remote cards

Parked in a quiet side street off the main road, I’ve just climbed back into the car and am about to drive across town, when these two woman walk by. I wait to see what they do before I do anything, so I’m watching in my mirror when they stop just behind me. One of them does a step forward, wiggles her hips, does a step to the side. The second tries to copy the series of movements, doesn’t quite have it as naturally as the first. So first does it again, the second copies, and then they do it together, dancing in the street. Then they both laugh and walk up to the corner of Blytheswood Square, where a guy starts talking to them. I wonder if he knows them, or if he has just spotted them doing their little routine.

Labels: dancing, giggling girls, glasgow

Two girls wander through stationary. Long dark hair, purple duffel coat, and a turquoise hoodie, with black jeans, and a kind of khaki grey satchel. The other shoulder length brown hair, fitted white coat, brown leather hand bag, blue jeans. They have been browsing separately, but their paths bring them together at a junction between shelves. They say something cheerfully to each other, then smile, as they take the other girl’s face between their hands in a clapping motion - which almost looks like a double mini-slap. Then they mouth at each other like goldfish, or perhaps like they are singing in a particularly exaggerated fashion. They do this for a moment, before releasing each other, and hurrying off to join a third girl who is waiting for them so they can leave.

Labels: giggling girls, glasgow, goldfish

At first there is only one girl at the information desk, then two. There are announcements for members of staff to call a number. Couple minutes later there are 4 girls at the info desk. All dressed differently, but the name badges on lanyards and the red uniform shirt. Three of them chatter. One disappears to be replaced by a guy. He carries his shirt screwed up in his hand - just starting his shift as he puts it on when done here. He picks up the card, reads what everyone else wrote, then adds his contribution. Another member of staff’s birthday? The rest summoned to the information desk hidden at the back of the store to take turns signing it in secret.

Labels: event, giggling girls, glasgow, signing, staff

Five girls, in their early twenties, out for a night. They are all wearing flash dresses, good jackets, carrying little handbags, hair all done to the max. This isn’t just scrubbed up for a Friday night, this is Event scrubbed up - like a wedding party or a prom or something. Walking up Hope St, junction to Bath St, on way to Sauchiehall St. The traffic light turns green, but one of the girls nips across ahead, leaving the others behind. She turns and waves and smiles, while the others wait for the green man. A party limo drives through the junction. There is a bang - a party popper - and the four girls that remain are showered in streams of paper. The all cower for a moment of shock, before they burst out laughing. When the green man appears, they are still picking bits of paper out of each other’s hair, catching the fragments between finger nails as they pick them off from jackets. Once on the other side of the road the first girl laughs - I’m glad I made a dash for it and wasn’t hit by that as well!

Labels: bang, giggling girls, glasgow, limo, party

In the cinema. A couple She has short blonde hair, boyish, punky, with a pink corona. She wears a navy blue nearly sleeveless blue top, it has a plunging neckline, which exposes the vivid ink across her chest, a heart on a chain dangling in front. She wears a short denim skirt, with bare legs, a studded belt, and flat, plain, tan coloured shoes. She walks with a definite swagger. He is a good deal taller than her, ropey muscles, with hints of tattoos at the wrist, at sleeve line, more subtly shown off. A black hat, woollen bunnet style, with skip cap front, worn at a slight angle, and never taken off. He walks with a slouch, his hands buried in the pockets of his jeans. As soon as they are seated she trots back down the stairs, nipping to the toilet before the film starts.

Labels: boy, giggling girls, ink, pink, slouch, swagger, tattoo

Fast food. Three Couples. Two teenage girls. Gossiping and giggling. Fat girl is facing me, has pretty face, keeps glancing in my direction. After her food, she takes diet Irn Bru bottle from a pocket. Followed by a Time Out chocolate bar, and a packet of McCoy’s Thai Chicken crisps. Her friend goes for a packet of spicy Nik Naks. The couple in their early 50’s sit at table next to me. She tries to work out what she did with the napkins. He insists they don’t have any, she insists she did bring them. I offer one of mine, which she takes. I suggest perhaps he put the tray on top of them. They check, he didn’t, but she finds them on the floor by her feet. Never get married, he advises me. Next to the two girls, across from me, a couple who are least into their 60’s, reminding of someone’s grandparents. She wears a thick purple jacket, has thick white hair to go, styled to give it full body. He brings the tray of food. She dunks her tea bag in her cup, with one hand, heavy with gold rings. While telling him to get his bunnet off. He takes it off, a flat cap, then his over coat follows, lain out on seat beside him. He is dressed in an old man suit, a shade grey/brown, with brown shows. On his head a crown of white hair, bald pate revealed by the removed cap. His hands grey, with blue lines showing up clear. Aye, take yer bunnet off, says the 50-something guy. The old bloke doesn’t hear him, so he turns back to his wife, just like ma dad, ma mum was always telling him - yer inside, get your bunnet off.

Labels: bunnet, fast food, giggling girls, old couple