Glasgow - my journey to Commonwealth Games

For those of you who may be expecting sports shots, you will be disappointed.  The images will be of stuff I have taken from time of my interview to my time at the games and will be around Glasgow and any trips out I take.  However, I have just been sent a couple of me with some hunky judo guys so they may feature.

I came to Glasgow in the spring of 2013 - I think it was April to be interviewed for post of Clydesider.  I stayed at Holiday Inn Express by the bus station.  The interview did not take too long so I had time to explore Glasgow - especially the Necropolis, before flying home.

People's Park Glasgow

Near the Necropolis

Necropolis - worth a visit

Glasgow cathedral

I came back for my Orientation training in March 2014.  Lucky enough to be accompanied on my trip with my neighbour and friend Sandra.  Sandra was staying with friends who lived just outside Glasgow.  I stayed in a hotel in Bath Street. 

Much more relaxed about taking photos for the Commonwealth Games.  As long as we didn't share them before it made the newspapers or tv.

I know I am in the minority but I like the tarten.

Clydesiders  uniform.  Didn't include shoes but my Gamesmaker shoes went with the uniform okay

Building near the Clyde

Managed to come back for Role training and to collect my uniform at the same time in May.  Stayed overnight at the Ibis budget at the Quay.  Not too far from where I am staying now.  Had time to visit Kelvingrove art museum and wander around that area.

Street scene

Path near the Kelvingrove Museum

Malaya and GB playing lawn bowls

Reflection in a poster on a bus stop

Reflection in window

I am now in Glasgow for the Games.  It seemed so long ago that I put my name down and I have finished the first week at the judo.  I went to the open ceremony rehearsals on Monday - the same evening, I drove from Ullapool.  Just enough time to check in Swallow Hotel in Paisley Road West, have a shower and catch the bus to Celtic Park.  I met up with a couple of women on the bus who were going to the rehearsals too.  Stayed with them until I went to my seat.  Quality of images not great due to the light.

Apparently she said 'Yes'

I enjoyed the show.  Had to walk back to the hotel, which took about an hour.  Up early next morning to drive to Newport on Tay to visit with my relation Margaret Mcleod.   Margaret gave me lunch and then we went for a tea and scones at Rufflets Hotel at St Andrews.  No photos of the day.

On Wednesday, I walked to C, C & T for a delicious coffee.  Walked back to BBC at the Quay to see Radio 2 live.  However, it was all inside a tent, which was too hot for me so I walked from there to Botanic Gardens.  A bit of a hike so I had to stop off at a Smoothie shop.  Worth it though for a chat with two of the staff and a delicious drink.  Then walked back on Kelvin walkway to city centre and back to BBC at the Quay.  Queued for standby tickets to see the opening ceremony on the big screen.  Was given tickets by someone coming out so a result.

Tower at Glasgow Science Centre which is by BBC

There are 25 Clydes dotted around the city so I am trying to take as many as I can.  This one is at BBC Scotland.

At the Botanic Gardens

At end of the Arboretum at Botanic Gardens

Returning by Kelvin walkway and found a pretty bridge

Clyde by Kelvingrove Park

Cute tiny puppy in Kelvingrove fountain

Unknown lady with lovely red hair

Clyde at Sauciehall Street

St George's Square.  The G is part of the Clyde trail

Belize athletes in Buchanan Street

Clyde at the end of Buchanan Street

Clyde at the riverside

Another Clyde at the riverside

Crew on HMS Bangor, moored at BBC Scotland

We were asked to make a crowd to watch this guy jump off the ship on his bike, filmed by BBC

Opening ceremony on the big screen

I missed the Red Arrows !!!!!!!!!

Lovely fireworks

I started work on Thursday - 4.30 pm to 10.30 pm.  I spent the morning at the hotel, catching up on e mails and processing photos.  Set out in the boiling Glasgow sun, wandered around the city centre then went into SECC.  Finally found out where to meet up with everyone.  Worked in the Mixed Zone at the judo.  It was medal matches for 5 matches so only one mat used.  Not as busy as I had thought and everything went well.  A few people wanted to buck the system by walking through the mixed zone but we managed to handle that.  Walked out of the halls to a lovely sunset.

