day job
Edinburgh mini break
7 March 2018
Only it wasn't - a mini break, I mean.
It was a work trip - I was there with the day job.
And it was a bit of a flying visit - not a lot of time for anything much other than day job stuff.
It has been quite a few years since my last visit to Edinburgh.
I travelled up by train - very civilised and beautiful views as we passed through the Borders.
I arrived at Waverley Station - that had had a bit of a face lift since my last visit (which, let's face it, was a while ago!)
If you are interested, it was called Eden Locke. I booked it without really knowing what it was - I got a late deal and really only chose it for the location.
The second day I had two business meetings. But, there was a bit of time between them. So I took the opportunity to explore an old haunt - The Grassmarket. This is a historic space, used for centuries as a location for horse and cattle markets and also, rather gruesomely, public hangings. It nestles under the Castle and is easily, if precipitously, accessed from The Royal Mile.
As a teenager, I lived at Stirling. I would take the train into Edinburgh and explore the alleys and tenements off the Royal Mile. That is how I discovered The Grassmarket and the stunningly picturesque West Box and Victoria Street that lead off it.
I remember it being quite 'alternative' - a lingering waft of joss sticks and a bit hippy.
I must admit I was prepared to be disappointed and for Costa Coffees and Starbucks to be prevalent - but I was presently surprised. The joss sticks may be be burnt out, but it was still full of quirky, independent shops.
And Edinburgh was as I remembered it - full of steps.
It was a work trip - I was there with the day job.
And it was a bit of a flying visit - not a lot of time for anything much other than day job stuff.
It has been quite a few years since my last visit to Edinburgh.
I travelled up by train - very civilised and beautiful views as we passed through the Borders.
I arrived at Waverley Station - that had had a bit of a face lift since my last visit (which, let's face it, was a while ago!)
Waverley Station is right in the middle of Edinburgh. Princes Street is on your right as you exit, and the Castle and Royal Mile are on your left.
But I had to turn round and get onto a local train out to Edinburgh Park station - because my first meeting was out of the city.
And it was there (not right outside the station but in the business park adjacent to the station) that I came across this stunning sculpture.
I later discovered that this piece is by Sir Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi - a Scottish sculptor and artist, though clearly of Italian heritage.
I am not really familiar with Paolozzi, but it seems he was born in Leith, a part of Edinburgh, so was a real local.
I discovered this is called 'The Wealth of Nations'.
On the sculpture is the following Einstein quote:
"Knowledge is wonderful, but imagination is even better."
There was only enough time to photograph the piece, and I did not get the chance to explore it from all angles. I had a meeting to attend.
Back to central Edinburgh - I was staying in a hotel just off Princes Street. And as I was wandering around trying to find the hotel (note to self - don't rely on just the post code! Use the address!) I wandered past the Oxford Bar. It was getting late, photo opportunities were limited and I was on a mission, so if you squint you can make out the sign in this photo.
But it exists! And that was a surprise to me.
Now, you will be wondering why I am mentioning a rather unassuming little drinking hole tucked down a small lane behind Princes Street. But if you are familiar with John Rebus, the detective at the centre of the Inspector Rebus series of novels by Scottish writer Ian Rankin, then you will have heard of the Oxford Bar. I had just assumed, like Rebus himself, that the Oxford Bar was a fiction.
But I did not stop and investigate.
Instead, I had to find my hotel room - which turned out to be a rather lovely and well appointed little self catering apartment. That was a bit of a surprise. And ideal for a longer stay. But I was only in Edinburgh for one night.
The second day I had two business meetings. But, there was a bit of time between them. So I took the opportunity to explore an old haunt - The Grassmarket. This is a historic space, used for centuries as a location for horse and cattle markets and also, rather gruesomely, public hangings. It nestles under the Castle and is easily, if precipitously, accessed from The Royal Mile.
As a teenager, I lived at Stirling. I would take the train into Edinburgh and explore the alleys and tenements off the Royal Mile. That is how I discovered The Grassmarket and the stunningly picturesque West Box and Victoria Street that lead off it.
I remember it being quite 'alternative' - a lingering waft of joss sticks and a bit hippy.
I must admit I was prepared to be disappointed and for Costa Coffees and Starbucks to be prevalent - but I was presently surprised. The joss sticks may be be burnt out, but it was still full of quirky, independent shops.
And Edinburgh was as I remembered it - full of steps.
It was a flying visit and has whetted my appetite for more - I must return.
And to top it off, when I was sitting with other passengers waiting for the train home from we were treated to a wonderful, impromptu piano concert.
A little road trip
5 November 2017
Hello dear reader
I am pleased to report that after a pretty grim summer on the personal front (I referred to it here and here) yet very full on with two Open Studios, I think I may have got my mojo back.
Now, there's a reason to Wikipedia in itself. First of all, so many meanings. Second of all, voodoo talisman!
Well, whatever, mine seems to be back.
And not before time, let me tell you, as I committed to not one but two pre-Christmas sales.
Why the fuss, I hear you cry. That's fantastic news. Get a grip woman!
Well, I know - but let me just remind you about 'the day job'.
I love the day job. It is so rewarding. But it does somewhat restrict my time in my workroom. As a consequence I am being very disciplined. In from work, out with the hound, quick supper and then back to that sewing machine (which desperately needs a service, by the way. Stitching through paper and glue is taking its toll).
