VITAL SPARK SCULPTURE IN KELVIN PARK

Today, Sunday, was another beautiful autumn day in Glasgow. And for once, I got out for a good few hours with the camera - at Mairi and John's invitation - while we (kids included) headed off to see the Glasgow Boys exhibition (paintings) in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery as the exhibition finishes on Tuesday.

More about this wonderful exhibition later .... Meanwhile one's time and effort is always taken up with keeping the wee ones amused. It is hard work but the idea is to think up ways to keep them from running away or tearing up the place for 5 whole minutes.

So here is The Grandma Strategy (I mean, ya gotta use the buzz words these days ....!) : go and visit the sculpture which are on the grounds outside the building.

So with Ishie sitting beside me on the grass we looked at this sculpture in metal called The Vital Spark by George Wiley. It is a boat and it even looks like a boat. It is the type that used to ply the coast of Scotland and was fueled by coal hence the puffs of black smoke that came from its funnel.

Now there is a word that proved interesting - funnel. First of all, I asked Ishie if she liked the thing we were looking at. Not riveting (sorry about the pun) but agreed that it was OK. She noticed that it had the shape of a house. Well that is true! And as we discussed ... the purpose of the chimney is the same as that thing shaped like a toilet roll.

Alastair was a different story. His comments: "There's no water"... "Can I stroke it?" So I am here to tell you he actually did go up to it and, for two whole seconds, stroked the side of the hull. Not being quick enough with the camera to show such aesthetic appreciation I am offering, however, this much more representative and very typical 'Alastair Moment of Bliss'! Please note the patriotic rubber boots (apparently much commented on by passers-by!)