Most of my photos look better enlarged - just click on the photo to do this



Friday 7 January 2011

Day Out

I had a day out yesterday - I went up to London to see this exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I also met up with a fellow blogger - Loraine from The Balancing Kiwi - who had an appointment in Hammersmith which tied in well with our meeting at the V &A.

a
We met in the cafe there and had lunch together and got to know one another - she was every bit as charming as she seemed from her blog and id didn't take us long to be chatting like old friends. After lunch we went to buy tickets for the Diaghilev exhibition and the earliest we could get were for 3.15 (should have done that before lunch perhaps?!) which gave us plenty of time to wander round other parts of the museum and we eventually found ourselves in the jewellery rooms. Wow! what amazing stuff they had there - not that any of it would have been suitable for wearing to do the weekly shopping of course!! Some incredibly old stuff and also some fantastic modern pieces.
a
a
After a cup of tea to refresh ourselves we made our way to the exhibition we had come to see which was excellent and appealing on several levels. For me it was the costumes and the textiles that appealed most but it was interesting from the musical aspect, the art - Picasso and Matisse were artists whose work was displayed, the political and the dance of course. The costumes were stunning and what struck us was how much larger the dancers were than nowadays - some of them might have fitted me! Sadly no photography was allowed but for more images you can try Google Images here
a

This was a backdrop which was enormous - how it was transported I don't know but I loved it and was reminded of a friend who does batik and a card she made me years ago. Don't you agree? Although her's was just postcard size and the one in the V&A enormous.






It took us an hour and a half to see the exhibition - as some people we had shared a table with whilst having a cup of tea had told us it would. We left the V&A feeling as if we had been to another world and were suddenly returned to the dark wet streets of London. Loraine and I parted at the Underground station and I made my way back to Hammersmith for my coach home tired but having enjoyed my day out so much. Thanks for coming with me Loraine.

By the way I am sorry if you feel a bit drunk viewing these pictures but they were scanned and I didn't get them in the scanner quite straight and haven't got time to figure out how to tilt them to the vertical properly!

21 comments:

  1. Ooooh! Lucky you! I wish I still live nearer to London. I love museums and that was one of my favourites to visit.
    Julie xxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. This looks fantastic! What a lovely chance for the two of you to meet up, too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks a fabulous exhibition Jane. Lucky you to get to see it and in good company too. Always makes the event more memorable I think, if you go with a friend.How I envy you. Sometimes I wish I was a 'do-able' coach ride away from London but at least I can experience the event through your great description of it! Lesley

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the 'share' Jane, looks like an excellent exhibition - I really must make the effort myself!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so jealous! A day visit to a museum with a fellow blogger and chatting over lunch and tea... Great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh how I'd love to go to that exhibition. Thanks for sharing it as I doubt I'll be able to get there.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That sounds like a great exhibition! I adore the V&A and you're right the jewellery section really is wonderful!
    Vivienne x

    ReplyDelete
  8. It looks like a really interesting exhibition with the colourful costumes. Thank you for commenting on my muscari that I referred to as lupins!!! I don't know why I did that as I know they are muscari, it even says so on the label! I think I was dreaming of summer flowers in the garden! x

    ReplyDelete
  9. i love the V&A and i love Loraines's blog too.
    the costumes are wonderful, it must have been a fabulous day out.

    it's pretty dark and wet here in somerset at the moment. hoping for a glimmer of sunshine soon.

    warmest wishes and thanks for sharing these gorgeous pics.

    xxx

    millie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds like a great day out, the museum sounds so interesting! I love Lorraine's blog too! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  11. It was a wonderful day out and I really enjoyed it Jane. We must do it again sometime! (Unless I've scared you off of course ;-) )

    ReplyDelete
  12. The costumes are fantastic, aren't they? I was lucky enough to see some when the V & A had an exhibition of them about 14 years ago. The museum is one of my most favourite places to visit........... glad you had such a fun time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for a very interesting post. I love visiting the V&A - what a great day out you had! The pictures you chose from the exhibition are wonderful. Have a lovely weekend. Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  14. If I ever go to the UK again i will definitely have to make the V&A one of my must sees. Thank you for sharing your trip to the exhibition.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The V&A is great isn't it. Unfortunately I don't get down to London often enough and seem to miss all the good exhibitions lately!

    Thanks for your comment on my blog Jane, but being the butterfly-mind that I am, I have changed my header again! I liked the previous but it didn't come out quite as I'd hoped and seemed out of proportion somehow. Anyway the bottom line is that I can't stop fiddling with Template Designer - no excuses!!

    Have a great weekend!

    Jeanne
    x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a nice day. I'll have to put the V&A on my list of must sees. I read about the War Museum on the blog called Hen House. It sounds very interesting too and a visit to Royal Albert Hall is at the very top of that list.
    Now I've just got to save my money and get over there while the exchange rate is so good for us.
    Cheers
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
  17. what a wonderful way to spend a day and meet a new friend, it looked fabulous !

    ReplyDelete
  18. I do rather hanker for a day visiting galleries and museums Jane. I may love Cornwall, but we do lack in that department. At least I can live vicariously! x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds like a nice day out. The costumes are great! Wishing you a super weekend!
    Lucy xxxxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  20. You're always in London these days! Glad you had a lovely day, I love the V&A, and how exciting to meet a fellow blogger. Next time you come, will you let me know? I'd love to meet you too xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Just to let you know I've given you a blog award, visit my blog to see! :) x

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have found what you read of interest. Do please leave a comment as I love to hear what you think.