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Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying

Glasgow’s planes like clockwork

23rd April 202623rd April 2026 funtime65

Glasgow’s planes like Swiss clockwork always arrive on time. And its trains.

Because when my birth city’s burghers go upgrading their transport network they sensibly choose Swiss.

Now few of you might put Scotland’s largest city as the third oldest subway in the world.

Built in 1896 they are only behind Budapest, earlier that year, and the Daddy of them all, London in 1863.

Which means they’ve been at it 130 years.

The toblerone underground

And in contrast to the Hungarian capital you won’t get spot-fined by a scary Magyar guard for not validating your ticket.

Today’s Glasgow Subway looks very different from the one my grandparents would have taken.

The witty Glaswegians christening the Subway they have today the Clockwork Orange on account of their orange livery.

And with some driverless trains on the way later this year.

Although our Swiss hosts, at the grand Glasgow City Chambers last night, would not say if our trains would now be toblerone-shaped.

Ca va, we’re having some fun with you here, Swiss trains run, well, like clockwork.

Edelweiss, bless my Swiss home

On the right track: With your Swiss TravelPass

We gathered to mark the opening of the new summer seasonal Edelweiss flight route from Glasgow to Zurich.

Which will launch on May 29, running twice weekly (Mondays and Fridays) until September 14.

And because this is a return arrangement us Scots have put their mark on the Edelweiss planes.

With the Scottish Leather Group, the largest manufacturer of leather in Britain, kitting out the planes and seating passengers in style.

Deal us in

Best seat in house: And they’re Scottish leather

Switzerland, of course, has four seasons like the rest of us although we naturally associate it with winter and falling down mountains.

But having enjoyed its summer charms, walking and yodelling in the valleys.

There’s a whole new summer world waiting for those who travel through Glasgow.

Now you’ll be wanting to know how much you’ll have to shell out and the fares aren’t mountainous.

We found a sample return flight for the first week in June from £215.11.

Countries, Europe, Flying

An Edelweiss by any other Alpine name

15th January 202615th January 2026 funtime65

If a rose is a rose by any other name then surely it figures that an Edelweiss is… An Edelweiss by any other Apine name.

Now this horticultural turn isn’t because of the influence of my very own Green-fingered One or Burns Night coming up on January 25.

Although I did serenade her at our wedding with My Luve Is Like A Red, Red Rose.

But because of the news of Swiss airline Edelweiss Air‘s launch of new Glasgow-Zurich flights this summer.

A tale of the roses

Another flower of Scotland: The Jacobite Little White Rose

It got us thinking that symbols often come without borders.

As they grow across lines and are also celebrated and worn too by neighbours who can fall out and fall back in again.

Which is the case of the Scottish Jacobite Little White Rose.

While our English friends mark equally a Yorkshire red and Lancastrian white rose.

Small and white clean and bright

So it can be done, and is, in the Alps where the Edelweiss is hailed by both Austrians and Swiss.

And as we discovered from the globetrotting Daughterie and Mr Daughterie.

That the wee flower figures too on Romanian currency.

So if you thought that it was the preserve of Austria because of The Sound of Music then you would be wrong.

The Swiss too treasure the mountain flower and market it in their tourist brands.

As does Edelweiss Air which has been trading and flying us Helvetiaphiles out to Switzerland for 30 years this year.

An Alpine hand

How sweet is my valley: Switzerland for all seasons

Glasgow will be served by flights every Monday and Friday from May 29 to September 14.

And continuing the Burns theme this is how ithers see us.

Although we know already that the Swiss are fans.

From their regular visits up to Caledonia to showcase their beautiful country and to share Scots-Swiss stories.

Our Alpine amis describe Scotland’s largest city as ‘combining Victorian architecture with modern culture, a vibrant music scene, and a rich football tradition.

‘And thanks to its location, Glasgow is ideal for a city break.

‘As well as a perfect base for tours through the Scottish Highlands or in combination with Edinburgh.’

MEET YOU IN THE AIR

Let Glasgow Flourish in its 850th year

14th January 202514th January 2025 funtime65

All us schoolkids got a Dunoon mug for our city’s 800th birthday… and if I still had it I’d raise it now and say Let Glasgow Flourish in its 850th year.

My fellow Glaswegians are promising a cornucopia of events over the year.

With a three-day music event Clyde Chorus in May, a pop-up social history exhibition and April’s Taste the Place food trail.

Back in 1975 as well as the school mugs the city threw a party in the May full of special events, exhibitions, concerts and contests.

