Nigel's Photo Blog

This evening, I am posting images and information pursuant to walk along the Clyde Waterfront in Glasgow, Scotland yesterday. First, I called in at the Laurieston Ba r (for a coffee,not alcohol) which is located only a short distance from the river. Lauriston Bar Next, across the King George V Bridge towards the city centre. Half way across the bridge I came across the message illustrated below.The Samaritans are a charity dedicated to preventing suicides.Scotland has the highest rate of suicide in the U.K.It has been estimated that, in 2022, one quarter of all deaths among 5-24 year olds were probable suicides. Samaritans contact details   Next, along an inner city side road where I encountered the huge mural shown below. I think the underlying message bemoans the decrepit state of many of the city's grand buildings many of which date back to Victorian times. The fact is Glasgow's heavy industrial base has largely evaporated with the city's population decreasing from 1.0m ...

  The above Laurieston pub in Glasgow's Bridge Street has been ranked no 32 out of 100 bars in Europe. The rating was assigned by Jack Anderton who set up the European Bar Guide and has visited over 1300 bars across Europe. Key influences on the rating were: Unique ambience which attracts TV and film productions as well as A-list actors. A frozen in time 1960s boozer hidden behind an unprepossessing exterior. A wonderful, friendly, communal pub with simple, wholesome delights. Appeal to people of all backgrounds where easy to make friends. Not a 1960s museum but a real-life dynamic pub which is still relevant today. Food offering centres on hot pies and veg-plus the usual crisps (chips) and nuts. Public Bar Video clip Lounge Bar Video clip The Laurieston is within walkable range of central Glasgow and is close to Bridge Street underground station. More information for the visitor More information on Glasgow , Scottish history, architecture, culture , etc., can be found in the Vis...

This morning I ventured out  to obtain winter images at Rouken Glen Country Park before the thaw arrives. I was pleased to finally get access to the waterfall illustrated in image no 2 below. Here is the non--frozen enclave of clear water on the Boating Pond, now a microcosm. All but one of the resident ducks (maybe 50) seem to have disappeared. There is good news for the birds in that temperature is forecast to lift shortly so the ice might disappear.   This is the 'other' waterfall at Rouken Glen Country Park. Accessing it is not easy owing to the need to navigate a steep bank.I used a rope which assisted access on the frozen ground. No slippery mud to contend with! Note presence of icicles. A good display of icicles in the heart of the glen (valley).  Frost covered trees near the main waterfall. More information for the visitor More information on Glasgow , Scottish history, architecture, culture, etc., can be found in the Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161...

This morning I was provided with an escorted tour of Glasgow City Mission .  The Mission operates on a Christian ethos (multi-denominational). It was founded by one David Nasmith in Glasgow 200 years ago and has since evolved into a global organisation including North America.Key objective is to help disadvantaged people (mainly homeless) in  practical manner without coercion. A recent press report mentioned that more than 900 people claimed to be sleeping rough in the city during 2024. However, my guide suggested this large number included rough sleepers, sofa sleepers and those in temporary accommodation.Analysis has revealed there exist about thirty 'hard core' rough sleepers on the streets in the city. Here is more information in bullet format: Current property has been owned outright since 2009. Guests are of all faiths and none. Most are male, white British. The Mission provides help with language education, e.g. English for Ukrainians and Afghans. There is a sister char...

Introduction This post follows from yesterday's report on The St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art. Between the above-mentioned Museum and Glasgow Cathedral is a striking feature known as the Zen Garden.  Image of garden with Cathedral in background  Information on the Glasgow Zen Garden This garden dates from 1993 and is the work of Yasutaro Tanaka in the Japanese Buddhist tradition in which symbolism plays a major part, viz: Water is represented by sand and pebbles. Mountains are represented by stone(s). Islands are represented by moss or rocks. The tradition of making dry stone gardens as aids to contemplation began in Japanese Buddhist temples in about 1500 BCE. This was based on the concept of seeing more in less, part of the Zen method of contemplation. There are many ways of interpreting the Garden. In one view, the rocks are positioned in groups of seven, five and three, representing the prayer recited to Buddha, repeated seven, five and three times in succes...

 Introduction  This evening, I am posting information on the St. Nicholas Garden at Provand’s Lordship, Glasgow. Information on the Knot Garden Provand’s Lordship  dates from the 15th century and ranks second only to the nearby Glasgow Cathedral in terms of antiquity. The building is now a museum and is popular with the thousands of tourists who visit the city each year. However, behind Provand’s Lordship has been established a knot garden which is open to the public and affords a small sanctuary of tranquility, just a few metres away from the heavy traffic of the nearby roads and bustle of the city. The garden was opened in 1995 with two facets, viz: Around the outside edge is a physic garden containing many varieties of herbs and plants, typical of those used for medicinal and other purposes in medieval times. This aspect is pertinent because of the perceived historic link between Provand’s Lordship and the nearby St. Nich...

Introduction This evening, I am posting information on a unique collection of stone carvings which can now be found in the cloisters section of the St Nicholas Garden attached to Provand’s Lordship in Glasgow , Scotland.  Information on the Tontine Carved Heads These carvings date from four periods: 1737-42; 1758-9; 1872; and 1873. They are attributed to David Cation, Mungo Naismith and W.J. Maxwell. Of the original 13 carvings, eleven survive. The first tranche of carvings were connected with the Tontine Hotel (1781) which was formerly the Town Hall in Trongate. Subsequently, the original 18th century carvings together with 19th century additions were dispersed in various buildings around Glasgow. The survivors were collected and incorporated into the St. Nicholas Garden in 1995. Entry to the Garden is free.         When visiting this property visitors could also consider sites in close proximity which are: Glasgow Cathedral ...

Today, Glasgow weather underwent a volte-face, switching from days of persistent greyness and rain to blue skies and brilliant sunshine. This change prompted me to go out to the local golf course where a vantage point offers superb views of the snow-capped Campsie Fells (hills) to the north. If the weather forecast is to be believed we are scheduled for a snow 'dump' at the weekend which should offer some more photo opportunities, not to mention travel disruption.   Golfers at play in the sub-freezing conditions.  More Information For more information on Glasgow and Scotland in general please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4.This book is also available via Kindle .