I must confess. My Friday afternoon outing was quite enjoyable. I was picked up and driven to Helensburgh. Deposited outside the Hill House, I spent the next couple of hours wandering about the house designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1902 for Walter Blackie, then a big publishing gentleman from Glasgow.

Now my experience so far with C.R. Mackintosh has not been particularly successful. We certainly do not have the same taste for design, that’s for sure. But I must say, 2 hours at the Hill House, and I was rapidly forming some sort of respect for the gentleman. I mean 1902… this guys designs look modern japanese style… at least the 1970’s.

After tea and shortbread in the “tea rooms” I wandered down into Helensburgh itself and visited the pier, tourist information and wandered about the little tea shops, florists and even butchers! The houses are just beautiful in the area, and being on the seafront makes all the difference. In fact there is a pedestrian ferry that departs periodically from Helensburgh to my favorite destination of Gourock (where there is the heated outdoor pool we frequent).

Next time I’ll bring my swimmers.

Michelle played her game of golf as a guest of her work colleague, Andy, and she met me back at his house around 6pm. We spent a lovely afternoon having a drink in the conservatory with Andy and his wife Audrey, followed by a magnificent meal at the Upper Crust in Helensburgh.

It was a lovely afternoon and evening, and certainly we couldn’t have had better company to celebrate our 1 year anniversary in Glasgow. It was a real pleasure, and one that we will hopefully share again.