sought after honeymoon destinations in Himachal Pradesh.
The Queen of Hill stations and also the summer capital of the state ,is just the place meant for newlyweds all the scenes from a romantic Bollywood movie can be found here.A lovely climate replete with deodar and pine trees cool enough and cosy too to fall into each other's embrace.
Things to do: Trekking at the Glen , sightseeing which includes Scandal Point, Jakhu temple and Viceregal Lodge and not to be missed an excursion to Kufri.
One of the most popular honeymoon destinations is also known as the 'Home to the Seven Sages' it abounds in mountain peaks, mountain passes and beautiful rolling plains. Places of special interest and fame here are the Hidimba Devi temple many famous monasteries ,add to this the beautiful and thrilling drive to Rohtang Pass and your honeymoon will not require anything else.
Things to do:. indulge in thrilling activities like paragliding and rappelling, skiing in the Solang Valley or let a massage at the Spa rejuvenate you and your partner and treat your taste buds with the local traditional cuisine comprising of any or all of the following 1.Dhaam 2. Madra. 3. Tudkiye Bath 4. Chha gosht 5.They or Spicy Lotus stem and 6.
The five hills of Dauladhar range own this exclusive world famous hill station which is also a favourite with honeymooners. It boasts of glistening mountains and lovely lush pine covered valleys which lure you to welcoming your morning with a view of the golden sun rising from the Himalayas.
Things to do: The Chamunda Devi temple and the Khajjiar Lake are a treat for every visitors eyes not to be left behind are the Panch Pulla waterfalls, Satdhara waterfalls and the St John's Church which can be approached by trekking too thus giving you double enjoyment ,and wildlife at Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary is an attraction which should not be missed.
How to reach: The nearest airport is Pathankot which is 75 kms from here and the nearest railway station is Chakki Bank Railhead at 71 kms.
Hope the newlyweds will enjoy this gift from you, we would request them to post their feedback on our Travel Binz Reviews section so that we may understand the requirements of our clients better.


Quotient's co-founder shares about our chatbot's usefulness to the business.
Quotient shares insights into Asian families' preferences regarding their holidays.
We share about one easy way for travellers to support eco-tourism.
We talk about how most locals want to remain connected during their holidays.
Quotient's co-founder shares about how our new chatbot can benefit the travel industry.
We speak about the new solutions we have adopted to help us with our work processes.


This week was a shortened week due to the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. Most of the week was spent working in subcommittees. It is the first step in the legislative process and gives interested parties an opportunity to support, oppose or suggest changes to the proposed legislation.
As you are aware I chair the Transportation Committee. This week I assigned 16 bills to subcommittees. We have a lot of work to do, however, most of the bills are what we consider non-controversial issues. Some are merely making code changes so we conform with federal statutes, and others change a definition. All of these need addressed and take time and effort.
Weather played a factor at the Capitol this week. I did however have a chance to attend receptions of the Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, and the Iowa State Troopers reception. Several constituency groups had to cancel meetings and even a legislator or two had trouble getting to the Capitol.
Iowa's business climate continues to shine. Most of you know Iowa tied with Hawaii for the lowest unemployment rates in the country. After last month's report we now hold the title all by ourselves, Hawaii's numbers went up and we now stand alone as having the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. We now have 1.65 million Iowans employed and more Iowans are now working than at any time in the history of the state.
We should be proud we are at this level here in Iowa but we should not rest on our laurels. We can always improve and should strive for new and better career opportunities in our cities, county seats, and rural communities.
See you out and about the district!


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November 20, 2018 / 1:29 PM / 8 months ago
Bitcoin slump takes pressure off Britain's regulators
LONDON (Reuters) - A plunge in the value of bitcoin and other cryptoassets has eased the pressure on Britain's financial watchdog to take radical action that could deter investment and financial innovation, government officials and regulators said on Tuesday.
FILE PHOTO: A collection of Bitcoin (virtual currency) tokens are displayed in this picture illustration taken December 8, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
The rapid growth in bitcoin and other initial coin offerings last year prompted regulators and central bankers around the world to take a closer look at the sector.
But a fall in the value of cryptoassets over the past year as investors lose interest, and a drop in bitcoin, which fell as much as 10 percent on Tuesday to below $4,500, has eased the pressure to issue tough new rules.
British regulators and government officials told a conference they were focused on how 2,000 or more cryptoassets slot into existing rules before considering reforms.
"We want to take the time to look at that in a bit more depth and make sure we take a proportionate approach," Gillian Dorner, deputy director for financial services at Britain's finance ministry, told a City & Financial conference.
Britain faces the challenge of balancing an innovative economy with maintaining consumer protection, stable markets and thwarting financial crime, she said.
Christopher Woolard, executive director for strategy and competition at the Financial Conduct Authority, said there is a need to clarify "grey edges" around the existing regulatory perimeter.
The FCA will consult by the end of this year on where the perimeter lies for cryptoassets, he said.
"This will help clarify which cryptoassets fall within the FCA's existing regulatory perimeter, and those cryptoassets that fall outside."
The finance ministry would then consult on whether the perimeter itself needed shifting, he added.
A task force of the finance ministry, FCA and Bank of England last month recommended a ban on the sale to retail customers of derivatives products linked to cryptoassets.
But Woolard said unilateral action by just one country had its limits, and the FCA will seek to work collaboratively with international counterparts.
Global regulatory bodies have so far been unable to reach a consensus on rule changes and have instead opted to monitor the sector more closely.
Reporting by Huw Jones, editing by Louise Heavens

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ideal for all sleeping positions, the Senso Memory® Traditional Pillow gently conforms to the shape of your head. It comes in a rectangular design.
– Enveloped in smooth, knitted fabric cover for enhanced comfort.


These Arthritis awareness hanging charms are silver heart charms with a dark blue ribbon and the words "Arthritis Awareness". The heart charms are approximately 5/8 inch by 5/8 inch and have a clasp that will hook onto your purse or a pet's collar. These charms are sterling silver plated and each one comes in a bag. This is a wholesale pack that contains 25 charms.


text:
"It shows how good the basketball is," Eden head coach Travis Nicks said. "We played Irion County early and they were good. I thought they were fundamental. We played Veribest and they were good. The only team we really haven't played is Robert Lee and we saw them at our tournament.
"So, I'm really not surprised. They were all good. I'm not surprised one bit."
The Irion Hornets (21-8) tip off with the Veribest Falcons (17-13) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lake View High School's Ben Norton Gym.
The Eden Bulldogs (19-9) get into action with the Robert Lee Steers (20-8) at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Angelo State University's Junell Center.
The winners of both games advance to the Region II-1A tournament Friday at Abilene Christian University's Moody Coliseum, where they could potentially meet in the regional final Saturday.
"You name those schools and they're all definitely well-coached, and that says a lot for this area and where basketball is right now," Irion County head coach John Morrow said. "And for three (teams from District 11-1A) to still be playing this late says a lot about our district and the strength of it."
Ranked No. 25 in the state, Irion County is at the head of the class after coming out of the district unscathed.
"That's a tough district," Veribest head coach Steven Hayes said. "Irion County finally got into the Top 25, and Robert Lee is right there with them."
Irion County rose to the top of its 1A district after back-to-back playoff berths and first-round losses in Class 2A.
"The main ingredient for our success this year is not hoping to win but expecting to win," Morrow said. "I really believe that has carried us this year. And when you have that frame of mind, then good things are going to happen."
Morrow said his team has continued to build on its success.
"I think these kids coming through the system have seen success, and they've seen the work ethic it takes, and I think that's helped us and moved us forward this year," Morrow said.
Veribest is hoping the third time is the charm against the Hornets after losing to them 43-32 and 50-28 during district play.
Hayes said he likes the way the Falcons are playing after coming from behind to beat Menard in the first round and winning the area-round game against Fort Davis by 11 points.
"I'm excited about it," Hayes said. "The last game was so bad against (Irion County). In the second half, we actually outscored them. But it's tough to beat a team three times in a season, so we've got that going for us, and I'm really excited about the opportunity to play them again."
The other game pits Nicks against Robert Lee's Manuel Gamboa — both coaches new to their schools this season.
Nicks joined the Bulldogs after coaching the Sonora girls, while Gamboa came to Robert Lee after six years coaching the Water Valley boys.
"It's been a one-of-a-kind ride," Gamboa said. "There's been a lot of learning, but our motto has been to just chip away at it throughout the whole year.
"We found ourselves in a hole on Friday (in a 56-48 win over Sanderson), but we stayed cool, calm and collected. It's been a learning curve, but I've tried not to overwhelm them with learning. I'm very satisfied with what the boys have done up to this point. They've had some really good coaches here and have made my job easy to where I could implement some of the stuff we do."
For Nicks, it was similar. He inherited a team that advanced to this same round last year.
"It took us probably a good month before we started clicking," Nicks said. "It took us a while, but the kids were easy and bought in to what we wanted to do.
"Defense plays a big part of it. We get after it on defense, and I think a combination of our inside game and having four senior guards is huge."
Irion County Hornets vs. Veribest Falcons
Records: Irion County 21-8, Veribest 17-13.
Route to playoffs: Irion County went undefeated in District 11-1A, beating Veribest 43-32 and 50-28. The Falcons finished district play in third place to secure the last of three playoff spots.
Route to this round: Irion County opened with a first-round bye, then beat Rankin 84-62 in the area round; Veribest rallied to beat Menard 52-44 in bidistrict and beat Fort Davis 52-41 in area.
Look ahead: Winner plays Paducah or Spur in regional semifinals.
Players to watch: Irion County – senior guard Nathan Chacon, senior guard Tristan Morrow. Veribest – senior guard Dominic Herrera, senior guard Zach Bolin.
About the Hornets: Irion County has advanced to the third round for the first time since 2005. Head coach John Morrow said, "It doesn't matter whether it's non-district, district or the playoffs, I don't take any opponent for granted. It doesn't matter who we're playing, I take it serious because if you don't show up and perform and do what you need to do, what you don't want to happen will happen."
About the Falcons: Veribest's come-from-behind win over perennial playoff contender Menard sparked head coach Steven Hayes' senior-heavy team to what it is believed to be the deepest playoff run in program history. Even though the Falcons dropped both games to the Hornets this year, Hayes "always felt like we were one of the best teams in the district on any given night. When we're clicking, it looks pretty good, and we turned it on the last two games in the playoffs."
Eden Bulldogs vs. Robert Lee Steers
Records: Eden 19-9, Robert Lee 20-8.
Route to playoffs: Eden went undefeated in District 12-1A. Robert Lee was second in District 11-1A after beating all its opponents except district champion Irion County.
Route to this round: Eden opened with a first-round bye and then beat Sierra Blanca 68-67 in the area round; Robert Lee dominated Panther Creek 75-41 in bidistrict, then pushed past Sanderson 56-48 in area.
Look ahead: Winner plays Jayton or Munday in regional semifinals.
Players to watch: Eden – senior guard Donovan Gonzales, sophomore forward Hunner Rodgers; Robert Lee – senior guard Manuel Gamboa, senior guard Jayton Warren.
About the Bulldogs: After a period of adjustment under new head coach Travis Nicks, Eden is finding its groove with four experienced senior guards and a solid inside game. "We got in foul trouble the other night with Donovan, and you look up and you've still got three senior guards out there to help weather the storm. That's nice," Nicks said.
About the Steers: Similar to Eden, Robert Lee was breaking in a new coach this year in veteran Manny Gamboa, but the Steers have steadily improved. "They've worked so dang hard. It's always about the buy-in, and some of the kids – it's natural – were not sure how the season would go. But once things started clicking and things have started going our way, the kids are coming out of their shell."


