miss marie's miscellany

Staring at the wall

The weather has been truly awful here in Glasgow this week,wet, windy and cold. The rain is bucketing down outside as I'm writing this.( Actually, I went and looked as it was so noisy and it's hailing now) More autumnal than springlike. To be truthful it's made me feel a bit down and I haven't had any good ideas for posts. Staring at the wall blankly. But I remembered some photos I took in Liverpool last summer, of a wall with a difference. 

Liverpool is where I was born and brought up, and has a special place in my affections. Last year, Liverpool was European City of Culture, and had all kinds of things to see, listen to, watch and visit. This rotating wall is called 'Turning the Place Over'. We saw this by chance opposite one of the city centre train stations, on our way back to my dad's, and stopped for a good while to watch.

It transformed a dull gray wall into something altogether different, eye-catching and entertaining. And it certainly made people stop in their tracks to look and pass comment. But that's not that unusual in Liverpool; the craic is always good value there!

 

Barefoot in the park

I went for a long walk in the park near where I live yesterday, Bellahouston Park. It's a lovely place, good for walking briskly, jogging or cycling, and never too busy. Good for enjoying both beautiful greenery and floweryness. Lots of doggies to say hello to!

The weather has been a bit chilly in Glasgow this week, the sun hiding behind some dark clouds and a cool breeze blowing lightly. But after I got home, I looked at some photos I took in February, and realized how freezing cold it was then

compared to now

What a difference!

As well as being a great outdoor exercise arena, there are lots of sights to catch the eye. The park houses one of my favourite places to visit, the House for an Art Lover

Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, this was only built in the late 1980s and early 1990s, although it looks and feels like it has been there for many years. If you are ever visiting Glasgow, it is well worth spending an afternoon here.  There are some interesting sculptures in the surrounding garden, including this foot! 

Next to the house is the lovely Victorian Walled garden

I think the tulips were a bit past their best, but it was still a riot of colour.

A new addition-  a maze which should look great when it has fully grown

 

And the cherry blossom looked gorgeous

Just breathtaking!

You can just see my house on the hilltop across the park

How lucky am I to have this all on my doorstep :-)

Perfect Perthshire Python

Yesterday, I took a trip out with my sister A and her family to Doune Castle in Perthshire. We were so lucky with the weather, glorious sunshine and blue skies for the whole day, and  it was a treat to have such a lovely afternoon  to enjoy this beautiful 14th century castle and grounds. 

The castle was used to shoot some scenes in the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", which explained why there were people shouting various lines from the film, and much memorabilia to buy in the shop. I even thought I heard someone banging 2 coconuts together, but I must have imagined it! 

We enjoyed a picnic by the river.

And a little sun-bathing, whilst enjoying the beautiful view.

Then a good look around the castle.

It has a labyrinth of passageways and stairs, and gives an insight into what it must have been like to live in such a building. The doorways were so low and the stairs so narrow it felt a little claustrophobic to us all. But there was a real sense of history too. All the people who had walked where we were walking, centuries before us. 

The boys boldly climbed all the way to the top of the battlements, but A and I were delicate damsels and wimped out half way up the stairs, retiring to solid ground and a bench with an ice cream!

There had been a wedding earlier in this room, the Great Hall.

What a romantic venue!

A grand day out.

Gorgeous green 3

Much loved tile which I bought in Lisbon 

Only water!

Seedlings for my veg patch

These trees really stand out in their urban surroundings

Musical notes

I saw this next to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, when I visited there recently. I like the way it cheers up this blank wall, and brings the music, from within the hall, outside too.

Parisian interlude

I went to Paris last week! My trip was only for 3 days but I managed to pack in as much as possible.

 

Some of the most famous sights

Some window shopping. Old perfume bottles

Delectable cakes

These candles are so colourful

Some interesting architecture

La Defense arch

 Sculpture in the Tuileries

 

Bridge over the Seine

 

Dali exhibition

 

 

Shopping in Galeries Lafayette

 

What a wonderful city!