#lochnessmonster

The king emerges from Tardis as Commonwealth Games face battle for time and space

The troubled Games looked doomed until Glasgow stepped in but this opening ceremony had plenty of feelgood factor

The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow opened on Thursday evening to the surreal sight of King Charles and Queen Camilla stepping out of a Tardis – and a mechanical Loch Ness monster roaring the first few bars of Flower of Scotland.

The Tardis was a nod to the fact that police boxes were designed by the Scottish architect Gilbert MacKenzie Trench. But the Doctor Who reference proved to be doubly apt given the Games faced being exterminated until Glasgow stepped in after Victoria pulled out due to financial pressures.

Outlander star Sam Heughan met the Loch Ness Monster during the opening ceremony. Dressed in a grey kilt and waistcoat, Heughan ran onto the Celtic knot stage at the Hydro arena and playfully touched Nessie's nose as she emerged from a CGI loch before a stirring rendition of "Flower of Scotland".

The interaction between the two famous Scottish icons served as one of the major highlights of the event's cultural segment. It marked a continuation of a tradition, as the Loch Ness Monster previously appeared at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremonies in Edinburgh in 1986, as well as the 2014 Games in Glasgow.Heughan, a prominent ambassador for Scottish culture, took the spotlight to "tame" Nessie in a uniquely theatrical way. The highly visual moment was celebrated by fans and viewers across the globe.

TODAY! I'm back LIVE drawing with Julián Nariño! Join the fun and bring your #grickledoodle requests! Starts at 5pm PT on my IGTV! https://www.instagram.com/grickle14/

The Jersey Devil

Acrylic on canvas, foam clay

2026

85 x 105cm

AF GORDON (JUXTO)

I've got a HUGE sale on right now, this guy has been reduced from £1230 to £500; my website is juxtoarts.squarespace.com , you can get prints from £7.50, and originals start at £50.

“An underwater camera set up 55 years ago to try and photograph the Loch Ness Monster has been found by accident by a robot submarine. The ocean-going yellow sub – called Boaty McBoatface – was being put through trials when its propeller snagged the mooring for the 1970s camera system. It is believed it was lowered 180m (591ft) below the loch’s surface by the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau, a…

I need to sit down and make some more coloring pages.