Well, speaking for myself, I feel, the fourth dimension time, seems to just race through our lives, usually leaving us rather disoriented. I often wish we could reduce the pace at which we seem to be propelled through this life. That coupled with the busy "full-on-energized" activity everyone exudes, makes me, for one, dislike the modern way of being. I know so many people whom I believe are sadly deluded in thinking that being busy is productive, and that they have such busy lives and therefore unable to engage in the humanity of making normal communication and conversation. The Pandemic seemed to distort the values of our delicate society. I miss the pace of life in days of old. This is just one aspect of the progression of age that challenges our enjoyment of the maturity of the whole aging process. For so many reasons growing older can be a sad experience, but we are cushioned by the acquisition of wisdom.. Over recent months more valued friends have passed away and it is simply impossible not to feel overwhelmed by this great sadness....we must therefore continue to find and retain the strength we need from our faith.
The past couple of months seem to have simply flown by. The last time I posted here was in response to my sixty-second birthday, on 6th May. Since then I have spent time back out in my garden in order to reflect on the general presentation of life and work. The B&B Season had begun briskly, and I was fortunate enough to find a gap week at the start of June to get "off Island". I headed back to the urban world. I had a brilliant week in Glasgow, reconnecting with so much in such a brief time. A week is never long enough. But even time in my adopted city is now shrouded in extreme grief and loss of dear family and friends.
Now I feel it is vital to cram every moment off island with a power pack of activities that leave me the return home recuperating, hey ho.
Friday 2nd June a mad cap race to catch the lunchtime ferry and then relaxing the whole voyage in the good company of friends. Thank you...Ross Munro and Mary MacAulay.
I stayed with my nephew Liam and his wife Sneha, the following morning walking in the Glasgow sunshine through The Gairbraid Estate, Dawsholm and Maryhill Parks to The Western Necropolis to view my Dear Sister-in-Law Lorna's head stone and place flowers.
In the evening I went to the Roger Waters concert in the Hydro Stadium. Having got two tickets from a friend in Storoway, was unable to convince members of my family to join me. That was my first visit to the Hydro, and I was most impressed. Wondering why I hadn't been when I was a citizen.
Glasgow is a special place for me in so many ways and Glasgow in June my favourite time of all. I loved being a student at the GSA, then being involved with the West End Festival and it's Carnival. Making those huge costumes through the non-dark nights and walking home absolutely exhausted, are my memories of June in Glasgow.
As ever I keep a visual Journal. Sunday 4th June was hot from the start. Glasgow can get very hot, in summer. After breakfast I ambled off down the Switchback, crossed the Forth and Clyde Canal at Temple Lock and on to Anniesland via Crow Road and Morrison's Store. Then out into Great Western Road. Here I noticed a Turkish Barber and and treated myself to a pampering. Including an eye watering nostril hot waxing...Beauty standing pinching...och!
Then I did some drawing along the road at Binghams Pond.
Monday 5th June, I went for a most nostalgic walk through the West End, through the day and met friends Rachel Guthrie and Jim Mackechnie in the evening.
Tuesday 6th June, I went into "Down Town" Glasgow, still my favourite architectural set-piece. I met up with my sister-in-law Susan at John Smith house, the Unite Office, in West Regent Street, where we attended a special meeting of The Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign. The speaker was the Ambassador of Cuba. After the meeting I went back to Susan's new flat and we went for a wonderful Italian meal to Bella Vita, in Mosspark Boulevard.
Wednesday 7th June, I met up with my friend John Cunningham, who came up to Byres Road, from Ayr. I enjoyed the afternoon showing John round my old haunts and adopted home of Hillhead. For four years from May 1999 to May 2003, I was the Glasgow City Labour Councillor for the Ward. I got to know ever inch of the place, which was more like a town within the city.
Thursday 8th June, it was time to travel home to Stornoway. My nephew gave a lift to the bus station. All seemed well but then there was an alleged bomb threat with a suspicious suitcase being left in the very centre of the bus station. The place had to be evacuated, which caused a delay. In situations like that we just have to remain calm and patiently wait. We made the necessary connections and, that evening, I had a pleasant ferry journey in the company of Alison and John Cunningham. I have known Alison since we were children. Its seems that I know a few John Cunninghams, each are very much one off characters.
I really enjoyed my trip off the island and currently have no idea when I will get away again. But this weekend I had a lovely visit from my sister-in-Law Susan, and look forward to various other members of the family visiting.
June was a warm month and I kept myself active out in my garden, almost every day. It is very much a project in progress. When it does reach a level of completion I intend to hold a special party.
This July has been a very wet month, But our gardens and rivers needed hydration.
Today the 17th of July would been my dear mother's 86th birthday, so I will be thinking of her and doing something special to mark it.
KB 17 July 2023.