Bonfire Night

I think one of the most interesting bonfire nights I've ever enjoyed was when a short film I had made was shown at the Chateaux Gateaux in Bridge Street.

Before the films were shown we wandered onto the roof of the building, up a winding, derelict set of stairs which had missing handrails, missing steps and a dead pigeon. The roof itself also didn't have a protective handrail around the edge which, being a clumsy individual, did make me very uneasy. The view however was great and we also enjoyed the accompaniment of a rather odd but enthusiastic acoustic band as well.

The last two years I have again opted out of actually travelling to one of the organised events and instead have just sat on the roof of my flat which gives a great 360 degree view of the city. Last year, it was pretty freezing, but was livened up by my neighbours joining me on the roof to launch their own rockets.

Its a very uneasy feeling watching rockets explode around the city. It feels like a pretty war zone as clouds of smoke start swirling into the sky and eventually the city disappears in a cloud of dust. Not sure what I'll do this year. I've got the night class on that night so might miss the whole thing, though I'm sure I'll see some explosions over the weekend.

Its strange that once a year, everyone in the country goes crazy buying live gunpowder, setting fires all around the city and letting off controlled explosions? We are all mental.

An alternative option from going along to the big show at Glasgow Green this year is to go to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Green Party's, "alternative bonfire night" at The Pandora on Victoria Road. Its a fund raising event which will include a raffle, a quiz, seasonal food and prizes. It starts at 8pm and runs until 11pm. Entrance is £3 or £5 for couples.

Do other political parties do the same thing? Do they share out events across the year - labour get valentines day, the tories get pancake day?

What other bonfire night parties are going on? Any suggestions?

Design Collective Studio

The Design Collective Studio is holding an exhibition of work by local craftsman featuring work by Talking Jewellery, Crazy for Ruthie, DesIna Glass, Karen James Ceramics and Lucky Cats handmade soaps and toiletries.

The studio is open Wed-Sat , 11am - 6pm. 30/09/06-15/11/06.

Items are available to buy and commisions can be placed with the maker. Phone 0141 445 5077 for more information.

The current exhibiton ends on the 15/11/2006

Location: The Design Collective Studio, 847 Govan Road, Glasgow

Eilidh's Daily Ukulele Ceilidh

Todays suggestion of a fun thing to do in the Southside is a slightly strange one but comes highly recommended.

Eilidh MacAskill is one half of performance artist magicians Fish and Game (Formerly Reader) who's unique style, layering multiple ideas in a humourous, playful, dream like fashion have wowed audiences around Scotland for the last few years. Their past performances have included a show involving a man that wants to become a whale, a campfire storytelling session (with the audience tucked up together in sleeping bags) an exploration of what it means to be Scottish and a beautiful reimagining of the nativity play.

Now Eilidh brings us "Eilidh's Daily Ukuele Ceilidh" where each day of 2007 she has been performing with her little ukuele around Britain, the US and Canada. In the run up to the completion of the project on 31 December Eilidh is having a pretty busy time, performing all over the place, the Traverse at the weekend before coming over to Glasgow for a show at the Tron. The highlight of her month, and probably of the entire year however is a show at Sammy Dows on 67 -71 Nithsdale road, Pollokshields on the 5 November. What better way to get into the spirit of celebration commemorating someone trying to blow up parliment than to go along and listen to a bit of first rate Ukueleing (sp?). The show starts at 7pm.

If it wasn't for my astronomy class (which continues to be excellant) then I'd be in the front row.

Eilidh's Daily Ukuele Ceilidh

fish and game site

Scotsman preview of Eilidh's Show

GYCT Present Ali Forty and the Thieving Babas

Soon, if not already, well be exposed to Christmas music, endless renditions of let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. The restaurants around the city have been advertising their Christmas menu's since Easter. The winter lights are up, and yes there are decorations in the shops. And here we are with our first Christmas post [Sorry].

If you'd like to take some time out on the run up to the big day and support a great organisation, book some tickets for the GYCT's Christmas Panto, Ali Forty and the Thieving Babas. I know it's not yet November but word has it this will sell out quickly, as their last show was fantastic. The show is on from the 12th to the 15th of December at 7,30pm every night, with a special matinee show at 2.30pm on the Saturday and is on at the Queens Park Church on Queens Drive.

