One weekend, two very different museums

Saturday we headed into London, with the aim of seeing Exquisute Bodies at the Wellcome Collection. Although the website warns some of the items in the exhibit may be upsetting to younger-than-18s, we decided to manage anything we as parents didn't want Bailey to see, as we saw the exhibit. I'm glad to report the visit was a huge success. The models in the exhibit were fascinating, and we each enjoyed it on whatever level we could.

We also visited the two permanent exhibitions in the Wellcome Collection, Medicine Man all about Henry Wellcome and Medicine Now about how we understand health and medical care. Both were interesting and engaging to the three of us, and contained loads of interactive displays to engage Bailey. To make it even better for her, the lovely gallery assistant gave Bailey a discovery pack full of all kinds of fab activities for the younger ones. My fav was a hunk of real modeling clay, to be used to recreate the viewer's favourite votive (see the second imagine in Seeking Help if you'd like to learn more). Huge WELL DONE to the Wellcome Collection for reaching out and engaging the young visitors.

The rest of the fine Saturday was spent browsing the bookshops of Charing Cross Road. It's not at all the book lover's paradise that it used to be; even when I arrived in 1995 there were countless independent booksellers along the road. Today most of the little ones are gone, but we made the most of Foyles and Blackwell's, where I again marvelled at the Espresso book machine.
Today's Bank Holiday Monday museum visit was to the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden. This museum has figured it out; draw in the families who are all reading Roald Dahl, make small but very fun and interactive gallery exhibit, then finish it with a huge hands-on room of creating fun book-related crafts. There was even a little station to make a short film, which Bailey did and I attach to this post. The museum also includes a reading room, for individuals to relax and read Dahl stories and for groups to enjoy story-telling sessions running throughout the day. To top it off, there's a lovely and well-stocked shop and a fab cafe including patisserie quality treats. What more could we need?

RIP Dominick Dunne

This morning's news of Dominick Dunne's death brought me much sadness. I've been a fan of his writing and his style since I read him in Vanity Fair magazine years ago. I've also read his books, and his audio version of Another City Not My Own has been enjoyed for miles and miles in my car.

What I've enjoyed most about his writing is his clear sense of right and wrong, and his candor about his own limitations and demons.

Enjoy his Vanity Fair archive. These articles continue to provide the goods, but I'm going to miss him.

Lands' End hipster?

Check out this hipster in the recent Lands' End catalogue.

On Hamlet and bookselling, not at all related

First on Hamlet... Last night I went to see the Donmar's Hamlet (at Wyndham's Theatre). The place was packed, with people standing along the walls as well, and of course I'm certain it was interest in Jude Law instead of pure Shakespeare admiration. That's OK though because Jude Law and cast put on a top show. They made Hamlet as dark as possible (and the shades of grey and black staging helped), with acting in fantastic form. Jude Law did grief and madness so very well. To make the show even better, the cast was very good looking, with costuming that made everyone look hip and cool. There were lots of smart overcoats on the handsome men in the cast; always a beautiful site.

Second, on bookselling... It's with sadness I heard about the closing of Sarasota News and Books. Admittedly, living 4000 miles away makes me a pretty poor customer but I do try to stop in there (mostly through homage to the original bookstore on this spot, Charlie's News) when in town. Unfortunately visiting this store was more out of something to do than the resolution to a book search. I mostly found people chilling in the cafe and browsing, staff either flirting with customers or being aloof, but little buying. My only proper book search there turned out to be a disappointment (OK, my standards are rather high...I am a librarian afterall). I was reviewing the cookbooks and three very old gossip mags hidden behind a one of the titles. That showed me two things; one, that their magazine inventory isn't incredibly robust and two, that the shelves hadn't been strict tidied in about 12 weeks. Regardless, RIP Sarasota News and Books. You'll be missed and remembered. The thing I'll remember most is when one of your staff members (who we will leave nameless, as not to embarrass), when asking what I did for a living and hearing I was a librarian, asked if I ever had sex in the bookstacks in the library. What more can I say?