But while we are on the day job, I should just mention that this October I had to go on a little road trip. And what a joy it was.
First stop, Durham. I had to do a presentation a Tuesday morning so travelled up the night before. I found this fabulous little hotel. I did not take photos when I was there, principally because the daylight was so bad and I am not geared up, but have a look at the picture gallery here to get the gist.
But when I finished my little gig I took the opportunity to stroll around Durham. And wow! What a gem! How come I had never been before?
That door knocker, higher up on this post, is on the door of the cathedral. Apparently if you were on the run you could seek sanctuary at the cathedral if you knocked on this door. I am not sure if this is the original knocker (in fact it can't be) but it is a thing of wonder on the main entrance.
Now, if you know your medieval architecture you will also see why Durham cathedral is so amazing.
It's Norman!
I was gobsmacked. Most cathedrals here in Blighty are later - Perpendicular, Decorated or Early English or frankly a bit of everything. But we don't have so much Norman (also known as Romanesque). But the scale of Durham took my breath away. It reminded me so much of Caen Cathedral in Normandy, France.
There wasn't much time to explore the town. It was grey and grim but I did note the river and I had a fabulous short but wooded walk up to the cathedral from the river. (Oh, and i did a bit of shopping. New winter coat. Bright blue!)
\
Even my old school has changed. Well, it was a dump. A shockingly bad building in my day and I don't think it was much more than 10 years old when I was there. I suspect by the end it had a bucket in every room to catch the drips!
It has been knocked down - and moved! New location and just look at that lovely building. It is a sports academy now and looks very inviting.
I am pleased to report that after a pretty grim summer on the personal front (I referred to it here and here) yet very full on with two Open Studios, I think I may have got my mojo back.
Now, there's a reason to Wikipedia in itself. First of all, so many meanings. Second of all, voodoo talisman!
Well, whatever, mine seems to be back.
And not before time, let me tell you, as I committed to not one but two pre-Christmas sales.
Why the fuss, I hear you cry. That's fantastic news. Get a grip woman!
I love the day job. It is so rewarding. But it does somewhat restrict my time in my workroom. As a consequence I am being very disciplined. In from work, out with the hound, quick supper and then back to that sewing machine (which desperately needs a service, by the way. Stitching through paper and glue is taking its toll).
But while we are on the day job, I should just mention that this October I had to go on a little road trip. And what a joy it was.
First stop, Durham. I had to do a presentation a Tuesday morning so travelled up the night before. I found this fabulous little hotel. I did not take photos when I was there, principally because the daylight was so bad and I am not geared up, but have a look at the picture gallery here to get the gist.
But when I finished my little gig I took the opportunity to stroll around Durham. And wow! What a gem! How come I had never been before?
That door knocker, higher up on this post, is on the door of the cathedral. Apparently if you were on the run you could seek sanctuary at the cathedral if you knocked on this door. I am not sure if this is the original knocker (in fact it can't be) but it is a thing of wonder on the main entrance.
Now, if you know your medieval architecture you will also see why Durham cathedral is so amazing.
It's Norman!
I was gobsmacked. Most cathedrals here in Blighty are later - Perpendicular, Decorated or Early English or frankly a bit of everything. But we don't have so much Norman (also known as Romanesque). But the scale of Durham took my breath away. It reminded me so much of Caen Cathedral in Normandy, France.
There wasn't much time to explore the town. It was grey and grim but I did note the river and I had a fabulous short but wooded walk up to the cathedral from the river. (Oh, and i did a bit of shopping. New winter coat. Bright blue!)
And I decided this was definitely somewhere to come back to. Just look at those houses with their view across to the cathedral (which is where I took this photo).
\
And then it was back in the car and a drive up to Scotland. To Stirling to be precise.
Now I used to know Stirling very well. I lived there as a teenager, so this was a trip down memory lane.
Stirling is a wonderful, historic town. There is Stirling Castle, The Wallace Monument, and the site of the battle of Bannockburn. In fact, Stirling is a historian's dream town. But no time to do all of that - you need a week - and anyway years ago I did the tourist thing.
Another gig and then time to explore my old haunts.
We lived just outside Stirling in Bridge of Allan. And I walked up to our old house.
It perches on a very steep plot on the last row of houses as you go up the hill from Bridge of Allan's main street, Henderson Street. Next to and behind the house are woods and then it is the Ochills. We used to get deer in the garden. I rather naughtily went up the back steps to our old kitchen door. They had not changed. The house though, is now flats.
When I lived in the area in the mid to late 1970s Stirling and Bridge of Allan were very different places. Stirling in particular seems a much smarter town than it was then. It feels much more affluent.
And the landscape south of the town has changed. It used to be on the edge of the Scottish coal mine area but, of course, that has all gone. The pit wheel at Fallin - a mining village in my day - has long gone. In fact Fallin looks rather desirable now.
It has been knocked down - and moved! New location and just look at that lovely building. It is a sports academy now and looks very inviting.
I was away for three days. It was tiring - a long drive ( 6 hours back from Stirling - but I guess nothing to you folk in the USA or Australia with some of your road trips).
But it felt a bit like a mini break. I loved it.
And now, back to the studio.
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