Hand Luggage.

Slapton sands and naturists

After the hustle and bustle of touristy Dartmouth we had a complete change of scene at the wild and empty beach at Slapton Sands.

I found an impressively huge piece of sculptural driftwood on the beach. More of a drift truck really!

Cue a lot of pictures of the tree from a varity of angles . . .

We had the expanse of beach virtually to ourselves. Very serene and peaceful.

Word of warning, Slapton does have a spot for naturists! So don’t be too alarmed if you see people letting it all hang out . . . thankfully it was a little too cold for anyone to be nude when we visited (I wouldn’t know where to look!!)

Dartmouth

Dartmouth is set on the western bank of the estuary of the River Dart and is a picturesque, colourful harbour town.

Dartmouth was of strategic importance as a deep-water port for sailing vessels. The port was used as the sailing point for the Crusades of 1147 and 1190.

These days it still attracts vessels of all sizes but more important, to the economy, are the hordes of tourists that descend into the winding little streets every day.

Away from the consumer hordes you can still find a little oasis of calm such as this back street church. Its slumbering inhabitants rest unperturbed by the bank holidaymakers above ground.

The headstones seem to be make of slate and are delicately weathered by the decades since their namesakes passed on.

Back on the water a flotilla of boats are preparing to take part in an energetic race.

Their names evoke speed, ferocity and steely determination to win at all costs!

Regardless of who wins, I love the spectacle of the sleek boats nestled up in a line, ready to go.

From boats to heraldic crests, there is a weathy of little details dotted all over Dartmouth for the happy snapper to grab shots of!

The habour side is awash with candy coloured houses. A pretty postcard scene.

Here are a few more of the vivid homesteads. All offering a nice shot of colour against a grey day.

Next up we’re off to see some lovely wild beaches at Slapton Sands.

Quaint little Cockington

Back to the Easter break catch up! On-route to the caravan in Brixham we take a little detour to the delightful little village of Cockington. It’s a place that I remember fondly from when I was a nipper.

It’s just a handful of buildings but each of the dwellings are delicious little confections topped with thatch.

According to Wikipedia the village was probably founded 2,500 years ago during the Iron age with evidence of two hill forts on either side of Cockington valley.

The first official documentation of the village was in the 10th century.

The manor was owned by Alric the Saxon, before William Hostiarus, William de Falesia and Robery FitzMartin, who passed it down to his son Roger, who renounced his name to become Roger de Cockington.

I love the little marshmallow houses with their intricate thatched tops. Combined with the presence of palm trees it makes for an oddly surreal scene.

Below you can see the traditional stocks being put to good use with a variety of troublesome rabble rousers.

Here we are in a rare coupled up moment!! Admittedly we had to be put in the stocks to get us together. . .

And for comparison’s sake, here is the last time I sat in those stocks! With the little sister barely able to see over the top! Probably taken in about 1987. Loving our matching knitwear (thanks grandma!)

A few final glimpses of the fairy tale cottages before we head off to the caravan.

Grey Torbay days

Easter break means extra days off! Whoopie! So which part of the globe did we whizz off to this time? A sunny beach? A chic city? Nope – Torbay!!

Torbay spans the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham located around an east-facing natural harbour (Tor bay) on the English Channel.

Not quite the most glamourous of destinations it has to be said but I have lots of happy memories of the area, especially Torquay as I spent every summer holiday here for several years.

In the twenty years since I have been to Torquay it has seen many changes including a giant wheel over looking the harbour, but many things have stayed the same.

Here’s a multitude of colourful fishing nets and lobster pots. I love the variations that can be found in even the most mundane of everyday items.

It might not rival the more glamorous harbours of the world that I have seen such as Cannes, Portifino and others, but Torquay still shares the same sense of hustle and bustle.

Here’s the Torquay eye giving a panoramic view over the whole spectacle.

Here’s the Western Lady, the little ferry boat that plies its trade between Torquay and Brixham. It’s a steal at £1 each way and takes a leisurely half hour to travel between the two places.

Few more floaty boaties in the harbour here.

And here’s a few more glimpses of the huge wheel.

Then we have a quick potter around the little French market that has set itself up along the harbour edge. It’s a tiny little taste of the continent.

Some of my favourite things ever are the array of colourful soaps. I’ve got very similar photos from Nice market in the South of France.

The variety on offer is staggering with every flavour and perfume.

However by far the most typical perfume from the region is lavender. Whether in soap or in cute little bags.

Here’s a few more snaps from the market. Delicious doughnuts from cake stall and mountains of revolting olives!!!

I have tried to like the vile little blobs of grimness. Heaven knows I have tried!! But they are too slippery, too salty and just too darn yucky! However they are very photogenic.

Even if they flavour them with peri peri or any other spice. They still look look like balls of unpleasantness to me .. .

Here’s garlic prawns. I wonder if they were hauled out of the local sea? Somehow I very much doubt it.

And finally from the market some sculptural artichokes.

