Category: Social and Recreation (Page 6 of 6)

Are you a violinist, cellist or accordionist looking for an local ensemble to play in?

The Viennese Ensemble is a group of musicians from Glasgow who perform a wide repertoire of Viennese and Eastern European music. Since forming in 1999, the group has played at bar mitzvahs, bookshops and weddings, at charity events, in museums, churches, hotels, Princes Square and the Merchant City.  It has also given more formal concerts at Mugdock Country Park, Adelaides Church and St Andrews in the Square.

The Ensemble was founded by Barbara Olding, a well known pianist and music teacher in the south side of Glasgow.

“The Viennese Ensemble is a mix of professional and talented amateur musicians.  We play a selection of popular, light music from Hungary, Romania, the Balkans and of course Vienna.” – Barbara

The Viennese Ensemble already has a couple of members from Strathbungo, including myself.  I can honestly say that the repertoire is a joy to play, and that the ensemble is a charming and personable group of all ages, from university students to retirees.  We rehearse on Wednesday evenings at 7:30, in the neighbourhood just south of Queen’s Park.  If you think you might want to join us, please e-mail me at “deidrem -at- btinternet.com” or Daphne Wassermann at “daphne -at- aquarius1000.plus.com”

Due to popular demand we will take entries for the Art Competition on Monday 28th Feb 2011 between 7.30 – 9.00pm.

Come join us for the Strathbungo Society’s annual Spring Fling!

The 2011 Spring Fling will take place on Saturday, 26 March in Queens Park Parish Church Hall at 170 Queens Drive tentatively from 10.00 to 13.00 hours. Strathbungo’s Spring Fling is an annual coffee morning which includes our Children’s Art Competition. As well as announcing the winners of the art competition, there’s always fantastic home baking, interesting art and craft stalls and a tombola or raffle on offer.

Click prizes & rules info for art competition Spring Fling 2011 for entry forms and rules for the Children’s Art Competition. This year’s theme is Life In Strathbungo. Download the entry form for the relevant age group by clicking on the appropriate link.

entry form for art competition Spring Fling 2011 Under 5 years

entry form for art competition Spring Fling 2011 5 – 8

entry form for art competition Spring Fling 2011 9 – 12 years

entry form for art competition Spring Fling 2011 13 – 16 years

Spring Fling under its current guise has been going for three years.  Previously, the Society held regular coffee break events—one in spring and one in autumn. Spring Fling really came out of a desire to make more out of the coffee break (and also because we found it difficult to do an extra event in autumn as well). In previous years, craft wares have been sold by Rosie Ilett and other crafty people while the Glasgow Playschemes Association held children’s art and crafts sessions.

Help us make this a success by volunteering to bring home-baked goodies, set-up or clean-up.

Remember that all entries must be handed into 53 Queen Square by 09.00pm Monday 28h February 2011

We hope to see you there!

Graham Sykes is currently collating material for a forthcoming book entitled “A Brush with Glasgow”. The book will paint a portrait of the city in words and artwork and five paintings have been prepared for a chapter dedicated to Strathbungo. Graham is a Bungo enthusiast and whilst he will be offering his own appreciation of the area he is looking for additional material from Strathbungo residents by way of interesting Strathbungo anecdotes, tales and personal contributions.

If you would like to contribute your own oral history of Strathbungo please do contact Graham by e mail on mgs63@live.co.uk. It is books like Graham’s from which Strathbungo’s history will be drawn and which help form a sense of community cohesiveness that gives Strathbungo such a distinct character so please do drop him a line if you have anything to say about the history of Strathbungo. What you may think of as prosaic and uninteresting may turn out to be a valuable piece of information that no one else knows.

Most people don’t know this, but there is a certain camaraderie among riders of big motorbikes. Not the smaller 50cc phut phuts (which big bikers regard as souped-up sewing machines). Not even the more sporty 250 – 400cc sports bikes (road kill in waiting). No, to get the respect of the bigger bikers you will need to be riding something in excess of about 600cc or weighing in at over 200 kg. Respect is shown by an almost imperceptible nod of the head or, if s/he doesn’t need it to depress the clutch, raising the left hand a fraction and extending the index finger in salute (right hand is always on the throttle). Most pedestrians and car drivers miss this small gesture as bikers whiz past each other, while riders of small bikes offer it, but to their eternal irritation, seldom receive an acknowledgement in return.

And the link with dogs or indeed Strathbungo? Since we recently got a wee puppy (a lovely, but infinitely curious, Lab-Collie cross) from the Dogs Trust and have been walking him on Queen’s Park, I have been finding that there is a similar camaraderie among dog owners. Unlike biker camaraderie, the dog owning camaraderie is not in the least bit sizest. Great Danes (and their owners) will greet Chihuahuas (and their owners) in the same way as two labs (and owners) might greet each other. Age, sex, ethnicity or class are no barriers to two complete strangers greeting one another in Queen’s Park and exchanging pleasantries and dog small talk before passing on their way sure in the knowledge that they will bump into one another soon enough – whether by the pond, the flagpole or the rose garden.

Walking our dog on Queen’s Park has opened up social interactions with Strathbungo neighbours that non dog owners are simply unaware of – until now. So if you want to get to know your neighbours better, visit the Dogs Trust and get yourself a mutt!

Oh, and if you want a nod from a fellow biker, get yourself a bigger bike!