Holiday time! first in ages

It has been an extended time since the last time I put fingers to keyboard and wrote some words down.

Lots happened, as it does but I’m going to ignore all that and just concentrate on this holiday.

Lots of prep before hand, and thanks to my sister who has been a star! The rest of the family too but especially her.

Hired a wee van because car journeys are not the same, I needed to feel the freedom of being able to stop when I wanted and sleep. So….

Picked it up, got shown all the non scratches, all good, pointed out a couple of things and then got hit with the, about £1100 if there is an accident, but of course you can just pay twice the original hire price and that covers you against problems… Ach! am really fed-up with this world and its insurances against everything which is just another way of the company making loads of money.

Anyway, paid £50 extra and the windscreen and tyres are covered… the words ‘Rip Off’ jump to the front of my brain.

Nice wee van tho’.

All packed, bed out – thanks Mum for the perfect foam – wee rug and all in place.

Finished off work, tidied, ready for the workshop on Sunday, paperwork done and Westfest items complete apart from holes for cable ties. All in all, feeling good, knackered but good.

Set off!!!

Beautiful run down the road, past Glasgow, Carlisle and to Penrith. Sun out, gorgeous colours, radio on, with some great Bluegrass – some awful Radio 1 at one point too – and feeling mightily content then drove past a deer grazing by the side of the road, didn’t seem to have a care in the world.

Heading over the A66 and it got misty which made seeing really difficult due to the crap or non-existent screen wash in the van which left insect smear over my whole view. Luckily I had some with me so after a comfort break at Scotch Corner the screen was clean!

Amazing, the difference being able to see. The amount of traffic had dropped considerably down to mostly trucks and a few cars, much better.

Eventually got to Woolley Edge, to West Bretton and Sycamore Lane (previously researched as near to Yorkshire Sculpture Park – but no car parking fee).

Quite woolly headed by this time but no sleep yet.

A young Kurdish man tried to ask me for something… really don’t know what… the words, house, police, phone were all I really got but he didn’t seem anxious or dangerous for that matter. He was directing down the lane, saying house, phone problem so I went for a bit then realised that I couldn’t actually do anything and maybe it wasn’t the best to be out at 12.30 at night somewhere I didn’t know following a strange Kurdish man. A difficult scenario because I did want to help.

Van, bed, then my body buzzing with caffeine and energy from the drive. Listening out for ‘just-in-cases’ and feeling the vibrations from the vehicles passing nearby.

Woke at 5.30 then straight back to sleep…

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25 May 2018 - further road trip adventures

Wow!!! No waking to footsteps overhead, no hearing swearing and ‘Shut yer Pus!’

No slamming doors. I might be sleeping in a wee van but much preferable at this moment in time for my peace of mind.

Desperate for the toilet and so it was a quick pack up, drive to Wakefield, bringing back a few memory feelings from so long ago (1984) found a café, toilet, then beans on toast with a large cup of tea.

Feeling like I’m on holiday now!

Back to my park-up and readied for the day ahead.

Mistake no. 1 – forgetting to change from trainers to walking boots.

Weather was dullish but ok as I strolled down to the YSP entrance gate, over the cattle grid with an ‘oops’ slide on the wet metal… no pedestrian walk through as I could see.

Over the brow of the hill, looking down onto a pleasant view opening up before me of a lake, well-kept fields and plenty trees, old and new, were enormous bronzed Henry Moore’s. Their place in the landscape affirmed. I can’t think of anywhere else they would fit so well.

So I trotted off down the hillside to have a closer look. The rain was pooling at the bases forming some lovely reflections. I didn’t like them all as Moore is not my favourite sculptor but impressive nonetheless.

 

A cup of hot coffee was beckoning so after taking a few photos I began my return to the top of the hill. Before heading to YSP I hadn’t done much research on which sculptors were represented and so was very happily surprised to come across a James Turrell piece set into the hill.

 This quiet, contemplative place, ‘Skyspace’ has been built within an 18^th Century Grade II listed building – the deer shelter. The descending rain bounced off the floor tunefully, with the seating arranged in such a manner that leaning back allowed great comfort and directed your gaze towards the open roof. Delicate lighting is apparent around the top of the seating and I could have sat there for hours.

But….