Pondering Blackpool

Last week our little family spent a few days in Blackpool. The reason? The Beard fondly recalls childhood daytrips to the seaside town and he wanted to make sure Bailey saw it before the end of her magical time in childhood.

Upon reflection, I've come up with a list of how the trip shook down...

The good:

The Grundy Art Gallery is an oasis. It's housed in an Edwardian building, away from the madness. The current exhibition, Rank, was fab fab fab...thought provoking, funny, sad, and very engaging. I enjoyed it so very much, especially the work of Jenny Holzer entitled Truisms (which have been projected all over the world but at the Grundy, were scrolled on an electronic display board, like this one).

The Central Library is gorgeous. It's attached to the Grundy Art Gallery so has the same fascinating architecture, but the interior is all about the user. The interior contains art displays by the local college students, catchy signage, and an entire youth section designed by young partons. Their neon chandeliers in that section are very cool (see my Facebook page for images of that).

Our B&B accommodation was completely functional, friendly, and clean. It wasn't at all swish, but we were very comfortable there and could walk everywhere we wanted to go. The breakfasts were delicious and the other guests were polite and calm. Plus, the hotelier had a dog, a very sweet Alsatian (see photo above), so Bailey was thrilled.

The renovation work on the beachfront walk is lovely and when it's finished, it will look gorgeous. Some serious thought has gone into the design and colouring for this coastline sidewalk and it's clearly going to be a highlight of the place when the development is complete.

The Tower Circus was one of the best I've ever seen, and the clowns were quite amusing.

The bad:

Most everything looks very run down. A good partion of the amusement park, Pleasure Beach, looked this way; the hotel and store fronts looked this way; the entire Promenade looked this way.

Everything on offer seemed tacky. I can't explain it except to say all items you could buy (food, gifts, amusements) were surrounded by some weird but strong cheesy aura.

I saw more than my fair share of cleavage, ample arms, hairy backs, ill-fitting outfits, and high heels. I also saw some incredibly tacky t-shirt messages. My fav was one with an arrow printed toward the wearer's face, under which "The man" was printed, and an accompanying arrow pointing toward the man's crotch, which stated "The legend".

The ugly:

Horrible tattoos on too many people to calculate; every gift shop sold sex toys and drug ecroutements (not an easy thing to keep covered whilst a small child looks for souvineers); eating establishments ranged from fish and chips (not a bad thing at all) to McDonalds, with nothing for those who didn't want their food deep fried; a disproportionately high amount of pubs per street which led to a disproportionately high number of drunks everywhere you went.

Overall? You can see Simon and Bailey enjoyed the trip (in above photo). I enjoyed being with them and laughing it up, but am happy to be home.

An open letter to James Spader

Dear James,

In the spirit of inspirational zil, I must send you a letter to discuss your new film. This concern came about when my spouse (also known as The Beard) and I were watching your relatively recent interview with Conan O'Brien (on a strangley edited 33-minute version of The Tonight Show, offered here). Of course I understand you can't look like you did back in the day, and who am I to critique anyone's battle of the bulge, but your more mature look should not result in poor film choices. Your C.V. is rock hard with greatness, the pimping/drug dealing Rip, in Less than Zero; the the sleazy preppie Steff in Pretty in Pink; the inside-trading friend Roger in Wall Street; the self-gratifying videographer Graham in Sex, Lies, and Videotape; the very demanding boss in Secretary; and in my heart the darkest of all, the mad driver James in Crash.
So why have you chosen to star in a "family" flick? One called Shorts?? You are a fabulous actor and I appreciate all the upsetting roles you've brought alive on the screen and DVD. You didn't need to go down the kiddie entertainment route. You can't take this mistake back; you will forever be grouped with those actors who are now perfect for children, like Eddie Murphy and Antonio Bandaras. I'm sure these are nice guys to have around for brunch but they don't have the black soul of acting you have.

