A Visit to Sutton Hoo

Handel Coronation Anthems

Swan Lake - another version

CandoCo Dance Performance @ The Queen Elizabeth Hall

The Magnificence of the Tsars

An exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington - not a place I visit very

often - but this was well worth it. OK this display of the Coronation Robes of the Russian Emperors from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century might not say much about the political and economic context of this long and significant period of Russia's history, but the only word that could have been used in the title was 'magnificence'. Exquisite, delicate, gaudy, intricate and totally over the top these tremendous pieces of clothing actually said a lot about the social history of these times. Starting with the Coronation of Peter II in 1727 the complicated nature of clothing was revealed - so many layers, so many buttons, such display - underwear, stockings, breeches, waistcoats, top coats, and the decorations of the chivalric orders all covered in gold and silver thread, interwoven with semi-precious and precious stones all demonstrate the autocracy, wealth and power of the regime. Even in the twentieth century the last Tsar and Tsarina re-created the costumes of previous eras for a celebration ball. Perhaps what is so remarkable is the fact that these items have survived in such excellent condition over such a long period of time, the colours still bright and the decorations intake through times of invasion and revolution. Excellent labelling helped to explain the exhibits too. Rating: 8/10

A Concert at St John's Waterloo

Byzantium - at the Royal Academy

Enjoy - A Play by Alan Bennett

A play with remarkable performances by Alison Steadman and David Troughton. Their performances probably eclipse some of the flaws with the play - Mr Bennett is clearly trying to get several things off his chest.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - 2009

Now this year my results were: 4 Blackbirds; 1 Carrion Crow; 2 Chaffinches; 2 Coal Tits; 2 Great Tits; 5 Greenfinches; 2 Magpies; 1 Robin and 3 Woodpigeons.
Comparison: In 2008 - 1 Blackbird; 2 Blue Tits; 1 Coal Tit; 3 Great Tits; 2 Robins and 2 Woodpigeons
In 2007 - 1 Blackbird; 2 Blue Tits; 2 Coal Tits; 3 Great Tits; 2 Long-Tailed Tits; 1 Robin and 3 Woodpigeons.
I wonder where all these greenfinches have come from?

Barack Obama Sworn In

Too many hopes are resting on this man - what can he do to improve things - is it all hopeless. Will he be in the thrall of the pro-Israeli lobby in the US? The man needs to get the new Secretary of State over to the Middle East (maybe with her husband and the new Vice President who have some experience in foreign policy) to save the Palestinian crisis from generating permanent hatred for the West....
Also pleased to see that the new President wasn't able to repeat the Oath of Office properly.

Swan Lake

A performance at the lovely Richmond Theatre - this time by the Russian Classical Ballet Theatre, so very traditional. The stage here is remarkably tiny, and this certainly restricted

the principal dancers to demonstrate the full extent of their skills, but the corps de ballet were outstanding. The person playing the jester was also truly remarkable - and very funny too (appropriately). This was a somewhat curtailed version of the ballet - and perhaps because the theatre was filled with school parties (this being a matinee) this was the reason. However, I wonder whether these children really comprehended what was the story - so much was left out it must have been extremely confusing. I enjoyed the whole experience though. Rating: 7/10

Southwold Literature Festival

Table Manners at the Old Vic

The Courtauld Cezannes at Somerset House

An exhibition of some of the Cezannes held by the Courtauld Collection - including not only some famous oils, but water colours and sketches by the great French late 19th Century painter - part of the impressionist group of artists. A great plus is that this exhibition is free on a Monday morning! What I really enjoyed about this (small) collection of Cezannes was the mixture and contrast between the various periods of Cezanne's artistic career - and it was terrific to see how some of his pictures were built up from sketches, through outline watercolours to the finished large scale oils. I liked all these pictures tremendously, even if the paintings of people were a touch out of proportion! You got a great feeling for the lives of these people, and the pictures of Provence just exude a feeling of heat. Rating 9/10

British International Motor Show - Excel Centre

I've just had a lovely day out at the Motor Show - it only comes to the Excel

Centre in East London only two years. Now I'm not normally a fan of cars (or 'motors' as my Essex compatriots would say), but the Motor Show really is something else. I was entranced by the motor homes - vast houses on wheels, some costing more than my flat! I fell in love with the yachts and motor cruisers (the Excel is adjacent to the old Royal Albert Dock) and I was impressed by the commitment the motor trade seems to have developed to investigating the potential of alternative fuels. I'm not entirely certain that riding around with quantities of hydrogen gas in the boot will ever catch on - I have visions of that famous sequence featuring the destruction of The Hindenberg! There were so many prototypes and products in development on show that maybe there is a future for road transport when the oil runs out.
Despite not being a fan of vehicles this was a really great day out - everything well displayed, lots of activities, things to see and do, and I'd rate it 9/10 as an experience

