saloon down to the cabins.  Very hard work chipping off the much deteriorated old covering.

When the new lino type covering was stuck in place it had to be clamped onto each step for 24 hours.  This made the journey up or down even more hazardous than usual (it is very steep).

It was quite frustrating for Colin at times as there was a steady flow of beavering away Friends needing to go up and down all day.  Although we each tend to do a specific job somethings need more muscle power when everyone lends a hand.  The heavy wooden dinghies need turned over so that both inside and outside can be varnished.

Muscle power

Team work was again employed when the galley stores were loaded.  We do get through quite a lot of food, not to mention the occasional bottle of beer or wine.

Not quite Tesco Direct

Through all the hard work there is always time to stop and chat …

…. or even just to smile.

Say 'cheese'

I spent the week doing my ‘sign writing’ job – a bit bigger task this year – I will leave that story for the next post.

After each day’s hard work we enjoyed a delicious meal thanks to Mary and Daphne, the cooks for the week.  Evenings were spent over hard fought games of scrabble, philosophising, or reading before the overnight snoring chorus got tuned up.

Bright colours in bright sunshine

Will I Live Long Enough?

To taste a ‘succulent, juicy James Grieve apple’ – to admire the ‘pale green tinged with russet skin of a Conference pear’ – to smell the ‘sweet perfume of a Worcester Pearmain’ – to bake tarts overflowing with Stella cherries, Bramley apples or Victoria plums – I can taste the juices as they escape my lips and dribble down my chin.  Yes!  My mini orchard has arrived, but it may be a few years before they actually produce anything edible!  I can dream and anticipate.  Since the trees were planted last week I have made a daily trek up the garden to see if any leaves have opened yet – the James Grieve and the cherry look like winning this race.

The tallest sapling in the foreground is a Betula pendula Youngii (a weeping birch which should eventually have white bark).  It is going right at the top of the garden when work on the wall is completed.

It was very exciting, and a strangely awesome responsibility, to have to choose exactly where to plant each tree.  Hopefully they will be here long after I am gone.  Eventually I hit on a triangular arrangement, with an apple on each corner and the cherry, plum and pear in between.

A Triangle of Fruit Trees

I was pleasantly surprised to see how tall the trees are – all bigger than me (not too difficult).  The two Ms doing the planting are both about 6 feet tall.

A Tall Tree in a Tiny Pot

The pots all seemed far too small for the size of the trees and I am sure they are much happier now safely ensconced in our good earth.  It seemed a bit mean not to have an engraved  silver spade to do the planting with but I will aim for a silver salver from which to serve the first apple.

A Site Seeing We Will Go

I’ve been a bit busy this week but here is part 2 of the Glasgow mini holiday.  On the first afternoon we crossed the city to view the People’s Palace and Winter garden with a short detour to the Doulton fountain.

The People's Palace

I always knew that the People’s Palace was there on Glasgow Green but I am ashamed to admit I had never visited before.  Coming straight from the all singing and dancing displays at the Transport Museum by contrast the People’s Palace could appear a wee bit dull and dated.  I loved it.  There is a definite warmth about the place, a feeling of ‘ownership’ by ordinary Glaswegians and it tipped me even more into a rollercoaster of memories and emotions.

Very close by is the Terracotta or Doulton Fountain with the amazing Templeton’s Carpet Factory Building behind.

Doulton Fountain

It is hard to believe that the extremely ornate Templeton’s building was in fact a carpet factory.  Why did they choose to pour money into those amazing tiles and dizzyingly twirly sandstone spires and curlicues?

Templeton's Carpet Factory Building

The Winter Garden attached to the People’s Palace is immaculately maintained and houses a very nice cafe for a sandwich lunch or coffee.

In the Winter Gardens

On day two we visited three amazing buildings within a few hundred yards of each other.  As a student these were buildings I barely glanced at as I ran puffing up the High Street trying not to be too late for lectures at the Royal Infirmary.

Glasgow Cathedral sits right by the hospital and I have childhood memories of being taken to the midnight Christmas Eve service to see nurses in their red capes processing down the grand central aisle  carrying lit candles.  No candles last week but light pouring in through the colourful stained glass windows.  For a mediaeval cathedral this has an important collection of modern stained glass (ie less than 150 years old).  My photographs were not very good but you can click to see my favourite – the Millenium Window which was only unveiled in June 1999.  (If the link doesn’t work try   www.glasgowcathedral.org.uk/category/the-building/stained-glass/  )

Next door in the Provand’s Lordship, the oldest house in Glasgow, there were some very fine and very old small coloured panes, the one below dated 1681.

Window in Provand's Lordship

Provand's Lordship

The third building in the trilogy was across the road – the very thought provoking St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.  This was another museum and art gallery I could happily spend a week in.  I was hugely impressed by the thoughtful way the contrasts and similarities of about ten different religions were displayed.  The detailed information was clearly presented in a separate case for each religion and then there were displays where a particular topic eg coming of age, marriage or death, had artefacts and personal responses from a few of the major religions placed together.  On the upper floor there is a collection of what can be described as ‘religious art’ brought together from Glasgow’s huge municipal art collection.  Altogether a brilliant trio of sites for any tourist.  As well as the venerable old buildings of the Royal Infirmary looking down on the Cathedral, Provand’s Lordship and the St Mungo Museum they are also framed by the iconic skyline of Glasgow Necropolis – the fascinating burial grounds of the great and good of Victorian times.  That will need a visit on another day.

Glasgow Necropolis

Being Tourists

Although we nip up to Glasgow approximately once every two weeks there is always an agenda that allows no time to stand and stare.  To address this we have just had a mini holiday in that most exotic of destinations – Glasgow, which can even tick the box of being ‘overseas’ for us.  It was a bit of an indulgence to stay at the luxury Blythswood Square Hotel – very glamorous and so achingly trendy that it took me a whole day to learn how to ‘go’ the complicated taps, showers and multitude of light switches in our room.  The purpose of the trip was to visit a few of the many tourist attractions instead of galloping around the shops on a tight time schedule.