Embroidery orders are charged a flat rate of $4.00 (applies to nametapes, badges, slip-ons ONLY - see details below). Canadian orders are charged a flat shipping rate of $13.00 per order. All our Canadian orders are shipped by "Expedited" Canada Post service from our facility in Fredericton, NB, unless specified otherwise.
Orders shipped by Canada Post "Expedited" shipping service are traceable via tracking number. An email will be sent to you as soon as your package has been processed. You will then be able to track your package through the Canada Post website.
We strive to get your order out as soon as possible! On average, we ship 1 to 2 working days after receiving the order (not including weekends). Once your order has left our shipping department, we'll immediately email you the tracking number so that you can determine the actual delivery date.
For orders consisting entirely of embroidered items please also view our "Shipping Fees & Policies for Embroidery" below.
For orders that contain embroidery + other items, shipping times are in addition to the production time for the embroidered item. For example, if you ordered any embroidered items such as nametapes, patches, or slip-ons note that the shipping times shown above are in addition to the processing time. All our embroidered items are made to order (once the order is placed) so please allow 2 weeks for production time.
If you would like your regular products shipped without waiting for your embroidered items, please order as 2 separate orders and we'll ship your other items out right away.
Canadian customers when checking out will notice that there are 2 other delivery options available for selection. Please note these shipping times provided here are in addition to processing times for embroidered items. For example, if you ordered any nametapes, patches or slip-ons, the shipping times below would be added onto the processing time required to create the items prior to shipping.
Special Orders or Shipping Requests?
We do ship orders out via multiple shipping vendors. If you have any questions just give us a call at 1-800-561-3040 or email us at info@cpgear.com and we'll get right back to you!
To keep shipping costs down as much as possible we are happy to ship your embroidered items out to you in an envelope. We offer a flat rate of $4.00 on orders that consist entirely of embroidered items and nothing else. Embroidered items have a bit of weight to them and are typically much bulkier than standard items that are usually shipped by envelope. This fee covers the cost of the 3-4 stamps required to mail the order.
Embroidered items that can be shipped with the $4.00 shipping fee include all of our badges, patches, nametapes and slip-ons. Larger items such as brassards, embroidered hats, or embroidered apparel cannot be shipped by envelope.
The addition of any non-embroidered item to your order will mean we won't be able to ship your order in an envelope. The least expensive option we are able to offer for all other orders via Canada Post is $13 (plus tax).
Please keep in mind we cannot provide a tracking number for item sent by envelope. If you require a tracking number please select one of our other shipping options (such as Expedited shipping). As well, orders sent by envelope are not insured, meaning that if Canada Post damages or does not deliver the package for any reason, we will not reimburse you for your order. If you would like your order insured please choose one of our other shipping options.
We do not accept the return of embroidered items for credit or refund. Embroidered products are custom made to order and are non-refundable.
Your embroidered items are hand digitized into a file within 12 hours after receipt of your order. We DO NOT modify or change embroidered items 12 hours after receipt of your order. Please triple check your order confirmation email for errors right away and let us know of any changes within a 12-hour period. Any add-ons, modifications, or additional changes to your order will not be accepted after a 12-hour period and you will need to reorder.
Normally, we are able to complete your embroidered items within a 2-week period. On occasion, at certain times during the year we have experienced some delays in getting out embroidered orders. Delays will occur especially during times of mass ordering of slip-ons or nametapes. For example, if there has been a change in the format of nametapes or slip-ons, we will sometimes get a wave of orders, which can increase the period of time is takes to get your order out. Please email us at orders@cpgear.com if you would like a more detailed answer to current embroidery production/shipping times prior to ordering.
On occasion there may be a requirement for embroidery on an emergency basis. For example, if you require us to immediately process your order and get it out within 1 full business day we will charge you the following fees. We'll literally drop everything and get right on emergency rush orders. These fees are in addition to shipping fees and shipping delivery times. Please call us and place an emergency rush order over the phone (1-800-561-3040).


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From:AU $1,200
Tasmania self guided cycling holiday, Australia
AU $1200
8 Days excluding flights
More info:Tasmania's cycling holidays run from October to April. Prices are based on twin share and include bike and helmet hire. Luggage transport can be arranged for an additional cost.
"Our only cycling holiday in Tasmania on a stunning and not too challenging 270km route along the east coast, Hobart to St Helens, for eight days."
Hobart | Richmond | Salamanca Markets | Orford | Swansea | Spiky Bridge | Bicheno | Freycinet National Park | Wineglass Bay | Hike in Hazards Mountains | Bay of Fires | Scamander | St Helens
Description of Tasmania self guided cycling holiday, Australia
Take to two wheels on this Tasmania self guided cycling holiday, Australia. There are few places in the world more perfect and picturesque for a cycling holiday than Tasmania's east coast. Cyclists will love the long stretches of gently undulating, empty roads - described as 'flat' by locals but in fact only in comparison to Tasmania's dramatic West Coast and majestic Central Highlands that stretch far into the horizon, with mountain range after mountain range as far as the eye can sea.
Long stretches of easy cycling are tempered by gently undulating inclines and the occasional hill to add some puff and reward you with ravishing views long white sand beaches fringed with orange granite rocks and lapped by turquoise waters, and off shore islands rising like mountains out of the sea. Dolphins are a regular sight year round, and huge migrating whales can often be seen in Spring. Eagles soar over head and Tasmania's infamous wildlife - such as wombats, wallabies, echidnas and pademelons - gaze at you nonchalantly from the roadside, abundant if you cycle in early morning or the evening, and often happy to share your picnic spot by day along with the local bird life - Tasmania has 12 endemic species, many of which can be found on the east coast.
Accommodation is in lovely local and characterful bed and breakfasts, each a lovely new surprise, although simple hostel accommodation or luxury properties are available for those who wish to save money or upgrade. The bikes are excellent hybrid mountain bikes, perfect for leisure cyclists. The itineraries are superbly created with plenty of detail and door to door instruction - literally. Baggage transfer and vehicle support is available on request. The eight day itinerary will take you from the buzzing and cosmopolitan state capital of Hobart, just 45 minutes by air from Melbourne. Australia's second driest capital is snugly tucked at the bottom of Mount Wellington overlooking beaches and mountains.
You will finish, 8 days and 170 miles later, in the pretty fishing town of St Helens in the north east. A day of rest is spent exploring the iconic Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay - one of the most photographed beaches in Australia with superb bushwalking, and those wanting a bit more of a challenge can continue on through more challenging but equally spectacular landscapes of the North East to Tasmania's second city of Launceston.
I am the only company selling Tasmania's cycling tours in the UK and Europe. The impact on the environment is minimal. All guests are encouraged to check the pouches of any animals found injured or dead on the roads due to traffic accidents and are provided with the SOS wildlife rescue line.
Overall, on the bicycle tours less mileage is covered and therefore less fuel consumed as on self drive tours. The support bus for the guided group tours has been converted to the Australia diesel-gas system, resulting in a dramatically reduced fuel consumption. Guests are encouraged to carry their own luggage to minimise the requirement for a support vehicle and although transport can be booked for an additional charge, a courier who is using the same route is used to avoid additional environmental impact. The office building has been modified to ensure minimal energy consumption. All guests receive a custom made comprehensive information pack covering extensive information about Tasmania, its wildlife and nature, and how to interact best with the locals. Only small groups are booked at any one time.
The cycle company used in this tour was founded in 2001 and was the first exclusively cycling-focussed tour operator in Tasmania. It is still family run, independent , locally based and small. It has been deliberately kept it this way to ensure personal service to every guest and uses only local, personally qualified accommodation and recommends experiences to ensure that the community benefits as much as possible. The itineraries are put together in great detail to ensure that the visitors experience as much as possible in the touring route and visit as many local operators and outlets as they can, with a particular focus on smaller operators and experiences that are not found in mainstream holiday brochures . The UK based company is the first of its kind to specialise in uniquely Tasmanian experiences and accommodation/tour providers and adheres to a strict policy of only promoting locally owned and run properties. The company gives a donation to Tasmanian Land Conservancy, a non for profit organisation that has been established to protect areas of wilderness and natural significance in Tasmania.
1 Reviews of Tasmania self guided cycling holiday, Australia
Reviewed on 03 Jan 2018 by Daniel Blogg
Cycling the smooth and quiet Tasman Highway with frequent views of the stunning coastline, beach stops and refreshments at berry farms, coffee shops and wineries along the way. Feeling we were experiencing an undiscovered gem.
Make time to stop and enjoy the treats en route.
We stayed and dined at local establishments - no chains!
2 minute summaryBest time to goMap & highlightsThings to see & do
2 minute summaryMap & highlightsFamiliesTypes
Tasmania holidaysAustralia holidaysCycling holidaysSelf guided cycling holidaysModerate cycling holidays
Mountain biking tour in Victoria
Fun, fitness and country air, a two-wheeled exploration
From AU $750 2 days excluding flights
B&B self drive tour of Tasmania, meet the locals
Explore coastal expanses and mountainous magnificence on this Tassie tailor made trip
From AU $1495 - AU $6000 10 days excluding flights
Australia holidays, tailor made
Explore 3 very different states of Australia
From £15250 22 days including UK flights
Tasmania wildlife tour
Extraordinary encounters with Tasmania's endemic wildlife


