Lenny
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Its been a while - thought it was time for an updated photo of the lovely Lenny...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tracey & Lucy
Tracey & Lucy
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Looking a tad windswept in Wellington. I'm sure Lucy won't like me for saying this but I can really see the family resemblance between her and Thomas in this one!!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sand art on the Thames...
Walking down to the Tate on Saturday I passed these guys making their sand sculptures. Its the second time I've seen them - this time I thought to take a picture!
Tate and a mate
Well two mates really.
I met up with the 'newlyweds' David and Dominic on Saturday afternoon and we headed off to the Tate Modern to see the Street & Studio: An Urban History of Photography exhibition (which I think Leigh and Maurie went to when they were here as well).
The exhibition was great - there was a fantastic set of video clips at the end of teenagers in a club in Liverpool - very funny, and very telling. And a couple of truly outstanding shellsuits on the boys... We then went and had cake and coffee which rounded the afternoon off perfectly.
It was great to see the two D's (as I've taken to calling them), and see their photos from the honeymoon in Greece - it is absolutely on my list to visit next year...
I met up with the 'newlyweds' David and Dominic on Saturday afternoon and we headed off to the Tate Modern to see the Street & Studio: An Urban History of Photography exhibition (which I think Leigh and Maurie went to when they were here as well).
The exhibition was great - there was a fantastic set of video clips at the end of teenagers in a club in Liverpool - very funny, and very telling. And a couple of truly outstanding shellsuits on the boys... We then went and had cake and coffee which rounded the afternoon off perfectly.
It was great to see the two D's (as I've taken to calling them), and see their photos from the honeymoon in Greece - it is absolutely on my list to visit next year...
Monday, August 18, 2008
In Bruges
I'm not - but I did just go and see the film which I thought was FANTASTIC! I had wanted to see it when it came out a few months ago but missed it, but one of my film going chums had been keeping an eye out for it.
I didn't really know much about the story, so was a bit surprised when I sat down and saw that it was an 18... until they started speaking. Lots of bad language, a bit of violence, and some very clever dialogue. And a great ending.
So that's my film recommendation for you - go see it - or if you've missed it, rent it on DVD - although I do think it would be best at the cinema.
Just remember its an 18....
I didn't really know much about the story, so was a bit surprised when I sat down and saw that it was an 18... until they started speaking. Lots of bad language, a bit of violence, and some very clever dialogue. And a great ending.
So that's my film recommendation for you - go see it - or if you've missed it, rent it on DVD - although I do think it would be best at the cinema.
Just remember its an 18....
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Gathering
I just finished this book by Anne Enright - the winner of the Booker Prize last year. I heard her interviewed on the radio in one of the podcasts I listen to and thought she sounded really interesting, and the book sounded good as well.
I struggled with it almost all the way through. I just couldn't get into it, and spent a lot of the time wondering why Booker winners are always so bleak and grim. Perhaps a lot of the stuff about the large family was a bit too close to the bone...
But somewhat bizarrely in the last couple of chapters I seemed to 'get' it, and I started to enjoy it. Prior to those chapters I had it marked as a charity shop book (I don't keep ones I don't enjoy anymore), but have now changed my mind. It stays on my bookshelf, and I'll definitely be re-reading it - in fact I suspect I'll get more out of it on the second go.
I struggled with it almost all the way through. I just couldn't get into it, and spent a lot of the time wondering why Booker winners are always so bleak and grim. Perhaps a lot of the stuff about the large family was a bit too close to the bone...
But somewhat bizarrely in the last couple of chapters I seemed to 'get' it, and I started to enjoy it. Prior to those chapters I had it marked as a charity shop book (I don't keep ones I don't enjoy anymore), but have now changed my mind. It stays on my bookshelf, and I'll definitely be re-reading it - in fact I suspect I'll get more out of it on the second go.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Psycho Buildings!
Great title huh? Also the name of the latest exhibition I went to see on Friday with Nicola. We started off with a glass of wine at the Concrete Bar - as it was 2 for 1 it would have been criminal not to really... Plus it was Friday evening and I think we were both in dire need of a glass - well I certainly was given the week I'd had!!
