Art deco style writing in the Staff Recommends section:
The grand train station:
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Surbiton library is one of the most astounding library buildings inside and out I have visited. If the art-deco style train station you alight at in Surbiton impresses you, then the walk up the hill is well worth it to be invited in to this library. I like that the library is not on the main high street and instead stands detached, in a haven of quiet, surrounded by greatly lush greenery. This is a traditional civic building that is grand and awe-inspiring like libraries should be. Majestic light pours in through the ceiling panes: The shelving is my favourite mahogany wood, old style. The variety of stock displays and promotions had a lot of creative thought put in. Art deco style writing in the Staff Recommends section: A healthy number of independent shops in Surbiton, it was good to see. Nice cafes and the odd brilliant old pub too.
The grand train station:
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This curious looking flower caught my eye on an exploration of SW London woodland a year or so ago. Its petals are chequered. Recently, I visited the same site, excited to find it had sprung up once again. I read up about this flower: the fritallary; it is actually incredibly rare - the UK's 'most exotic flower'. More thrillingly, where they exist, they are likely to have grown for centuries. Yet they can be easily destroyed in one simple ploughing. There were but three or four examples of the flower around in a space of no more than two or three square feet. To be around these flowers feels like a precious secret. That they're still here today shows how nature always finds a way; nature is tough. I felt like having a real explore this day. It was sunny as can be, with ultra blue sky, and chirpy, cheery birds. I hadn't been to the secret little woodland in a long time - you can have a real clamber about as it is partly on a hill, with so many layers of wildly different trees, shrubs, flowers, really thickly built up - like another world, and yet you are still in London. This is where I would take anyone who had negative ideas about London - to show how it can really be! I delighted in the different sights and textures of various tree bark. Nature fascinates me like nothing else - immersing myself in it like this is my calm and my fun and my antidote to so many things in loud, demanding, fast-paced life. We've got to treasure and preserve our green open spaces.
Rejoice! We've been offered rare chance to have our say about public libraries - their structure and their future delivery. An independent report has been commissioned and the public has the chance to comment on:
* The core principles of libraries (I read this as their purposes and their ethos) * The way libraries are currently run (if your libraries give you what you want, and if they include the things you want - I guess this could include stock, specific services like IT and education, opening hours, and who they cater for) * The role of libraries (what they give the local community, and the ways things are offered to you) It is rare that the public get consulted about libraries. I think it says a lot that as a library campaigner, I have only just heard about this public consultation now - and it's been live for over one month! Please take the time to HAVE YOUR SAY! Link to libraries consultation Deadline is 21st March. I wanted to find out where this old carousel had travelled from or been bought from - it was over 100 years old. Cute horses always make me think of my pal Ingrid. This horse seemed to carry a face of glee as it travelled round. I love how brightly lit and jolly carousels are, they always make me extremely happy! Shiny, shiny, shiny! Climbing elf. Glittery cake extravaganza. This digitally animated theatrical face projected from a TV screen was unnerving. With a greatly slowed down, deep voice and the strangest accent, like a character from the Labyrinth, he told weird jokes and laughed far too hard all to himself. Sinister! The ceiling was busy with lights, and made everything seem like such a magical world. Milton Keynes always has the best Christmas scene each year, and it's always free.
Visited Birmingham, and its Frankfurt Christmas market. This gigantic polar bear with Santa hat on was a hot drinks stall! Looks more sinister here than cosy and cute as it did on the night. Belgian hot chocolate abound. Myriad mulled wine too. Many sparkly, pretty lights and fancy, glittering items all about the market. Indulged in Bailey's hazelnut fudge, a vegan burger, and also bought a jasmine candle, but could have bought so many trinkets, had I come with spending money for gifts and things! All really lovely and warming for winter. Welcomed the opportunity to explore the new central library in Birmingham. It was as grand as expected from previously seen photos and reports. Largest public library I have ever experienced. Futuristic as it was, I still marvelled at the mezzanine - ladders and books on balconies always get my vote! Looks like the library respected its huge archive and kept many old volumes, which was gladdening. Spectacular views from atop the library. This was not even from the summit! Gardens and benches and all sorts lay on the various levels, open air. It must be a haven of pure adventure for kids - you'd be so overwhelmed by the size of the place, and all it contains. I did stop to think how that sense of overwhelming could be for the elderly, though - I mean, super libraries might seem super fantastic, but how on earth would an elderly person face coping with all those levels, cylindrical plunging glass lifts, and navigating the sheer scale of the place? Councils need to be more responsible with their thinking here. I would hope that small, local, branch libraries will always survive in order to serve this important section of the community, though. There were some impressive art displays all around Birmingham central library. I had to feed the zine kid in me, with pictures of this paper construct typewriter!!! This typewriter was made by artist Jennifer Collier. It is made from old typewriter manuals and encyclopaedia. I disagree with what is said on the Brum library site about typewriters being 'extinct technology', but this artefact is incredibly wonderful either way.
Now I have many Denim songs in my head, which sound-tracked much of my journey, since Lawrence is a Birmingham 'escapee'. |
AthemauraEnthusiastic about 'zines, libraries, gardening in the city, independent book shops/record shops/cafes, vegetarian and vegan, London in all its variety, local living/community. Archives
November 2014
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