The Blether

01/07/2022

RED HOT RAGING

Anyone with tickets for tonight’s gig featuring The Red Hot Chilli Peppers will be annoyed, to say the least, as they’ve cancelled last minute….

From their twitter account:

Due to illness RHCP will not be able to perform in Glasgow tonight July 1. We are working on ways to reschedule. Pls hold onto your tickets & wait for an update soon. RHCP love Scotland & are deeply disappointed not to be able to perform the show. Thank you for your understanding

28/06/2022

ANYTHING GOES

Who watches the James English - Anything Goes podcast on YouTube? If not, get it watched…

James is from Possil and now he interviews some of the craziest ex-criminals, plus other guest. But, for The Blether, the ones that are more identifiable are his True Crime selection, everyone from Paul Ferris to an over the phone telephone call with Charles Bronson.

Most of his guests have turned their lives around, and it’s a real inspiration to watch.

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCkdiBNdMSiQeT8aD7gXWgvA?fs=e&s=cl

27/06/2022

THE DEMON DRINK

‘Mon, we’ve all been that steamboats, more than once, when the inner demon comes oot tae play…

There’s an exhibition on at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow’s West end featuring work by Glasgow-based comic artist Frank Quitely.

The exhibition is on until 18 September 2022
Hunterian Art Gallery - Admission free.

*Photo of The Devil on Islay, created for Bowmore Single Malt Whisky.

24/06/2022

Dear followers (I know there's not many but I appreciate it) and people who have taken an interest in The Belther's page so far.... my sincere apologies for lack of posts. Just had so much on for awhile personally. However, I really do want to get this up and running, a place to discuss anything and everything - no holds barred, good debate, perhaps the odd we argument as long as it doesn't fall into the realms of the ludicrous.

I want to make this an honest platform, talk about current affairs predominantly in Glasgow, but not always.

I know most will be wanting True Crime and similar themes, which is fine, who doesn't?... So let's get the posting started again.

So where to start... the absolute disgrace of the City Centre and the moment, it's decline, Sauchiehall Street, the run down grimy pound shops everywhere, 'American Candy' shops... what the hell is going on?? Who is the blame in your eyes?

It's a sad state of affairs, once Buchanan Galleries is gone, what will be left? Now they're talking about a 'Green Area' at Charing Cross above the M8! What the actual f**k. The mind boggles. Put money elsewhere, like homelessness and a variety of serous issues.

Your comments would be most welcomed...

02/03/2022

ADDICTS IN CRISIS

After nine people have tragically died within just weeks after allegedly taking dangerous street Va**um, in and around the Renfrewshire Area, it seems as if there is a massive drought in the horizon for these tablets, usually containing Etizolam, rather than the real McCoy Diazepam.

Etizolam became popular as a ‘Designer Drug’ during the days of ‘Research Chemicals’ when a number of legal highs, some often very potent, could be bought online from various vendors. Now it’s used to make millions of street Va**um, that are sold in loose quantities (25 for a tenner), rather than the boxed ones sold on the street
once-upon-a-time.

Although Etizolam, itself, is used in places such as Japan as a prescription drug.

The problem with Etizolam, is that it has a shorter half-life than traditional Diazepam, meaning that users need to top up during inter-dose withdrawals. This makes it easy to overdose on, plus the fact that street Va**um - with every batch users don’t know the exact strength, or what’s even in them.

The tragic nine deaths has been said that the toxic batch was laced with rat poison and concrete.

Manufacturers of these pills are said to be ‘shutting shop’, it could be linked to the deaths, or also Scotland's biggest street va**um factory being uncovered at an industrial unit in Lanarkshire at the end of last year.

Whatever your views on drug abuse is, it is a concern for users who turn to these things for a number of reasons, often not getting real help from doctors or drug workers - also, withdrawals from any benzodiazepine can lead to death from seizures.

If you’re a user yourself - stay safe.

Will the Addiction Centres cope with such an influx?

Discuss below…

26/02/2022

WHAT A BRAW STORY

It’s been oot for awhile but, alongside the infamous ‘No Mean City’, this debut novel by Douglas Stuart ‘Shuggie Bain’ tells a very realistic tale of Glaswegian life in the time it’s set. It’s amazing worldwide critical reviews are entirely worthy.