For a nine-year-old an evening at the football with their Dad to see Scotland play Portugal at Hampden Park was a big occasion.

Nifty Fifty

And it passed me by that the crowd booed off The Wombles, the first concert I’d attended earlier in the year, at half-time after their penalty shoot-out antics.

Football, of course, has long been the pastime of its people.

Probably since Richard the Lionheart granted Glasgow burgh status on May 10, 1175.

Musical tastes extended to a military band concert at the Kelvin Hall, the Scottish National Orchestra at the Cathedral and a Highland Gathering in Scotstoun.

While Denistoun diva Lulu wowed her fellow Glaswegians at the Pavilion Theatre.

Gie it Welly Big Yin

Individual districts held their own celebrations with open days and the election of gala queens.

All capped off with the Lord’s Provost’s Procession and the cavalcade of floats.

Depicting historical aspects of Glasgow making its way from Kelvin Way to Glasgow Green.

And a fireworks display and ‘ox-roasting’ ceremony (they we’re different days) on Glasgow Green.

Alongside a celebration ball, cabaret and buffet in the City Chambers and rowing and canoeing on the Clyde.

Best of all though was the city’s second most famous son Billy Connolly (after myself, obvs) entertaining the crowds with his Welly Boot Song.

The Big Yin has, of course, done more than anyone to promote his home city.

Although whether his health will allow him to pay a visit through this year we will have to wait and see.

It is undoubted that the comedian was the city’s first modern superstar.

Bringing colour with his harlequin hippy clothes, not to mention his infectious humour to a grey industrial city, and beyond.

Following in Billy’s banana boots

Many have followed in his banana bootsteps in the years since.

And Glasgow has successfully reclaimed its Dear Green Place moniker given to it by its saintly founder St Mungo.

And moved away from the No Mean City image of gangs and violence although the challenges still persist.

We have seen unimaginable progress in the 50 years since with major sporting events.

A Commonwealth Games and another to come next year.

A riverside refurb and iconic buildings springing up such as ‘The Armadillo’.

Sign of the times

Glasgow belongs to us: Jimmy and the next generation

So that now Scotland’s largest city can proudly complement.

And even compete with cultural and historical Edinburgh for visitors.

All of which it does with its renowned gallous (cheeky) humour.

Aas evidenced when Glasgow was promoting its award of European City of Culture in 1990.

And two likely lads decamped to the capital‘s Princes Street.

A couple of Glasgow Jimmys: The Dad and I

With a sign pointing in the direction of Glasgow, reading: ‘You are just 46 miles from the European City of Culture.’

So happy birthday to my home city and in the words of its founder St Mungo.

I say proudly Let Glasgow Flourish in its 850th year.

And now to find out if any of those classmates of mine still have their Dunoon mugs.

As I’d rather not fork out the £20 on Ebay.

Countries, Europe

Belgians, Czechs and where the beers are Budabest

11th January 202512th January 2025 funtime65

I’m For research purposes you understood, we cast our eyes here over the Belgians, Czechs and where the beers are Budabest, all courtesy of The European Bar Guide.

It will surprise few that the beer-guzzling Belgians and the quaffing Czechs sweep up the top places in the EBG’s top 100.

And we’ll share our own faves here.

But it was heartening to see the Hungarians namechecked particularly as it’s our next pitstop.

EBR is our new go-to blog for what we’ve decided will be our mission for our 60s… get around as many bars as we can.

Their guide is fun and easy… you flip over a disc to find out more about their choices, much like a beer mat.

All ale to the Scots

As adopted Edinbuggers we were naturally drawn in by their choice of 100th top European beer.

The Edinburgh institution that is The Canny Man’s in Morningside.

The West End suburb being Marmite because of its associations

With a Prime of Miss Jean Brodie attitude of superiority.

But for those who like time capsules it is worth a sup… nose in the air, of course.

Now inhabitants of Scotland’s big two cities won’t even recognise that there is life beyond Glasgow and Edinburgh.

And we fear EBG has fallen into this trap too.

The Laurieston, a favourite haunt of power couple Jack Lowden and Saoirse Ronan, gets EBR’s nod for its Sixties schtick.

But as an Aberdeen Uni alumnus I’d always highlight the merits of the Granite City institutions.

Such as the snug-heavy ‘Ma’ Cameron’s with its impromptu trad music offerings.

And the Irish

As I would Belfast’s Italianate-decorated The Crown Liquor Saloon, or Crown to give it its everyday name.

The Irish, of course, pride themselves on their pub culture and EBG flag up some old stomping grounds.