Mrs. Wages Chili Base Tomato Mix contains just the right spices with fresh or canned tomatoes, or tomato paste, for chili you'll be proud to call your own recipe. Makes 5 pints and is ready to eat 24 hours after preparation. 5oz.
Remove skins and cores from tomatoes and chop coarsely. Puree to a smooth consistency in blender or food processor. Combine mix contents with chopped tomatoes and sugar in a large pot and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Chili Pepper, Salt, Food Starch, Spice, Dehydrated Onion, Paprika, Dehydrated Garlic, Citric Acid.


text:
<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Valkyrja\Routing\Attributes;

use Attribute;
use Valkyrja\Routing\Models\Route as Model;

/**
 * Attribute Route.
 *
 * @author Melech Mizrachi
 */
#[Attribute(Attribute::TARGET_ALL | Attribute::IS_REPEATABLE)]
class Route extends Model
{
    public function __construct(
        string $path,
        string $name = null,
        array $methods = null,
        array $parameters = null,
        array $middleware = null,
        bool $secure = null,
        string $to = null,
        int $code = null,
    ) {
        $this->path = $path;

        if ($path) {
            $this->name = $path;
        }

        if ($name) {
            $this->name = $name;
        }

        if ($methods) {
            $this->methods = $methods;
        }

        if ($parameters) {
            $this->setParameters($parameters);
        }

        if ($middleware) {
            $this->setMiddleware($middleware);
        }

        if ($secure) {
            $this->secure = $secure;
        }

        if ($to) {
            $this->setTo($to);
        }

        if ($code) {
            $this->code = $code;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I hardly think of her anymore.
Maybe that's because she's so far removed from who I've become, or maybe it's because I just don't see the purpose. I've done a lot of work to heal some of the scars she used to carry around. Still, every once in a while my mind drifts back, and I land on her. Sometimes I envy her. Her wild, carefree self, who was up for almost anything as long as it didn't get her arrested or have the potential of showing her parents how rebellious she actually was. Most of the time, though, I feel sad for her. Because she was lost and afraid, and trying to fill her voids in all the wrong places. So, here is my letter to her.
You've been really good at wearing a mask for a really long time. You know how to appear that everything is okay when it isn't. You know how to turn off the pain and turn on the charm, and the defense mechanism has served you well. Well, there will come a time when you don't have to do that anymore. Or at least not as much. You'll be able to sit and be okay with what is going on around you. Your panic won't take over. You'll stop wondering if you should drive your car off a bridge. You will be okay. So just hang on. And keep chasing the life you want, because it will prove to be one of the bravest and greatest things you ever did.
You won't end up alone.
I know nothing terrifies you more than being alone. And I know that in many ways you've always felt you were anyway. Even during those moments when the mask was out full force, you would look around and know that your life was so, so different than everyone else. Or at least that was your perception. The isolation that comes from those thoughts will begin to chip away, and you will realize that other people wear masks too.
The best part of all is that you will end up with that guy you're so crazy about. He will give you stability, and he will give you the life you want. You won't have to be afraid of being alone anymore because he won't ever leave. Your fears will creep up and force him to prove it, and he will. Over and over.
Life is gonna get a whole lot harder.
You're going to lose your mom.
Well. The nightmare will become real life. And even though you've been through a hell of a lot of trauma already, this loss will take the cake. You will be angry at her for leaving you alone to take care of your dad, and you will be angry that she's not here to help you be a mother. Still, losing her will do two huge things for you. One, it will make you strong as hell. You'll find a way to do the impossible, and you will be damn good at it. Two, and probably her absolute favorite, losing her will make you believe in God again.
I know this seems strange because you haven't yet entered that stage of life when you start to question everything, but yes, for a period of time you will reject religion and everything that goes with it. Things will happen, though, and you'll see that there's more. You will see how her death will give you life, and she will come to you in ways that will shake you at your core. I can't say that you'll jump back on board with organized religion (your questioning mind will be there to stay), but you will see and feel God again.
You will be proud of who you are.
I have so many memories of you walking to class, going to the mall, meeting up with friends at a bar, doing your homework, making crappy dinners, all while feeling like you weren't good enough. You were beautiful, and you got attention for it. But you thought that was the only thing you had to offer anyone. You carried the weight of your own shame, and you had such little faith in yourself. You never wanted anyone to know that.
Later in your twenties, you will get the urge to apply to graduate school. You'll be overly anxious and intimidated, but you'll do it because you'll think the options for a career are running out. You will be shocked by how well it fits, how passionate you become about human rights and mental health and counseling. You will transform. Your eyes will be opened to a new way of thinking, and the change will be so scary. It will be confusing too. But you will embrace it, and you will take it on the way you take on all new projects. You'll make straight A's for the first time ever, and you will finally see that you are so much more than your appearance.
You will find joy in things you can't even imagine.
Life will continue to surprise you, even when you think you have it all figured out. Some huge events (such as babies and moves and the death of your mother) will accelerate life and bring it to a screaming halt at the same time. You will wrestle so, so hard with stepping back from your passion. You will cry when you receive the email that your test scores for licensing have expired. You will cringe at the thought of just being a stay at home mom. Your feelings of worthlessness will come back. But hang on, okay? Just hang on.
Because in the midst of all of that, you will find the most incredible joy. You will experience overwhelming, earth-shattering, lump-in-your-throat JOY. It will come in the middle of the night when your baby is nursing for the 17th time, and he opens his eyes, looks up at you and reaches for your face. It will come when your child curls up next to you on the couch just so he can hold your hand for a second. It will come when your boys smile and laugh at each other. It will come when you're on the floor crying because you're missing your mom, and your oldest rubs your back and says, "It's okay, Mommy." It will come when their faces light up the second you walk in the room. It will come on rainy days and sunny days. It will come when you're looking for it and when you least expect it. You'll want to bottle it up and drink it on the hard days, because those won't ever go away.
You'll see that walking away from your first passion, sacrificing all of yourself over and over again, and taking some serious leaps of faith are not only worth it, but are the blessings that have kept you alive. You will lose some of your beauty, and childbirth and nursing will do a whole number on your body. But it will be okay. You will be okay.


