Posted: Mon 27 May, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Creativity, Domestic, Getting Organised, London, Reviews(ish), Thoughts, Travel |
Over the weekend, I took a trip down to That There London, primarily to see the Roy Lichtenstein retrospective at the Tate Modern. It’s been on for a while, and I’d meant to see it earlier, but then checked last week to realise yesterday was the final day. And so, the plan was born to get down and see it.
I’ve loved a lot of Lichtenstein’s work for many years now, and the exhibition had the originals of a couple of my all time favourites (Particularly “Whaaam!”) so it was definitely a good reason to go and see it.
But what I hadn’t realised was that this sort of stuff was only a small part of his work – although the style remains the same, there’s a lot more that I’d never known about.
My own particular favourites (in no particular order) were the Lichtenstein versions of other classic artists (including Mondrian and Picasso) and also his versions of classical Chinese landscape portraiture, which are just excellent.
I was really pleased that I’d got down to see the exhibition – although I do find that most of the stuff in Tate Modern is unconscionable piss, every so often they throw out a gem.
Posted: Mon 29 April, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Domestic, Food, Gigs, London, Music, Photography, Public Transport, Sociable, Thoughts, Travel |
Over the weekend, I went down to London to see the Rebel Rebels perform their final show.
Conveniently (for me, at least) it was held at the Elixir Bar, just round the corner from Euston – ideal, and meant I didn’t even need to consider overnighting in London.
As it was, I met up with Merialc and Erzsebel beforehand, and went for a curry at the Erzsebel-recommended “Diwana Bhel Poori House“. (round the other corner from Euston) The food was excellent – although I can honestly say I have no idea what the hell I was eating – and made for a good start to the evening.
The evening itself was a fun time too – and while not being ‘official photographer‘, I still had the camera with me, and got some good shots. I’ve missed the Rebels’ previous shows for a number of reasons, so I’m glad I got to be there for the final one.
The journey home was OK too – albeit incredibly long, due to the train service stopping at every single station on the way. Being sober on the late train’s an experience in tolerance, not rising to any number of inane pisshead conversations and the like, but thankfully there was only one puker, so it could’ve been a lot worse all round.
A great evening all round, and it’s a pity that at the moment there aren’t more planned.
Posted: Mon 29 April, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Domestic, Getting Old(er), Getting Organised, Health, London, Own Business, Sleep - or lack thereof, Thoughts, Time, Work-related, Writing |
This week (and some of next) I’m actually on leave from the job. This is A Very Good Thing.
I don’t have much in the way of plans, the main thing is just Not Working, and taking the much-needed time out.
Of course, there are things I want to do, or at least get onto “paper” and out of my head, but that’s all going to be done on my terms, rather than within the demands of an office.
I’m sure there’ll be a couple of days out and the like along the way, but really the main thing is just time out. It’s been a pretty hectic first third of the year, and the next one isn’t looking like it’ll be any quieter, so downtime is definitely a good plan.
Posted: Sat 30 March, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Domestic, Health, London, People, Work-related |
This week I’ve had an utterly vile cold. Not flu (or man-flu) just a vile cold which was a full-on joy of snot and sneezing.
Last week was a long one – two days work, a drive to Manchester, two days in the absolutely effing freezing offices of the company up there, driving home, and then a very long Friday involving popping in to work on a day of leave to get stuff sorted, then down to London for the night, including a truly shit night’s sleep. I think it knocked my resilience down a lot, and the cold was the result.
It’s all over now, and all I’m left with is the remnants. A cough, and a nose that makes me look like a leprous coke-addict.
What is it about colds, and particularly tissues? We really still can’t come up with something that doesn’t end up abrading your nose like sandpaper after wiping away a day of snot? (And don’t even try mentioning bloody “tissues with balsam” – they still do the same) I don’t know, maybe microfibre cloth or something – but there’s got to be something better than the current “technology”, surely?
So yes, this weekend is brought to you by a lack of snot, and a prevalence of ‘orrible flaky skin all round my nose. Lovely.
Posted: Sat 9 February, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: London, News, Photography |
I don’t quite know why, but I find this set of photos on the BBC really interesting.
Basically, as the title says, it’s about photos of building sites in London, but the views just make it interesting.
Posted: Fri 7 December, 2012 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Customer Services, Domestic, London, People, Reviews(ish), Thoughts, Travel |
On BBC currently there’s a wonderful documentary series called “Inside Claridges”. Obviously it’s a ‘behind the scenes’ look at how Claridge’s Hotel runs – and it’s absolutely fascinating, a true “How the other half live”
The entire thing is quite, quite mad – I understand why and how they do what they do, but it really is potty. For example, taking photos of how a suite is laid out when a guest leaves, so that it can be laid out the same way if/when they return to the hotel in the future. I suppose if you’re paying £5,500 per night it’s the kind of invisible thing you expect – and yes, I think paying £5,500 per night is utterly obscene – but to me, it’s also potty.
All told, it’s a really sweet little series, well worth catching on repeats, iPlayer or whatever. It’s what BBC documentaries should be (in my opinion) about – things that the general viewer will never see, the way other people live, even if those lives are completely antithetical to our own.
Posted: Mon 21 May, 2012 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Cynicism, London, Thoughts |
On a cynical note, is it just me that really isn’t enthused about the Olympic Flame ? Or, indeed, the Olympics in general.
Indeed the best thing about the Olympics at the moment for me is that I’m not going to be in London when they’re in. And that is a major success, so far as I’m concerned.
