Creative writing

As a prelude to Damien Barr's Literay Salon , we spent last weekend in south east London . It just so happened that it was Mothers Day and we were house guests of my daughter, her boyfriend and my eldest son. Mother's Day weekend included a choral concert ( see last blog), walks around Peckham Rye and Camberwell ; delicious tapas ; and being treated to the master bedroom rather than the sitting room floor! 

                                     

                    This mural on Choumert Road, is just one of the Southwark's visual gems .

And on Monday , sunny Brockwell park served up more delights to reinforce the coming of Spring with  a lovely walled garden , gorgeous budding Magnolia and bright horizon views of the city .

                                   

                            

                                       

As well as enjoying London street and park life , our mission was to catch the Lee Miller exhibition at the Imperial War Museum . The timing was especially appropriate for the week of International Women's Day. My Christmas present " Lee Miller : A woman's war "  the book of the exhibition , had worked its magic and I was keen to see the exhibition . It did not disappoint and is on until 24th April. These photographs shine a light on the role of women through the Second World War , as well as giving testimony to the brilliance of Lee Miller (1907-77)  , an embedded war photographer and reporter. That her son only learnt of her war work after her death is shocking. 

                                    

                                    

                                        Night and Day , London ,1937 Roland Penrose 

The exhibition informed us that " Lee Miller met Roland Penrose , a leading British Surrealust artist,collector and curator ,while visiting Paris in 1937. Although both were already married ,they immediately became lovers. Their passionate,turbulent but highly creative relationship was informed by Surrealism and endured for the rest of Miller's life. .....Night and Day.... depicts Miller's personality as well as her physical features" . 

   The Imperial War Museum 

    Paul Nash ( 1889-1946 )    Battle of Germany 1944 

Outside the museum, as well as lovely gardens , we encountered an unmistakable piece of the Berlin Wall , with an example of punchy writing , acquired by the IWM in 1991. 

                                    

Our Monday evening was to bring us more creative culture in the form of Damien Barr's Literary Salon , newly moved to the Savoy . And in preparation for this we enjoyed the sun setting over Southbank from the window in the American Bar. 

                                    

What a fantastic line up we enjoyed , all different , all tempting us with their readings and interviews . Susan Calman , a comedian with a love of cats , a legal background and a struggle with depression, is one of the funniest voices on Radio 4 , and tantalised us with her memoir. 

Garth Greenwell's debut novel "What belongs to you" was beautifully read , and this poet won us over,tempting us to read his  book whose narrator explores his sexuality whilst teaching in Bulgaria.  

I had especially wanted to hear and see Joan Bakewell , who at 82 ,is as vibrant and vocal as ever. She did not disappoint and I enjoyed her reading from "Stop the Clocks", just as I did when it was "book of the week" on the radio .  Finally, Maggie O'Farrell discussed her new novel , "This must be the place" which will be published in May , and explores a marriage in "freefall" . I have never read Maggie before , but will start now.  

The Savoy has longstanding literary connections we learnt, and new ones were being forged in the Lancaster Ballroom on Monday at this sellout salon. 

       

            Damien Barr and Joan Bakewell 

As well as completing a 6 week Creative writing course this week with the excellent Araminta Hall, on Saturday I attended the first Beach Hut Academy Writer's conference. 

                               

                  A sunny hazy seafront walk to the Conference , "Write by the Beach" 

With a packed agenda and a wonderful line up of published authors, literary agents and publishers this was a stimulating and informative day.  It had been brilliantly organised , and feedback has been universally positive.  And it all took place at the beautiful Angel House , a stunning Regency Town House venue on Brighton seafront . I learned a huge amount , met up with others interested in reading and writing , and was intimidated by the challenges of becoming a published writer . 

                                  

                                      Angel House 1 Brunswick Terrace, Hove BN3 1HN 

Inevitably , this has been a heavy book buying week too ! So there's even more reading to do , and more writing too.  

Listening, learning together

Before I had left Brighton station to travel to the exciting Queen Elizabeth Park for what to you may seem a dull sounding  "Leadership Forum" on Thursday , I encountered a powerful manifestation of learning in action. During my ten minute wait I enjoyed the playing from Jeremy on the station piano. I told him how much I valued  this musical start to my day . He gave me a powerful insight into the joy of learning a skill, and being creative . As an adult he has learnt to play and compose on the piano .

                                    

Jeremy sometimes plays ( for free ) at the Grand , and is self taught. He doesn't regard himself as a pianist, but he's certainly a piano player . And learning by doing is giving him pleasure and meaning. I do hope he does find someone who can transcribe the recent composition he played me . Meeting him was inspiring.  I hope he comes across someone who can assist his musical development. Sadly I can't help with music; I can only appreciate it.

