This is easy enough to find just outside the shopping centre, accross from the post office. I have…read moreseen them out talking to the public when they hold fund raising events. They support a large area of the town and i think if i am correct they support some of the local villages and towns between East Kilbride and Strathaven.

Located just outside of the town centre in East Kilbride. The fire service is vital to a large town…read moresuch a East Kilbride. They have annual car washes and plant sales to raise money. They have recently started a house fire awareness check and if needed they will fit fire alarms for free in your home.

I've been local to Partick on and off for about 20 years now (wow). In that time it has changed…read morequite a lot, for the better thankfully. I used to be told when I first moved to the area all those years ago 'Partick's fine. Just don't go past the train station, that's where it gets a bit sketchy...' Me being the daredevil I am I did upon a few occasions venture past said Partick Train station and it wasn't great but it wasn't as scary as folk made out. There just wasn't much really in the way of decent shops. Now there are lots of great wee shops and businesses in this area. I am a big fan in partick-ular (oh, I had to do the bad pun!) of the many second-hand furniture shops on Dumbarton Road. They're full of great bargains and absolutely brilliant if you're setting up a home in the area & you need some furniture at a really great/cheap price. There are also loads of nice charity shops, newsagents, cafes, hair salons, nail/beauty bars, pubs and pretty much everything you should require is in the Partick area. It also has it's on library, cricket ground, mini park and aforementioned train station, 2 subway stations (if you include Kelvinhall, which I do) and a bus station. Living in Partick you really have no need to use a car for getting about as the public transport is great. It was one of the reasons why I ended up moving back to Partick. Favourite places in Partick of mine are: Station Wok & Crazy Wok (Chinese/take away), Cafe Avanti (chip shop/cafe), The Sparkle Horse (pub), The Tea Garden (cafe), Morrison's (for handiness), the HUGE British Heart Foundation shop (great again for furniture), The Pacific (for cocktails), Siempre, Meadow Road, My Home Bakery, Deli/Cafezique and newcomer, For Fika Sake for coffee and cakes and I know there are LOADS more so if you should ever find yourself in Partick you'll never be stuck for something to do or somewhere to eat/drink/shop.

I visited here for an event a while back - and I realised I'd actually been here about 4 years…read morebefore when I didn't really know the area, was scared of the Underground and frequently got lost wandering the streets of Glasgow. I'm proud to say I'm no longer scared of the Underground (well, most of the time) but I do still have an issue with navigating my way around Glasgow at times! This is a large sized conference centre (despite appearances) and your experience might change depending on what you're there for. There's lots of rooms for breakout sessions, a good sized canteen/cafe area for meals and there seems to be a good mix of large/small rooms. When I visited I believe the catering was done in house and I thought it was really delicious, which isn't something you'd normally say at a conference. My only negative comment would be that there seemed to only be a few toilets in the building - perhaps I missed main ones somewhere, but there was only two cubicles so could be a bit of a wait during breaks. There's plenty of parking in the streets surrounding, just make sure you have lots of change and aren't in a hurry as when I visited, a lot of the machines were out of order.

Just would like to say see you all soon. (we meet up most…read moreweekends) ASBO neighbours and all that :-(

Okay, so on paper the work that the Glasgow West Regeneration Agency do is great. They offer a…read moreservice to people who are starting up in business - particularly those in areas that are part of Glasgow's regeneration project. This means that as well as offering business advice and support, they also award grants and loans to certain businesses. This means that if you're thinking of starting a business, it might be an idea to look into getting premises in a regeneration area as they may give you some money towards your rent! However, they're not particularly flexible about who they help. I live two minutes walk from this very office, and the first four digits of my post code are exactly the same. I phoned to find out about what help may be available and the woman who answered the phone was almost exactly like the woman on the "computer says no" sketch on Little Britain. Our conversation went exactly like this; Me: Hi, I'm calling to find out about what support you may be able to offer my new business. Glasgow West Regeneration (GWR): What's your postcode? Me: G11 6__ GWR: [types it into computer] No, you're not in our area. Me: But I can practically see your office from my window. GWR: You're not in our area. Me: So you can't offer me a grant, can you offer me any other advice or support? GWR: No, you're not in our area. Goodbye. See what I mean?

