| Victoria And Albert And Me! Hate Mondays? Try a | | | | already? No time to waste, drink up and get |
| Monday at the V&A. Mondays will never be the | | | | going!The Arts and Crafts Exhibition was beautifully |
| same again.I got the opportunity to spend a couple | | | | staged showing examples from around the world of |
| of days in London with a friend the other week so I | | | | furniture, metalwork, fabric, glass, and so much more |
| jumped at the chance and, fingers crossed, I might | | | | from the period around the 1900's. Fascinating to see |
| get to visit the Arts and Crafts Exhibition at the | | | | pieces from America and Japan alongside European |
| Victoria and Albert Museum.I have a small antiques | | | | offerings. My favourite was the simple oak furniture |
| shop on the edge of the Lake District so can feel a | | | | by Voysey, you must choose your own personal |
| bit cut off from the metropolis and all the vast | | | | objects - what a wonderful dilemma! Not too |
| wealth of museums in the capital. Magazine articles | | | | crowded on a Monday so I could get near enough to |
| and internet access are OK up to a point, but nothing | | | | the cabinets for a good view of the Art Nouveau |
| beats actually standing in front of a magnificent | | | | jewellery - exquisite.My appetite was wetted for |
| painting or being allowed to touch artifacts that are | | | | more gold and diamonds so onward and up the |
| tens of thousands of years old.Monday morning, | | | | marble staircase to the splendour of the necklaces, |
| luckily the weather was dry, so wearing my most | | | | tiaras and costumes on display from the period of |
| comfortable pair of shoes - an absolute must for | | | | grand stately living.Time's flying by and I keep getting |
| tramping around London - down to the nearest tube | | | | distracted by passing things that are just so exciting |
| station and the start of the adventure! Funny how if | | | | that I must stop and look. The skilled craftsmanship |
| you did it every day of the week the novelty would | | | | in the making of each individual item is what |
| wear off, but being an 'underground novice', I' m still | | | | fascinates and thrills me. The hands of a Georgian |
| intrigued by the sounds, the smells and especially the | | | | clock, the intricate fretwork of a metal grille, the |
| people. Where are they all going and why don't they | | | | workmanship of the everyday key - |
| ever smile, let alone speak! Never mind, when in | | | | breathtaking!Then, by chance, I wonder into a room |
| Rome etc, etc, I can always get a friendly smile from | | | | full of musical instruments. Names I've never heard of |
| the concert hall quality buskers when I drop them a | | | | and can't remember, but again what does it matter. |
| few coins.Mustn't get too involved with 'people | | | | What really matters is that at a date in the past, |
| watching' that I forget to watch out for South | | | | somebody sat for weeks, maybe months or even |
| Kensington, jump off the tube and no need to even | | | | years to fashion a lute, a spinet, a harpsichord and it's |
| leave the underground as there's a side entrance to | | | | there for me to marvel at. Consider the attention to |
| the V & A.Wow!!! The building is breathtaking, the | | | | the detail given to the back of a guitar that when |
| scale is awesome. How many people have visited | | | | played wont even be seen!Words are inadequate to |
| since it was opened and just stood and been | | | | describe the treasures on display at the V & A. |
| transported by its sheer beauty? It takes a little time | | | | Sufficient to say that every staircase, every ceiling |
| to drag your eyes away from the decoration of the | | | | and column of the building itself deserves |
| structure let alone think about the items on | | | | appreciation. The contents of each cabinet are |
| display.Where to start, so many wonderful displays | | | | breathtaking and beautifully displayed with informative |
| so take so deep breath, maybe even sit over a cup | | | | notes.I could carry on as I did on that Monday when |
| of coffee and make a plan. Certain rooms I didn't | | | | I returned with aching feet and a bursting soul, but |
| want to miss and top of the list came the Arts and | | | | take a day off and find time to visit a museum. |
| Crafts Exhibition closely followed by jewellery, then | | | | They're all around the country and deserve our |
| glassware and ceramics. Don't forget that one of my | | | | support.Joy Pearson runs an antique shop on the |
| customers had mentioned the full size copy of 'David' | | | | beautiful Yorkshire Dales/Lake District border. Lots of |
| and the metal ware, the miniatures and the Victorian | | | | antiques, collectables and witty friendly banter. |
| pictures must not be missed. What time was it | | | | |