March Photo a Day Challenge: Day 1 - Up

I've been following Little Green Shed's progress in Fatmumslim's February Photo a Day Challenge and have decided to give it a go myself in March.

This is the ceiling of our local swimming pool.  It's an old Victorian baths and, although in need of repair, retains its original charm, which I prefer to a sleek shiny leisure centre.  And I'm not the only one.  It has featured in recent episodes of Sherlock Holmes and The Inside Men.

There are current plans to renovate the pool, including exposing the original windows to allow the pool to be bathed in daylight.

Ash Wednesday

So, the party's over and the season of penitence has begun!

This year I've decided to give up eating meat (specifically red meat and chicken, as I'll continue to eat fish a couple of times a week).  I don't see the value in depriving oneself of something just for the sake of it, so  I've chosen meat because I believe that I probably eat more meat than is good for either me or the planet.  The concession to fish is mainly to accommodate my younger daughter who is fairly horrified at the thought of having to eat nothing but vegetables for 40 days.  I shall also make sure that there is a selection of sausages, chicken, fish fingers etc for her to supplement the veggie dishes.  It is, after all, my fast, not hers.

I also think it's helpful to do something positive to complement the negative, to take up alongside the giving up.  So I'll be reading chapter a day of  Lent for Everyone - Mark by Tom Wright.

This hasn't been a particularly easy day to begin, a busy one, not ending until almost eight.  My daughter was eating leftover chilli with a baked potato, which I couldn't share.  So I took advantage of a £1 deal on a carton of New Covent Garden leek and potato soup, which wasn't nearly as good as my own but was quick and filling.

I shall read my first chapter before bed tonight.

Infinitas Gracias

On the recommendation of my younger daughter's art teacher, we took a coach up to London yesterday to visit three of its lesser known museums housing 'collections'.  The first was Sir John Soane's house in Lincoln's Inn Fields, the second the Hunterian just across the square and the third the Wellcome collection on Euston Road.  Three fascinating collections of classical art, natural specimens, medical equipment, and art inspired by the human body.  If you haven't seen them and are ever given the opportunity to do so, then I highly recommend all or any of them.

The highlight for me was the Infinitas Gracias exhibition at the Wellcome, featuring over 100 Mexican votive images.  These are specially commissioned pieces of art, painted on tin roof tiles or plaques, offered to a saint as a sign of gratitude for a miracle.  The votives date from the 18th century to the present day and commemorate the answer to prayer in a variety of situations from ill health, to sexual infertility, to operations, to accidents, to criminal incidents, to sickness or loss of animals, to natural disasters, to revolutionary acts - a unique insight into the life of ordinary Mexican people and the faith that has enabled them to deal with its trials and tribulations.  The paintings vary from childlike pictures to sophisticated scenes but are all bold and brightly coloured, featuring characteristic depictions of the saints and a written description of the events along with their names and dates.  There were also audio visual interviews with some of the people involved, including the delightful Maria Isabel Cuellar who recalled her failure to cook a decent tortilla as a child.  In despair she prayed to Senor de Villaseca who eventually rewarded her faith, whereupon she presented him with her first successful tortilla as a votive offering.  As someone who has tried and failed, on several occasions, to make a passable mayonnaise, she had my sympathies. 

I found the simple faith portrayed by these poor Mexicans deeply moving, as was their compulsion to give thanks.  The website offers the opportunity to commission your own 'ex voto' and it has got me thinking of what I might like to give thanks for and how I would illustrate it.  I wonder ...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Classical Gas

It's been a long time since I last sang in a classical choir.  Not since I was at school and university.  Highlights of my 'singing career' include Zadok the Priest with Leith Academy in the Usher Hall and Mozart's Requiem with Edinburgh University in Dunblane Cathedral.

My dad was brought up in a Scottish Episcopal church where he was a choir boy.  He, and my Mum,  sang in the Pune Choral Society so that, despite being brought up in India, I was exposed to European choral music from an early age.

A few years ago, after having spent a long time on the waiting list, I joined the Gasworks Choir.  It's an 'acappella choir' (Italian for 'in the manner of the church' ie unaccompanied, as opposed to 'cantata' which is accompanied).  I initially found it quite scary to have to sing without music, but I soon got the hang of it and have thoroughly enjoyed singing a wide variety of different genres.

However part of me still yearned for the choral singing of my youth and so I was delighted when Dee announced that she was going to start a Classical Gas choir.  After two workshops to brush up my rusty sight singing skills I attended the first practice this morning.  We started with three pieces by Byrd, Vivaldi and Lauridsen, each completely different yet equally beautiful pieces of music.  They're not easy and will require a great deal of practice at home if I'm to master them but I'm relishing the challenge because I'm certain it will repay me many times over.

