Down By The Seaside

I've just had a week away with my sis and her family in exotic Eastbourne.  Pevensey Bay to be precise.
Weather started a bit iffy, but that just gave us an excuse to visit every second hand/charity/sewing shop in East Sussex.
I started in Brighton and went on here

but not on here

We went to Rye - LOTS of vintage shops and cobbled streets

and I managed not to have any of these ...

Then the next day we went to Lewes, and visited the castle grounds

But probably spent more time visiting the Patchwork Dog and Basket

and these are the said "Patchwork Dogs"

At this point, I feel I should nominate my b-in-law for an OBE for outstanding patience.  Never has one man been asked to wait outside so many fabric shops, in so many towns.  

I was tempted to go and try this dress on 

(must be the Babs Cartland influence, earlier in the year) but I managed to resist.  Not sure it would look right at O2 Shepherds Bush or Brixton Academy. 

The weather picked up on Friday, and we had a walk at Beachy Head.  

Incidentally, I'm really pleased with my new camera, how about this for a zoom on a compact?

My sis and family sitting on a bench without the zoom ...

and then from exactly the same spot, with full zoom...

I'm really impressed!  Must take care NOT to let this one get wet.

Oh, I went somewhere else afterwards, I know how boring other peoples holiday pictures can be, so I'll post those another day.  OI!! Wake up!!

Down By The Seaside - Led Zeppelin

Redhead Walking

I've come over a bit 'Janet Street-Porter'  No I haven't started walking the Pennine Way, or had my teeth altered.  I'm not about to appear on 'Have I Got News For You' and I'm not writing a newspaper column.  

I've had my hair coloured.

It's very bright.

But I like it!

I know my Mum will tell me off and say it doesn't look natural.  I should bl**dy hope not!  I don't pay out all that money for it to look natural!

It WAS rather expensive, but I have to say it was worth the money, if only for Tom, my hairdresser, to say when I got to the salon - "Ooh, look at you, gone all skinny!" (I've lost a bit recently).  

I'm having a 'not too bad for an old bird' kind of day.

Now, if I could just arrange to 'accidentally' bump into with Ray Davies/George Clooney/Johnny Depp/ or similar ......

Redhead Walking - REM

Anne Boleyn

Last day of term for our Spectrum group.  We don't meet again until September, and then we'll be moving to our new hall in Steeple Morden.

Gina set us a messy task for the morning - messy but not too taxing, it was a kind of grown-up 'colouring-in'.

Anyway, we got into gangs of four and worked on a joint masterpiece, using one chalky pastel each, plus black and white for shading/highlights.  When we'd finished, it was divided up into four, and we each got a piece.

We each cut a strip from the piece we'd been given, and cut the strip into smaller chunks (still with me?) and then had to reproduce those chunks in a larger scale, using the same colour pastels.

  

The last three are mine.  It was a really good exercise, but with hindsight, I probably shouldn't have worn a black top.

We had a delicious shared lunch with savoury cheesecake, salmon and asparagus tart, cream filled home-made meringues and fruit, and a sponge cake to finish.  (I took the crisps, and chopped up celery and carrots for the dips - you have to know your limits).

Fortunately we got away early so I was able to nip home to change my multi-coloured pastel-covered top, for something a bit cleaner, before heading off into town again to meet some friends at The Globe Theatre to see a production of Anne Boleyn.  I've never been to The Globe before - the setting is fabulous.

The Cast come out and 'meet and greet' before the performance

We all really enjoyed the play - it was funny and entertaining so do go if you get the opportunity, but I recommend that you pay a quid to hire one of their cushions - the seats are a bit uncomfortable. Oh and take something warm to wear - it gets chilly when you're sitting still for hours, exposed to the elements.

Anne Boleyn - Rick Wakeman  

(to be honest, I don't particularly recommend listening to this, I never liked Yes, and I prefer Rick Wakeman now when he's being a witty raconteur, but  it happens to be appropriate)

Imelda

Sadly my old camera never recovered from it's soaking a few weeks ago, so I did a bit of research and decided to replace it with a similar one but upgraded - and I'm really pleased with it. It's only a little digital but it's got a pretty good zoom on it.  So I took it with me to the Imelda May gig at Somerset House last night - a great venue if the weather is good, and luckily it was.   If it had looked like it might rain I wouldn't have taken the new camera, and I had a plastic bag and a brolly on standby JUST in case.  

