There has been a short intermission since I stared this post. Computer threw a hissy fit when I was perparing it.  I will publish as was and finish it later.
Yesterday was a hastily arranged visit to the  "Bronze" exhibition at the Royal Academy. How is it you know for ages that am exhibition is coming, has opened and then ....oh! it closes on Saturday! It was well worth the dash. We started the day with a look at Fortnum and Mason's windows. I am afraid I was a bit disappointd this year Dick Whittington hasn't enough tinsel and sparkle for me.

We did just pop in for a little masochisitic visit to the Food Department, the chocolate and the cakes and we wondered who buys a box of six Cristmas Crackers at £250???

The on to the RA.  You can see here the  figure of a Dancing Satyr, brought up in fishermans nets which opened the exhibition. I really loved this head by Constantin Brancusi

and  a small Giacommeti called  "the Cage"

So much to see, my only criticism was the labelling. The labels were about the A5 size and in a crowded exhibtion impossible to read.
After lunch we strolled through the Burlington Arcade

and onto Bond Street

Cartier had just wrapped the whole building.

Just finished........

"Un Lun Dun" by China Mieville.

 Loaned to me by my a son as being in the "suitable for mother" category it is actually written for children/young adults (which is probably why he thought it was suitable).  It is the best read I have had in a long time.  Exciting and funny it sparks the imagination.
Mr Mieville "has indicated that he plans to write a novel in every genre,^[2]"
I understand from my son that I definitely would not like some of his books so I told him to let me know if he, Mieville, ever attempts chick lit .

P.S. I would have been interested in "Supersized Earth" on BBC last night but the "background" music was so loud I couldn't hear what the man was saying.  Why do they do this????

More magic......

One of the things that suprised me yesterday at the Hollyood exhibiton yesterday was the attention to detail on every level of the cotumes, but the thing that really dropped my jaw were three beaded dresses made in the 1930's.
This one was worn by Joan Crawford in "The Bride Wore Red".

The dress was covered in 2 million beads which weighed 30lbs. I gleaned this information here
The film was made in black and white so it's full colour glory wasn't seen on film.

Just look how it hangs. I wish I had a close up to show how the beads followed the lines of the dress, I wish I could try it on, I wish I had the figure to..........

It's magic....

I have just returned from the excellent Hollywood Costume exhibition at the V&A Museum..  In the past I have been the wardrobe mistress for various amateur musical productions (I count "Camelot" as my finest hour) so of course I was fascinated be the processes which go into costuming a film. But it was the film lover who was most thrilled by this exhibition.  To stand so close to the  costume which Vivienne Leigh "made" from the cutains in "Gone With the Wind"

or

Greta Garbo as Anna Karenina gave me goosebumps.
And as for this .........

It is one of the best exhibitions I have seen ... great combination of memories and new information.

Family tree..

 I think am I am delighted with the new resource on the Find My Past site. They have added a selection of British Newspapers from 1790 - 1950.Not only have I found the death notice for my Gt x 3 Grandfather but I have I have found a source of fascinating reading.
  This obituary caught my eye...
"...of Covent Garden Theatre. After an illness of three weeks, caused by excessive inward debility, brought on, as it is supposed, by a diseased liver, and which at last attached itself to the lungs, he breathed his last a few minutes past eight o'clock on Thursday evening, at his house in Hyde Street, Bloomsbury. He was in his 47th year, and has left an amiable widow and seven young children to lament their loss, for whose future support there is reason to fear he has not made the most slender provision. Mr E. was highly esteemed by all who knew him, and everyone who has been a frequenter of the theatre is well aware of his superior talent as an actor."  Seeds of a whole novel here I think.
Poor woman.
The reason I only think I am delighted with this resource is that I can see me spending even more hours glued to the screen.
The little church at Crosscanonby in Cumberland where my Gtx2 Grandparents were married.

Freezing.....

but worth it.  Yesterday was the NFL Fan Rally in Trafalgar Square and the weather had just hurled itself into winter but the promise of Wes Welker and Tom Brady had me donning the layers, I was there early enough to be right at the front, necessary at my height. Oh my goodness.

