Big Ideas Need Big Spaces
., originally uploaded by multum in parvo.
Could this stencil graffiti have been amongst a more perfect arrangement of elements.
I think I'll turn it into a print.
I do love a bank holiday weekend.
Friday - Our friend Wils opening night at the Art Gallery in Bangor, his latest collection of paintings and prints which were as splendid as usual. There were many familiar faces to catch up with and new folk to meet. Prior to the show we went to the pier which I didn't know existed, it's really quite long with lovely little pavilions along it's length with a (closed) tea shop at the end. It was a beautiful early evening, one of those special ones in the early summer/spring where one really appreciates the feel of a warm breeze as against the cold of the previous months. We stopped for a tipple at the pub at the end of the pier and Peter and I shared an epic chip butty - more than enough fat and carb calories to see us through to the post show Chinese.
The post show Chinese was, as I suspected, terrible. My heart sinks when I see a Chinese restaurant table laid with knives, forks and plates. The chopsticks, bowls and jasmine tea were easily procured, but the food was pretty crappy. The crispy duck with pancakes etc was okay, but not shredded at our table, our unfortunate friend who ordered spring rolls was greeted with an unwelcome squirt of grease down his shirt and when my so called 'baked salt and chili king prawn' arrived, they were returned to the kitchen within about 2 minutes of being delivered to me. The replacement 'special prawns for a special lady' were at least not covered in slimy, greasy cornflower muck, but were nicely stir fried and firm. Chef had his revenge by lacing them with slices raw chili, and serving them with an excessive quantity of green peppers which I hate and a pretty good helping of red, which are at least edible. The jasmine tea flowed happily throughout and the barbecued pork was rather nice once they were reminded that Peter had ordered it. The rice was undercooked. Boiled rice.......
Anyway, everyone else seemed to love it - I do wonder if I am too picky. I suspect that the Yang Sing has ruined me for any other Chinese restaurant (aside from Glamorous for dim sum and only dim sum, the rest is not so great).
We drove home to Manchester as Boris' victory spilled out over the airways, causing our sozzled and asleep friend in the back to wake up and curse him.
Saturday - Overnight friends for breakfast of scramble eggs, she bought two packs of my lovely greetings cards and two individual ones much to my pleasure. Off they went. We met up with mum who wanted to look at here new swanky fold-in-to-the-wall Italian bed she's going to have in her room here when she moves in. We had lunch at the wonderful Al Faisal's and tea and chocolate at Cup cafe over the road where we don't pay as the owner owes Peter so much money.
Home to sort stuff in preparation for mum moving in.
Dr Who, bed.
Sunday - in all day sorting stuff. I worked out a template for making envelopes to fit A6 cards from the old road atlas I rescued from the bin. They look fab and all I need to do now if order the Lick and Stick Glue from Lakeland as I can't find a single shop in Manchester which stocks it and the local branch of Lakeland has removed it's craft department much to my irritation.
Monday - Dragged my body to the gym for a 40 minute iCycle workout with 'Keith', not hugely calorie burning (about 450), some weights, lunges and a faff around on the power plate. 56 mins. Better than nothing, but not as good as usual. Home for a shower and a boiled egg pitta sandwich. More sorting, more faffing with envelope templates, out to meet the boys.
Bowl of soup in Cup and a general catch up. I tried some great frocks on in Mango, but too big and utterly shapeless.
Home for making wrappers for envelopes, uploading of today's photos to Flickr (see above), roast chicken, pinot noir and when I've posted this, a bit of quality American telly.
Hope you all had a good one too!