text:
- Voice of San Diego - https://www.voiceofsandiego.org -
City Heights Liquor License Fight Reveals Blurry Line Between Community Concerns and Business Interests
Posted By Maya Srikrishnan On November 30, 2016 @ 11:57 am In City Heights,Government,Land Use,Permits | No Comments
City Heights residents are never happy about alcohol permits being approved in their neighborhood, but one has sparked a whole new level of pushback.
In September, the city said a proposed 7-11 on University Avenue could buy an existing license from a liquor store down the street, and it slapped so many restrictions on the permit that a city official called them unprecedented.
And because the permit is being transferred – as opposed to a new one being issued – it wouldn't increase the number of liquor licenses in the area.
Yet the move has nonetheless sparked a massive backlash. Both the outgoing and incoming City Council members representing City Heights oppose it. Hundreds of residents spoke out against it at a public meeting. And a local store owner poured thousands of dollars into appealing the city's decision.
The ordeal sheds light on the blurry line between community concerns and business interests in battles over alcohol permits.
After at least two attempts to overturn the permit approval, the opposition is trying one more time with the city's planning commission, which will hear the matter on Dec. 1. City staff has recommended [1] that the appeal be denied.
"All we're really doing is transferring the license less than 400 feet," said Jack Campagna of Cypress Development, the developer of the property. "They're fighting us tooth and nail on it, and I'm not sure why."
Campagna's property was an oil change station and auto repair shop. He has proposed putting in a building with two tenants, including the 7-11.
The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has said that the census tract where the 7-11 would be located should only have two licenses. The area currently has four. The permit transfer would not increase that number.
Yet because the area is already oversaturated with permits, and because it's close to schools, the transfer requires special permission. The new restrictions on the permit were intended to mitigate those concerns; yet local schools, residences and local business owners still believe the transfer shouldn't happen.
The City Heights Area Planning Committee voted to approve the transfer of the license in December 2015.
In a letter to the city, the committee chair wrote, "The Committee welcomes the opportunity to put conditions on a license that currently has none, and does not consider a two-block move to be any more detrimental than the current location."
Campagna said he's paying upward of $200,000 to buy the permit from a rundown liquor store across the street.
"I don't understand how what we're doing is not right by the community," Campagna said.
Community vs. Competition
City Heights residents and the business owner who has been spearheading the opposition, Mark Kassab, say that the project is simply in the wrong place. It's too close to the freeway ramp, schools and residences, and the existing license was barely being used, so selling it to the 7-11 would increase alcohol sales in the neighborhood even though the number of permits wouldn't change, they argue.
"The location is just not a viable location for the community," said Robert Zakar, who has been representing Kassab and others in opposing the permit. Zakar's extended family, including Kassab, own and operate markets, liquor stores and gas stations throughout the county and he often represents family members on permitting issues. Earlier this year, he helped fight another alcohol permit in National City [2], right across the street from another relative's liquor store – prompting charges their opposition was simply a move to curb competition.
Indeed, Arkan Hamana, the current owner of the permit who plans to sell it to the 7-11, says Kassab's opposition isn't nearly as community-centric as he claims. Kassab owns a Chevron station down the street that sells beer, wine, hard alcohol and craft beer. Kassab and other nearby storeowners are worried about competition, Hamana said – something that Kassab adamantly denies.
Photo by Maya Srikrishnan
"The bottom line is this isn't about the community," said Hamana. "They couldn't give two shits. All they care about is their bottom-line dollar."
In 2002 [4], Kassab got a beer and wine permit for the Chevron. That was upgraded to a hard liquor license in 2015 [5].
"Here they were two years ago, saying it's not affecting the community, it's not affecting the school and yadda yadda," Hamana said of Kassab's liquor license. "And here he is two years later saying, 'No, no, no. 7-11 is a bad idea.' 7-11 is across the street from them. Did something change from two years ago?"
Kassab and Zakar both deny that competition is the reason behind the opposition.
"There's no fear of competition," said Zakar. "The Kassab family and myself, we've been in City Heights for 30-plus years. Not only do we have businesses, but we're actually a part of it."
Kassab said he doesn't run a liquor store. His gas stations and supermarkets wouldn't compete with the 7-11.
"I know there is a rumor that I am rejecting because of my City Heights Chevron across the street," Kassab said. "It's not the truth. It's absolutely lies."
Whatever their motivation, Kassab and Zakar have done as much as possible to stop the permit transfer from moving forward.
Alcohol permits are generally exempt from environmental review. Zakar appealed that, claiming that the permit should require one.
The San Diego City Council unanimously [6] denied the appeal.
The Planning Commission's decision will be final, though the opposition could potentially find another way to block the project through lawsuits, community protests, etc.
Kassab, Zakar and other community members tried [7] to get the City Heights planning group to re-hear the matter. That effort failed.
In August and September, large numbers of people showed up to oppose the permit at public hearings where a city official would decide whether to approve the permit.
The hearing officer approved the permit and added a number of restrictions to address the opposition's concerns. For example, the 7-11 would have to lock the two coolers of beer and wine for a half hour before and after school hours to address the community's concerns about its proximity to schools.
The hearing officer, Chris Larson, told Kassab and Zakar – to whom he has granted alcohol permits before – that even they know that the laundry list of conditions placed on the permit is exceptional.
"You do have the right to appeal this decision to the Planning Commission," Larson said at the hearing. "As you do that, I want you to think about whether it is better to have a license at a location without any conditions or have a license at this location with the most restrictive conditional use permit I have ever come across. … I have done several in this area, including for Mr. Kassab and Mr. Zakar, so I'm sure you know how restrictive these are."
Zakar filed the appeal, which will be heard by the Planning Commission on Thursday. He and Kassab hired a prominent attorney, Leslie Devaney, to lobby [8] City Council members, planning staff, the police and even the mayor's office.
Kassab and Zakar are not the only ones who oppose the permit.
Incoming Councilwoman Georgette Gomez, who as a member of the City Heights Area Planning Committee voted against the transfer, said that even though the conditions on the permit are better than the existing one, she thinks the community is reaching a breaking point when it comes to liquor licenses.
"I definitely see there is a stronger, more active organized effort," she said. "I don't think it's because of the fear of Mark Kassab. There is a sense of folks wanting something different for the community."
Gomez will fill the seat of outgoing City Councilwoman Marti Emerald, who's also been outspoken against the transfer, and even attended a permit hearing on the matter.
"My issue is with the chronic oversaturation of liquor licenses in City Heights," Emerald said at the hearing. "We need to bring down the number, under the allowable level and not keep making cases for continued over saturation."
Zakar and Kassab both donated to Emerald's campaign in 2007, when she was first elected. Kassab gave her $540 and Zakar gave her $200.
Kassab gave $800 to Gomez and $1,050 to her opponent Ricardo Flores, Emerald's chief of staff.
Maria Cortez, a community activist and organizer with the City Heights Community Development Corporation, said the community's opposition has nothing to do with Kassab. In fact, Cortez said, she protested Kassab's alcohol license bid back in 2002.
"We've got a lot of establishments that already have liquor and this is one more liquor establishment being added to it," Cortez said. "We just don't want to be the stomping grounds anymore. It's not anything to do with competition from anything I see. I've known Mr. Kassab for many years, he's always been there for the community and doesn't expect anything in return."
Kassab said he got involved because local schools asked him to help. He's long been active in the community, sitting on various boards for schools and on the area planning committee and funding causes and donating materials for events.
Nearby Cherokee Point Elementary School has vehemently opposed the permit. The school has an auditorium named after Kassab, who funded its construction [9].
Godwin Higa, the principal of Cherokee Point Elementary School, said when Kassab brought the 7-11 to his attention, he immediately agreed that the permit transfer would be detrimental to his students.
The store where the license is currently is smaller and less problematic, Higa said.
"It was a corner store, lots of candy and stuff, liquor in there," he said. "It's not a big 7-11."
Kassab, Higa said, is in a Catch-22, advocating against the permit on behalf of the community and owning his own business that might be affected by it.
"When he came and said there was opposition, I said, 'Yeah, we don't need another liquor store,'" Higa said. "The competition issue crossed my mind, but knowing him as a person and how he cares about the community, I doubt it."
'I'm Not Even Going to Sell Groceries'
Hamana's liquor store has been struggling for years. He said it's one of several businesses he owns and he had left it to some of his relatives to manage. They hadn't been doing a good job.
But Hamana said he isn't struggling financially; he owns restaurants and other markets that are doing well.
Hamana said what irritates him about Kassab, Zakar and other local storeowners opposing the 7-11 permit transfer is that "when I was struggling, they would pass by and laugh and thought I would close and would just give them my license for pennies on the dollar. So not only did they lose out on their opportunity for my permit, but I'm bringing in a big dog."
At a public hearing, Hamana even alluded to the fact that the opposition had tried to buy the very same permit that they're now opposing.
"There are people here who have denied offering me price for the license, which isn't true," Hamana told the hearing officer. "They've offered me several times."
Hamana specified later that the offer did not come directly from Kassab, but another storeowner on the block who also opposes the transfer.
If 7-11 can purchase his liquor license, Hamana said he's going to turn the liquor store into a deli. If the transfer isn't approved, he said he plans to utilize the license to the max – selling craft beer and wine from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., the hours his license currently allows.
"I'm not even going to sell groceries," he said. "I'm perfectly able to do that because my license has no limits."
Article printed from Voice of San Diego: https://www.voiceofsandiego.org
URL to article: https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/land-use/city-heights-liquor-license-fight-reveals-blurry-line-community-concerns-business-interests/
[1] recommended: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/pc-16-095.pdf
[2] another alcohol permit in National City: https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/politics/national-city-grocer-applied-alcohol-permit-things-got-weird/
[3] Image: https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/City-Heights-Chevron-e1480535615757.jpg
[4] 2002: https://socialinnovationpreview.usc.edu/files/2013/05/Ensor.2002.pdf
[5] 2015: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/development-services/pdf/hearingofficer/reports/2015/HO-15-060.pdf
[6] unanimously: http://dockets.sandiego.gov/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=3323&doctype=Minutes
[7] tried: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/sep/08/stringers-7-eleven-beer-wine-sales-license-okayed/
[8] lobby: https://netfile.com/SDLobbyist/api/image/filing/162191321
[9] funded its construction: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/emeraldnewsvol5iss8.pdf
Copyright © Voice of San Diego. All rights reserved.


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Home Editorial Ethnic Agitations: Matters Arising
This point need to be reiterated for the umpteenth time: Nigeria is better off as a corporate, united entity after political and economic restructuring. The Nigeria-Biafra civil war fought from 1967 to 1970 was meant to keep the country together.
With the continued agitation by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the reckless expulsion order to Igbo citizens resident in the north given by youngsters followed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo's broad consultations with leaders from different regions, it is right to say that the nation still sits on edge. Added to this dangerous broth is the Yoruba Assembly which has opined that there should be a referendum on self-determination. On its part, the Niger Delta Avengers have called for oil blocks which are in the hands of northerners to be returned to indigenes of the region. There is palpable tension, fear and uncertainty, therefore, in the land. How the Presidency and National Assembly, supported by different persons and institutions manage the political crisis in the months ahead is crucial to the stability, peace and survival of the country. These cacophonic voices, however, point in one direction: disenchantment with the current structural and political set-up.
There is also the alternative narrative, however unsubstantiated, that the famed prediction that Nigeria as a corporate entity would come to an end in 2015, triggered off by the evil hands of some Western nations, is still dominant. Nigeria has survived 2015. Is it possible that there are subterranean moves to bring down the country because of the enormous potential and actual strength it has in handling regional and global issues? Why then are some persons walking into the trap of disintegration instead of restructuring the country?
This point need to be reiterated for the umpteenth time: Nigeria is better off as a corporate, united entity after political and economic restructuring. The Nigeria-Biafra civil war fought from 1967 to 1970 was meant to keep the country together. The war-time slogan 'To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done' is still relevant as it was 50 odd years ago. This time, however, the constituent parts of the nation should sit at a round-table or adopt the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference to restructure the political arrangement of the country. There is great disenchantment with the way and manner power is concentrated at the centre. The thinking is that the regions or constituent parts of the federation should have a greater stake in the scheme of things. Revenue allocation, resource development and control, and security are crucial issues begging for attention.
The response of the Federal Government to the deadly threats of the Niger Delta militants and Boko Haram insurgents respectively are part of the collective endeavour to keep the nation together. For a long time, there have been steps towards creating a more stable polity out of the disaster created by the unitary state forced out of Nigeria by the military in 1966. Indeed, the Federal Constitution of 1979 and also 1999 attempted to address some of the lingering and unresolved issues. But because the extant 1999 edition was not really drafted by the people and is just as unsatisfactory as any federal constitution can be, it has continued to receive criticisms. The Goodluck Jonathan administration then set up a National Conference in 2014 headed by retired Chief Justice Idris Kutigi. When it concluded its sittings it made some far-reaching recommendations which are believed to be apposite to confronting the current surge of ethnic nationalism. The Senate has agreed to work on the Confab report as a basis for restructuring the country. All hands should be on deck to achieve this.
War, arising from breakdown of law and order is not something to be toyed with. There is nothing romantic about war as evinced by the current anarchy in Libya, Syria, Somalia and the Sudan. Even war generals and veterans have argued that if they had their way, they would avoid war as a way of resolving issues. It is therefore unacceptable for some people to advocate another war through their actions or deeds. The wanton acts of destruction of life and property are not to be encouraged. Elder statesmen from all ethnic backgrounds should drum it into the heads of the younger ones that war or balkanization of Nigeria is not an option.
The Federal Government should, however, create a platform for enlightened national discourse. Leaders and followers alike should maintain utmost decorum when making pronouncements about the future of the country. The extreme threat issued by Arewa youths should be withdrawn. It is encouraging that some elder statesmen from the north have countered the provocative expulsion statements. They have also expressly supported re-engineering the polity into a federal one in letter and spirit as a means of dousing the current tension.
The time to restructure is now and all indications are in the direction of strengthening the nation's political system through dialogue and consensus building. The Presidency should provide the lead. The initiative of inviting political and socio-cultural leaders to Abuja for consultations should not be the end of the matter. It should develop a framework, working along with the National Assembly to reduce tension and build a national consensus before the next general elections. The state governors, the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, indeed all elected officials and traditional rulers should take leadership from the hands of rabble-rousers who may unwittingly lead the nation into a crisis situation that could spell doom for all. They should provide responsible leadership and restore confidence in the land.
Culled From the Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria
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Editor-in-Chief - July 6, 2017


