Author Archives: pat

Burnham Week 2012

24 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in Burnham-on-Crouch, England, Sailing, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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The sailing regattas of summer are an annual event met with great enthuiasm by English sailors–men and women.  The tradition continues starting this week on the East Coast of England in Burnham-on-Crouch, from Saturday August 25, through Saturday the 1st of September. It’s Burnham Week 2012.

The boats stand ready for race week in Burnham. Photo by me.

I know My Beloved Brit would love to be there, but this year he’ll have to be content to follow his mates on the internet.

Burnham was quiet when we there in June, but next week it will be a mad house. Photo by me.

He’s already been in touch with the line up from his yacht club, The Crouch, always steely competitors.

That is the Crouch Yacht Club on the far left (with the flag pole) facing the river, and the seawall of Burnham-on-Crouch beyond.  Photo by me.

There are 21 categories for the different fleets, but entries so far are lighter than when he sailed them in “his youth”.  The combination of a tough economy, and lack of available crew has cut the number of boats entering for the full week, but not the spirit of the sailors and spectators.

The “race box” on the top floor of the Burnham Sailing Club. A committee member sits up here to sound the horns, check the times and be in contact with the racers. The Crouch Yacht Club is right next to it on the sea wall. Photo by me

Let the races begin!

Inn Spirit is a worthy competitor for Burnham Week, and one of several boats My Beloved Brits will be following next week. Photo by me

 

Tides

21 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Cornwall, England, Travel, United Kingdom

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For such a very well-mannered country, the tides of England are pretty darn dramatic. Especially in Cornwall. It was so very evident wherever we went on the southwest coast.

The beautiful tall ships tucked in a safe harbour in Charlestown

But nowhere were the large tides more obvious than in Charlestown, where the big, old ships are berthed.

You might see a lovely bay, or small port, with the boats floating about, and when you came back a couple of hours later there is nothing but mud, and the poor boats are left high and dry.

The tide comes in at the entrance to the protected harbour at Charlestown. Photo by me

 

Poor boats left in the mud when the tide goes out. Photo by me

The change in sea level is very steady and goes from very high to very low in about six hours.

..and the tide goes out

Luckily the Brits know all about the sea, and have devised clever hideaways to protect their ships from the outgoing tides — like the lock system here in Charlestown.

The ships are carefully protected during low tide behind the locks. Photo by me

It’s a lovely feat of engineering that pumps the water in to the holding area if needed as the tide goes out. Someone actually closes the locks on the tides schedule. I imagine he keeps his alarm clock well maintained.

Water is pumped in to keep the ships high but not dry as the tide goes out. Photo by me

The system keeps the boats safe and protected no matter the time of day.

All tucked in for low tide. Photo by me

And if there are no walls to hold it back…

A beach in Cornwall near Carlyon Bay. Photo by me.

…the tide may just take a bit of England with it out to sea.

Castle Fever

18 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by in Scotland, The Royal Family, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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I have been thinking of Balmoral lately, with the Royal Family in residence for their summer holiday, and Prince Philip having to retreat to the hospital in Aberdeen for a recurring health issue.

Beautiful Balmoral in the spring…a splendid castle. Photo by me

When we visited Scotland in May, we found our charming inn, the Dundee Hotel…

The Deeside Hotel in Ballater, our home while in Scotland. Photo by me

…tucked in along the road not far from Balmoral, just on the western edge of Ballater, and managed to drag our luggage up the narrow stairs to our room. Charm does not usually come with elevators in Great Britain.

Outside our room at the top of the stairs, the signs of the area…red deer and scotch. Photo by me

It was unusually warm for this part of the UK, probably close to 80 degrees, and after managing to get one window open in the room (air-conditioning doesn’t seem to be the norm in Scotland) we decided to walk in to town to enjoy the sun and get the lay of the land.

The parlor at the Deeside Hotel. photo by me

One thing I noticed walking down the main road was that there was definitely a castle theme in the architecture.

A neighborhood castle. Photo by me

Ballater is a holiday location on the “Deeside” which is what the locals call the area on the north side of the River Dee.  Most of the town closes up for winter and the season is March to November at the most, although there are a few ski resorts nearby.

We assumed that many of these homes were second homes, and obviously if you have the money to have a home in Ballater, it might as well be a castle.

Even new construction favors the castle tradition in Ballater. Photo by me.

It may be the Balmoral influence, which is only about 6 miles down the road. Or maybe they are just waiting for the Americans to invade and feel they need some extra fortification.

In the hills of Ballater on the main road. photo by me

None-the-less, it is a wonderful area, and returning to our rather warm, and bright room (the sun sets after 9:45pm in May) we decided it was definitely worth the long trip north. After all, it was one of Queen Victoria’s absolute favorite spots on earth. And no one would dream to argue with her.

The original train station used by Queen Victoria in Ballater. Photo by me

The Tower and The Shard

11 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by in England, London, Uncategorized

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Coming across Long Island from La Guardia Airport into New York City last week, My Beloved Brit and I could see a huge new tower in the distance in lower Manhattan. When we went downtown on Monday, we stared right at it and realized it was the new One World Trade Center, better known as 1 WTC.

