Added on Tuesday 9 Oct 2012

I should have had this blog up weeks ago but I've been so busy this last month and now I hardly know where to start. Probably the best place would be at the Olympics as it was such a highlight. We were glued to the television at every opportunity and also thoroughly enjoyed the Paralympics.

I took Ryan over to the the Tramway for Flame: Glasgow's celebration of the opening of the Paralympics, what a fantastic day out. The weather was great and we enjoyed trying out all the different sports in the Hidden Garden and watching a performence by members of Independ-dance, creative movement class for people with "diverse abilities, their carers, family members and volunteers". They used white parasols in the routine and it looked really wonderful. Ryan wasn't as taken by it as I was but he loved all the activities including creating his own flame to be added to a large collage.

There was a fabulous atmosphere and we were lucky enough to have a wee chat with one of the inspirational athletes Maggie McEleny,

A couple of weeks later we were along at Kelvingrove to join the throngs and cheer the athletes as they left for their triumphant parade through the city - among them were Chris Hoy, Kathleen Grainger, Aileen McGlynn and Scott Brash. It was a real spectacle and very moving.

I was so inspired by the summer of sport that I dragged out my old bicycle to check it out but it was really very much the worse for wear (or non-wear) so Jim very kindly bought me a new one. I'm now having great fun getting my pedalling legs back, although, I'm not expecting to make the Velodrome just yet.

Eating for Glasgow

Bikes have been somewhat on the agenda and Roy Beers and I had a wonderful time when we were invited along to an interesting new restaurant in the West End - The Hanoi Bike Shop - Glasgow's First Vietnamese Canteen in Ruthven Lane. If you fancy something completely different then it's a very good choice. I've really never tasted anything like it and particularly enjoyed their Street Food.

I had another lovely meal when I went out with the usual suspects, Joan, Rena, Eleanor, Janet and Basilia, to Cail Bruach, 725 Great Western Road, to celebrate Jackie's birthday. I've been on a fish kick lately and the charred mackerel with beetroot and apple was utterly delicious.

I met up with Jane Fairnie newly retired and practising her ladies who lunch mode, when she came through to Glasgow for the day from Edinburgh. Jane is grat company and we had a most enjoyable natter and more fish at The Finnieston, seafood and gin cocktail bar. It' a terrific place to dine and their hand dived scallops are amazing, caught in the morning in Oban and cooked at the restaurant for your delectation the same afternoon.

After all this dining out I'm really going to have to make good use of my bike - I just settled for a scone when I met Stephanie at Jellyhill and I opted for the mackerel pate and oatcakes when I caught up with Maggie Graham at Avenue G on Byres Road

Rosemary Venditozzi led me astray at Cushion and Cake in Yorkhill and although we shared the salmon and cream cheese - their homemade cakes are simply irresistible. We spent a very relaxing afternoon chatting about friends, families and weddings.

Issi and Ryan and I had a veritable feast in the Trans European Cafe in Parnie Street. It really is well worth a visit tucked away in a great wee part of town, the cafe is proving to be a popular haunt with locals. The food is wonderful food, there's a super atmosphere and the staff are very friendly. We had a great day out as first of all we went to an exhibition at Streetlevel on the Trongate, where Issi's daughter Marianne' work was being shown.

It was also enjoyable meeting up with Ryan Lafield, recently arrived in Glasgow from Texas to study on the M.Litt Creative Writing Course at Glasgow Uni. I was able to answer his questions about the course as I have now entered my second year. The sun was shining so we were able to sit outside Rio's Cafe - a lovely day but cool compared to Texas.

Bookish stuff

I caught up with Ryan again at the welcome to this year's M.Litt course, with a fabulous event stage by From Glasgow To Saturn in the Anatomy Museum at the University. It's not often you have a range of skeletons among the audience but they didn't put off the very talented writers and performers including the edgy Ms Elaine Reid and the wonderful James Carson, who had us rolling in the aisles. It was also interesting to get a snapshot of Elizabeth Reeder's new book Fremont. It was a great night so well done to Shaunagh, Calum and Kev - the three have also been busy publishing Issue 28 of Glasgow University's Creative Writing Online Magazine - From GlasgowTo Saturn. Download Issue 28 for free PDF

Another super book event took place at Waterstone's in Sauchiehall Street at the launch of Louise Welsh's book 'The Girl on the Stairs" - it's a cracker.

Festivals and Concerts

We've been on our usual excursions to many musical events and went along to Linlithgow Folk Festival, where Jim was playing with The Blackwoods, well one Blackwood, Dinny. We took Caitlin and Ryan with us and we had a super cruise on the canal. Caitlin also got to join the band for a wee while and Ryan was thrilled to find Diary of a Wimpey Kid in a charity shop, so everyone was happy.

We met up with Kathy and John at Live@Troon; this time two Blackwoods, Graham and Dinny, joined Jim to play at this festival. They were in great form and there was quite a drama when a member of the audience dissolved into tears - he was overcome by emotion when they played 'Tenderness'. That's a first. :)

Jim and I had a wonderful time when we went along to see Richard Hawley and his band play The Barrowland. It was an amazing concert; great songs, fabulous vocals and musicianship and a spectacular stage set. Lisa Hannigan, the support, act, was also excellent and the Glasgow audience were in fine fettle. We bumped into a lot of folk we knew - all equally impressed.

We also enjoyed a night at the CCA, when we went along to catch Texas Songwriters in the Round - part of Glasgow Americana Festival with Carrie Elkin, Danny Shmidt, Sam Baker and Eliza Gilkyson.

