This was taken at Gabriel's Wharf. Looks like there's a bit of an outdoor stage and they have all these funny wooden seats.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Southbank London 2007
There was an article in the paper today saying that 90% of these cameras are illegal and not following proper procedures.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
May 30 2007
Actually all those photos are May 30...one does lose track of time! When I was in Piccadilly today I saw "Away From Her". I thought it was just a fabulous film and Julie Christie was especially wonderful. I had read the story so the ending wasn't a surprise but it didn't matter. I'm so happy for Alice Munro that a super film has been made of one of her stories and that a Canadian directed it. I felt very proud being a Canadian when the credits scrolled by...although I was about the only one who stayed to watch them!
London May 29 2007
I don't think I've seen a bowler hat for years in London yet on our first trip in 1972 I think every man in a suit was wearing one.
London May 29 2007
I thought the neon Piccadilly Circus sign had shrunk in size and lo and behold Wikapedia mentions that because of the increased cost of advertising there so it has. It seems like Coke has their space permanently...I wonder what that costs! I loved this particular one of Coke's where the cans turn into the tube and the passengers are like the classic bottles. I waited 15 minutes for it to some on again because I wanted to take a movie of it but not such luck...only endless football related Coke ads. I'm glad I got the still.
London May 29 2007
Do you see the cameras on the left? There are cameras everywhere in London...one estimate was that people were photographed 300 times a day while going round the city doing their daily business.
London May 29 2007
We seem to have sprouted a doorman in livery today at the Chelsea Cloisters. I feel like I'm at one of those fancy NYC apartments! It will be worth the tip to get him to go out in the rain to hail down a taxi.
We saw a pretty good play last night at The Royal Court Theatre called "My Child". Just 40 minutes but quite gripping and an interesting set...made up like being on the tube.
Afterwards we met Alistair for dinner as he is working in London at the moment. We had nice steaks at a very pleasant bistro beside the theatre then we went round to our local to have a pint or two. It was really fun seeing him ...he always provides lots of laughs.
We saw a pretty good play last night at The Royal Court Theatre called "My Child". Just 40 minutes but quite gripping and an interesting set...made up like being on the tube.
Afterwards we met Alistair for dinner as he is working in London at the moment. We had nice steaks at a very pleasant bistro beside the theatre then we went round to our local to have a pint or two. It was really fun seeing him ...he always provides lots of laughs.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Surrealism exhibit at the V & A.
I was very impressed with the special exhibit and loved the idea that they had a number reproductions of this famous sofa in the lobby area.
Dale Chilhuly at the Albert & Victoria!
I went in the main entrance today and here was the biggest Chilhuly in the world...Chilhuly is almost local since he works out of Seattle. It looks good!
British Newspapers
A real pleasure is reading the newspaper every day here...it's such a great cultural snapshot. A few things that caught my interest:
"Glastonbury Dad is packing wet wipes and cuddly toys instead of peace and love." Seems Glastonbury is becoming very family oriented now. Hope they have better weather than all the mud Richard encountered 10 years ago when he was there.
"A GCSE in frustration"
Seems these poor British kids are examined more than anyone in the world. Sounds like a dreary existence. I was interested in the websites to help "revising" as they call studying here. I rather liked the one www.revisioncentre.co.uk that does your revision notes for you so you don't have to. Another one apparently has a "very cool orange piranha mascot"...piranha seems a perfect choice!
"Pork pie makers leas the way for Blair academies"
A rather interesting scheme for education that seems to be replacing the creation of more grammar schools. Businesses, entrepreneurs, churches, private schools, and universities are approached to sponsor and run academies, often in deprived areas.
"Simple Bank Holiday Pleasures Lost"
A columnist lamenting that everyone takes off by plane to warmer climes rather than sticking around for wet, cold, and windy weather. My sympathies are with the escapees.
"Recyling being encouraged"
Without much available for recycling I must say we do create a lot of garbage and we're eating out most of the time! On the news recently some house fraus were lamenting that their two big garbage cans were only going to be taken away once every two weeks. Now...if they knew we only get one medium garbage can taken away every two weeks. It does force one to recyle.
I liked this little poem he quoted by Wendy Cope:
"One green bottle/Drop it in the bank/Ten green bottles/What a lot we drank!/Heaps of bottles/and yesterday's a blank/But we'll save the planet/Tinkle, tinkle, clank/
"Dickens theme park hopes to live up to expectations"
Literature as theme park. Your would have thought that was a contradiction in terms. Good luck to them.
"Glastonbury Dad is packing wet wipes and cuddly toys instead of peace and love." Seems Glastonbury is becoming very family oriented now. Hope they have better weather than all the mud Richard encountered 10 years ago when he was there.
"A GCSE in frustration"
Seems these poor British kids are examined more than anyone in the world. Sounds like a dreary existence. I was interested in the websites to help "revising" as they call studying here. I rather liked the one www.revisioncentre.co.uk that does your revision notes for you so you don't have to. Another one apparently has a "very cool orange piranha mascot"...piranha seems a perfect choice!
"Pork pie makers leas the way for Blair academies"
A rather interesting scheme for education that seems to be replacing the creation of more grammar schools. Businesses, entrepreneurs, churches, private schools, and universities are approached to sponsor and run academies, often in deprived areas.
"Simple Bank Holiday Pleasures Lost"
A columnist lamenting that everyone takes off by plane to warmer climes rather than sticking around for wet, cold, and windy weather. My sympathies are with the escapees.
"Recyling being encouraged"
Without much available for recycling I must say we do create a lot of garbage and we're eating out most of the time! On the news recently some house fraus were lamenting that their two big garbage cans were only going to be taken away once every two weeks. Now...if they knew we only get one medium garbage can taken away every two weeks. It does force one to recyle.
