take the train...........

I am at the stage where I am finalising my summer jaunt to the Continent. That sounds ever so sophisticated, doesn't it?

As many of you will know I just can't do the 'silver bird' bit.
I used to fly a lot but have developed this irrational fear of flying in a weighty cigar tube with wings which hurtles at some speed high above the earth eeeeewww!!

Any way this doesn't stop me from going places and this summer I am off to Madrid. & you know I just can't wait, I love that city.
The journey is by train . Manchester - London Euston, London Euston to St. Pancras, St. Pancras - Paris. I have 5 hours in Paris (fabulous, another favourite city), then Paris - Madrid on the train hotel through the night.
I have booked a first class single compartment and am looking forward to capturing the night scenes as the train rattles through stations in France and Spain. Another joy is watching the sun come up and it showing me parts of the world I have never seen before ... I am so excited.

The plan is to do a travellers sketch book of the whole journey/adventure through photographs, sketches and random momentos picked up en route.

As I am thinking about the sketch book it reminded me that I once attended a class about 'Travellers Sketchbooks' taught by my great friend and (silent ish) partner in crime on this blog - Sunny.
I have known Sunny for far too many years than we care to remember but I had never seen her teach. This will embarrass her now, but she was phenomenal, I was in awe of her teaching technique and knowledge of artistic application... I am not saying this just because she is my friend I am saying this because she IS very good!

I took small bag of photos and momentos, to the class I had gathered on a business trip to Athens and transformed them into these .....






Great fun!!

i must, i must, i must...........

It is a dream come true. It is remarkable & in my home city too.

Today a special exhibition opened at one of my favourite galleries the Tate Modern.

The first comprehensive exhibition in the UK of the works of

Gustav Klimt

I have loved his work for as long as I can remember.

My father bought 5 hard backed books in the mid - late 60s that showed the different eras of art: Landmarks of the World's Art. (surfing the net I see there was one I am missing... Medieval World)
These books got me hooked on art, I would flick though them for hours on end as a child (& giggle with embarrassment at the naked people)... 40 years on they still have 'that' magic (minus the embarrassment).
Prehistoric and Primitive Man

The Classical World

The Age of Baroque

Man and The Renaissance

Then in the Modern World ... Gustav Klimt - The Kiss1911


Need I say more except I will, I must get myself over to the Tate and feast on the treasures it will reveal.

Big hairdo's in the land of the Scouser

Johnathon Swift as we know was from Aint'ree.
He was used to the swirling desolute winds that blew from the salty Mersey and he composed a ditty called 'Gulliver Unravels', which orginally, is what these photographs from out learned friend, show. To stay intact in this city of culture what must have a decent barnet. If you want to get ahead get a hat, is a familiar phrase, but in Liverpool, this translates as, get a big hairdo that doesn't crumble under the windy sway from the River Merciful.

simply streets ahead.........

I have had a fabulous day in my home city today.
As part of the city of culture celebrations Liverpool held the Streets Ahead Festival .
It is an elective mix of entertainment .... live shop mannequins, Angels on wheelie things, balancing acts, street hop, art and huge talent from around the world.
I was able to collect many images of the day. But what filled my heart was the sound of laughter I heard regularly and folk talking to one another which simply doesn't happen in day to day life... an intense feeling of everyone around me just simply enjoying themselves and smiling.

This act was the first thing I came across.... from Catalonia, Spain ' Osadia' the most talented artists using us humans as their canvas, transforming ordinary folk into works of art with weird hair do's. I was soooo hoping to be picked but sadly it was not the case.






Then as we strolled around we kept seeing the works of art. I wonder how they slept tonight with all that wire in their hair???

peony pleasure....

My peony is out. What a fabulous vibrant flower.
Unfortunately that means just one thing............ we are in for some harsh weather.
For the whole length of time that I have inherited this beautiful plant in the garden, which I must say it is so persistent to show me what is about, (it has been dug up when new fencing was put in and replanted) it is always hard wind and rain that follows its bloom!


My advice to this flower is 'don't bother to bloom.... because as I type the rain has started battering down'

sunday by the dock........

Yesterday I visited my birth city ... Liverpool
The weather wasn't that great but at least it didn't rain!

I had my camera and took some 'snaps'. Interestingly I had totally forgotten about/never used this photo programme I had bought/acquired/downloaded called PhotoImpression some time ago .

I know for many folk there is Photoshop (my computers memory just isn't big enough to take it) and many other delights that are far more advanced on the market but this has had the 'wow' factor with me. I have had so much fun.

Welcome to the Albert Dock ... a subtle but intersting change from photo to painting

The Beatles Story .. I liked this as it was

The dock depth

s

I do like this one as the second one shows how many lines there are in architecture .. new and old

a Customs Cutter


Interesting difference





This has to be my favourite by far

walk, click, walk .........

I have described on here a few of my walking routes to the office and yesterday I chose route 3.
This is my favourite route in so I decided it was time I took a few photos, but with a difference.
The challenge was to strap the camera to my right hand, not to stop walking and 'randomly' point & click as I went along.
It was great fun -ipod in, sun shining, camera in my hand what more could I ask for?
I was amazed how well they turned out too. :-)

The pictures have only either been resized or cropped out where I see an interesting bit ..... enjoy.

The way to work>>>>>>


Castlefield and part of the Science Museum
My favourite blue post box & the Ox

SpinningFields and Manchester Civil Court of Justice

& on my way home>>>>>

at the end of this street is where they film Coronation Street. There are always folk hanging about to get a glimpse of the characters (a bit sad!!)

& into the train station

You should try this, it is great fun and don't look at what you have taken until you down load....... them