A Week in Essaouira - 1

The door to Dar Zette

After the wet and grey summer in England (and Wales, where we spent a fortnight) we were feeling very sun-deprived. We decided to push out the boat and have another break away from home, hoping to boost our vitamin D in preparation for the winter. A new flight route between Bristol and Marrakech made Morocco an easier possibility, and some research turned up a lovely and available villa, Dar Zette. Essaouira appealed because it is on the coast, it has the reputation for being more laid-back than Marrakech, and without the pushiness and mopeds in the souks, and because my blogging friend Elizabeth loves it there, and she has wonderful taste.

We actually took the very first flight to Marrakech from Bristol, and there were celebrations: Ryanair had provided Morrocan pastries and hors d'eouvres by the check in desks (sadly with no gluten-free options) and also belly dancers, whose music we heard as we queued for security but regrettably otherwise missed. I'm not sure that we were really expected when we arrived at the other end, as traffic control required us to circle the city some six or so times before we were allowed to land. This was actually quite interesting as I was beginning to find inspiration in the patterns on the dessert and the cultivated areas of land, and was about to request my camera from the overhead locker when we were given clearance and a slot. The first passengers off the plane were filmed for local television so maybe the cameraman was delayed getting to the airport.... The air was pleasantly warm as we stepped out of the plane and onto Moroccan soil.

Anyway, we were there and all went smoothly if slowly. I had wheelchair assistance at the airport and was whizzed through passport control but then was parked for about three quarters of an hour while the rest of the family made their way through the queues at immigration/passport control. Eventually we were reunited and we found our driver for the journey to the coast.

The drive takes about two and a half to three hours, through a slowly changing landscape. The city gives way to the garden centres of the suburbs and then to red-soiled land punctuated by farms, settlements and little towns, trees and earth-built walls, the odd berber tent and goats. Eventually the earth began to turn paler with flecks of white. We stopped for a comfort break in a small town whose name I never discovered, and a bite to eat (most welcome, after breakfast at 4 a.m.), Then on, through roadworks due to an upgrading of the road surface, and pausing at a viewpoint to admire the lovely view over Essaouira and the sea. Essaouira reflected the colours of the locality: most buildings are white with blue paintwork, within the red medina walls. We arrived at Bab Marrakesh, to be met by Foued and fought over by two porters who wished to carry our baggage the short distance to the Dar. Foued sorted out this squabble and we were duly whisked along the street a short distance, to turn off the street into a covered alleyway and at the end stood the door to our home-for-a-week.

Moroccan houses contain secret treasures inside plain trappings, and Dar Zette was no different. The door opened through an arch into the courtyard, a quiet haven despite being only a few yards from one of the Medina's main streets. The white-painted walls, blue fountain, pretty central olive tree and warm terracotta floor tiles created a cool and calm atmosphere. We were welcomed by our maid, Sadir, and through Foued we arranged for her to cook us a tagine for dinner that evening. We were a little alarmed to be told that the water was cut off due to an explosion, but this turned out to be a mistranslation and there had been a burst water main, which cut off the water supply to all the town. We were assured that work was underway to restore the water, and meanwhile we had bottles of drinking water in the fridge.






So now all we had to to was to choose our bedrooms, settle in and make ourselves at home, explore and relax and look forward to eating the delicious tagine of chicken with lemons and olives being prepared for our delight.

Waltham Abbey

Waltham Abbey is a very special place to me: it is somewhere I have known and loved for most of my life. I used some of it as inspiration for my City and Guilds Design Study on walls, and I love the visible history of repurposing demolished areas in building new walls, rough edges evidencing previous structures and the way that different elements have weathered and worn.



It is a building that has a lot of history, as you can read on Barbara's blog and here.



On this occasion, I visited in the company of two princesses: Sara Lechner, who was visiting the UK for the occasion of the Knitting and Stitching Show, and my own Sarah (elder daughter). It's always good to share special places, especially when those being introduced get why it is special, and that magic was with us on this occasion.



We went inside as well, but I do not have photographs as my daughter was doing photographer duty. The interior is lovely, and also lovely is the fact that it is a very obviously living church as well as a historic monument.