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Singapore on Monday banned a former Goldman Sachs banker from working in the city-state's financial industry for 10 years after he was linked to a corruption scandal involving Malaysian state fund 1MDB.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) also said it planned to bar three more people, all ex-employees of two Swiss banks alleged to have used the island's financial system to facilitate illicit money transfers to 1MDB.
Allegations that huge sums were misappropriated from 1MDB triggered a scandal which has embroiled Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, though he has denied any wrongdoing.
The MAS, which serves as Singapore's central bank, said Tim Leissner, a former director of Goldman Sachs in the city-state, will be banned from "performing any regulated activity under the Securities and Futures Act".
He will also be barred from "taking part, directly or indirectly, in the management of any capital market services firm" on the island, a regional financial centre.
Leissner had issued an unauthorised reference letter saying that due diligence had been carried out on Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, a close family friend of Najib who had helped the Malaysian leader set up 1MDB, and that no money-laundering concerns were detected.
MAS said the letter was unauthorised by Goldman Sachs and its contents were false.
Low has denied any wrongdoing. Leissner resigned from the bank in February 2016.
"MAS will not tolerate conduct by any finance professional that threatens to undermine trust and confidence in Singapore's financial system," Ong Chong Tee, a MAS deputy managing director, said in a statement.
"It is imperative that industry professionals and representatives of financial institutions are fit and proper persons. They must be worthy of the trust that people place in them and their institutions."
MAS said it had served notices to three other people linked to the 1MDB investigation who it intends to ban as well.
Among them is Swiss banker Jens Fred Sturzenegger, who headed the Singapore branch of Swiss lender Falcon Private Bank.
Sturzenegger, who will be banned for life, was jailed for seven months in January for money laundering and other offences related to 1MDB.
MAS said it also intends to ban Yak Yew Chee for life and Yvonne Seah for 15 years. Both Singaporeans are former private bankers with the local branch of Switzerland's BSI bank and were jailed for fraud in relation to 1MDB.
Singapore as well as Switzerland and the United States have launched separate probes into alleged unlawful fund flows linked to 1MDB.
Singapore, known for its transparency and tough stance on corruption, last year kicked out Falcon Bank and BSI for what regulators called massive lapses in financial controls.


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AT&F Blog
Home | AT&F Blog
AT&F is proud to sponsor Prayers From Maria
Ken Ripich, Executive Vice President of AT&F, recently coordinated a donation to Prayers From Maria – a foundation dedicated to providing childhood cancer patients with the support they desperately need, by reversing the tragic lack of funding and fueling the most meaningful brain cancer research for kids. The rate of curable childhood brain tumors is much lower than that for many other types of cancer. The general public is largely unaware of the magnitude of this disease.
From the Floor: Depressed Transition Pieces
AT&F is big in the railcar industry. For train cars to maximize the load size, cars will be fitted with s-shaped plates that drop the load between the wheels. The depressed railcar transition pieces are made from 2 ½ inch A514 steel, a very strong grade of steel that is difficult to form. AT&F proved its ability to form the heavy pieces to tight tolerances and added value in keeping the job domestic. The strength of the part is maximized due to the properties of arches, which lends itself to bigger loads. These larger loads benefit from the depressed seating in that height is shaved off the load, allowing for heavy loaded trains to easily pass through tunnels. AT&F takes pride in pushing the limits of size and scale and delivering quality parts where other fabricators fall short.
From the Floor: Turbine Compressor Segments
AT&F manufactures for some of the most physically demanding markets. Inside a gas turbine engine, pressure and heat are built in a compressor to achieve maximum efficiency. The efficiency of the engine relies on the quality of the compressor; the more heat and pressure the compressor can handle, the more efficient the engine will be. AT&F has taken on the manufacture of segments of these compressors. Crimped, rolled, and burned from one piece of A36 carbon steel, the six-inch cylinder was then cut in half and blasted in our blasting room.
From the Floor - Rolled Tanker Cylinders
AT&F is big in the maritime industry. Shipbuilding is a process marked by compliance to established standards. So when AT&F was approached to form hawse pipes for the anchor system on heavy tanker ships, we put our expertise to work. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standardizes the engineering of various grades of steel for shipbuilding, and the hawse pipes are no exception. The ABS-A carbon steel was cut, rolled, and tested to the specifications of the customer, but before shipping the parts out, an inspector from ABS visited our facility and spent two days verifying that every job had been done in accordance with ABS standards. After careful inspection the pieces were stamped, approved and sent off to the customer.
Water Jet Cutting Capabilities Now Available at AT&F
AT&F is pleased to announce the addition of our new 5-axis water jet cutting system with one of the largest processing envelopes available today. This machine will give our customers the ability to process carbon, exotic alloy, and composite materials while providing tight tolerance accuracy comparable to that of a machined finish. The 5-axis head is ideal for compound beveling and weld landings. This highly desirable cutting technology investment is properly aligned with our on-going strategy: "We Invest in Customer Success."
AT&F Expands Machining Capabilities with CNC Vertical Boring Machine
Heavy Plate Rolling Fabricator AT&F Announces Equipment Upgrades
CLEVELAND, Ohio – November 12, 2012 – AT&F, a custom
steel fabricator in Cleveland, Ohio announces equipment upgrades to one of its large rolling systems. Originally installed in 1977, the company has fabricated thousands of cylinders for AT&F customers. After 35 years of service, the large heavy plate rolling machine has undergone a major upgrade.
Shot & Grit Steel Plate Blasting Machine at AT&F
New blasting machine enables AT&F to blast steel plate up to 12' wide and 7" thick. Boasting state-of-the-art speeds to remove surface contamination, scale and other impurities from the surface, the new equipment is one of a series of recent investments.
ISO 9001:2008 Certification Steel Fabricator
AT&F, a custom steel fabricator in Cleveland, Ohio, has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification. AT&F received its certificate from Smithers Quality Assessments. This certification demonstrates AT&F's commitment to customer-focused processes that help produce quality parts, providing on-time delivery and meeting customer expectations. "ISO 9001:2008 standard is implemented by more than one million ISO certified companies, and AT&F is proud to be one of them. The new certification demonstrates our ongoing commitment to a strong customer focus and continual improvement to our methods to produce a good quality product for our customers. Our certification is a significant achievement for the company," states Ken Ripich, Executive Vice President.
Large CNC Machining – Horizontal Boring Mill Service
CLEVELAND, OHIO – August 21, 2012 - A CNC horizontal boring mill is the newest testament to AT&F's commitment "We Invest In Customer Success™." Performing all functions of machining – milling, boring, drilling, and threading – the boring mill brings turnkey services to AT&F customers.
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KVM does not provide anywhere near the performance of OpenVZ (or Virtuozzo, its commercial equivalent). It's extremely important to note that KVM requires a running kernel inside the VPS, whereas OpenVZ runs containers using a shared kernel. This means that a 256MB KVM VPS does not actually have the same amount of memory available to userspace that OpenVZ does. OpenVZ is an extremely lightweight virtualization technology that easily outperforms full virtualization.
KVM does provide better isolation, although this isn't usually apparent to userspace in a container.
1) At the same price point, you'll get less for your money with KVM. 256MB of KVM is less than 256MB of OpenVZ because you have to run your own kernel so there's less for your actual applications. On the other hand, some hosters charge more for OpenVZ, so you'll need to do the math.
2) It's easier for hosting companies to overcommit OpenVZ systems, so bad hosting companies may put you on a system with too many containers, so be wary of this.


