08.07.10. Travelling across the Canale and seeing this scene can never fail to thrill however many times you do it. It had been really dull until about 5 minutes before this photo was taken. In my mind, Venice never fails to deliver...
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Umbrella, San Marco Piazza, Venice
08.07.10
This is the sort of image I have dreamed of taking, a single person crossing an empty square with a coloured umbrella while you are stationed above with your camera. Well, it wasn't a single person and I did need to crop it to get her in the centre, but she is in focus, so I'm 75% happy with this photo...
This is the sort of image I have dreamed of taking, a single person crossing an empty square with a coloured umbrella while you are stationed above with your camera. Well, it wasn't a single person and I did need to crop it to get her in the centre, but she is in focus, so I'm 75% happy with this photo...
Bird's Eye View Of Venice
08.07.10. Going up the Campanile at San Marco in Venice, was a real thrill. Graham had always rubbished the idea in previous years as he thought you would have to walk up lots of flights of stairs. In fact, there is a lift which was fast and efficient. Pity we didn't take more notice of what time it was...the bells were deafening!
Belluno, Town On Two Levels
07.07.10.
Arrived in Italy with time for an late afternoon drive to the beautiful town of Belluno. Here Graham bought his all important Italian SIM for his iPad. Lack in communications meant that he only received 5 days worth of internet when he thought the €30 would last a month...
Arrived in Italy with time for an late afternoon drive to the beautiful town of Belluno. Here Graham bought his all important Italian SIM for his iPad. Lack in communications meant that he only received 5 days worth of internet when he thought the €30 would last a month...
July 2010
Feels odd this year to be July already and still teaching!
02.07.10: My last jewellery class this year at Village. Last lessons always seem a bit of a let down, you can't plan to do anything too ambitious in case it doesn't get finished, but at the same time still need a project to keep everyone's interest. After all the evaluation forms were completed (and everything else) we made dragonflies using the cross-over technique. It was very well received. Best moment, one of the students came when last week she had given her apologies - nice ending to a good term.
03.07.10: Graham and I went down to Little Eaton Carnival. Bought a Fig tree which subsequently shed all of its leaves, but I think it will live...
05.07.10: Collected holiday money from town
07.07.10: Holidays seem to come round when you least expect them. You look forward to them all year and then when they arrive we're never quite ready. Wednesday was a bit of an early start for me, but having been awake early in anticipation, I was glad for the excuse to be up and dressed. The weather was kind to us and when we finally found a parking space at the airport (was everyone on holiday too?) the sun came out and warmed us as we made our way to the terminal building and it was only 8.20am!
The flight was uneventful, if a little jiggly from time to time. The view of the Alps, spectacular - we seemed so close even if we were 6 miles up!
The first step onto Venitian soil was so pleasant, a welcoming heat. Bags arrived within minutes and even the car hire kiosk empty and ready to wave us on to our car. Graham was very happy with our vehicle, a Lancia which seemed very tall very like the c-Max at home. Out into the stream of traffic, and on to Quarto D'Altino, but not before a short lunch break by the side of a river followed by a short walk in what seemed a heat turned to its highest setting.
By the time we arrived at the hotel, we were given a friendly welcome and our room was on the top floor overlooking the train station opposite.
With an afternoon at our disposal, we dialled in a town in the mountains and set off. A slightly false start as the slip road onto the motorway had been repositioned a couple of miles away!
Belluno is at the edge of the Dolomites and the old part set high about the rest of the bustling town. A convenient car part at the base ushered us to a centre point where three escalators whisked us heaven bound. At the top we walked out into the expected Piazza, Duomo and bell tower, all huge and all very photogenic. We didn't have too long for a walk round especially as Graham wanted to buy a sim for his iPad at the Vodaphone shop. As with all purchases this took an inordinately long time to negotiate…
Back at the hotel we felt our tummies rumble and remembered how last year we were delighted with the plate of roast beef and bread sticks we had at the end of a very long day. This year we had a plate each (Graham preferring prochuttio crudo), our enjoyment only slightly marred by the raucous chants of fellow guests enjoying the semi final of the world cup.
