RSA, NPG and London Town

In town on Thursday to take a look around the historic and well-meaning RSA, I was given a short tour and liked what I found.

The RSA was formed as an 'Enlightenment Age'  institution in 1754 and if you look at the past membership you could be astounded - from present day figures of science  that include Tim Berners-Lee and Stephen Hawking  back to world changing giants with examples being  Karl Marx and Charles Dickens - amazing.

The RSA an Enlightenment institution that continues to strive to remain relevant 

The National Portrait Gallery

As well as being a networking organisation focusing on Social Good it has rooms for hire and can be used as a touch down spot when you're in town.

The National Portrait Gallery - Every Picture really does tell a story

After the tour I popped into the NPG plenty of visitors in the National Gallery but the NPG less crowded - always something to draw one in as a Portrait intrigues and suggests a life- on this occasion I resolved to find out about:

Thomas Secker (1693-1768) an archbishop of Canterbury  who had been a key figure in the Church of England becoming comfortable (with the then new) idea of Methodism

and

Ayuba Suleiman Diallo (also know as Job ben Solomon (1701-1773) who was captured by slavers but later found to be of a Muslim family of Clerics, he was eventually granted his freedom and returned to Senegal


As before good weather meant lots to see on the streets and spotted a blue Plaque to Al Bowlly (another story there too)

Al Bowly was here

An artist draws in crowds

A dancing Skeleton

Design Museum award 2015 - great new display

Designs of the Year 2015

It's some time since my last volunteer  touring duty at the Design Museum (just by Tower Bridge) and although 'Women in Fashion' is still going strong there's now a great new collection on display reflecting the 2015 Design competition.

The items up for the award this year are incredibly eclectic and various - from Australian Housing developments (in Sydney) to interactive street lighting.

Cars were on show too including a surprising BMW i8 which looks every inch the gas guzzler but has great green credentials and can still reach a top speed of around 155 mph and a model of the Google self drive car (will it though go the way of Google Glass?).

Looks like a sports car?

A model of an Electric Google car

 (it's from an F1 designer too).

It's a BMW and it does how many Miles to the Gallon?

A right old eclectic selection

There were also some items that could creep under the radar like iPad keyboards and inventive publishing models - all just reminded me (and hopefully others) what a broad church design is.

Sydney's Housing.

Keyboards for the iPad

Back from holiday and the return to plot 202

Rhubarb showed growth.

There was some relief that back in UK despite an e-mail warning of a 'break-in' and high winds all was well on Plot 202.

In fact some quite amazing growth was shown by rhubarb which required me to cut out the flowers which had sprouted (they sap growth from the 'fruit').

Fruit tree blossom

As well as the weeds growing there was evidence of blossom on my various fruit trees - having started peas and other seeds in plant pots in the garden I transferred 'Broad beans' to grow in the plot.

Broad Beans planted out

New planting in and out of the plot

This week I have started 3 types of tomatoes at home (indoors) in propagators) - I am using Coir which I learnt when I studied Horticulture is more environmentally friendly than 'Peat' compost and can be transported dry to reduce transport costs and impact.

I have also planted outside a mixture of other Tomatoes and Chilli

A greener alternative to Peat

A collection sown in  a pot outside

Propagating away 

Spring sun on plot 202

Like Dad

It's odd how memories are triggered, I saw this guy the other day - walking enthusiastically with the use of a walking stick - reminded me greatly of my late father  who was both a great walker and user of a walking stick

Canarian holiday (Part 4 -last thoughts)

Well as is so often the case our Canarian holiday seems longer ago than it actually was but still some pictures and notes to capture our time away.

I enjoyed seeing the different street items - sculptures, performances (many musicians around Corralejo)

A modern reflection of Corallejo

A more traditional figurative piece

A coastal Troubadour rocks out on the seafront 

We had a meal there - not the best though

Perhaps this would have been better?

Tuesday and Friday morning there's something of a tourist market - plenty of leather goods and general stuff for the tourist with a smattering of African influences.

A market mainly aimed at the tourists twice a week

While we were in Corralejo we saw an evening/night run - makes sense as it was far too hot to do during the day (I would say)

The night run through Carralejo 

As well as visiting some of the restaurants and bars we took a 'train' ride through the resort and I was also 'framed'.

I think I was framed

A short 'train' trip can orientate you to the resort