At Central Station

Just off Buchanan Street

Taken from the Arc

The Swallow Hotel is near to Bellahouston Park, so I walked there on Wednesday before my shift.  A great place to go.  Spent some time at House for an Art Lover.  A must if you are a Rennie Mackintosh fan.  Lovely views.  You can even ski there!!  There is a cafe at the House but coffee was disgusting - even though they had a proper machine.  Photos later.

Ibrox Clyde which is near The Swallow Hotel

Bellahouston Park

Part of The House for an Art Lover

Rennie Mackintosh's Dining Room

Dining Room detail

Music Room

Walled Garden

More of the House

Sculptures in the Park

Me in the Amaze

Views from the Park

More Sculptures

Shadow in the Bothy at the Walled Garden

 On Saturday, it was a trip into the City Centre as I wanted to check out the trains for Isle of Bute.  My car would be imprisoned at the hotel due to the marathon.  I visited the Goma and played about with the camera, sculptures and interior shots of the building.

View of the balcony

Fun taking snaps through the lovely glass

Part of an installation

Then blended with an image of the wall with reflected light on it

More of the reflected light on the wall - this time with a shot of me

Another installation

More of the windows

Seen outside the Goma building

Clyde at Queen St Station. 

If you had been watching the Opening Ceremony closely, you will have spotted the traffic cone

On the windows of The Lighthouse

Then back to the hotel to change into my uniform for the evening shift.  On my way to SECC  I passed the Commonwealth Flotilla.  I passed them again in the evening when the light was better.

Agnes, the team manager took these two images of Frankie and I doing our work in the Mixed Zone.  We are holding the phones for the journalists to record Euan Burton's replies

Images of the flotillia in the sunset

I liked the sarong and then they held hands

As I said earlier, I was unable to use the car on Sunday so I changed my plans and took the train to Wemyss Bay and then a ferry to Isle of Bute.  It rained most of the day.  I met Agnes at Central Station, by chance.  A friend had recommended she take the trip.  We stayed together until I left the open top bus tour at Mt Stuart.  Caught the local bus back to Rothesay and the 4pm ferry.

Images from the open top bus on Isle of Bute

Mt Stuart.  I only walked around a small part of the gardens

Wemyss Bay station

I finally made it to WWT Caerlaverock near Dumfries on Monday on a better day.  I now have only 2 WWT centres to visit - Welney and the one in Northern Ireland.  Will definitely return here to visit the nature reserve next door and see more of the Solway Firth.

View from the river walk

Views from the meadow walk

I think this is a Sedge Warbler

Sheep outside one of the hides

I was trying to take the swallows skimming over the water and taking a drink.  Got the young starling at the side though

Images from Folly pond hide

Solway Firth

Back to work on Tuesday.  This time I was at the Wrestling - same hall as the Judo.  Doing the morning shift this week.  Went into town in the evening and walked around Merchant City.  Found another Clyde.

Clyde at Glasgow Cross

Merchant City - the Irn Bru store

Back to the City Centre after my shift on Wednesday.  Had a great reflexology session at Neal's Yard.  Definitely worth finding someone who does real reflexology not the beauty room type.

Shame I had changed out of uniform when I met the real Clyde.  I did meet him last week (saw him half naked!`) as he was at the judo but it was too dark for photos.

Looking back to the halls where I work (with the yellow flash).

St Georges Square again.  I don't think this statue was clothed the last time I saw him

Last shift tomorrow.  I am planning to go straight back to the hotel and start my journey home so this is probably my last post on the Games.  Working at the Chelsea of the SouthWest - Taunton Flower show, on Saturday.  Next trip is Botswana in September.

A couple more photos from my last shift - going to and walking back to the hotel.  I packed up my car, filled it up with petrol by 2.20 pm and was home by 10.10 pm.  A bit of traffic around Manchester owing to an accident on the other side of the road (30 mile queue for them!).

By Festival Park on my way in

Near the exit to SECC