Yesterday, hand-in-hand with a young lady, I strolled around the West End of Glasgow, basking in the streaming rays of the sun as they caressed the 'dear green place' (as the City is called). We talked and laughed and ate, and enjoyed each other's company; visited museums and art galleries, cafes and restaurants, parks and recreational areas, and time seemed to stand still (or at least slow to a crawl) as we drank in the day and made memories that, to me at least, would last forever.
Then I awoke this morning and realised that 'yesterday' was 19 years ago, and wondered where the time sneaked off to when I wasn't looking. Does she remember yesterday with the same fond affection, or does the memory languish in a hidden drawer of a secret compartment for which she has lost the key?
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(In case you're wondering about the photo's relevance, the empty table is where we sat to have breakfast, in a cafe that became a vodka bar back in 2001.)
"Yesterday' (one of my favorite Beatle songs) can really mess with your head; just the other day I had a dream and in it our son and daughter were little kids - they are both in their twenties now - but that just seemed like yesterday. Where does the time go?! In one sense it doesn't pay to dwell on the passing of time too much because you realise how quickly it passes - how much has gone by and how much might be left; so I try to live my life by living in and enjoying the moment as much as I can, more so the older I get. And that's another thing - I don't feel old, until I look in the mirror and wonder who that guy is looking back at me. But at least we have the memory of those moments to hang onto after that moment has passed, as you have recounted so evocatively here.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your comments, PC, I often find myself wishing that you had a blog. If it turned out half as interesting as your comments, it would be very popular indeed. I regularly find myself having dreams where my dog (Zara, who died 20 years ago this coming November) is still alive and running around, and when I wake up, I wonder where she is for a few seconds before realising I was just dreaming. I don't try to dwell on the passing of time, it's more like the passing of time dwells on (or in) me. Thanks for dropping by, always a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThe Grosvenor Cafe! I have so many fond memories this place, it kept me fed when I first moved to the West End. Never forget the very busy day when an old lady asked to share my table and I got the story of her husband who got torpedoed, then rescued by a U-Boat. He & the Jerry captain were friends for years.
ReplyDeleteThere's a post called 'Going to the Grosvenor, Guv'nor?' on the blog somewhere, OD, which also has a photo of the exterior. Ashton Lane has never quite been the same to me since the cafe closed in 2001. If I were to win the Lottery, I'd buy the premises and resurrect the Grosvenor. The cafe across the lane, above the cinema, is now called the Grosvenor Cafe, but it doesn't have the same appeal for me.
ReplyDeletewow, very poignant post. I guess we all have days like that.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same lottery dream! Uncanny!
ReplyDeleteThanks, TD, glad you enjoyed it.
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Two great minds, eh, OD?
I don't have many memories of the old Grosvenor Cafe I'm afraid (although I was in it at some point) but I recall going to the restaurant that took its place - it was a pretty nice (an Italian) but way too small for a restaurant (imho) . Although some indie cafes back in the day were not the best I do miss some of the really good ones in Glasgow like the Kings Cafe , Dinos and Equis (although Equis is still going strong in Hamilton) sadly even now some of the better newer cafes are closing like Rio's. The cafe chains Costas, Starbucks etc are all pretty ok (you know what your getting) but they have no character and you could be in London , Paris or Hamilton for all you knew when you are in a Starbucks etc. Saying that as a Kid I loved the old Wimpy burger bars chain as a kid in the 70s, especially the one that was in Union Street Glasgow and have fond memories of sitting with my dad having a cuppa tea (I didn't like coffee back then) and a toasted burger having a wee chat about football etc. But its not all gloom Glasgow in particular (and most please in Scotland and UK I have visited) have great indie cafes like the Singl-end cafe, Trans Europe Cafe (my favourite) Where the Monkey Sleeps, Riverhill Cafe, Hydland Cafe, Gordon Street Coffee, Strange Brew etc (some pretentious and very expensive ones as well like "Kimber and Jones lovely stuff but you need a bank overdraft for a meal) . At least the University Cafes still going strong.
ReplyDeleteI quite like Where The Monkey Sleeps myself, PM, and have been many times over the years. Its one drawback is that being 'underground', it has no view of the outside, and I'm one of those people who like to gaze out of windows and see the world beyond. When The Grosvenor Cafe became a vodka bar, the cafe moved upstairs, but it was new owners (as well as some of the old staff) and it just wasn't the same. Then it became Mimmo's (Italian restaurant) and was a great wee place. Then it became Una-Storia (still Italian), but now it's a chicken place of some kind. Is the King's Cafe the one that was around the corner from the King's Theatre? Is that closed? Bummer! I was only in two or three times, but I liked the place. You ever been into the Offshore Cafe in Gibson Street? I quite like it - mainly because it's around the corner from Great George Street (where I lived in the '50s), and because it's got large windows I can look out of. Only been into the University Cafe once (on your recommendation), but the tables are tiny and the floor needs a good scrub. Does have character though, and reminds me of the cafes that were around in the '60s.
ReplyDeleteYes the Kings cafe was not too far away from the theatre it was on Elmbank Street (near the Variety Bar) was a staple in Glasgow for nearly 120 years now its a burger bar (yeah we need more of these in Glasgow!). Glad you mentioned the tight tables at the University Cafe as I though I was getting fat lol nothing worse that a dirty floor in a cafe / restaurant sadly not uncommon in some places and is totally unacceptable . I've not been in the Offhore Cafe but it looks really nice so I will check it out soon.
ReplyDeleteAh, that's a shame about the King's - you got a nice fish tea in there. Perhaps I should explain about the floor of the University Cafe; the floor doubtless gets washed regularly, but there's a build-up of 'yuch' around the metal parts of the tables and chairs that are bolted into the floor, and they desperately need a good scrape to remove the years of accumulated dirt from them. However, other than that, it's a nice place. You'll enjoy the ambience of the Offshore.
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