Bras and cars
I saw my first ‘clothed’ VW camper at the London to Brighton classic car run last weekend.
It’s wearing this lovely Vunder-Bra made by Volksheaven. I’m not convinced it gives adequate support, but it looks marvellous.
Sketching, Swiss style
A gentle start in Chur…
The Glacier Express in Switzerland is one of the slowest express trains in the world, but still makes for high speed sketching.
On to Gornergrat.
The final train journey home, via Geneva. Even the Brighton train was on time!
Brighton Festival 2014
The children’s parade kicked off the 2014 Brighton festival last weekend. The theme was “the arts.” I love it when kids get to choose! Yoda is an art house legend.
Shoreham Fort
Had Napoleon III took a day trip to Shoreham, he would have come face to face with the large gun which sat on this emplacement
Shoreham Fort was built in 1857 to defend against French invasion. Luckily, Napoleon III was too busy renovating Paris to bother attacking the good people of Shoreham. As it turned out, the real threat came 100 years later when the Barrack block was demolished.
The fort is now being lovingly restored by volunteers, so this little nugget of Victorian innovation stays with us.
Easter treats
Brighton is awash with bloom and after this Easter I’m 28% cocoa. That’s more than your average mini egg.
London not by the sea
I finally got to see the Turner by the sea exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich this weekend. It’s great to see such an amazing body of work in one place. I recommend getting the audio tour for some added context.
As well as more familiar paintings, you get to see some of Turner’s sketchbooks and unfinished works.
I was so inspired, I had to immediately walk to the Royal Observatory and do a double page spread of Greenwich Park!
With that out of my system there was time for a quick stop at the Tate modern to sketch the silver birch trees before it got too dark.
Roll up the carpets… the Daleks are coming
The Modelworld exhibition hit the Brighton Center last weekend. So many tiny things in such a huge space.
Man or model?
Thankfully the Daleks were there to bring things down to earth.
Michael Tuckers amazing buildings are made from ordinary stuff like cereal boxes and Weetabix. Every miniscule tile on the roof is made from an individual square of paper.
The tide is high
Taking inspiration from David Cameron, I decided to jump on the bandwagon today and take in a bit of flood tourism.
I’m not shameless enough to gawp at those unfortunate enough to have their homes ruined by the ceaseless deluge we’ve experienced this winter. Instead I opted for the softer option of a visit to Brighton and Hove seafront.
Despite a big clean up after the raging high tides in January, you will still find yourself wading through pebbles and bits of pier. Forget wellies, I recommend a hard hat and some totectors!
The West pier suffered further collapse a couple of weeks ago, although you wouldn’t know it until you face it head on.
It was like watching 5 year olds dance at a school play, as those normally tightly synchronised rows of beach huts shuffled shambolically in the wind, swimming amongst pebbles and bits of old net.
There’s no room for exactness when you are Winter sketching, particularly when you can’t actually feel your hands anymore!
Flounderer or figure skater, which are you?
I’ve tried ice skating a few times. I spent most of the time clinging to the edge, or sliding on my knees, staring up at the gleeful faces of 7 year olds as they swished past, flicking ice in my fearful face.
This is why the Royal Pavillion ice rink is the perfect skating venue for me. All I have to do is park myself in the warm comfort of the restaurant, and carefully lift a cup of mulled wine to my mouth without burning my tongue. It’s exhilarating!
The rink couldn’t be in a better location, especially at night with the camped up lighting. The restaurant and bar provide plenty of seating if like me, you’d rather sit it out. I particularly recommend the beer battered halloumi on the evening menu.
The rink is open until 19th January so there’s still time to flounder or figure skate around the circuit.
Anyone for camping?
If you’ve passed through a typical campsite lately, you’ll probably think you’ve seen it all when it comes to tents. The general rule seems to be that if you can’t fit a 3 seater sofa and a fitted kitchen in it, don’t bother. So I was surprised to find my expectations topped when I saw that the Brighton Music Hall ‘tremendous tipi’ on the seafront.
It promises to provide an experience that would tempt even the most luke warm of campers. If only there was always a Sunday roast, winter Pimms, Father Christmas & live music on tap every time you pitched a tent, then some of us might be a bit more willing to rough it.
cmoorelife 