Then it’s off for a bracing walk around the harbour. Even though it’s a cold, grey day there are still a few flashes of colour.

Boats and rope and wheels and sharp angles galore!!

Not all the boats are quite as glamourous however. The Mary Anne has probably seen better days but has a wealth of interesting, rusty features.

The underbelly of the pier also looks like it’s seen better days. How it holds up the tourists I am not entirely certain.

Finally we finish up with a trip back in time as Neil finds himself in a perilous situation . . .

Next up we head to our home for three days. Four adults in a caravan in Brixham . . . ah the glamour!!!

Tate – old school

Having sampled some of the more modern art on offer in the Tate we also had time to wander around some of the older works (or, as I like to call it, the “real” art!!)

Yes, controversial I know, but I am not a massive fan of “modern” art, Hence the last time I visited the Tate Modern I spent more time taking the mickey than enjoying the displays.

One of which I swear was a bathroom cabinet straight out of an Argos catalogue and just given a deep sounding title.

Probably something like “The futility of consumerism. Part 3. Mirror and chipboard.”

So give me a sumptuous Pre Raphelite any day!! Here’s some gorgeous Rosetti. The Beloved. 1866.

Or this haunting Lady of Shallot by John William Waterhouse. A print of which adorned my teenage bedroom for many a long year.

The picture illustrates the following lines from part IV of Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shalott’:

And down the river’s dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance –
With glassy countenance
Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.

Another tragic portrayal, yet a highly beautiful painting, is Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais. Seems like artists can’t get enough of doomed women!

This time the tragic scene being depicted is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act IV, Scene vii, when Ophelia, driven out of her mind when her father is murdered by her lover Hamlet, drowns herself in a stream:

There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;
When down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up;
Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,
As one incapable of her own distress,
Or like a creature native and indued
Unto that element; but long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pull’d the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.

Above L – R

John Singer Sargent

Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children1896

Philip Hermogenes Calderon

Broken Vows 1856

Sir John Everett Millais,

Hearts are Trumps 1872

Tate walk through

Having a cultural moment now with a very quick whisk around the Tate gallery. It’s crammed pack full of an awe inspiring display of incredible art, from the rich, sumptuous pre raphaelites to uber modern, conceptual pieces.

As we had very limited time we opted for the super quick immersion into all that the Tate has to offer with the BP Walk through British Art.

According to the official blurb “The BP Walk through British Art offers a circuit of Tate Britain’s unparalleled collection from its beginnings to its end.

This ‘walk through time’ has been arranged to ensure that the collection’s full historical range, from 1545 to the present, is always on show.”

Foreground: Rasheed Araeen

Rang Baranga 1969

So whether you hanker for Hockney or are mad about Millais, there’s a bit of art for everyone.

In no particular order, here are some of the snaps I took as I wandered around. Again. all taken on the phone so not best quality I am afraid!! I’ve tried to match up the art with the artist but some are missing. (and the spacing has gone a bit crazy too!)

L – R

in foreground: ??

in background: Walter Richard Sickert

Miss Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as Isabella of France 1932

Henry Moore OM, CH

Animal Head 1951

in foreground: Dora Gordine

Javanese Head 1931

Pauline Boty

The Only Blonde in the World 1963

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Close up of part of the Francis Bacon work

Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion c.1944

L – R

Mark Gertler

Merry-Go-Round 1916

???

Francis Bacon

Study for a Portrait 1952

L – R

Henry Moore OM, CH

Family Group 1949, cast 1950–1

Henry Moore OM, CH

Woman 1957–8, cast date unknown

Frank Dobson

Sir Osbert Sitwell, Bt 1923

Henry Moore OM, CH

Reclining Figure 1951

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David Hockney

Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy 1970–1

L – R

???

John Hilliard

Camera Recording its Own Condition (7 Apertures, 10 Speeds,

Hockney seen through William Tucker

Anabasis I 1964

David Hockney

A Bigger Splash 1967

in background: David Bomberg

The Mud Bath 1914

L – R

Francis Bacon

Triptych – August 1972 1972

Sir Jacob Epstein

Torso in Metal from ‘The Rock Drill’1913–4

???

Borough market

Fresh back from a weekend whizzing around London and visiting a few new places. One of which is the Borough Market in Southwark close to the Shard. Apologies for fuzzy pics, they’re all taken on my mobile!!

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Borough has long been linked with food markets and as far back as the 11th century, London Bridge attracted traders selling grain, fish, vegetables and livestock.

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In the 13th century traders were relocated to what is now Borough High Street and a market has been there ever since.

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In 1755, the market was closed by Parliament, but a group of Southwark residents raised £6,000 to buy land known locally as The Triangle and reopened the market in 1756.

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The Triangle is still at the heart of the market today.

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There’s a wide range of stalls including fish, bakery, confectionery, dairy and more.

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Above is a selection of sea food, all artistically arranged for the discerning shopper while below are a colourful array of veggy friendly salads.

