Umbrellas

  I knew this shop existed but for some reason I had never come across it which is strange seeing as I walk around London so much. This Grade II listed building is situated at the end of New Oxford Street. Opened in 1857, James Smith & Sons is a beautifully preserved example of a high class Victorian West End shop. 

Inside, the shop is stocked with a huge array of umbrellas, walking sticks and canes. Not so long ago the male workers in the City of London could be seen hurrying to work wearing a bowler hat and using a black rolled umbrella as a walking stick. You would be hard pushed to see anyone these days dressed like that. However, umbrellas are still needed and as long as you have a healthy bank balance you will find what you need here.

I did chat to one of the assistants who very kindly showed me the most expensive umbrella in the shop which had a silver handle and ebony wood shaft. This retailed at just under £4000. He also showed me a cane that was a little more expensive than that as it was made from snake wood. Umbrellas over £300 are still hand made on the premises using the same methods they have always used. The business has remained in the same family for the last 175 years.

I did find one section which was more in my price range. 

Entering the shop was a real step back into history.

Tate Modern

 Today I visited the Tate Modern art gallery. The building is huge as it used to be a power station. I went to see the Tracey Emin exhibition to hopefully see something I liked but there was nothing that was to my taste.

However in the large turbine hall there was work from an artist I had never heard of who was highlighting the plight of the reindeer, which was much more interesting.

The installation is in the shape of a reindeer's nose.

I went down and walked around the maze and into one of the seating areas.

The seating is covered in reindeer hides which were so warm. I was surprised by the depth of their fur probably because I had never given it a thought before. There were headphones on the benches so you could listen to the sounds of the reindeer herds.

 

On the other side of the turbine hall was the second part of the art installation.

Update on hacking

 After hours of trying to sort out my email address with my service provider. I was told it is unlikely that they will be able to retrieve my emails and contacts. I had another email address, which I will use, but it is going to take me ages to sort out contacts and notify financial institutions,  insurance co.panies, booked event tickets etc. etc!

Hacked email

 On Tuesday my email account was hacked. Currently I am unable to access it eventhough I changed the password as soon as I realised. I apologise to anyone who might have received an email supposedly from me. I have not emailed any of my blog followers so please delete any email sent in my name. I have reported the incident but it still has not been resolved.

British Art

 I visited the Tate Britain art gallery this week to see the excellent Turner and Constable exhibition, more about that in another post. I was there early and went to see a few of my favourite British paintings from the permanent collection at Tate Britain.

The familiar stick like figures of LS Lowry. I am from Stretford, Manchester and his work reminds me of places visited whilst a child. of my childhood in that area. When I was about 16, a school friend asked if I wanted to go with her to Lowry's house as she knew where he lived. I stupidly declined the offer. She did go and managed to speak to him and came away with a small sketch.

My interest in art started as a schoolchild in Manchester visiting galleries there, especially the Whitworth gallery which had a good collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.

I only ever think of Elizabeth Frink as a sculptor so I was surprised to see her drawings in the gallery which was very naive of me as being a sculptor would also mean that you are probably a very good draughtsman as well.

I like Henry Moore's sculptures. Fortunately many are in outdoor public places where it is possible to touch them as I find them so tactile. 

This painting came to light in Series 7 (2018) of the BBC show: Fake or Fortune? when it was authenticated as a painting by Emma Soyer. It is now on loan to the Tate.

Hogarth's drawings/etchings told us much about London during the 17th and 18th centuries.

I come to the Tate to see the exhibitions but I must return to look at more of the paintings in the permanent collection here as there is so much to see in rooms that are rarely crowded.

Walk update

 

A group of 11 turned up for the walk. Everyone had taken heed of the warning and brought walking poles with them. We took it slowly and nobody slipped in the mud.  Fortunately it wasn't raining and everyone seemed to enjoy the walk.

Westerham circular walk

 As some of you know I lead walks for the u3a. Some of the walks are guided walks around London based on my research whilst doing the Above the Underground challenge but I also lead country walks. This week I am doing a 5.5 mile walk from the village of Westerham in Kent. I have done this walk a number of times before but prior to leading a group I always try out the walk a few days before. So last Sunday, in the rain, I set off.

The mud was horrendous

Some sections waterlogged.

Walking uphill from the village it was still squelching underfoot.

There was still fungi to be seen.

Snowdrops were now in full flower below the hedgerows

I loved the misty views along the way

The rain had now stopped.

At last a stony pathway that wasn't covered in mud.

The walk took me longer than usual because of the care needed to prevent slipping over in the mud.

The final section was no better. When I got home I emailed the group advising them about the conditions. I am secretly hoping that no one will turn up today for the walk so I don't have to do it again! I'll let you know my fate tomorrow.