40 Days and Nights…

Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But, we finally got some significant rain. Now, that’s where we are: cooler, still sunny, but also rain intermittently. Intermittent is good because it means the soil absorbs the water rather than the top soil running off the fields and causing floods. It would be a bit early for that.

Did my first longer local walk in a while – since spring, when the weather was manageable. Ended at the secret path (down a track off the main road that almost no one except locals uses).

I went up country on Wednesday, one of my weird day trips to London, to see the Tracey Emin exhibition at the Tate Modern called ‘A Second Life’. And to visit with a friend for a few hours. A bit of ‘culta’ and chat can be so sustaining.

More on the Emin below, as it really merits a bit of focus.

Otherwise, it was a stuff week. Another pooch checkup, a reflexology appointment, a haircut (boy, was I shaggy), and the woman who ran my beloved bakery in the next town over did a one-off at the Saturday market. Oh, her croissants are so good. And her brown butter chocolate chip cookies. This summer has seen a cookie moment for me. Not sure why.

Anyway, the Emin.

She was not someone whose work I liked that much when she first came on the scene a few decades ago. Very Britpop but an artist. You may have heard of her due to the history bed she produced (My Bed from 1998 – see below). So, she wasn’t really on my radar.

But then I read a bit about her life in the past 10 or so years. Health issues, community involvement in Margate (east of England) where she lives. Matured and with gravitas.

So, when the news of this exhibition (and the really positive write-ups) popped up I thought I’d do it. There’s also a Frieda Kahlo show on in the same museum, but it got mediocre reviews – not enough of her paintings, too much commentary.

Interestingly, the Kahlo has long lines; the Emin does not. But, having said that the Emin is hard going – but very worth the time. It’s also definitely meant for more ‘mature’ people – not young kids, or even young teens. And there weren’t many people under 25 when I visited.

It has paintings, tapestries made using blankets (amazing), sculptures mostly in bronze (also amazing — below is one she labelled a death mask), that bed, neon lights, and a couple of short films. Also, one room within a room depicting her studio.

She’s had several cancer surgeries and pictures of her with her stomas are included. The straight-forwardness of her view of her current body is quite extraordinary.

London was very busy. I had forgotten that it was school hols there too – not just down here. And I was meant to meet my friend at Kings Cross, but the police has blocked off most of the area (abandoned car, controlled explosion – apparently, the car wasn’t abandoned and the owner was a bit miffed). So, we met at a café at the British Library. A very interestingly designed building.

So, that was all that.

I had planned to try to sample the Shalimar anniversary fragrance on in-town-for-hair day and say something about it. But, no Guerlain anywhere. I really had thought I would be able to find it. It makes me wonder if the house is pulling out of less well-trafficked towns in England.

And then a couple of days ago, a friend sent me an outraged email – a WTF. The pic from Facebook was of a box and bottle of l’Heure Bleue – and the juice was … blue (see below). Not sure what to make of that. If anyone knows please tell.

So, dog days of August. This summer has been a blur.

Pics: wiki, mine, Facebook from my friend