Author: lauramoodie (Page 6 of 17)

Thank you so much to everyone who turned out on Saturday to set up stall, visit gardens and help the community celebrate our unique local heritage together. Despite an inauspicious start it turned out to be a great afternoon with sunshine, a lovely atmosphere and lots of friends, neighbours and complete strangers visiting our lanes.

We got some really lovely comments from visitors and great press in the build up to the event and it reflects the real affection our unusual annual street party is held in:

http://southsidehappenings.blogspot.co.uk/

http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/going-out/events-info/107243-neighbours-get-together-for-bungo-in-the-lanes/

There was also a nice article in The Extra but the web page is not working just now.

The Society traditionally takes a summer break after our big event so volunteer energy levels can recover, however we will be meeting again on August 20th in The Bungo Bar, so if you enjoyed the event and want to get involved why not come along?

We’ll publish an agenda nearer the time but the meeting will also be attended by Dougie Gellan of Land Service (the bin people!) so it’s a good opportunity to talk over the niggling refuse collection issues in advance of our autumn AGM (date TBC). We gave the council the attached document to consider at a meeting earlier this month: Strathbungo_Bins

We all appreciated how great the lanes looked this year. The engineering work carried out earlier in the year did make a big difference to the drainage on Nithsdale/Regent and Regent/Queen lane in comparison to the other lanes and while not quite the even surface we’d imagined there has been improvement. We were also pleased the the Council worked so hard to get the bulk rubbish cleaned away and the lanes strimmed before the event. It makes a huge difference – but can we, the community, keep them like that?

Finally, we’d love to get your views about the event. What did first-time stall holders or attendees make of it, what could we do in the future, what was your favourite part of the day and, if you have any photos, we would love to see them! Comment here or email chair@strathbungo.co.uk

Glasgow City Council played their part today and have cleared and strimmed the lanes. On a quick walk around this evening, some of the lanes have never looked tidier but there’s always room for improvement.

Please could residents take their bins out of the lanes and into their gardens or tuck them away as discreetly as possible. Getting them out of the lanes makes it much easier for folk to move around.

The weather forecast is not great but also seems quite variable. I’ve seen forecasts for cloud, sunshine and showers and light rain for the event and today’s thunderstorms weren’t on the forecast last night so we’ll take it as we find it. The event will be going on regardless.

There are a few puddles around, especially on Marywood and Queen lane and the stretch between the two – I’d recommend wellies for everyone! There’s also a couple of hazards to watch out for – a rickety fence on Vennard and Moray Place, a hole in the ground on Nithsdale and Regent and some canisters of non-specific liquid on Vennard Gardens.

St Andrew’s Ambulance will be present on the day and the best place to look for lost children is the children’s garden. If in doubt, grab any of the stewards in a hi-vis vest and/or bungo t-shirt.

We’ll see you there!

Fancy helping put on Glasgow’s “best local community event”? The Strathbungo Society is always looking for extra volunteers on the big day to help us get things ready and pack things up.

Victims of the success of the event, we’ve found ourselves with a smaller volunteer pool than ever this year because everyone wants to enjoy the day and set up their own stall. Sound familiar? You can help before and after the event doing any of the following:

• Putting up (and later taking down) gazebos, moving tables and chairs, putting out A Frames etc: Meet at 9.30am on Saturday at 26 Marywood Square or follow the noise in the back lanes. For packing up, come to the Society stall at 4pm.
• Baking: We’d love donations of home baking for our tea garden on Marywood and Queen Lane. Just drop it off on the day.
• Prizes: We’re taking donations of prizes for the tombola until Friday evening. Drop them at 53 Queen Sq.
• Making space: Not holding a stall yourself? We have several stall holders looking for a pitch. They will squeeze in wherever they can on the day but if you’ve got a great garden or yard you think could be used by someone else, get in touch and we can send them your way.

Contact: chair@strathbungo.co.uk

So, I really hope this is wrong:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/brollies-up-for-month-of-rain-in-just-4-days.17927974

Thankfully, the BBC and STV both have a more optimistic forecast of sunshine and showers.

Let’s see if we can come up with creative water-based fun in the rain. Apple bobbing, anyone?

Small but perfectly formed local cafe Grianach reopened today under new management after months of being closed.

It’s being run as a family business by Grant and Christian who have moved to Glasgow after many years living in Leeds. They have moved to be closer to family in the area and will themselves be moving into Strathbungo next month.

As you can see from the happy customer pictured, Grianach’s lost none of its cosy charm and the cakes and coffee are great. Grant is also looking into installing light boxes again before winter comes.

With so few covers, small cafes like Grianach rely on regular customers and a changing clientele through the day. So, as ever, it’s a case of use them or lose them.

That said, it’s great to see so many thriving businesses on Nithsdale Road and the surrounding streets and reassuring to see our corner of the world bucking the national trend by supporting great local businesses which in turn attract more investment to the area.

Police have cordoned off a section of Nithsdale Road near the back lane at the Pollokshaws Road end.

As you can see from our pictures there are several officers, both plain-clothes and uniformed on the scene.

An ambulance was also present earlier.

The police officers we spoke to said they were investigating what had happened but a local shopkeeper said there had been a robbery at William Hill.

People were also being questioned  – it’s quite an over-looked site!

Our best guess is that the incident occurred early this evening.

If you have further information which may assist the police, do use the contact details in our emergency services section. It looks like there may be a police presence there for quite a while tonight.

UPDATE: Former Councillor Irfan Rabbani posted the following on Facebook:

Wm Hill on Nithsdale Rd violently robbed by 2 men at 6pm today. Many witnesses. Police caught 1 man with help of locals. 1 man injured.

Well done to the locals who helped to apprehend the man caught.