ME time...

...does not necessarily equate to quiet time, at all! I'm home and l'm so tired. I've walked and l've walked! The train trip down from Carlisle to London was uneventful, thus newspaper, magazine, book, ipod... but on a Pendolino it was fast, blink and you'd miss the countryside whizzing by...

After checking into my hotel I wondered around Covent Garden

browsed the fancy food shops

then went to The National Portrait Gallery to view

and went to The Haymarket Theatre and watched Breakfast at Tiffanys

I then walked all the way from Picadilly via Regent & Oxford streets

to my hotel at Lancaster gate. at midnight. Phew!

Day two - the morning was spent finding then ratching around in the Persephoone bookshop. Bliss! I chose three books to wrap and put under the tree for ME!

Then I went to The Victoria & Albert Museum

where I spent hours in the Costume Rooms

this is a Vivienne Westwood, I wish!!

(more fab dresses in another post)

then viewed the marvellous Maharajah Exhibition

and then in the evening I went to the Royal Albert Hall, a first for me, to see

'A Not so silent Christmas'

featuring Rufus & Martha Wainwright

Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Boy George, Guy Garvey, Ed Hagerty,

& Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders-retired-

believe it or not this is Boy George & Rufus singing Blue Christmas!

A real fun night.

MY PHOTOSTORY & SKY WATCH Friday - AWAYDAY

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

Today's brooding sky hovered above us down the motorway...

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A regular away day I thought,

 as three colleagues and I set off from 

Carlisle to Preston in our hire car.

We had been asked to attend a training day,

'Getting to know you- Understanding our visitors and developing audiences'

this was being held at the Lancashire  Conservation Centre, Preston.

The course was  seemingly pitched at marketing managers & assistants and I thought it  

would not be of practical use to me  in my role at  front of house.

 However,  I was interested and it may offer me  some

 tips that may benefit my online business. 

The weather was overcast and brooding,

the traffic appeared fine.

We missed junction 31  ( Stewart is emphatic  its no longer there) and so we arrived just as they were  starting.

The Centre is in an inspiring and spectacular Grade II listed Victorian Church, (St. Mary's, 1836-1996)  which to our surprise and delight held some wonderful original features.  Which were sympathetically preserved within the renovation and strict controlled environments of

 the  now Conservation Centre.

Upon arrival in the car park I noticed two tree photo opportunities and I like how they turned out!

The Centre with the imposing Mill chimney over the road

 (which we were told later is the busiest road in the red light area!)

This is the room we were in for the day with a partial view of some old windows... 

an unknown hint of things to come!

We broke for lunch and adjourned to the top floor and found a sculptural relief of The Three Graces by Bertel Thorvaldson  propped up in the luncheon room.

 As well as several stained glass windows on view behind protective glass.

The Three Graces by Bertel Thorvaldson 

 (very fuzzy sorry)

some original features

We were taken on a tour of the centre. For me this was an unreserved pleasure. I saw textiles, costume, paintings, sculptures and wild animals being preserved and restored. It was as marvellous as it was an unexpected addition to the day.

The old window in the new kitchen

The old window in the new ladies loos

The early Victorian Church, soars Gothic like in the fading light as we left.  Sorry about the angles ... I only had the phone camera with me again, is that David tutting?

Verity with  a large object in the garden, Verity is on the right! 

Does anyone know what it is? We don't! A stove perhaps?

Photostory friday Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.