books – My London+

Wimbledon Bookfest and a trip down the River Thames

Every year on Wimbledon Common the tents go up and Bookfest is here. It used to be just once a year, in the autumn, but now there is one in June too. I’ve been to quite a few events over the years, and bought a number of books as well. Authors I have seen include Tracy Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earing), John Lanchester (The Wall and Capital) Jessie Burton (The Miniturist), Chrisy Lefteri (The Beekeeper of Aleppo) and Karen Armstrong (Through a Narrow Gate and History of God).

This year I had signed up for three events. My first was all about William Morris and his wife Jane. Now there’s a surprise! William Morris has connections with the Borough of Merton, so there is even a tent on the common in his name, always my favourite tent! The author of this book How We Might Live: At Home with Jane and WIlliam Morris, tells the story more from Jane’s perspective. In life, Jane is known more for her affair with Rossetti than anything else. But she was a beautiful embroiderer, artistic model and a great hostess. I shall look forward to reading her account. After William, died I want to know what happened to Jane.

Suzanne Fagence Cooper – author of How We Might Live

The second event was writer/journalist Tim Marshall. He writes political and world affairs and I have read his Divided in the past. He spoke about two of his other books, about how the world is changing, the geography of countries and the situation between Ukraine and Russia. I couldn’t decide which of his books to buy, so I didn’t buy either. This just means they are on my mental list of books to buy in the future! He is an engaging speaker and writer, and explains things at a level I can understand. I’m not a big reader of world affairs at all, but his books have helped me understand the world.

The last event I booked was the stand out one as far as I was concerned. This was held in my favourite tent (William Morris) and consisted of a workshop followed by a walk on Wimbledon Common hunting wildflowers. Botanist Leif Bersweden explained how he came to write his book Where The Wild Flowers Grow and has spent a lot of time on the common (his parents live here). Leif took us onto the common on a very hot day and promised to keep us in the shade as much possible. Two stewards accompanied us carrying bottled water, should we need them.

Leif made the walk so interesting and had little stories about each flower he found for us. I particularly loved the Pineapple plant which, if you squeeze the flower heads, smell of pineapple. They really do! I began to realise how more enjoyable it is to identify flowers and plants during a walk. How much more you get out of a walk just knowing these things. I made notes of all the flowers Leif found (I wouldn’t have remembered otherwise) so I could identify them when I loaded up my photos. I feel this is something I need to look into more and could do with a good book on identification.

Roseday Willowhurt also known as Firebomb as it grew on bomb sites in the war

When we arrived back we each received a copy of Leif’s book (included in the price of the ticket), which he signed individually for us. The event was uplifting and not ‘over my head’ as I wondered if it might be. Leif made everything accessible and was willing to answer questions we had.

Walking across the common – Leif is in the front wearing a black tee shirt

On the Thames

The day after was an even hotter one. I met a friend in London and bought lunch to eat in the gardens near Embankment tube station. Afterwards, we set off to Westminster Pier where we boarded a Thames Cruise to Greenwich. Both of us have Freedom Passes which gave us a great discount on the return fare. We sat on the top deck in the sun and enjoyed seeing London from the river. We had a commentary, though our guy is not an official Tour Guide. However, he was most amusing. We spent a little time at Greenwich, mostly drinking (cold for my friend and tea for me!), sitting the shade near the Maritime Museum. We then caught the boat back into London, and we had the same guide, which was fun.

Viking Cruise ship coming into Greenwich to dock. This is as far as they can go. The water is deepest here, about 70 feet.

Outside the Information Centre, Greenwich

Mock-up of a seaman’s hospital room (Info Centre)

Hockney, a book launch & a walk by the Thames at night

Thursday was a busy day. I had tickets for myself and a friend to see David Hockney’s exhibition at the Royal Academy in the afternoon. I’ve always been a fan of his, and the work for this exhibition was done during lockdown in France using an iPad. What would it be like? This isn’t the first iPad pictures of his I’ve seen. There were a few in the last exhibition, A Bigger Picture in 2009, but this was wholly using an iPad (an App especially adapted for him). The Arrival of Spring is a collection of 116 works include trees, flowers, the house and barn, the pond and the tree house, all within the boundaries of where Hockney was living during lockdown in Normandy. He worked outside (en plein air) as did the French Impressionists before him, and the works were executed between February and June 2020. He worked almost daily, and on occasions he would produce two works in one day.

So, what are the pictures like? Well, photography is not allowed inside the exhibition, though if you Google the name of the exhibition or visit the website of The Royal Academy, you can see some pictures. Here is video preview to whet your appetite.

I loved the fact that I could see how Hockney put the pictures together. Great swathes of colour and then dots or lines. I’d say they are very vibrant, lots of bright green. I wondered about the restrictions of using a iPad to paint. Was this why they were so bright green? Then again, Hockney does like vibrant! His A Bigger Picture had lots of bright colours on canvas. I realised that this is the way he paints. His style is unique and recognisable. Did we like the pictures? I feel guilty in saying that we we spend just thirty minutes at the exhibition (we spent the same time in Hatchards Bookshop!). However, we agreed that it was good to see them. A few (well, particularly one) were what I’d call naive art, almost a first attempt. It looked rushed and childlike. The ones we particularly liked were those of rain on the pond. The pictures are very bright, and perhaps best seen from a distance, but then again you miss the technique. I have never tried art on an iPad, and I am a dabbler in art, so what do I know? Big named artists draw big crowds whatever they do, and David Hockney always draws a big crowd. I had difficulty getting tickets for the exhibition in the first place. They were going like hot-cakes.

