I have delayed this post slightly because I couldn't be bothered to do it - sorry, no elaborate excuse involving a mysterious disease or a quest of some sort. I think I am going to document the London trip in a 'photo-blog' style as it'll be easy on the words (as there is a shortage) and it'll be nice and colourful for anyone reading it. Some of the pictures were taken by me and some were taken by Ed. I know I don't normally name people on this blog, but I can't be bothered to say 'my friend' and 'my other friend' and 'my friend's friend' etc etc.
- Tom in a sleeping bag in Ed's room at his house in Kettering. We went down to Ed's house on the Friday and stayed there for the night before setting off to London on the Saturday.
- Myself in a sleeping bag. Same place, same time, different sleeping bag.
- Ed on the train on the way down to London. Fortunately there is a direct train from Kettering to St. Pancras station and it only takes about an hour. Unfortunately I had forgotten my rail card so had to pay £30 rather than £19 for my ticket. It then later transpired that my rail card hadn't been forgotten and had been in my bag the whole time - needless to say, I hate everything.
- A statue of a midget standing on a table. One of the few things in the Tate gallery that I wouldn't burn if I had the choice (including most of the people that were in the Tate 'enjoying' the various other pieces of modern "art"). I think in my entire time there I found about 5 things that I actually considered worthy of the the title 'art' and thus worthy of my time. I would've taken pictures of some of the more rubbish pieces as examples, but I got told you weren't allowed to take pictures and so had to stop - atleast I got the midget though. I guess they don't want people to know how crap the exhibits are, otherwise no one would bother going. To my mind though, dripping paint down a piece of canvas is not worthy of being an exhibit in any sort of gallery, be it the Tate or a gynasium at a Primary School Fete - there was actually a piece of art called 'Dripping Paint' or something along those lines; atleast the "artist" calls a spade a spade I suppose.
- Ed, Tom and Sam (Tom's brother) in the Tate Modern. Sam was fortunate enough to inherit all the brains and talent in Tom's family (what with living in a nice house in London and going to Imperial College London), where as Tom got that rather stylish peaked beanie.
- This is just as we were approaching Leicester Square. We went round to China Town and managed to find the worst Chinese restaurant in the whole street - quite the accomplishment. We found one that did a buffet for £4.90 so we thought "awesome - cheapest wins!". However as you enter the restaurant, you are asked which menu option you chose and after announcing that we wanted the £4.90 option, we were lead down to the basement (no joke) where all the other cheap people are kept. The buffet was decidedly poor (the rice was like mash potato), there was mould growing up the walls and the place was just messy. Still, you live and learn.
- Some trees with lights on and a ghost car. I just included this picture for the hell of it - It has no real relevance to anything except that it was taken in London. We were enroute to Harrods at the time to load up on Krispy Kreme doughnuts and generally explore. It was most excellent.
- Descending into the Underground. From the top of the escalator to the bottom you can see the peak of Tom's peaked beanie (which he loves so much), Myself, Sam, Vicky and a random.
We went to other places duing our day out (Camden Markets for one), but there aren't pictures of them so I can't be bothered to speak about them. I did try and get a picture of some of the freaks at Camden Market actually (as there were many) but I didn't think they would appreciate it, so I didn't manage it. It was a shame as I would have liked a picture of the guy with a ginger Mohican - still, we can't all have what we want I suppose.
I shall finish with a short clip of Vicky, Tom, Sam and Ed in the Tate when I endeavoured to get their thoughts on the Sugar Cube display - they were however reluctant to comment.
- Tom in a sleeping bag in Ed's room at his house in Kettering. We went down to Ed's house on the Friday and stayed there for the night before setting off to London on the Saturday.
- Myself in a sleeping bag. Same place, same time, different sleeping bag.
- Ed on the train on the way down to London. Fortunately there is a direct train from Kettering to St. Pancras station and it only takes about an hour. Unfortunately I had forgotten my rail card so had to pay £30 rather than £19 for my ticket. It then later transpired that my rail card hadn't been forgotten and had been in my bag the whole time - needless to say, I hate everything.
- A statue of a midget standing on a table. One of the few things in the Tate gallery that I wouldn't burn if I had the choice (including most of the people that were in the Tate 'enjoying' the various other pieces of modern "art"). I think in my entire time there I found about 5 things that I actually considered worthy of the the title 'art' and thus worthy of my time. I would've taken pictures of some of the more rubbish pieces as examples, but I got told you weren't allowed to take pictures and so had to stop - atleast I got the midget though. I guess they don't want people to know how crap the exhibits are, otherwise no one would bother going. To my mind though, dripping paint down a piece of canvas is not worthy of being an exhibit in any sort of gallery, be it the Tate or a gynasium at a Primary School Fete - there was actually a piece of art called 'Dripping Paint' or something along those lines; atleast the "artist" calls a spade a spade I suppose.
- Ed, Tom and Sam (Tom's brother) in the Tate Modern. Sam was fortunate enough to inherit all the brains and talent in Tom's family (what with living in a nice house in London and going to Imperial College London), where as Tom got that rather stylish peaked beanie.
- This is just as we were approaching Leicester Square. We went round to China Town and managed to find the worst Chinese restaurant in the whole street - quite the accomplishment. We found one that did a buffet for £4.90 so we thought "awesome - cheapest wins!". However as you enter the restaurant, you are asked which menu option you chose and after announcing that we wanted the £4.90 option, we were lead down to the basement (no joke) where all the other cheap people are kept. The buffet was decidedly poor (the rice was like mash potato), there was mould growing up the walls and the place was just messy. Still, you live and learn.
- Some trees with lights on and a ghost car. I just included this picture for the hell of it - It has no real relevance to anything except that it was taken in London. We were enroute to Harrods at the time to load up on Krispy Kreme doughnuts and generally explore. It was most excellent.
- Descending into the Underground. From the top of the escalator to the bottom you can see the peak of Tom's peaked beanie (which he loves so much), Myself, Sam, Vicky and a random.We went to other places duing our day out (Camden Markets for one), but there aren't pictures of them so I can't be bothered to speak about them. I did try and get a picture of some of the freaks at Camden Market actually (as there were many) but I didn't think they would appreciate it, so I didn't manage it. It was a shame as I would have liked a picture of the guy with a ginger Mohican - still, we can't all have what we want I suppose.
I shall finish with a short clip of Vicky, Tom, Sam and Ed in the Tate when I endeavoured to get their thoughts on the Sugar Cube display - they were however reluctant to comment.
So a good day out then? I particularly agree with your thoughts on art, but perhaps it's because I'm scared about something that I don't understand. Then again I don't think you can understand art...
Whoever took the picture on the elevator managed to trick my senses. It looks like you could be going up, down or just forwards into the distance!
A highly amusing video as well!
Heh it's certainly impossible to understand the art in the Tate that's for sure. Ed pointed out the amusing spectacle of people taking chairs round with them so they could sit and study the exhibits - don't these people have anything better to do!? I mean I don't have anything better to do, but I still don't find the urge to stare at what what is essentially non-sensical rubbish (aside from when I occassionally read Ian's blog - badaboom!).
Yeah I just noticed that elavator one is a bit weird when you look at it. If if wasn't for the posters on the side it'd be hard to tell which direction we were going in - although if we were going up, then it would make me look like I was about 8 feet tall.
Art 'eh? If somethings not savagely broken down into tiny little MTV-style consumable pieces you're just not interested!
Still, nice to have a picture of Edward on public transport. I spose you can devote the rest of your life to trying to take pictures of Nessie and the Bigfoot.