08.07.10. Having slept well in a comfy bed, we had breakfast and walked the 10 yards or so behind the hotel to the train station. Unusually - given previous year's experiences we got a seat straight away and in 28 minutes were rolling in to Venice. The view from outside the station hadn't really changed from last year. It's the town in the whole world that I know that there is so much going on immediately outside. After a short wait we boarded a riverboat and for a change went the opposite way to San Marco Piazza. You don't get to see all the wonderful buildings on the waterway, but the first glimpse of the bell tower and Ducal Palace next to San Marco and quite magical from across the water. This year we spent more time walking along the water's edge before wending our way through the inviting streets and also took in a trip up the bell tower to view the town from above. Well worth the 8 Euros. As usual we made our way to Ponte Rialto for my annual purchase of a Murano watch, this year one watch and one replacement strap, a cup of fruit eaten waiting the world go by at the water's edge and a long walk back t the station. Home for 7.30, time for a quick hair wash, bar snack and a brief walk before bed.
09.07.10: Next morning and after a good breakfast we headed south, our destination Florence. It was obvious from the temperature gauge in the car that it was quite hot outside, but when we stopped off from the motorway for a picnic lunch, we were glad of the surrounding trees. Our next stop was at a Designer Outlet just outside Florence where it was so hot it was almost impossible to move from one shop to the next unless there was some shade. Having made good time up to this point, the last 15 miles were spent nose to tail in a traffic queue due to road works. The hotel, on the outskirts of Florence was pleasant enough, except that we had a room next the road and it seemed that through the night all scooters were directed past it. Even our much anticipated evening walk proved too much due to the heat and we soon headed back to the car and the hotel.
10.07.10: The next morning we fared a little better, keen to revisit old haunts and discover new ones. Graham had a bee in his bonnet about buying a leather jacket and it was as though the first shop we went into had 'seen us coming'. Graham agreed to everything the salesman suggested, including the price. To be fair, the price included the shortening of the sleeves, both of which had zips in the time it took us to collct the money from a cash point. Lunch was a crusty sandwich from a brilliant little shop catering for tourists who didn't want to stop long while visiting such a beautiful city. Sandwiches were listed on a flyer and once chosen by number, were made up in front of you and all for under €5. Our new find was the shoe museum which is housed in the basement of the Salvatore Ferragamo shoe shop. We saw a special display of Greta Garbo's footwear, but disappointingly little else, although we did get to sit down in cool leather chairs and watch clips from old Greta Garbo films, which was a welcome relief from the heat outside.
Than on to the holiday house, arriving around 5pm after a quick stop for groceries in the nearby town of Bagni di Lucca. The house and surroundings as beautiful as ever, although Graham was a little surprised to receive a welcome from a scorpian as he went to retrieve the keys from under a stone left in the appointed place. It felt like home all over again...
11.07.10: Graham had been up reading his book for about an hour before I surfaced. After some breakfast, I grabbed my camera and headed off for my first walk, like I always do, to the old chapel along the unsurfaced road about a mile and a half away. Unfortunately my walk coincided with the congregation returning from their monthly service and all I could see was dust for ages. The butterflies in the meadow and the lizards which usually frequent the old water trough were no where to be seen, but eventually the dust settled, the air calmed and a couple of lizards were seen and captured in an image or two. Back to the house to cook lunch, Graham still ploughing through his book it was all delightful and incredibly hot. In the afternoon, the sky darkened and great thunderclaps were heard, but unfortunately no rain to dissipate the heat. Sunday is traditionally a 'no car' day, but Graham was persuaded to come on quite a long walk up to the next village and back.
