Anti-Zuma march - 8 April 2017 - London version

I just noticed the date on this post - more than 2 months ago!  I really need to catch up as there will be quite a lot happening later in the year.

This whole saga with Jacob Zuma just seems to go on and on.  Quite recently I read a newspaper article by Melanie Verwoerd http://www.news24.com/Columnists/MelanieVerwoerd/could-zuma-be-planning-an-ambush-20170531 - which engages the psychology behind the man - really interesting if you're interested. He manages to hold on to power despite onslaught from all directions.

In April there was a call for South Africans in the UK to protest outside South Africa House. We heeded the call. On a lovely sunny spring day I headed into London and met up with Dayne and Tessa.

South Africa House, on the east side of Trafalgar Square, is accustomed to protest. For four years in the late 1980's there was a continous protest outside the embassy - 1408 days - calling for the downfall of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela. In this spirit, Saffas came out to protest what is happening in their beloved land. The bokkie has seen it all.

 As has Nelson ...

 

There was a good turnout of around a couple of hundred people. You could be forgiven for thinking it was a social meetup of expats - which it was - but everyone was there for the same reason - to register their frustration at Jacob Zuma's continued abuse of South Africa. We may all live on the other side of the world, but at heart, are all still South African. Lots of laughter and singing and some very funny signs with a serious message.

It was so good to spend time with family and members of a wider family.

Tate Britain 2 April 2017

Kate & Kean left at the end of March and we all got back to our daily lives. It was a good holiday. Just as I was getting used to being around people outside of work, I was left to my own devices. What to do?

London is always a fallback position for me - there is such a lot going on all the time, just pick something. I love it - exhausting, but also exhilarating.

Tate Modern - actually it was supposed to be Tate Britain but I wasn't really paying attention so I ended up at the Tate Modern first, before realising that the Hockney exhibition was on the other side of the river (and a fair distance away), but, no worries - how British is that statement?

Lunchtime view

Then a quick look around. There is a lot to see in the new building. I'll have to come back.

And the stark reminder that I was in the wrong place! The tickets are timed so it was a matter of calculating how long I had, how long it was going to take to get there and then fitting in as much as I could in the time left over.

This exhibition looked of particular interest but I only had time for a quick look-see.

I'm still not sure what was going on outside with all the smoke and water vapour, could be fun on a hot day.

Then hop on and off 2 buses, a short walk and Bob's your uncle!

Of course, no photographs, but it was an excellent exhibition. Ann & I had been to see the Hockney Portraits exhibition at the Royal Academy last year which was great, but there was a lot more of his work on view here.  I'm a big fan.

This is definitely one of the huge positives of living here, the privilege of seeing original art.  Even if you aren't the hugest fan, just the fact that you can see and experience the work enhances your own view of the world.

 

Now, isn't this fabulous? To me it's reminiscent of making shapes with sparklers. Quite magical - this light installation is by Cerith Wyn Evans and consists of 2km of neon lighting suspended from the ceiling. 

Good cake ...

This is my first time here at Tate Britain so the building was of as much interest as the artworks.

It has a lovely open, spacious feel about it, quite different from the Tate Modern which is quite brutally industrial.

Tate Britain has the largest collection of works by Turner. They are so full of light, quite different from a lot of the old masters. 

I felt like I'd walked all over London and my feet were hurting so I just glimpsed into galleries and made my way out into the sunshine.

This part of London is new to me and there is quite a lot of interesting street art.

I was very happy to find the bus direct to Paddington, but there's lots more to explore here. I'll be back!

Family Holiday March 2017 - Lost Gardens of Heligan 28.3.2017

A lot happened during this holiday, and work has been insanely busy since then, which is why I'm still doing blog posts in June! I hope you're all still there?

So just one day left and The Lost Gardens of Heligan was our destination.

 
Some background - the 200 acre Heligan Estate has been owned by the Tremayne Family for 400 years from the mid 18th century. During the First World War at least nine of the outdoor staff went off to join up and never returned. The surviving Tremayne - Jack, deeply traumatised, rented out the house and effectively abandoned the gardens to nature, but never sold the property, so it was in a state of hibernation for many decades. In 1990 a descendent of the family introduced Tim Smit - later to be knighted and founder of the Eden Project - to the gardens. An archaeologist by training, he recognised the hidden structures and what you see now is the result.

Probably not this fellow though. Someone has a sense of humour.

The shenanigans just do not stop ...

It was a pretty grey and chilly day. Spring still just a rumour, but here and there are signs of buds and new growth. Espalier fruit trees, I'd like to see these in a month's time.

 

No guessing what 'thunderbox' means.

This must have been freezing in winter, thankfully there are more modern facilities available. I do wonder though why they found it necessary to put chicken mesh over the hole?

Most pristine garden shed I think I've ever seen!

You can't improve on a good design.

Brightness in a grey day. Thank goodness for green houses.

Daffodil season. There was an exhibition of different varieties of daffodils - who knew there were so many?

We decided that these look like the inside of chocolate marshmallow easter eggs.

Even drains are embellished.

Heligan's Home Farm has many rare and Heritage breeds - sheep, pigs, poultry, cattle, horses. There are even 2 Emu - Queenie and Edmund. We could only see them through mesh and none of the photos showed more than a shadow in the background. They were in quarantine to protect them from a disease doing the rounds.

 

Happy bees...

Into the Jungle. Yes, a genuine jungle in Cornwall!

   

And a Lost Valley, with a Burma rope bridge.  It wasn't very far off the ground, but you got the idea. Some gritting of teeth was happening here.

Into the woodland, with fields of more daffodils and beautiful hyacinths.

Meet my sons-in-law, Kean and Matt. Each perfect for the relevant daughter. How lucky is that?

 

 

Now this is when things got crazy. I don't know how it even started, but the progression of photographs shows the craziness. It all started quite calmly.

 

And quite quickly the situation deteriorated.

 

 

Makes me laugh everytime I look through them. Matt was laughing so hard, he just couldn't any more.

  

Never a dull moment.

The Mud Maid of Heligan.

Then, because we were already in that part of the country, we headed off to Bodmin Jail. I found this such a strange place, parts were ridiculously dramatic with awful dummys and props, but other parts were really eerie. It was quite interesting, but I was glad to get out of there.

Selfie with props..

Time to head home and a very welcome glass of wine!