Glasgow Days

Back to Scotland for this year's ARA conference (having missed a couple of years) - this time hosted at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow, slap bang on Grand Central Station.

Good conference, some excellent and thought-provoking speakers - and the hotel was nice enough.  Long trek to my room though (the corridors were spookily 'Shining'-like).

Very impressed with the venue for the Conference Reception mind you - Glasgow City Chambers really are a sight to be seen - Victorian bling at its best. 



The Escher-like staircases, all marble and alabaster, were particularly impressive - unfortunately the Banqueting Hall, with its ornate arched roof and mural decorated walls was being used for another event, but I caught a peek on the way out. 

If I'm ever in Glasgow again will definitely book the tour!


Caught up with some old friends, danced the night away at the Gala dinner, and found some time for a wander round Glasgow - rather taken with the murals (the Mural Trail would be another thing to do on a return visit):

All in all an enjoyable few days - although Glasgow is a long way from West Wales - at least catching the train back was easy - out the hotel door and onto the platform!

Hedge Happenings

There's always plenty to do in the garden, not least keeping control of the hedges. One of our main problems being the width of the hedge between us and the field next door.  

While Martin regularly thins out the foliage on our side - yes, it looks bad but it does grow back! - the field-side grows out of our control.

It's been getting wider and wider for a while now, to the point that even our long-handled hedge trimming toys can't quite cope.  

Time therefore to venture into the field itself and hack back - it's a bit of a long-term project, but Martin is making good progress, and  the end is in sight.

And at least on the field-side - we can mercifully leave the debris in situ - cutting out what would otherwise involve a lot of trips to the tip!

Acrobatics #2

This year's squirrel pic . . .