  

I was visiting the Olympic park for the first time since 2012 , and it was a real treat to experience the "Orbit" and to see this regenerated part of London flourishing. 

                                        

                                            The Orbit in the morning 

                                        

                                            The Orbit at dusk 

                                          

                                              London in the gloaming

In this impressive setting, which stands testimony to effective vision , investment and delivery, senior public servants came to listen and share. Assisted by business, voluntary sector and academia we reflected on leading in uncertain ,volatile, connected times . The conclusions of the day were reinforcing of the essentials of leadership : clear purpose, well articulated vision , shared commitment , positive values and expectations leading to a principled culture , motivated empowered people and thus effective outcomes. Follow our speakers on Twitter and read them for more substance .

    Sacha Romanovitch , Chief Executive of Grant Thornton 

    Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA 

   The space to listen,exchange,and think is something we all need . In my work now , I'm focussed on good leadership through mentoring, advising and assessing rather than heading up a big organisation, and I need this reflective learning opportunity quite as much as my colleagues. Our evening charity dinner allowed more networking,learning and catching up with friends and colleagues . 

                                        

When on Saturday night we listened to the Thames Chamber Choir in St Marks Church by Regents Park , I was  enchanted by the music (Thomas Tallis , Rachmaninov and more) with amazing sounds produced by human voices in harmony . I was also proud of Jordan now making his living from singing, conducting and teaching music . And my thoughts came back to Jeremy and whether he will benefit from the camaraderie of other musicians , and achieve his dreams . I hope so. 

                    

  

North and south

    Chatsworth park- sheep and deer 

Leaving behind the sea and shore of the south coast , last weekend we ventured north for a short break in our Campervan. In our sights were the haunts of our past life in the environs of Sheffield, S.Yorkshire , the biggest village in England (4th city after London, Brum and Leeds) . 

Just 25minutes drive from Sheffield, Chatsworth's campsite is beautifully situated with a gateway into the parkland surrounding the magnificent country house , it's farm and gardens. 

   Bridge over the River Derwent at Chatsworth 

   The gloriously bright crisp days and acres of parkland provided brilliant dog walks and a chance to revisit this magnificent estate whose house dates back to Bess of Hardwick in the 1560s. Its south and east fronts were extensively rebuilt in the late 1690s , with later additions in every century since. And the result is a very handsome country house , now owned by the 12th Duke of Devonshire. 

                                         

    Chatsworth 

                                    

Though I'm a Londoner by birth, I'm the result of the union of my northeastern mother and south London father , and the pull of the north has always been strong for me . Indeed I've spent the majority of my adult years living in the North. So it was a delight to return to familiar favourite places, including Bakewell on market day. 

   Bridge at  Bakewell 

   On Tuesday we revisited  David Mellor's workshop and shop outside Hathersage , and then sampled the delights of the Plough , with its magnificent views over the Peak . 

  And of course jaunts to visit the family in Sheff were interspersed throughout our tour, bringing us happy play times with the grandchildren ( when prized from their iPads) and tasty meals with their parents. 

    Our final day was frosty and sunny ; Chatsworth park at its best . 

And so on Wednsday we left our Chatsworth idyll and set off on the long journey home, determined to appreciate both north and south, city and country. 

Caring

This week is half term for most places, but not for Sheffield; theirs came a week early.  So last week whilst local children were still working away, our South Yorkshire cherubs came down for a few days by the sea with Grandma and Penma and Merry. And the seaside did not disappoint. There was even paddling! 

Caring for lively growing children, giving their mum a break, playing bird bingo and walking the dog , was tiring and great fun! 

                                     

                                         Anenomies for no occasion at all 

At the same time, the planning for my dads future continued to take shape , and on Friday he moved into our chosen nursing home . After six weeks of superb stroke unit care up at the Royal Sussex County Hospital , he was ready to start the next chapter of his story . He had already declared his house move and the stroke as marking "an end of an era". We were keen that he begin the settling process before the Valentine's Day anniversary of the death of his beloved wife, my stepmother, whom he'd cared for throughout her Alzheimer's until her peaceful death at home exactly a year ago. 

     

         Valentine's flowers

Unable now to enjoy walks with Merry, dad has to settle for home visits ,for looking out on the garden, and to hearing of Merry's adventures on the Downs and the beach. Hopefully, in time, his strength will return enough for trips out,  even if only in his wheelchair. 

Monday's blue skies and snowdrops at Highdown , a Worthing hidden gem , offered just such an adventure to recount . 

                                   

                                  

                                   

 

                                       Highdown sees Spring springing early 

I see a lot of discussion in the media about the NHS and weekend care, and can give testimony to the superb response we received from the ambulance service and the hospital on Saturday 2nd January, and indeed, ever since ....24/7. 