You can book tickets by phoning 0141 423 6037 or 0141 634 2622
or email tickets@gyct.co.uk

Heritage Lottery win for Govan Cross

Great news for Govan, the Heritage Lottery fund has awarded a grant of £939,000. The award will enable the local community to revitalise Govan Cross.

HLF’s earmarked grant of £939,000 plus £25,000 of development funding will enable the local community to revitalise Govan Cross, helping it to become a better place to live, work and visit. The scheme concentrates on the Pearce Institute, a striking example of Edwardian architecture, gifted to the people of Govan in 1906 in memory of Sir William Pearce, Chairman of the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company and Govan’s flamboyant first Member of Parliament. The Pearce Institute’s historic features will be repaired and restored, as will the buildings, shops and streets in the surrounding areas.

Links: Heritage Lottery Fund

Hi ho Silver(burn) away

Despite sounding like the name of a My Little Pony, a bad James Bond mission or an allergic reaction to metal the new shopping centre Silverburn opens in Pollok today.

Housing 95+ shops, dozens of eateries, coffee shops and "civic" garden spaces, the centre's owners are trying to focus on shopping as a destination, as a grand day out for the family.

"Scotland’s next generation of shopping destination is fast becoming a reality. Over a million square feet of new retail thinking just fifteen motorway minutes from the City Centre, in South Glasgow. "

Not my idea of a fun day out, I hate shopping, well unless its for books or junk at a jumble sale. But judging from the ever increasing number and size of out-of-town retail parks in Glasgow a lot of people disagree. Something I'm not clear on though is exactly what does "next generation of shopping destination" mean and what exactly is "new retail thinking"? From scanning their site, it appears the "next generation" involves trying to disguise the fact you are in a big out-of-town centre, by taking lots of ideas from real life cities - namely, lanes, squares and gardens to try and make it feel more intimate and less impersonal than the usual "buy, buy, buy stylee".

As with all big projects there will be good and bad. In the good, hopefully the Centre is going to bring a lot of employment to the area and it's 10pm closing time will probably come in handy now and again. (Late opening hours is something the city centre stores should try as it would bring a bit of non-drunken nightlife to the city.)

In the bad, there is the over dependence on the car. I know that there are new bus routes to get out there, but the people using these are not the Centre's main targets. I guess my main concern however is the effect on the local, already declining, shopping centres in Southside. These will have to learn to adapt to survive possibly by introducing a lot more one off specialist shops.

Anyway, Silverburn is here and I'm sure will be greatly successful. I'll withhold judgement until I've actually been to the place and checked out exactly how "new retail thinking" works. If it involves someone else going out, trying on and buying everything you need for you while you sit in a cafe with your feet up, then it might just get my vote. (But I doubt it)


herald preview

The Close Project

This years 'Close Project' opens on Friday night in the Southside Studios in Govanhill. The launch starts at 7pm with performances through out the night and some free mulled wine and snacks.

The Project involves art, performance, sculpture, installation and a range of other events in tenement closes across the city. I missed it last year but I'll be hoping to get to some of the events, over the week. There are some pictures of last years event on the Close Project's site.

Click here for programme of events southside events and west and east events

If you went last year, let us know what you thought.

We are all in the gutter . . .

. . . but some of us, are doing a fantastic course in astronomy at the Planetarium.

Me and my flatmate are doing a five week course, "The Winter Night Sky" organised through Glasgow University's Adult Learning scheme. Last night was the first night and it was really enjoyable. Playing to a packed house of 110 happy spectators, our guide Steve Owens (Head of the Planetarium) was extremely interesting and infectiously enthusiastic. His passion for the subject was very evident and he offered to answer questions from the audience before the class, during the class, at the break, after the class or by via email between classes happily handing out his email address to everyone. I hope for his sake we don't all start emailing in with questions immediately.

If you've never been to the planetarium you really should give it a go. You lie back in large comfy chairs, looking up at the huge white dome ceiling. As the lights dim, the ceiling appears to vanish and a spectacular vista of stars hangs all around you in a crystal clear precision that sadly we don't see very often in real life. When the stars first began to sparkle above us and the milky way revealed itself, there was an audible wow from the audience and as I looked about the room, everyone had big grins on their faces like little kids.

