A day in the Toon – 6 May 2024

After a lazy start, Scamp wanted to get a present for John & Marion’s daughter’s new baby.

We drove in to Glasgow, first time I’ve done that for months and parked in Buchanan Galleries carpark. I expected it to be busier than it was on a bank holiday Monday with the kids off school.

We wandered round JL first and there were lots of “Ooh!s” and “Ah’s” from both of us, but ultimately there was nothing we could really settle on. Lots of pretty girly baby things, but as Scamp, pragmatic as ever, said; “It doesn’t matter how much you pay for it, they’ll be sick on an expensive dress just as quickly as on a cheaper one.” That’s true, I thought.

Next stop was Next and that’s where we did get something pretty, something practical and something clever. I bought the clever one, of course. Just a pair of tiny socks with a frill down the ankle. With the purchases made and Scamp happy with them, we just went for a wander down Bucky Street. Scamp was buying fancy chocolates for the baby’s mum and dad and for her grandparents too when I sloped off to see what I could photograph in Princes Square. Buchanan Galleries have a strict No Photography policy and rule with a rod of iron. Princes Square are much more relaxed about it. If you start becoming a pest with the customers, I’m sure they’d have something to say about it, but generally they don’t bother you if you don’t bother them. That’s where I got today’s PoD. Just a bloke on his phone with an interesting logo behind.

Next stop for me was Cass Art where I wanted to buy a set of Winsor & Newton watercolour tube paint. It’s expensive, but I’m certain its better than Cass Art’s own brand. I also got a collapsible water pot nice and cheap. Lunch was calling by then and we went to Nero which was just across the road for a coffee and a croissant.

Jamie had recommended a fairly new Kevin Bridges book The Black Dog, so, since we were in town and a Waterstones was just along the road, I nipped in and bought it. On our way back to the car, Scamp wanted something in Rituals and I wandered over the road to the Apple shop, but all the iPads were in lock down mode. You used to be able to play with them, but not today. Then I was dragged away and we headed for the car and after a trip to Tiso to look at waterproof jackets because I discovered a new rip in mine. I think I can patch it, but there will soon be more patches that jacket on my old blue SprayWay.

Today’s prompt was for A Quirky Animal.
My Quirky Animal is the much maligned Haggis. The only three legged animal in the world, it has two long legs on one side of its body and one short leg on the other side. This allows the creature to run round mountains in an anti-clockwise direction.
They are very fast runners and difficult to catch. The best way to capture one is by using two beaters, one to chase it anti-clockwise round the mountain.
Once the chase has begun, the second beater should run round in the opposite direction and confront the animal. This will cause it to panic and try to run in the opposite direction, but because its short leg is now on the downhill side of the mountain, it will tumble and fall into the beater’s net.
Haggis are now designated a protected species and can only be hunted on the 30th and 31st of February.

Hoping to go to John & Marion’s for lunch tomorrow and of course, Scamp will be hoping the new baby will make an appearance.