….AND relax…..
November 19, 2009
I’ve done quite a lot since I last wrote here. So much so that I’m only going to give you potted highlights otherwise you will lose the will to live before you are half way through.
- I was invited to a Charity Gala dinner in London on Friday 30th October, the highlight of which was the after dinner speaker – President Bill Clinton. He spoke about the charity work he does through the William J Clinton Foundation and particularly mentioned Kiva a cause I support already and recommend (link in my sidebar).
- We mooched around Portobello Road market (as seen in the film ‘Notting Hill’) on Saturday as rather amazingly, I had never been there – great fun. We came back from London on Sunday as I had a meeting. I mention this because I then rushed back up to London on Monday morning to spend some time with my #2 son for my birthday
- He and I finally got to see the Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Royal Academy – it was fabulous. Really enjoyed it.
Anish Kapoor and 'Yellow' at the Royal Academy
- We went to see Simon Lynge – a very gifted singer songwriter who comes from Greenland. It was the launch party for his new album to be released in February. He was very good indeed. See for yourself. I love this song which is his single.
- Rushed back from London (again) in time to go out for with lunch with some friends and #1 son for my birthday.
- Spent my birthday packing as I was going to Spain to stay with a friend early the next day.
- Had a wonderful holiday in Sayalonga, a small hilltop village in the mountains behind Malaga. We had several hair raising trips out along winding mountain roads tracks to visit pretty towns and to admire astonishing views.
Sayalonga
One highlight of the trip was a visit to the Caves at Nerja – possibly the best thing I have ever seen – utterly awesome. Here is a photograph which you can click on to see a large version. They have concerts in these caves in the summer (if you zoom in you can see the seating) – definitely added to my list of things to do. Opera in these caves would be astonishing.
One thing that can now be ticked off my list of things to do, was the other highlight of my trip – a visit to the Alhambra in Granada. If the Caves at Nerja are an example of nature at it’s most magnificent, then the Alhambra is an example of how sublimely beautiful some of man’s creations can be. It’s truly breathtaking. Here is a slide show of the photographs I took.
- The weather in Spain was beautiful – cool in the mornings and evenings but in the 70s and sunny during the day. I arrived back in the UK to torrential rain and howling gales – which has continued and shows no signs of going away. Just as well that I have been thrown back into the deep end with the latest iteration of the record company book project. With only three days to work on it before it had to be packaged up and sent to Seattle and as there were major re-writes and design changes, it was a manic weekend. Fedex have given me several highly stressful moments which I could have well done without but hopefully I (and they) made the deadline.
So now I am working on a couple of websites. One, my first e-commerce site for a friend who makes jewellery will be a fun project and hopefully the experience will help me when I get round to designing my own website for selling my books and photograph albums.
If I ever have the time to do it…
Entry Filed under: Art, Birthdays, Book arts, Bookbinding, Books, Charity, Crafts, Families, Handmade books, Interesting facts, Music, Photography, Places, Travel, Videos, weather. Tags: Spain, Royal Academy, Anish Kapoor, Bill Clinton, Simon Lynge, Sayalonga, Nerja, Caves, Alhambra, Granada, Malaga, Fedex.
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1.
Rob Sellen | November 19, 2009 at 3:38 am
Hi Diane.. you have been busy, sounds like you have been having some fun as well.. :)
Going to be busy building sites next too, i like building sites, we learn alot from it too.
Good to see you, glad you have been having a wale of a time here, there and everywhere!
Rob. :D
2.
Diane | November 20, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Thanks Rob, I have been having lots of fun – and as I enjoy what I work at too, I think I’m very lucky!
Good luck with your websites…
3.
Daddy Papersurfer | November 19, 2009 at 10:51 am
Amazing at your time of life ……… quite exhausting for you I’m sure …….. still, you can have a nice little rest now with a a buttered crumpet and a cuppa ……
Anish Kapoor is an interesting fella isn’t he …… love his ‘red gunge gun’ ……….
……….. annnnnnnnnnd, have you been to the Dragon Caves on Majorca? very similar set-up to the ones at Nerja – an underground lake with musicians floating around on boats – the ‘silent’ rowing is very impressive ….
4.
Diane | November 20, 2009 at 7:04 pm
At my time of life? *splutter* what? You cheeky piece…
…although a buttered crumpet and a cuppa does sound very nice….
I couldn’t help wondering how much it is going to cost to redecorate the RA once Anish Kapoor has finished trashing it. That red waxy gunk has gone everywhere!