I feel that I must soon revisit the artwork I produced in response to the Abbey and see what it inspires now, nearly a decade later.



It was a wonderful visit.

Looking Up

I had a long weekend away from home, staying with my Mum.



The weather was remarkably sunny and warm for the time of year.



I went to the same place two days in a row.




Some shading was definitely necessary.



So where was I?


Alexandra Palace, for the London Knitting and Stitching Show

A Night Out

Because of my health problems, I don't get out a lot, but DH and I have been trying to get out once a week for a "date". We've seen films and had meals out together, but we decided to try a concert/gig as Sam Sparro was playing at the Colston Hall, and I've been enjoying listening to his album recently.

On the way in, I saw this graffiti portrait on a wall opposite one of the entrances to the Colston. It reminded me of a series of faces we used to see around Bristol a few years ago. (You can click on the picture for a bigger image with more detail).

 

There were two support acts, starting with a few numbers by MPHO, and then the very lively Sneaky Sound System, who really know how to work an audience. Like Sam Sparro, they originated in Australia. We weren't quite the oldest in the auditorium, but even I had heard some of their songs before.

 

I really did feel old, though. I'm no stranger to the visceral experience of pounding bass levels at live gigs, but unless the sound engineers are all severely deaf but lacking in insight, I cannot understand the reason or the point of balancing the sound channels in such a way that the vocals are all but lost in a cacophony of sound so extreme that it seems close to white noise.

By the time Sam Sparro was into his third number, the levels seemed to have been somewhat sorted and it was less painful, but the damage had been done to our ears, despite makeshift ear plugs to reduce the penetrative volume, and the tinnitus persisted for the rest of the night.

 

It could have been so much better, if only the sound levels had been appropriately managed - or is it just me? But I still enjoyed Black and Gold. I just need to replace the painful memories by listening to the CD again.

Oh: so true

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
- e e cummings

Food Festival

 

This last weekend Bristol hosted The Soil Association's Festival of Organic Food, which took place on the Harbourside.

 

There were many visitors. Apparently on Saturday, there were more visitors despite the rain, but it seemed busy enough to me. There were many stalls providing tasting samples: everything from chilli chocolate to green tea. Dove's Farm had run out of wares to sell in all but a few of their lines, and most vendors were doing a roaring trade. I had the excitement of being able to buy a burger in a bap for my lunch - because these were no ordinary baps, but made from spelt flour, and totally delicious.

As well as food products, there were textiles, too. There were glorious tweed and woollen products from the Isle of Mull, Fair Trade clothing, organic knitting wools... Even an opportunity to do some knitting.

 

I have to say that this knitting required great determination, and a certain amount of upper limb strength. It felt rather like rowing, so provided a workout as well as an output. These were no ordinary knitting needles, but Guinness World Record Knitting Needles. I was proud of my achievement of completing a whole row of knitting on them!

 

It's not surprising, in retrospect, that I awoke with painful shoulder joints this morning. Perhaps using these needles should be incorporated into the Olympic Team's training for 2012!

Village

Yesterday, between showers, I popped in for a chat with my friend.

 

She has been here for 18 months now, but I like to keep in touch. It's also an opportunity to revisit the memories of others I have known within our community but who are no longer with us in the flesh. There is a wooden bench situated under the oak tree, where I sat for a while and communed. It seemed fitting that I could hear the children from the village primary school enjoying their lunchtime play on their first day back, separated from the graveyard by just one little field of grass. All of life was there.

 

On the grass, pearled by the last shower, was this small twig of oak with turning leaves, presumably pruned from the tree by the winds of the previous night. I thought it lovely. Clare would have appreciated it, so I left it on her grave.

 

Back towards the church and my car, I passed the memorial stone to another friend's parents, who died a year apart, and spent a moment remembering them.

 

The church itself bore witness to happier celebrations, with this lovely floral arch decorating the doorway (somewhat buffeted by the wind, but still glorious).

