Shadows and Reflections

Mid Autumn in the Netherlands.    The ideal time for catching shadows and reflections.    The sun is still strong, yet low in the sky.   An excuse to get the camera out in order to catch those moments of beauty that abound when out walking.     

A walk with Raphy, who has just discovered his shadow.   And was fascinated by it.    The joys of walking with a nearly three year old, who is full of wonder about the world around him.   

Perfect calm.

A very late afternoon view.    Earlier the previous day I could have captured the most perfect picture with a large group of ducks, geese and swans swimming under the bridge.    But alas, no camera.

Peace and the Autumn colours.

Only the ducks in the foreground disturb the stillness of the water.

A narrow canal.    Mysterious.  

Wildlife.

The sun came through the trees, just for a few minutes.    Dazzling.  

Walking in Autumn, full of colour and reflection, especially in the Netherlands, where there is an abundance of water.

Netherlands

We are back in the Netherlands again.    Familiar ground.    And out on the bicycles within minutes of arriving.    Fantastic.     And again, I notice immediately, the super slim Dutch women, who dress so casually, but so smartly and elegantly.   Age has no bearing.   I never cease to be impressed.    

Yesterday we set off at 6 a.m. after having battled the wind and the rain in order to fit the bike rack, plus two bikes, onto the back of the car.   The wind did not bode well, for a smooth channel crossing.   But undaunted we set off and arrived at the port to be told that there would be a delay, due to the high winds of course.

So we sat on the port with all the other vehicles.   

 In actual fact the wind dropped considerably after we left the port, and except for about half an hour, the crossing was quite smooth.    We managed to get First Class Tickets, with priority boarding and use of the lounge, which was virtually empty, so we were very happy.   A promotion through our booking agent, I think, as we certainly did not pay anything extra.    Walter certainly looks very happy.

 For the next few days we are babysitting, while Aaron and Kylie have a relaxing few days in Berlin.    So today we set off to buy some material for Mia to make some clothes.    Very creative.  

Mia and Raphy having some fun while we wait for the train.

Utrecht was extremely busy, which made moving around with a buggy and two children quite difficult.

However, we set off, Walter with map in hand.     According to Mia we were not going in the right direction, and should head off past the old Post Office, but Walter consulted his map, and maintained we take another street.    There is the market, he maintained, pointing to the map.    But alas, Mia was right, as we ended up back at the railway station again.    So after that we followed Mia's directions.   Often children are right.

I nearly reminded Walter of the time, out in a National Park, when he read the map back to front, and we ended up down in a valley, with out car parked at the top of the range of hills.   A trip that should have taken us three hours but in fact took us about seven hours.   But then I should not point fingers, as I have no sense of direction at all.    At least Walter makes an attempt at map reading.

Once we found the market, it was impressive, stall after stall of every type of material imaginable, and associated ribbons and cottons.

 Mia, with the help of Abi, found just the right type and colour material that she needed.   It was cheap too, only 2 to 3 Euros a metre.

 On the way back we meandered through some of the back streets of Utrecht.    What happened to these bicycles.   Run over by cars?   Squashed by drunks?    They were still locked to the tree.  I am pleased they were not my bicycles.

 That bear that blew bubbles.

 The extensive flower market in full swing.    This is the Netherlands after all.

 The market outside the railway station.    Madness.   Too busy to shop.

 And finally chips, with heaps of mayonnaise, whilst sitting on a bench watching the world go by.    They were delicious chips.    Too many chips and I will not look slim in my tight fitting trousers and jacket, trying to emulate the smart looking Dutch women.

Now, I realise this dress looks like a piece of red material lying on the table.   But in fact it has a neckline, arm holes and the most amazing frill down the middle of the dress.   Unfortunately the models have gone to bed.   

And  to bed is precisely where I need to go also.   Another exciting day tomorrow.

Ightham Mote plus a sculpture exhibition

It was a beautiful sunny day last Saturday.   And we decided to make the most of the sunshine, and visit Ightham Mote, to look at the sculpture exhibition, and for Walter to visit the house, which he has not seen since it was restored, and for me to walk around the gardens, which I missed during my last visit. 

