Joe had some homework to do, an art project, he had to produce five photographs of modern or contemporary architecture, which is a bit tricky around here, as things tend to look  rather vernacular in style; unless you count the ugly tin shed down by the canal that trades under the brand of Tescos;  I try hard to ignore it.

The best we could do in the time available was to nip over to Buxton. It has few new builds of any note (it does however, have it’s own large tin shed, the Buxton Mineral Water bottling plant) But the Cavendish shopping arcade has a very fine barrel vaulted stained glass roof, that merges the old with the new (the arcade was once thermal/hot baths, built in 1820)

Surprisingly (seeing as it wasn’t his home work) Tom was keen to come with us

Joe took charge of the camera

and decided he would have some shots of old building anyway; this the splendid Georgian crescent (which is architecturally more significant that Bath’s Crescent and is a building that has aspirations )

For his homework the prints had to be black and white, but I’ll bring you the last one in colour, its too vibrant not to be shared on such a dismal November day.

Tom took just five shots, I explained the general idea, with photography, was to take a lot more than that and then select the best. ‘Mum, you just don’t get it do you’?’ said Tom ‘It’s home work, five photographs, he’s taken five, job done; can we go to GAME now?

So that’s why he was so keen to join us.

All photographs by Joe Uphilldowndale. (here is some of his earlier work)

This plaque on the door of Sherford  parish church, Sherford, Devon caught my eye

Maybe they didn’t think electricity was here to stay, or perhaps it was just for reasons of economy.

That they inserted the electric light bulb into the original oil lamps. Or just possibly it might have been, that having lived through what they had lived through, they took nothing for granted, not even light.

* The light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.  John 1:5

How come I can remember that biblical quote from my childhood, but not my seven times table? I certainly know which I practiced more.

The Cookworthy Museum in Kingsbridge, Devon like most  small market town museums is  some what eclectic, that is not intended as a criticism, it’s just they always feel like a bit of a root around in your grannies attic, you are never sure what you will find next.

My first surprise was the building its self, from the street, it looks old but quite ordinary and to be honest I only looked in detail at the outside afterwards, because I so surprised by the interior.

The first floor it is like standing in a  creaking galleon, the room is ancient and oak panelled,

it was once a grammar school, founded 1670, the oak bears the scars of the graffiti of centuries of bored school children (not much changes then.)

It might be beautiful copper plate script, but it’s graffiti none the less

Amongst some of the oddities in the museum  is this a wooden barrel

Powdered milk, from  The Borden Company, New York. How did it get there? and why? I’ll tell you tomorrow.

I’ve mentioned before, how I wanted to visit the Eden Project; well at last, I made it.

I loved it, it’s stunning; if you are not aware of the Eden Project it is an educational trust, that in a nut shell is  all about, people, plants and the planet

it’s theatrical

fun

Vivid

visionary.

Green

Creative

Growing

All in a disused china clay pit, we could do with a few more people with the vision of Tim Smit around the place.

Before and after,

do you think he’d run for Prime Minister?

I’ve met some interesting people on this holiday, from the gentleman giving away lettuce, by the yard; to the fastidious Technicolor workman, so I was intrigued  to see a man just outside the door of our holiday let who appeared to be making a detailed drawing of a road cone, curious I had to take a closer look, I was in for a treat the subject matter of his concentrated effort wasn’t a road cone.

Take a closer look, can you see? On the grass between the the bulldog clips. It’s very well camouflaged. Its our visiting grasshopper again But this time she has been spotted by someone who knows what he is looking at, (it’s a great green grasshopper by the way.)

But not only that, he can paint exquisitely, he told me butterflies were his usual subject and showed me some of his work.

A couple of children came to see what was going on and he kindly showed them how to let her walk on to their hand.

Dad, can I be an entomologist when I grow up?

the boy remained as cool as a cucumber whilst she walked up his neck and into his hair.

The artist, David Measures has several books published of his work (you can see and buy his paintings here) one of his favourite locations to work is Cressbrook Dale in Derbyshire and he is having an exhibition at Derby Museum and Art Gallery from the end of January-March, dates to be confirmed, so I can go and see some more, what a treat.

Insects Devon, Butterflies Devon, Insects Derbyshire, Butterflies Derbyshire, Cressbrooke Dale Derbyshire

My friend is growing lots of different seed potatoes, she grows all sorts of organic vegetables and she keeps bees (I’m hoping one day to pluck up courage and go and photograph them, truth be told I am rather nervous of bees and wasps, I don’t have a very good reaction to insect stings.)

Seeing them all lined up in egg boxes, chitting merrily; they  reminded me  of the  Teracotta Army which in turn reminded me  of these guys

(come on keep up!) They were an art project at Joe’s school last year,

looking at the few snatched shots that I’ve got, I regret not loitering and having a closer look, there are some super characters in the crowd

Mr Uhdd and Tom were looking over my shoulder as I wrote this post and they said I needed to go here, (Gerry, you’ll need broadband for this)

They were right, now try the speeded up version.

So just how did we get here from a seed potato?