The crowd yelled for Gronkowski to "spike the mike" so he did, someone captured it.

Sam Bradford and the Rams team

Mr Kraft said he could see a franchise team here within the decade.  Maybe for my 80th birthday?
Super day, this was the closest I could get to "Wes", display in the Nike store

 So looking forward to the match today, hope it's a close one.

Ally Pally ......

didn't disappoint this year. It occurred to me as we finished a ghastly journey that it amounted to an annual pilgrimage.

 Good things happened right inside the door.

This magnificent edifice was made to support pieces of unfinished work.  It made me laugh and brought a tear, it was amazing how much work had been put into the pieces, only to be abandoned.

Inside there were two exhibitions that I liked.  One was called Jabberwocky, a joint display by Ann Small and Sue Walton.
 These are some of Ann's little men.

You can see more of Ann's work here and you can see Sue's  here I was so entranced I forgot to photograph her fork fairies.
The other exhibition was by the North East region of the Embroiderer's Guild, named Mining a Golden Seam, "The mining industry and community that has been such a feature of life in the North East: exploring the riches of the earth's strata and geology: our timeless fascination with gold in all its forms."

You can see more pictures here. It was lovely to see Lynda Monk, she was demonstrating on the Art Van Go stand. I bought some beauutiful hand dyed sari ribbon from Dale, they only left Australia on Tuesday and here they were all set up.

Good day, only a year to go.

3 delights....

I was so delighted to see one of my feathers being used on the Magic Feather Project  cloth on Spirit Cloth.

You can follow the story of this beautiful  cloth here.

I am also delighted because I have finished (I think) my Space cloth which I started this time last year.

It measures about 5 feet squarish.Roll on winter so I can snuggle in.

Lastly it is that annual delight the Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally, I jave actually started using some of the wool I bought last year. Hopiing to be there when the doors open on Thursday.

I wanted an owl......

and  here he is, I could see the outline in the cloth, he just needed a little help.

He is based on the Athena Owl  and is part of what I hope is going to be an ongoing project.

Pride......

I don't usually do personal but I am so proud of my brother who built this beautiful boat and I am proud that he named it after me.

the end........

of this wonderful summer or sport and celebration.  Yesterday I went up to town to watch the parade of Team GB.  Waiting in the crowd was made fun by a group of Gamesmakers who were still doing there job rousing the crowd with songs and mexican waves, When the parade finally arrived it was difficult to take it all in, needed to cheer, clap, wave a flag and try and take photographs all at the same time .

I was delighted to see some of  the Torch Relay Security team.

 The Red Arrows had everyone cheering. Great Day.

 Just when we thought the excitement was all over Andy Murray wins the first Grand Slam for 76 years. 

What now.........well Strictly Come Dancing starts next week......................

I wish to go the festival.......

not Into the Woods , though I wouldn't mind seeing that again, but the London Festival.  In perfect weather this year,  with the added buzz of the Paralympics, it was time to jump off the train at London Bridge and follow the walk along the south bank of the Thames, for all kinds of sights and sounds. a very Oriental theme this year with the space in front of the Tate modern given over to South Korea.

 These dancers defied the heat and whirled and twirled their bodies and head dresses, I was so mesmerised by the ribbons that I didn't catch a proper photograph but with a slight move of the head they sent these ribbons into wonderful circles.

This elegant gentleman was happy to pose. I loved his hat.

These dancers are from Japan and must have been sweltering in these heavy padded costumes,

but there was a lovely happy smile inside this one.

There was a firebird from Colombia 

 and some very good Morris Men from West London.

 

The festival is a annual treat for me and this year with the wonderful vibe there has been in London it was even more special, but at the end of the day I think I would like to have joined these poppets and paddled in the fountain. Love the bloomers and the expression on the little boy face. 

I do hope we are going to keep some of the general pleasantness of this summer. People smiling and a level of politeness that has been missing.  Lets hear it for all the volunteers, wish we could keep you around.Well done GB. Going home, one last little treat growing on the track side at London Bridge station.