I spent a lovely afternoon on the last day of 2008 with Nicola. We started off with lunch at a restaurant en-route to the Tate, then we went to see the Rothko exhibition.
Nicola was horrified that I had never been to the Rothko room at the Tate (I had never even heard of Rothko until a few months ago when Tracey texted me to ask if I had seen his work at the Tate...) so I suspect she may be taking a more firmer hand in my art education going forward! Before we went to the exhibition she joined the Tate as a member + 1, so I didn't have to pay to get in either which was a real bonus!
The show was really good - I wasn't too keen on his black pieces, but some of the others were just amazing. And there were a lot more than you usually see in the Rothko room (according to Nicola) so it was definitely worth going. And afterwards we went to the Members Room and enjoyed a very nice glass of mulled wine :-).
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Squeezing in one last walk...
Julia and I went for the last walk of 2008 - Hassocks to Upper Beeding. 10 miles, graded 8/10 in terms of difficulty.
It was a great walk! We're having VERY cold weather at the mo, and the day was perfect - clear blue sky (although a bit misty), and very cold. Grass crackling under out feet as we walked through the frost - brilliant. And it was along the South Downs which is one of my favourite places, and we haven't walked there for ages, so it was just great to get back down there, walk up a few hills and stride along the Downs. It would have been a lot harder if it hadn't been so cold as a few stretches of it were quite muddy, but as the mud was frozen it didn't impact on us at all.
It was really quiet as well - aside from around the lunch spot, we didn't really see many people at all. And we finished just as the sun was going down, so we weren't walking in the freezing cold - cos when the sun goes down at the mo the temperature seems to drop about 5 deg :-). There are a couple of photos below, but also more on Flickr.
We have many plans for doing more walking in 2009 as well...
It was a great walk! We're having VERY cold weather at the mo, and the day was perfect - clear blue sky (although a bit misty), and very cold. Grass crackling under out feet as we walked through the frost - brilliant. And it was along the South Downs which is one of my favourite places, and we haven't walked there for ages, so it was just great to get back down there, walk up a few hills and stride along the Downs. It would have been a lot harder if it hadn't been so cold as a few stretches of it were quite muddy, but as the mud was frozen it didn't impact on us at all.
It was really quiet as well - aside from around the lunch spot, we didn't really see many people at all. And we finished just as the sun was going down, so we weren't walking in the freezing cold - cos when the sun goes down at the mo the temperature seems to drop about 5 deg :-). There are a couple of photos below, but also more on Flickr.
We have many plans for doing more walking in 2009 as well...
Me and frost - Hassocks to Upper Beeding, Dec 2008
Me and frost - Hassocks to Upper Beeding, Dec 2008
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Top of the first hill...
Julia with the valley below - Hassocks to Upper Beeding, Dec 2008
Julia with the valley below - Hassocks to Upper Beeding, Dec 2008
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Working our way up to the top of Devils Dyke - and lunch!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Cold War Modern
I took myself off to this exhibition on Monday - it was a bit of a marathon effort to get there as there were problems on the trains, but I've got a list of things to get done before I go back to work on the 5th so I persevered!
As I was by myself I got an audio guide as well - it was the first time I used my Art Fund membership (which gives me half price entrance to loads of different galleries and exhibitions) so I was quite pleased to start to save money immediately.
It was a really interesting exhibition, although by the end of the 7th room I was flagging somewhat it has to be said... The first half was fascinating - seeing how the East and West were competing each other through their designs as well - and how much that influenced the stuff that we still use today. When it got more in to the art and the paintings at the end it wasn't quite as interesting for me.
Well worth the effort though!
As I was by myself I got an audio guide as well - it was the first time I used my Art Fund membership (which gives me half price entrance to loads of different galleries and exhibitions) so I was quite pleased to start to save money immediately.
It was a really interesting exhibition, although by the end of the 7th room I was flagging somewhat it has to be said... The first half was fascinating - seeing how the East and West were competing each other through their designs as well - and how much that influenced the stuff that we still use today. When it got more in to the art and the paintings at the end it wasn't quite as interesting for me.
Well worth the effort though!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
Chris had to work on Christmas Day so Maya and I had a very lazy day, watching tv and prepping the veges for the dinner. It was quite strange to have to wait until the evening to eat and open the presents, but once Chris got back he could finally relax and we could start our Christmas proper.
I had struggled to get into the Xmas spirit this year, and didn't have any decorations up, but Maya wasn't having any of it, and bought me a lovely wee Xmas tree which is lit up with pink lights - it is so pretty, and did help the Xmas spirit!
Yet again Chris cooked a delicious chicken, and I was really quite spoilt giftwise by the pair of them. I'm particularly looking forward to trying out my new bottle of whisky - The Peat Monster! From the tasting notes it looks like it will be just what I like!
We had planned to go ice skating on Boxing Day, but we decided not to do it - Chris was knackered from the long hours he'd been putting in, so we decided just to amble along the Thames path to Kingston and go for a drink. A much nicer and less strenuous way to spend the late afternoon :-).
I had struggled to get into the Xmas spirit this year, and didn't have any decorations up, but Maya wasn't having any of it, and bought me a lovely wee Xmas tree which is lit up with pink lights - it is so pretty, and did help the Xmas spirit!
Yet again Chris cooked a delicious chicken, and I was really quite spoilt giftwise by the pair of them. I'm particularly looking forward to trying out my new bottle of whisky - The Peat Monster! From the tasting notes it looks like it will be just what I like!
We had planned to go ice skating on Boxing Day, but we decided not to do it - Chris was knackered from the long hours he'd been putting in, so we decided just to amble along the Thames path to Kingston and go for a drink. A much nicer and less strenuous way to spend the late afternoon :-).
