GLASGOW - WARTS AND ALL

Before leaving Heroe(s) at Glasgow Airport, a view of 'the other side' of the city:

A notice on the bar of our local pub... bottom lettering states it is a quote from Samuel Johnston, 1763.

This is 'real Glasgow'! The Duke of Wellington wearing his decorations in the city centre.

This also says it all... taken in Kelvingrove Park looking up the hill to Glasgow University. (Photo taken in the '90s.)

Lastly, I took this 2 days ago (9:15 pm) from Mugdock on the immediate outskirts of the city.

LOCAL HERO

Over 1,400 pints are paid for and metaphorically lined up, on the bar at the Glasgow Airport Holiday Inn with John Smeaton’s name on them.

He achieved overnight fame in the hours after the Glasgow Airport attack when he delivered his now famous message to terrorists: “This is Glasgow – we’ll just set aboot ye.” A self-effacing lad, he states “anyone else would have done exactly the same as me.”

Jokes in his honour are now on a website, here, set up by a fan.

And now we have the Glasgow Humour:

Police today named the the Glasgow Airport terrorists as Sinj Mahjeep and Bashur Doorin. Both have confessed to celebrating the Muslim feast of Ramavan.

One of the Glasgow Airport terrorists is in hospital eating haggis, drinking whisky and reciting poetry. Apparently he is in the Burns unit.

8 METRE YACHTS ON THE CLYDE - CENTENARY EVENT

The 8 Metre Centennial World Championship 2007 starts today on the Clyde. Twenty-two of these elegant boats are here for a week and are based in Rhu Marina (with the race being run by the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club of Rhu). To see who's who and what countries are represented click here.

This is one of the 2 Canadian boats preparing to leave the marina. Most of the yachts do not have an engine (they are towed out, then raise their sails) - nor do they have any lifelines along the deck!!!

Photo by Adam

These boats were originally designed and built in the Clyde. My feeling is that they are like Classic cars - hobbies for groups or individuals with loadsa money. The marina was full of big trucks with trailers and cradles plus big RV type vehicles.

Photo by Adam

Light airs out on the Clyde.

These 2 photos are of the same scene but using 2 different cameras. (I dropped the good Nikon camera and am using the "back-up" Sony.) The fleet is heading for the start line.

The following photo is taken by Adam showing the Australian yacht Saskia (just right of centre), a Wm Fife III, 1931, helmed by John Stephen. Very spiffy sails - modern material, silvery grey with dark grey reinforcements - quite different from all the other (traditional?) sails.


Photo by Adam

Out enjoying a lovely Sunday (the yachts have just passed out of sight headed for the start line) are the good folk of Helensburgh. The whole week is devoted to this event so hopefully this glorious weather will last and I can get some additional (closer) photos. Watching a fleet sail by is quite thrilling! (I've only ever seen photos of them on big, glossy calendars!)

INTERMISSION TIME