Snow!

Yesterday I, at long last, made an expedition to the Burrell Collection here in Glasgow. First I had to meet up with Janet. I headed out the door...and it was snowing! I seemed to be the only person grinning like a little kid at this development; most everyone else was scowling. Well, after some minor delays and hangups (which involved trying out a new internet cafe "Sip n' Surf" which, incidentally, is where I am now) I eventually took the underground to Janet's stop. Immediately it was less cold and there was some blue sky remaining. I called up to say I was there and it turned out she was helping someone start her car. I decided not to say "at least it's not snowing here" and settled in to wait. Despite refraining from tempting fate, however, it soon began to snow there too!

Well, the Burrell was quite cool, and Janet was definitely the one to go with. We set ourselves into giggle-fits over any mention of "ritual purposes" of ancient objects. We postulated Egyptian-Pictish trade by evidence of a Z-rod on an Egyptian pot. And Janet was sent into a rant by amphorae, while ornate salt-cellers had a similar effect on me. Oh my, and you should have seen it when I found such beautiful evidence that the English, like the French, used the cloth of honor thingies...albeit a bit too late period to have helped me on my paper a few years back.

Jokes aside, I think the highlights of the collection are the tapestries and stained glass. And there was a fascinating woman's coat (of the dublet-esque variety) and cap from c.1600-20. The fitted doublet/coat was fastened up the front with hook-and-eyes, surprisingly modern looking ones. The cap had a "point" of cloth lying flat on top. The plaque said the purpose was unknown but these were said to be worn in particular during sickness. Well, the angle was bad, but it looked like if you folded it down in front of the face there would be an opening to make it hang open in front of the eyes and then have a built in nose and mouth cover. Perhaps the early 17th century version of those little nose & mouth covers they use in hospitals?

It snowed more that night, but none of it has "stuck" for today.