As I mentioned above the lecture itself was excellent, covering a simple introduction to astronomy and pointing out some of the more well known constellations - Orion, the plough etc. Steve then explained about the changes that you can see in the sky, from the passage of the sun and planets, to the waxing of the moon. As he talked people shouted out questions and we would shoot off into intriguing tangents but always returning to the main topic. Sadly, if you think this all sounds like fun, I'm afraid this particular course is fully booked, but I'd recommend contacting the Science Centre and finding out about any other classes that are on.

While you can attend the planetarium during a visit to the Science Centre - the day time talks are aimed at kids and though you will get the wow factor of just seeing the dome in work, the shows only last 30 mins, which just isn't long enough to take it all in, so a longer course is best.

If you don't feel like committing to a full 5 or 10 week class however, there are also monthly lectures on the last Thursday of the month. The next one therefore is on Thursday the 25th at 7pm. Booking is essential so call 0871 540 1000. Tickets are £4.95.

To Kill a Mocking Bird

On Monday night the Govan Festival are showing To Kill a Mocking Bird at the Pierce Institute, on Govan road, at 7 o clock.

An American film classic, based upon a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel: In the rural American south during the depths of the Depression, two children watch as their principled father takes a stand against intolerance. A gentle and leisurely movie despite some rough content, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' benefits immensely from its near-perfect casting, particularly of Mary Badham and Philip Alford as the children and Gregory Peck in the role for which he is best remembered, as their wise and patient father. Superb storytelling; superb film.

Call 0141 419 0329 for tickets

Opening night of the Govan Festival

Just a quick reminder that the International Govan Festival opens this evening. There are two events on: a show by Circo Modo and the opening night Ceilidh, both are being held at the Pierce Institute. I am not sure whether you can buy tickets at the door, but I am assuming you can, otherwise call the number at the bottom of this post.

If you ever wanted to run away and join the circus, the Circo Modo show is for you. It 's on at the Pierce Institute, tonight, and starts at 6pm. Phone 0141 419 0329 to book tickets

A ladies game

This coming Saturday is a great time to visit the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park. Not just because of the football fever that Scotland's recent brilliant results have brought to the city but also because it coincides with the opening of a new exhibition dedicated to woman's football. Following the Woman's World Cup in Japan last month, which got a lot of attention for the wrong reasons - (some dodgy goal keeping and some quite bizarre refereeing in a few of the high profile games didn't help) - there appears to be an increasing interest in woman's football and a few members of the Scottish Woman's team will be there to sign autographs.

There is also the extra incentive that entry to the museum has been reduced from £5.50 to £2 for adults and from £2.75 to £1 for children. Stadium tours will also be reduced from £6 to £2 for adults and from £5 to £1 for children.

So why not get along, go on the tour and walk on the hallowed turf where hopefully this time next month, regardless of what happens tonight, we'll beat Italy and find way into Euro 2008.

(Doh - I think I jinxed the Georgia game by putting on this post before the match.)

Re-Identyfikacja

On Sunday night at 7pm the Polish theatre group GAPPAD, are performing their piece entitled Re-Identyfikacja at the Pierce Institute on Govan Road. [diagonally across the road from the underground station - See our Govan Map].

RE-ID (Re-Identyfikacja) is a bi-lingual (English/Polish) exploration of the effects of emigration on identity, using bold physicality and live music. Reconstucting struggles of Poles in Scotland, they ask the unavoidable question: Do we return or re-identify? Following the success of 'RE-ID's premiere at the Tron Theatre Glasgow, where they played to sold out audiences, and a highly successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, GAPPAD are thrilled to return to Glasgow for the Govan International Festival.

Tickets are £5/£3 and are available from the Pierce Institute 01414190329
*Image from GAPPAD website


EDIT REVIEW

Well, we went along to see the show on Sunday night. Was a bit strange when we arrived in Govan as the place was completly empty. Never really been there at night before and it was strange to see the streets so quiet.

The Pearce Institute however was bustling, with a good sized crowd turned out given a try of Polish chocolates, wine and beer before the show. It was the first time I'd been to the Pearce Institute, though Ann goes all the time for her lunch. I therefore did my usual and went for a wander to see what I could see. Looks an interesting place, and I'll maybe go back next year for the doors open day.

From overhearing conversations in the theatre before the play began, I'd guess the majority of the audience were Polish and I think therefore they probably got more out of the show which was half in Polish and half in English.

