Back in the UK after 17 years

It’s been 17 years since I visited the UK

December 1999

A cold wet winter of long nights and freezing days.

This trip its summer and the days are long, damp and cool. Not all the different from the Australian winter I left behind.

With help from local guzzista I have the mighty breva II ready for this adventure.

This adventure starts in Stoke on Trent, once the porcelain capital of the world. Here I collected the Moto Guzzi, I’ve bought in the UK.

I rode up the motorway to Glasgow through the damp air and rolling green fields.

To be greeted by the march of the orange men and woman.

The loyalists.

Flying the flags trooping the colours and beating the drum

I reflected that this is what confronts and challenges the UK.

Great glories of the past celebrating victories a century or more old. Masking an underlying anger and frustration that divides the country. Orange VS Green, North VS South, the pro brexit VS the anti brexit. It’s a challenging time.

And as I ponder this there is the beautiful architecture of Glasgow.

The great Victorian design from designers like Rennie Macintosh.

And the music

In the streets and pubs.

Cold and damp Glasgow has struggled through some tough times.

But as the city’s new motto says

People make Glasgow