The 104-story skyscraper has reached its height, and will be finished by 2013.  It is quite impressive now…

The new tower nearing completion in downtown New York City on the site of the twin towers. Photo by me

…and will be even more beautiful when it is finished.

Rendering from the Wikipedia website

When completed in 2013, 1 WTC will be the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the third-tallest in the world, with its spire reaching the symbolic 1,776 feet in reference to the year of American Independence.

On the other side of the pond, The Shard opened in London on July 5th of this summer.

The Shard, to the left of the photo, from their website

The Shard, designed by architect Renzo Piano, is spectacular on the London skyline, positioned on the South Bank, it is by far the highest building along the Thames.  When I saw the new tower in lower Manhattan, I couldn’t help recalling the sloping sides of The Shard. The Shard is only 1,016 ft tall, but in a city like London, it seems much taller in comparison to the buildings surrounding it. It is the tallest building in Western Europe, and houses the 5-star Shangri-La hotel.

From The Shard’s website, you can see its relative height on the South Bank of London

Located in the London Bridge Quarter on the South Bank of the Thames, the developers are hoping the new skyscraper will add new life to the area with a transformed transport hub, new retail space, offices and restaurants. This is the look of modern London.

Mountain House

24 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Art, paintings, sketching

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This time of year is special when I get to meet up with my dear BFF who is an art teacher in LA at her family’s mountain cabin in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. We have known each other for decades, and it is still precious when we get to spend time together.

Me and BFF Donna on a walk down the mountain road. photo by Cathy

The cabin is rustic, but wonderful, and we manage to leave the men behind

Gathering flowers and taking photos. Two of our favorite pastimes at Mountain House. Photo by me.

…and gather as artists in the little house on the hill.

Early morning at Mountain House. Photo by me

This year there are only three of us for this first night, but it makes it all the nicer to share a quiet porch in the late afternoon.

Rockers ready. Photo by me

I have created art here before,

Mountain Dogwood, conte on paper, art and photo by me

…and this time I managed some time sketching on my new city series.

Hard at work. Photo by Cathy

I have been spending long hours in the studio working and it is thrilling and scary to be back hard at work on my art after weeks of travel and thinking about what to work on next.

The beginning of a “Cities” painting…boules in Paris. photo by me

This was a nice break with artist friends…

BFF and sister Cathy creating art at Mountain House. Photo by me

…and although I miss My Beloved Brit, he understands my escaping for a few days with fellow artists in the woods.

Queen Anne’s Lace…a mountain classic. Photo by me

And with no air-conditioning or TV, he really has no desire to join us in this peaceful oasis.

Mountain House near Bryson City, NC. Photo by me

Sometimes it is nice to take a separate path, and have lots of stories to tell when we get back together.

White Cliffs and P&O: Dover

22 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in cars, England, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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My beloved Brit and I took  break from the beautiful gardens of Kent when we were in England this summer to drive down to The White Cliffs of Dover and have a visit with his aunt and uncle who have lived in that area for years.

The White Cliffs loom above the coast everywhere. Photo by me

We went right down to the seafront to a classic hotel we knew from past visits for a lunch overlooking the English Channel. We could watch the huge ferries come and go between Dover and France over our leek and potato soup. Perfect for a chilly rainy day in England.

The old Churchill hotel is now a Best Western, beautifully redone. Photo by me.

We lingered over lunch as we watched the ferry traffic come and go outside the window.

 

It was a bit rainy during parts of the day (how unusual) and still the trucks lined up in great ques beneath the White Cliffs waiting to take their place on the massive boats that came and went through the sea wall with frightening regularity.  It was great fun.

MBB’s uncle, and aunt, had worked on, and with, the ships for decades, including the P&O Line, better known as the “Pooh Line”.  His uncle, who had worked for years with Dover Port Authority, told us over lunch that some of these boats carried more than 500-1300 cars and lorries per trip, plus cargo, and explained some of the navigational intricacies of the crossing which only takes a bit over an hour to cross to France.

It was a fascinating couple of hours, and we left with a reconfirmation of just what it meant to be a huge island nation.

The coast of Dover, England’s border on the English Channel. Photo by me.

The rest of the world is always across a stretch of sea, and you are connected to the outside world in many ways, but one of the most important in England is boats in all shapes and sizes.

The Torch Has Arrived In London!

20 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by in England, London, Olympics, Uncategorized

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The Olympic Torch arrived in London! The torch was carried by Royal Marine Martyn Williams as he rappelled down into the Tower of London from a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter July 20th. Read the story in The Washington Post here.

Photo by Jae C. Hong from The Washington Post article.

Crowds lined the banks of the River Thames as the torch arrived, and word has it that the 2012 Olympic medals are safely stowed away at The Tower of London ready for the winners.

Let the games begin! The countdown begins to the final week.

A path to explore

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, paintings, sketching, Travel, Uncategorized

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It is always good going to my gallery in Rehoboth Beach.  I get to see the other work…

Santo Mirabile (mobile) and Rose Minetti (painting) at Gallery 50, photo by me

 

…and discuss with Jay (the owner of Gallery 50 Contemporary Art) my thoughts on my art.  This trip has confirmed a thought  process I had been having about exploring cities in a social context.  The gallery sold one of my favorite new small paintings, “Gallery View”, the week before My Beloved Brit and I arrived.