Please reconsider,
KMS

Last week of my summer holiday

Yes, this is the Monday of my last week off work this summer. I've had 5 weeks off (James, I know that hurts) and a pretty good mix of travels (Taize), culture (my Karen-only trip to London), projects around the house (boring stuff for most but oh-so satisfying for me), and pure leisure (reading, walking along the canal, visiting friends). I also did my part to keep the UK book-retail economy afloat though the purchases of several new and used books.


This week finishes my time with a Hewitt-Storms fam trip to Blackpool. Please don't laugh at the thought of me hanging out in that famous seaside town; I've already located the art museum and library and have insisted I have a bit of time on my own.

Why Blackpool? Simon had a lovely childhood in Atherton, which included fun day trips to Blackpool. Although the place has surely changed, Simon feels the paternal duty to show Bailey a glimpse of what his childhood was like, a back-in-the-day type of thing, (even though I've lovingly reminded him that childhood was 30 long years ago and that our child has been to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Washington DC, Baltimore, Nashville, Key West, Miami, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Tallahassee, Sarasota, and a lot more in between). Of course Bailey will love it because she loves the silly and cheesey as much as she loves the Eiffel Tower and snorkeling in the Florida Straits, so it will be a fun trip. I shall ensure I am well cared for with lots of periodicals and my current book (Roberto Bolano's The Savage Detectives).

Anyway, we're heading north on Thursday and will be in Blackpool until Saturday. After Blackpool, we'll head to see my in-laws for the night, then head home. And although I do return to work on 17 August, the hard work doesn't kick in until the students return in early September. It will be a civilised transition for a few weeks.

Thankfully the summer still has a bit of fun to come. We have houseguests coming for two weekends and I've got tickets to see Hamlet on 19 August. Although Jude Law is a complete cad, he's amazing on the stage. I saw him in Tis Pity She's a Whore at the Young Vic in 1999. I wasn't that familiar with Jude Law's work at that point and went to the play because it sounded dark (and it was...so very dark), not because of who was in it. I was paying attention and all was going just fine, then Jude Law's character soul kissed his character's sister and I gasped, out loud (thankfully it was in the Young Vic and no one cared one bit); I was completely blown away. From that point on, regardless of Jude Law's recognised dog-man behaviour, I've always said at least he's a good actor. That explains my purchase of the Hamlet tickets 12 months ago; Hamlet + good actors = good time for me.

August quickly leads to September, which is Bailey birthday season. This year she's having a kiddies-only party, shared with three others who have the same birthday, for school friends on Saturday 12 September. For family and close friends, we're having a birthday brunch at our house the next day.

Reflections on Taize

Our week in Taize ended a week ago. We got back early Monday morning and the following days have flown by, in a haze of laundry, relaxing, and Taize songs. Considering all that took place in that beautiful region of France, here's a good summary.

Camping...Having never camped before, I am very satisfied with the results. We had a sturdy tent, small enough to give me comfort that I had control over it but really very comfortable. Although some intense thunderstorms happened whilst there, we had no tent-related dramas. I wish I could take all the credit for the success but I'm grateful to report the more experienced campers in our group made sure we were OK. They also checked our guy ropes to confirm we were sturdy. Of course, it took Bailey and I at least three days to remember all tent have guy ropes and we need to be careful when running around a campsite.

The beautiful outdoors...The Burgundy region of France in which we stayed is gorgeous, on a large scale. The mountains, vineyards, sunflowers, water, and all the stars were beautiful and very enjoyable. I took so many pics of the landscape, with each view inspiring me to capture it.

Taize life...The monastery offered a week of services and activities that suited all faiths. This also gave us the chance to meet people from all over, learn new songs, and spend proper time in quiet. I'm thrilled to report the younger members of the group (including Bailey) very quickly got the routine and participated in the three services per day (each of which included 10 minutes of silence). On the Wednesday night service the three smallest ones of our group got to sit in the middle with the brothers; this was moving for us grown-ups and thrilling for the little ones, for sure.