This was delibertly done, to create a bit of distance and confusion among the non-polish speaking audience and give you more empathy with the alienating situation than many non-fluent english speaking migrants find themselves in, but I did find myself sometimes struggling to understand people. As most of the dialogue was either shouted or whispered, I often couldn't decide if it was Polish or if it was English and that I was just having difficulty with the casts accents.

In saying the above, some of the finest moments of the play arose from skillful playing with and blending the two different languages. The best scene was an interview sequence where we could hear the interviewers questions in English, then spoken in Polish by a translator, inner thoughts expressed aside by the interviewe and then actual answers given in english and Polish. It felt very sharpe and fresh and was my highlight.

Overall we did enjoy the show, but felt that its short running time of 1 hour was long enough. The cast were all very good and we really enjoyed the music. I think in total I'll give it ***.

Go Ape in the afternoon

We received an email from Richard Leyton who has advised that there are plans to create a Go Ape adventure playground in Pollokpark. There is a good page on the councils website explaining what this is, along with a feedback questionnaire let them know if you think its a good idea or not. Unfortunately, this hasn't been that well advertised and you need to send it back today - so get filling.

Not really had a proper chance to reflect on the proposals myself to decide if I think its good or bad. On the one hand, it will be a useful facility for kids in the city on the other, its taking over a bit of natural woodland and renting it out to private hands.

What do you think?

[Click here to find out more]

ps - I like the map on their site where the whole city appears to be covered in grass - what a green and pleasent land it would be.

Govan International Festival

The third Govan International Festival kicks off this Friday night, with a free opening Ceilidh at the Pierce Institute, on Govan Road. This year's festival contains music, literature and theatre events, along with two new elements:Dance and Film.

Over the nine days of the festival, there are events taking place at several venues in the Greater Govan Area: The Pierce Institute will host the film nights, and theatre productions. To Kill a Mocking bird is being shown, and on Sunday evening there is a performance piece from the only Polish theatre group in Scotland. The piece is in both Polish and English, I'd really like to go and see this so I think I 'll book tickets tomorrow.

The Brechin bar on Govan Road, is hosting the literature events. {The Brechin Bar is the bar where Inspector Rebus drinks, in the tv programme. They've been filming inside and outside of the Brechin several times over the last few months.} Each evening there is a writer talking about their work, Alex Gray is scheduled for next wednesday night which should be interesting. After the literature reviews and readings there is live music.

There is also an event scheduled at the Grand Ole Oprey at Kinning Park. I've been wanting to go there for ages. I quite fancy an evening of drunken line dancing.

I'll post more details tomorrow...but there is some events, already in our calender.

For tickets and additional information contact 0141 419 0329 or click on the links below

Brochure 1 and Brochure 2

The shop that Jack built

A while ago I mentioned wandering around battlefield while I waited for an X-ray. On that walk I found a load of old, interesting shops one of which is shown above, J. E. Levingstone's Gift Store 47-55 Sinclair Drive. I decided to go into the store and have a chat with the owner on the pretence of buying something. I wasn't sure what I would buy but the window display gave the impression that there would be a wide scope once inside.

I walked up and tried the door, but it was locked. Disapointed I was about to turn away when a elderly man in a smart suite and hat darted over to the door and unlocked it. "Come on in."

The man was Jack, who was in his 60's and had set the shop up with his wife many moons ago. Smart as a pin and dressed like the 1950's Jack was extremely helpful though seemed almost wary to have a customer in his shop.

I asked if I could have a quick look round, while I tried to think of something to buy. I was correct to think that the shop would have a wide selection of goods for sale, it has hundreds of things. Though they are all of a very strange choice, like from the past - ceramic bears, toy cars, tartan pencil cases, flowery stationary, cassette players and blank tapes!! There is also a huge selection of really useful everyday things, like scissors, selotape, staples, boxes, pens, evenlopes, pins, plugs and other everyday household items.

It really is an amazing cave of a place, with boxes stacked high on the floor and on the shelves. I had the odd feeling that I had gone back in time to the days of "open all hours" or that I was an explorer in uncharted land.

I decided to buy some batteries as they always come in useful so I asked Jack if he had any. He thought for a minute turned away and started to rummage in some boxes before presenting a set of four AA batteries. I handed Jack a £20 note but he didn't have any change. I offered to go buy something from one of the other nearby shops and come back but Jack insisted that I looked an honest lad and that the next time I was passing I could just drop in the money.

