Home again

I've had a great break on the Isle of Wight.  My father has a retirement flat in West Cowes and is a sprightly 88. I stay with him as he has a spare room, whereas my sister's bungalow is filled with a couple of teenage nephews! She lives a mile or so along the coast at Gurnard. I spent Wednesday at my sisters and I am sure you can guess we spent most  all of the day talking. We did manage to walk down to the sea front and have short walk on the beach, it was rather chilly. Here's my sister, Janet.

It was wonderful to fill my lungs with sea air and hear the waves breaking on the beach. The island faces the mainland across the Solent so crashing breakers are not so likely on this sheltered shore, but for those of you who miss the sea too, here's a watery shot...

... and a view along the beach in the other direction.

The only good thing to be said was the cloud covered sky did have a bit of variation in tones of grey rather than the uniform milky grey that we have been experiencing lately.

Janet showed me a few copies of her magazine "Selvedge" which is beautiful publication for anyone interested in textiles, art and design,  but what she wanted to share with me was an article about an exhibition at The Foundling Museum called Threads of Feeling.  I will give you a brief outline of the story behind the exhibition, but you should really look at the web sites.   

In 1739 the Foundling Hospital was founded by the philanthropic Thomas Coram to care for abandoned babies.  When mothers brought their babies to the hospital a meticulous register was kept of each child taken in.  However no record of the mothers' names was kept, so to identify the child in the unlikely event of the mother returning to reclaim her child, a token was taken from the mother.  This was  often a piece of fabric cut from the child's or the mother.s clothing. These registers have been meticulously preserved and now form an exhibition at the museum.  The Thomas Coram Foundation is still a leading children's charity.

Flowered all over with cards’. Cotton or linen printed with a playing card pattern © Coram

Not only are these tokens a heart rending record of the tragic separation of mothers and their babies they also form the most extensive collection of examples of 18th century fabrics. Do follow the links, but have a few tissues on hand.  The exhibition is open until March, so may be I will get it together to visit.

Meanwhile back at the Isle of Wight, the weather changed and the cloud broke up Wednesday evening and I was able to get this shot from Janet's front garden  before the light went - then it was really chilly.

Back home to Mr T and Marvin I was pleased to find one of my 'Scribble Boxes' had sold.   

Have a great weekend,

Jill

On the beach

Here are some photographs I took on the beach. I have enhanced them in Photoshop Elements.

This is the original picture I took of the sea. I was struck by the layers of colour caused by the shallow water over areas of sand and seaweed.

By adjusting the levels of light and contrast I have brought out the different colours. The range of hues is wonderful. Click on the picture for a close-up.

Here I added a 'motion blur' layer, but adjusted its opacity so some of the sparkle shows through.

The next couple are of seaweed.

All sorts of creative ideas are going through my head when I look at these.

Postscript:

Peacock update - (see previous post)

Seen in local Post Office window a notice reading;

So we guess he has gone home, but we are not sorry that he is not living next door!

A fix of sea air

I am back from an all too short trip to the Isle of Wight - just 48 hours, but enough to give me a fix of sea and sun as well as a good 'show and tell' session with my sister and quality time with my father. But Tuesday morning before I went I was woken at 5.30 by a horrendous noise which sounded like someone blowing a vuvusela answered by a kazoo. As I lay in bed waiting for the next blast I was transported to Whipsnade  Zoo - peacocks - that's what it sounded like. So at six o'clock I was out in the garden in jimjams plus camera peering over garden fences, and at last  I caught sight of the culprit.

I wonder if he is still about. Mr T reckons he heard him Wednesday morning. Goodness knows where he has come from. I'll keep you informed.

But here are a few sea views.

The hour long crossing from Southampton to Cowes does at least give you a sense of going on a real journey, with a bit of a sea voyage. The weather was perfect if a little blustery.

I give dad a call from the ferry when I can get a good view of his home - that is his retirement home in the centre of the picture, he has a view of the sea from his flat, we give each other a metaphorical wave.

Yesterday morning we drove to Bembridge for a short walk along the shore before I took Dad to The Crab and Lobster for an early father's day lunch. It is well known for it's fresh sea food - it was a crab baguette for me and  lemon sole for dad. Best eaten outside with a warm sea breeze for seasoning

That's him under the sunshade. It is a wonder spot with a view over the sea - and look at that blue sky!

I dropped dad back home for his afternoon snooze and drove up the road to Gurnard to meet my sister.

Beach huts at Gurnard

Although it is a bit of a slog to get there - and not cheap with ferry crossing prices, what a brilliant place to have to go and visit - and at least the accommodation is free!

Lots more photos to follow.

That's nice!

First...

 Happy Birthday Dad!

Here he is with Mr T enjoying a bit of April sunshine. I took this a couple of years ago on a visit to the Isle of Wight where he lives near my sister. We are at Bembridge.

 I am sure he won't mind me saying he is 88 today. Sadly I won't be seeing him for a while.

And talking of the Isle of Wight, any of you who are members of English Heritage will be getting this magazine this month

and if you look o  page 34 you will see a feature on Osborne House, which is on the IoW

and who do you think took the picture of the Glasshouse at the bottom right? Yes you've guessed - ME

Here's the original on Fickr which is how they found me. I had an e mail from the picture editor a couple of months ago asking permission to use this image. No fee, but I get a credit in the margin opposite. I guess they rely on people like me feeling flattered at being asked - no matter I am flattered. By the way, if you ever are on the Isle of Wight, Osborne house is well worth a visit.