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 on earth. 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 long running 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... and Central Station for the elastic bat episode....so they definitely got in their 10,000 healthy steps a day going round that lot. More than I do every day. Funnily enough I don't remember Cardonald ever featuring in it :o) One of the few areas of Glasgow that didn't appear. But maybe I missed that episode.
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 seen on the street in general life normally. But it works a treat abroad... expected even.
An older mural I liked on a previous trip, seen from Cardonald Cemetery. Schoolkids input obviously but brilliant. Love the faces and the vivid colours.
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 appearing 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 since birth. 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 in life. 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 subtle additions...
...it does have art in the title after all...
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 of life... does it get even smaller than this? Is there any end point for living things? A stage/level too small to have any life existing in it?
11 comments:
I know of the first three murals but haven’t seen them in person. The two near the end are new to me.
Hi Anabel. There is another good one but it's near Crookston Road on Paisley Road West so not close to the other three featured here. I've got a photo of it somewhere. Finding that is the problem years later as I've probably called it something other than Cardonald period mural.
I love all these photos! Thank you so much for sharing this tour.
Thank you Linda.
I must tell you, my husband and I loved "Still Game"!!! So funny!! Seems I remember that one of the actors sadly lost his son and the show was not filmed for a number of years. When they began filming again, the actors said they were closer to the old ages! I watch more British shows than I do American ones!
Hi Kay, Although I watch a lot of UK shows I also watch a lot of USA stuff as all sorts of box sets find their way into charity shops. So 24, Dexter, Bates Motel, Fringe, CSI (various cities) Prison Break.The Knick, Sopranos, The Shield, Bones, Lost, Breaking Bad, I've seen them all as well as European box sets and books The Killing. Dragon Tattoo, Gomorrah, Scandi noir etc. It's a lucky dip but far cheaper that way... and a hobby to pass the time. Somewhere to go as well if its raining... which it does a lot here. It's why it's so green.
I would have been your second commenter but it wouldn't let me comment yet again - re-trying...
Now those flats in the first photo are very attractive indeed in the muted pastel colours - much better than a lot of those bright red and other primary colour monstrosity flats you sometimes like!
I wish I could get rid of my Dad's full Highland regalia (he used it for Scottish Country Dancing) but I haven't been able to... any ideas? It's a Fraser Hunting tartan for the kilt I think. There is a beautiful 'Prince Charlie' jacket with the square silver studs and a superbly buckled wide leather belt. The sporran is quite nice too and there's even those long cream 'hose' socks with green flashes. And 8 pairs of size 8 ghillie shoes! but noone seems interested - not even the various dance classes around.
I had to really laugh at your mini dissertation on the aerodynamics of bumble bees!
Hi Carol, I like pastel colours as well, which is why I took that photo. You might try ebay if it's in good nick or donate it into a local charity shop. Scots are always in them looking out for bargains. If it's that 'click on the image' sets I found counting slowly to ten before pressing enter your selection worked better than doing it fast. I have the same trouble with wordpress sometimes. Usually have to switch over to chrome for that.
no - strangely, it doesn't ask me to click on the photos any more (it used to). It just says 'publishing' and then after scrolling for a minute says it didn't publish it after all and that it can't accept comments at this time...
No idea why it does that but like email it's changed. Used to be really simple to use ....now its harder.
I hardly know any of those American shows! In fact, I have only heard of them. It is British TV for me!
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