Glasgow

After a rather strange trip back, via the east rather than west coast (thanks to road closures, etc) which took at least two hours longer than it might have otherwise, we fell into bed at David M’s, very glad of it. Next day was reserved for Glaswegian frolics – and it didn’t disappoint.



We took a look at the newly redeveloped Clyde riverfront near where Grandma Trail was born and brought up in her shipbuilding family – but the science museum and new BBC Scotland buildings told nothing of her tale. We popped past the two thousand year old ruins of a Roman bath house, just down the road from David M’s in Bearsden, and nestled among some flats. Amazing technology – those Romans! And finally we visited a preserved tenement house, very like the one Dad spent the first 16 years of his life in – sharing a bed with his brother, in a cupboard off the lounge room, etc. And they were lucky! Dad says David M used to share the same sized two-room and kitchen tenement with his parents, brother and two sisters!! Squeezy!

Then it was back to David M’s place for a quick take-away meal (Italian, Scottish stylee) before heading off to see Bardowie Loch just east of Milingavie, a small one on the scheme of things, but perfect for learning to sail. Dad spent about ten years there as a young’n pootling about – as did David, the big difference being that DM continued for the last 50 years in varying roles with the Clyde Cruising Club (dingy section) – while Dad hadn’t seen the place since the late ‘50s. We had a poke around – and quite well set up it is too, though Dad was surprised at the 20 odd boats on the Loch – which he’d considered busy with nine sails back in the day.

Then it was off to the pub. If Indi got the chocolate factory then Dad got the Ardunan Hotel – where David M had arranged a meet with a heap of the old gang (they meet still for a bevy every Thursday night, but we would be gone by then). In attendance, Indi (bored), Jim, Dad, David Mollison, Ronnie Sharp, Hamish Thompson and Willie Weir. Plenty of reminiscing over who’d been where and fallen off what boat in 1949, etc. Not too late a night, but lots of fun none the less.