salle de bain, chez micawber

3BT w/e 3rd November 2007

First in London on Wednesday, and then in Sussex on Friday, billowing plumes of sunlit steam, their pulsating transit indicating the passage of unseen steam locomotives.

Before dawn, as my truck slowly trundles away from the pumps at the Texaco petrol station on the A3 by Putney cemetery, an “African” cleaning lady emerges through the automatic doors, hands spread wide and arms at right-angles to her body. On the left hand she carries a sweeping brush and a dustpan, on the right she carries a mop and a bucket, upon her head she balances a large roll of blue paper towels, like a tall hat. Her wide hips seem to move in an exaggerated counterbalancing dance rotation that keeps the head moving in a smooth straight line … and as she catches my delighted smile& mimed applause, she laughs out loud.

In Tate Britain which opens late on Fridays, two deep-green patinated & polished bronze discs by Barbara Hepworth in a glass case, seen by me for the first time, standing parallel but slightly offset on a square plinth, ( Discs in Echelon, 1935 ) each with a soft curved edge at the bottom that gently transforms into a sharper but not-quite-cutting edge at the top. As I stare at their subtle symmetries and nubile polish, I remember with some delight having passed her in the doorway of the same gallery some forty years ago; a tiny, vital, strong-looking woman with a large flat forehead & a quick purposeful stride.

mickleham church and an enigmatic niche in the churchyard wall

revisiting the red tree on reigate hill

now ...

and in august 2005 ...

just passing through ... clapham road

apropos of nuffink

from the putney debates to the william morris museum

we woz reading this article in the guardian ... most kids no longer have to learn about history so this could be essential reading for anyone who knows nothing of the history of socialism and democracy in england ...

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/heritage/story/0,,2199577,00.html

... and it led us across london to the william morris museum at walthamstow

which is stuffed with art by morris and his many famous associates .... beautiful furniture, fantastic fabrics, paintings, stained glass, printed wallpapers, printed pamphlets, and much material pertinent to their design and manufacture,

there is also a stunning collection of paintings and etchings by frank brangwyn, who once worked in morris's employment as a draughtsman

it is a bit of a trek to an unattractive part of london but i'm so glad we went




















and just for good measure ... here's a likeness of oliver cromwell from the V&A

i like this kind of roofscape ... weatherboarding at putney bridge and at walthamstow central

to the british museum

bart simpson ?

dawn at the putney bridge bus stop

pensive lions in the fulham road

waiting for the concert to begin at the V&A

somewhat ostentatious ... norwegian wood at the V&A

the south downs behind brighton

on the beach at climping

candle light, twilight, my favourite mug, and a souvenir cava cork from a fabulous meal behind a very ordinary bar in asturias

admiralty arch and admiralty house at sunset

gas lights ( and others ) in the mall

electric lights in the mall

looking north from waterloo place towards piccadilly circus