Thursday, October 30, 2008
30th Oct. Chill day in Dorking and Dimbola Lodge.
It has felt so cold today. The bright crispness was lost to clouds and cold rain - a little snow even.
It is early in the winter for such a chill.
We have been in the Dorking shop for the day.
Sales have been good during the last 3 weeks - well, very good for Bill and not good enough for me. Thank goodness for Bill's contribution because it keeps us in profit.
It has been quiet today - but then it is easy to see the reasons why the good folk of Dorking and district might choose not to venture out today.
In addition to the cold of the weather, my body is fighting hard to ward off a cold that might be lurking.
It feels good to look back to the next chapter of the Isle of Wight experience - we are still on the first full day!
We chose to have lunch at Dimbola Lodge (Dimberla) - the home of Julia Margaret Cameron.
She was an influential photographer of the 19th century.
A delicious crab soup was enjoyed in excellent surroundings - just look at the cabinets full of old cameras! Gentle modern jazz played quietly in the background.
It was good to be inside, warm and made very welcome.
It is early in the winter for such a chill.
We have been in the Dorking shop for the day.
Sales have been good during the last 3 weeks - well, very good for Bill and not good enough for me. Thank goodness for Bill's contribution because it keeps us in profit.
It has been quiet today - but then it is easy to see the reasons why the good folk of Dorking and district might choose not to venture out today.
In addition to the cold of the weather, my body is fighting hard to ward off a cold that might be lurking.
It feels good to look back to the next chapter of the Isle of Wight experience - we are still on the first full day!
We chose to have lunch at Dimbola Lodge (Dimberla) - the home of Julia Margaret Cameron.
She was an influential photographer of the 19th century.
A delicious crab soup was enjoyed in excellent surroundings - just look at the cabinets full of old cameras! Gentle modern jazz played quietly in the background.
It was good to be inside, warm and made very welcome.
The museum was dedicated to photography and of course in particular to Julia Margaret Cameron. Above the splendid fireplace are examples of her work.
Her portraits seem rather austere to our tastes - very contrasty black and white and of course the sitters had to sit very still for long exposures and looked stern or a little morose.
She loved to photograph children and would drag the local children in off the streets to sit for her - imagine trying that these days!
Of course the Victorians loved to have their portraits done and studios were established providing backdrops to make the people seem more interesting.
At Dimbola there was a room with such a backdrop and a range of clothes one could dress up in.
They even provided a digital camera and a printer for instant results.
We had fun - but opted just to model the hats.
This had once been a home for a family and it was good to imagine their lives. Julia's bedroom was preserved and made to appear like she had only just left it.
I loved the stained glass over the bed - and the William Morris wallpaper.
Now the building is a museum and below we see Bill looking at exhibits and listening to a commentary.
There are frequent exhibitions by modern photographers. There was a room of Lord Snowdon photographs and tomorrow I will share with you the work of another photographer whose pictures I surreptitiously photographed.
There are frequent exhibitions by modern photographers. There was a room of Lord Snowdon photographs and tomorrow I will share with you the work of another photographer whose pictures I surreptitiously photographed.
There is also a permanent exhibition devoted to the huge rock festival held very close by in 1968, 69 and 70.
Below is a statue of the rock legend Jimmy Hendrix.
Next time I will share with you the work of David Whistance.