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Posts Tagged 'Sarah Connolly'
The Rest of November
Posted in Art, Classical Music, Dance, Design, Film, Opera, Photography, tagged A Star Is Born, Anni Albers, Anthony Gormley, Barbican Art Gallery, Barbican Centre, Barbican Curve, Barbican Hall, BBC Singers, BBC SO, Bohemian Rhapsody, Britten Sinfonia, Britten's War Requiem, Dulwich Gallery, Edward Burne-Jones, ENO, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald, First Man, GoteborgsOperans Danskompani, GSMD, Icon, James Newby, Klimt / Schiele: Drawings from the Albertine Museum Vienna, Layla & Majnun, LSO St. Lukes, Mark Morris, Mark Padmore, Modern Couples, Nash Ensemble, Noetic, Oceania, Ribera: Art of Violence, Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Academy of Music SO, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Sarah Connolly, Semele, Sid Larbi Cherkaoui, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The Silver Tassie, The Wife, Turner Prize, War's Embers, Wetwang Slack, Widows, Wigmore Hall on December 2, 2018| Leave a Comment »
My second Nash Ensemble War's Embers concert at LSO St. Luke's featured beautiful pieces from Bax and Butterworth with others by Rebecca Clarke and Patrick Hadley, neither of whom I'd ever heard of. I do enjoy these lunchtime treats.
BBC SO's Total Immersion In Remembrance: World War I at the Barbican combined an excellent film about poet / composer Ivor Gurney, a concert by hugely talented GSMD students of pieces from composers who died during / because of the war, the first revival of Mark Anthony Turnage's brilliant opera The Silver Tassie, David Lang's choral work Memorial Ground performed in the foyer (the wrong location!) with a couple of talks and even a Virtual Reality experience, culminating in a BBC Singers concert featuring new choral works by Bob Chilcott and Roderick Williams, the former conventional but beautiful and the latter stunningly re-inventing recitative with a new form of prose setting. Given the reason for this mini-festival, it was a melancholic experience, but a musically thrilling one nonetheless.
The Royal Academy of Music's production of Handel's Semele will be one of my operatic highlights of the year. A production that looked great, a chorus and orchestra that sounded great and a star was born – Lithuanian soprano Lina Dambrauskaite. Gorgeous.
The BBC SO pairing of Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto and Ethyl Smyth's Mass in D at the Barbican Hall seemed odd, apparently put together because the former said some nice, if patronising, things about the latter. As it turned out, though, both were treats, the first because young pianist Pavel Kolesnikov was sensational and the latter, which I've been wanting to see for some time, because the chorus and orchestra sang and played terrifically.
Back at the Royal Academy of Music, their Symphony Orchestra thrilled again under visiting American conductor Robert Trevino with a superbly played Bruckner's 4th Symphony. I can't think of a better way to spend a lunchtime.
I was attracted to a French song recital by Sarah Connolly & James Newby at Wigmore Hall as it featured two favourite composers, Ravel and Debussy, but their songs, which I didn't really know, did not live up to their orchestral, chamber or operatic works, so despite the artistry I was a bit disappointed.
Back at Wigmore Hall, Mark Padmore & the Britten Sinfonia paired a Vaughn Williams song cycle with a premiere by Luke Styles and sadly the former overshadowed the other. The new piece was too challenging for me!
ENO staged Britten's War Requiem, as it has done with other choral works before. I'm not sure the staging adds much, though there was some beautiful imagery, and the orchestral sound lost something in the pit, but the three soloists and chorus sounded terrific.
Layla & Majnun at Sadler's Wells is the first Mark Morris show to disappoint me. Based on a Middle-Eastern / Central Asian Romeo & Juliet, with Azerbaijani music by the Silkroad Ensemble, it had little of his creative flair and the designs by favourite artist, now deceased, Howard Hodgkin disappointed. I liked the music initially, but it did wear me down long before the 75 minutes were up.
GoteborgsOperans dance company made their first visit to Sadler's Wells with two of the most thrilling dances I've ever seen, both choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and designed by Anthony Gormley. Icon started with Gormley re-cycling some of the clay people in his 25-year-old work Field before tons of soft clay, thirteen dancers and five musicians playing mostly Japanese music became one mesmerising whole. In Noetic, nineteen dancers with a singer & percussionist and pliable metal strips which created a globe before your eyes were spellbinding too. Let's hope they become regulars here.
A catch-up month starting with A Star Is Born, which I enjoyed. Bradley Cooper and Lady Ga Ga were impressive, the former also as director in his debut.
Widows was a superbly unpredictable film, beautifully shot by Steve McQueen with musical theatre's Cynthia Erivo proving she's no one-trick pony.
First Man took a while to take off, but once it did I was captivated by the blend of personal story and actual history, which was gripping even though we all know the outcome!
I wasn't a big fan of Queen, and I didn't think they got Freddie Mercury right (teeth too pronounced and too camp), but I was surprised by how much Bohemian Rhapsody moved me and was very glad I went to see it.
Despite superb performances from Glenn Close & Jonathan Pryce, The Wife disappointed, largely because the emphasis on the endgame meant they brushed over the meat of the deceit.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was technically accomplished and well-acted but I didn't really engage with the story, though it was good to see Hogwarts again, and to meet the young Dumbledore.
Faux Pas of the year was visiting Ribera: Art of Violence at the Dulwich Picture Gallery thinking it was (Diego) Rivera! I'm afraid Ribera's pictures of torture, and his particular penchant for flaying, were not to my taste! Fortunately, as a member it's free, oh, and the brunch was great!
Modern Couples at the Barbican Art Gallery is a fascinating idea well executed, work by artist in relationships shown together, with biographical information about the relationship. It's a huge affair featuring some 45 couples, some well-known and others unknown (to me), but had much to like in it.
The Hayward Gallery's Space Shifters was a bit gimmicky, but again worth a visit, though I didn't bother to queue for the highlight, Richard Wilson's 20/50, as I've seen it quite a few times since its first outing at the tiny Matt's Gallery 31 years ago.
At the Barbican's Curve Gallery, Kiwi artist Francis Upritchard has created a 'museum', called Wetwang Slack, of item's she's made, from quirky models of people to hats, jewellery, urns and much more. It made me smile.
I think it's extraordinary that a 20th Century weaver can get a huge retrospective at a major public gallery, but that's what the late Anni Albers has at Tate Modern. In yet another connection with my Bauhaus trip, she trained with them. It was interesting, but probably more for real lovers of textiles and weaving than a generalist like me.
The Edward Burne-Jones retrospective at Tate Britain was brilliant – well, at least to this lover of the Pre-Raphaelites. I normally find studies and drawings exhibition fillers, but here they demonstrate his craftsmanship. The finished pictures and tapestries were stunning, though the stained glass less so for some reason. Upstairs the Turner Prize exhibition was all films, which I skimmed as life is too short to waste several hours on some pretentious shit masquerading as art.
Oceania at the Royal Academy is probably the best showcase of a culture and peoples I've ever seen. Art and objects from some of the 10,000 islands that make up the vast area of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia between them conveyed the real essence of this part of the world. Absolutely fascinating. Upstairs in the Sackler Galleries I was surprised at how much I liked Klimt / Schiele drawings from the Albertine Museum in Vienna. The outstanding skills of these two artists really came over in what were mostly portraits and nudes. Beautiful.
The Rest of August
Posted in Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Film, Opera, Photography, tagged A Fantastic Bohemian, ALAW, Apostasy, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Proms, British Library, Britten, Cadogan Hall, Colier Schorr, Copeland, Dan Kokotajlo, Dance: Movement & Modernism, Donizetti, Frieze Art Fair, Glyndebourne Opera, Great British Seaside, Greek, Grimeborn, Jacques Offenbach, James Cook: The Voyages, Jane Bown, Jarlath Henderson, John Wilson Orchestra, Julie Fowlis, Kantanti Ensemble, L'Heure Espagnole, Leonard Bernstein, Lisa Brice, London 1938: Defending 'Degenerate' German Art, Mark Anthony Turnage, Modern Art, National Maritime Museum, Palant House Gallery, Proud Central, Ravel, Regent's Park, Rita, Royal Albert Hall, Sam Lee, Samuel Barber, Sarah Connolly, Siobahn Finneran, Sussex Days: Photographs by Dorothy Bohm, Tate Britain, The Tales of Hoffman, The Unthanks, Vanessa, Virginia Woolf: an exhibition inspired by her writings, Wallis Giunta, Walton, Weiner Gallery, West Side Story on September 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »
In recent years, the Proms have been embracing non-classical musical genres, and this year it was the turn of folk music, with five folk acts joining the BBC Concert Orchestra in what was a largely successful crossover. The highlights were favourites The Unthanks and Julie Fowlis, but it was good to be introduced to Welsh group ALAW and to sample the music of Jarlath Henderson and Sam Lee.
You rarely hear a musical score played as well as the John Wilson Orchestra played West Side Story at the Proms; you could hear every nuance, every note, every instrument. It moved you and thrilled you in equal measure. Add to that a fine set of young soloists, a chorus drawn from two drama schools specialising in musical theatre and a rapt full house and you have a very special evening indeed. So good, I even forgave them the ticket & programme price hikes, the unnecessary interval and the failure to televise it!
My second and last Cadogan Hall Chamber Prom combined some rare Bernstein works with pieces by his friends and contemporaries, plus a new commission, and it was a funny, quirky delight with a fine performances by American mezzo Wallis Giunta. It included songs set to recipes, one a world premiere, a UK premiere of an early ballet which contained the seeds of West Side Story and six pieces new to the Proms.
Grimeborn gave us more treats with an inventive adaptation of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffman – A Fantastic Bohemian – which moved between three locations in the building. The quality of singing and playing was stunning, and at such close quarters there's no hiding place. It was hard to follow, particularly on the same day, and as much I enjoyed my first outing of Donizetti's Rita and renewing my acquaintance with Ravel's L'Heure Espagnole, they struggled to live up to the afternoon. Same day double-dips do have their downside, as we found with this and in Chichester two days before, on both occasions the highlight coming first. Six days later it ended (for me) with a revival of Mark Anthony Turnage's Greek. It's hard to believe it was premiered thirty years ago; it's still original, visceral and edgy and in this production was very well sung, with the Kantanti Ensemble on fire. This has been a great Grimeborn, now fully established as an annual event in my diary.
