Destinations

On September 26, 2014March 30, 2015 By Conversations with StrangersIn Life, Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

Terminal Two, Heathrow: Only a couple of months old and a welcome change from the old one. I made my way up to departures on a very tall escalator underneath Richard’s Wilson’s huge aluminium sculpture: ‘Slipstream’. ‘Rooted in its location….it is a metaphor for travel’ he says of this work. I left it at the top of the stairs, wondering how much it had cost, and made my way into a temple to rampant luxury consumerism.

Glossy shops were surrounded by floor to ceiling videos of glamorous models living in a rarefied world of limousines with blacked out windows, descending regal staircases, and haughtily running away from gorgeous looking men.

Dublin bound for a party, the ridiculousness rubbed off on me and I headed into the Ladies’ to airbrush my face.

Ten minutes after our airplane had cut through the clouds the cabin lights were still dimmed. I struggled to read the in-flight magazine. Unable to resist, I turned to the man next to me: “Ever feel like you’re being kept in the dark?” I asked and then laughed uproariously at my own joke. He chuckled. “Yeah, it’s a bit like the night flight to New York. Here, let me turn on the light for you” he replied.

Drinks were offered and I procured a coffee something akin to rocket fuel. I opened the sachet of milk and in doing so squirted the contents all over my helpful neighbour. “I’m so sorry!” I cried, offering him my serviette. “You’re alright” he said, “Oh, but thanks all the same.”

I opened the ‘Feel Better Freshener’ and unfolded it right out to get the full benefit.

The Captain’s voice came over the tannoy. “Fasten your seat belts please, Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re starting our descent.” “You’re kidding!” I said to no one in particular. “We’ve only just taken off!” A steward heard me: “He’s our fastest pilot. He’s rushing home – it is Saturday night after all!”

One day later and I was pleasingly back on a bike, cycling alongside a lush and green Grand Canal in Dublin with my friend H, keen to find a cafe.

We tethered our respective rides outside Bibi’s in Portobello and took 20 minutes out of a busy day to catch up for the first time in ages.

I was glad we didn’t have to move for a while. Although only a short break with an old friend, it felt like I’d reached a destination at last.

Everything happens for a reason

On September 18, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn LifeLeave a comment

“Come and sit with us if you like? We’re leaving in a minute” a tall blonde cheerful-looking girl said to me.

I picked up my sandwich and coffee and looked at their table: Round, in a corner and surrounded by windows with a view. “Sure, why not” I replied, and made my way over.

Noticing the three full cups of hot drinks next to mine I was intrigued to know the story here. Were they out-of-towners? Or, perhaps selling something…

The only male amongst us started a conversation about tea: “You have to have skimmed milk with it – otherwise you don’t get the full taste” he said.

“Ugh!” said the second girl, “That’s gross – no way! You have to have proper milk.”

“Yes, I agree” said the blonde girl – it needs to be full fat.”

“Hmmmm, I think that’s a bridge too far” I interrupted.

“What would you have it be?” asked the other girl.

“Semi-skimmed of course.” I replied.

My curiosity got the better of me: “Are you all friends?” I asked.

“Um,no. We’re promoting something” said the second girl.

“Ah” I responded.

They filled me in, brought out a leaflet and fished for pens for me to sign on the dotted line.

What happened next was something else. From bags to satchel three Bic ‘four colour’ pens made an appearance.

“I don’t believe it!!” I cried as I searched for my miniature one.

We all laughed. Suddenly the conversation became real. We introduced ourselves: Like dog owners we now had a common bond – albeit a pen. Or, like the key point in a movie scene – something that defines that particular part in the film and moves the story along.

“I got mine in Ibiza – in my favourite newsagents’” I said.

“Oh, I know the one – is it in The Town?” Ben asked.

“I got mine in Rymans on Baker Street!” Sadie said flicking her blonde hair back.

“Me too!’ said Amani.

“I can’t believe they have them there – especially with the turquoise and pink colours!” I exclaimed.

“We have to take a picture I said.” “Everybody – let’s write our names on this paper and hold the pens over it! Oh but I’m finding it hard to take” I said, fiddling with the phone.

“Here, let me do it” said Ben. “I’m a photographer.”

“Really?!” I said as my eyes sparked. “I write a blog”

“Well then, I think it’s lucky we ran into each other” said Ben.

Margate. Part II

On September 12, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn ArtLeave a comment

You can’t miss The Turner Contemporary in Margate. It stands on the seafront, distinct from other buildings around it – all angular straight lines and hard concrete.

The work of Mondrian was being shown and although not my favourite artist, who was I to argue with free entrance (donations gratefully received) to appraise some of his earlier pieces in an easy going environment, with the added advantage of sea air when one needed a break.

“Get the headphones, S” E had advised when I told him I was going. Usually I go for that kind of thing. It’s a bit like following a ranger around Yosemite or the Grand Canyon – lots of interesting info to lap up. But, this time I decided to go it alone.

His early studies in oil surprised me. I knew the geometric stuff – white canvas with black lines and some red or blue and yellow filling in the boxes. But, these were all sumptuous naturalism: Landscapes painted in oils of the countryside around Amsterdam, where he was from… another thing I didn’t know.

His ‘Riverscape with row of trees at left, sky with pink and yellow-green bands’ made me feel like jumping in to float on the still, green water and watch the sky changing into a dazzling sunset of orange and pink hues. What sensibility he had with colour!

