Fourth day.
Epic.
Fourth day.
Epic.
Day 3.
.
Day 2.
In Italian, when you go skiing for a week you call it a ‘white week’.
As in we’re having a ‘white week’.
We actually are… and the first day was glorious.
I rarely get to visit London, too rarely in fact, so going for two days in a row last week, felt like a big treat and reminded me that it’s not really that far and I should be more organised and less lazy and visit more often… Yes, it’s mad busy. Yes, I end up walking for too long… but it’s so vibrant and inspiring and buzzing.
Sigh.
This time I joined No 2 child’s art trip – who’s officially not a child because he’s driving! (watch out) – and had a fabulous time. (I did ask and was ‘allowed’ to go. Very gracious of him. He has great teachers and young people are fun to be with, AND me and No 2 had a lovely time too. Bonus. This post might end up being very photo-heavy… but it was that kind of day… visual stimulation galore.
First stop the Tate Modern.
First exhibition: Dora Maar. She had a fascinating life… worth looking up.
She learnt her trade from Man Ray, she was a WWII photographer, a model… I mean… you name it. She’s done it. Awesome.
Next up, something totally different – which is why I love the Tate so much – June Nam Paik, one of the first ‘electronic’ artist… if that’s what you want to call him. He was a visionary, playful, deep… Fascinating to learn about him.
We had some free time to wonder around the rest of the gallery…
… and I popped in quickly to visit Ed Ruscha.
The view from the top terrace was glorious!
We then strolled along the Embankment, past the National Theatre…
…. to Somerset House
… to visit a ‘mushroom exhibition’. Not as daft as it sounds… but it was crazy crowded so hard to really enjoy.
AND THEN… to get the absolute most of our day we walked to the National Portrait Gallery to see the Taylor Wessing Photography Portrait Prize. Absolutely stunning.
And then it was time to go home…
… till next time, London!
On Friday my husband and I – in the tone of the Queen’s speech please! – popped into London to visit the Studio of Paul Vanstone.
Have you ever been into a sculpture Studio? Nah, me neither. Paul makes LARGE pieces and works with marbles and stone from all over the world. Stunning pieces millions of years old…
I first saw his work a couple of years ago at the Chelsea Flower Show and I knew that Mr M would have liked it too…
I love how different the various typed of marbles are, the above black one is from Marocco, the white one is a Carrara marble from Italy… from the same quarry from where Michelangelo used to get his stone… I mean… c’mon!
Every piece had its now personality, almost… even when they had the same shape… not too are ever possibly the same… nature’s miracles.
I really love the tall slender abstract female figures. They’re so strong and dignified… they remind me of ancient temple statues… but from the future… does that make sense? Timeless, yes, they look timeless to me.
And this one too… very midcentury, don’t you think?
Paul is a very interesting gentleman full of interesting stories… he used to work with Hanish Kapoor, has had a studio in Italy, sold sculptures all over the world… and can recommend a lovely Italian restaurant in Notting Hill for lunch! (Where I tried to buy a shearling coat like the one worn by Christine Keeler in the BBC program ‘The Trial of Christine Keeler”… without success.)
It was a very good Friday.
We’re home.
It’s been relentless since we’ve been back, for me anyway. The mountain of washing is almost demolished although the ironing pile has correspondingly increased in size, so really I feel like I’ve made no progress at all. To top it all we’ve had social engagements to attend, there has been a return journey to the airport to drop off my mother, there are boys’ commitment to honour…
AND I have 2 1/2 essay to write and only a week to do that which is freakishly little time given how slow a writer I am. I shouldn’t be here. I should be explaining the reasons why Kuhn doesn’t believe in the cumulative progress of science and the opposition views to his theory… but here we go… my brain needs a break. I know, I know, I should know better at my age than leaving things to the last minute… but am I even a student if I don’t do that?
Anyway, as a prize for listening to my inane ramblings I’ll show you pictures of the resort (The Six Sensei Zighy Bay) and the villa we stayed in.
It is a gorgeous, calming place which was perfect for the post Christmas ‘chillaxing’ we all craved:
I just realised I have no photos of the bedrooms… they were gorgeous and spacious too… the same colour throughout brought it all together in a simple and relaxed way.
As I’m typing this, sitting at my desk, surrounded by notes and books I realised how lucky we were to be able to stay in a place like this and how re-charged the week in the sun has left me. Breaking the cold months up like this, it makes them feel more manageable… I do like winter, I love all the different seasons… but oh boy was it good to feel the heat on the skin.
And now back to Thomas Kuhn… crazy dude that he was…
(Actually, I don’t think he was crazy… just very, very intense!)
The day started with a beautiful, peaceful sunrise on the beach
And then we got an email from British Airways saying that, for security reasons, our flight was delayed till further notice and, please, it would have been better if we didn’t even go to the airport yet. We then found out that our flight, on its way here from the UK had been diverted to Istanbul due to the US stopping passengers flights over the region and the UK following suit.
Scary stuff, even it meant an extra day in the sun.
They boys had a fun day, I got to do some of my college work, and we were lucky that we didn’t have to wait all this time at the airport but we could stay here in resort and have lovely food etc. etc. Silver lining and all that.
Also we saw a camel. Swimming.
Bonus.
How weird and cute is that?
… and from Kemil, the swimming camel, and me, it’s goodbye for now!
I’m quite ready to go home.
Today I went flying.
And it was amazing.
And a little terrifying.
But mainly amazing.
I blame it on the boys that jumped off a mountain…
Silly boys.
BUT… I did feel like I was missing out on something so after a short deliberation I came to the conclusion that while there was no way I could hurl myself off a cliff, I could though start from the bottom and go up… and sooooo…
I did this instead:
So there, I flew.
And it was amazing.
And also a little scary.