An added bonus is that we will performing our pieces in the inspiring setting of St James Priory, a former Benedictine priory and the oldest building in Bristol.  It promises to be a night to remember.  

2011 - A Review

Here goes ...

January
Caught the train up to London to see the Gaugin exhibition at Tate Modern and meet up with an old friend and her daughter.  There was the customary visit to Wagamamas!
Took part in No Impact Week to assess my consumption of natural resources and the damage I'm doing to the environment.  A useful exercise with which to begin the New Year. 

February
Attended a college friend's 50th birthday party in Horley.  Drove through with another friend, got horribly lost, arrived late but nevertheless spent a lot of time laughing.

March
Finally lost the campaign to prevent Sainsburys building the largest superstore in the southwest on the Bristol City football ground.  Realised the Labour Party no longer reflects my vision of a socialist society, renounced my membership of 20+ years and joined the Green Party. Also vowed to try never to darken the door of the Big Four ever again.

April
Went to my first pop up restaurant - All Things Pig at St Aldhelm's Church where we did eat practically everything except the oink!
Was back in London to see the Elgin Marbles for my daughter's A level course where we also took in a visit to the V&A and, you've guessed it, Wagamamas!
Walked from Freshford to Bradford on Avon with a couple of friends to avoid 'The Wedding'!  With the exception of a brief glimpse of proceedings while ordering our pub lunch at the Cross Guns in Avoncliff, we succeeded.

May
Joined the Greville Smythe Bowling Club and played our first match.
Knitted a flowery liana to wind round a bench on North Street as part of the Southbank Arts Trail.
Sang with the Gasworks Choir in St George's.

June
Had a basal cell carcinoma successfully removed from the bridge of my nose under local anaesthetic.
Heard my hero Peter Owen-Jones speaking at St Stephen's Church.

July
Sang for Water along with several hundred other singers at the Lloyd's Amphitheatre and then went for a sail around the harbour on The Matthew when we serenaded the unsuspecting public with an impromptu rendition of our repertoire.
Went to my second pop up restaurant - All Things Italian at St Aldhelm's again, where we were entertained by opera singers.
Helped to mosaic a bench in a local park.

August
Joined group of knitters/crocheters at Paper Village and started a number of projects.  I've even managed to finish a couple of them.
Went on holiday in Porec, Croatia, with my family and my younger daughter's friend and enjoyed the luxury of not having to shop, cook or wash up for a whole week.
Crocheted a budgie, Bojan, for the Bert and Bessie's Budgie Banter project.

September
Apart from returning to work under a new Headteacher I can't remember anything of any significance this month.

October
Won a prize for my North Street yarnbombing collage at the Best of Bedminster Show.
Helped yarnbomb Gaol Ferry Bridge and hopefully brightened up the journey into town for a number of pedestrians.
Accompanied Eilidh to art college open days at Falmouth and Glasgow.

November
Sang excerpts from the Messiah with the Bristol Choral Society in the Colston Hall.
Went on strike to protect my pension.

December
Started swimming once a week with a friend.
Sang with the Gasworks choir in St George's and attempted my first advanced song - a 14th century French madrigal.  A scary ride but very rewarding.
Spent my first Christmas by the seaside, at St Ives.  Walked across deserted beaches, quaffed mulled cider in the Sloop, was almost blown of my feet on the Island, feasted on mulled wine and mince pies as the tide came in on Porthgwidden beach, watched dolphins feeding off Porthmeor beach, was out early enough to catch the first surfers riding the waves and spent hours knitting and looking out over the harbour.

That's it folks.

Happy 2012!

A Cornish Christmas

We're just back from St Ives where we spent Christmas this year.  We haven't been away from home for Christmas since my elder daughter (now 19) was a year old.  Our families lived in Scotland and the prospect of lugging cases full of warm clothing and Christmas presents on and off crowded trains never appealed.  However, now that they are older and able to cope with pared down celebrations, we decided to get away from it all in one of our favourite places in the whole wide world.

The memories I will treasure for many years to come include:

• standing on the Island with arms stretched out being buffeted by gale force winds
• downing mugs of mulled cider in the Sloop before proceeding to ...
• midnight mass at St Ia's church by the harbour with all the candles and incense I could desire
• Iona writing Merry Xmas in the sand
• sipping mulled wine and eating Mrs Ferrell's mince pies while sun went down and the tide came in on Porthgwidden beach
• watching a pod of dolphins feeding off Porthmeor beach
• dunking biscotti in my early morning cuppa at Carrick Du and watching surfers ride the waves
• knitting by the window looking out on this view ...