I was lucky enough to take a second trip to Barcelona in October, muy bien!
Hola!
Long stretches of road like this are becoming an increasingly familiar sight. I've just started training (I use the term loosely) for my 3rd Great Scottish Run Half Marathon. It takes place in Glasgow on September 4th so I've got a couple of months to throw some stretches in preparation.
I went for a run yesterday and on defeating my nemesis (the very steep Gardner Street) I was rewarded with a splendid view of the new Riverside Museum which opened this very day. The iconic building certainly makes an impact on Glasgow's skyline. 
I took a wonder down to Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art (or GoMA as it's known to its chums) yesterday afternoon to have a look at some of the work installed there as part of the British Art Show. Launched late last year in Nottingham, this is the seventh British Art Show and this year the exhibition, famous for its cutting-edge approach and influence, will also travel to London and Glasgow before finishing its jaunt around the UK in Plymouth.
Having been pancreatically challenged for the best part of seven years now I feel I should draw attention to the fact that 12-18 June is Diabetes Week. We all sit around and eat cakes in celebration.
I joke.
Those good old chaps and chapettes at Diabetes UK are encouraging everyone to talk about their experiences of diabetes whether direct or indirect. This can only be a good thing. Raising awareness is the best way to erase ignorance of what continues to be a hugely misunderstood condition.
A recent survey exposed a worrying truth that 1 million people in the UK feel under pressure to hide their condition from friends and colleagues. Now considering there are an estimated 2.8 million people in the UK with diabetes that’s quite a percentage (I’m rubbish at maths or else I’d work out said percentage). The survey revealed that many people missed their insulin injections out of worry of drawing attention to themselves – many were concerned that diabetes would affect their employment chances or that others would instantly assume they had brought the condition on themselves. Although saddened by this I can’t say I’m entirely surprised.
I have lost count of the times I have wanted to rip up a newspaper or throw my slow-release- carbohydrate-snack at the TV for the audacity of giving airtime to ignorant pundits or poorly researched documentaries and adverts. Greater differentiation between Type 1 and Type 2 must be made, the types are very different both in source and treatment, there is even a camp that would like to see the types given different names...all suggestions welcome.
Type 1 is an auto immune disease and should be treated as such, it is in no way lifestyle related. Yes, we all know Type 2 can be caused by numerous factors including poor diet and inactivity but it should also be pointed out that this is not true of all cases. The media’s portrayal of the person with diabetes as , please excuse my French, a fat ba*t#rd and a drain on the NHS, is not at all helpful and only fuels prejudice.
I’ve always been very lucky, the ‘betes is not something I have felt I have needed to hide, yes I’ve had the odd stare when shooting up in public, I’ve had the occasional comment that I don’t ‘look diabetic’ and I’ve had hypos in the most inconvenient of places – the Debenhams lingerie department springs to mind, but I don’t have an issue with people knowing I have diabetes and I reckon if we raise greater awareness about the condition any stigma attached will start to diminish.
I, like many others, work hard to manage my condition and this is apparent to the people around me. I lead a normal, active life and have refused to let diabetes hold me back. I always remind myself that, at the end of the day, it is a manageable condition, frustrating as hell at times yes, but it really could be a lot be worse.
So, there you go, those are my thoughts. I hope this year’s Diabetes Week encourages other people to talk more openly about their experiences and helps to improve understanding. Negative stereotypes be gone!
Still, this is the west coast of Scotland, it rains sometimes, we don’t let it get us down.
Stag and Dagger is a multi venue festival and yesterday it hit Glasgow with a wealth of great bands that I couldn’t wait to get my ears into.
First stop was Nice n Sleazy’s to catch Tall Ships, a 3 piece from Falmouth and a guitar-led band who are more than happy to break out the synth when required. I really liked their sound, they play around with tempos, have good strong melodies and there’s an almost ‘folky’ sound to Ric Phethean’s voice. I expect they own at least one Foals record between them.
