ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.
As it was a day of sunshine and showers I thought I would have a solo trip a couple of weeks ago to Bellahouston Park. One of my favourites for views. Three gable end murals sit close to each other on Paisley Road West just across the road from these flats and near the junction for Mosspark Boulevard.
The first is for Winnie Drinkwater. The first female to hold a commercial pilots licence... anywhere. And she went on to be an aeronautical engineer... also one of the first females to get into that profession... anywhere. And she came from Cardonald. Hence the mural.
The next gable end down and only a minutes walk further on is the new 'Still Game' mural. A popular Scottish comedy about two pensioners and their friends based in a Glasgow housing estate. The very first episode of which took place in South Nitshill ( Whitriggs Road) then moved to hi rise flats in Maryhill. The pub they drank in was in Ruchill. And their local Paper Shop was in Townhead. The golf course episode they played on was located in Knightswood and this district was also the setting for many other episodes as well. (For distance views over the city type scenes along with Maryhill canal basin outdoor views.) Victoria Park was the location for the park bench episode... so they definitely got in their 10,000 healthy steps a day going round that lot. More than I do every day.
The third mural in this area is another gable end one a minute away. At the junction of Paisley Road West and Mosspark Boulevard. A traditional Scottish piper image. An image known world wide, especially at international football matches and weddings but outside of that... and the Scottish tourist industry... not what we generally wear. I've only put on a kilt on three occasions in my life... all for weddings... then immediately back into the hire shop again afterwards. And very few if any Scottish football fans wear one to their local football matches. Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen, etc. Not a single kilt on show there.... or on the street in general life normally.
An older mural I liked on a previous trip, seen from Cardonald Cemetery. Schoolkids obviously but brilliant.
I then parked the car on Mosspark Boulevard to go into Bellahouston Park and was lucky here as they were just installing the fences for the Summer Season of Concerts. 27th of June to 4th July 2026. Major music acts so I was glad I missed that just by lucky chance as it would have been mobbed. 30,000 to 80,000 folk predicted. Look at the woods here, above. This is my concert hall. And it's always been free. The first world wide web... Evolving and brewing magic over many millions of years. Infinitely complex and beautiful. All I need. The great forest.
A flying grizzly bear. Shouldn't be able to do it...fly that is...as aerodynamic as a fridge freezer or a washing machine with wings... but nobody told the bumblebee.
The bee meadow at Bellahouston Park. Common Spotted Orchid. Funnily enough all the bees were elsewhere.
I found them all in the walled garden instead. No wind, plenty of flowers, easy commute between plants.
The complexity of flowers.
High Rise Flats from the Walled Garden... which is next to C.R Mackintosh designed 'House for an Art Lover.'
I like this aspect of it. Pretty.
And this side is ok as well...
But I've always thought this side was not. Reminds me too much of deck access estates and brutalist architecture. If I lived here... seeing this everyday... I'd be depressed...
so I thought...
I'd change it...
with some tasteful additions...
Much better... a house that's always happy to see me.
Even the tame elephant that wanders around the vast plains of Bellahouston Park thought it was an improvement... and came over to see it...
Suits a forest environment better I think. Free the Bellahouston Forest Elephant # Boo. Give it a companion at least. Chains are for children...
Mosspark view.
Cardonald view.
The tower and the raven.
Much further up Paisley Road West there are other murals.
Cat and dog.
The colours of June.
This is probably one of the most beautiful 5 minute films you will ever see in your lifetime. And the most profound. Will we save the planet? Is that still an option? And if this is a single teaspoon... does it get even smaller than this? Is there any end point for living things? A stage/level too small to have life existing in it?
1 comment:
I know of the first three murals but haven’t seen them in person. The two near the end are new to me.
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