The 13th Note
The 13th Note
The 13th Note is one of my favourite places to go in Glasgow on my days off. I like to go here to read a book, have a drink or eat some delicious vegan food. I am trying..to be vegan again, so I do tend to eat in places that don't handle meat as much as I can. I love the food here because it is very wholesome, they do a few classics, such as mac n' cheese (as you can see in this photo), Nachos and Burritos which can appeal to those who aren't too health conscious but still want to enjoy good food. One of the other reasons that I go here is because of the music, they play a range of different tunes ranging from Led Zeppelin to Kate Bush, to some that you may never have heard before. I have yet to go to one of their many gigs that they have on offer, but I plan on doing so after we are free from captivity! (Many a dog spotted here too!)
Glasgow Necropolis
Glasgow Necropolis
This has been one of my favourite spots for a few years now. Sometimes there can be a few groups of tourists, it can get fairly busy in the Summer, but if you go at an off-peak time - be it after work, if you're an early riser or if it isn't too nice outside - then you are likely to not see a sole. I have always had a weird fascination with graveyards, I like the celtic art that you can see on the headstones in the Necropolis specifically, there is a gothic art style amongst some of them too. There are a lot of hidden places within the whole area that may be hard to find at first. I recommend going here if you are feeling trapped in the city, if you are wanting to see some nice views of Glasgow Cathedral or if you just want to be alone for a little while, to have a smoke etc...
The Botanics
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
I have been going here since I was a kid, and it is still one of my favourite places to go in Glasgow to this day. It is normally quite busy so if you're wanting some time to yourself it is maybe not the best place to go, and I may also add that this is not the best place to visit when it is raining. But you can go for a nice walk, visit the fish or you can see the many plants or cacti that they have on offer. Situated just off of Byres Road, it is hard to miss and the building itself is quite unique.
Hidden amongst the gardens is an old railway track, which I only just found on one of my recent trips here, there isn't too much to see but it is fascinating to think that there would have been a trainline running through the park back in the day. You’ve can also walk through the tunnel which leads you to the train tracks, hidden down behind Inn Deep, just near the Kelvin Walk Way! The Kelvin Walk Way also holds a lot of wonderful spots to sit and ponder, or admire the beautiful trees and plants.
Found a beautiful, knitted bench in the Botanics!
Autumn leaves - Glasgow Green
Glasgow's Parks
Walking has always been something I have enjoyed - recently, however, it feels more like a break from sitting in my house doing not a lot, so I have lost touch with the sense of adventure I normally feel, and the feeling of appreciating nature - because it feels like it's more of an exercise chore now rather than just for pleasure or personal growth.
I do love, though, the parks throughout Glasgow city centre. Glasgow Green is now a 15 minute walk for me, which is amazing! I like it because you can walk so many different routes to get there and during Summer I'm sure it would be great for being with friends or sunbathing (usually not so frequently possible here in Scotland), and also in Autumn - me and my flatmates had a great time dancing amongst the leaves and making crowns out of fallen leaves scattered throughout the park.
Alexandra Park is also now a short walk from my flat, which is another good spot for escaping the torture of being trapped inside 24/7! No, but really, it is a lovely park full of swans, trees and a loch, what more could you want? I just started learning how to do Poi which is a really fun hobby! I think everyone could do it if they had a go, and I am definitely no expert yet, but you have to start at the begin with every new thing you try in life, so I don't let myself get put down while watching videos of people doing more advanced flow Poi. But it is something to keep you entertained throughout these - ever longing - lockdowns, which won't be over any time soon!
I also just received a Hula Hoop for my Christmas so I can't wait to give that a go too, when the weather gets a bit better. But I love the idea of always learning new skills and studying new topics, I think it's important to keep your brain active and it is key for developing your own personality and challenging yourself. You can't always do the same things everyday or not put yourself out of your comfort zone, for you will never grow. I also think it is important to set boundaries for myself - Hula Hooping and Poi are not exactly life threatening hobbies, but I like to try new things, and I hadn't even heard of Poi until late last year.
I also think it is important to remember that you will not be an expert until you have practised a fair amount, and therefore it is valuable for you to listen to advice that more advanced users give you, which applies to every new hobby you may take up. It may feel like someone is trying to prove their worth over yours, but this isn't true. If you think about the actual thing which you are doing, and not about yourself, you will more likely be able to listen to what they have to say. This is the act of ignoring the ego. I know this because I have, and still do, sometimes need to go through this process myself.
However - I think it is a very rewarding feeling to forget about yourself in the moment when doing things you love, as you get wrapped up in the activity. This is the act of flow, which means that you are so engrossed in what you are doing, you are not thinking about anything else! The Hungarian-American Psychologist Csikszentmihalyi created the theory of Flow which is related to productivity and also a very interesting topic to look into!