Heavenly Drama

 

We're not getting the best weather this summer, and now the days are growing noticably shorter and the walnut leaves are browning and beginning to fall. I am always nostalgic for summer, especially when we've not had much of one, as this year. However, this sky reminded me of one of the benefits of autumn, which is a tendency for dramatic sunset skies to appear. I love the contrast of the peachy day-glo pink with the deep,rich blue grey of the clouds and the paleness of the bare sky beyond, and the wispy cloud forms layered textile-like into a collage of colour and texture.

Home for Two Weeks

 

We spent two weeks in North Wales for our summer holiday, and these are pictures taken of and around our home for that time. The cottage is in a small village set in a beautiful verdant valley, with hills grazed by sheep and a bridge over the River Elwy, which we saw was enjoyed as much as a beach, with people paddling, fishing, picnicking and sunbathing.

 

The location was only a few miles inland of the coast but sufficiently isolated to have no mobile signal reception - except if you were on Vodaphone, which we weren't. There was no computer connection, either, so it was a very peaceful, away-from-it-all fortnight.

 

The cottage was once two, and built one room deep so that we could enjoy views in two directions from most of the rooms.

 

We were very comfortable there and it was a most restful place to be.

Animal Crackers

We recently spent two weeks in North Wales, and during that time made an excursion to Liverpool. Our objective was the Klimt Exhibition at the Tate there, but we took advantage of our route to stop off at Port Sunlight and the Lady Lever Gallery. Port Sunlight is, like Bourneville in Birmingham, an amazingly spacious and pretty housing estate built to accommodate factory workers, in this case at the Sunlight Soap factory. Unlike Bourneville (for the Cadbury family supported the Temperance Movement) there were even local pubs, and additionally the amenity of this wonderful Art Gallery. I suspect that, these days, the houses go for a pretty price and that the estate is solidly middle class, but I'll need to investigate that history another time.

To my disappointment, the wonderful collection of embroideries was not on display, although I enjoyed seeing some Pre-Raphaelite paintings and sculptures. In the grounds, we encountered a strange modern sculpture, like an animal which resembled a sheep with a kangaroo's tail, painted all in sky blue, with white clouds dotted across its surface. It reminded me a little of Jeff Koon's Balloon Dog, which we saw in Venice on the Grand Union Canal two years ago. Inside the Museum Shop, I bought a book of the collection which included pictures of some embroideries, and as I queued to pay, noticed a booklet about the Superlambananas (for so these creatures are called) and added it to my shopping basket. As we were leaving I noticed a companion creature in different colours, across the road outside the Heritage Centre.

On the journey into Liverpool, I began to notice more of these creatures. We managed to park close to Albert Dock, and on our way in (outside the entrance to the Beatles Story) came to face to face with this:-



I have since discovered that the original Superlambanana was 17ft high, and created by Taro Chiezo as a protest or comment about genetic engineering. I think he was very generous to allow his idea to be translated into 2 metre high canvases for artists to decorate and they certainly inject colour and fun into the city landscape and engage people of many ages in this art-form. The variety is wonderful. It is even possible to buy your own Superlambanana to decorate or enjoy as is!

Last Friday, we had a mini outing to the City of Bath, and as we drove in, a sense of deja vu came over me. Small, colourful and decorated creatures appeared on pavements and in the playground at Victoria Park. We arrived in the city centre and soon made a closer acquaintance with one of these sculptures, and learned that, in Bath, they are not Superlambananas but King Bladud's Pigs.

Again, this was a community art project. Pigs were sponsored by local people (including Jamie Cullum) and businesses (the one above was sponsored by Wessex Water) and then decorated by artists (including Kaffe Fassett, Candace Bahouth and Brandon Mably).

Sometimes the sponsors had a say in the decoration of the pig,

(this one was sponsored by Norland Nannies)

while others left it to the artists to choose how to colour and embellish the pig-canvas.

I like this Roman Pig with attitude - his name is Pignacius!

Again, it is possible to purchase your own pig to decorate and enliven your house or garden. I am quite tempted - I'd like one of each, really. There are also little ones for sale - piglets, I suppose.

