I am pleased that people around the world are seeing Glasgow as it really is, because of the Commonwealth Games coverage, and not how they perceive it from TV programmes such as Taggart where most of the population are murrrrdered on a daily basis in dull grey housing schemes and high rise flats in the Gorbals. This is not the Glasgow that I know and love.
Perception is a funny thing. When I first hitched up with Roberto many moons ago, his mother asked me if there was a Marks & Spencers in Glasgow yet. I found this a bit strange, as if the perception of Scotland/Glasgow was that of a backward nation. I replied "Yes, and we even have electricity, Beatrice" (can you tell I was a little bit miffed?). I had been going to the M&S in Argyle Street in Glasgow almost since I could walk. All our school uniforms were bought there and my grandmother and wee auntie used to put on their best hats and coats on a Saturday afternoon and get the bus into town, with the express desire of shopping in M&S and buying some lovely treats in the food department (choccy ginger nuts were my favourites).
Because of the recent coverage, people around the world have been able to witness for themselves the real friendliness of Glasgow people. I remember having an English boss who told me he visited Glasgow and was quite taken aback when people actually spoke to him when he was just standing waiting to cross a road at the traffic lights. People working in shops talk to you as if they are your best friends and that famous Glasgow sense of humour is never far away.
Tonight is the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and I will be glued to the screen looking out for my friend, Doreen, who is taking part in the final show. It's all top secret but I am hoping desperately that she will be one of Kylie's backing dancers. Doreen and I used to love a good bop at the best Glasgow nightspots at the time, the most hilarious laughs of the night being in the queue at Pizza Corolla at 2am with all the starving (and tired and emotional) night clubbing Glasgow people.
So to anyone who hasn't been to Glasgow, give it a try. You may be very pleasantly surprised.
Tonight is the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and I will be glued to the screen looking out for my friend, Doreen, who is taking part in the final show. It's all top secret but I am hoping desperately that she will be one of Kylie's backing dancers. Doreen and I used to love a good bop at the best Glasgow nightspots at the time, the most hilarious laughs of the night being in the queue at Pizza Corolla at 2am with all the starving (and tired and emotional) night clubbing Glasgow people.
So to anyone who hasn't been to Glasgow, give it a try. You may be very pleasantly surprised.
Ah days of school uniform... going to a small private school ours were made to measure and every year this man would come along and measure us girls. It wouldn't be allowed today of course, and back then, in the 50's/early 60's nobody thought anything of it, but I remember as a young teenage girl feeling distinctly uncomfortable being measured by this middle aged man.
ReplyDeleteOoooh creepy, Edwina! I would have been embarrassed as well. They didn't do that in M&S - ha ha!
DeleteBrilliant post ! Big Up Glasgow as Liza Tarbuck would say.
ReplyDeleteJean x
Thanks for your comment Jean. The "Taggart" image used to bother me.
Deletethe buildings are beautiful. there are some real gems there. I love Scotland so I could go on and on. don't forget a bloomin good curry!
ReplyDeleteHi Sol. I did forget about the curry! Yes, pakora to die for and piles of it and that was just the starters. You do have to go to the rolling room after a Glasgow curry.
DeleteYes but Glasgow is not as nice as South Cave!
ReplyDeleteGlasgow and the BBC did a fantastic job of the Commonwealth Games. Of course I knew the city fairly well in the seventies when I was a student at Stirling. It seemed so different from Edinburgh - more "real" somehow and it had better "fitba" teams too. It appears to have re-invented itself since then - in a good way. Can you sing "I Belong to Glasgow"? You should learn the whole thing and sing it at every opportunity Rogero can help with the chorus.
Ssshhhhh! Don't tell everybody. They'll all want to move here.
DeleteI've never really been into the Scottish-ness thing - tartan, Flower of Scotland, bagpipes, deep fried Mars bars etc, so I won't be singing "I Belong to Glasgow" as I go about my daily business.
I trust you wash your hands after you have gone about your daily business!
DeleteAlways!
DeleteNothing to do with the post but hope Bertha passed you by yesterday!
ReplyDeleteHi Edwina. We had torrential rain for most of Sunday and I think Bertha is still blowing a bit today. Very windy but sunny. Hope all is well in Norfolk.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes from Carol