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There’s a global food vibe happening with French Duck confit and lavender from Provence along with tasty continental pastries.

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Italian cheeses are piled high alongside a mouthwatering selection of bread and brownies!!

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A favourite photogenic confectionery are the colourful little macaroons in a plethora of flavours including Earl Grey tea and pistachio.

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Or you can just stick to the tried and tested traditional tastes such as chocolate.

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These adorable little tins of liquorice would make perfect keepsake pots for all your useful stuff.

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More colourful snaps of veg and drool making cakies!

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And some intriguing mushrooms (shudder) wrap up our whistle stop tour around Borough market. Well worth a visit if you’re close to the Shard. (and have an obsession with markets like me!!)

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Mercado Central de Atarazanas

Malaga central market is another foodie heaven, crammed to the rafters with a veritable cornocopia of fresh goods, meats and jars of anything you can imagine.

Malaga Central Market, also known as The Mercado Central de Atarazanas is a gorgeous piece of architecture as well as a haven for nibbles and tasty treats.

The gorgeous stained glass window portrays the history of the building before its current incarnation as a market.

The now land locked market was once the city’s shipyard, a place where the ruling Moors used to repair their ships 600 years ago. The water once made it all the way to the market’s entrance

Whether you’re after a selection of olives or a dollop of greased up meat, this is the place to come.

Iberian pork loin covered in an oily looking orange grease. Apparently it comes from special, acorn fed piggies!

There’s lots of by products too. Above is the Chorizo iberico – a cured sausage made from chopped pork, pork fat and paprika. There are hundreds of regional varieties, some containing garlic and herbs.

Lomo Iberico is the cured tenderloin of the pig covered in lard made from the fat surrounding the pig’s kidneys.

However as a life long vegetarian I prefer to loiter in the less meaty aisles with the amazing piles of fresh produce.

From onions the size of your head to all types of leafy salads, spices and garnishes. There’s a mouth watering selection to chose from.

Of course the market would grind to a halt if it wasn’t for the stall holders. Above are just two of the colourful characters we encountered.

Below are some of the famous Malaga almonds. Almonds were one of Malaga’s major exports, in addition to being highly popular in local cuisine.

They are one of main ingredients in a variety of traditional recipes such as “ajoblanco”, a cold soup with crushed almonds.

Has it got your mouth watering yet? if so why not head over to Spain and sample of few markets yourself!

Colourful Capri stalls

Still shifting through the past few years worth of photos in search of favourite market piccies. Here’s a myriad of colourful delights from the gorgeous little island of Capri.

From the obvious Italian pastas to the island’s preocupation with lemons, there are so many lovely little knick knacks.

There are also lots of incredible painted tiles decorating all the shop fronts. Below are some of the succulent local produce and my personal favourite trip souvenirs – fridge magnets!

But far and away the most prevalent item to be found on the island is the lemon! from soap to liqueur, perfume to magnets.

It’s thought that citrus fruits arrived in Capri in the tenth century, and they have characterized the colors and perfume of the island ever since.

The lemon, originally used as an ornamental plant, was subsequently used for its superb juice and the essential oils extracted from its peel.

Famous throughout the world, the lemon liqueur “Limoncello”, is best served chilled.The lemon of Capri, known as “femminiello”, has a long elliptical form and medium dimensions.

Another lovely present to bring home are the painted tiles and the little espresso cups for supping the strong Italian coffee.

If we had more room in our cases we could fit a few of these glorious paintings in there. The shop is barely noticeable beneath a wealth of local scenes.

Alternatively you could indulge your tastes for all things ceramic!

Olive oil bottles, utensil trays or even tiny celestial bodies. You can find virtually anything in pot form.

Silk and worms

Just uncovered a disk of extra photos from our 2013 Thai adventure. A trip around a Chiang Mai silk farm as part of a traditional crafts day! Apologies for the grainy pictures, it was quite dim inside for the sake of the moths!!

The production of Thai silk begins with the Bombyx mori, a small silk worm that comes from the eggs of a silk moth. Above Neil inspects the icky critters in various stages of growth.

For their first year, they eat the leaves of mulberry trees before building a cocoon from their spittle.

Below you can see the moth cocoons, the moths themselves and the rather cruel method of extracting the silk by boiling the cocoons.

In its original cocoon form, raw silk is bumpy and irregular. Weavers separate the completed cocoons from the mulberry bush and soak them in a vat of boiling water to separate the silk thread from the caterpillar inside the cocoon.

Here’s a close up of the pale moths and their eggs. It takes around 380 cocoons to produce 90 grams of silk yarn.

A single thread filament is too thin to use on its own so the Thai weavers combine many threads to produce a thicker, usable fiber.

Above and below weavers use a reeling machine to produce a uniform strand of raw silk thread.

The natural colour of the silk ranges from light gold to very light green. The thread is soaked in hot water and bleached before dyeing in order to remove the natural yellow coloring. It can then be dyed a variety of colours.