12.07.10: First day to explore our surroundings. Not wanting to venture too far, we (I) chose a route quite close to the house, reasoning that if it was going to be very hot, then best to travel upwards rather than along. First along the river valley and came across an interesting (for Graham) bike shop. Then up through winding roads, stopping for a while for me to capture the scenery and Graham to answer some pressing emails. Our destination was San Pellegrino in Alpe, a small town perched on a high mountain. We found a sign there stating it was a mile above sea level, also a delightful farming museum which my dad would have loved to have seen, full of old implements, mostly wooden which had been collected by a dedicated person over centuries, it seemed. The town itself was a very important place during ancient times being the highest point on an important trading route between Modena and Lucca Apparently Shelley visited in 1820 and was inspired to write The Witch Of Atlas (holiday reading for next year?)
13.07.10 Tuesday was the day of the big drive. We seem to have visited all the major towns in Tuscany, so this year I hoped to find something slightly different. In the same area we have visited San Giminiano, renown for its towers and Siena for its square where horse races are held twice a year. Searching through the guide book I found a reference to a 'typical tuscan countryside with golden landscape and tall cyprus trees' on the road from Siena to Asciano - and they were not wrong. It was heart stoppingly wonderful, but generally without places to stop and take photos, but we managed. Asciano on the other hand was terribly disappointing in terms of 'wow' factor, but understandably a bit of a 'come down' after what we had just viewed. Again, it was incredibly hot and you could only walk on the shady part of the street!
14.07.10. Wednesday we lunched at home and set off later for Lucca, which has to be our favourite town of all the places in Tuscany. A walled city, again with lots of towers. This year, with the success of the Campanile in Venice, I suggested we visit the tower with the trees growing out of it - Torre dei Guingi. Great, no problem, or there wasn't until we neared the top and instead of floors to climb, a metal staircase clung to the inside of the tower. At the top was one more stone floor, but with grills at all the windows and on more metal staircase to reach the very top and the trees. Graham went on ahead, once he made sure I felt safe and then came back down to tell me that the top was all secure with a stone floor and an iron railing to stop you falling out. Very gingerly, I did indeed make the final staircase and again the thrill of viewing a city from above was enough to make you glad to be alive and want to take as many photos from the top as is possible. Later as we sat in the Piazza Anfiteatro, I had no urge to reach for my camera as I had in previous years. Having taken photos of the Piazza from above, photographing on the ground seemed a bit 'passé'...
15.07.10. Thursday was our last day as we were heading home a day early tomorrow as there are no longer flights from Venice on a Saturday. I thought we would follow one of the old wine routes around Lucca, but it wasn't the best idea and in the heat seemed for the most part too much of an effort. We did have a second look around Monte Carlo, which was pleasant. If we remember next year that the castle is open Saturdays and Sundays, we will have somewhere new to visit. We had a long walk along side the Guamo Aqueduct which we also visited last year, but this found the source. Again we sought refuge in the shade of the streets of Lucca before heading 'home' to pack. All was not as I would have liked there, the house next to ours has been fully renovated since last year complete with substantial swimming pool, (so much so that when they fill it, the houses above them do not receive any water). This has stripped 'our' little house of a lot of its magic, no longer a place where the only sound is the distant barking of a dog or the faint roar of a spec that is an aeroplane. Will we return next year...I don't know...
16.07.10. Didn't leave the house until 11.00 after a long chat with Jane who sorts out the keys, etc. They (she and husband Kevin) have been renovating a farmhouse in the woods nearby, and after nearly 10 years have finally moved in. I worry that Jane will miss the company of the locals, but after three weeks all seems well.
The journey back to Venice was just so long and the nearer we got, the higher the temperature gauge showed until once back at Quarto D'Altino it said it was 39C. Hard to imagine it now, but it's the kind of heat that is relentless, you just can't escape. First we had a long cold drink in a bar, then 'hot footed it' (sorry!) to the car and went a few miles to have a stroll by the river. Finally back to an air conditioned shop and then on to the airport - we had had enough. Stepping out onto the tarmac at East Midlands airport, it didn't seem too cold even though it was after 10.30pm - it was invigorating though - I stayed up until 2.30am tidying the kitchen and reading the newspapers.