The live cinema relay of Glyndebourne's production of Vanessa, Samuel Barber's 60-year-old opera getting its fully-staged UK premiere, was simply extraordinary. The design was superb, the singing stunning and the London Phil sounded sensational. It has the feel of a Hitchcock film, very mysterious and suspenseful. Wonderful stuff, probably better than being there with non-opera lovers and a 90-min interval to destroy the dramatic flow!
My first Cadogan Hall Chamber Prom saw Dame Sarah Connolly give a recital of English song which included four world premieres, including two by Benjamin Britten written 70 years ago! It was lovely, though somewhat melancholic, which made me feel it might be more of an evening programme.
I appear to be picking well this year, as my next Prom was a sometimes challenging, but fascinating and rewarding 20th century Anglo-American programme with the BBC Philharmonic playing Barber, Britten, Copeland and Walton. Two of the five pieces were new to me, and indeed to the Proms, including two arias from Barber's opera of Anthony & Cleopatra which made me want to see a production.
Apostasy is a quiet but defiant rage against fundamentalism in all its guises, in this case Jehovah's Witnesses. Siobahn Finneran is stunning, but above all it's a hugely impressive debut from writer / director Dan Kokotajlo, an ex-witness himself. Harrowing but brilliant.
James Cook; The Voyages at the British Library was one of the best exhibitions of its type I've ever visited. Superbly curated and thoroughly objective, it contained journals, specimens, paintings & drawings and testimonials from experts and indigenous peoples. Illuminating.
London 1938: Defending 'Degenerate' German Art at the Weiner Gallery was a huge disappointment, consisting as it does of glass cases showing letters, flyers, catalogues and photos, plus copies of pictures. Only one actual painting and a couple of drawings!
Collier Schorr is a new photographer to me, but her exhibition at Modern Art did nothing for me, I'm afraid. All a bit too pretentious in my book.
A theatrical visit to Chichester was extended to visit the lovely Palant House Gallery which had three exhibitions. Virginia Woolf: an exhibition inspired by her writings had some great 20th century works, particularly those by Vanessa Bell and Laura Knight, but though I liked the idea of including contemporary works, there were too many, and the quality was very variable. It was another of those exhibition whose raison d'etre was a bit dubious. Dance: Movement & Modernism was a one room curate's egg, but again it had some nice works. However, I loved Sussex Days: Photographs by Dorothy Bohm, a little known Lithuanian British photographer who captured people in the county in the 60's, 70's and 80's brilliantly.
It was worth the detour to Tate Britain for Lisa Brice's one-room exhibition of mostly blue paintings of women. Very striking and very original.
At Proud Central, the photos of the Observer's late photographer Jane Bown were like a review of people in my lifetime; stunning B&W pictures, some now iconic. Downstairs a multi-photographer selection focused on pop and rock stars; this too was outstanding.
The Frieze Art Fair consisted of thirty or so sculptures placed in a corner of Regent's Park. It was more miss than hit, but made for a pleasant wander en route to the Open Air Theatre in the same park.
Great British Seaside at the National Maritime Museum brought together the work of four photographers using the seaside as their subject over the last fifty years. I identify the seaside with my youth, so there was something very nostalgic about it, and some terrific pictures too!
The Rest of March
Posted in Art, Cabaret, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Dance, Film, Opera, Photography, tagged Alban Arena, Amongst Heros: the artist in working Cornwall, Angharad Lyddon, Arbitrage, Arthur Pita, Bach's St. Matthew's Passion, Ballet Boyz: The Talent, Barbican Art Gallery, Benjamin Britten, Brahms Requiem, Britten Theatre, Budapest State Opera, Bunny Christie, Charpentier, Christian Curnyn, Christopher Maltman, David McVicar, Edward Watson, ENO, Finnigan Downie Dear, Gareth John, George Bellows, Handel, Hannah Sandison, Hayward Gallery, Imeneo, Jason Carr, Jasper Johns, John Cage, John Cranko, Katherine Crompton, Kurt Schwitters, Laurence Cummings, Leonard Bernstein, Liam Scarlett, Light Show, Linbury Studio Theatre, London Handel Festival, London Handel Orchestra, LSC, LSO, Lynne Page, Manon Ablett, Marcel Duchamp, Maria Friedman, Medea, Merce Cunningham, Onegin, Richard Gere, Richard Thompson, Robert Rauschenberg, Roderick Williams, Roy Liechtenstein, Royal Academy of Art, Royal Academy of Music, Russell Maliphant, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Sally Matthews, Sarah Connolly, Side Effects, Simon Furness, Sonia Grane, Stephen Sondheim, Szymanowski's Sabal Mater, Tai Oney, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tchaikovsky, The Bride & the Bachelors, The Metamorphosis, The Pheasantry, Two Temple Place, Wigmore Hall on April 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
I couldn't do either of the Richard Thompson London dates, something which became even more frustrating after I'd bought his great new album. Almost by accident, just a couple of weeks in advance, I discovered he was playing St. Albans on my birthday, they had a few tickets left, it was only 20 mins from St. Pancras and nearby friends fancied it. How serendipitous is that? It had to be great, and it was. His new trio makes a superb sound, the song selection was excellent and the guitar playing beyond genius. As he was about to start the third encore, he joked that they fancied themselves as a power trio but were 50 years late, then broke into a stunning version of Cream's White Room; it was a bit high for his voice and he stumbled on the words, but the playing was magnificent. Combined with some Roman history (theatre, mosaic and museum), the gorgeous cathedral and lovely Lebanese food, it was a proper birthday treat.
I couldn't make the original one week run of Maria Friedman's Sondheim / Bernstein show at The Pheasantry, so I was delighted when she added a couple of nights, one of which I could do. A brilliant selection of songs, superb arrangements and accompaniment from Jason Carr and a quiet, respectful audience made for a sensational evening that was often moving, often funny and always captivating. Her personality really shines and no-one else can interpret a song like she does. Unmissable, and I didn't!
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed an opera as much as Medea at ENO. It's not particularly great music (not a patch on Handel) but David McVicar's production, Bunny Christie's design, Lynne Page's choreography, conductor Christian Curnyn's musical direction and above all a set of fine performances made it a real treat, particularly Sarah Connolly's superb Medea and Roderick Williams' brilliant Orontes. The story is in some ways different to the play (which I've seen a lot!) but it still makes a great tragedy. A treat!
Imeneo is an unusual Handel opera as it isn't based on some epic historical tale; it's a simple story of whether Imeneo gets the girl he wants as a reward for freeing her and her friend from pirates – should duty be above love. There's just about enough story for a 2-hour opera and it suits this modern setting at a spa hotel by the sea, where fun can be had with treatments and smartphones. There's some gorgeous music and the cast of five and small chorus of six are excellent, with Laurence Cummings & the London Handel Orchestra making a terrific sound in the pit. Hannah Sandison & Katherine Crompton were outstanding and counter-tenor Tai Oney showcased a fine distinctive voice. Lovely.
My second Britten centenary event was the (Royal) Academy (of Music) Song Circle at Wigmore Hall with a recital of 20 songs in five languages. Many of these are challenging pieces for any singer, let alone young singers, but Sonia Grane, Angharad Lyddon, Simon Furness and Gareth John were all superb, as were accompanists Manon Ablett and Finnigan Downie Dear. Yet again, I am in awe of the musical talent we have here in London. Two down, c.18 to go!
During a visit to Budapest, I went to the lovely State Opera House for a concert performance of Bach's St. Matthew's Passion – on Easter Saturday! – and lovely it was too. There was a raised pit for the orchestra, the soloists were on stage behind them, and the chorus were behind a gauze screen on which they projected words and images. It benefited from being sung through without an interval, though this was challenging for the more fidgety audience members.
LSO's pairing of the hardly known Stabat Mater by the almost unknown Szymanowski with the ever so well-known Brahms Requiem was inspired. The former turns out to be somewhat Goreckian (though it pre-dates his 3rd Symphony by c.50 years!) and I rather liked hearing it for the first time. Somehow, the Brahms lacked sparkle – certainly not due to the soloists (Sally Matthews and Christopher Maltman) and not really to the playing of the LSO or the singing of the LSC, but lacked sparkle it did. A bit of a puzzle.
BalletBoyz: The Talent 2013 shows extraordinary growth since their first work four or so years ago. This group of 10 male dancers are unique and the new pieces from Liam Scarlett and Russell Maliphant, though quite different, both suited them perfectly. Scarlett's Serpent flowed organically in a hypnotic way whilst Maliphant's Fallen was edgier and animalistic; I loved them both.
I got the last ticket for Arthur Pita's dance-theatre piece The Metamorphosis on the day of the performance and it will no doubt be in my highlights of the year when things booked six months before will be forgotten! It's the first time I've seen The Linbury Studio Theatre at Covent Garden in traverse, which meant a better view from my standing position. Kafka's tale of a man who turns into an insect is puzzling but mesmerizing and Edward Watson is extraordinary, moving in ways I didn't think were possible for 80 minutes (8 times in 8 days!). Never has a spontaneous standing ovation been so richly deserved.
Over in Budapest, I saw a lovely production of John Cranko's ballet of Onegin The music is a mash-up of Tchaikovsky pieces, the design was gorgeous and the dancing beautiful. It was hard to follow the story as they'd run out of programmes (which contained the synopsis in English), so I just let it wash over me – aurally and visually – without really caring what it was all about!
An afternoon of two contrasting exhibitions started at the gorgeous (but not very suitable) Two Temple Place for a show called Amongst Heros : the artist in working Cornwall. It's mostly 19th / 20th century pictures of fishing and fishermen with seascapes and mining scenes and portraits of locals. The highlights were by Charles Napier Hemy (who has popped up all over the place since I first saw his work in Penzance) and Stanhope Forbes, someone new to me whose pictures are wonderful and who will hopefully now also pop up all over the place. At Tate Modern, the Roy Liechtenstein retrospective proves he's not a one-trick pony in terms of subjects, but is in terms of technique and style. The cartoons are well-known but the landscapes, abstracts etc less so and I enjoyed seeing them, but by the 14th room you're more than sated.
I thoroughly enjoyed Light Show at the Hayward Gallery – 25 installations that play with light in some way. In addition to the usual suspects like Turrell and Flavin, there were lots of new names (to me). The booking system meant that the numbers were well controlled; great to see a gallery not being too greedy at the expense of visitor enjoyment.
