Changing faces
(Seonaid looking at the interior décor in a pub: Glasgow, Scotland)
I think British people fall into two categories; those that like change and those who don’t. I suppose in most ways, I am the latter. I like some things to change very often; films at the cinema, the weather, work – but there are some things that are altered irreparably without either a good reason, nor with my approval. There was once a fantastic bar in Glasgow called Nice and Sleazy’s. The décor had no real theme, it was a collection of bizarre elements and the walls were smothered in graffiti, but since it was ‘re imagined’ and redecorated a few years back, it has retained neither its niceness, nor its sleaziness. Even the signature drinks that were haphazardly prepared – yet delicious – are no longer as palatable.
The same affliction met me yesterday evening when I met Seonaid for an after work beverage in DRAM!, a formerly special watering hole in Woodlands called Uisge Beatha, or ‘water of life’ in Gaelic. Living up to the traditional name, the interior was a nest of dark wood, crammed shelves of bottles, old, muted oil paintings and cluttered stuffed animal heads on the walls. One of the moose heads had a tartan scarf tied lovingly around its neck. As for service, it offered a mildly interesting selection of bar snacks, cheery bar staff, but no meals or hot food to speak of. However it did offer a surprising array of different beverages; amongst them a collection of fine single malt whiskies. The tables were always bare, except for beer mats and the odd candle, but one of the best features was that the ladies toilet had a stuffed giraffe head above the door.
Now it has become DRAM! (with included exclamation mark) and it has compromised authentic, inherent (and I will admit, rather touristy) ‘Scottishness’ for a sanitised gastropub status. They have retained a few paintings, and a moose head, but that is all. It now has a menu on every table, waitresses repeating the soup of the day to every customer and it plays pop music with no atmosphere to speak of. If I didn’t have the prior establishment, Uisge Beatha to compare it with, I’m sure I wouldn’t feel as strongly at all. So it appears I hate change, but at least I don’t mind changing my evening meeting venues.
– Today Rosie is working for a company in Singapore, but in Glasgow, Scotland –
DAMN!