Only in Falmouth..

Dancing

 Drumming

 A pirate for good measure... Of course..

 

And a Fair Trade tall ship

What an amazing afternoon we had..

West Mersea, Waiting for the Ferryman

Yesterday in the sunshine we walked along the beach, so many people about, we are like birds, enjoying the weather, fluffed up and facing the sun.

We went into a ships chandlers, so full of exciting stuff, cleats, stripy ropes, hooks and everything waterproof, including coats. I was lost, overtaken with 'what could I use that for' and what is 'tarred hemp' how can I use that?....... good job that my other half had met someone he knows so while they chatted... sorry ...had a discussion ... about lines and rigging... I was making mental notes... I hope I can remember them all...

At the boat yard there were some amazing shapes and colours, the battery on the camera deserted me and once again I was wishing that I'd got my sketch book.

Lessons to be learned -
- Always check battery in camera
- Take sketch book on walks.

An unexpected journey

I have been loaned some books by my lovely 'illustrated' neighbour, four to be precise, she came round for a cup of tea, had a good look at my recent work, helped me with one or two things then said that I needed to read these books.

They are by this fellow called Nick Bantock...... they are amazing not only the story but the way it is written, how it is written and how he has presented the the book to the reader.
I went on a journey, a happy and sad journey, one that I hadn't expected, one that I had never imagined or could have imagined, if you get a chance, give these wonderful books a look....... you need to read all three otherwise you won't know what happens.
Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence
Sabine's Notebook
Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes
I've found his web site have a peek.......
http://www.nickbantock.com

The other book is this one which I've just started reading this evening... A children's book, oh so dark... so far........ a brain kept in a jar of vinegar.

Heir of Mystery (Unlikely Exploits) by Philip Ardagh

His blog..... and website
http://www.philipardagh.co.uk

I'm in love..........

Once there were a couple of (I was going to say middle aged people) lovers, that sounds much better, that went on a little break to the Peak District National Park and what did they see there? ..... you may well ask

A place that time and man had perhaps very slowly altered, but had never changed, the beauty of this wild and rugged place, the essence of the first travellers was still there.

As we sat up in bed (with a lovely cup of tea, I hasten to add) we looked out of the bedroom windows on this amazing view, a hill that looked like a sugar mountain with valleys that whispered stories to each other in the morning mists.

I began thinking of times long ago and of those who had travelled through this most beautiful of landscapes, ideas for my work came in droves, I am still making notes, such an inspirational place, so full of mystery and magic.

The clouds looked like the sea, waves racing across the sky , in a moment they would be gone...... on to other shores, places further afield.

These pictures are the view that we had from our bedroom windows at Braemar House Farm....... It couldn't get any better. could it?

I'm in love....... again

We have been on holiday to.....

'Another Place'

How can I explain this experience, as we walked through a very wet and soggy car-park along an even wetter and muddier walk-way (the builders are working on the sea defences) up and over a ridge to look down onto the beach at Crosby bay, Liverpool. As you can see from my photographs it was a pale blue and lilac grey day.

My first view of the installation was of just a head and shoulders, a man walking out into the bay, as I turned and looked along this vast expanse of sand these 'men' were all gently looking out to sea, we had the whole exhibition virtually to ourselves, the beach was very quiet (not many walkers on a wet and windy November morning) just a few people with their dogs.

Although I had seen pictures of 'Another Place' nothing could of prepared me for the beauty of this work and all of the questions that it was asking me, my pictures only begin to explain what I felt, and the profound effect it has had on me.

(If you open up this picture you can see the wind farm far into the distance)

(If you open up this picture you can see more of the figures spread out along the beach)

The installation consists of 100 identical solid cast iron body forms which face out to sea, they are revealed as the tides ebb and flow and I'm sure must change with the weather conditions.... I would love to see them on an incoming tide at the height of a storm snuggled up with a thermos and waterproofs.

They stand along the bay at Crosby Sands, its about a 2 mile/3km walk (which we did in the wind and rain with no hat or waterproofs).

Each of the figures is 6' 2½" tall, and weighs in at an amazing 1400 lbs/650kg.

The figures are taken from an original cast of Gormleys' own body.... and a fine figure of a man he is, I might add.

We have had the most amazing few days staying in the Peak District National Park. (more about that next time)

Just one regret ............. not to have see them

sooner........

Holiday in Norfolk

We have been on holiday this past week in Norfolk with our daughter her partner and their son, we stayed in a traditional flint cottage which was an absolute delight our grandson loved the ducks visiting us every morning and evening for their breakfast and supper

The Sainsbury Centre

We visited the Sainsbury Centre which is in the grounds of the University of East Anglia, Norwich. The collection, is held in building designed by Norman Foster, it is stunning the light illuminates the exhibitions, for me it has an air of expectancy an excitement that draws you in.
The collection is vast with artists represented from across the world, for instance, Sculpture by Henry Moore, paintings, sketches and sculpture by Alberto Giacometti, Paintings by Francis Bacon, modern pots by Lucie Rie, Hans Cooper and Rupert Spira. There were wonders from North America, The Cyclades in the Aegean sea,The Pacific, Central and South America, to name but a few. Cultures that I have never heard of, it was so exciting.
If your ever in the area its a great place to visit and its free. If you can't get there in person here is a web address - http://www.scva.org.uk/exhibitions/archive

Castle Acre Priory

Another place we visited was Castle Acre Priory. There was a peace about this place, set in beautiful countryside, the priory ruins span seven centuries, its hard to get the time line in your head, it was home to a community of monks until 1537 when Henry the VIII disbanded all monastic houses.
These are a few pictures of our visit. We all felt moved by the magnificence of the buildings and inspired by its beauty.