Jim has been involved in a variety of musical projects recently and I am highly excited about the E.P. he's working on with Robert Ruthven of the Creeping Charlies and he's also got a Country project on the go with Dinny. He roped me in to writing a wee song for our friend Lucillia Weir, who has been sick, so hope it cheered you up and that you feel better soon, Lucillia. He has some gigs coming up and we'll be going up to the Perthshire Amber Festival at the end of the month. It should also be good fun at The Hellfire Night when Jim Byrne and The Blackwoods will play their own songs plus a few Elvis numbers.

Of particular note in our musical diary is Saturday 17th November, when Jim will be supporting Benny Gallagher at Milngavie Folk Club.

Fun in the West End

I just don't get along often enough to the fabulous lunchtime theatre at OranMor but yesterday Frances and I had a real treat when we went to A Play, A Pie and A Pint to see Claire Knight in Amanda Monfrooe's 'Remember You Are Beauty Full'. It was really brilliant and Claire played to a full house with lots of support from her River City co-stars. We had a wee chat with John Comerford, who used to play Jack Paterson, the hairdresser, and Big Bob was also there. It was also good to catch a wee chat with David MacLennan and Dave Anderson. Then later we bumped into the wonderfully talented, Paul Buchanan (of Blue Nile fame). Who dares say that the West End is not a very interesting place!

I've had some fun checking out our great Vintage shops and spent ages in Circa Vintage, when I went along with Frances. She had her eye on a gorgeous empire line cocktail dress, very classy; she was amazed when she spotted, hanging on the rail, a pale pink chiffon and lace dress that she had made to wear to her cousin's wedding many years ago. The accessories in the shop are irrestible and I bought a lovely fluffy black scarf - nice and snuggly for winter days.

We also had a blether with Alan at Not Now Cato, which has switched lanes from Cresswell to Ruthven Lane. Great place for any fans of male retro and vintage.

I just can't stay away from Handbags and Gladrags, where the selection of preloved clothes and the banter cannot be beaten. They're gearing up for frosty days and party nights and have outfits galore - well worth checking out. I've added some more photographs to the gallery.

En route to Kelvingrove for an RSPB's screen printing workshop with John and Ryan when I spotted another terrific new shop on Dumbarton Road - '86', where Emily Lamb and other members of Design Collective Scotland have got together to display and sell their wonderful creations.

Another lovely shop that I had never been in before is Lavendar Blue - the florists on Hyndland Road. However, my main purchases this month have been at the craft markets and we now have quite a variety in the West End. I went along to Makers Market in Hillhead Library, to Glasgow Crafters Co-op in Cottiers and Granny Would Be Proud at Hillhead Book Club. There are some amazing craft creations for sale and I bought some lovely hand painted birthday cards and also commissioned some beautiful silver earrings from Judith Kenny Jewellery for my sister's birthday present. She was thrilled with the lovely delicate silver drop earrings with wee swallows.

Outdoor Activities

I've had my usual outings with Ryan and John and we've been up to Maryhill Borough Halls to the swimming pool a few times. We were also in the north of the city in Possilpark at the Open Day at the Angling Centre. Then at the week-end after a lovely walk up the Kilpatrick Hills, where Ryan was thrilled to see the horses, we went down to the Clyde to try out the new lures John had bought. We didn't catch any fish but Ryan is coming on great at his casting skills.

Ryan and his wee friend, Craig, had a brilliant time when we took them to the Blair Drummond Safari Park and the grown ups were also pretty enthusiastic. Jim loved the rhinos, John and were very taken by the wee deer and the kids loved just about everything, including the shop.

Meetings; happy and sad

I went along to the village hall in Old Kilpatrick to support their sale of work to support a new venture at Kilpatrick Station and caught up with Ann, Bud and Cindy and came home laden with paper backs and cds. Ann also came up for a visit and we had a rare old chinwag and I heard all about this fantastic project to reclaim the station for community use. I'll be looking forward to a visit in 2013.

John and I took the train to Dumbarton to visit my niece, Aileen, baby Erin, and Ryan, in their new house. It was a lovely sunny day so we all sat out the back and had fun watching Erin's antics. We also had a very nice picnic in Bowling, when Ryan, Caitlin, John and I walked along the canal and met Danielle and her gang for a picnic. I think that was probably our last picnic of the year.

We had great fun meeting up with Ciaran Dorris, Celtic Music Radio, and his international supporters from Texas, Nashville, Greenock, Finland and Paisley, when we met up for a drink in the Committee Room in the Merchant City.

It was also a treat going along with Katrina to a private viewing of Sylvia Allen's paintings. What a talented artist she is - if you would like to arrange to view her exhibitions she can be contacted at email Sylvia Allen

My mind has been in a bit of a twirl as there has been so much going on and it's been a bit difficult settling down to getting my blog together. Sadly I've been to two funerals recently: firstly, my cousin, Annie Russell (Nan), who would have been 96 on Hallowe'en. She'd been in hospital for six months and I've spent a lot of time with her lately. The second loss was Christina Black, a friend from Old Kilpatrick, who died very suddenly. Christina was much younger but the two women had a great deal in common, including a tremendous zest for life and interest in others. Both were charming human beings, who rarely moaned and could lift your mood within five minutes of starting up a conversation. They're both going to be much missed.

As usual there's lots of new stuff on the website including information about some great festivals this month:

• Black History Month
• Scottish Mental Health Art and Film Festival
• Glasgay!
• Luminate: Scotland's Creative Aging Festival
• Creative Mackintosh Festival
• Alasdair Gray Murals at Hillhead Subway Station
• Helen St Helen - blogging from Ohio
• Roy Beers' Dining and Drinking in Glasgow

Plus lots more information on What's New and What's On