Despite Jack's protests I didn't feel comfortable leaving without paying so went to the nearest newsagent and bought juice and some sweets to break the £20 and then went back to Jack, who again jumped up to let me in.

I handed over the money and Jack set about controlling a giant ornate beast of a til which gobbled up the money and almost his figiners. I asked him about keeping the front door locked and he told me that they really only kept the Gift part of the shop open as a wee extra and a storage area as their main business was supplying stationary to local businessess and that they had a stationary department two doors down. I told him about Southside Happenings and he happily let me take a couple of photos but couldn't understand why anyone would want to see his little shop. Sadly he refused to let me take his own photo. I packed away my batteries thanked Jack and he let me out the shop and locked the door behind me and returned to his comfy chair.

Anyone got anymore suggestions for good shops we could visit that have interesting characters to chat too?

(I'll add a few more details about the shop when I find my notebook where I wrote down the things Jack told me)

The witches are coming

I like halloween, I think it could be my favourite of the annual events, less dangerous than bonfire night but with all the colour of Christmas and you are allowed to dress up in daft costumes if you want which is a plus in my book - though our scooby gang costume of recent times was not great - I look more like Tony Hart than Fred.

We didn't get any guisers last year though me and my neighbours did share a large bucket of sweets which we kept on the stairs for a week. When I was a kid, I used to hate having to do the wee song or joke at each persons house, but now that I'm a grown up I'm annoyed that kids today don't even bother pretending to entertain you, they just ring the door bell and hold open their bags.

Anyway it seems there are a lot of events going on in the city for those that enjoy the spooky fun.

Firstly there is the kids fancy dress party at the Glasshouse in Queens Park - but I know the tickets sell out very fast so if you want one, you'll need to contact them soon. There is halloween fun all that week 22 -28 Oct from 10am - 4pm and then the big parties are 6pm -10pm on the 26 + 27 Oct. Tickets are just £5 for a family of four.

Contact details are
Land and Environmental Services General Enquiries
Phone: 0141 287 5918
E-mail: land@glasgow.gov.uk
[click here for more info]

There is also

Glasgow Science Centre's Family Halloween Party
Friday 26th October - 6:30-9:30pm. All tickets are £4.95 per person. Book your tickets online now!

Experience spectacular fire-juggling demonstrations
A gruesome "Who Dunnit" murder trail
Gory, gloopy science shows
Slimy workshops where you can crunch a cricket!
Costume competitions with great prizes and if you're brave enough, get on stage and face our Judges in a TriX or Treat talent show.

Early Owl discount for groups of 10 or more! Phone 0871 540 1000 and book your place before 12th October to receive 1 free admission for each group of 10 or more.

Any more suggestions?

2B or not 2B

We went along to see Hamlet on Saturday night and really enjoyed it. I've never read Hamlet or seen it on stage but I have seen a couple movie versions so I knew what would be going on. Just to be on the safe side its probably worth having a read through of a synopsis on the net before hand as it does take a minute or two to get into the way the characters talk.

The cast were all very good though I didn't get as strong a feeling that Hamlet was battling in his soul between exacting revenge or not, though I think this was intentional. Hamlet seemed from the start to be a very angry man looking for any excuse to start fighting back. From the films I remembered him as being a very honest man struggling to maintain his goodness in a very corrupt and wicked world. The sets and costumes were also very good and the show hung together very well apart from the sounds accompanying the ghosts appearance which scared the pants off us.

Its definitely worth going along to see if you get a chance. (It runs for one more week) but be warned that the theatre is very, very warm and by the end of the two and a half hour show you may well be roasted alive and will definitely be ready to drift off home to sleep.

Guardian Review

Whats on?

Good news, Google haven't quite sorted out what is wrong with their new calendar system but they have advised on how to revert it back to the previous working version.

So our calendar is back online.

Ferreting about

The pet shop downstairs from me has a sign in the window advertising a "lovely" 12 week old ferret looking for a good home. The ferret is described as very friendly, is litter trained and will come when called. Not really big news but it caught my interest on the way to work this morning. I've never known anyone to own a pet ferret and they are rather weird looking but according to the British Ferret Club they make "wondeful" pets.

For info on what is required to look after a pet ferret click here.

Anyone interested should call Ryan on 07960529521