Saturday, July 12, 2008
12th July Modern art at Ford and Littlehampton
I spent a lot of money this morning at Ford.
We met a woman selling things which she claims to have been collecting and now realises she has too much.
She collects quality and we wanted lots of it - another time maybe.
But of course she wanted her money back so the prices were quite high.
She was happy to talk about her things and we learned a lot about modern art glass and some superb bird ornaments (which we didn't buy this time). I bought one plate designed by a man who worked for Poole Pottery for 30 years but now has his own place where he continues to produce items rather like he did in his Poole days - all reds and oranges.
I really enjoyed handling it and getting it all written up during the afternoon.
We also found a number of lesser things - but no books today, so it is all destined for Pilgrims.
Our things will look really good in the shop.
Maybe though, I will enjoy the lovely iridescent paper weight made in a Lancashire glass centre for a while longer.
We also bought a few plants - 6 standard looking geraniums - or do I mean pelargoniums? for £1. We also bought a luscious gaudy red dahlia in a large pot.
Dahlias always fascinated me at the Ifield Flower Show - especially the large pom pom ones.
After the boot sale we made out way to Littlehampton.
We probably should have had a cup of tea and a snack in the beach cafe, once we realised that it wasn't just cordon bleu type meals; but after a walk we somehow ended up at The Balaton and ate too much for breakfast.
The beach cafe is fascinating and very stylish from the outside and rather from behind - at the front there are windows so that people can sit inside overlooking the beach and the sea.
I described as a shell building - I think it looks more like a rippling rock.
I can see why it has won architectural awards.
Bill's picture made me think of Ayres Rock in Australia.
The carefully placed driftwood by the cafe was very photogenic.
We met a woman selling things which she claims to have been collecting and now realises she has too much.
She collects quality and we wanted lots of it - another time maybe.
But of course she wanted her money back so the prices were quite high.
She was happy to talk about her things and we learned a lot about modern art glass and some superb bird ornaments (which we didn't buy this time). I bought one plate designed by a man who worked for Poole Pottery for 30 years but now has his own place where he continues to produce items rather like he did in his Poole days - all reds and oranges.
I really enjoyed handling it and getting it all written up during the afternoon.
We also found a number of lesser things - but no books today, so it is all destined for Pilgrims.
Our things will look really good in the shop.
Maybe though, I will enjoy the lovely iridescent paper weight made in a Lancashire glass centre for a while longer.
We also bought a few plants - 6 standard looking geraniums - or do I mean pelargoniums? for £1. We also bought a luscious gaudy red dahlia in a large pot.
Dahlias always fascinated me at the Ifield Flower Show - especially the large pom pom ones.
After the boot sale we made out way to Littlehampton.
We probably should have had a cup of tea and a snack in the beach cafe, once we realised that it wasn't just cordon bleu type meals; but after a walk we somehow ended up at The Balaton and ate too much for breakfast.
The beach cafe is fascinating and very stylish from the outside and rather from behind - at the front there are windows so that people can sit inside overlooking the beach and the sea.
I described as a shell building - I think it looks more like a rippling rock.
I can see why it has won architectural awards.
Bill's picture made me think of Ayres Rock in Australia.
The carefully placed driftwood by the cafe was very photogenic.
It was actually quite chilly on the beach - a strong northerly wind and some ominous black clouds.
But the beach was quite crowded - children determined to enjoy their day at the seaside, as the adults huddled against the breakwaters for some shelter from the wind.
Just as is my childhood, when I went on a coach trip with the Sunday School to Littlehampton, the town still attracts coach parties.
Here we have people set up for a jolly day on the beach!
Perhaps this was a day out of the ordinary - for there were coach parties from far and wide and many seemed to carry in groups of a number of ethnic backgrounds - African, Carribean, Asian etc.
Here are a group of African women walking from their coach along the promenade. They assembled at the far end, by the river estuary and we wondered if they were a choir about to burst into song, but we heard nothing.
This afternoon we have enjoyed a doze and sorting out our purchases with the Tour de France in the background - today's stage won by the British man again.
They travelled through Dee and Andrew's area - and poor them.... their weather today was really heavy rain and considerably colder than normal.
Then we had the first day's athletics from the British Olympic trials.
Well, we must get to bed soon. We have another early start in the morning. The car is loaded and we will attempt to sell as much as possible at Pease Pottage at 50p an item.
Goodnight.