We had heard about the exhibition, from a friend, Jane, who had recommended it, and we were so pleased that we had heeded her advice.   It was pretty spectacular.    As well as the large pieces spread around the immediate grounds, there were smaller pieces in most rooms of the house.   All very pricey though, so I do not think any pieces will appear in our house or garden.     

I looked for information about the sculptor on the internet.    Guy Portelli. was born in South Africa, but went to an art college in the UK.  He initially worked as a sculptor for BBC TV before setting up his own studio in 1981.   He has received commissions for specific pieces as well as producing pieces to exhibit in galleries, sculpture parks and various establishments.    He has also written a book called Modern British Sculpture.

As we walked down the drive, there was the most magnificent piece of sculpture, a galloping horse made out of stainless steel.   I forgot to check the price, which I am sure is high, due to all the stainless steel used in the sculpture, plus the idea, and work involved, and the fact that the sculptor is obviously well known.   

The Orchid Plant, made of stainless steel with glass flowers.   Cheap at about £4,000. I am not sure about this one.    It looks like a garden sprinkler system.  

Bronze and mosaic pokers.    My sister, Margaret, would like one of these for her garden.    That's if she has about £4,000 to spend for one poker.

The Henley Rowers, will set one back £42,000.    I wonder if the plinth is thrown in for free.   Part of the deal, that is.    This small courtyard is a very effective back drop for about five or six of the pieces.   Two of them focus on 9/11.   One has a theme of joined hands, which looks like a cross.   I forgot to take a picture of this one.

The following three sculptures are made of nickel plated aluminium and plated mosaic, and parts are painted.  But I must have muddled my notes, typical, so I do not know which is which.    But I was impressed, by the sheer scale, and detail of both sculptures.

The Sex Pistols (Post Punk) £58,000 and  (Mod Rock) £58,000.  

And one for the Michael Jackson fans - (That was It) £60,000

Bubble wrapped busts.  Made of bubble steel.    They glittered in the light.  The person standing next to me touched them and cut his fingers.   He learnt the hard way.    

But my favourite - The Spice Girls erupting from a pick and mix bag of sweets.   That just about sums up the Spice Girls, I think.   £32,000

So I then headed off for a tour of the gardens, while Walter continued touring the house.    Unfortunately I did not see the rest of the sculptures, but the sunshine and fresh air was just too tempting to resist a walk outside.

The view over the dam, towards the house which can be seen in the distance.

This must be the trickle of water that leads into the dam, which then feeds the moat around the house.  

The dahlias were still in bloom.    A very beautiful specimen.

The formal vegetable garden, looking very spruce and extremely productive.

This is how I envisage my small garden will like, but never does of course.   I wonder how they deal with moles at Ightham Mote.    There are certainly no mole hills or sunken lawns or gardens (due to mole tunnels) at this establishment.    I bet they employ a permanent mole catcher, who then moves them off into the surrounding woods.    Interesting.    I should have asked a guide.  

A view across the striped grass to the back of Ightham Mote.    The tour group were listening intently to the tour guide.    Good concentration there.

And finally I sat for a while in the inner courtyard, in a small patch of sunshine, while I waited for Walter to finish his tour of the house.    A great people watching spot.

Altogether a very interesting and pleasant afternoon.   A house full of history, beautiful gardens and an impressive exhibition thrown in as well.     We left feeling very happy.

And I managed to navigate us home without ending up in a bumpy, narrow lane or in Tonbridge.  

South Bank, London

Last week we travelled into London to have lunch with our friend, Margaret.   Luckily we left early, because the train was delayed for about 15 minutes, due to signalling problems.  Back to normal. The Olympics have finished.  And so has the ultra efficient transport system!      

After a long and leisurely lunch, and catching up on news, Walter and I set off to walk along the South Bank to London Bridge Station.    Our main aim, of course, was ensuring we maintained our current fitness programme, but we also enjoy walking along the banks of the Thames River, reminiscing and looking out for new developments and displays.

It is amazing to think we have lived here long enough (20 years) to see significant changes to parts of the city. And the number of cars have more than trebled in that time.