New Challenges to Security

I seem to have got myself on the mailing list of the Smith Institute, a think tank founded in commemoration of the late Labour Party Leader John Smith. His death led to Tony Blair taking

over as Leader and subsequently becoming Prime Minister. A while ago I attended a talk by Margaret Beckett (then Foreign Secretary) at 11 Downing Street. This time Jacqui Smith was talking on security matters at a hotel just round the corner from New Scotland Yard. Politicians always look different in the flesh, and there is a steely gaze emanating from Ms Smith that fixes you and almost dares you to contradict, but it also gives you the impression that she is taking in what you say. I had an opportunity to fall under that gimlet eye after her fascinating talk, also attended by David Steel, Baroness Jay and allegedly wavering MP Keith Vaz whose acolyte insisted on answering her mobile phone whilst the Secretary of State was flawlessly delivering her lecture. This was ahead of the vote on 42 days detention - Keith ended up supporting the government - did this speech persuade him? I was glad Jacqui Smith didn't just bang on about combating terrorism with draconian powers, she delved into the nature and difficulties of dealing with al-heida and how Islamist undercurrents provide challenges to democracies. She praised the efforts of those within youthful Muslim groups who were developing leadership skills for the next generation to help them to work within and alongside British institutions. So not exactly what I had expected, and far more thought provoking than the usual soundbites beloved of the media.

A Visit to Tate Modern

I'm not a great fan of modern art - in fact can someone tell me the difference between conceptual art and installation art? On the other hand, Tate Modern has the advantage

of having a wonderful location at the end of the Millennium Bridge, and facing the most spectacular view of St Paul's Cathedral. Usually the Turbine Hall (a vast space suitable for something massive) has a very unusual exhibit. On this occasion it was between things - the previous item - a crack in the floor - was being removed. However, there were several other works of 'art' that could be heavily criticised and ridiculed. Can a whole collection of used pieces of soap on a floor to ceiling kebab truly say anything worthwhile? On the other hand a room containing something called Thirty Pieces of Silver was interesting, and intriguing and admirable. This work consisted of a collection of dinner services, flattened by a steam roller and suspended from a high ceiling by strands of fine silver thread or wire. Not sure what it said about the betrayal of Christ, but there you go. There were some memorable Picasso's, Magritte's and a Stanley Spencer to be seen too.

A Visit to St Pancras

I hadn't visited St Pancras Station since the arrival of Eurostar, and what a transformation! It is well worth a visit, if only to stare at the vast engine shed roof. I was fortunate enough to visit in the early evening so the darkness of the sky somehow made the whole enormous area somehow more intimate. On the other hand it must be magnificent when the sun is shining through the great glass expanse, and glistening upon the sleek lines of the Eurostar trains slumbering beneath. And oh! The Statues - how marvellous they both are. Sir John, lifesize and appropriately staring at the ceiling of the building he did so much to save. The couple in an embrace of greeting or departure under the vast station clock. I love it - go and see it for yourself, this wonderful gateway to the capital.

From Russia

A wonderful exhibition currently at the Royal Academy. There was a very difficult lead up to the opening to this exhibition, and for a while the Russian authorities seemed likely to withdraw permission for the wealth of artworks to be brought to London. This is a truly remarkable collection in broadly four sections.

The first section portraysRussian art and French influences in Russia between 1870 and 1900. In the first part of the C19th Russian art was dominated by biblical and mythological representaions - and this seemed inappropriate to the reality of Russian life. So towards the end of the century we see a depiction of Tolstoy as a barefoot peasant. The picture entitled 17th October 1905 seems to predict the kinds of heroic art of the Stalinist era however.

The second section concentrates on the two major Russian collectors of the late C19th/early C20th, Shchukin and Morozov. Here you have a swathe of great French art, including Gauguin, Monet, Manet and Picasso combined with great Russian contemporary artists, many heavily influenced by these artists.

The third section looks at the World of Art demonstrating the influence of the Russian greats in other areas of culture - especially the dance. Here you have Diaghilev, most famous as founder of the Ballet Russes, but also organiser of eleven exhibitions between 1897 and 1906, introducing French art to Russia. He used these influences in his theatrical designs.

The fourth section looks at the innovations of the first two decades of the C20th. Neo-Primitivism through Cubo-Futurism, transforming into Abstraction, and Constructivism, but always with a distinctively Russian feel. Some remarkable art came out of the darkest period of the First World War and the Russian Revolution.

A truly remarkable exhibition - Rating: 9/10

Andy Abraham Wins

So the winner of the competition to represent the UK in this year's Eurovision Song Contest

turns out to be a runner up in one of the numerous X-Factor competitions that have been aired over the past few years. How many winners can we name, let alone runners up? Anyway, no disrespect to Mr Abraham, but however good the performance, or the song, the chances of the UK troubling the scorers in the final are minimal. Western European countries notoriously do very badly in the voting, because there is a cartel (implicit or explicit) between the countries of the Balkans, the Baltic States and the former Soviet countries. Hey ho - it makes bizarre television viewing.