My Old Flat at Maclay Residences

I know many of you are expecting photos of my new flat. But unfortunately because of banks being silly and my landlord has yet to receive my deposit, I am still in my old place. I know many people wanted to see photos of that too, so thought we could do a little comparison. Before and after. Do pardon the mess. The top image is a view from my window (with train tracks cropped out).

Next is the room itself. Single bed on the right which is connected to the wall.

My tiny bathroom. But it is my very own! Shower on the left divided by very lightweight shower curtain that sticks to you when you are using it.

This the flat hallway. My door is the second you see on the left. The second door on the right is the kitchen. See below:

So you see, it is not terrible. Small, yes, but everything is new and generally works. However, for the price of my room, you can rent a whole 1 bedroom flat in the West End of Glasgow (the posh end--where I live) and be closer to uni...and shops...and pretty much everything. There are a lot of vacant lots around my current housing making the walk home at night a bit creepy.
Now hopefully in a few days, I will be able to post pics of my new flat and do a little comparison.

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."

I celebrated my first distinctly British holiday on Thursday! Well, not really a holiday, but there were fireworks! No bonfires, alas. And I kept on hoping there was some song or ritual or something, but my British friends didn't know of any. Reading online (good ol' Wikipedia), I discovered that kids used to make an effigy of Guy and knock on doors asking for money--I guess to buy fireworks? And at the end of the day burn the effigy. And the light the fireworks. Here's a little more info on Fawkes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

Now, according to the article attached below, Halloween has become more popular and more profitable. Strict regulations are part of the reason for the decline in popularity of bonfire night. Of course, Halloween in the States is not what it used to be either with everyone afraid of candy from strangers.

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5A43XE20091105?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=11604

Kinneil House and Blackness Castle and Rain

Here are some photos from an extracurricular trip on Saturday. Kinneil House is only open a few days a year to visitors, but the grounds are open all year round. In the 1930s, when this house was being torn down, they found Renaissance murals. This discovery saved the house from destruction! It is still a partial ruin, but a very compelling place. On the grounds are remnants of a medieval church and a Roman fortlet (I believe that means "mini-fort".) It looks sunny, but there had been a 10-minute squall that soaked everything.



After the house was a short drive to Blackness Castle. This is a very military building that was used up until the late-19th century. It is very Romantic in a Scottish-seaside-blustery sort of way. By the way, the coastline in this part of Scotland reminds me of those on the Puget Sound--well, perhaps a wee bit more rugged.


Today is a dreary, rainy day. I learned yesterday that the Scottish have about a dozen words for rain. I think I will try to track them all down. The one I learned yesterday was "shmer". Okay, I don't know if that is the correct spelling, but that is how it sounds. "Shmer" is that sort of misty rain that comes down and coats everything in wet without really forming raindrops.