Why pigs? Well, legend has it that King Bladud developed an unsightly disease of his skin (probably leprosy) and was cast out of court and the city and left to live his life in isolation as a swineherd. Unfortunately, the pigs developed the same disorder and were very uncomfortable. They found ease in bathing in mud and in water. They came across one particular spring and, when they bathed there, their skin healed. Bladud observed this and copied their example and was cured. He was able to return to his city, and the people made him king again. Thus Bath's reputation for healing waters was assured and many people have since followed the example of King Bladud in taking the waters there.

Following the Links tab on the King Bladud's Pigs site will introduce you to other, similar community art projects - including cows - now in eight cities(!), Elephants in Norwich and Bears in Berlin.

At the end of their exhibitions, in the autumn, the Superlambananas and Pigs of Bath will be auctioned off to raise funds for local projects.

Meanwhile, they've certainly brightened up a very dismal summer.

Overwhelmed

Back from two weeks in North Wales, overwhelmed is what I'm feeling. Google Reader has caught 1000+ posts for me to enjoy. My e-mail box has over 300 messages. The piles of laundry, ironing and mail are all massive. I've many, many photographs to download - hundreds and hundreds. The landscapes were overwhelmingly beautiful. Meeting two of my friends was almost overwhelmingly pleasurable. Exploring has overwhelmed my energy reserves. Our house is overwhelmingly untidy and in need of some serious cleaning.

But it was very good.

A Bouquet of Roses

 

 

 

 

From my garden.

Revisiting the Tadpole

 

 

 

 

This little chap was hunting in the long grass of the lawn this evening, so was mustered for an inspection. So cute!

Hiatus

Goodness me, it's two weeks since I last posted here, and my disappearance does not mean I've been off on travels, regrettably. It's been two more weeks of no energy and little voice, not to mention increasing frustration and fed-upness with myself.
The view from the Magic Armchair has often been like this:-



It's not so difficult to endure being almost housebound when the weather makes outside so uninviting.

I've been doing a lot of thinking work on textiles but not felt up to physically working on them. The rusted fabrics are calling to me and I would like to do more.
I have also been knitting a simple cardigan: one back and front are done so far. Also I've been doing a fair amount of armchair travelling on the laptop, trying to find out where we might be able to go for a holiday involving lots of rest and recreation, but we are having difficulties finding convenient dates for everyone, and accomodation availability. Hopefully that will be sorted soon. My poor husband is feeling very stressed at work and his back keeps playing up, so I think he needs a break rather urgently.

Next week Anna is off to Austria via Venice, for a singing tour ("Blessed")with her school Gospel Choir, Youthful Spirit, after they perform tomorrow at Wells Cathedral by request of the Bishop, at a garden party and service being held to celebrate a visit by Bishops from Africa.

Ben has a non-curriculum week at school too, with special activities including a visit to the Forest of Dean, so he'll have lots of fun.

Sarah, meanwhile, has completed her portfolio work and submitted everything, so is finished at university. She'll be in and out every few days for the next ten days or so, before needing to get down to the serious business of finding work. She has the misfortune of graduating just when the building trade is having a massive downturn, so this is easier said than done, but she has gained a scholarship place on a month-long international architecture forum in London, which is good for her CV, and has been putting out many feelers to find a position as an architectural assistant as well as looking at other related work experience she might gainfully take. Maybe it will be easier when her degree award is ascertained and finalised.

Another choral experience I will be enjoying is the new Saturday evening series on BBC1, Last Choir Standing. Last week we saw the audition stage, and it was thrilling to see so many enthusiastic choirs in such diverse styles. Some of the judges' choices may have been controversial, but there was some extraordinary talent revealed. I won't be able to sing along, but I'll enjoy the show anyway.

Tagged

I've been tagged with a meme, by Jeni and it's taken me ages to complete.

1) LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE?

I saw some of Indiana Jones at the weekend but wasn't feeling well and kept falling asleep. I'm ashamed to say I woke myself up with a snore! Didn't fall asleep when I watched Proof on rental last week, though. Thought that was excellent.


2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?

