bungo in the back lanes

Last Saturday we spent a lovely afternoon at the "Bungo in the Back Lanes" event in Strathbungo. This is a brilliant thing. There are two really long lanes that run parallel to Pollokshaws Road and then three shorter lanes connecting them which run perpendicular. Once a year for the past few years, all the houses that back onto the lanes throw a strange little festival.

The residents bring tables into the lanes and sell off loads of their old stuff in a mass neighbourhood jumble sale. Its class - just like a proper old school festival or village fair - just a bunch of folk coming together for a fun. There's no sponsorship and no real major commercial stuff going on. Just folk coming up with ideas for things to do or too sell, with a large number of stalls were doing it for charity and the funny thing is, that they only advertise within the area they live. The three short lanes are the main heart of the event with proper set up areas in each with outdoors bars, marqueed seating areas and bands/ performers playing music. My favourite was a little lady sitting on her own back steps, playing keyboard.

As well as the stalls of brickabrac, there are people baking cakes, a couple with bbq's cooking fresh meat from the farmers market, the local deli had a stall selling sandwiches and the boy and dad in the photo above were selling conkers for 20p for 5.

Looking south along Regent square lane.

Looking North along Regent Square Lane. The event was a great way for people to redistribute their unwanted items. We've all got things in our homes that we no longer need and this way, instead of throwing them out, you can sell them onto someone who needs them, for a few pennies. Annie for example got a grate for her fire place from a very helpful man, who lets us have it for nothing.

The range of things on sale, was very interesting - above is a photo from a table where a guy was selling honey from his own bees. He even had the above glass case full of bees to prove it was genuine. There were also stalls selling board games, jigsaws and books.

Looking East up Queens square lane. We enjoyed some very tasty venison burgers freshly cooked on someones home bbq. We also had several go's on the various tombola stands and between the five of us managed to win a baby bath book and a can of Skol beer.

Looking West down Regent Square lane. A woman selling helium balloons. There was a lot of fun events for kids to take part in - The lane above was mainly set up for kids things - including a bouncy castle, a coconut shie, bat the rat, throw the hoop, face painting and all the other classic games from the village fair ground.

There was also lots of events for the grown ups as well - including Thai chi demonstrations and 15 minute massages on a proper massage table under a tree. There were also a lot of local community groups there telling people about their work and their facilities. We picked up flyers for local tennis clubs, dance lessons and the New Victoria Garden allotments annual show, which takes place on the 18 August( Albert Drive at Glenapp Street opposite St Albert's Church). Judging by the very impressive garden plant stall they had set up in the lanes it will be worth a visit.

At the end of the day we set off home with our bags laden with goodies and decided to have a conker battle. Our friend Nicole is American and had never had a go before - so Gav offered to let her try and hit his. She took one swipe and you can see the results above.

A great day and hopefully we'll find out about it in advance next year and be able to plan to get along and to help spread the word that it is on.

For more information about Strathbungo and the people that organise the "Bungo in the back lane" event visit the Strathbungo Society website.

They also have an excellent guide to living in the G41 postcode and have a list of local shops, community resources and lots of other useful information.