To London

Our wanderings are comng to an end. It's off to London for one night before we catch our flight home.

I'm off travelling (currently heading to London), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Party time

A farewell party with all our Dorset friends today

I'm off travelling (currently in Bournemouth), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

To bee or not to bee

Continuing the garden theme, which is always appropriate in this most garden-proud of nations.

I'm off travelling (currently in southern England), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Iris

Back from Cornwall to Bournemouth today after feasting our eyes on the Eden Project garden.

I'm off travelling (currently in southwest England), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

The Eden Project

A trip to Cornwall to the Eden Project, a bio-deverse global garden in a reclaimed China clay pit. Domes that house plant species from around the world.


I'm off travelling (currently in southwest England), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Feathers and Finery

It's "prom" (school formal) season here in the northern hemisphere, including, tonight. for the daughter of our friends.

I'm off travelling (currently in southern England), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Four Seasons?

Above: Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring

Who knows what the weather will be like in England in June. Some years it is warm and deliciously dry, leading to summer drought, other times cool and wet. In my view there is nothing more beautiful than a sunny, warm June day in England, with long hours of daylight. While we've been here, the season has slipped from Spring to Summer. When we lived in Dorset, teachers and students would often have a cricket match after school, lasting well into the twilight hours of 9pm and beyond. And then ...to the pub!

Today the sun is due to set at 9.22pm.

I'm off travelling (currently in southern England), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Idle Gossip

The purpose of this part of our trip is catching up with dear friends. So I know for sure that there will be plenty of time for both idle AND meaningful, important gossip.

I'm off travelling (currently in Pompei), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Bournemouth

Southern England, including Bournemouth, is the home of the colourfully painted beach box.

I'm off travelling (currently in Bournemouth), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Farewell Mediterranean

We've had a merry jaunt around the Med from Rome to Barcelona. Today we leave those shores and head north to re-visit old stamping grounds in southern England. We lived in Dorset for two years, and it's back to catch up with our friends.

I'm off travelling (today, from Barcelona to Bournemouth), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

The eyes have it

I'm off travelling (currently in Barcelona), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Spanish Jews in Istanbul

When I taught in Istanbul, one of my students had the surname Toledo. Her surname gave a clue to her family's background - Sephardic Jewish. The Sephardic Jews were from the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and were expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. The most prominent communities were in Toledo, Cordoba and Granada. They were accepted as refugees by the Ottoman Empire, settling mostly in Istanbul and Salonica (present day Thessaloniki).

Because of my ignorance, I never asked my student if she spoke the traditional language, Ladino, which is derived from Old castilian with extensive borrowings from Turkish, and to a lesser extent from Greek, Arabic, Hebrew and French.

Read more about the Sephardi Jews here.

I'm off travelling (currently in Barcelona), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Afrika

I love Spain, and am especially interested in the historical mix of cultures which has created the Spanish persona. Of course, Barcelona is in Catalonia (Catalunya), with its own language, Catalan, which to my eye looks like a mix of Portuguese and French. I may be way off beam... Nevertheless, Barcelona is also home to a large population of Andalusian migrants (including in the past, Pablo Picasso, whose family were from Malaga - Pablo was born there). And Andalusia bears many examples of its Moorish (north African Islamic) past. In fact, the word Andalusia is a change from Al-Andalus, the name the Islamic rulers gave to much of the Iberian peninsula.

For anyone interested in Spain's Islamic past, I recommend a book called Andalus: unlocking the secrets of Moorish Spain by Jason Webster.

I'm off travelling (currently in Barcelona), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks. This is a card front, so larger than an ATC.

Barceloneta

We're staying in an apatment in the Barceloneta district, by the sea. Won't see these beach huts, but we will when we get to Bournemouth on Saturday!

I'm off travelling (currently in Barcelona), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks. This is a greeting card rather than an ATC.

On the train

One last longish train trip, today from Montpellier in France, to Barcelona in Spain.

I'm off travelling , and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks. This is a greeting card, not ATC. I've made an ATC based on it though:

Packing our bags again

We're packing our bags for the shortest stay of our trip: one night in Montpellier. The reason to spend the night there is that we can catch the train tomorrow for Barcelona at 7.30am, instead of 6.30!

I'm off travelling (Montpellier tonight), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Avignon

Our last full day in Avignon, and I can imagine we've found time to linger at a café - or two!

I'm off travelling (currently in Avignon), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Vincent, again

Vincent's Starry Night from yesterday now hangs in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. This ATC is based on a photo I took from the d'Orsay overlooking the Seine. The clock is the old railway clock which is such a striking feature of the museum, from its days as a railway station.

I'm off travelling (currently in Avignon), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Starry starry night

Here's a n early ATC I made, called Starry Starry Night. One of the places we want to visit from Avignon is Arles, where Vincent Van Gogh painted one of my favourite paintings, Starry Night Over the Rhône.

I'm off travelling (currently in Avignon), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

And it's off to Avignon

Adieu to Jilly and bonjour to Nathalie. Moving throught the blogging world, we farewell Menton and catch the train to Avignon where we'll be based for the next four nights.

I'm off travelling (from Menton to Avignon today), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Last day in Menton

In May, Jilly and Fabrizio in Turin were posting "Spring Love" photos. So, here's my small homage to them both.

I'm off travelling (currently in Menton), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

All the glamour of Monte Carlo

As you read this, we should be adding value to the Glamour Capital of the Côte d'Azur, under the loving care of Jilly of Menton and Monte Carlo fame.

I'm off travelling (currently in Menton), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Thankyou Jilly!

Late extra!

We have arrived in beautiful Menton, care of the wonderful Jilly of Menton & Monte Carlo Daily Photo blogs.