If you’re a reader, then this is a rare read for Glaswegians and non-Glaswegians alike.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW. DISCUSS AND HAVE A BLETHER!

24/02/2022

PUTIN NEEDS PUTIN’ DOON

It has probably been a thought that’s ran through many minds across the planet… ‘could this be the start of World War Three’.

It’s truly unbelievable that Russia invaded Ukraine in the early hours, around 5am in Ukraine, this morning.

Only earlier this month, US president Joe Biden said “That's a world war when Americans and Russians start shooting at each other," vowing he would not deploy American troops to Ukraine under any circumstances.

However, for millions of Ukrainian people the fears over how the crisis will impact their daily lives is now a reality.

The former Prime Minister of Ukraine calling this a “critical moment” and “It could be the start of a Third World War. We should realise it as Putin will never stop.”

Whether WW3 or not, this will be the largest conflict in Europe since 1945. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would “lead to consequences you have never seen in history.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced the military alliance would defend every inch of its territory should Russia attack a member country, of which Ukraine is not part.

Please leave your comments below.

22/02/2022

EH? 🦇

Glasgow City Council have paid Warner Bros. Pictures £150’000 towards the production of Batgirl currently being filmed…

Now, call me naive, but I always presumed that a production company would pay us to shoot here.

It’s great having a vigilante crime fighter in our city but paying someone to act as one - doesn’t sound right. Plus, as previously mentioned in other posts, the state of the city centre, couldn’t 150k go towards, well, sorting s**t out?

Let's BLETHER!

21/02/2022

20/02/2022

YOUNG RETRO FLEETO

It’s odd, but I always thought the demise of the Glaswegian Gang Culture (Young Teams, no the real gangsters) was a direct link to the rise of Social Media… just like any other youth subculture, their online persona became more important than reality.

However, apparently Scots gangs are making a comeback and actually using Social Meida…. TikTok of all things to share videos of attacks.

Does anyone else wish it was Goths instead?!? Now that’s saying something - no offence to goths 😉

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW. DISCUSS AND HAVE A BLETHER, SAY WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS. PERHAPS IF THE MORE OUR VOICE IS HEARD, THE MORE THEY WILL LISTEN.

Let's BLETHER!

15/02/2022

REMEMBER THE GOOD AULD DAYS? (PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE)

Victorian times - Second City of the British Empire 1988 - Garden Festival 1990 - European Capital of Culture 1999 - UK City of Architecture.

Yes we understand that these might not be to eveyones's taste, especially the 'Second City of The British Empire - a proud fact for many, others not so much. That’s why we love a good discussion and a Blether. We all have very different and valid points to make. What the hell has happened?

Take a walk up Sauchiehall Street, these days, and you won't want to go back. Have a walk around Central Station, which at one point was impressive, and you may not actually come back. Once a vibrant City, that's been left to rot, it's never looked worse in the last forty years at least.

We need money invested not just in student accommodation - where did all the students go to live before they had these 'flats' built? Some look like five-star-luxury next to some of the old housing schemes. Now they're discussing pulling down the Buchanan Galleries, only built in 1999 - what will be worth going into town for shopping? Yes, there is Braehead and Silverburn, but it's all Americanised. Which is the same as these soulless, grim retail parks, usually with a Frankie and Benny and a fast food chain.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW. DISCUSS AND HAVE A BLETHER, SAY WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS. PERHAPS IF THE MORE OUR VOICE IS HEARD, THE MORE THEY WILL LISTEN.

*The Blether is a news source, written by a once proud Glaswegian who sees a lot of issues, for the Glasgow people. We want to hear what you have to say more than anything. There’s one certain Glaswegian magazine that costs £1.80 in many newsagents, you might know the one I mean that focuses mainly on crime 😉 - but, what probably started off as a good idea has become a parody of itself. SO, we want is to hear from you...good or bad... two sides to every story. Let's BLETHER! Sometimes the topics won't just be about Glasgow, we might put up an article regarding a suggestion made by a reader, or film, music, current affairs, etc - they do say PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW, well, let's show 'em!*