Friday 25 September 2015

Understanding

During my 3 hour trip to Blackpool I had a few thoughts.  I remembered the images made of interpretations of what a dog sees.  I see what I see.  I imagine you have a similar view, but your view is from a slightly different location.  If you are a dog, you might see this.  It might mean something different to you also.  Later in the day I heard a conversation from the radio programme called 'The Listening Project'.  A blind man spoke about his love of cycling.  It stuck me his view would also be  different.  The point?  Understanding others is a challenge.


I also thought about the classic bit in 'The Full Monty' when the four men are trying to learn their dance routine.  They found the timing very difficult until one of them pointed out that it was the 'Arsenal flat back four'.  This is an 'off-side trap' that has defenders running backwards in a co-ordinated line to force attacking players into 'off-side'.  The point is that the familiar context made sense and enhanced competence.

Other systemic thoughts.
Micro Anger- discussed on PM on Monday evening.  This is the drip, drip effect of comments that negatively put people down.  Fro example, where do you come from? answer 'London'.  Reply, 'no where do you really come from?'  Not an existential question but a question that excludes.

Life on Mars (Today programme.)  Discussed with the discovery of brine on Mars, the risk of introducing microbes into this ecosphere because it is known that extremophiles can exist in similar environment on Earth.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Open House London 2015

Target area- Islington

Saturday

1) The Goldsmith's Centre.  RIBA award winning centre.  Cursory glance - satisfying. Some interesting jewellery but not really my think.

2)  Ironmonger Row Baths.  Beautifully restored functioning baths.

3)  Diespeker Wharf.  Once a terrazzo manufacturer.  Now the home to a firm of architects.  Wonderful location by the grand union canal.



View from the roof

4)  Angel Building.  1980's building no one liked.  Good strong internal concrete structure. Site aided by the building being set back from the road to allow a roundabout to be installed.  It never was, so a new facade was built, creating a very appealing new building.

1980's concrete
5). Al_A Studio.  Friendly architects introduce us to their shapes, materials, and designs from around the world.

Evening supper at Danquine Polish restaurant in South Kessington.

Sunday
St Martins in the Fields.  A wonderfully crafted beautiful service, full of devotion.

6). Visit to the Sepentine Gallary  pavillion.
Lunch with the Singletons at The Lord Stanley.

Home.


Sunday 6 September 2015

Walking into the Sea

Miggie, Matthew, Margaret, Maya and Paul,
Heytesbury, Hooke, Toller Whelme  and Upton Lovell.
Iwerne Courtney, or Shroton,
Roger and Helen.
Chicklade, Cranborne Chase, Ludwell and Lambert's Hill,

Bulbarrow Hill, Marshwood and Alton Pancras,
Andrew, Rebecca, Peter and Frances.
Wardour Castle and Ansty,
Catherine, Bibs and Emre,
Pilsdon Pen, Fonthill Gifford and Devizes

Jean, Janet, John, Joanna and Jonathan,
Broad Windsor, Hambledon Hill and Hindon.
Chloe, Ayse and Andy,
Fishpond Bottom and Ansty
Knook, Hawkchurch, Urchfont and Maiden Newton

Jesse, Richard, Elizabeth,and Lis,
Tollard Royal, Marlborough and Lyme Regis
Wootton Fitzpaine's been our home
While Wessex Ridgeway we roam,

Let our motto be 'Panem et Circenses'

(Other partakers along the way have been Liz Bennett, Julia Tibbs, Angus, Jo and Colm, Jenny Barker, Sandra and finally Tom and Ellie.)
(Also Beaminster should have been included but I was having trouble pronouncing it.)

Explanatory note:  Panem is generic for big meals.  Circenses means let's do circular routes next time and cut out the car-shunt.

Thnaks also to Lis who chaked the spilling.