High up at No.38 is lively Grogans, off buskers and ents hub Grafton Street.

Although we’d point you in the direction of Mary’s in Wicklow Street, with its throwback decor of days when bars doubled as grocery stores.

Such as you’ll find at the highest bar in Ireland, the nooky Johnnie Fox‘s in the Dublin Mountains.

And the award-winning Harbour Bar, Bray, Co. Wicklow complete with cats.

Ruin yourself in Budapest

As feline fanatics we’re indebted to EBG for highlighting the best pussy pub in Budapest.

The Calgary Antik Drinkba where Auntie Vikis and ‘her brain-damaged pets and piles of belongings’ add to the ambience.

Regular visitors to the Hungarian capital will regale you with recommendations to their ‘ruin bars.’

The refurbished post-Communist spaces in the Jewish Quarter, spruced up for our drinking pleasure.

The original of which is Szimpla Kert complete with junkyard art which we’re told is quieter to visit in the afternoons.

Czech out the beer

Our Czech friends also ramp up their Cold War artefacts but never to the detriment of their beloved Urquell Pilsner.

Which naturally is the only beer that flows from the golden taps of the Castle district pub U Hrocha in Prague.

While for a behind the scenes tour of beer-making we always advise Strahov Monastery Brewery where all the best monks go.

Now there’s something about a bar where they’re only here for the beer and we lament the much-missed Tom’s Bierhaus in Ieper.

Although we do keep alive the story of how our pal Muriel asked for a G&T and was informed she could have one of a 100 beers or water.

Brussels shouts

Now we suspect that EBG have whiled away many an hour in Belgian bars with six hostelries in the top ten.

The outliers being our Hungarian and Czech booze buddies.

And Papa Joe’s Jazzlokal in Cologne and the cultural crossroads bar Zlatna Ridica in Sarajevo, classical cities that should be on your map.

Of course, EBG has to pick one best and that accolade falls to La Fleur En Papier Doré in Brussels.

Which we’re told is ‘back from the dead, revived then elevated to the top.’

Countries, UK

The world’s oldest joke shop closes its doors

11th November 202411th November 2024 funtime65

London has its Harrods, New York its Macy’s and Paris its Le Bon Marche and Glasgow its Tam Shepherds but for how much longer as the world’s oldest joke and costume shop closes its doors after 138 years.

Tam’s is an institution in Glasgow and an instant reference point for any Glasgwegian anywhere in the world.

With the world’s second most famous Glaswegian (obvs after me) Billy Connolly referencing the novelty store in Queen Street in his writings.

While magician/comedian Jerry Sadowitz is even said to have taken up the craft after being inspired by late owner Roy Walton.

State of independents

In a world where branded stores proliferate in our town and city centres independent stores are a magnet to discerning tourists.

Now that Tam’s has fallen victim of redevelopments around it and rising costs and decided to go solely online.

Visitors to the Dear Green Place will miss out on seeing this time capsule for themselves.

Pull a rabbit out of the hat: Always a surprise

The late great Roy Walton, whose family run the business, since taking over from Tam was a fixture at the glass-covered counter cases.

Where he would happily run through with you the merits of stink bombs, whoopee cushions, sour-tasting sugar cubes and our own favourite the plastic jobbie.

Jobbie, of course, being Glaswegian slang for excrement popularised by the aforementioned ‘Big Yin’ Billy Connolly.

Trick or treat

And a trick we played on my then-octogenarian Mum when the kids placed one in the glove compartment of our car.

And she laid hands on when she went in for a sweetie on a road trip from Greystones, Co. Wicklow to her homestead Co. Donegal.

Tam’s, of course, never disappointed and we had played the whoopee cushion trick on my Dear Old Dad, himself a regular at Tam’s in his youth.

And the stink bomb in class at school.

Tam’s will still be trading online, but the loss of the shop to the Glasgow city centre will signal another break with a much-loved past.

Gone with the wind

Here for the Beard: Is Billy Connolly under all that?

The smells, and not just stinky ones, the colours, the tricks, the Houdini posters and the sheer magic of this time capsule.

It goes the same way then as the £5 three-course lunch upstairs at the Horseshoe Bar (Rod Stewart’s favourite Glasgow boozer) in Drury Street.

But at least we’ve still got Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Willow Tea Rooms with its high-back chairs and chintzy home decorating.

And master tailor Slater’s. Suits you sir!

So some of the magic has gone out of our lives as the world’s oldest joke shop closes its doors.

But if anybody can come back from the dead then it’s a magician.