On the first morning we went down by the river, firstly to see the tall ship Glenlee.  We visited her quite a few years ago but they have made huge improvements to the displays and information boards since then.  The Glenlee is now moored alongside the iconic Riverside Museum (Scotland’s Museum of Transport and Travel).  This is a complete wow of a building, designed by Zaha Hadid and only opened last summer.

The Riverside Museum, Glasgow

I loved the overall shape and especially the zig zag roofline on both the back and front.  It is a huge hanger like building, to represent the shipbuilding sheds of yore with the roofline being variously interpreted as wave form or again the outline of building yards and cranes.

Is it a Wave?

This photograph was taken from on board the Glenlee, the masts of which can be seen reflected in the museum’s glass wall.  The inside of the building is just as awesome.  It is one huge space with the walls painted an unusual bright yellow colour which surprisingly works. There are so many exhibits crammed in that at first at ground level it felt a bit crowded and overwhelming but on reflection the colossal size of some vehicles were always going to make me feel very small.  Even a six feet wide passageway between the awesome 197 tonne Locomotive 3007 who spent her working days in South Africa, and a double deck bus made me feel I was ‘squeezing’ through a wee gap.

Trains and Trams and Cars

There has been much debate in the Glasgow press regarding ‘the wall of cars’ – many complaints that you cannot get close to this wonderful collection of vehicles to inspect them in detail, it is more art installation than museum etc etc.  My first thought was I am in a toy shop and all the Dinkie cars are on shelves out of the reach of prying fingers.  Eventually I decided I really rather liked it – I am not a motorhead and the floor area would need to be greatly increased to display the cars horizontally.

Art Installation or Museum Display?

The two photographs above were taken from a bridge which breaks up the cavernous space, crossing from side to side about halfway along the length of the building and suspended midway between floor and roof.  There was so much to see that we barely scraped the surface.  It would take many, many visits to do any sort of justice to the contents and information gathered here.  We visited on a grey early March morning but I can imagine this place will get unpleasantly busy at weekends and in summer (it is free).  Because everything (except the exhibits!) is brand new the very latest in museum information technology is employed.  Touch screens beside most displays allow you to delve ever more deeply into specific topics or simply just note the name, maker and date of the vehicle being viewed.  A large number of Glasgow’s renowned collection of model ships are now suspended from a sort of conveyor belt and glide majestically past the viewer at eye level and in slow motion.  There are two areas each arranged to depict a shopping street in a different era – appropriate vehicles are parked outside and visitors can wander in and out of the shops, pubs and businesses.  Just typing all this makes me want to go back – right now.

Looking Down River

At the moment the Riverside Museum looks to have been just dropped into a bleak post industrial landscape.  The immediate vicinity has been landscaped but the trees are still very immature, and the wider surroundings are acres of rubble strewn cleared land.  Presumably there are many redevelopment plans in place if we ever get out of recession.

PS Waverley Dwarfed by the Science Centre

This is looking across and upriver from the Museum. The square building is the BBC Scottish Headquarters and the PS Waverley looks tiny moored alongside the Science Centre.

Shopping for Apples

The grey weather continues.  Last week on the day all the news bulletins were highlighting the drought conditions in the south of England we had gallons of the wet stuff pouring from the sky unremittingly for 24 hours.  You have to laugh.  At least there have been plenty of other entertainment opportunities rather than sunbathing all the time.  Back to back good films in our wee cinema – last week we saw The Iron Lady and last night The Artist.  I thoroughly enjoyed both.  My reaction to the recent Film Club offerings is more mixed.  Couldn’t work out what The Tree of Life was about although it did have lots of pretty colours, but very much appreciated the superb acting in Of Gods and Men.  There have also been concerts and excellent lectures at the Lit and the Natural History Society.

Today in Glasgow we had cause to make a very small purchase in the grandiose surroundings of the Apple store in Buchanan Street ( the pension or piggy bank wouldn’t manage anything larger).  The place is amazing – very shiny and minimalist, full of shiny gadgets and staffed by shiny young people.  We made our selection from a rack and looked around for a Pay Here sign or till point.  A helpful young lady holding a very small card reader device approached, and the sale was completed there on the spot (nowhere near anything resembling a shop counter).  Credit card inserted, the magic four numbers tapped in, deal completed.  We reinforced our country bumpkin / age credentials  with our amazed response to the gentle explanation that the receipt would be emailed to us.

I couldn’t help compare this shopping experience to my childhood memories of purchases made in the Shettleston Road Co-op with my mother.  Sixty years ago Mum would take her selected item to the polished wooden counter, the price would be checked on the tiny little piece of card attached with fine string, and a handwritten docket (?) filled out (no bar codes for scanning and not even a sticky label).  Then the best bit – the cash (strictly no credit or plastic cards) and docket were placed into a small cylindrical container, the lid screwed tightly in place, and with a very satisfying whoosh the whole thing got sooked into the pipes which criss crossed the ceiling on their way to the glass enclosed Cash Desk.  By the time the item had been carefully packaged in brown paper tied with string (no plastic carrier bags) the money container, now with a receipt and the change, would have returned with a clatter and a second noisy whoosh.  I thought it was magic back then just as I thought shopping today was done by magic.

More apples are being purchased.  This time in the form of the fruit trees for the ‘orchard’.  Our helpful gardener is taking his pick up to the nursery on the mainland to-morrow to buy the trees and shrubs.  I think a plastic card will be wafted again – hope it doesn’t melt.