I’m writing this a little earlier than normal as I’m going away this weekend. Yes! Actually going away, with very dear friends too. As I look outside, the weather is anything but calm. The cover on our garden table is flapping around as if it might take off at any moment, and I fear for my lovingly grown cosmos which are swaying energetically in the strong winds.
However, despite the weather, there have been moments of calm this week, mostly of a cultural nature. Finally after months of waiting museums and galleries re opened this week. You know how much I love a museum and gallery.
Curiouser and Curiouser
London’s Victoria and Albert museum opened in style this week with some fabulous exhibitions. I was fortunate enough to go to the members preview day of ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’. I should have gone in March but then ‘you know what’ happened again, so it was great to finally get to see it. Arriving at the museum wasn’t especially calm. I arrived with loads of time and then realised 5 mins before my entry time I was at the wrong entrance, so I hot footed it to the correct entrance. I then couldn’t find my emailed tickets on my phone and I realised my membership card expired in April. Despite all of that, the helpful staff sorted me out and let me in. After just a few minutes in the galleries I felt my shoulders drop a little, my breathing relaxed and equilibrium was restored once more, as I found my self back in my happy place.
I should say, the exhibition is absolutely fabulous and one I will return to (the joy of membership). It is a real tour de force and you will certainly feel you have disappeared down an Alice sized rabbit hole at the end of it. The exhibition begins with the real Alice on which the story is based. There are costumes, endless memrobilia, a room of mirrors, film clips and a wonderful light infused reconstruction of the Mad Hatters Tea Party. I loved it.
Poetry of Place
I spent a gorgeous hour one evening this week listening to a poetry reading (via zoom). Three poets recited their poems on the theme of place. One of the poets was Heidi Williamson, a poet I have spoken about before. Her lates collection ‘Return by Minor Road’ is a moving collection of poems which celebrates the healing properties of place. Heidi was part of the Dunblane community at the time of the mass shooting over 20 years ago. This collection honours the memories of those events and recognises the glorious landscape in which it all happened as a place of healing. It was so powerful to hear her read her poems.
The other poets reading were Sue Burge and Judy Brown. Both of whom were new to me, and a wonderful discovery. The whole evening kept me totally transfixed and transported me away from my home to so many other places.
Wishing you a wonderful week xx