No, I shall check out those caves next time I am in Majorca, I’m liking the sound of the underground lake :-)
5.
strugglingwriter | November 20, 2009 at 3:11 am
Just saying hello Diane. I’d say more, but I’m swamped trying to get in my 2,000 words of writing. It would have been cool to hear Clinton speak. I think I’ve finally forgiven him for all the stuff he said during the primaries.
6.
Diane | November 20, 2009 at 7:07 pm
You put me to shame. Here you are NaNoWriMo-ing again and still finding time to comment here. Looking forward to reading your latest epic.
I’d heard Bill Clinton was a great, charismatic speaker but I was hoping for anecdotes about his time in the White House and it was mostly about his charitable foundation. Interesting but not riveting for 90 minutes…..
7.
70steen | November 20, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Wow Diane what a fabulous time you have been having .. how is Milo coping with your gadding about?
The Anish Kapoor exhibition looks amazing just wish I had the time to go and visit.. I am in London two days next week … hoping to go to our fav paper shop (aka once as Faulkners) as I am chairing a conference just up the road from it … the plan is to wrap it up early and have some paper therapy … gosh I hope I don’t have verbose folk asking loads of Q’s lol ;-)
8.
Diane | November 24, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Milo doesn’t mind at all as #1 son has been looking after him. Milo seems to think that he has been given a 6′ 4″ toy to play with when my son looks after him. I pay for it when I get back as he is usually a complete pain.
Lucky you, getting to Shepherds (aka Falkiners) – I haven’t been for ages – have done all my shopping online – they are brilliant and deliver SO quickly, but it’s not the same as mooching round the shop.
Anish Kapoor was really, really good. I hope you get to see it before it ends…
9.
laketrees | November 24, 2009 at 4:49 am
whew Diane!!
I got tired just reading your post :)
you have been busy!!!
I hope your birthday was fab :)
what an exotic place to visit and those caves are incredible..
lovely song…he reminds a little of Jack Johnson very easy to listen to :)
10.
Diane | November 24, 2009 at 7:40 pm
My birthday was good, thanks. I have had such a lovely time for the last few weeks, it seemed to go on forever!
I really like the song too .- I was given an advance copy of the CD and it is now on my iPod and I am loving it! He is such a good live performer too :-)
11.
RennyBA's Terella | November 25, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Ohh you busy travelling bee – glad to read you remember to have fun while you where at it too.
Speaking of Presidents: I’m looking forward to Obama’s visit in Oslo the 10th of December when he will give his Nobel Peace Prize speech.
Good luck with your website project! I would love to see the outcome.
12.
Diane | December 1, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Thanks Renny.
I’d love to see President Obama too – that would be wonderful. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say about winning the Nobel Peace Prize. I think he was genuinely surprised!
I am building quite a web design portfolio – must get round to doing my own :-)
13.
Teresa | November 26, 2009 at 8:30 pm
WOW! Is there anything you do that’s really ordinary and boring? ;)
I agree with Laketrees…I was exhausted reading about your adventures! I’m not sure I could ever travel with you as I’d pass out around the second day.
Your photographs are beautiful though, and I’m just as happy to visit places vicariously through you!
Now, stop traveling and get back to work…LOL! xx
14.
Diane | December 1, 2009 at 5:11 pm
You joke! You have so much energy, you put me to shame! We just have to get you flying and then you can come to the UK and and Europe and join in the fun :-)
I am back to work this week – and it is cold and wet and windy…I am wishing I was off to the sun again but no plans :-(
15.
Teresa | December 2, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I would send some sun to you, but ours disappeared too…we’re supposed to get some flurries tomorrow. Ack!
I’ll send you a sun-shiny smile…hope that helps! xx :)
16.
barbara | November 28, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Hi Diane, Just checking in. What a fabulous trip. Great picture of Clinton. Must be an old one. He hasn’t been looking too good lately. Nancy (my sister) and I also support Kiva. In fact we’ve been completely paid back and are due to pick a new person. Last year we gave a donation (or loan) in the name of our book club.
17.
Diane | December 1, 2009 at 5:17 pm
He did look older to be honest. When he was giving his speech there were large screens either side of the stage which showed every facial expression but I kept having to tell myself to watch HIM as I could see him on a screen anytime :-)
That’s a good idea, donating in the name of your book club. I have reinvested the money I have repaid too – and despite reading that the money doesn’t go to the individuals we pick but to a ‘pot’ of money that gets disbursed to individuals (which was disappointing) I still think it is a good way to give money – just not quite so personal as I had thought.
18.
barbara | December 5, 2009 at 2:56 am
Oh, that is a disappointment but you’re right it’s still a good cause.