19.07.10. Our 30th Wedding Anniversary, slightly over-shadowed by the fact that today was Lucy's Graduation day. Graham had left the house by the time I got up with Robert - they had gone to TC Harrisons to collect Graham's new car. Soon after Steven arrived with a huge armful of flowers all colour-coded to go with Lucy's new dress (yellow, black and white). She in turn handed him a yellow tie also expressly chosen to match. They came back an hour or so later, both had had hair cuts and looked smart and tidy. Off we all went to Leicester in two cars and met up later. I too had had instructions to buy a new outfit. I was very pleased with the purpl dress from Marks and Spencer, but it proved disappointingly unphotogenic on the official photos. After a long time spent queuing up for photos, we had some uninspired sandwiches and took our place in the hall. I took the opportunity to see how my camera would fair in the dim light and cracked the ISO up to 800 - pretty impressive by all accounts which I will be able to prove when I eventually post the photos on Flickr. After a long sit and almost continuous clapping we escaped outside to hot summer sunshine and lots of excited families posing for family snaps. It's all over too soon... We made our way back to the car to go home and start more celebrations down at the allotment. I think our neighbours were a little bemused when they turned up at 7 and found there was no food cooked, but as we had only arrived home at 6, I think we did well to have anything to offer them. It was a lovely night on all accounts and when the weather decided to start drizzling at 10pm, it was though it was all planned. Special thanks go to Lucy for all her hard work in organising the party and for the amazing gardening cake - superb!!
20.07.10. Tidy up day and an appointment at Ripley hospital for physiotherapy.
21.07.10 Graham went to America
22.07.10. Trip to London for meeting with Crafts Council. Can't say too much, except I think we achieved what we set out to.
24.07.10. Lucy and I caught the 9.30am train to meet up with Robert in Bath (we've been promising to do this ever since Robert went to live in Salisbury). Had a great day even if the weather was overcast. Finally arrived home at 11.15pm
26.07.10. Smartboard Training at Village - good session, need to follow it up.
27.07.10. How To Embed Equality and Diversity, not the easiest subject, but chap who does the training is very engaging.
29.07.10. Workshop at Somercotes Library, Napkin Decoupage on flower pots, went really well. Will be remembered for the size of the library (tiny) and the quality of the biscuits! Dashed off to the Royal Hospital for my second acupuncture session at 1.00pm.
30.07.10. Graham home from America. Had to drive to Mexburgh and back to collect his chrome plating before the firm went on summer holiday. Stopped off at The Yorkshire Sculpture Park for a lovely lunch, but didn't get to have a walk round as it was raining, also nursing a bad summer cold.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Orange Hibiscus
Couldn't resist buying this on a recent trip to the local Garden Centre. It reminded me of the ones we saw in Italy last year.
June 2010
02.06.10: Took a Jewellery workshop at Borrowash Library. Just for once everyone turned up (8) and went home very happy having made a bracelet using the crossover technique.
This week has been half term, so it has been really busy. Lucy went to France flying on her own from Stansted to Lyon. Poor girl had to wait 3 hours going, but everything has gone smoothly since.
04.06.10: Made time to visit Derby university this morning and view the Textile and Fine Art and Commercial photography show. Robert came home this evening arriving at 10.30pm - early for him.
05.06.10: Robert went to town and bought new sandals, Graham was busy with motor bike bits. Went out after lunch and eventually ended up at Longshaw Estate, a National Trust area in the Peaks. Robert and I went there about the same time of year two years ago. This time I was able to walk probably twice as far, which was great. Stopped off at Tuckers in Matlock on the way back for tea of fish and chips. Quite hot and sticky today - thunderstorms struck about 5.00am Sunday morning.