Today, I took a card and biscuits and goodies up to the Stroke unit, on dad's behalf . The message had to be dictated; it was sincere and appreciative, nonetheless. And it was addressed as much to Paula, who served meals and offered us cups of tea, and Tom the nursing assistant, as it was to Lisa, Joanna, Emma and countless other kind and patient nurses. It was a message for physios Nicola and Liz , the senior OT,Sally , the student Social Worker, Mary, Jonathan the responsible doctor, and ward manager, Mark.  And it was a message that I have already passed onto Amanda the acting CEO and Brendan the interim Deputy CEO of the whole Hospital Trust .....for they set the tone in the way they lead the organisation, value the staff, focus remorselessly on patient care , and take on the huge challenge of making ends meet . The simple message was "Thank you". 

It's not just the NHS that we need at times of illness and with the infirmity of old age, it's public health and social care too. To sustain our health and wellbeing we need to do what we can for ourselves,  living the mnemonic CLANG - Connect ,Learn , be Active, take Notice and Give . We need to value caring and carers .  We also must have services that can support the frail and vulnerable , whether it's to stay independent and at home , or as my father is choosing, to be looked after. 

And for all of this we need to invest in our public services, value and train the caring professions and their support staff , and to appreciate those who work in these services and institutions. 

I've mentioned before the key role that Merry is playing in my father's care and recovery , and so I will end with a picture of one of the ways  we care for her , by  giving her lovely runs on the beach. Yesterday, she enjoyed on a cold ,sunny ,wintry day's romp, before her nursing home visit . 

     

      

Reunion

This time last week Merry and I were making our way to Heathrow for our eagerly awaited rendezvous with the wanderer, my cherished partner, making her way back home from her month away in New Zealand. I reckoned that if the hospital welcomes Merry as a daily visitor, then the airport could have no objection. And I was proved right. So we waited in the glass arrivals area , and managed to miss  P altogether ...well a few seconds anyway ! Happily the day was blue and bright and the homecoming sweet. She had had a wonderful family time in Queenstown, South Island , but was pleased to be home ...I was completely delighted to have her back !  

                                   

     

At the Royal Academy a marvellous reunion has been created with the generous and inspired bringing together of a Monet triptych. This is the crowning glory of a lovely exhibition, Painting the Modern Garden , celebrating the garden as an inspiration for Monet, Matisse and so many others. And it marked the start of a real treat - a spontaneous arty weekend courtesy of my brother the polymath,  Piers Ottey. I should mention thanks to our very good Hailstone friends for giving Merry a weekend break too! The win win arrangement of us lending, and them delightedly borrowing, Merry, is brilliant.

                                         

                                             Artists garden at Vertheuil 1881 

          

 Poppies - a study for carnation, lily,lily,rose - John Singer Seargent 1886 

    Monet - WaterLilies 1914 

I don't think I've ever stayed in fashionable Chelsea before, nor indeed been treated to supper ,bed and breakfast by my brother . What a treat it was - a delicious meal and great company.  And it meant that we were on the spot for sung Matins at Westminster Abbey on Sunday . This was a cultural and spiritual experience rather than a religious one; we  enjoyed the singing and surroundings more than the sermon.

                                

                                

                                

In the afternoon, we took our final chance to visit Wapping Hydraulic Power Station and to see the final day of the Annie Leibovitz exhibition , Women: new portraits . The building , an industrial archeological site in its own right, fascinated us. I hear it will soon be developed . The portraits were often outshone by those looking at them and my artist brother got a number of group shots which he found inspiring. It will be interesting to see if they end up on canvas. We all thought the split screen projection of images rather irritating , though many of the portraits were very interesting. 

                                 

                                     The queen and portraits lookers 

 

                                     

                                         Wapping Hydraulic Power Station 

On Monday , we were reunited with the sea. It was a stormy , hurricane Imogen day of huge waves and the beach stones crashing onto the promenade. It was rather wild and wonderful , if all you had to do was look and wonder...like us. Not so good for travelling, clearing up , or using the leisure centre. 

                                  

                                       

                                 

After a brief break at the weekend , my hospital visiting of dad in the stroke ward has continued , with steady progress being made . He is now getting close to being able to move on and is clear that he wants to be looked after , now that his mobility is compromised . So we have been searching out the right place . We can't praise the stroke unit and its multidisciplinary staff too highly, and are determined to find a residential nursing home, that can continue the good work . We hope we may have found the right place; this thought and the embers of sunset brightened my journey home last night. 

                                    

                                  

                                      Going home 

This morning it's been lovely to be reunited with the sun and blue sky , even just for a while , before  heading off to Tate Modern for art and work and seeing my no2 son for lunch . 

  

                                    

                                   

                                        Merry on Hove beach at low tide ,8am , 102/2/16