Listen to: Vessels
Then it was a quick sprint up Garnet Street to the Art School to see Ghostpoet – think Roots Manuva crossed with The Streets – stream of consciousness style lyrics, beats you can’t help but nod along to and the best named album of the year so far ‘Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam’
Listen to: Survive It
Next on the itinerary was Glasgow’s own Admiral Fallow at ABC. Like Frightened Rabbit before them the band have a distinctively Scottish sound – largely down to the strong accents they sing with. Clearly a talented young bunch of multi-instrumentalists, Admiral Fallow write beautiful melodies and combine them with heart rendingly honest lyrics.
‘Delivered’ is a favourite of mine “This is your end, this is your end, you’re delivered” sung in Louis Abbott's dulcet tones brings a tear to the eye. Yes, the band could be accused of being a little twee at times but it’s just so damn pretty you can’t help but listen.
Listen to: Delivered
They were followed by Warpaint, an all-female four-piece who hail from sunny LA, my highlight of the day, utterly brilliant! They have such an original sound but for the sake of comparison think The XX, but much better and much louder. They create this beautifully dark, whimsical sound and play so well together, you kind of feel like you’re underwater and to top it off they’re so effortlessly cool it hurts. Clearly the other Stag and Dagger attendees agreed, the ABC was packed out.
Listen to: Undertow
A quick pint brought me out of my dream-like state and off we plodded back to the Art School where we finished our night with Glasgow favourites Sons & Daughters. Vocalist/guitarist Scott Paterson appeared to be wearing a dead fox around his neck – not to worry, probably died of natural causes...
Sons and Daughters do what they do very well, some of their new tunes sound a little samey in parts but the crowd love them, Adele Bethal has a cracking voice and some of Franz Ferdinand were spotted mulling at the back of the room. They finished off their set with Dance Me In, an undoubtedly banging track and a great way to end a great day.
Listen to: Dance Me In
Can't wait until next year!
The opening of Glasgow’s new £74m Riverside Museum is only weeks away (21st June) Designed by award-winning Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the building is strikingly innovative and is a superb addition to Glasgow’s cutting-edge architectural offering.
I find it somewhat amazing that the jagged ceiling, shaped to symbolise Glasgow’s skyline or, depending on who you ask, the tidal movements of the Clyde, is supported by the weight of itself alone, you will notice a lack of supporting infrastructure when you step inside…try not to worry, hard hats are provided. (I joke…I’m sure there’s method to the madness of those architect types)
The Museum will be the new home to over 3,000 exhibits, all of which explore and celebrate transport and technology through the ages…oh and I believe Hagrid from Harry Potter donated his Chrysler Jeep to the collection.
And great news for fans of the Museum of Transport of old, the re created streets that proved so popular will take pride of place at Riverside. Three streets have been created spanning the years from 1890 – 1980, you can even take a look around the shops and tube station built within, little ‘uns and big ‘uns alike are sure to love it.
The development of the Riverside Museum is another positive step towards the regeneration of the riverside area which, to be fair, is already a hub of activity with the ultra modern BBC building down at Pacific Quay, Glasgow Science Centre and new flats aplenty. The Tall Ship will be berthed alongside the Museum and Loch Lomond Seaplanes have just announced that they will now take off from a Riverside pontoon.
I tell you, it’s all go down there and I for one am delighted that Glasgow is once again making the most of the Clyde and its surrounding area, it looks fantastico...and there's not an abandoned shopping trolley in sight*
*Ahem...at time of publication
Ooooh, the shortlist for the Turner Prize has been revealed!
I took a trip to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal this week to see Scottish Ballet’s Alice. It was utterly brilliant, a divine snapshot of its creators wildly fantastic imaginations...and a nice excuse to squeeze in a little gin with mother dearest.
We were treated to two hours of beautiful dancing (ah to have the grace of a ballet dancer!) an array of surreal characters, a lovely score which complimented every movement and an imaginative collection of vibrant costumes which must have taken months and months to create.
This was not a simple retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s story, a much darker element was present throughout making the content much more adult, but despite this underlying theme it did not take itself too seriously, the ballet was witty, funny and at particular moments genuinely touching as the lead characters, Charles Dodgson and Alice, drifted apart as time took its natural course.
Ashley Page, Antony McDonald and the cast and crew of Scottish Ballet have created something truly intriguing.
It's well worth taking a look... through the looking glass or otherwise.
