Cultural outing

It rained, drizzled, blew and finally the sun came out, but the temperature dropped to the high 50s. Yes, I know you are having a heat wave, sorry. I am having blue fingers. The late afternoon sun was glorious. The geraniums blazed and the lions in the square positively sparkled. A kodak moment. Sorry I didn't share it. I was too busy feasting with my eyes.

I went out to do this and that, bank, hair appt, food and decided to go to the Lighthouse, the design museum. www.thelighthouse.co.uk Very nice. It is in an alley, but there are banners pointing to it. The old Herald building, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh has been converted into this. The very helpful guide said go to the sixth floor first. And a good suggestion it was. You get a panoramic view of the city from there. I took a short film with my camera. Of course I know what I'm looking at, but I may inflict it on anyone who can't run fast anyway.

There was an exhibit on Scandinavian design. Everything from Marimekko to water bottles. Very much fun. Also nostalgia. I remember those iconic items from the 50s and 60s. Sigh.

I ate outside of the box. I had 'cullen skink' for lunch. This is a soup made of smoked haddock, sweet potatoes and creme fraiche. Okay, sounds weird, tastes good.

Ambled back here and thought it would be a good idea to check out www.jasperfforde.com before I went to the reading. A good and bad idea. I clicked through everything I could find, read the message boards, etc. because I didn't know what to expect. Well, good old JF, who is extremely handsome, and married, showed up, and his presentation was almost all of what I had read. You know sometimes it isn't all that helpful to be a research hound.

I had the book autographed for the RFRR* and will send it off to Lisa for the library. I'm glad I went. I met a woman who is in a mystery reading group and also a Book Crossing member. I have to ask RB about this.

Borders, a chain I should hate because they put one of my favorite Glasgow landmarks, John Smith Booksellers out of business, gave me a 5GBP coupon off on a 20GBP purchase. You can only hold a grudge so long. I went and bought books and sundries and felt not guilty in the least.

Anyone know about the sectarian violence in Scotland? Probably not. The two major football teams here are the Celtics and the Rangers, collectively known as the Old Firm. Celtics are the Catholic team and 'Gers are the Proddies.  Uh huh. And the UK can't figure out why they might be a target for unrest? I won't go into it anymore. There is a new book for YA by Theresa Breslin called Divided City dealing with this. Hardback and I'm feeling that it would be interesting but heavy. There's always www.amazon.co.uk

A day without laundry. Wow! Probably sit around wrapped in a towel on Friday while I wash everything. Come to think of it, maybe Thursday night so I can mail home what I am shedding again. I'll probably have to pile everything I brought or bought in a big pile and make decisions. Ugh. Soon they will make disposable (ecologically correct, of course) clothes, so one can really travel with only a passport, credit cards and a toothbrush. I'm waiting! The United Luggage Manufacturers Consortium will be in a big snit, I'll bet.

Tomorrow is anniversary of my second surgery, so I'll have to do something fun and entertaining. Byres Road? West End? Indian food?

Stay tuned.