It was really interesting - and a lot of the exhibits you wondered how exactly they have managed to get that set up inside! Or outside even - particularly the boating lake on the roof of the exhibition. We didn't go into the row boats - the queue was huge, and despite the fact that it is the middle of August it was also quite cold outside! But we did go out and have a look, and thanks to Nicola's prompting I took a couple of snaps on my phone to give you an idea of what it looked like.
Another interesting piece was the Observatory, Air-Port-City, 2008 which is essentially a big orb with a top level. You can either stay and observe from the bottom, or go into a lucky dip to go on to the top level. We didn't bother with the lucky dip, but did quite enjoy lying around and watching people manage to navigate themselves around - especially the women who were wearing skirts... To enter it you had to go through an airlock door to maintain the pressure.
I really liked Fallen Star by Do Ho Suh (a scale model of his home from Korea crashing into an American house), and Place by Rachel Whiteread - a collection of dolls houses lit up. Both very cool. These pictures from the Guardian will also give you a good idea of the exhibition.
It was really interesting - and a lot of the exhibits you wondered how exactly they have managed to get that set up inside! Or outside even - particularly the boating lake on the roof of the exhibition. We didn't go into the row boats - the queue was huge, and despite the fact that it is the middle of August it was also quite cold outside! But we did go out and have a look, and thanks to Nicola's prompting I took a couple of snaps on my phone to give you an idea of what it looked like.
Another interesting piece was the Observatory, Air-Port-City, 2008 which is essentially a big orb with a top level. You can either stay and observe from the bottom, or go into a lucky dip to go on to the top level. We didn't bother with the lucky dip, but did quite enjoy lying around and watching people manage to navigate themselves around - especially the women who were wearing skirts... To enter it you had to go through an airlock door to maintain the pressure.
I really liked Fallen Star by Do Ho Suh (a scale model of his home from Korea crashing into an American house), and Place by Rachel Whiteread - a collection of dolls houses lit up. Both very cool. These pictures from the Guardian will also give you a good idea of the exhibition.
Normally, Proceeding and Unrestricted With Without Title (2008)
Normally, Proceeding and Unrestricted With Without Title (2008)
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
No I don't get the title either... but this gives you an idea of what it looked like! The water is about 0.9m deep I think. I was stood on a very wobbly 'jetty' to take this!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Strangely tempted...
To go to this - sadly I don't have any little kids I can use as an excuse! Its one of my favourite books from my childhood, and I even have a copy on my shelf here in London.
And its the same age as me - how cool is that :-)
And its the same age as me - how cool is that :-)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Pick a title...
- Olympic gold for stupidity
- Could my day get any worse
- Expletive, expletive, expletive
Plus points: it was only my wallet this time - not my bag, my ipod, my phone or my house keys
Minus points: I had just taken out £50, I've lost the wallet given to me by Lindsey, I lost the gift vouchers I got for my birthday from Kristie & John. The rest was pretty much disposable - I learnt my hard lesson when I lost my whole bag.
Please anyone feeling like leaving a comment about being careful, watching my possessions etc - don't. It was a crap end to a crap day.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Too wet to walk...
So Saturday became an impromptu lunch at Julia's local, the Jolly Gardeners. Despite being part of a chain (I think) it is a great pub.
As always the food was delish, company fine (me, Julia, Simon and Owen), and a very wet afternoon was passed very pleasantly!
Oh and I came a distant last in Scrabble and managed to lose to Julia in Connect 4 in 3 moves!! So not my finest hour!!
As always the food was delish, company fine (me, Julia, Simon and Owen), and a very wet afternoon was passed very pleasantly!
Oh and I came a distant last in Scrabble and managed to lose to Julia in Connect 4 in 3 moves!! So not my finest hour!!
Great antidotes to bad days...
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Are my family blessed...?
While Tracey was here, the weather picked up, and on the whole June was a fairly pleasant month weatherwise. Not amazing - but ok for June.
Tracey left, the weather packed in.
Leigh arrived, the weather picked up. Maurie arrived - the weather got better.
