St George’s-in-the-Fields Parish Church

I'm often stunned by some of the architectural beauty in Glasgow, which can often be found in the most unexpected of places. The St George’s-in-the-Fields Parish Church is all the more stunning for its incongruous setting. If this building was located in Edinburgh's old town I'm quite sure I would have barely noticed it, but being in such close proximity to some rather plain, if not ugly, tower blocks, makes it all the more striking. A brief history:

The original Church of St George’s-In-The-Fields opened in 1824. However early on the morning of Sunday 23rd November, 1884, it was destroyed by fire.

Work began on rebuilding the church in April 1885 and in May the same year the memorial stone of the building was laid. The new church was designed by architect brothers, Hugh and David Barclay, in the style of a Greek temple. The portico features a scene of ‘Christ Feeding the Multitude’, sculpted by William Birnie Rhind.

The new church was opened on Sunday 7th February 1886, entirely free of debt. The rebuild had been funded by church member donations and had taken only 10 months to complete.

Source: https://www.qcha.org.uk/about/about_the_area/places_of_interest

How I lost a stone in 6 weeks

It's really very simple: eat less and do more.

Personally I find it very difficult to motivate myself to go to gym classes, especially after a day in the office. So I decided that what I need is a routine that I can do every day, which isn't too strenuous but which will burn off a decent amount of calories. Ultimately I decided that I would walk home from work, a distance of approximately 4 miles.

Previously I caught the bus home, which from my desk to the front door takes about fifty minutes - walking to the bus stop, waiting for the bus, sitting on the bus as it trundles along, and then walking home from the bus stop at which I alight - whereas I can walk it in about an hour and twenty minutes.

Using walkit.com, a very useful website, I was able to determine roughly how many calories I would burn per journey (386), and how many steps I would take (9,300). In addition to the walking I do some bench presses, sit-ups and curls in order to develop a bit of muscle which helps increase one's metabolic rate (i.e. how fast your body burns calories).

Finally, I eat less calories during the day - I try to consume less than a total of 500 calories prior to my evening meal. I reason that with the half-mile walk I do in the morning, in addition to the walk home and weights/sit-ups, I am essentially expending all the calories that I have consumed during the day. Which allows me to eat a decent evening meal and even enjoy a couple of squares of dark chocolate!

In essence I am following the golden rule: doing more and eating less.

At the end of June I weighed 15 stone 12.5 lbs. Today I used a sophisticated set of scales in Boots that measures one's height, weight, body fat and even calculates Body Mass Index (BMI). I intend to update this page as a record of my progression:


HISTORICAL:
(some of these are less detailed, providing just my weight)

09/03/04
Weight: 12st 1lb (77kg)

??/04/04
Weight: 12st 2lb (77.2kg)

13/08/04
Weight: 11st 9lb (74.2kg)

04/08/11
Weight: 16st 1lb (102.1kg)
Height: 5'11.6" (presumably took my shoes off?!)
BMI: 30.8
Body Fat: 31.3%


RECENT:
(since I began this blog)

09/08/15
Weight: 14st 12lb (94.8kg)
Height: 6' 0.7" (1.85 m)
BMI: 27.7 (still overweight!)
Body Fat: 26.4% (still a flabby bastard!)

16/08/15
Weight: 14st 9lb (93.1kg)
Height: 6' 1.2" (1.86 m)
BMI: 26.9 (still overweight!)
Body Fat: 25.2% (still flabby!)

30/08/2015
Weight: 14st 11lb (93.9kg)
Height: 6' 1.2" (1.86m)
BMI: 27.1 (still overweight!)
Body Fat: 25.0% (an improvement!)

06/09/2015
Weight: 14st 8lb (92.6kg)
Height: 6' 0.7" (1.85m)
BMI: 27.1
Body Fat: - machine failed to provide reading!

10/09/2015
Weight: 14st 9lb (93.2kg)
Height: 6' 1.2" (1.86m)
BMI: 26.9
Body Fat: 24.2% (less than average!)

31/10/2015
Weight: 14st 6lb (91.9kg)
Height: 6' 1.2"
BMI: 26.6
Body Fat: 22.4%

26/11/2015
Weight: 14st 0lb (89.3kg)
Height: 6' 1.2"
BMI: 25.8
Body Fat: 24,.4%

28/12/2015
Weight: 13st 13lb (88.7kg)
Height: 6' 0.7"
BMI: 25.9
Body Fat: 23.7%

On the buses...in Glasgow's East End

My usual mode of transport tends to be the bus, and due to the less-than-salubrious area in which I reside, I've witnessed many interesting incidents over the years - some outrageous, some violent, others comical. On one particular journey I recall some young neds at the back of the bus were brazenly skinning up a large spliff. It was mid-afternoon and the bus was mostly occupied by old ladies coming back from The Forge shopping centre. One of the young lads from the party at the rear walked down the aisle and politely requested that his fellow passengers open the windows, and even jovially assisted those whose lack of strength and/or dexterity made the task difficult for them, whilst casually explaining that he and his friends were about to "spark up a joint". His amiable demeanour and apparent concern for the elderly passengers appeared to endear him to most of them and, whilst some did appear shocked by his nonchalant explanation, generally they were cooperative and reciprocated his warmth. Despite his best efforts however, the smoke and distinctive herbal aroma quickly filled the bus like an incense candle, perhaps that's why I couldn't help but smile as I alighted the vehicle.

Sitting on the top deck of a bus as it meandered through Glasgow's East End, I overheard a woman say the following sentence on her mobile phone:

Aye, if he chews ma baws again, I swear I'm gonnae kick his c**t in!

The fact he (metaphorically) chewed her balls and she was going to kick his c**t in caused me a great deal of amusement.

On another occasion I was travelling into work later than usual, around eleven in the morning, and sat a few seats away from two, obviously intoxicated, women. One was swigging an alcoholic beverage from a can, whilst her companion complained she needed the toilet. As the bus continued along the route, these complaints became louder and more desperate, however her friend, apparently enjoying her drink, simply placated her with the reassurance that they had nearly reached their destination and relief was imminent. Suddenly one of them shrieked and they began to argue..."F**k's sake! Look whit ya've made me do!" One of them pressed the bell and they both stood up in preparation to alight from the bus, but continued their dispute. "Sssshhh yaself...ya're makin' a f**kin' scene, ya bam!"

It suddenly became clear what had happened. The poor woman who'd been complaining had pissed herself and her friend, presumably trying to spare her public humiliation, was trying to negotiate a discreet exit from the vehicle. Unfortunately she herself had no such concerns as she turned to address the whole bus. With her leggings conspicuously soaked in urine, she angrily shouted "What the f**k are youse all lookin' at?!" Then whilst stabbing her chest violently with her forefinger, and with a face contorted with rage, she screamed "Ah've got cirrhosis of the liver, by the way! So f**k youse all!" In fairness that was a reasonable mitigating factor.

There but for the grace of God go I...