Every year a few little words appear in a Glasgow University stairwell, the first time I noticed it was the summer of 2005 (photo bottom right), and when I was walking around the uni a few weeks ago it noticed it back again (top photo). Here’s someone else’s story:

On the landing of the steps up to the quadrangle when I was sitting my finals someone had written ‘Hope lies’, in chalk on the wall of that dark corner. I couldn’t bear it for some reason, and when no one was around I tried to rub off the word ‘lies’. I made a hole in the cuff of my jacket trying to get it off, and yet it was still stubbornly legible.

The next time I went up, someone, infinitely more clever than me, had simply added to it. It now read ‘Hope lies in the darkest places’.

I thought it was beautiful.
(eilidh)

The sub-heading of Chapter 20 of Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan is unfortunately similar to the Church of Scotland’s most recent project to engage with new forms of church.

Took my camera out today with me for the first time in ages.. popped along to Kelvingrove just in time to catch the Dumbartonshire Concert Band, had a quick look around again, popped into Montgomery’s for something to nibble on, and ended up watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the GFT.. a wonderful end to a beautiful day..

drop in to the real gig this wednesday

“The lady concerned was entitled to her privacy and not to have a passing stranger take a photograph,” said the sheriff.

[From BBC NEWS | Scotland | Edinburgh, East and Fife | Man fined for taking photograph]

Caught this to day on BBC News… and then thought it might be worth having a look into what the legal ins and outs of street photography actually are – one of the best resources I’ve found is Simon Moran and Linda Macpherson’s Photographers Rights in the UK. Have a read – in this case I’m not actually convinced that the fine was warranted.. what do you think?

We’re in a bit of an in-between stage at the moment – we’re half moved out from our flat, half packed up, and half getting ready to move back to Glasgow. In the meantime we’re hanging out in a wee house in the country, with J revising away for finals and me doing my best to act like a country husband..

(above: demonstrating the “tea bag box bounce” flash technique for on-camera flashes. I personally recommend using roiboosh – adds a little warmth with or without added hot water…)

Amazing photgraphy and a behind the scenes look at the Olympics from Vince Laforet

Had a beautiful evening last night.. ending up listening to an artist I’ve heard very little of, but lots about, after picking up a copy of Metro and randomly opening up at the gigs page – a pleasant surprise!

Like Duke Special, the resident Nothern Irish population turned up in force to see Foy Vance… and i’ve spent the majority of my train journey over to Glasgow trying to work out just what it is about these two guys that catptures the imagination.. here’s my seemingly incoherent best shot.

adminssion of the instituitional messed-up-ness and complicity in sectarianism “curse those fifes and damn those drums.. belfast… leave me behind.” and in contrast there’s this something beautiful about the little stories of grace that bring both tears but also leaving you feeling like the stone-holders after Jesus gets up after his dust doodling excercise.. guilt-trip-free inspiration towards love and kindness.. “would you lay your love on me, could you Shake me till i’m clean a salvation tambourine” “Indiscriminate act of kindness”
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