Certainly it was worth a viewing, and certainly it was different. David Hockney can do no wrong in my eyes! It was a challenge and he took. He has always done things differently to others, and seems to relish new technology. I also love his attitude to life! Like many artists he used the same subjects time and again, on different days and different times marking how spring arrived. Monet did the same thing with buildings. It also remind me of how I watched spring arrive last year. I used to jog around a local park. In my case, I took photos every time I was there. I’d photograph the trees sprouting leaves from bare branches, and the flower beds went from nothing to a riot of colour. I took photos. Hockney painted with an iPad. We will all remember that spring differently. It was unique and beautiful, despite what else was going on.

A Field Guide to Larking

In the evening I went on to Southwark Cathedral for a book launch of A Field Guide to Larking by Lara Maiklem. I already have her fascinating first book, and this one I ordered at the time, so I could pick it up on the night. I was in the queue early so I could get a good seat! I collected my book and then sat down. Of course I flipped through the book while I was waiting. In fact I began reading it! The resident cat, Hodge, was strolling around and one time went up the steps past Lara as she was speaking!

The talk was interesting and informative. Lara gave advice and recounted instances of finds or funny things, items she found she thought weren’t that important only to find they were, and vice versa. At the end there was time for questions and answers.

I was so chuffed to clutch my book. It is illustrated and has room to log your own finds. I can’t wait to read the whole book and get started. Just so you know, if you want to go mudlarking you do need a Licence!

Before and after the book launch, I took photos along the River Thames from London Bridge to Tower Bridge. I finally got to see the bridges with their illuminations. I had a nice stroll back to the station at Waterloo along the south bank after a very interesting arty day!

An obsession with London books – NaBloPoMo – Day 14

I think you could say that I’m a little obsessed with books about London and books about rivers. I buy them new and second hand. I also have a box I call my tourist box which contains leaflets and bo0klets, maps and postcards from other places I’ve visited in the UK, or would like to visit.

There is nothing I like better than to spend time on the internet planning or researching places to visit. Right now travelling isn’t something any of us can do much of, but it doesn’t stop me making lists!

This year I have found places in my locality I didn’t know were there. I’ve also walked and taken more photos this year than I would normally do. I’m a bit of an itinary freak. I like to have an idea of what I am doing and when on holiday. Just taking things as they come isn’t really me, but I do try and take time out. When I stayed in Winchester I spent part of most afternoons reading in the garden. But it’s not long before I’m planning again.

Of course some of these books overlap, but that’s okay, because there is always that bit of information in one that might not be in another, or a better map to follow. I have sometimes taken two books out with me, or a book and a map I’ve downloaded from the internet. And yes, I do use both. I switch between them depending on what I want to know. I also love just flicking through them. I don’t think I realised just how many London books I had until I got them out to photograph them for this blog. Maybe that’s my cue to stop buying books about London. Let’s see how that works out!

My Week in pictures (6) and something from the archive

I visit Sussex quite regularly, especially around the Brighton and Eastbourne areas. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that I shall get there this year, but I live in hope. I thought I’d share a few photos of a walk I took with my family back in 2004 along the South Downs Way taking in The Old Man of Wilmington. The countryside is stunning and I miss being able to walk there, or anywhere in the countryside right now.

This week I reached a mini goal in my jogging by running down the side of the park and along the back until I came to the where the main path slices the park in half, all without stopping. Then it’s a walk until I come to a certain post then off again until I reach the trees. That is my favourite part of the journey. It is peaceful and I always stop (I need to by then anyway!) and admire the undergrowth. Them I set off again to the top of the park – another breather – a short run, another stop and then I’m in the final stretch. At the end I sometimes visit the flower garden and take some photos.

I’ve been binge watching Look Up London videos of virtual walks in London and Museums in Quarantine on BBC4, catching up with some art exhibitions that closed before I could see them, plus others I probably wouldn’t have gone to, but I found them interesting nonetheless. These included Young Rembrandt, Andy Warhol, and a documentary about Monet’s garden and other artist’s gardens. The later was particularly beautiful and relevant to me as we were due to visit Monet’s garden in June. This is the nearest I would get to it this year, sadly, but I am even more excited about the prospect of visiting next year (all being well).

So, here is my week in pictures.

Flowers, trees, green spaces and night skies – My week in photos

I’ve been out only to shop and exercise this week (as we have been told to do). I do my exercise and shop together on the whole as I have two parks near to me. One is a cut through to the high street, the other makes a nice round trip. We’ve been lucky weather-wise this week and gardening has been high on the agenda. Digging over beds, planting seeds, potting up, cutting the grass has all been done. I’ve got my pea plants in and hope they can take the winds that have come in the last two days, along with a severe drop in temperature.

So, here is a snapshot of my week in pictures. Hope these cheer you up in these worrying times.