Did lots!

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Helensburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

After being so annoyed re losing my blog last night I was I a very negative mood - not with Kevin, he was extremely sympathetic.

We are in a 2bdrm apartment, it's lovely, has everything, but very spread out. Separate kitchen and lounge. - we like to be together with getting tea and watching tv. The bathroom is beautiful, and shower - anything better than the last. Thought the bed a little hard, but we both slept soundly, so excellent.

Our landlords had bought and left return tickets to Cumbrae Island, where they live, included was a note to say they would meet the ferry and take us around the island https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Cumbrae. drop us in town after, and when we finish in town, we’re to phone him, Alex, and he will take us back to the ferry, which crosses every 1/2hr. Isn’t that hospitality??? Doing it tomorrow - Monday.

Being Sunday we thought the roads would be reasonably quiet, so decided to go to The Hill house @ Helensburgh. The Charles Rennie Macintosh House he designed for the Blackie Family.

The Blackies house by CRM

Also designed the furniture, lamp shades, carpet, wallpaper - gorgeous.

On the way was Overtoun Bridge, I had read about this months ago, made me very curious. Fascinating story, macabre, definitely weird. https://omgfacts.com/the-mystery-of-scotlands-dog-suicide-bridge/ We both thought it really quite spooky. The stone work almost looks as though it’s weeping. We walked over it, then under it, then got out of it! Would you believe there were a lot of dogs around?!?!?

Horses too, we’ve never seen horses anywhere like we’ve seen them in this area. Dumbarton. Stunning nares, beautiful countryside. The trees richer every day.

Left Overtoun Bridge - ohhhhh......... there’s a house of note there too, another one of those ones where no children to pass on to, a nephew inherits, yrs later he gifts it to the local community, imposing place. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtoun_House

Chivas Brothers storage sheds. Could not believe what we were seeing, these storage sheds which lined the road up to 4 deep, huge black windowless sheds, mystifying until I googled Chivas Brothers this came up: https://www.

So so art nouveau.

independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/scottish-townspeople-take-on-drinks-giant-over-black-whisky-fungus-blighting-their-homes-9387440.html So we decided to go back to Largs via Beith.

The Hill House, Helensburgh. Charles Rennie Macintosh. I have always been a fan of his, but never knew who I was a fan of until Nina and Richard blogged on their followings 4yrs ago. I love his style and Kevin felt the same after we had an exclusive tour today. Unfortunately most of the furniture was in storage due to the terrible leaks the house has. There is to be a Box built around it. Basically it’s a permanent scaffolding then wrapped with a special net to prevent about 80% of the weather but still allow it to breathe. Beautiful, beautiful home, I’m looking forward to visiting the “house for an art lover” in Glasgow. https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/the-hill-house

BEITH - look a time the colour of that hydrangea! Kevin was turning the car around while I took a pic, Lady got her husband to tell me where the Chivas sheds were, you can’t miss them were his words, he’s right.

He was yrs before his time.

He also told me about the ministry of defence ammunition depot. : http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/BeithMunitionsDepot

The Chivas sheds at Beith: 48 sheds we counted, and the countryside, hedges, trees, power poles, fence posts anything that would grow black fungus was covered, it’s definitely a problem. The countryside began to green the further we drove away.

The countryside from Paisley (west? Of Glasgow) to Largs is absolutely serene, rich farmlands - dairy of course, huge sheds, rolling countryside, autumn trees, stunning, we did see some divine scenery today.

Settled here now after we called at the supermarket for 2 bots of wine - saves going tomorrow night.