Why? Well, we’ve decided to hold a big public meeting in Queens Park Church Hall on the date of our usual meeting (20th February) to discuss the proposals to repair/upgrade the back lanes. We will be circulating more information on this to residents affected next week, once we have final costings.

On Monday we will be discussing the preliminary costings and proposed plans, what we’re doing to iron out problems, planning for Spring Fling and the Art Competition and our usual communications and finance business. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Only the south side of the street (odd numbers between The Bungo and Sammy Dow’s) will be cleared this time, due to the pressure on car parking spaces and the limitations of the order, but we have urged that the north side get the same treatment ASAP.

Please make sure you are not parked on this section of the street at any time on Saturday 4^th February and pass this on to anyone you know who may be using Nithsdale Road to park as it will need to be free of cars on the day for the work to take place.

Now in its third year, the event is going from strength to strength with more than 200 entries in 2011. You can still view a slide show of all last year’s winning artwork here: Strathbungo Art Competition 2011.

The theme for 2012 is “Strathbungo From My Window” (literal or metaphorical!) and as well as great images of our local architecture we suspect there might be more than a few pictures of diggers this year!

The competition is open to all children from 0-16, split into four age groups. You can download an entry form below, or pick one up from the local venues who will be displaying the winning artworks for two weeks from 19th March.

As ever, the only place to see all entries displayed and all the winners together is at Strathbungo’s Spring Fling in Queens Park Parish Church Hall on Saturday 17th March.

You can download the rules and prize information here: prizes & rules info for art competition Spring Fling 2012

And the entry forms for each age group here: entry form 2012 Under 5 years

entry form 2012 5 – 8 years

entry form 2012 9 – 12 years

entry form 2012 13 – 16 years

19 Regent Park Square Strathbungo .

Body Sculpting and Toning.

New Personal training especially for women in the comfort of your own home .

* Fun and effective sessions to achieve your goals.

* Exercises suitable for all ages and abilities.

* Appointments in your own home.

* Work out with a friend. Sessions for 2 people or small groups on request.

* Stretching and relaxation for flexibility and well being.

* Gentle exercise sessions and relaxation.

* Free consultations.

* Healthy eating advice.

Tel 0141 423 2665 or 07521 729434 for more information.

Feel and look better in 2012!

William was killed last Sunday morning close to his home on Melville Street after a night out in Strathbungo.

The memorial service is open to all who wish to pay their respects and express their condolences to his partner and family.

The council and representatives from heritage bodies have seen the lanes and met with the Society. We have handed over all our research, costings and survey information. We are now awaiting costs for several refurbishment options to be carried out once the works are completed. These include:

• Lifting all existing setts and replacing with regular-sized setts
• Lifting all existing setts and relaying
• Laying tarmac over the existing setts
• Lifting existing setts and replacing with tarmac
• Repairing existing damage to the setts by lifting and relaying, locating existing drainage system and cleaning out and removing all vegetation/soil from the lanes.

As soon as we have the costs, we will be writing to all the residents who share ownership of the back lanes affected to ask them which option they prefer and outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Of course, the Council are not obliged to carry out this work and the funds are only available in this tax year.

Work has begun again in earnest after the Christmas break. As before, we urge residents to be considerate when parking and using the back lanes. In particular, as residents are using the back lanes for vehicular access, do bear this in mind when putting out bins and bulk uplift and, for those driving in the back lanes, be aware of pedestrians and pets who are not used to dodging cars on the cobbles!

The next Society meeting is this Monday, 16th January, in the front dining room at The Bungo on Nithsdale Road, 7.30pm. Do come along if you have any questions, concerns or would like to find out more.

Also here are the words to Auld Lang Syne for those who are perhaps more familiar with the first verse and chorus than the last four verses (that includes me!):

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne* ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo (or my dear),
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie’s a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS

See you all tonight!

And there will be no access into Marywood Square from Moray Place from about 11.30pm to 1.30am.

This is no ‘official’ closure, but rather a social contract between Strathbungo residents. Residents can get in to Marywood Square by cutting through the back lanes from Queen Square or Vennard Gardens. And there is always plenty of parking on Darnley Road over the railway.

If you have visitors please do remind them about the voluntary restrictions.

With the Bungo at the Bells (the street celebration of Hogmany in Strathbungo) only a few days away we thought to remind everyone of it. It’s a hoot and goes on into the small hours – weather dependent so wrap up well and bring your own refreshments!

The procession begins as usual at 11:30pm on Nithsdale Road and in Vennard Gardens before winding its way to the venue (this year, as last year, it’s on the corner of Marywood Square and Moray Place). Bring your pots and pans with which to bang a tune and a wee bottle of something in your pocket to keep you merry. We missed our piper last year so if anyone has a set of pipes and wants to play us into the new year do bring them along.

We’ll have a blog post about the parking closer the time but be warned that we w ill ask those who park on the corner of Marywood and Moray Place to find an alternative spot for the night.

It happened on Thursday, December 22nd (yesterday) at 8:55 p.m.

The thief is described as white, in his 20s, 5ft 8in tall and of medium build, with black clothing. He headed off in the direction of Shields Road after the robbery. The police would like anyone who might have seen him to contact them. Fortunately, nobody was injured.