Friday Five (or even Six): another local walk

I had to take the book I was reading on loan back to the library.  I couldn't renew it because it was on hold for other readers, but the walk in the park was still an opportunity for some fresh air and exercise. 

The mansion, now council offices and a library hub was built in the Adam style of architecture and opened in 1779 whereas the pavilion for the bowling green club based in the park was completed in 2006.

Sometimes I walk to the lake where there are coots, geese and ducks swimming around and now-and- again gulls that have flown inland away from a stormy coast, but I didn't go right down to the water on this occasion.  

Neither did I go in the walled garden that day as it's closed at certain times usually when the gardeners are busy working there.  However, there are plants in the formal flower beds to appreciate even in the Winter months ....

.... and the trees sustain different forms of wildlife.

A good surprise was this decorated pebble that had been left on a low stone pillar for another person to enjoy.  The lily-of the valley is my birthday flower so I felt I was meant to see it.  I photographed it and left it there for someone else to see.  Decorating pebbles or stones and leaving them for others to find is a lovely idea.

Thank you once more for coming by.  Have a good day!

November 2019 roundup

November was a very wet month and we continue to think of those who are still enduring the aftermath of the flooding that occurred in many regions of the UK. We enjoyed having family come to visit. We are keeping fairly well and managed to get out-and-about including a visit to our Derbyshire family. In between the rain there was some gardening done, mostly tidying and cleaning and then on other days we rested.

Our son sent some photos that I've made into collages taken of  'The Knife Angel Sculpture' made with permission from the Home Office by the British Ironwork Centre in Shropshire from hundreds of  knives that had been surrendered to the authorities or had been used in a knife crime. The travelling artwork sculpture was on display for a time outside Derby Cathedral and was illuminated at night and brought attention to the public the awful consequences of knife crime that is sadly happening in our society. The campaign 'Surrender a Knife and Save a Life' is an important, ongoing initiative.

Inside the Cathedral touring artwork 'Museum of the Moon' by Luke Jerram was being displayed which was also illuminated in the evenings and a light parade, 'Parade of the Full Moon' took place at this time at the end of September. John Flamsteed, the first Atronomer Royal, (1646-1719) lived in Derby and was the first to map the moon so there was probably an association of ideas when organising the Derby Festé 2019. John Flamsteed's work (below) can be seen in Pickford's House Museum, Derby together with other displays on 18th century optical inventions.

Finally, a photo of me with Benito Argento our Derbyshire family's Spinone puppy who has the sweetest temperament.  (Argento is his pedigree name).

Back to Weston Park

On a rainy Saturday afternoon I went to Weston Park in the city centre so that I could go and view the Joe Scarborough paintings again as Sunday was the last day of his exhibition.

Weston Park, the Art Gallery and Museum are great assets that have been enjoyed over the years.  It was a different scene there in the park from the last visit on a sunny day when groups of people were sitting on the grass, enjoying a picnic or just taking a stroll around, but nevertheless I enjoyed a walk around before going into the museum and there were still a few families taking advantage of this large green space with a terraced area, wide paths where a child could ride a bike (originally designed to allow the carriages of the past to be driven right up to the door of the art gallery), a lake and beautiful vistas.....

The bandstand built around 1900

The Godfrey Sykes Memorial Column

The lake with three different university buildings in different architectural styles are in the background - the modern high rise Arts Tower and attached Library,  the red brick Firth Court.

Robert Marnock, a prominent landscape gardener, was commissioned to design the park in 1875. He  also designed the Botanical Gardens in the city.

Firth Court University Buildings where I went for the Literature Festival Day.

The Entrance Gates with terracotta pillars were designed by Godfrey Sykes.

The War Memorial

The Art Gallery from a distance.  To the left located on the grass and surrounded by a fence is the 1882 weather station equipment and is one of the oldest weather stations in the country. It's the official climatological record station for the city area and is managed by the museum's staff.

..... and back to the Museum entrance.  I was glad of the ramped path where I could walk up rather than go up the steps.

The Joe Scarborough Exhibition

There's also one of his framed painted murals along a narrow corridor. The above is only a third of it.  You could spend ages looking at it as it has so many features that represent the city, the history, the well known people and above all the ordinary folk who live, work and spend their leisure time in the area.

A local art exhibition

After a recent visit to Weston Park Museum to see an exhibition of Joe Scarborough's paintings I had hoped to return on Saturday as this local artist was in the art gallery speaking about his work.  However, as it was raining heavily I decided not to go and there'll still be time to do so before the exhibition closes.

In the forecourt next to the museum's café is a small garden and on the day I visited the weather was good and there were many visitors sitting outside having refreshments. Sheffield University buildings and several hospitals are in this area and the park was also full of individuals and groups sitting on the grass and even having picnics.

I asked an official at the welcome desk outside the art gallery for information about the exhibition and whether I could take photos and was told that I could, so I did.

Sheffield originally was made up of small settlements (hamlets and villages). Each one is located on seven hills and each one still has its own identity today even though the city now consists of the city centre and suburban or semi-rural districts. For this reason and because the artist knows Sheffield and residents well his exhibition is called 'Life in the Big Village'.

Some of Joe's notebooks and artist's tools

The colourful paintings are so detailed they're of interest to anyone who enjoys this style of painting. There are references to the typical activities of people living in the area. For those who know Sheffield there are familiar buildings and even if you don't know Sheffield many of the subjects make the viewer smile.  Hopefully I'll go back before the exhibition finishes on November 24th to take another look.