At the lower end of Buchanan Street by Fraser’s there was a band playing a decent cover of The Beatles “Get Back” and there were two drum groups competing for peoples change further up the street.

In the middle of the pedestrian area there was a row of stalls, it started with some people selling a “guaranteed” smoking cessation method. Next up were the Communist not sure which particular branch, then Human Rights for Palestine and then the Socialist Workers, from past experience I remembered not to try and pay for a copy of the Socialist Worker newspaper with a gold Amex Card, they just don’t see the funny side of it. Next were the Anarchists, it is the first time I remember seeing an Anarchist stall and I was a regular attender at the Meadows Festival in Edinburgh in the 70′s & 80′s. Finally in the row was an advert for the Citizens Theatre Christmas show, Wizard of Oz, which made the whole row seem slightly surreal.

It is becoming more obvious that my inner eccentricities are starting to leak out into the real world. First, hats. In the summer I bought a Panama style hat for sitting out on holiday after this I bought a hat for winter running, known by some as my ~epic~ hat. Only last week I bought another, a beanie style thermal hat. However today I spotted a black Fedora style hat in Fraser’s and if there hadn’t been staff arranging the display I would have tried it on, the need to keep money for Christmas would have probably have prevented me from buying it but in the future who knows.

My next lurch into eccentricity is that I think I am looking for a bag, a manbag I need something to carry my notepads, pens etc. At the moment I use a series of tatty plastic carrier bags. I am beginning to think I may be beyond help.

While I was taking some shots of the Wellington statue in Waterloo Place I was stopped by an old soldier who though I was a professional who had take his photo before. As I have never made a penny from my photography I honestly said that I wasn’t. He gave me a little of his life story then “tapped” for some change. Sadly and again honestly I had none, in future I will keep a small float in my camera bag for such an occurrence. I now have some change from buying a coffee & a Danish in St James’ centre so if I see him on the way up the road I will give him some.

I was unable to get some of the shots that I had planned due to the amount of building work going on around the city centre.

I am blogging this from my iPhone. Last night I was putting a screen protector on my camera and decided to try on of the spares on the iPhone. First of all I was surprised that of worked at all and I have discovered I am finding typing on the on-screen keyboard a lot more accurate & therefore quicker the it was previously without the screen protector.

It has been months since my last blog post here so the chances are no one will be reading the blog anymore, but hey if you are reading this I am wrong. Post a comment even just saying “Hi”

An iPhone photo of Greyfriars Bobby.

When I walk I much prefer to listen. To the radio than music from my iPod. I think this is partly because I can judge time passing easier, also I quite like the programmes on Radio Scotland on a Saturday & Sunday. Today I heard Glen Campbell doing a cover of Greeday’s “Good Riddence” & became aware of a Scottish band called “The Hussy’s” & yes the usual spelling is “Hussies”.

As the title suggests from my starting point it is a slow walk up hill to East Kilbride, so at least my walk back will be down hill.

At the moment I am in East Kilbride shopping centre having a coffee, I think I was here breifly when I was a teenager as I remember seeing the Ice Rink. Ice skating was never an activity that I was any good at, it requires too much coordination. Just before the skating session ended the DJ played Kriss Kross, they were the trousers on backwards guys weren’t they? Anyway I have not heard the track played for years.

Time to start moving again and head towards home.

The wandering about did permit me to do my good deed for the day when I spotted an elderly lady having trouble getting up the step into Gilmour Street Railway station. I offered help & she said “just give me a shove in the back, son” I did and she was able to raise her foot to get up the step.

The Paisley War Memorial is an interesting combination. At the centre of the plinth is a Robert The Bruce type figure mounted on a horse with four figures of World War I soldiers around the horse.

I am having my Americano coffee in Aulds coffee shop in the shopping centre. The piped music from the centre is mainly 70′s disco music that reminds me of Primary School Discos.

The walk home starts soon.

It has been a typical Scottish day in that it has been dull and drizzeling rain all the time.

This is the first time that I have been to Newton Mearns, it all seems very well kempt. The shopping centre where I am currently sitting and having a very nice & welcome coffee makes me think of the central planets in the series FireFly. I think the Feds tagged me as I came in the door

The Marks & Spensers “Simply Food” has some clothes racks so it real change it’s name to “Mainly Food”. The customers have a “Stepford Wifes” look about them even more than most M & S shops I have been in. It seem that each age group is only permited one hairstyle & one jacket design.

Anyway my coffee is almost finished & Costa will start charging me rent soon.

Later.