Along came a hoard of schoolchildren and completely erased any hope of my peace.

I hope their tutors made them sit in silence to appreciate a little of the atmosphere that could be found there.

A browse in the shop, found a beautiful wooden bee and then coffee upstairs looking out onto the grounds.

As the café began to fill up and the noise level rose, I left.

 Out the other side of the building was an exhibition by Guissepe Penone.

I’ve seen his work dotted around the internet but never expected to see it first hand. Absolutely gorgeous artwork!

This was in the Underground Gallery as well as outside.

My favourite was of course, the stone piece.

The fine carving makes thhe tree look like it's been cast from a real tree.  Absolutely beautiful!

In another building was displayed an exhibition by 'Common Ground' – the Dorset bases arts and environmental charity, including an interview with Andy Goldsworthy, taken quite a few years ago.

After leaving the buildings I debated on whether to carry on as by this time, my trousers were soaked, the water wicking up from the wet grass and (see mistake 1) my shoes were very wet.

Conclusion: can’t get much wetter.

Numerous figures by Elizabeth Frink were situated following the pathway towards the lower level, with the mosaic-ed Buddha standing out colourfully next to all the bronze sculptures.

 On the right, in the distance, I spied walking video characters on a screen looking like a doorway behind which was a regiment of bronze humanoid forms. 

Towards the left was Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals – Zodiac Heads.

I headed on down towards the lake in front of which geese were congregating on the grass eating and leaving numerous droppings to dodge.

The Goldsworthy pieces were on the other side of the lake but these will have to wait for another day as I am now too wet and slightly dispirited with the weather.

I returned to the van with thought of dry warm clothing and shoes on my thoughts.

Even though the rain made some of the day not the best, I wouldn’t have missed this place and in some ways I can still look forward to visiting again – in the sun.

The M1 was busy, wet and misty but thanks to a great DAB radio in the van I had musical company which made the miles go by a little easier.

A few stops for the usual comfort breaks and to get away from the tortuous amount of vehicles traveling so close to each other that the on off reds of their brake lights began to hurt my head.

Radio 2 traffic news warned of severe delays on the M5 south so I detoured by Stroud, Bath (oops, got a little lost around Bristol) and the A39 towards to A303 and roads that are still so familiar.

A stop off at Gloucester services warranted a quick snapshot of one of their wares – a smallish log (approx. 25-30 cm high and maybe 15cm diameter) with a cross cut deep into it with a chainsaw selling for £6.49 a pop!!!   Rip-off and gullible spring to mind.

The last portion of the journey was spent trying to cover as much ground as possible in the shortest, safest time.

Eventually!! Pulled in to Bradleigh and stop.

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The Western Isles

Whoop, whoop... holiday time with some lovely peeps off North to spend some time on the Western Isles as the title suggests.

We met up at work, piled (very precisely.... think of tetris) all our luggage into the minibus and off we went. Slowly until the driver got used to the van.

I don't often get driven around and it was quite relaxing to sit up front ( I get car sick) and check out the scenery.
Up the A9 and then a much needed comfort break for expulsion and imbibing of differing fluids at ******

Another stop to take in the scenery and I could have stopped for a while but we all really wanted to get to our destination.





Driver doing a fabulous job and I was helping navigate.

Not many photos today as mostly we were driving.
We eventually got to Ullapool, had our chips, wandered about a bit, you know, postcards, checking out the wet weather gear.

Arrived at Stornaway and then the final stretch .....................

 

Losgaintir, here we are....unpack, sort out rooms and chill along with a short walk on the beach.

... and that was Sat over.

Aha... Sunday

Beach at Losgaintir

Today was mainly spent exploring as this was my first time on Harris. Enormous skies and views to calm and inspire.

So glad I'd bought myself a new jacket, being cosy made all the difference to the day.

Enjoying the shapes in the rocks and the patterns formed in the sand by the wind. Ideas beginning to form.







And..... Monday!
After breakfasting, we all loaded up into the minibus and headed to another part of the island for a walk.

The sea is such a beautiful force, twisting and churning at the rocks, continuously molding the coastline.

 

 I could spend hours looking out to sea, breathing with the constant movement of the waves - but today, a little chilly to sit still so onwards we went.

Not sure of the friendliness of the cows here so we bypassed them further up the hill, seems like they found a tasty lunch though.