Literally just finished "We Need To Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. I found it a very slow read - it should have been one to take on holiday for that reason - but really good, different and thought-provoking. I'm sort of sad to have finished it, too - always a good recommendation for a book. I'll have to go to the library for some more books now. I'm also enjoying "Alabama Stitch Book" by Nancy Chanin for inspiration about stylish recycling of clothing, "From Image to Stitch" by Maggie Grey for inspiration for creating art and "The Art of Byzantium" by Thomas F. Mathews for inspiration.


3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?

I like Scrabble: much prefer word games to others. Also like Boggle, though it doesn't have a board.....


4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?

Are Blogs the new magazine? I sometimes think so. I like Embroidery, and often buy Stitch, too, and sometimes Classic Stitches. I subscribe to Workshop on the Web, too, which is an on-line equivalent, and I like the Thr3fold journals.


5) FAVOURITE SMELLS?

Honeysuckle, Roses, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Olive oil, the air when the rain stops, washing dried on the line, dinner cooking, Dior Addict, Dior Fahrenheit, babies.


6) FAVOURITE SOUNDS?

Birdsong, waterfalls, children playing make-believe games.


7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?

Helplessness.
Also looking forward to doing something and then having to cancel or miss out due to being ill. (Because this happens a lot).


8) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?

What's the time? (I can sleep for Britain and through almost anything).


9) FAVOURITE FAST FOOD PLACE?

Fast food is a difficult option when you can't tolerate wheat/gluten. I guess I tend to drop by a Sainsbury's salad bar to go, or find somewhere that serves baked potatoes or salads.


10) FUTURE CHILDS NAME?

Been there, done that, got the stretch marks....! No more children, I've been pruned!


11) IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’D……

Have a housekeeper. Build a house to my own design, incorporating the closest to carbon-neutrality I could get. Buy art. Travel (to India, Syria, Mauritius, Maldives, Granada, and lots of other places). Set up my in-laws with a home and a business near to us. Give to charity and fund effective research into ME, MND and Kidney Disease. Plant trees. Take lots of courses and workshops.

12) DO YOU DRIVE FAST?

Sometimes, but like Jeni, less so now that petrol costs so very much.


13) DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?

DH is sometimes an animal and he's very cuddly but I'd not call him stuffed.....


14) STORMS – COOL OR SCARY?

I've always found thunder storms exciting but I find strong winds increasingly scary.
Don't know why.


15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?

A red Vauxhall Viva.


16) FAVOURITE DRINK?

Tea. Apple juice with ginger. Rum and coke. Rioja (red or white).


17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD…

This is a difficult one. Because I have so many problems with energy and fatigue, I tend to have the time but not the oomph to do things....


18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?

Yes


19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE?

I'm not sure my colouring would work with another colour, but I'm sometimes attracted to the idea of purple or fuchsia hair. My pal Pauline has lovely white hair with turquoise (my favourite colour) extensions and that looks great. If I had white hair,I'd have fun with it, too.


20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN?

Highams Park (London), St. Katharine's Dock, Wapping (London), Stone (Aylesbury), Stewkley (Bucks), Bristol, Congresbury.


21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

I'm not a great sports spectator at all but will sometimes enjoy a good football match or the tennis if I'm in the mood.


22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?

A clever, inspiring, creative and funny lady who dyes stunning fibres and I wish I saw more of. If I'm restricted to one thing, I'd have to say she's lovely.


23) WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?

Built in drawers with clothes and stuff in them. Doubtless dust, too.


24) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN??

Yes, but without the health problems, please.


25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?

Definitely a night owl.


26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?

I hate runny whites so it's over easy for me.


27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX?

Bed, bath, sofa, Magic Armchair, garden, jacuzzi, steam room, in the sunshine, by a lake or the sea.....


28) FAVOURITE PIE?

Pies are another problem with a wheat/gluten free diet. So it has to be home made pear frangipane tart.

29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?

Walnut, Almond or Pistachio, or rum and raisin. Or my home-made Greek yoghurt, almond and honey ice cream.

30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?

Crumbs, I have to tag some people, too. Who is most likely to respond first? I don't know.

Two weeks later - still can't work out who to tag, so if you fancy answering these questions, please accept a tag and say so in a comment, then link to here when you make your post. Thank you! It doesn't take much to befuddle my brain at the moment, so any help is most gratefully received.