Holloway Junction

I’ve had this image as the desktop background on my computer for the last three years. It was the highlight of a walk from West Wycombe to Hughenden Manor. We passed many grand buildings and sweeping landscapes but this place, at the intersection of two sunken paths and the curious steps leading up to where the light filters down through the leaves – Beam me up, Scotty – this was my favourite moment of the walk. Continue reading “Holloway Junction”

Frames of reference

Utopia

Christopher Corr sent us these photographs from America. They show a wonderful collection of mostly wooden vernacular buildings at the Hancock Shaker Village in Massachusetts. The Shakers began building a community here in the 1780s and continued up until the 1960s. They considered this their utopia and named it The City of Peace. Many of their buildings are still preserved here. Some have been lost and some have been re-erected here from other Shaker settlements. Continue reading “Utopia”

Frames of reference

Dom’s Big Leap

This is Dominic. He’s a picture framer. You’d never guess! But on November 4th he will break free from the constraints of conformity and for a few brief moments become a crazy vertigo defying stuntman. All in the name of charity. He will abseil down Battersea Power Station, but he needs your help. Please support his attempt to resist the power of gravity by visiting his JustGiving page.

Frames of reference

The Savill Garden

Last time we came to Windsor Great Park we tried to visit The Savill Garden but left it too late and by the time we got here it was closed, so we promised to return before too long. This time we got here in time for lunch at the Savill Building and just inside the the front door, opposite the ticket desk and beside a Diamond Jubilee display by a local primary school I made a surprising discovery. Continue reading “The Savill Garden”

Frames of reference

Fisher Center

Dear Chris….I saw some great places yesterday along the Hudson River: Rhinebeck, Tivoli, Germantown, Hudson the ex-whaling town. I took a look at Bard College and the Frank Gehry Performing Arts Space. Very impressive and shiny on a sunny day. Today off to Lenox, Massachusetts for a big book sale. Wishing you a great day, Chris. Continue reading “Fisher Center”

Frames of reference

Messing About On The River (1)

This is Kai on the Thames below Tower Bridge, sailing up river, back to where she started at Pimlico Pier and Westminster Boating Base.

Sunday mornings, blue sky, gentle breeze, tacking and gybing backwards and forwards, avoiding tourist boats, fighting the tide, trying not to be dunked by the better sailors. Usually the kids playing pirates are fearless and just love any opportunity to capsize. Occasionally being allowed down river as we were last month, memorably to sail under Tower Bridge and the Olympic Rings.

Frames of reference

Citius, Altius, Fortius

SAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA

Joseph Silcott has used a map of the Olympic Park, published by Ordnance Survey and the Institution of Civil Engineers, to create this piece entitled Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger). He has released a flock of butterflies from it to signify the arrival of the world’s athletes to this previously overlooked part of London. You can read Joseph’s account of making it here and you can see the finished artwork at The Rowley Gallery.

Frames of reference