Sunday, 19 August 2012
Friday, 17 August 2012
Prom
A taste of the Americas in Wednesday's prom;
Dvořák's New World Symphony, Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man and JoanTower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman (new to me!) to celebrate the USA, and Monoprecose by Villa-Lobos and Estancia by Ginestera to celebrate Brazil and Argentina. Marin Alsop conducted the Orchestra of São Paulo - fantastic!
I went with Paul, who was looking very much like Our Man in Havana for the occasion, despite breaking his collarbone!
I went with Paul, who was looking very much like Our Man in Havana for the occasion, despite breaking his collarbone!
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Winchester
I met Mummie in Winchester yesterday for our Summer girlie day out, and it was beautifully tranquil and quiet. We usually go on a Saturday the rest of the year, and it's quite hectic and crowded sometimes. We spent a most peaceful afternoon in the Cathedral grounds and the Abbey Gardens.
Dean Garnier's Garden
Abbey Gardens; yes there are fish in the stream!
Monday, 13 August 2012
Jolly Good Show, Team GB!
Enjoyed the closing ceremony on television last night; a couple of weeks and we'll do it all again for the Paralympics! What a splendid medal haul for a tiny country!
And in honour of our local Superhero Mo:
his Golden Post Box in Isleworth!
Have you spotted any?
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Macaroons at Meert
Meert, the Patisserie in Lille was established in 1761, and has been making delicious confectionery treats ever since. I believe Charles de Gaulle, himself a Lillois, used to pay a daily visit for his gateau fix! They are most famous for their gauffres or waffles, made from Madagascan vanilla, but I chose a Macaron au cafe. I enjoyed it this morning; rather sweet, but only tiny!
Tempting treats in the window
Elevenses!
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
A la piscine
I had fab day in Lille yesterday, a Eurostar day trip. Jenny recommended I go to a rather special Museum in the suburb of Roubaix, a Metro ride away from Lille centre. That was an experience; a two-carriage driver-less affair with strange moulded plastic seats.
The Museum is amazing - housed in a swimming pool, designed in 1932 by a local architect, Andre Baert; which was the 'finest swimming pool in France'. It stopped being used as a pool in 1985, sadly, due to health and safety reasons because the chlorine had damaged the ceiling, and in 2001 was converted into the Museum. The woollen mill next door has become the reception and an exhibition space, the main pool has sculptures and fine art and the gallery has textiles and fashion. You enter through the changing cubicles and showers, but mercifully don't have to take a foot bath first! When you are walking round, occasionally you hear the sound of splashing and children shouting to remind you of the former life of the museum.
Do go and treat yourself to a couple of hours of beautiful art in fantastic surroundings, and have lunch in the restaurant, run by Meert,famous in Lille for patisserie. A great exhibition of French Fine Art: apart from the sculptures there are 19th century French portraits and landscapes, Belle Epoque pieces, Impressionists and early 20th century (including some of my favourites, Dufy and Bonnard). About 30 mins by Metro from Lille. Get there on Line 2 Metro (Red) towards C.H Dron, from Gare Lille Europe or Gare Lille Flandres. Have a look at their website: www.roubaix-lapiscine.com and see the videos of the swimming pool in action.
And on your way out, place your entrance sticker here - I remember the pedestrian crossing outside the V&A was covered in stickers like this when you paid an entrance fee to visit.
The Museum is amazing - housed in a swimming pool, designed in 1932 by a local architect, Andre Baert; which was the 'finest swimming pool in France'. It stopped being used as a pool in 1985, sadly, due to health and safety reasons because the chlorine had damaged the ceiling, and in 2001 was converted into the Museum. The woollen mill next door has become the reception and an exhibition space, the main pool has sculptures and fine art and the gallery has textiles and fashion. You enter through the changing cubicles and showers, but mercifully don't have to take a foot bath first! When you are walking round, occasionally you hear the sound of splashing and children shouting to remind you of the former life of the museum.
Sunrise and Sunset at either end of the main space.
Memories of the Museum's former life
Do go and treat yourself to a couple of hours of beautiful art in fantastic surroundings, and have lunch in the restaurant, run by Meert,famous in Lille for patisserie. A great exhibition of French Fine Art: apart from the sculptures there are 19th century French portraits and landscapes, Belle Epoque pieces, Impressionists and early 20th century (including some of my favourites, Dufy and Bonnard). About 30 mins by Metro from Lille. Get there on Line 2 Metro (Red) towards C.H Dron, from Gare Lille Europe or Gare Lille Flandres. Have a look at their website: www.roubaix-lapiscine.com and see the videos of the swimming pool in action.
And on your way out, place your entrance sticker here - I remember the pedestrian crossing outside the V&A was covered in stickers like this when you paid an entrance fee to visit.
Monday, 6 August 2012
Wow! Go Team GB!
What a weekend! All plans on hold as I was glued to the television! Blink and you'd have missed Mr Bolt's flash of green and yellow! I snapped some mascots around town on Friday, Wenlock in various disguises:
By Cleopatra's Needle
In the Embankment Gardens
In Cheapside, opposite St Mary's Bow bells
In St Paul's churchyard
By the Oscar Wilde statue at St Martin-in-the-Fields
In Covent Garden
In Chinatown
In Leicester Square
Enjoy the second week of the games - still lots more to come!
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