Since the day it closed in March 2003 I have been at a loose end. My very favourite place in all of Glasgow was dismantled, not before time of course as it was falling to pieces and had become a sorry sight, but still I suddenly had nowhere to sit on a rainy Saturday afternoon, or on a cold winter's day. When I lived in my beloved West End I spent most of my spare time in there. I'd read a book, take the kids for walks, stand and watch the fish and the ferns. I'd go to the breezy café and sit alone. Maternity leaves were fondly spent breastfeeding tiny babies in there away from the harsh Glasgow wind. I missed taking Léon there during my last maternity leave. In fact it is odd to think I have a child who has never been inside the Kibble palace. It will be interesting to see if Charlotte remembers it, having only been 3 when it closed its doors, though of course she had spent forever inside it before then. Happily, today, St Andrew's day saw it reopen to the public. At last :-) I for one will be through its doors before the week is out breathing a huge sigh of relief, with my camera round my neck and my kids in tow.
Do you know how much has been changed?
ReplyDeleteEverything. It was taken bar by bar to England and restored, the glass has been replaced in its entirety, the statues have all been restored, the lighting and heating system has been replaced by a 21st century system, there's a new café and extra plants. The old plants and fish are back where they came from.
ReplyDeleteEngland? Why England?
ReplyDeleteGod only knows - the lotto gave us £7M to fix it, maybe it was on condition we gave England back the £7M :-(
ReplyDeleteYeah, WHY bloody engerland indeed?
ReplyDeleteWe can't replace a bit of glass and re paint some old metal here ?? Roll on an Independent & free Scotland.