Leigh & Maurie left and the weather has turned to custard again...
What can it all mean??
Tracey left, the weather packed in.
Leigh arrived, the weather picked up. Maurie arrived - the weather got better.
Leigh & Maurie left and the weather has turned to custard again...
What can it all mean??
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Amended functionality...
One of the things I've copied from Maurie is to amend my comments page - now when you click on the 'Comments' link at the bottom of the post, the comments pop-up in a new window, rather than load in a new page, which I think is much more user friendly.
Thanks also for your comments on my post re the competition - its always nice to know that people are reading! Sometimes I feel like I'm typing into the ether with no one out there!!
Thanks also for your comments on my post re the competition - its always nice to know that people are reading! Sometimes I feel like I'm typing into the ether with no one out there!!
Friday, August 01, 2008
The competition is on!
Maurie and I had a great time swopping technology and Web 2.0 bits and pieces while we here as he had been doing a lot of looking at that stuff while tripping around the US. So I now have an RSS feeder set up on my Mac (which I have at work, but hadn't bothered to do that at home until now), Maurie is much more Facebook literate than he was, and most importantly I have downloaded a visitor counter to my site!
So while Maurie is a few thousand ahead of me, I'm keen to get my numbers up - so if I promise to update regularly you have to all promise to keep visiting me so he doesn't thrash me!!
So while Maurie is a few thousand ahead of me, I'm keen to get my numbers up - so if I promise to update regularly you have to all promise to keep visiting me so he doesn't thrash me!!
The best laid plans...
Leigh & Maurie returned from Liverpool on Saturday evening and I had a few plans sorted out for them... However I am now the master of 'Plan B'!!
Tuesday: Plan was to go to Hatfield House - something I've been wanting to do for ages. Except that at the last minute I realised the house wasn't open on Tuesdays... As Leigh & Maurie have both spent quite a bit of time in London before, at the last minute I struggled to think of anything to do. But at the last minute I remembered London Walks so we headed off to do the Old Westminster walk - which was great! As always whenever I do one of these, I think how much I should do them more often...
Wednesday: Plan was to go down to Herne Bay with Kevin to do a tour out to the old sea forts with Bayblast. So far so good... Except we neglected to book for the 12pm tour, and the boat broke down on that tour and didn't do any more that day! I think Kevin was the most gutted, but we were all really disappointed. We did go and have a look at Reculver Tower, and then Kevin detoured on the way home to visit Leith Tower. It was a lovely day, so if they tower had been open Leigh & Maurie would have enjoyed an even better view...
Thursday: Plan was to go for a walk outside of London. Except Leigh woke up feeling wiped out and unwell, so we just ended up having a quiet day, doing a bit of shopping in Kingston...
Friday: As I wasn't involved in the planning, Leigh & Maurie did manage to get to Gatwick Airport ok, and last I heard had made it to their hotel in Barcelona!!
Tuesday: Plan was to go to Hatfield House - something I've been wanting to do for ages. Except that at the last minute I realised the house wasn't open on Tuesdays... As Leigh & Maurie have both spent quite a bit of time in London before, at the last minute I struggled to think of anything to do. But at the last minute I remembered London Walks so we headed off to do the Old Westminster walk - which was great! As always whenever I do one of these, I think how much I should do them more often...
Wednesday: Plan was to go down to Herne Bay with Kevin to do a tour out to the old sea forts with Bayblast. So far so good... Except we neglected to book for the 12pm tour, and the boat broke down on that tour and didn't do any more that day! I think Kevin was the most gutted, but we were all really disappointed. We did go and have a look at Reculver Tower, and then Kevin detoured on the way home to visit Leith Tower. It was a lovely day, so if they tower had been open Leigh & Maurie would have enjoyed an even better view...
Thursday: Plan was to go for a walk outside of London. Except Leigh woke up feeling wiped out and unwell, so we just ended up having a quiet day, doing a bit of shopping in Kingston...
Friday: As I wasn't involved in the planning, Leigh & Maurie did manage to get to Gatwick Airport ok, and last I heard had made it to their hotel in Barcelona!!
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