Cumnock

I started of my holiday with a visit to Cumnock, where I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome from the Historical Society folks and from one of my oldest friends, Agnes. I had arranged to visit her on Thursday morning but when I arrived on Wednesday evening, I couldn't wait any longer!
Agnes took me to see her church - which was across the road from where I lived. I'd never been in before - but more of that in the highlights blog which will come soon.
The house I was brought up in is just behind my shoulder. When I lived here all that grass was covered with trees and bushes and I had never seen the church until a few years ago.

I spent 2  very comfortable nights in the Mercat Hotel where I was treated as one of the family. However I shall always remember that the window below the l of Hotel is where I sat up all night get increasingly despondant as the Referendum results came in!

It was weird to be sleeping across the road from the church I went to every Sunday!

I liked this view though because this is the scene of my earliest memory - I can remember walking past the white building in the middle of the picture with a red handbag in one hand and the other holding my father's hand. I was juat over 3 years old at the time.

Always a visit to an old friend - who posed - after I had wiped the cobwebs from his face!

The view from the hotel kitchen - we walked under here to school every day.

The Mercat Cross in the Square at Cumnock.

A little bit of flora and fauna from Arisaig!

These birds were behaving like swallows getting ready to migrate - not swallows tho'!
It would be a great place for birdwatchers - saw plenty I didn't recognise. Also the most sparrows I have seen in ages.
Could this be a heron on the left?










The brambles (blackberries) have been over for weeks in London!

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Can you see the blue scabious in this photo, and orange coltsfoot?

and a little vetchy thing in this one?

and of course, honeysuckle, which has also been over for a few weeks in London.

All these were on the roadside as we climbed up to the station
and when we got there     . . .

the dreaded Japanese knotweed!

and finally Convolvulus arvensis

Arisaig

This is a memorial to the Czech and Slovak soldiers who were trained as SOE agents in this area.
Their job was to cause chaos in Europe during WW2.
I took these photos last week, posted them earlier today, and thought no more about them.
Until this morning I met someone from the Czech Republic who told me a story of political bravery in his family.
So, in honour of some brave people I recommend these links to you:
                                                                                    Czech Republic - read especially the section after                                                                                         WW2

Charter 77

The Idea of North

On the journey north from Glasgow there were a lot
of scenes like these. I ended up taking pictures of the trees
I tried to get the various kinds. Spruce, fir, pine, larch. Also lots of  silver birch and oak.

Then suddenly we got a view like this. I think it's Ardgartan Hotel in Arrochar  on Loch Long.

We had a bit of excitement when the train passengers realised that the emergency vehicle was a bomb disposal unit! 

This should have been the first picture - it is the Clyde between Cardross and Helensburgh

This is Loch Sheil from the Glenfinnan Viaduct

Not sure, but this has the feel of Loch Lomond about it - we were coming south again at this point.

Provand's Lordship

Provand's Lordship is the oldest house in Glasgow - 500 years old. It is the last remaining original building of the cathedral precinct.

When my father was a minister in the Church of Scotland, we lived in a manse with walls this thick in the pre Reformation part of the house.It was sooo cold - until the night storage heaters were installed!

The garden at the back is designed in a Renaissance style - and there is quite a large herb garden round the front and right hand side. I suppose that is from the days when the house had connections with St Nicholas Hospital .

I loved the richly-carved heavy dark wood furniture - it is just so right with the stone walls.

Evie, for some reason this single red brick caught my eye and made me think of you!

We did wonder if we would get back in this tiny doorway!

more information here

and if you get this far , you really must go across the road to the St Mungo Museum of  Religious Life and Art. This museum have an excellent café on the ground floor (even if they happen to be serviing lentil soup every time I go!) It looks out on to a Zen garden. And from the top floor there are excellent views of the Cathedral and the Necropolis.
St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life and Art

The Necropolis near Glasgow Cathedral

This is a high place in the east end of Glasgow - behind the Cathedral and the Royal Infirmary - and with good views over the city in all directions.

The first photos reminded me of the meaning of Glasgow - a dear green place.
I am fascinated by the idea of life coming out of stony places.
And impressed by the detail of the art carved into the stone.

More information here