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Park Life: 'The university chimes a helpful reminder it won’t be long until breakfast'

Buddy the Jack Russell and his master Ronnie McGowan take an early-morning saunter along to Kelvingrove Park to enjoy the peace and solitude.

Not many Jack Russells will be familiar with the 3rd law of thermodynamics. Buddy is no exception, his eyes glaze at the mention of entropy.

It comes up in conversation as we run past Lord Kelvin’s statue and into the park.

 Buddy takes a trip out to Kelvingrove Park
Buddy takes a trip out to Kelvingrove Park

It’s a steep climb to the Victorian splendour of Park Circus, a nice vantage point to absorb the view. Buddy doesn’t mind pausing for a moment.

The calm atmosphere is quite therapeutic, and it gives the opportunity for some lockdown reflection.

'Weary interest'

Towering over the Dali famous Kelvingrove galleries, the university chimes a helpful reminder that it won’t be long until breakfast.

Buddy feigns a weary interest when I boast of once looking through Dali’s record collection.

 'A nice vantage point to absorb the view'
'A nice vantage point to absorb the view'

He’s all ears when told how, in Gibson street, long-haired students clutching their grants, would queue for Indian food; he liked the sound of that, but being on a stricter age-appropriate diet, chicken tikka is off the menu.

Just out of sight beyond the bowling green and tenements in the hip-quarter of Finnieston sits the Park Bar.

Summer sessions

With strong island connections, he would be sure of a warm welcome amongst the jigs and reels of that hostelry.

Where once you could idle a Sunday afternoon listening to the Kirkintilloch Silver Band, the spruced-up bandstand seems more distant somehow, being home to upmarket summer sessions.

 Kelvingrove gives the opportunity for some lockdown reflection.
Kelvingrove gives the opportunity for some lockdown reflection.

On our way downhill, trotting past the duck-pond, he pulls towards the skateboard park, as if hinting for his approaching fourteenth birthday.

A quick tutorial on Newton and the perils of colliding with a concrete surface, cuts no ice, his thoughts are elsewhere, probably still in Gibson street.

 'He pulls towards the skateboard park, as if hinting for his approaching fourteenth birthday'
'He pulls towards the skateboard park, as if hinting for his approaching fourteenth birthday'

Kelvingrove park gives you a varied cultural experience, a bit of science, art, history, music.

It’s a good workout for Buddy’s heart, which is doing fine; the prospect of some comfort nourishment keeps him moving apace.

* Keep up with Buddy and Ronnie as they sample Glasgow's 'Park Life' during lockdown.

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