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Pre-xmas panic...
I only did a half day at work on the 24th and Maya came round about 4ish. We then headed off to the supermarket to do all the last minute shopping that needed to be done. One supermarket down, with most of what we needed (except for custard and potatoes) we headed off to the other one to finish our list.
Shock horror! It was closed!! Slight panic set in as we had no custard for the trifle, and still had no potatoes for the dinner! Fortunately M&S came to the rescue with the right type of spuds (King Edward) and also custard :-).
So crisis averted we headed home, safe in the knowledge that our dinner was safe!
Shock horror! It was closed!! Slight panic set in as we had no custard for the trifle, and still had no potatoes for the dinner! Fortunately M&S came to the rescue with the right type of spuds (King Edward) and also custard :-).
So crisis averted we headed home, safe in the knowledge that our dinner was safe!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The amazing 'War Horse'
I went to see War Horse with a friend from work. I didn't really know much about it but Alex had heard a lot of good things, so we decided to treat ourselves as a Xmas present.
Absolutely amazing! Its adapted from a childrens story about a boy's journey to find his horse on the battlefields of WWI and it was done so well. The horses were done by a puppet company - but they were big enough that the actors could sit on them and 'ride' them around the stage. It was just so well done. We were completely entranced - I forgot I was seeing horses that were puppets and just felt like I was watching real horses. Brilliant. The story was great as well - dealt with the futility of war so well, without over-egging it.
And I cried at the end :-).
Absolutely amazing! Its adapted from a childrens story about a boy's journey to find his horse on the battlefields of WWI and it was done so well. The horses were done by a puppet company - but they were big enough that the actors could sit on them and 'ride' them around the stage. It was just so well done. We were completely entranced - I forgot I was seeing horses that were puppets and just felt like I was watching real horses. Brilliant. The story was great as well - dealt with the futility of war so well, without over-egging it.
And I cried at the end :-).
Saturday, December 06, 2008
No scary dogs - and a bit of craft
Saturday was the 3rd section of our London Loop endeavour - this time from Jubilee Country Park to West Wickham Common, and after seeing the hell hound last time we were all a bit nervous! But aside from much mud, we didn't see any exciting animals, although we did see many other lovely dogs which kept Nicola happy (being our resident dog lover).
We passed the memorial to the abolishment of slavery - where William Wilberforce discussed the subject for the first time with the PM George Pitt.
Afterwards we went to Craftacular - the first time it was held in the UK. I think we all thought it would be a bit bigger than it was, but I did buy a nice wee new brooch and have found a great new tapestry project to stitch - once I finish all my other projects of course!
We passed the memorial to the abolishment of slavery - where William Wilberforce discussed the subject for the first time with the PM George Pitt.
Afterwards we went to Craftacular - the first time it was held in the UK. I think we all thought it would be a bit bigger than it was, but I did buy a nice wee new brooch and have found a great new tapestry project to stitch - once I finish all my other projects of course!
Nicola, Mhairi and me by the Wilberforce bench
Nicola, Mhairi and me by the Wilberforce bench
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Behind us is the memorial bench for the abolishment of slavery.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
The Hours
On Dec 2nd I went to see The Hours again with Divya. They played at a great venue - Proud Galleries in Camden - and they were fantastic (again). The venue was a converted horse hospital so the band played in the front half, while in the back all the old stables have been converted into little booths for hanging out and looking cool in. Which Divya and I did our utmost to do - but we're not really very cool so I don't think it worked too well!
We did see Ronnie Wood however - with his new young Russian girlfriend... Not a bad star spot we thought!
We did see Ronnie Wood however - with his new young Russian girlfriend... Not a bad star spot we thought!
Monday, December 01, 2008
Me - a rugby head?
Well I don't think I quite qualify as one, but I do enjoy getting into the game when I get a free ticket!
Saturday was great fun - we had great seats at the back of the middle tier in the East Stand - looking side on to the goal posts in the NZ half for the second half - so perfect views to watch the tries go over! The only way we could tell if Dan Carter had managed to get the ball over properly however was whether the English fans cheered loudly or not! The singing of 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' during the haka was amazing, and every now and then the crowd would start up again to try and get the England team engaged in the game. Obviously though that didn't work! Luckily for England Dan was so off form, otherwise the final score would have been even worse.
After the rugby it was straight round to Simon's place to put up a couple of banners and blow up some balloons, and then help him celebrate his birthday. Not quite the over top affair of last year but that combined with the day at the rugby did mean that Sunday was very quiet as I let my body recover... :-).
Saturday was great fun - we had great seats at the back of the middle tier in the East Stand - looking side on to the goal posts in the NZ half for the second half - so perfect views to watch the tries go over! The only way we could tell if Dan Carter had managed to get the ball over properly however was whether the English fans cheered loudly or not! The singing of 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' during the haka was amazing, and every now and then the crowd would start up again to try and get the England team engaged in the game. Obviously though that didn't work! Luckily for England Dan was so off form, otherwise the final score would have been even worse.
After the rugby it was straight round to Simon's place to put up a couple of banners and blow up some balloons, and then help him celebrate his birthday. Not quite the over top affair of last year but that combined with the day at the rugby did mean that Sunday was very quiet as I let my body recover... :-).
Birthday boy and the cake
Birthday boy and the cake
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Simon cutting the highly delish cake baked by Mhairi... not quite as lovely as the one she made for me, but it was pretty good!
Waiting for England to come out
Waiting for England to come out
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Just before England came out - to a deafening roar!
All Blacks clapping the crowd
All Blacks clapping the crowd
Originally uploaded by Megan Shields.
Taken at the end of the game, as the All Blacks clapped the remaining supporters.
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