Excellent May Day Exeter Expedition

Yesterday we went on a trip to Exeter to sort out the Probate.  Both now having bus passes, to avoid parking charges, we travelled by bus, from Paignton via Torquay to Exeter. It's one of those journeys with the bus going via nearly every little street in the town before finally getting onto the dual carriageway, when it takes very little time to actually reach our destination.
The journey was not without incident as on the way there a passenger fell down the stairs.  The bus was delayed whilst the driver checked that she was OK which luckily she was, if not, we were fortunate as it happened right outside the local hospital. 
We had a super day, the weather was kind and sunny, unlike the previous few days which had been gale-force winds and rain.


Firstly, we went to the Court for the legal business which only took five minutes so we had a free afternoon, wandering around the town, then down to the Quay (http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2820) where we had a lovely lunch in a riverside pub: well, it was nearly in the river as the river had burst its banks.  The swans didn't think much of this and were sheltering on dry land, ditto the pleasure boats, as the river was flowing so fast - presumably water making its way down from the Moors.  So much for their being a drought at the moment!

We had a look around the antique and collectible shops and the craft shops, not daring to buy anything as we're at present trying to dispose of stuff, ready for the move.  It'll be something to look forward to ... eventually.
  

Chudleigh
On the return journey, our bus would terminate at Torquay, so we would need to then catch a local bus back to Paignton.  As we reached Exeter bus station early we caught the bus for Newton Abbot, via small towns, such as Chudleigh and Bovey Tracey (http://www.boveytracey.gov.uk/).  

 Bovey Tracey

Then changed to the local Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton, Brixham bus which runs about every ten minutes. Whilst on the dual carriageway we came across a burning car and, although we were diverted into the outside lane, we felt the heat through the window of the bus, so it must have been burning pretty fiercely.

Little-Altered Edwardian Cinema

Few local communities contain such a major opportunity as the former Picture House, Torbay Road, Paignton. Bringing this important building back into life featured very clearly as one of the wishes expressed by all who attended the public meeting of the Paignton Town Community Partnership in November last year.  Spontaneous feelings like this are important to take note of, especially when they have the potential to appeal to a much wider community going to national and international level.

http://www.cinema-theatre.org.uk/atrisk/torbay_paignton.htm

Why the interest in this building?  Because when it closed as a cinema in 1999 it was the oldest purpose-built cinema in the world.  Add to this the regular use by made of it by the famous author Agatha Christie (seehttp://agathachristie.com/about-christie/christies-life/) and the building's incredibly well located position next to the railway stations plus bus and coach connections and instantly it is possible to see that here there is the opportunity for a major international tourist attraction.

Over the coming months there will be an appraisal of options, which could include a cinema, small film industry museum, cafe, shop and conference facilities.  

The Devon Historic Buildings Trust and National Trust would restore the building at a projected cost of about £1.5 million and applications made for grants from the Historic Buildings Trust from English Heritage the Heritage Lottery Fund, plus the launch of a public appeal.

How will the local community be involved? Discussions in January, exploring the uses that might be made of the building, including how to improve the range of facilities for the local community will be taking place and the next public meeting will be on 1 February 2012.

See also:

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/22124;    

http://www.torbay.gov.uk/paignton_cons_man_proposals.pdf; 

http://www.lynnpearson.co.uk/palaces7.pdf and 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/4453024501/

(Taken from an article in The Beach Hut local monthly magazine written by David Watts, Chairman of Paignton Town Community Partnership)

January 2012 London Excursion

A weekend away - yipee! - and London too... haven't been there for ages.  Further excitement would be to travel there by train: very sophisticated, leisurely and again something I haven't done for a while. It'll be January but who cares if it's cold, we'll still have a great time.

Well, I set off from home to walk down the hill to the station but a few yards down the hill the suitcase handle broke, so ran back home to change to a (much larger) suitcase, slipped and cut my knee and incidentally broke the camera, only just catching the train.

Ah well, it was Friday the 13th!