06.06.10: Set off as early as possible to visit parents for the day. My mum was reasonably bright and we all enjoyed the day leaving about 6.00pm. Robert and I went for a walk after lunch. We made our way down to Upper Slaughter, over the ford and would have made it a round trip had the heavens not opened and tried to drench us. Luckily we were able to phone Graham and request he rescued us - although this was almost impossible as Robert had left his car in front of Graham's and had his keys in his pocket!
07.06.10: For the past two years I have been to Derby University to be shown the photographic show by one of the lecturers there, who used to work with Graham. It's odd how you can spend hours discussing the student's work and not notice the time fly by. Can't wait for next year!
John had a meeting at 12.00pm and I had to get to my physiotherapy session at Ripley Hospital. I'm not sure it is helping, but I am enjoying the fact that someone cares enough to try and help me.
08.06.10: Last Jewellery Class at Alfreton - probably for ever as my class is not being offered in September. It's disappointing, but I am looking forward to having a Jewellery Class at The newly built Eco Centre at Wirksworth.
10.06.10: New piano pupil today, retired lady who used to teach at the same school as one of our neighbours. She is a very young 63! Had to dash off to the dentist straight after. Had a filling replaced as the tooth has become very sensitive when anything cold touches it. Not sure if it has cured it completely, but there was a definite improvement once my mouth unfroze from the anaesthetic.
11.06.10: Back to Friday Jewellery class at Village. Lucy came to town with me for 3.00pm and I had my eyes tested and paid for new glasses - well actually my first pair. I can't believe how much they have deteriorated in the last two years. I suppose I am lucky not to have needed glasses before, but I find it difficult to accept that that's how it is and they will only get worse, not better...
12.06.10: Graham, Lucy and I went to Belper Steam Rally - which is held at Denby now. It was a lovely hot day and although the Pork cob wasn't brilliant there was lots to see and the Dacota flying over was good. Bumped into one of my piano pupils (he came a few times and then stopped as he was too busy) we had a lovely chat (he shows his two cars, an MGC GT and an Alvis) and he has promised to start lessons again soon...
14.06.10: A very busy week for Lucy. Today is 'Get In' day at the building housing her Degree Show. She is obliged to paint everything white - shame others didn't realise that this excluded the floor!
15.06.10: Graham did his dutiful dad thing and went to help attach things to the wall; namely Lucy's trellis and numerous shelves. He came home very happy as no one told him he had put things up in the wrong place and everyone was very grateful, female and under 25! I went to Ilkeston and collected a six foot banner Lucy had had printed.
16.06.10: My turn today, I arrived just after 10, had a cup of coffee, then we carried Lucy's garments over to the building and spent a happy morning dressing her mannequin and body shapes. At lunch time we sauntered over to the pub below where Lucy lives, had a delicious chicken burger and curly chips and after a few more alterations left and was home for 4.00pm. It felt like a holiday for me and the weather was beautifully warm and sunny.
18.06.10: Busy lesson at Village, home, quick lunch and check on emails and then off to Leicester for Lucy's Degree Show opening. Was disappointed that I missed all the things I meant to look at like the Body Contour and Footwear part - perhaps we can go next year! Robert travelled up from Salisbury and met us there. Graham and I left at 7.00pm and came home and had our tea at the Spotted Cow at Holbrook and then home to make sure everything was packed for tomorrow.
19.06.10: Didn't sleep very well in anticipation of the week-end. Up at 8.00am and off at 9.00am to drive to Bradford. I had made a special request to borrow the Sat Nav, but was a little bemused when I swear it guided me left to take the M18 to Hull, but put me back on the M1 in a matter of minutes as if to prove that I must take more notice of it!! Arrived at 10.30am and took my place in 'The Boardroom' and within an hour was busy navigating people around the website and explaining the benefits of appearing on our Retailer's Page for the special rate of £50.00 per annum. Lunch was laid on, although I was a bit taken aback that it consisted of Indian food (I had it explained to me later about Bradford being the home of English Curry), Plaice goujons and potato wedges. By 5 most people had left so I went to find my room, collect my things from the car (it took me three journeys), got washed and changed and was ready for an evening meal in the restaurant.
