The Winter Ice Rink.

We seem to be in Winter already. Every Winter (in recent times) Brighton opens an Ice Rink at The Royal Pavilion. 

This year The Pavilion seems to be lit-up in pink. Those 'glass houses' surrounding the rink are home to bars, cafés, and bistros. A great place to enjoy an evening out whilst watching the skaters.

I have only attempted skating once in my life, and it didn't end well. I would certainly be in a café rather than on the ice.

I don't know who took this photo, but it's a belter! I believe it was taken from a 'plane as it came in to land at Gatwick. Anyway, here is an aerial photo of 'Brighton by Night'.

 

PAVAROTTI Nessun Dorma

I quite often post music videos on this page, but I thought it was about time I posted possibly the greatest combination of singer, orchestra, and composer of all time; that of Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot, accompanied by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Kurt Herbert Adler.

This is possibly the world's favourite operatic aria, and it's certainly worthy of its popularity.

Can anything ever get better than this?

Chalk and Cheese.

After all the relentless publicity given to the violent and nasty anti-Semitic mobs in London and elsewhere, how very refreshing to hear of a rally AGAINST anti-Semitism this last weekend, that passed-off without a nasty word, or a stone thrown. I do believe that Tommy Robinson was taken away by police for precautionary reasons, but that's no bad thing.

When one compares the two factions there is no question who I, and most peace-loving people, would support.

 

The Grand Hotel.

    Photo by Luisao Sanchez.

The Grand (above) is one of several large hotels on Brighton's seafront, overlooking The English Channel.

Sadly most people remember it as being the location of the IRA's 1984 attempt to assassinate our then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. A 'time bomb' was planted under the bath of a room previously rented by the IRA's Patrick Magee, which then exploded the day before The Conservative Party Conference.

He killed five people, and injured a further 34. Mrs Thatcher was unscathed, and her popularity rose even more sharply as a result.

The bomb was planted to the left (in picture) of the middle; where the flagpole is, and destroyed about five floors. Much of the replacement rooftop features are now made of Fiberglass. These days you wouldn't ever have known that anything had happened.

Magee was rightly sentenced to eight life sentences, with a minimum fixed duration of 35 years. He was released after just 14. I think he's still alive and probably enjoying life.

 

What use is an Art Education?

 

I studied at various Art Colleges for about 5 years; all that ended in my receiving a 1st Class Hons degree in Fine Art (painting).

But what did Art College actually teach me, rather than me teaching myself? I would suggest almost nothing.

I had a few very good tutors in my early days, but on my degree course they were frankly pretty piss-poor. If I hadn't been a determined person I might not have learned anything at all; and there were a few students around who didn't. They were mostly booted out.

There was very little actual teaching. Most lecturers sat in their study chatting to each other; drinking tea. Very few projects were set, very little criticism was offered, and almost no actual hands-on practical teaching was given. In fact I wonder why some of our tutors were there at all.

I have been an Art Teacher myself, but sadly never in an Art College. I sometimes wish that I had been. One of the things I certainly would have taught is 'Professionalism'; how to prepare one's work ready to be shown and hopefully sold. This was never mentioned when I was a student, but really is of major importance. It's all well and good being a talented artist, but if your work isn't presented correctly you stand no chance of making a living.

Of course an Art College education is not all about becoming 'an artist', most chose related occupations, and maybe continue painting on the side. Probably the most successful ex-Art Students have been those who went on to form bands. The Stones, The Beatles, The Who, U2, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Coldplay; the list is endless. Very few become successful painters or sculptors.

So what to do? Well I think they should carry on as they are at present. They do a good job, but not in the way they think. They provide the country with free-thinkers, musicians, a few painters, and plenty of people who make the world a better place. That can't be all bad.

  

That 90 day rule.

 

When I recently wrote about the 90 day rule, I forgot to mention that if I was a Frenchman wishing to visit the UK for 6 months, I would need to have a valid passport, an active Email address, and either a debit or credit card to pay a small fee to extend the 90 day rule to 180. One would apply online, the visa would be delivered within 72 hrs, and sent to the applicant's Email address. What could be simpler?

However, if an Englishman wishes to spend a similar 6 months in France, the process is very different.

Firstly it cannot be done online. One needs to make a long trip to the Embassy/Consulate in London, where lengthy forms would need to be filled, 2 ID photos provided, fingerprints taken, and just about every other inconvenience imaginable forced upon us. That's if you find the place open, or the right person just happens to be there. Having lived in France for the past 50 years, I can assure you that if a French bureaucrat can make your life difficult; he/she WILL. And woe betide you if one of the documents isn't exactly what they want; and that's not just for Brits. You go back to stage one, and start all over again.

I mentioned here recently that there is a move afoot in both France and Spain to relax the present rules a bit, but maybe if they don't, the UK should mirror the French rules, and insist on a 90 day rule for all Europeans; with the same sort of complicated rigmarole if they wish to stay any longer. May I suggest a specially installed visa office on the remote Scottish isle of O'Lang-sein; which would HAVE to be attended on two successive Saturdays.

What's good for the European Goose, must surely be good for the British Gander.

Afternoon Tea.

I wonder how many people still have Afternoon Tea, in proper cups with proper cake on proper plates?

We do still have a cup of Lapsang each afternoon, but not in these cups. We should use them more often; I don't know why we don't. Instead we use plain white mugs, and the cake (if Lady M has made any) is served on plain white plates.

How many families, I wonder, have a similar Tea set that is kept for 'special occasions' only. Well over half of us I'm sure. We should use them daily, and if one or two get chipped or broken; then so be it.

The above photo was taken last year when I'd been really looking forward to a slice of Battenburg, after a cake-less three months in France. It looked lovely, but I really didn't enjoy it. It was far too sweet and sickly.

Lady M's Lemon drizzle would have been far better.