Baddesley Clinton

An afternoon spent in Baddesley Clinton

First sighting of the house

and then the moat - the daffodils are still in bloom

The courtyard

Looking down at one of the three hides. This is where the Catholic priests were hidden during the time of their persecution. This hide goes all the way down to the sewers

 a walk around the grounds: first stop the lake

and then the light changed and this photograph came out in black and white

the ducks are having a great time

we later move on to one of the three ponds

until finally we come back full circle  to the house and the moat.

Cardiff Museum - 2

A whole room is devoted to Agustus John drawings and watercolours

Secrets of Amour, Augustus John

Dorelia in Eastern Dress, Augustus John

The Japanese Doll, Gwen John.

In the corner of the next room are five paintings by Gwen John. During all the time we were there, this was the busiest corner in the Museum.

Girl in a Blue Dress, Gwen John

The Little Interior, Gwen John

A Corner of the Artist's room, Gwen John

Girl in Profile, Gwen John

Girl in a Green Dress, Gwen John

Mere Poussain Seated at a Table, Gwen John

Day Leaving, Sean Scully

A reconstructed thing, Lois Willliams  (made out of one thread of spun and intertwined wool)

Oval Sculpture, Barbara Hepworth

Edward De Waal

Vessel, Shozo Michikawa

and another view

Gordon Baldwin

and another view.

A new wing full of contemporary art will open shortly. It will certainly be worth a visit.

Cardiff Museum

Cardiff Museum is an amazing place. It has one of the finest art collections in Europe, and the largest collection of Impressionist paintings out of Paris -  a real treasure trove.

The Davis sisters who were avid collectors of Impressionist paintings and who had a real penchant for Rodin, bequeathed their collection to the Museum and what a delight it was to see it all.

 Water lillies, Claude  Monet

More water lillies

and more

Rain: Auvers, Vincent Van Gogh

La Parisienne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Woman and Child in a Meadow at Bougival, Berthe Morisot

Rouen Cathedral:setting sun, Claude Monet

 Dancer, Edgar Degas

Eve, Auguste Rodin

The Kiss, Auguste Rodin

Cardiff Bay

It was a bleak, damp and windy day when we went to Cardiff  Bay and we were constantly aware of how lovely it would have been on a hot, sunny day. It is an impressive development and despite the weather we enjoyed our few hours there.

The Millenium Centre, a great performing arts venue

Y Senned, the modernist building housing the Welsh Assembly

The Norwegian Church which was built in the 1860s as a 'home away from home' for Norwegian sailors. Today it is an arts centre, one of many to be found in Cardiff. When asked in a survey how they felt about culture in their city, the inhabitants of Cardiff said they were very pleased with what was on offer. It is not surprising. I have never come across so many arts centres in a city, and as for the museum.... I wish we'd had more time to explore the city more fully.

We wanted to take a boat around the bay but it was raining and they were not running.

So instead we went in search of colour which we found in 'Craft in the Bay'

aren't the colours of these pots amazing?

 They are made by Sara Moorhouse.

Cardiff

We enjoyed our time in Cardiff very much

We stayed opposite the castle which was very convenient

our hotel was great  as the grand staircase will testify

just round the corner was the Victorian Castle Arcade full of quirky, unusual shops

 

 and which housed our favourite place for having lunch

another Victorian arcade - the shopping was fantastic and there were quirky touches

 

 

like the lampshades (and bowler hats) over the counter of this shop

 

The castle was great fun

 

 

and walking inside the battlements, an adventure!