The Nightshift

25 July 2012, 17:32

So there goes another Glasgow Fair fortnight give or take a couple of days. I hope you had a lovely time which leads me to the question, “Did you even notice?” I barely heard one person make any reference to the once traditional annual getaway. I remember as a child and with some affection most of the city coming to a standstill during the once treasured fourteen day period. Shops, factories, restaurants, even some garages would shut their doors to allow hard working staff members to head to their chosen holiday destinations simultaneously across the country. Places like Girvan, North Berwick, Barassie Beach as well as some far flung places too like, Torquay (the so called English Riviera) and Scarborough – Ah yes those were the days!!

By train and by coach or even by motor-car complete of course with the obligatory roof-rack, hundreds of happy families would meticulously pack their cases, prepare their picnic hampers and head for a variety of coastal towns and cities around the country without a care in the world. No passports required and no money transfers needed either, this was quite simply the Great British Holiday in all it’s glory. Egg and chips, talent contests on the beach, beauty pageants, afternoons on the putting green, ballroom dancing in the evening and maybe even a little roller-skating thrown in for good measure too. I would personally love to see the return of these simple family pleasures but I’m also pretty certain it’s not going to happen anytime soon, at least in this lifetime – shame really!!

Just before I sign off for another week let me offer you a quick “Cinema Tip”. I was lucky enough to be one of the first people in the country to see Mark Wahlberg in his new movie “Ted” last week. It’s a touching romantic comedy with a bizarre twist. Ted is a wise-cracking, walking talking Teddy-bear with attitude and he’s hilarious into the bargain if perhaps more than a little unpolitically correct at times too. Prepare yourself for a few surprises throughout as it’s not what I would describe as a conventional love story but then again it’s not everyday you meet a slick, fast-talking, pot-smoking chauvinistic cuddly toy who can’t fail to capture your heart by the end of the movie. Enjoy!!

Catch you again soon on the STV Nightshift

Cheers

Jim

Last updated: 25 July 2012, 17:46