Oxford encore une fois :-)

Another trip to picturesque, historic Oxford on a sunny day for tourists and College gardens.
The Ashmolean has another enjoyable exhibition on, a little pricey but worth it, with paintings, documents, artefacts traced back to a ship returning with these items collected by English Grand Tourists (aristos and others abroad in Europe) in the 18th Century, when the ship was captured by the French and sent to Malaga.
The poor English never got their valuable paintings back, but patient research has brought together pictures (et al) for the exhibition.
Website at www.ashmolean.org .

There's another well-worth-a-visit exhibition on at the History of Science Museum on Broad Street, but I forgot and went to a couple of nice college gardens instead (Balliol and Trinity, Balliol smaller and cosier, a world away from the busy thoroughfare just outside).

King's Arms as ever a handy wood finished old English pub, at the end of Broad Street before Holywell Street, to sup a real ale or a refreshing cup of tea. Found Missing Bean coffee shop on Turl Street for a coffee-to-go on the way back.

Merci beaucoup à L. pour avoir eu du temps pour bavarder et boire un verre l'après-midi :)

Location:Oxford !

Beethoven lives!

Wonderful performances of Beethoven Symphony cycle by Daniel Barenboim and the West Eastern Divan Orchestra, bringing Arab and Israeli musicians together and showing that peace is possible and thrilling audiences live and via TV or radio.

Location:London Proms

Dresden

Sachsen ist schön

Fascinating and moving to see how Dresden comes to terms with the terrible events in its past.
Frauenkirche rebuilt, using some original materials found in the rubble of what was left after the bombing and firestorm of February 1945.
Zwinger, Hofkirche, Semper Opera House rebuilt or restored.
The Elbe still flows past and people rest or picnic on the meadows by the banks.

Location:Dresden

Blogposts

Been away from here for awhile, family reasons and the usual absence from the blog.
How do you keep blogs fresh, who do you tell that you have one, whqt's the impetus to keep writing?
Been watching the football, and while it gets absorbing, some of it really has been boring ...
Here goes again.

Brecon Break

A favourite excursion for Brummies is to Wales.  A beautiful country with rich landscapes and a couple of hours or so in the car.
I had a day walking in the Brecon Beacons with friends from Amnesty International local group - see another blog post for a summary!
It's also where we get our water from - see the mini-model-reconstruction of the Elan Valley Dam in Cannon Hill Park - and so we live in part from the water of the beautiful hills and valleys of the country.
There was plenty of water present in the mud and streams, as well as mist that covered much of the scenery above about 200 metres (ie most of the Brecons): but that didn't stop us enjoying the walk and getting back in one piece as well ...

Berlin Love Tour in Birmingham

A walking tour with stops off the city centre to picture historic locations in Berlin. The focus on eras of the dictatorships - fascist and communist - gave a sombre backdrop to the foreground story of a souring love affair between the new arrival in Berlin and her German boyfriend.
All this was performed essentially by one actress, Hilary O'Shaughnessy, with a singer-songwriter, Greg Milenr, accompanying between monologues.
Fascinating to find the German capital pictured as those of us in the 'tour' stood at various locations off Broad Street, ending on the roof of a multi-story carpark.




http://www.wearefierce.org/fierce-festival/whats-on/berlin-love-tour for more info..

Location:Brum