I liked this little poem he quoted by Wendy Cope:
"One green bottle/Drop it in the bank/Ten green bottles/What a lot we drank!/Heaps of bottles/and yesterday's a blank/But we'll save the planet/Tinkle, tinkle, clank/
"Dickens theme park hopes to live up to expectations"
Literature as theme park. Your would have thought that was a contradiction in terms. Good luck to them.
Tate Britain
We went to the Tate Britain yesterday...a good activity in the rain! Jim found lots of things relevant to his research and some very good books in the shop that will be helpful to him. I was rather disappointed that the Turners weren't on display as they are creating a special exhibition with them...something to do with David Hockney. And they had also removed the two rooms of the Constable's! Given the smell of paint I guess they were redecorating...very similar red to my living room.
Hockney also will be exhibiting the biggest picture every displayed this summer at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts. It is 40 ft by 15 ft and made of a grid of 50 small canvasses. It's based on a scene in his native Yorkshire and called "Bigger Trees Near Water". There was a photo in the Telegraph...you could probably google it and bring something up. He said he couldn't have done it without a digital camera...doesn't go on to explain how that worked for him. I thought it was an interesting mix.
Hockney also will be exhibiting the biggest picture every displayed this summer at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts. It is 40 ft by 15 ft and made of a grid of 50 small canvasses. It's based on a scene in his native Yorkshire and called "Bigger Trees Near Water". There was a photo in the Telegraph...you could probably google it and bring something up. He said he couldn't have done it without a digital camera...doesn't go on to explain how that worked for him. I thought it was an interesting mix.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
A the Bradshaw's in Oxford
Jim, Tricia, me, David.
We had a really fun visit with David and Barbara today and enjoyed meeting Tricia. A great lunch...thanks so much! We always have a good time in Oxford.
Barbara put me onto various authors, artists, etc. and Jim and David got caught up with all that serious academic stuff.
A rmiserable day so we couldn't sit out in their new garden but it was a great way to spend a rainy day. It was interesting for us to go through London on the bus up to Oxford and we even had a bonus because of an accident on the M40 and had to make a diversion though the Chilterns...very beautiful English countryside.
We had a really fun visit with David and Barbara today and enjoyed meeting Tricia. A great lunch...thanks so much! We always have a good time in Oxford.
Barbara put me onto various authors, artists, etc. and Jim and David got caught up with all that serious academic stuff.
A rmiserable day so we couldn't sit out in their new garden but it was a great way to spend a rainy day. It was interesting for us to go through London on the bus up to Oxford and we even had a bonus because of an accident on the M40 and had to make a diversion though the Chilterns...very beautiful English countryside.
Lunch with the Bradshaw's in Oxford.
Georgia and Figgy. Figgy didn't quite know what to do with us but we became friends in the end.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Imperial College London
This is located right smack dab in the museum area of the Royal and Albert, Albert Hall, Science Museum, Natural History etc....all old buildings but somehow this design works rather well.
After work drink in the pub
This is our closest pub so I guess it's our local. It's on Sloane Ave which is quite a quiet street. It's always great people watching seeing the workers coming out for a drink after work...almost 7:30 when this seemed to happen. I hope the weather isn't too bad since this is a bank holiday weekend. It's been almost too hot so I'm glad of the cooler weather but I hope the rain stays away.
We had dinner here last night and they offer a pretty good deal with about 10 of their dinner main courses on for 2 for 6.95 pds. Now, if you know London those are good prices. I had scampi which was rather ordinary but ok but Jim had a chicken breast with a cheese and bacon melt which was amazining good. I'm sure we'll return to try out other things.
We have three restaurants a few steps away we're saving for downpours.
We had dinner here last night and they offer a pretty good deal with about 10 of their dinner main courses on for 2 for 6.95 pds. Now, if you know London those are good prices. I had scampi which was rather ordinary but ok but Jim had a chicken breast with a cheese and bacon melt which was amazining good. I'm sure we'll return to try out other things.
We have three restaurants a few steps away we're saving for downpours.
Royal Albert Hall
I went on a tour here which was most fascinating. A rock group was setting up...Red something or other. Seemed to be quite well known. The original glass dome was quite an engineering feat and it actually worked but the acoustics were terrible and there was a 6 second delay echo. They fixed the acoustics by putting aluminum rods to replace the glass but it wasn't until 98 years later in the 60's that a manager decided they definitely had to fix the echo. Done with space like looking mushrooms...you can imagine the outcry!
We saw the Royal Box but although every year they ask if they can let visitors go in the Palace politely says no. We sat in their lounge area, though. Well, I was the only one that sat done...everyone else hesitated.
The architect used the colisium at Nimes in France (which we've seen and is quite magnificent) at a design base. The chairs on the floor can be taken up so Cirque de Soleil performs here, they have tennis matches, have flooded it for Showboat, made an ice rink etc.
We saw the Royal Box but although every year they ask if they can let visitors go in the Palace politely says no. We sat in their lounge area, though. Well, I was the only one that sat done...everyone else hesitated.
The architect used the colisium at Nimes in France (which we've seen and is quite magnificent) at a design base. The chairs on the floor can be taken up so Cirque de Soleil performs here, they have tennis matches, have flooded it for Showboat, made an ice rink etc.
Albert Memorial
Seems Queen Victoria spent most of the money made on the Great Exhibition which was to go to the what became the Royal Albert Hall on this memoria. Henry Cole raised the money eventually by selling seats and stalls which still have their lease today. Owners are sent tickets to all (almost) events and can use them or return them for a profit sharing sell by the Hall.
Friday, May 25, 2007
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