I began to get more interested. How on earth did he get from that lush expression to the austere abstraction of primary colours on white?

I put the headphones on and watched the 50 minute documentary.

His aim was to get to the truth – the very essence and pared down beauty of simplicity in communication; He lived alone in a studio which was like one of his later paintings – bare, white, splashes of primary colours here and there; He loved Jazz, its influence on him resulted in a vibrancy of geometric shapes in his later work – both energising and simultaneously serene to look at.

His story blew me away.

As the film came to an end, the gentleman next to me spoke so that I didn’t hear the last quote from the artist: “Fascinating, wasn’t he?” he asked. I scribbled away furiously trying to get the words down but only got half.

Days later, Claire from the Turner Contemporary rang: “I think this is the quote you wanted” she said and kindly dictated it to me:

“Art today is condemned to a separate existence, for present day life is essentially tragic. But, in some distant future art and life will be one.”

If Art is creativity – how did he know? It’s precisely what the digital age has enabled.
Catch it if you can – until 21 September 2014, Turner Contemporary, Margate.

Love at The Sands

On September 11, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Travel/vacations1 Comment

The walk from the train station at Margate was inauspicious. Darkness had descended as I asked for directions to my hotel. “Just past that block of flats, and follow the road round to the left onto The Parade” the station guard told me.

The Sands Hotel glowed, like a beacon of hope on the seafront. I entered to crystal chandeliers and cosy minimalism: A comforting world with ‘family business’ written all over it, such was the familiarity and warmth with which I was greeted.

Over supper, I rang the best ‘man’ for the following day’s nuptials.

“B, please thank Tel for recommending this place – it’s lovely and the music selection is truly eclectic – we’ve got some Mazzy Star at the moment!”

I heard Tel in the background: ’She won’t want to leave the hotel!”

“Well, I’ll have to tomorrow. Besides the wedding, I’m sure there’s a lot to see here – like the art gallery, the ‘Lanes’, the sea!”

A very ‘rock ’n roll’ Camomile tea at the bar before bed led to a conversation with Victoria and Justin.

“Back in the 70’s Margate was all bright lights along the seafront – like the Vegas strip – it was fabulous! My grandmother lived here and I used to come and visit.”Justin told me. “We’ve just bought a place close by – a six bedroomed Georgian house for a great price. We aim at commuting into London – so fast now with the high-speed train.”

That night I slept on a silk pocket sprung mattress cocooned in a ‘Jasmine silk’ duvet with the sleekest Eygptian cotton sheets, all of which made it very difficult to rise in the morning. Hunger forced the issue.

I sat outside for breakfast on the restaurant terrace, a fresh but warm hazy sea air softly caressing my face.

“When they bought the building the plan was to turn it into luxury flats, but the owner found out it had been a hotel at the end of the 19th century and decided to completely restore it” the waitress answered as I enquired about this snug but chic hostelry.

Couples, families and singletons surrounded me tucking in to Eggs Benedict, smoked kippers and other delicacies.

The papers lay on the table to be read. The beach – seaweed strewn – beckoned for a walk. Art to be savoured was two minutes walk away. I picked up my coffee cup. Perhaps I’d just head back to my room first: The bath tub had looked so inviting.

Lottie Bogotti

On September 5, 2014December 4, 2014 By Conversations with StrangersIn Fashion, Ibiza1 Comment

Sometimes I like a bit of vintage. The thing is I’m not so keen on the accompanying mustiness and endless jumble of rails that one has to endure to find some treasure.

‘Lottie Bogotti’ is thankfully a different shopping experience.

I wandered in, seaweed strewn from the beach, wet bikini marks on my T-shirt from a recent swim and said Hi to Hannah and her daughter – whose name emblazons this cute little tienda in San Carles, Ibiza.

“It’s so hard to find a strapless top or dress anywhere, Hannah – I don’t suppose you have one, do you?” As always, one only has to ask and like a magician she pulls exactly the thing you’re looking for ‘out of a hat’ as it were. Disappearing downstairs she returned with a brightly coloured stash of frothy Indian silk – impossible to describe – but just what I wanted. “Here, you can have this one – it’s got a hole in it so I can’t sell it – and it’s your colour!” I headed to the changing room and slipped it on.

A gentle background of golden orange with a teeny tiny flowery print, its elastic shape fitted to my chest, flowed from there, hugged my hips and then frou frou’ed out shortly to just cover my derriere – very cute.

“It’s perfect, Hannah – thank you!” I exclaimed. I got us some drinks and we sat on the two little stools inside, chewing the fat. People started arriving, picking up this and that, holding up pieces to themselves in the mirror, trying on sparkly necklaces and asking to see different delicacies in the cabinets.

“You’re bringing me customers” Hannah said as I showed the shops’ namesake my camera and asked her if she’d take a few shots. “But why don’t you make a film instead?” she asked. “Well, that’s a really good idea, Lottie, but we don’t have time today. I’ve got no lights on my bike and I need to head home before it gets dark.”

“You cover a lot of ground on that bike – imagine how much you’d do if you had a car!” “I dread to think, Hannah, it’s all I can do to keep up with myself on two wheels.”

As customers purchased everything from vintage clothing to Cowboy boots to heart shaped sunglasses and funky handbags, I sat there sewing up my latest love and bracing myself for the ride home.