Last Half Term

Only eight weeks and I will be back at home.  But I am going to make the most of every second.
The week before last  I was forced to go on a field trip. Let me just say "I HATE FIELD TRIPS!" The last trip I went on our group was stuck in an elevator with 20 teachers for and hour.  This time it was a half hour in a double decker bus with no air conditioning for half an hour at the side of a highway with 40 kids.
Last week I said goodbye to my year elevens.  It was bittersweet.  I know that they are going to be fantastic in whatever they do and I assured them this is just the end of a chapter and they will beginning an new chapter in their lives.  It was as much to reassure them as it was to reassure myself.
I am moving forward to my next chapter.  Still, I shed some tears.
In the midst of my feeling of loss I was informed that the people who bought mom and dad's place in Waterloo, cut down a tree that dad planted when I was about 17.  It was the pride of the neighbourhood in its day.  To make matters worse, the felling took place on the anniversary of my dads death, it's been twelve years now.
All this rolled into a giant ball of self pity which totally overwhelmed me and if I could have, I would have flown home in an instant. But, my kids stepped in, Leah called Andrew and between the both of them(and a generous neighbour) they raced over and reclaimed some of the wood to create something to remember dad and his beautiful blue spruce.
I've recovered now and today Graham and I went to Peterborough, it was grey and wet when we left but by midday the sun was shinning. "Canadian Factor."
This week I am off to visit Uncle Ernest, Aunt Gene and family in the Lakes. Looking forward.....

View from across and down the street from my place.

Field trip to Hull University.

I love the wild poppies that grow along the roadside and train tracks.

Gardens in Peterborough.

Peterborough Cathedral.

The original gears from the cathedral clock.

This came as a big surprise, Catherine of Aragon(Henry VIII first wife) was buried here.

And too Mary Queen of Scotts.

Town Hall.

Guess........ what are these?

Bike racks at the side of an 80 year old swimming pool, still in operation.

This is a traffic sign, what do you think it might mean?

HINT

It's a road that has a stream that runs over the road.

I waited for Graham to get the car and I could get a picture of him driving through the stream.  In the meantime this guy came by and put on a show for me.

This is Graham, LOLLOLOOLOLLL he is much more conservative.

What a great day out.

The First of Lasts

It is with a heavy heart that I have to say "this is probably the last time I will visit York." It's been so amazing to travel here with so many great friends: Ross, Theresa, Marjorie, Debbie, Jim and Graham. I've never tired of the views, all-in-all I've had the pleasure to visit five times and each time I've seen something different.
Over the next 77 days I know I'll be saying goodbye to: family, friends, students and places.  I hope I can get through it without too many tears. Knowing I am going home to: the places, friends and family I love, will no doubt be of great comfort.
So here is my visit to York; where every visit I think it has rained.

The 400 year old Market Hall.

Gate to the wall surrounding the city.  This visit we walked  about 3/4 of the wall and my first visit, three years ago, I walked the other 1/4.

Spring was abundant.

That is York Minster in the Background.

Inside view of the wall.

Outside view of the wall, the daffodils are near their end.

Private back yards.

What a beautiful city.  The North of England gets a lot of flack but I have to say that "I am a Northern girl at heart."

A little bit "Harry"

Wow, Wow, Wow.
I have to start by telling you a small back story. I have never read a Harry Potter book nor seen a Harry Potter movie through to the end, before last week.  And as of now, I have only watched two and a half of the feature films. (get that, 93/4 and 21/2)  But going to the Warner Bros., Harry Potter Studio Tour in London was on my to-do list since realizing it existed. Not because I am a fan but because I appreciate art.
So imagine 4 hours on a bus to get there and another 4 hours return.  I thought that they could have at least shown a movie on board for those of us "not in the know". Then I rationalized the fact that copyright protection might stop them.
When we arrived I had a bit of time in the gift shop where anything remotely associated with the film could be purchased. I became a bit cynical at first, thinking they made the movie only to sell the merchandise. But I was back in the spirit as soon as I stepped foot onto the first set.
The tour takes up two film stages(J&K good sense on humor) and begins in the great hall and then builds like a fireworks display; props, sets, costumes, a break for lunch, outside for larger sets then animatronics, Diagon Alley, the artists studio and gallery, card models and then the climax a 1/32" scale model of Hogwarts. I was in awe.
On the way back they decided it might be a good time to show weary travellers the second Harry Potter movie.  I enjoyed watching it again until the video player broke down a third of the way through. This was a good thing though, it gave me the opportunity to converse with a young nine year old, who was exceptionally bright and ironically named "Harry".  He schooled me on the the blood lines and time lines of the characters and how they are related to one another.  Mid-way through I had to own up to the fact that I was not well versed in the world of Potter and while this seemed to disappoint him at first he rose to the challenge of educating me.
Once I arrived home and literally put my feet up, I began to think about how the invention of the camera allowed artists the opportunity to leave portrait painting and experiment and morph into modern art. But what about contemporary times? Few artists make a comfortable living painting and sculpting these days.  Usually they go into teaching art in some form or fashion hoping to inspire the next great artist. But then I realized, they are working in jobs like this, true artists, getting paid better than Van Gogh ever did and while their work may sometimes be just temporary, it is preserved forever in digital.

Just to let you know, this is the set being built for the new James Bond movie. I tried to walk around the lot but I was quickly stopped by security, Oh well I tried.

Magic wand anyone?

Cupboard under the stairs.

Front door to Hogwarts

The great Hall, the ceilings are put in digitally.

The sorting hat.

Christmas banquet, ice sculpture.

Easter Banquet.

A box measuring about 12 feet in length using forced perspective.

This is your reminder, this is all just on set.  The actors literally walk outside one box and into another to change scenes.  Above is the potions lab inside and below is what it actually looks like from the outside.

Again,reality check, it's just a box.

This is the real train used.  It had been on loan in the US but it has just returned.

Just a box, not a real station.

The Knight bus.

Number 4 Privot Drive

Diagon Alley

Card board models usually 1/12 scale.

The masterpiece, 1/32" scale.

I was not brave enough to try "Butter Beer" but I was up to trying a lemon eclair.  It was good but I still enjoy a chocolate or maple.

And lastly, I've forced myself to not buy any souvenirs from my adventures, instead I've kept this blog and printed out photo books to remember my stay, but I had to do this.

What an amazing day, I would compare the work I saw to being "equal-to or better-than" anything I've ever seen in an art gallery.