There was a time when we easily drove the car into London and parked it in the streets around the South Bank, before crossing over to the other side of the Thames River.   The area was a little rough, I know, but interesting, and we always felt safe.    But then it all changed during the mid 1990's and now the South Bank is a thriving area, full of trendy restaurants and cafes.    And restored buildings, and pedestrianised streets.  And no car parking spaces.

Walter standing on the bridge, looking very dapper.   

A view of the business area of London, with the dome of St Paul's on the left.   The new mixed in with the old.

The buildings of the National Theatre are still as bleak as ever.    1960's buildings.   Stark and unimaginative.   Concrete.    These buildings could easily have been transplanted from the communist bloc countries.    I presume the original buildings were bombed in WWII.    Even the graffiti does not help.

We often visited the MOMI (Museum of Moving Images), when it was in one of the National Theatre buildings.  A fascinating museum for children and adults alike.    I believe that it has been was moved up north somewhere.

What is this?    A colourful concrete tree rising from the buildings.  

A cafe made from steel plates?   Is this is an attempt at creating a large sculpture to complement the soulless buildings?  But interesting all the same.  

Blackfriars Bridge and Railway Station, with its solar panels, which provide electricity for the railway station.  A very modern and efficient approach.

The clumps of silver birches, standing proudly outside the Tate Modern Art Gallery.   A green and shimmering oasis.  As a restored power station, with enormous display spaces, the Tate Modern is breathtakingly impressive.    And very popular.

The relatively new footbridge in the foreground, framed by the buildings on the other side of the Thames, and with threatening clouds bearing down on the scene below.   Mysterious London.   I have never walked across this footbridge but I believe it no longer sways, unless of course the walkers have had too much alcohol.

The shard, rising above the silver birches.    The shard (a building that appears to be a large shard of glass) is now easily recognisable from many parts of London, even from the edge of Swanley, some distance away.

And finally we went inside the Tate Modern Art Gallery, but sadly there was not enough time to look at the galleries.   But the people walking slowly together in this photograph are part of a modern art piece.  People walking slowly!

The Globe.   Home of Shakespeare's plays. I believe the original Globe Theatre was somewhere in this vicinity.   But the new Globe Theatre was recreated during the early 1990's.  In Shakespeare's memory.

I visited it, in about 1995, when it was still surrounded by boards and scaffolding, and with many, many craftsmen busily working inside.    And what a day that was.    A wonderful school trip, which started with an art lesson at the Education Centre in the Tower of London, and ended with a tour of the Globe Theatre and a drama lesson in the Education Centre there.

But what I had not fully thought about, was the walk, at a fast pace, along the South Bank, to get from one place to the next.    No mean feat, with 25 pupils and about 15 parents following me, negotiating busy streets, and other obstacles along the way, including an ice cream van.     Which a parent spotted, and then announced, very loudly, 'ice creams for all' as she ran towards the van.   Disaster.   Of course my response of 'no ice creams' was not received very well, and after calming everyone down, we set forth again, sullenly and silently.    And they did have time for an ice cream at the end of the day, and I received an apology, and we all travelled home happily.    

St Mary Overie Dock holds the reconstruction of the Tudor warship, The Golden Hind, looking very decorative in the water.  Sir Francis Drake, circumnavigated the world in 1577-1580 in the real ship.    But most of all I loved the bicycles attached to railing.   A modern touch.  

The ruins of Winchester Palace, home of the Bishop of Winchester.    This area was once the scene of brothels, rough taverns and theatres.   Not a most salubrious place.    A bit before my time, I might add.

Southwark Cathedral, hemmed in by buildings.   This was once the ancient church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie.   None of the figures or tombstones have been damaged in this church.    Unusual.  Maybe the reformists stayed away from this very rough area.   I should have asked one of the church wardens.

Jubilee Market, which is beside Borough Market, and home to some delicious food.   We purchased bread for tea.  

The view of the street beside London Bridge Station.   A London scene with a red double decker bus and London taxis

And finally we arrived at London Bridge Station.  The train arrived and it is on time.    Hurray.

And there were no delays on the way home.    Perhaps the delay in the morning was only a small hiccup and we still have a super efficient transport system.