f4f3 | Kulchure

It's the Glasgow West End Festival at the moment, and, apart from all the bars having late licences, there's some other stuff going on.

Sunday was the opening parade - a bizarre mixture of marching Salsa bands, drummers, more belly dancers than you could shake a, um, belly, at, a burlesque troupe, kids dressed as flowers and ladybirds, pursued by a giant caterpillar, a Boys Brigade band (looking a bit forlorn and plain, but clearly ready to break into The Sash if encouraged to do so) and Kevin the War Dog.

It was all incredibly good natured, though I think there must have been a lot of sun-burnt belly dancers that night.

Last night Unblinkered and I were at an open air performance of ~~Twelth Night~~ A Winter's Tale by the Globe touring company. It was put on in the University, with a stage set up on the hallowed turf of the East Quadrangle. There were maybe 100 spectators scattered across the grass on picnic rugs, chairs and perched on desks from the exam hall. I must admit that I didn't know the play at all well (except for THAT stage direction) and enjoyed it immensely. The setting added a bit of rough magic, with the University bell tolling the quarters, magpies squawking above the stage, and the great tree rustling above me. A cloud of midges started to descend at one point, but there was just enough wind to blow them away. The company were great - a little cross-dressing, a little knock-about, a little clowning. I got the feeling that there was nothing about the production that old Will would have minded, and much that he would have approved of.

Oh, I also picked up tickets yesterday for another play, which we're seeing on Saturday. I'll say no more about it till then, but I have three tickets. Unblinkered and I go free, but Merlin's cost £5...