The venue looks really magical when the sun goes down and the lights come on (especially when they're pink)

Imelda has an amazing voice and and the whole band are great performers -  I love it when the band members look as if they are enjoying themselves.

Anyway, no more chat - I'll just try to impress you with my photographs.  No great skill involved on my part, it's all down to the camera being idiot proof.  Well, apart from the idiot next to me who kept waving her arms about from side to side, but I managed to dodge her now and then.

Just to prove I wasn't THAT close ...

Get the facial expression of the guy on the double bass

IMELDA - Mark Knopfler 

No Help At All

I really enjoyed my day 'helping out' at Gina's Open Studios yesterday, although it's difficult to put my finger on EXACTLY what assistance I provided.  I think I made a cup of tea once, then I helpfully ate the sandwiches kindly produced by Gina's husband.  Oh, and I spoke to some visitors, including DottyCookie and Niminy Fingers.  It's so lovely to meet blogging friends in real life.  Even if some of them do have rather dubious musical tastes.  (Tom Jones?!?!?!?)

Gina had made a beautiful display of her work - I can't believe how much there is - does that woman ever sleep?? 

I marvelled at her tidy and well-organised studio, which she assures me ALWAYS looks like this

And then, when I was exhausted from all that hard work, I stopped in the village to marvel at this piece of work, by Cambridgeshire's answer to Banksy

It's brilliant, she should be very proud.  

Anyway, don't take my word for it, I've only shown you a taster - so go along next weekend and check it out for yourself.  I won't be there next weekend though, obviously I'm having to take a much needed break.

No Help at All - Ron Sexsmith

Photograph

It's arrived! I've got a camera again.
Which means I can do a quick collage of some of my birthday goodies -

There's quite a pink/heart theme going on there, isn't there?  They know me so well.

Right, got to dash, off to Gina's Open Studio today.  I can't wait to see THIS for real.  If you are in the area, do come and have a look - details of Cambridge Open Studios here
I go armed with my 'signature dish'.  Or, if I'm honest, just about the only thing I can cook successfully.

Photograph - Ringo Starr (pathetic,  I know,  but I was pushed for time!)

Turning Japanese

Whilst searching the t'interweb recently for images of Waterloo Sunset, for one of my projects, I inadvertently found the Went The Day Well website.  It's the website of two 17 year old students who are planning to cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End to raise money for Help The Heroes, specifically for a Personnel Recovery Centre for injured soldiers.  As well as the cycle ride, they organised a concert at St Paul's Catherdral (if you're gonna organise a gig, you may as well have a half decent venue!)  Now, you all know this isn't generally my genre of music, but the thought of listening to the choristers of St Pauls, whilst sitting in that iconic building really did appeal.  So, I got tickets and on Wednesday, that's where I was. It was fabulous, and whilst I won't be rushing out to buy hundreds of choral CD's, listening to those fantastic voices, whilst sitting under the dome, looking up at the ceiling of that great Cathedral, made the back of my neck tingle.  

The two boys are apparently starting their mammoth cycle tomorrow, so if you want to see how they get on, check out their blog here.  I'm sure they'd be very grateful if anyone would like to donate too.

Then on Friday I had tickets for a 'Fashion in Motion - Yohji YAMAMOTO' show  at the V&A Museum.  The tickets were free but you had to prebook, and I was lucky enough to get some.  AND, as it was my birthday, it was the perfect way of spending the day.  I had a bit of retail therapy first, then along to the V&A for the show, which was fantastic - a proper catwalk show  featuring the Japanese designer's Spring/Summer 2011 collections.  After a quick cup of tea and cake (well, it WAS my birthday!) I visited the current Yohji Yamamoto exhibition.  For once it didn't matter that I couldn't take photos, because I haven't got around to getting a new camera since the demise of my previous one.

After that I had a wander round two other exhibitions that finish shortly 

and ....

both of which had some really interesting exhibits.  

The only slight downside to the day was when a handsome young man smiled at me on the tube - and then stood up and gave me his seat.  I guess that's what birthdays eventually do for you.

Botox, anyone?

Turning Japanese - The Vapours