I’ve been in Glasgow for just over three months now and am finally getting a bit of paid work under my belt. For the past two weeks I’ve been working at Motorpoint which is located deep in Glasgow’s notorious East End. To get there requires a 25 minute bus ride along a road that I was warned is the worst in Glasgow in terms of the numbers of bad things that happen on it. Stabbings, murders, you know, that kind of thing. No worries. So far I’ve managed to get on and off unscathed and the only slight bit of excitement was when a Ned was told to get off the bus, smacked the side of the bus when he finally got off and then picked up a brick to throw at the bus as we drove off. Lets just say that I’m looking forward to this little temporary stint of East Side employment finishing quite a lot. Not just because of the location, but because my only role is answering a phone and I get bored easily. Saying all that, it has been nice being back working with 14 males again though as the banter is tip top.
I’m also doing some part time work at a shop called Slanj which is conveniently located a 10 minute walk away from me right in the city centre. Much less life threatening getting there, and it’s quite exciting doing retail for the first time ever and working with a product that I already know a bit about.
Because I don’t have a car, I usually walk everywhere and living in the city means that I get to see some interesting characters en route to each destination. Junkies, very young children by themselves and woman who have been Tango-ed. Of course, it’s not all bad news as I have come across some very talented buskers and street performers as well as some of the friendliest people you will ever hope to meet. I’ve been able to see posh parts of Glasgow and then contrast them with the run down areas and feel grateful for what I have. I keep discovering little places; parks that are perfect for a sunny Sunday, beer gardens I thought didn’t exist outside of Australasia and eateries with superb bargains.
People often ask me what I think about Glasgow and I’m always careful with my reply. Most of the time it’s non-Glaswegians asking me, so I’m usually ok to say what I think without fear of offending anyone. I don’t think badly of Glasgow and love living here but of course there are things that aren’t as nice as say Wellington or Perth. Then of course, there are things about Perth that I didn’t like. (There is nothing bad about Wellington…) What makes Glasgow extra special though is that the things I don’t like that give the place character. As long as you manage to keep yourself safe, things are usually all good.
Big Issue sellers help me to explain to people what I think of Glasgow. I’ve never seen Big Issues being sold in New Zealand but their sellers are a regular feature of central city streets in Perth, and I’m guessing in the rest of Australia as well. I had never heard of the magazine before moving to Perth and was interested to come across Big Issue sellers in Glasgow.
Sellers of the magazine in Perth only ever manage to let out a small grumble, or perhaps something inaudible, which sort of reflects a lot of people that live in Western Australia’s capital city. Big Issues sellers in Glasgow constantly let out a ‘Big Issue Pal?’ and then, when you politely turn them down, throw back a ‘Nee bother pal, have a good day’ which always leaves me with a smile on my face. I think that this perfectly epitomises the people of Glasgow. - A bit mental, but are happy to make the effort to wish you a good day even though they’re probably high on something or even unhappy with their own lives.
There’s a really good stand up comedian that I’ve only ever seen once but he manages to explain brilliantly how Glasgow is a bit mental, but is a friendly mental. Check out Kevin Bridge's brilliant sketch here.
Coincidentally, a Big Issue seller that I saw in posh St Andrews was a woman that looked like she had just stepped out from behind the desk of a newsagents to sell the magazine. Perhaps she had a husband and two kids at home? But I think she clearly represented the more upper class population of St Andrews, and good on her.
The last three months have gone by super fast and the home sickness hasn't hit yet, and hopefully it won't. I'm almost getting a little nostalgic when I call Glasgow my current 'home.' The weather's not too bad, the people are lovely and the Neds pretty much keep to themselves. I'll get back to you once it's winter time and dark, cold and miserable. Perhaps I'll be thinking differently then. Although something tells me I might not...
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