A week in london, 1 library, 2 museums, 2 art exhibitions, poppies galore and some Lego!

 Hello peeps, the past couple of weeks I have been off work on annual leave.  For the first week we decorated our bedroom (big thanks to my hubby and brother in law) and spent a few days sorting stuff out.

The following week we visited my brother and sis-in-law in London staying with them in Dulwich for a few days then in a hotel in central London for a few more (we were celebrating 24 years together and 17 married).

We try to spend at least a week in London each summer.  I know it sounds a bit weird as people often go to the beach etc, but we love London and every time we find a new place to explore and there are SO many exhibitions to visit.

There are quite a few photos, so grab yourself a drink and settle down for a trip round that there London.

There is some great graffiti in most of our cities (especially in Bristol where I live, the home of Banksy) and there have been some new pieces in London recently.

I love this one on London Bridge, a bit of humour on a building site!

 Nice colourful display to keep the rain off your head in the beer garden in Borough Market

 After seeing the photos from fellow WOYWWer Helen (Stamping by H) and my friend Sam of their visits to the Tower to see the poppies I just had to go.  It was so emotional as the china poppies represent every life lost during WW1 with the last poppy being planted on 11th November.

 We went to a new artist exhibition in Somerset House and there were some lovely mixed media pieces but I especially liked this 3D embroidery piece.

 So we are always on the lookout for new areas to explore in London and this time it was St Katherines Dock.  When my brother came back from his years in Ecuador he looked for jobs back in his specialist area and his office is here!  Its just down from the tower and is a beautiful smallish dock with some very expensive boats and the Thames Hippo!!

 This vessel is truly stunning and not what we expected to find in London!!

 We did many museums and also the Gothic Literature exhibition at the British Library but in the Hornniman Museum I found this and thought of LunchLady Jan who plays one (not as big as this though I hope!!).

 Our wedding anniversary present from my brother and sister in law were tickets to the new Lego exhibition at Brick Lane.

 The swimming figure was beautifully lit.

These faces were HUGH!

 

 This is the classic shot they use in a lot of the publicity leaflets.

 I really liked the way that something as simple as Lego can convey feeling in those that were at the exhibition you can almost feel the pain in the blue figure.

 This one really made me chuckle.  3 years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  It effects my bones, joints, tendons and potentially heart, liver and lungs also.  At the moment its mainly my feet and hands and some days I struggle to make my fingers work...so I stood there laughing at this one as it made me think of all those mornings when I awake and realise my hands won't!  I must admit I did get some strange looks!

 Again, some great street art.

We also went to Disobedient Objects at the V&A Museum.  It reports objects used in civil disorder across the globe in mainly the 80's and 90's.  Everything from death row commentary played out in decorated cars through to Chilean embroidery demanding equality and education for all.

 It was a brilliant exhibition and I was so pleased I was able to get there (it even brought back some memories from the anti poll tax rallies I took part in years ago).

 This photo was taken from a great new place that my sister in law told me about where for free you can get a fantastic view of the city at night-and she was right!

 This is a fake frontage that has been made for Coven Garden where it gives the impression it has been ripped in two-it is brilliant and you can pass your hand right through!

Finally, one more amazing piece of street art.  This time from Phlegm and it is in the Royal Opera house!!

So there you have it...now its back home and the joy of catching up with the washing etc!!

Happy crafting

Kyla