Had a good journey up to London and when I arrived at Paddington Station (complete with stall selling Paddington Bear memorabilia), we took a turn around the Serpentine, then wandered over to the Charles Dickens Museum (http://www.dickensmuseum.com/). 


In the basement, we watched an informative film about Dickens life, and on hearing his story, it was easy to see where he got many of his ideas for his atmospheric, sometimes harrowing, tales.


The house contains much furniture of the period, including the actual desk where Dickens sat and worked when he was a clerk, engraved with many names, perhaps even the great man himself.  

(part of the cellar of Dickens' house, complete with rat)

This is a very interesting house, crammed full with editions of stories by Dickens.  It has a super cafe which serves tasty snacks and, as it's set on four floors, is about to have alterations to make it accessible to the disabled.




The next day we rendezvoused at the British Museum.  Since I was last there the British Museum Courtyard has gained a new, circular building and the gap between that and the main building has been covered over (rather like the roof coverings at the Eden Project).

It gives a marvellous feeling of space and light and of course means there's much more display space and room for the public to mooch around.


We had a good look around, seeing the Elgin Marbles (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/w/what_are_the_elgin_marbles.aspx): 

Then the Chinese Section:

It's a baby's feeding cup, in the shape of a rat - something not likely to catch on these days!


And then we looked at the horology department (clocks to you and me).  This is the equivalent of an early teasmade, although it doesn't actually make tea.  When the alarm goes off the lid of the box opens, the candle flips up and the mechanism from the flintlock pistol lights the candle!



Lastly, we visited the exhibition of the potter Grayson Perry- Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman where photos were not allowed so this link is the next best thing:(http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/grayson_perry.aspx).  


On our last day we (along with many other people) decided to visit Covent Garden Market.  On the way I saw these unusual dark grey phone boxes (possibly they belong to a BT competitor?):

These flats look interesting, especially juxtaposed with the more traditional architecture.

What we bought at the market has to remain a secret as it's birthday presents ...


Over the weekend we enjoyed: picnics; a sushi bar; pizza restaurant; tasty teashop fare and a noodle bar, so fairly cosmopolitan eating.


As always, the journey back took a long, long time (and the train was freezing, why do train companies want their passengers to freeze?) and it was great to eventually get home and have a nice cup of coffee!


Well, where shall we go next year?

PInterest

I have joined pinterest: http://pinterest.com/shushab/, so far I've started six boards and posted 40 pins (pictures). - this may become addictive!

Why pinterest is 2012's hottest website: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/06/tech/web/pinterest-website-cashmore/index.html

Brazil

Urban Design from the British perspective:
http://urbandesignbrazil.blogspot.com/

Lots of information from a Brit living in Brazil:
http://livinginbrazil.blogspot.com/






And finally: Learning Portuguese with the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/portuguese/talk/greetings/

St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel

When I worked in London, way way back, I used to get the overground to Kings Cross Station and then walk to Tavistock Square, passing St Pancras Station, with its enormous Gothic building and wonder what it was - offices, hotel, now redundant?  

Now, according to  to the website: "A Victorian masterpiece restored...Sir John Betjeman called this Gothic treasure "too beautiful and too romantic to survive" in a world of tower blocks and concrete. After years of devoted restoration, the St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel is being hailed as the city's most romantic building. This London 5-star hotel features glorious Gothic Revival metalwork, gold leaf ceilings, hand-stencilled wall designs - and the grand staircase is as dazzling as the day the hotel opened in 1873. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott to receive travellers through St Pancras Station, the former Midland Grand Hotel offered its guests a world of grandeur, luxury and fantasy behind its fairytale red facade. Innovations such as ascending rooms (elevators) and revolving doors heightened the sense of awe. In 2011, the doors of his luxury hotel in London are spinning again, sweeping guests into a world where modern amenities mingle with the extravagance of rail's golden age."

Now we can see what this place looks like inside - and what an amazing place!

For more pics see:

http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/photo-tours.mi?marshaCode=lonpr&pageID=HWHOM&imageID=0