Sunday 24th June 2012, 8.10pm (day 304)
Well, here we are, off again. To a country that may have massive political and social problems, but has at least heard of the notion that in June, it’s supposed to be summer.
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Category Archives: Interior
Fire buckets, Keighley station
Sunday 17th June 2012, 2.50pm (day 297)
We were on Keighley station a couple of weekends ago, but hey, here we are again. We had a free ticket and it was something to do. I choose this picture today partly because of the colour and shapes, but mainly because the sign above makes it look like these are the rudimentary toilet facilities. I mean, I know this heritage railway is preserving how things were a hundred years ago or whatever, but this seems to be taking it a bit far.
Making pickle
Saturday 16th June 2012, 11.40am (day 296)
Nutclough Pickle. Ingredients: 1 cauliflower, 1 cucumber, a few small onions, 2 pints of vinegar, mustard powder, turmeric, 2 cloves garlic, some salt, 300g sugar, nutmeg, allspice and a few tablespoons of flour. Cook up together and bung in a jar for a few weeks, then give to relatives and keep some for yourself.
Kilden performing arts centre, Kristiansand
Tuesday 5th June 2012, 5.40pm (day 285)
Norway is a sensibly governed country, compared to others I could mention: the best example of this being that the Norwegian state retains a 51% share in the main oil company and in each of the national banks. The result: it’s very wealthy. (Citizens of countries whose governments have, instead, chosen to squander all the revenue from North Sea oil over the last 40 years might like to take note.) Which is why it can afford to build vast and impressive new performing arts centres like the Kilden, in small provincial towns like Kristiansand.
This picture was taken during the conference reception. There are other people all around, but somehow, on this trip, it didn’t really seem to be about the people. At least, not photographically.
Transparent floor, Bergen
Friday 1st June 2012, 9.05pm (day 281)
So here we are with the first of the backlog of pictures from Norway. On this first evening I took Clare and Joe up Mount Fløyen to see the classic view of Bergen: but this blog has already featured that so to avoid cliché and repetition here’s a strange view from a bar down by the waterside. The ‘roof garden’ is just a floor of transparent perspex or glass, three stories up. Would you sit up there? I think it would be a rather nauseating experience, to be honest.
The new King’s Cross
Wednesday 23rd May 2012, 12.15pm (day 272)
This is the new entrance at King’s Cross station in London, opened in March. I’m very impressed with it. Apart from looking damn good, it also has some nice cafes on the balcony which do not charge ludicrous prices for cups of tea (£1.50 for a cup, which is quite reasonable these days), and a good pub, which seems as if it has been there for decades. And there’s a Platform 9¾ sign (complete with a luggage trolley half-sticking out of a wall) to keep the Harry Potter fans happy.
Most of all though I’m impressed there are still people around who give enough of a toss about creating beautiful things in public life that things like this can still get built. May it continue to be the case.
The British Library
Friday 18th May 2012, 3.25pm (day 267)
Went to London on a day trip today, for a meeting, which we held here mainly because it’s easy to get to and a nice space. What you see here is the ‘King’s Library’, the King in question being George III: his library now sits as a kind of monumental pedestal n the centre of the building. The new concourse at King’s Cross station is also pretty cool, by the way. With St Pancras between the two this is becoming a decent part of the city.
Classroom space, National Museum of Denmark
Sunday 13th May 2012, 12.20pm (day 262)
Currently found tucked at the back of the ‘Europe Meets the World’ temporary exhibition. I should have a classroom like this. It looks like the War Room in Doctor Strangelove.
Clare at Noma
Saturday 12th May 2012, 1.50pm (day 261)
So this is the real reason I wanted to spend time in Copenhagen: the chance to eat at one of the world’s best restaurants, without a doubt. I made this booking some three months ago, but here we are, halfway through a meal of fifteen (count ’em) courses; I’ve just polished off an oyster that tasted just like the sea, and the chefs even prepared a whole alternative menu for Clare as she is lactose-intolerant, so she’s eating some caramelised onions and, as you can see from the look on her face, thoroughly enjoying it. Behind the oyster you can see what was definitely – and I mean definitely – the Best Butter in the World – and I wish I could have recorded every course. This was definitely the most expensive meal I have ever had – but we got what we paid for, it was definitely the best, too. If you are in the area and have the means, I highly recommend it.
Røde Mor (Red Momma) beer
Thursday 10th May 2012, 9.05pm (day 259)
After the conference dinner this evening we were herded into a room and plied with free beer. It could be worse…. Røde Mor means ‘Red Momma’ (Røde Modre would be ‘Red Mother’) and is one of many products of Nyborg’s local Refsvindinge Brewery which have kept me going these last couple of days. Cool label too. Should you be here I strongly recommend it.
Being 42 