If you saw Jilly's Menton blog today, you would know that she went to Taggia Arma, in Italy, to meet us from the train. That's because they found a 250kg unexploded WW2 bomb in the vicinity of Ventimiglia (Italy) /Menton (France) and closed the rail line for several hours to dispose of it.

In the near future we shall post twin photos of our time together, I am sure.

Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who has been leaving comments while I am away....this is the first time I have had a chance to look at them. No time to respond to everyone right now, but rest assured I am thinking of you all, and will respond in due course.

Special note to Fabrizio: Yes|! |We remember to order caffe not espresso! At home we only drink coffee made in a Moka, so we are well used to it. And not tasting il vino Piemontese is certainly our grievous loss!

From Lucca to Menton

Another travel day, and 3 changes of train, as we farewell Lucca, and catch trains to Viareggio, then Genoa and finally on to Menton, where our wonderful blogging friend Jilly awaits us!

I'm off travelling (today from Lucca to Menton), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Vitruvian Man

We can't leave Tuscany without paying our respects to one of its most famous sons - leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo was a Florentine by allegience, and at one stage served as an engineer in Florence's battle against Pisa in the early 1500s.

Leonardo's famous drawing and notes, entitled Vitruvian Man, was created around 1487. It depicts a nude male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and simultaneously inscribed in a circle and square. It was made as a study of the proportions of the (male) human body as described in Vitruvius. Leonardo believed the workings of the human body to be an analogy for the workings of the universe. It is also believed by some that Leonardo symbolized the material existence by the square and spiritual existence by the circle. Thus he attempted to depict the correlation between these two aspects of human existence.

Today you can find this work referenced in so many images. Many medical bodies use it in one form or another.

I'm off travelling (currently in Lucca), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Pisa

Today we plan to visit Pisa, half an hour from our base in Lucca.

In 2005, while visiting with a friend on a 3 day visit from England, I was robbed, victim of a "crush scam" at the ticket office, in which my bag was cut from me. I lost all my money, cards and all forms of ID including my passport. Let that be Travel Lesson #1 - no matter how experienced you are, don't get blasé about such things. Don't put all your worldly goods in one basket!

As a reult of my stupidity and the robbers' sophistication I had a very quick trip to Rome for an emergency passport replacement at the Australian consulate. They were magnificent - and had me on my way with a temporary passport in about 4 hours.

But, instead of spending a beautiful sunny day in Lucca, riding bikes around the city walls, we found ourselves spending most of the day on trains to and from Rome. But I made sure we stopped by the Trevi Fountain for coin-tossing! Next morning, Lucca was blanketed in mist, and it poured with rain. I do hope to get a trip around those walls on a bike this time! And I'll be hangning onto my things in Pisa with extra vigilance.

I'm off travelling (currently in Lucca), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

To Lucca

Heading north from Rome today. We decided to use the walled Tuscan city of Lucca as our base for a few nights. I visited Lucca with a friend in 2005, and decided it was a "must come back to with the boys" destination. Especially considering I did not experience as much of Lucca as I'd have liked, given an unfortunate incident in Pisa, which I'll elaborate on tomorrow.

I'm off travelling (today, from Rome to Lucca), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Arrivederci, Roma

Roman Postcard, 2008
Last day in Rome. I hope I've remembered to throw a coin in the Trevi fountain (I have every other time, and as this is my 6th visit, it must work!). Even more, I'd better remember to post the postcards I made at home and brought with me.

I'm off travelling (currently in Rome), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks. NB This is a postcard - bigger than an ATC.

Caravaggio - the bad boy of Rome

Yes, I know the Louvre isn't in Rome, which is where I am. But there's a Caravaggio painting - Fortune Tellers II in this ATC. I've stood and drunk it in on several occasions. There's another version in Rome at the Musei Capitoline which I hope to see this trip. In fact there are 28 Caravaggios in Rome, and 3 in Naples, all of which hope to see this time.

I'm off travelling (currently in Rome), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

Dinner in Rome

I'm at a conference in Rome, which started yesterday, and finishes on Wednesday. Tonight there's a special visit to Palazzo Colonna for a dinner. What I'm hoping is that I have a chance to see Il Mangiafagoli (The Nean Eater) by Anibale Carracci. As well, my favourite Italian artist is Michelangelo da Merisi, aka Caravaggio (1571-1610). The Colonna family were highly influential in his life, including being instrumental in securing Caravaggio several major commissions, and protecting him on their estate south of Rome when Caravaggio had fled that city, accused of murder.

I guess for such an auspicious building, I might even wear pantyhose :-)

I'm off travelling (currently in Rome), and as I won't be taking any new shots of Sydney for a few weeks, and I've not taken a computer, I'm not sure I'll be able to post photos. So, I'm publishing some of my art works in the form of Artist Trading Cards. These small canvases are made on card of 69 x 89 mm dimensions (3.5 x 5.5 inches). They are made to trade with other artists, as the name implies. It is extremely bad form to sell them. Any medium can be used, but my preferred method of creation is by using rubber stamps and inks.

My corner shop

I've posted this before, but no time to take new photos before leaving on our European jaunt. This shop is jam-packed with everyday necessities, and those things you decide you need for dinner at 7pm on Sunday night. Open long hours, this is a typical example of hard-workign migrant enterprise. When i moved into my street in 1984, the owner was a postwar Greek immigrant. He sold it to the present Lebanese-born proprietor. Several of his 13 sons and daughters work there from time to time (including two you can see here). The family works hard, and the children are making the classic immigrant journey into the professions as they complete high school and move on to university to study architecture, pharmacy, accountancy and other professions.

To see other corner shops around the world, look at the Daily City Photo Blog Portal.