** opting out

sometimes the universe throws you a ball

that knocks you down

and while you're down there

you think about stuff

all the stuff you need/don't need

all the stuff you think you need/want

all the stuff that's important/unimportant

all the people who were there/weren't there 

then you get right up, dust yourself down 

and start again

with a fresh perspective

that scar the universe left

the gentle reminder 

you never forget

we are going on an adventure today

far away

where there is no christmas day

and we will remember all those here/not here

we will carry them in our hearts

have a happy holiday

fill your soul and your belly

see you in 2016 with tales of our journey

∏∏ subversion

I follow the artist Ai WeiWei on

Instagram

he documents his travels

taking photos of everything,

everyone and his son

having never seen his work

we took a visit to the Royal Academy 

his work is impressive

I imagine he employs an army of people

to source the beautiful materials

for his installations

each piece has a background

a history

a story

it's not all pretty

'Straight' is a seismographic 90 tons of iron bars

that once held up buildings

highlighting the corruption which made school buildings 

vulnerable in the Sichuan earthquake, 2008

he makes known the authorities who try to 

destroy inconvenient histories

cao {grass} each blade and their hexagon bases

taken from the same quarry, the same marble used for 

Mao's mausoleum in Tiananmen Square

like these tightly packed marble grasses

the gallery spaces were very busy

everyone wants to see what the fuss is about

WeiWei is news

"Today is very different. I still have the internet and I can still manage to organise exhibitions with established institutions. In today’s condition, I do not think that anybody can stop the exchange of ideas."

** ** 140 years of style

this weekend I took a trip to the

Fashion & Textiles Museum

to see the Liberty in Fashion exhibition

"I was determined not to follow existing fashion

but to create new ones"

Arthur Lazenby Liberty

sumptuous fabrics

oriental influences

generous cuts

sweet detail

collaboration

sketchbooks

Liberty has lasted by moving with changing trends

but keeping it's unique identity

a nostalgic trip through the eras of designs 

we recognise and love

the exhibition runs until February 2016

⫷⫸ tide land

escape to somewhere 

away from the crowds

 where shingle beats sand

and boats sit still

tumbledown sheds

 all watched over

texture play, shades of grey

beautiful bleak billowing

Derek Jarman knew a thing or two

⊂⊃ living on an island

in May I spent a few days on the Isle of Wight

with my Mother, Aunt and Cousin

we met my Uncle at Sandown

where we scattered my Nan's ashes

my family had lived on the Island for many years

this hut on the prom belonged to Harry Scovell

he would sell his catch to local fish shops

and take their scraps to bait his lobster pots

with his faithful dog Sailor

my Uncle used to help him bring in the pots

and my Mum and Aunt would scrabble in the sand

for dropped coins from the jackets that were slung on the

back of deckchairs

they would spend all day out with a sandwich

and a bottle of water with sherbet

this is where they lived ~ changed now

my Grandmother took in 'visitors' in the Summer

so the children slept in a little room downstairs 

out the back

and made themselves scarce during the day

we visited Auntie Maggie

who isn't really an Aunt but was a good friend

she chattered away telling stories

as we sipped tea

we dipped our toes in the Solent

and found hagstones 

one left on my ancestors grave

simple lives well lived

and loved 

☀️ where the gods were

oh Kefalonia you beautiful island

                                                         blue sea  //   skies

                                                   green olives  //  canna lilies

                                             dusty hill walks   //   views

                        the smell of sage, wild thyme  //  the rustle of arondo

                                   the door to the church  //  ancient mosaics

delicious eats

and drinks!

walking past pastel homes

on our way to the Ionian Sea