Day 49 - Kilmarnock

At 7am I was awoken by my phone. As I was on the top bunk and it was in my bag on the floor I jumped down the ladded and then rather uncerimoniously tripped over my trousers as I raced to answer it before it woke the other 13 ladies in my room. It was the general manager of the place I was going to stay in that night letting me know that they were going to close as I was the only booking - but he had managed to get me another room in a different place.

Fair enough then - well as I was up I had a shower and went to get a coffee and waited for Maplins to be open so I could buy a portable hard drive to back up my data as my father had been reminding me often to do.

Got my stuff and headed for the train station - Glasgow is rather a nice station inspired as many of the buildings around the city are by Art Nouveau style. I alighted at Kilmarnock and awaited a call and a pick up to my new hotel. The general manager himself picked me up and we headed out of the city to the Manor Park Hotel which is in the small hamlet of Monkton which is on the edge of Prestwick Airport - a Ryanair alternative to Glasgow.

I had a double room and a bath so I wasn't too miffed - the hotel was oddly decorated with fake flowers and tartan teddies. I went for a walk to discover Monkton and discovered there's not much too it. So headed back to my room to catch up on some things.

I decided to have dinner in the restaurant which again was oddly decorated - a few tables were occupied and I ordered lamb shanks - unfortunately a disappointing choice - I'm not sure what they did to the sauce but it was not good.

Note to self - eat out tomorrow.

Day 48 - Walkies!

Today I did a public art walk which was outlined in a brochure with 21 points to find around the city. I ran into other people doing the same thing which was nice as we gave each other clues on where to find the next item. Some were only viewable at night and I went back at night with one of the girls from the hostel to find the three night ones and two weren't lit up!



I went to the botanical gardens which had two very lovely hothouses plus several other more modern ones.






From there I walked to the Kelvingrove museum.


In the museum they had an old hoover and a dyson! William would be impressed I think!

Day 47 - Tea For One

Today after a restless night of various people coming in at different hours and one in particular deciding to turn the light on which was by my head - I woke up and it was snowing.

Went for a walk in the snow and to the Museum of Modern Art, then had a tea and cakes at Willow Tea rooms. Then walked to the Science Centre where I spent the afternoon including an IMAX presentation of Hubble. Good day pics to come.

Day 46 - Let's Go Glasgow

Today I got the bus to Glasgow. Two of the nice lads from my dorm carried my bags to the bus stop for me - isnt that kind.

There was a fair bit of snow on the way but Glasgow seems warmer.

Had a bit of a wander through The Lighthouse and watched a quick doco on Art Noveau. Then went for a wander around Glasgow teaching myself the difference between Art Noveau and Art Deco.


Confused?


Art Nouveau


Art Deco

Day 45 - Botanical Beauties

Last night it snowed a bit. So there was bits of snow on the mountains and it seems to have frozen this poor man in a stream - guess he shoulda put his kilt on.

I decided to walk to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Foolishly I headed out without a map but after scaring an old lady who gave me some directions - the stopping at a bakery for an Empire Biscuit and a map from the lady there I made it.

Had a lovely wander around the gardens and hothouses which are just starting to show lovely flowers as spring is coming (though with the cold and the wind today its still got a while to come).

I thought it might be good to issue a challenge - NAME THE PLANT. Best answers will receive a prize (notice I said best but I'm sure the botanically minded will be going for correct ones).

So here they are:

Day 44 - Another Day another Thief

Today I was feeling a bit better so thought I would take a walk to Leith. It seemed like a good idea at the time but after an hour or so of walking I hadn't quite made the bay so abandoned the quest.

I headed back to the Archives and looked through the digital records to find the details of Robert Melville's crime. Unfortunately there was only the summary of the trial which didn't give alot of information - it appears he was tried for Robbery and Theft - of what and how was not really mentioned but there we have it another thief.
Have some nice printouts though of the records so at least that was a bonus and the summing up of the James Joss case as well.

Walked back through Greyfriars which has an impressive graveyard.

Day 43 - James Joss : Untutored in Vice

Today I pulled myself out of bed and headed up to the Archives and was thankfully given a readers ticket without too much trouble.

I only looked at one set of papers which was the precognition papers for James Joss - it seems Mr Joss was a gardener who's employer had sacked him on the spot as he felt he was paying him too much. With a wife and small child James felt that he should at least get some amount of compensation for this sudden termination and went to the house of his employer to ask for this. He was not home and James broke in and took money from his writing desk to the tune of 112 pounds. Alot of money! But in testimony it is said that he did not know how much it was and he is described as "naturally soft and untutored in vice". So I would imagine this was why he would have been transported.

I'll do some more tomorrow but was not feeling up to too much today.