20.06.10: Not a brilliant night's sleep, I was so tired, but was disturbed by next doors - why do I always seem to get the room with a connecting door...? Met the others for breakfast and for someone who never eats anything at that time of day, treated myself to bacon, mushrooms and toast - well I can always make an exception when it's there in front of me. How guilty did I feel when the others only had yoghurt and fruit...The rest of the day was a complete blur, but we did have lots of people sign up. I eventually arrived home at 7.00pm and spent the next hour picking strawberries.
21.06.10: Lucy had her first job interview in London with Boden (they make posh women's clothes) It went well, but poor girl had to cope with a nasty cold she'd picked up over the weekend. Since last Thursday she has found out she has this interview and has the offer of some 'market research' work for the next two weeks.
23.06.10: This week is Learner's Disability Week and to mark the occasion I was asked to take two jewellery sessions at Long Eaton Library. In the morning there were five learners and three helpers and everything went well, but I was concerned that really I had chosen the wrong activity, so instead of having a relaxing lunchtime, I dashed home to pick up other materials and arrived back with five minutes to spare. As it turned out, it was the right thing to do and everyone went home happy with necklaces and bracelets they had made.
24.06.10: At the moment I have 12 piano pupils, which is more than I've ever had since we moved to Morley. Even stranger is the fact that only 4 are children (2 girls, 2 boys) , the rest are adults (7 female, 1 male) The last few weeks have been a bit stressful as three have been preparing for their Grade 1 piano exams and all came for extra lessons. Today, one of the adults took her exam - result? we have to wait another fortnight... Went to town to collect my first pair of glasses. I really can see so much better with them (reading) but need to get over my hang-up of actually wearing them.
25.06.10: I taught my jewellery class at Village and Graham went to Leicester and collected Lucy's larger items from her Degree Show. I collected Lucy from the station and we partook of our usual Friday afternoon retail therapy...
26.06.10: Graham spent the day a a bike show, Lucy and I went to Denby Pottery as we thought our special pork cob people would be there (they weren't), so had some lunch there (disappointing) and then went and had a walk round Duffield Carnival - which will be remembered for the delicious cake we bought from the cake stall (and Lucy won a bottle of wine).
27.06.10: An incredibly hot day which we spent mostly at the County Fair at Elvaston. It's the one show I don't think we have visited since we came to live in Derby - and I'm not sure we will be going again (entrance was £9.00 each!) At least the pork cob was good, the WI tent had some lovely things and the food tents were equally enjoyable. Top marks went to the animals, especially the cows, some of whom had their calves with them - adorable...
28.06.10: Lucy first whole week at work started badly. At 8.45am I had a phone call from her to say she'd slipped off the curb whilst waiting for her bus and badly grazed her knee. I sympathised with her and thought that was that. What I didn't know until later was that minutes after, she'd fainted, gone head first onto the ground and woken up dazed and unable to see. Not knowing quite what to do and in her usual style she'd carried on, caught her bus and carried on like the stalwart she always is. What was more distressing was that in a street wilh people around her, no one had come to her aid...
30.06.10: Graham had to take his car in to have the air conditioning and turbo charger sorted. I met him at the bank and then bought two pairs of shoes for next week's holiday. Also bought a couple of copies of this month's 'The Derbyshire' which has the article about me in it. I didn't realise, but the same article was in the Derby Evening Telegraph today too.
My other two pupils took their Grade One piano exam today, both reported back in a positive fashion. Very busy day and in the evening I went to see 'Stepping Out' at The Derby Playhouse with a group from my tap class. The audience were mainly female and from their reaction, it was clear that the majority attended a similar class to the one portrayed in the play. It was staged so that supposedly a mirror was where the audience was, in fact we were an exact mirror...
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