“Gallery View”, oil painting by me

I had been giving a lot of thought, after all my travels, that I wanted to explore social interaction in three major cities…NYC, London and Paris (3 of my favorites) and see what they had in common and what made them unique.

Cy Twombly at Tate Modern, London

The Louvre, Paris, photo by me

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, photo by me

The blending of location and culture has always intrigued me, and this was an interesting progression to take in my art. I’ve looked at cities before, and the interaction of their inhabitants.

“Metropolitan Spring”, painting by me

MBB and I have discovered, living in a more rural area, that we really are urban animals.  There is nothing I like more than the feel of hot pavement under my feet taking me to explore a great museum, or view an array of shop windows or wander into a park.

“The Voyeur”, painting by me from a park seen in England

A cafe in the Tuileries, Paris, photo by me

I will probably focus on the leisure activities of the cities…what people do when they just want to relax and unwind…and of course it will revolve a lot around what I do with my free time.  So as I explore museums and parks and walking around great cities, I imagine these new pieces will go in that direction.

Playing boules in The Tuileries, Paris. Photo by me

But that is the beauty of a new series.  I am never quite sure where it will take me.

Oxford

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by in England, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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The new Inspector Lewis series has started back on Masterpiece Theater this past week on Sunday nights.  Oh joy!

I had driven through Oxford once before years ago, but never really had a chance to see it at any length. When we were in England last month, we decided to take the day and wander through the streets where Inspector Lewis, one of my favorite BBC characters, investigates crime.

Oxford University. Is the filming equipment set up for BBC’s Inspector Lewis? Photo by me.

Oxford is a big old university town.  The different schools and colleges are scattered throughout the city, from the historic to the more modern.  You can just feel the scholastic atmosphere everywhere you go, and we did get a chance to peek in to several of the college courtyards.

A college courtyard, hidden gems, scattered throughout the University. Photo by me.

It’s hard to tell where the school ends and the city begins. The main streets were filled with students on a particularly warm day, and every other building seemed to have some academic credential posted on it.

Everywhere you turned, you were made aware that this was a big college town. Photo by me.

You could see the students everywhere with their bicycles casually leaned against a wall while they lingered in a café or shop.

Bicycles were the key mode of transport. Photo by me.

Parking was next to impossible, so you saw bikes, and buses and people walking with backpacks everywhere.

Bicycles everywhere in Oxford. Photo by me

The gold-colored walls are the same as in the nearby Cotswolds, and the architecture was amazing. Around every corner was another gorgeous building in that beautiful stone.

The gold stone is reminiscent of the Cotswolds, which Oxford is really part of. Photo by me

It was fascinating to see how the old and new blended so seamlessly. And, I must admit, t was just fun to be in a city again after a weeks in the countryside.

The modern students walk the historic streets in Oxfords main downtown. Photo by me

So much of it seemed so very familiar.  Was the inspector nearby?

Houghton Hall, The Gardens

07 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in England, Gardens, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Houghton Hall, the early 18th century hall of Great Britain’s First Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, had two very distinct draws for my interest besides the main mansion.

One was the Deer Park, which I discussed in my last post.

The front lawns of Houghton Hall stretch for miles down to the deer park. Photo by me

The deer on the lawn. They certainly weren’t shy. Photo by me.

The other was the magnificent 5-acre walled garden. An area of the garden has been retained as a kitchen garden, but most has been laid out as a series of ornamental gardens in various styles.

The beginning of the walled gardens Photo by me

It was lovely, and had so many twists and turns, we weren’t sure where to begin. So we began in the middle.

Photo by me.

Down the center was a long alley with gorgeous borders. The wider north borders are planted with hot colors-reds and oranges-while the south borders are in cooler blues and whites.

At both ends are charming surprises that make you want to linger and enjoy the view

The Rustic Temple makes use of a collection of deer antlers found in the park. Photo by me.

I love when they have intimate surprises at the end of these long vistas of flowers.  It just makes you want to sit and take it all in.

At the other end of the long alley of flowers is the glasshouse. Photo by me

And in between, there are small garden rooms that strike off from the main aisle on paths behind the hedges.

Long passageways gave entry to the different garden areas. Photo by me

Each has its own personality.

A fountain that balances fire on top of the water – the Water Flame – is quite dramatic. Photo by me

One “room” featured some friendly bees in their hives. Photo by me.

Just when you thought you’d seen them all, you would discover one you had missed.

A resident in one of the garden rooms. Photo by me

Truly magnificent.

Another passageway. Photo by me

As we toured the main house you would catch glimpses of the lawn through the windows.  And as classically beautiful as the hall was with magnificent wall coverings and fabrics, I was happiest outside overlooking the park.

Houghton Hall, the home of the first prime minister, and still a politically active family. Photo by me

We even managed as we left the house to see a small white plane taking off from across the fields. Magic!

 

A small plane…

…takes off over the green.

 

and takes off in to the sky. Photos by me.