The Bride & The Bachelors at the Barbican Art Gallery brings together the work of 'artists' Marcel Duchamp, Robert Rauschenberg & Jasper Johns with the music of John Cage and the dance of Merce Cunningham. For me, it's well curated bollocks, particularly the work of Duchamp, the key influence on the others. Some of Johns' work is good as is some of Cage's, but the rest seems pointless to me.
I have to confess I'd never heard of artist Kurt Schwitters. Some of his Tate Britain exhibition was familiar, though, but I think this may be indicative of his influence rather than previous sightings. His collages date back to the 30's and seem ahead of their time, but there were an awful lot of them and it got a bit monotonous. I rather liked Simon Starling's Duveen Gallery commission – a film of previous commissions (apparently re-staged) made by what looked like a flying camera, and the screen the only object in a giant atmospherically lit space.
George Bellows at the RA is a great exhibition of an artist I've never heard of. His late 19th / early 20th century paintings and drawings vary from boxing to cityscapes to landscapes to portraits to seascapes and they are wonderful. How is it possible someone this good can pass you by?
Back at the NPG, there's a surprisingly good exhibition of George Catlin's paintings of native Americans first shown in London in 1840. The blurb accompanying a picture of the Mandan tribe suggested they intermarried with descendants of a 12th century Welsh prince called Madoc; that came as a bit of a shock!
At Somerset House, there's an eclectic exhibition of photos called Landmark which ranges from landscapes to satellite shots to arty images, but all with the theme of planet Earth and an underlying environmental message. It was very good, but I wish they'd said where each picture was taken as I kept puzzling over locations!
I thoroughly enjoyed Arbitrage, a multi-layered piece about a wealthy New York financier who embarks on both a business and personal cover up. It's a gripping thriller which takes unexpected turns and Richard Gere is outstanding in the lead role.
I wasn't sure I wanted to see Side Effects, but I was so glad I did. It lulls you into thinking you know what it's about then turns a corner and takes you somewhere else. It really did keep you guessing until the end and enthralled throughout.
Posted in Art, Classical Music, Contemporary Music, Dance, Design, Film, Opera, tagged Aletta Collins, Allan Clayton, Anastasia Prokofieva, Arts & Crafts, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Castor & Pollux, Christian Curnyn, Dale Chihuly, Djamileh, Dulwich Gallery, Eddie Redmayne, Edward Gardner, ENO, Filipa van Eck, George Watts, Gerald Finley, Halcyon Gallery, Ian Bostridge, Ivor Gurney, John Dowland, Katherine Crompton, Kelmscott House, Kenneth Branagh, Kensington Palace, Kurt Weill, Landscape Photography Exhibition, Laura Tatulescu, Le Docteur Miracle, Lei Xu, Linbury Studio Theatre, LSO, Magical Night, Mark Anthony Turnage, Mark Stone, Mark Wallinger, Mary Watts, Michael Rosewell, Michelle Williams, Monteverdi Choir, My Week with Marilyn, national theatre, Oliver Clarke, Opera Northern Ireland, Orpheus in the Underworld, Painting Canada, Paul McCartney, Peter Warlock, Pnini Grubner, Roderick Williams, Rory Bremner, Royal College of Music, Sadler's Wells, Sarah Connolly, Scottish Opera, Sir John Elliott Gardiner, Sophie Bevan, Sophie Daneman, Twice Through The Heart, Undance, Watts Gallery, Wayne McGregor, Wigmore Hall, WildWorks, William Morris, Young Vic Theatre on January 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »
It's hard to write about the Paul McCartney concert at the O2 without downloading a complete thesaurus of superlatives. It was the sixth time I'd seen him in the 21 years he's been performing live with Wings or solo, and the third in as many years. It was at least as good as all the others – amazing visuals, brilliant sound, 2.75 unbroken hours containing 41 songs (including 27 Beatles songs, two getting their UK live premiere 46 years after their recording!). I sang, swayed, danced and cried. Absolute magic.
Opera, Dance & Classical Music
The ENO's Castor & Pollux sounded as good as it looked dreadful. Rameau's music is different to his contemporaries – just as crisp and clean, but with less frilly stuff! Sadly, the white box-modern dress-piles of earth-running around-inexplicable nudity production meant it was a lot better with your eyes closed. The singing of Allan Clayton, Roderick Williams, Sophie Bevan and Laura Tatulescu was lovely though – and the orchestra under Christian Curnyn sounded gorgeous.
Undance at Sadler's Wells was an intriguing prospect – a double-bill of opera and dance as a collaboration between composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, artist Mark Wallinger and choreographer Wayne McGregor. The opera, Twice Through the Heart, was in fact a monodrama / song cycle about an abused woman who murders her husband. Favourite Sarah Connolly sang beautifully 'inside' 3D projections (we were given glasses on the way in!). It was a bit inaccessible on first hearing, but interesting and well executed nonetheless. Undance itself was based on the 19th century 'motion photography' of Eadweard Muybridge with projections behind the dancers, one mirroring the other. It was clever and intriguing, but felt like it should be a third of a triple bill rather than a pairing with a mini-opera. I didn't dislike the evening, but somehow it felt like a couple of snacks rather than a full meal.
The Bizet Double-Bill at The Royal College of Music was a fascinating affair. Djamileh, an 'opera comique' had few laughs and inexplicably lost its happy ending to a murder, but the sound was unquestionably Bizet. Chinese tenor Lei Xu and British soprano Katherine Crompton sounded beautiful, as did the orchestra under Michael Rosewell. Le Docteur Miracle was certainly played for laughs, but also ended with a death Bizet didn't (I think) write. In a veritable United Nations of casting, the singing of the girls – South African Filipa van Eck and Anastasia Prokofieva (guess where she's from!) – was great and the acting of Israeli Pnini Grubner and homegrown Oliver Clarke equally good. A delightful evening.
Offenbach operettas are hardly subtle, but Scottish Opera's touring production at the Young Vic removed any subtlety Orpheus in the Underworld did have. Everyone was trying so hard, particularly Rory Bremner's libretto, squeezing in as many contemporary satirical references as he could think of, and the performers exaggerating every move and expression until it seems Am Dram. There was some good singing and the solitary pianist played the score well, but I felt like they were relentlessly beating me on the head with a newspaper (as one character did actually do to another at one point). Having said that, I admire them for touring small-scale opera to 33 venues in Scotland and Northern Ireland including artistic black holes like Stornoway and Lerwick, but why come to London with this? It made me yearn for a revival of ENO's production with Gerald Scarfe's extraordinary designs.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra's concert at the Barbican was terrific. They combined Walton's cantata Belshazzar's Feast with Sibelius' suite from the music of a play on the same subject and added in some Sibelius songs and Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem. Edward Gardner is now in the conducting premiere league and his interpretations here were thrilling. The chorus sounded great in the Walton and soloist Gerald Finlay great in both the Walton and the Sibelius sons. For once, the audience didn't hold back the cheers; a cracker.
The LSO is an orchestra at the height of its powers. The Monteverdi Choir is one of the world's best. Sir John Elliott Gardiner is in the premiere league of conducting. Even so, their concert of Beethoven's 1st and 9th Symphonies was even more of a treat than I was expecting. The soloists don't get to do much in the 9th, but they did it well. The chorus soared and the orchestra thrilled. Possibly the best in a lifetime of 9th's
Back at Wigmore Hall there was a lovely concert pairing the 16th century songs of John Dowland with those of the 20th century composers he influenced – Peter Warlock and Ivor Gurney – with singers Ian Bostridge, Sophie Daneman and Mark Stone accompanied by lute, piano, flute, cor anglais & string quartet in various combinations. I could have done without the cheesy German Christmas encore with children's pageant that followed a rather lovely evening of English song.
Magical Night at the Linbury Studio was the British premiere of a Kurt Weil 'kinderpantomime' choreographed by Aletta Collins, who has created a simple story of toys that come alive in the kid's bedroom at night (heard that before?!). It was the Weill that was the attraction for me and it was interesting but hardly thrilling. The dance was OK, but the whole show was a bit of a disappointment overall.
I was drawn to Painting Canada at Dulwich Gallery by its poster, as I often am by poster images. Sometimes the poster doesn't properly represent the content of the exhibition (take note, Tate!) but on this occasion it does. It's a beautiful exhibition of 122 paintings and oil sketches by the 'Group of Seven' Canadian artists from the early 20th Century. I'm not sure I've ever been to such a cohesive and consistently good exhibition of paintings. They're virtually all landscapes, the colours are vivid and they show off (probably flatter) Canada brilliantly. Gorgeous.
Glass-maker Dale Chihuly is best known in the UK for the enormous 'chandelier' which dominates the V&A entrance. We were lucky to have a major exhibition of his work at Kew Gardens some years ago, but that's about my only exposure to his work. Halcyon Gallery now has a brilliant selling exhibition which is surprisingly large and has a long 3-month run. The 57 works are well exhibited and beautifully lit. The only downside was the prices – from £11.5k to £700k; just a little beyond my art budget!
The annual Landscape Photography exhibition in the NT Lyttleton circle foyer is as good as ever; though guarantee to make mere mortal photographers like me feel totally inadequate! There are so many lovely photos here, I had to go round twice to take them all in.
I was initially disappointed by the V&A Friends visit to William Morris' former home – Kelmscott House in Hammersmith – when I discovered we were only going to see the small basement museum (the rest is now a family home again). However, the curator brought out a lot of fascinating items, like original artwork for wallpaper and fabrics, and added some interesting historical facts to make it worthwhile in the end.
Down in Surrey, a feast of the work of another Arts & Crafts couple – George & Mary Watts – was to be had at the Watts Gallery and nearby chapel. He's an underrated player in this movement's game and it was great to see so many of his paintings in one place. The beautifully decorated round chapel (inside and out) by his wife on a nearby hill was an unexpected bonus despite the fading light.
It has taken me 21 months to get round to seeing WildWorks 'Enchanted Palace', which is occupying 15 rooms of Kensington Palace during their renovations. There were only 4 days to go, so off I went and boy was I glad I did. They tell the story of seven of the princesses who lived there by installations, light, sound, story books and cards and actors. it's sometimes mysterious, sometimes playful, often beautiful and always captivating. I now can't wait for their Babel in Battersea Park in 2012.
I adored My Week With Marilyn. It was funny and moving, littered with a who's who of great British actors. Kenneth Branagh does a terrific turn as Laurence Olivier and Michelle Williams is uncanny as Marilyn, but for me it was Eddie Redmayne's movie – he's as mesmerizing on film as he is on stage, proven yet again by his Richard II less than 2 weeks later.