Wednesday is for windows...over the Tay

Although back in Edinburgh I did promise a review of our visit to Dundee's V&A design museum from our visit last Wednesday.The window image above almost sums it up - that could have been me sitting looking out over he river Tay.

The museum which cost around £80M to build is a bit of a 'Marmite moment' for me, I can understand that many people will be impressed by its architecture and scale but though impressive on first glance a close up inspection followed by the disappointment of the interior detracts much from the initial 'wow' effect.

The inside is hugely disappointing when you begin to realise how little exhibition space there actually is. The whole ground floor is taken up by ticket desks, a 'Visit Scotland' counter, a cafe area and a gift shop. 

Much of the exhibition space upstairs is devoted to function rooms and office space though there is a 'nod' to Scottish designers

For us the highlight was the Charles Rennie Mackintosh "Oak Room" installation which apparently cost £1.3 million to restore and install. We are big fans of CRM but felt that even though we were impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the member of staff who was in charge of looking after visitors that the empty room needed at least one table and chairs set-up to mimic the former tea room experience.

Although entry to the V&A  is free there is currently a paid for 'Night Fever' exhibition - which did not entice us in - although we were impressed by a picture map and film on the evolution of the UK's club scene.

Our visit left us thinking that the city was not taking full advantage of what is a great resource.

The French and Dutch connection...

 

We are back in Edinburgh after a lovely spell in Ayrshire where Pauline's sister Eileen was the consummate host, allowing us to flit in and out to rendezvous with various friends while also getting involved with her own friends.

Last night we met up with friends who have a holiday home near us in France and who have recently returned to a flat that they owned and rented out here in the city while living in the Netherlands for a 19 years. It was great to catch up and a pleasure to think that France continues to nurture new friendships. It was also nice to ba asked yesterday by Ada to read from a 'Jip and Janneke' book that made its way here from France after being given as a birthday present from lovely Dutch friends of Cally, making yesterday truly a day of French and Dutch connections/

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - guarded in Dundee

By 'Beryl the Peril'

Vendredi à vélo - that's a 'mori'

Spotted this bike in St.Andrews and thought the finish looked interesting - closer inspection revealed more of the deadly detail - how did they do that?

 

How to entertain yourself in December in St.Andrews...

 

The answer is you don't - we had time to kill during family visits on our trip up to the northeast of Scotland and checked out 'things to do in and around St. Andrews' on the Visit Scotland website. Of the interesting things on offer all were closed for the season, which is understandable as around one third of the population are attending or teaching at the towns university which has finished its current semester and most have departed. It did however mean we could wander through its hallowed grounds.

This being the case we decided to head over to nearby Dundee and visit the V&A design museum, somewhere we had not checked out on our last visit there.

We will save a review of our visit for another time. While we were there we did the riverside walk which gives great views over the river Tay and the 'RRS Discovery'.

We also took a stroll onto the high street to see how the locals might have dressed one of their hero's 'Desperate Dan' for the festive period. As it happens he is untouched...so far. 

Though they have fitted out 'Beryl the Peril' for winter and given a bit of colour to her sling-shot.

St.Andrews

 

In St. Andrews visiting family - looking festive...

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday bench

 

From the rose garden within the grounds of the Glasgow botanic gardens.

Ada takes us to the Kelpies...

Ada took us to Falkirk yesterday see the 'Kelpies' which are 30 metre high horse-head sculptures (the largest equine sculptures in the world) depicting these mythical aquatic beasts from Scottish Folklore. We were impressed! 

There are actually four sculptures,two large and two small but the shot below makes them all look a similar size.

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We could not stay late enough to see them illuminated but maybe we can return one day to experience them.

Image courtesy of Visit Scotland

Tunnel vision...

 

Yesterday Ada took Pauline,Mara and me to the enchanting mural in a Victorian railway tunnel in the village of Colinton by the Water of Leith Walkway on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The artwork is fascinating  and engaging and although Ada has been a few times already it still holds her interest.

She loves the rainbow and loves comparing her rainbow gloves to it.

If you get the chance it is well worth the visit.

Wednesday for windows and lots of them.

 

Visited Paul in Glasgow and after lunch by the Clyde Canal he took us along the river Kelvin walk to Glasgow's Botanical Gardens, somewhere I'm ashamed to say we had never visited even though they have existed for over 200 years!.

The gardens consist of traditional greenhouses and the white 'Kibble Palace' which was,amazingly, originally a private conservatory located at Coulport on Loch Long. It is a stunning piece of glasswork both inside and out.