The Art of Science is a competition run by Princeton University to find the most amazing images created as a result of scientific research. Some of the images are absolutely beautiful, the science of some of them though goes straight over my head!!
I love this idea - that beauty can be found everywhere - even in a sterile lab.
Monday, October 31, 2005
The Art of Science
Friday, October 28, 2005
Happy Snaps
Due to popular demand - well OK, one request from Maria! - here are some shots from our trip.
As I've been going through the photos we took, I've had the feeling they aren't a full representation of our holiday, and I think I've worked out why. The best times were generally had with friends or family over a lovely meal and we didn't get the camera out because we were too busy having fun, and the things we saw that had the most affect on me were in art galleries. I have a philosophical issue with taking photos in art galleries - I know now with digital cameras that you can just turn off the flash and snap away (as most other people in the galleries were doing), but I just can't bring myself to do it. I feel like it's sacrilege or disrespectful. I like to be able to sit in front of a spectacular piece of art and just quietly soak it up (note to art galleries everywhere - you need more seats!!). I wish I didn't feel this way, because now I would have a fantastic collection of photos of works by people like Monet, Picasso, Degas, van Gogh, Da Vinci, etc, etc, etc. Poor N - he desperately wanted to take photos and I wouldn't let him!! So instead what we did was bought software at each of the art galleries - it's lighter than carrying books and more interactive. So now we have CDs with full reproductions of a dozen of Picasso's sketch books with all the history associated with each one, virtual tours of the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay, etc. Tell me, do I need to let go of this irrational behaviour and get with the times, or do you feel the same?
Anyway, enough talk - here are some of our photos for your viewing pleasure!
Saturday morning markets in Beaune. These markets were wonderful - all sorts of cheeses, salamis, flowers, fruit and veg, antiques, crafts - my idea of heaven!
The gardens at the Palace of Versailles. It was a cool, overcast day but the gardens were still beautiful.
The Eiffel Tower from the top of the Pompidou art gallery. Tres bon!
A crowded street in Hong Kong. Each day we were there they blocked off the streets in this area to traffic and opened them up to pedestrians - lots of them!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
I'm back!
My sincere apologies for neglecting Inspire Create, it has been in the back of my mind for weeks, but so many other things have been vying for my attention.
So, first an update that will hopefully explain my absence. After my last post I was so busy getting everything done before going away and feeling pretty lonely with my dear hubby N being away. But it was all worth it as we had a wonderful holiday. For the first 2 weeks N was still working, so I took this time to sleep, read, go for long walks and investigate the area around Beaune in Burgundy. Then, we spent a wonderful week in Paris - we focused on visiting art galleries and good restaurants so we fed our creativity and our bodies! It was my first visit to the Musee D'Orsay (I didn't go last time I was in Paris) and I was speechless, what a spectacular collection. We also visited The Louvre, the Picasso Museum, the Pompidou, Versailles, we strolled the Champs Elysees and generally just tried to soak up the atmosphere.
Then we visited N's youngest brother and his family in Glasgow. It had been a couple of years since we had seen him, and the first time we met his gorgeous 9 month old daughter. We had a wonderful, special time with them.
Then we stopped off in Hong Kong for 2 days on the way home to break up the flight. When you live just about as far as you can be from anywhere else in the world the flight is a killer!! I did the trip over to Paris in one go - 42 hours it took. I was beside myself with exhaustion by the time I got there! Hong Kong is mad! Granted we only ventured walking distance from our motel on Nathan Road, so I'm sure what we saw isn't a true indication of all of Hong Kong, but what we did see certainly was a feast for the senses. It was all neon signs, a crush of people, loud noise, great shopping, smog and very interesting smells! We had a ball and plan to visit again. I bought some beautiful semi precious beads for my jewellery making at fantastic prices, which I'm itching to put to use!
My sister had her baby. After a difficult 18 hours of labour followed by an emergency caesarian she delivered a gorgeous little boy. Both are now well and getting used to one another! I am ecstatic about being an aunty and wish I lived closer to them so I could see him more.
I know all that sounds pretty exciting and busy - but the news I'm most excited about is the fact that I'm pregnant with our first child!!!!!! I'm so happy I feel like I'm going to burst. I'm 19 weeks along today and have my second scan tomorrow. I can't wait as N will be able to come along to the scan - he missed the 12 week scan as he was in France. I'm feeling pretty well, and loving feeling the baby move, which only started a bit over a week ago.
So, it's been a wonderful, exhausting 2 months! I've really missed posting here and am looking forward to getting back into the swing of it. I've been slowly catching up on my internet friends' blogs which has been lovely.
I hope you will start visiting regularly again, as I have a stash of inspiring sites and info I'm getting ready to share with you.
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