One of Glasgow's many 'hidden lanes', Belmont Lane winds round between Belmont Crescent and…read moreHamilton Park Avenue in the West End. If you've ever wondered where that lane opposite the end of Bank Street goes, then wonder no more, for it goes here. You can actually drive down the cobbled lane, which provides access to garages of the houses on both streets, but there's no exit at the far end so there's no point in trying it unless you're a resident. Take a walk along the lane from Great Western Road instead. The real surprise is in the middle when the lane splits, leaving a wedge-shaped plot of land that now houses the offices of Coach House Trust in what (presumably) was the old coach house and stables for these houses. The right-hand fork curves round to service the rear of Lacrosse Terrrace, but there's a wee pedestrian access to the street that brings you out on the road above the Kelvin, from where you can cut back through to Great Western Road, or cross the Belmont Street bridge and go down the steps to the Kelvin Walkway.

The Titan Crane in Clydebank bills itself as Scotland's most unique attraction. There is certainly…read morean element of truth in this - as the remastered crane is quite a sight in itself, as well as enabling you to see dramatic views of the Clyde river. Based in Clydebank in the outskirts of Glasgow - the crane is very hard to miss! It stands at 150ft tall, as well as being painted a bright turqoise. Their are also very comprehensive directions on the crane's website if you are unsure of how to get there. When you arrive at this attraction, you will be met by a large carpark and the purser's office. Before you can head over to the crane, you'll need to make a trip to the Purser's office where you can watch videos of the crane's original use and it's regeneration. You'll also need to pay for the tickets - which are a little pricey. Once you've got that business out of the way, you can head over to the crane itself. You have two options here - you can either walk over (which takes about 15 mins) or you can get the mini bus. Do remember that the crane is placed right on the river's edge - so the walk is a little windy! Once you get the the crane itself you'll be taken up to the top in a lift and given the amazing view from the top. Careful if you're scared of heights though - not only is the crane VERY high, but the floor you're given to stand on is see through! The views are amazing, though, and make the whole trip worthwhile. Although there are a few souvenirs available to buy in the purser's office - don't expect to find any shops or cafe's at this attraction. Look out for special events, though, as there are always charities looking for brave souls to abseil down the crane to raise money!

OK, so there's unlikely to be a multi-lingual Clydebank Sightseeing bus launching anytime soon…read more However there is a mini bus that transports you from the town centre to the Titan Crane and for now, that's a sign of progress. There's no two ways of looking at it, for years, Clydebank was stagnating. Suffering from its close enough proximity to Glasgow City Centre, locals abandoned its handful of pubs and clubs leaving behind quiet streets and tired businesses. However there's a hint of positivity creeping into the town now spearheaded by the majestic crane which towers over it. With 3.75 million quid having been spent on restoring the structure, Clydebank Rebuilt decided to go one step further and turn it into a museum and heritage centre detailing its fascinating shipbuilding history, particularly during the World War II years when it miraculously survived despite being one of the Germans' most sought-after targets. The results are impressive. For four pounds you are afforded spectacular views of the Clyde (stationary binoculars are situated at the top) and a well documented history of the structure through pictures and video which, as well as exciting visitors, are enough to make even the most jaded Bankie's heart swell. # What's even more encouraging is that nothing about this has been done half-heartedly. Fliers are circulated across the country, billboards pointing the way to it are bold and vibrant while the lighting at night ensures it can be seen for miles around regardless of the time of day. The only downside is that, due to weather conditions, the crane only operates as a tourist attraction from May to October. Nevertheless it's a massive leap in the right direction for the town, as emphasised by the Chicago Aethaneum Award for Architecture it received in 2008. No, I've never heard of it either, but any recognition for this often neglected area is unquestionably a good thing.

A very striking red sandstone building, this Procurator Fiscal's Office was the former Court House…read more It was built by local architect, William Railton, in 1852, on the site of the former passenger terminus and ticket office of the Kilmarnock and Troon wagon way. The first court session was on 5th May in the same year. It ceased to function as a court when a new purpose-built building was erected in 1985 on the junction of St Marnock Street and Dundonald Road. The original Court House was then converted into the Procurator Fiscal's Office and is still in administrative use today. I often pass this building, both in the car and on foot, and it always catches my eye. There is scaffolding around the right hand side at present so I have not included a photo taken face-on. However, at a later date, when the scaffolding is removed, I shall take some better photos!