In the distance is a building on a small rise and this is where we're headed, I'm happily jumping around the rocks admiring the striations and configurations in the stone.

The ruined building must have been such an isolated place to be, I think it may have been a church.

Love the limited views through the wee windows and of course the doorway with the muted colours of the land outwith the walls.

More next time.

Such a beautiful place.

 

London Wedding

Had a brilliant time at a wedding held in Croydon, London.
The event itself was beautiful with Ella's Grandfather walking her down the aisle, kilt swinging.
I was so pleased to have been invited and was able to see some old friends and celebrate with them.

The handfasting was probably more memorable than the service if a little cold. Many there, myself included, took the opportunity of jumping the broomstick.
After the meal, along with drinking and dancing we could also take photos in a specially curated booth in honour of Star Wars - lightsabre, Princess Leia head piece and a grand dark hooded cloak.

Before the event, I took advantage of being in London to visit an old friend and we visited Kew Gardens, amazing! Some lovely sculpture and a fantastic exhibition with hundreds of dried flowers threaded and hung from the ceiling. We were able to walk through these - astounding.
Then there was the bee place! wow!
This incredible structure has been built to replicate a bee hive.

"The Hive is a unique, multi-sensory experience designed to highlight the extraordinary life of bees. A feat of British engineering, it stands 17 metres tall, set in a wildflower meadow.

The Hive is an immersive sound and visual experience. The lights you see and the sounds you hear inside The Hive are triggered by bee activity in a real beehive at Kew.
The intensity of the sounds and light change constantly, echoing that of the real beehive. The multi award-winning Hive was inspired by scientific research into the health of honeybees. It is a visual symbol of the pollinators’ role in feeding the planet and the challenges facing bees today."
(https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/attractions/the-hive)
You can walk inside and it is a strange experience but very beautiful.

The Hive

inside The Hive, top level

inside, bottom level

The gardens themselves are beautiful to walk around and much bigger than expected, could spend all day there with a picnic and sketchbook.

the greenhouse

greenhouse again

The structure just leant itself to some arty photos and I couldn't resist.











During our walk we came across a wonderous line of gorgeous statues. The carving is excellent and made me a little envious, must practice more.

detail

 

There was also an amazing exhibition/ installation of dried flowers. Walking amongst them was quite surreal and would have loved to have been able to be there with no other visitors, but hey, that's the way it goes.

St Madoes - stone carving workshop

I was asked to run a stone carving workshop at the opening of the new St Madoes centre.
I'd put forward a proposal to carve the stone that will be in their garden area but wasn't chosen for that. Not unhappy, the workshop went so well.

 All happy carvers and a great day out.

The Frigate Unicorn - Dundee

The HMS Frigate Unicorn is almost 200 year old!

"HMS Unicorn is considered to be the best preserved of all historic wooden ships in the world from her era.

She is now the World’s last intact warship from the days of sail, one of the six oldest ships in the world and Scotland’s only representative of the sailing navy."

http://www.frigateunicorn.org

This is a fascinating ship to visit and I've been lucky to have been shown all over, even where visitors don't get to go. There are still initials and names of the original shipwrights in some places.

Ships of this era carried with them small animals to provide fresh food on  long journeys. These would include pigs, sheep, goats and chickens. The Unicorn management team wanted to inform the public by putting animals, a large stove and hurdles on the ship. I was commissioned to paint some life sized animals in the same style as the painted sailors already on the ship.

It was a great deal of work but enjoyable, so here they are.

 

  

 

SCRAPANTICS - the move

WE MOVED!!!

An incredible feat of will power, fabulous helpers, a van, good weather and a shopping trolley.

From small acorns, mighty oaks will grow.

Luckily the move consisted of leaving our wee unit on one side of the carpark to a much bigger unit on the other side of the carpark and round the corner.

The original store

 What you see in this photo is almost all there was, such a small unit but a brilliant way to start.
Our fabulous helpers were mainly my mum and sister, they were quite outstanding, although I did try to stop mum lifting things that were too heavy, quite often without success.

The front of our new store - now highly visible from the road instead of hidden away at the back of a carpark.

The boat was one of about 5 half boats on scooters from a play at the Dundee Rep Theatre. Great fun to play with and all went to good homes.