Bright 'n Breezy

Got up this morning with great intentions of doing lots and lots of stuff.  However I sat down to have breakfast, and a wee read of my book, and forgot to get up again until dinner time! 

I did remember to log onto the laptop in time to buy G some tickets for a Madness gig, which were going on sale today, and managed to get them.  And I booked the car in for an MOT.  And I rang round several hotels to try to get a venue for the retirement party.

Eventually I managed to galvanise myself into putting some clothes on, and heading into town to look at the available function rooms.  There was a wee bit of a breeze, which has by now (11pm) turned into a howling gale. 

There were 4 venues to visit, and on my way to the last - Paco's, opposite Perth Concert Hall, I walked through this little side street, or 'vennel'.  A few years ago this was rough and run down, stinking of urine and frequented by drunks and down-and-outs who lived in the red-brick building on the right of the street here. 

It's called 'Skinnergate House', sharing the name of the Vennel it stands in.  Did you ever hear of a more Dickensian sounding place? It was built in Victorian times, and for some reason was known as 'The Model'; I think because when it was originally opened it was supposed to be a model lodging house for 'unfortunate' working class men. 

Now, however, with a bit of urban renewal and the good offices of the Salvation Army, the street is bright and cheerful, full of picture-framing shops, cafe's, and Perth's oldest pub, The Ship Inn which was founded in 1665 when there was a harbour on the river at this end of the town.

And 'The Skinnergate' looks much transformed too; it was shut down and completely refurbished inside, and I think The Sally Army have made it a kinder and nicer place to live. 

One of the hotels I visited had a choice of 2 rooms suitable for our party, so my day worked out okay.