Light Festivals

Light Festivals with installations projected onto old buildings or free standing are becoming more and more popular and are very impressive. The first one we went to was in Durham in 2008 and was very low key compared to more recent ones. It wasn't marketed particularly strongly outside the area and I found details of it on the Durham Council website. It was fantastic and consisted of various installations hanging from the bridges and two brilliant installations on Elvet Bridge one of which was the Calcutta lights.

and yes, they had glow sticks :)

The light festival was held again in Durham in November 2009 and by this time had become Lumiere.  It was much more organised and publicised and the highlight was the display on the Cathedral.  It was fantastic.  I went two nights running and even enjoyed it in the torrential rain.  Some of the other installations were good too but it was the Cathedral that stole the show (as it should).

In Newcastle on New Years Eve they hold a light parade which we have been to a couple of times - it has a real carnival atmosphere.

The next one we visited was in Cambridge for the Cambridge University 800 Years celebrations. This was in January 2010.  The light display was projected on to Senate House and there was another on the back of Kings College.  There was a science theme to some parts of the display.  It was impressive (no walking on the grass mind!).

Illuminating York took place in September 2010 and York Minster was lit up with the Rose Window as the centre piece.

This year so far we have been to Illuminating York again which was centred on the Castle Museum.  It was excellent and made the most of the building and had more of a technology feel to it than art.  The sound was good and the space was good allowing hundreds of people to gather without feeling penned in or manoeuvred.  I liked the parts when the light was exactly covering the windows and other individual parts of the building and also when it looked like the individual stones were falling apart.

 
Last week we went to Lumiere at Durham.  It was very busy and Durham is a difficult city for large crowds as it has narrow streets.  I'm not sure whether the 'one way system' for pedestrians helped or hindered - everyone was very good natured and although we had to wait to get up to Palace Green, when we got there there was loads of room.  I think people would have been sensible if left to their own route. It would be good to have it on for a longer - maybe a week.  The 'show' on the Cathedral was the same as last time - Lindisfarne Gospels - it was very good.

The best bits were in the Cathedral itself and in the cloisters and gardens leading to South Bailey.  In the Cathedral were hundreds of lit up vests - yes, it sounds weird but it was enthralling.  In the cloisters was a big ball of fire and then in the gardens lots of fire and braziers - it was amazing. You could walk right up to the fire in buckets and pots.  It made you think of raw energy mixed with cosiness of an open fire.

The best part was definitely walking down South Bailey to the river - this is one of my favourite parts of the City, in fact one of my favourite parts of the world.  There were figures floating in the air.

Durham Lumiere was brilliant and hopefully it will be on again next year or in two years time.

One thought that I had both at Durham and York was - is it 'better' to have a fantastic light festival which is instant and transient, a moment in time, or a building such as the Minster or Cathedral that are there for thousands of years and awe inspiring? If I had to choose I would choose the latter - but luckily we've got both.

My BritainInADay

BritainInADay Claire Donlan

Heritage Open Days - Sat 10th Sept

On Saturday we decided to go to Durham to see which places were open for Heritage Open Days. Unfortunately we only had an afternoon so had to fit in what we could in the time. In previous years we've had some good visits including Darlington Civic Theatre and also the Durham Old Law Courts complete with cells.
First stop was Vane Tempest Hall in Gilesgate. It is a beautiful building but now used as a community centre and a collection of rooms and spaces for various community groups. Unfortunately the building is in bad repair and is very shabby. A hall is used as a sports hall but was musty and damp. We got there for 12.40 and admittedly it was only supposed to be open until 13.00 but the guide had gone. We asked and someone said we could look round ourselves which was not successful as I opened a door and came face to face with an Alsatian dog ( dog training class) so quickly shut door and scarpered. The grounds were overgrown too.













However undeterred we walked into the city centre and headed for Old Shire Hall. I had rang up to book a place so we were expected. I don't really like guided tours or talks as I like to look round places on my own but have to admit that this one was very good. Old Shire Hall was originally built as the County Council Offices in the 1880s when Durham controlled a large area. It was taken over in the 1960s by Durham
University who have very recently sold it off to onenortheast. It is a large red brick building on Old Elvet. It is beautiful inside with stained glass windows sort of art deco style, gorgeous tiles, plasterwork & Frosterley marble.








The stained glass windows have educational themes.









There is a council chamber which is used for meetings and sometimes interviews!









On the way home we stopped at Bowburn Community Centre where they had a exhibition of Miners Banners. They are really striking and interesting. Some of them depict religious scenes and figures and some political showing the downfall of capitalism. They are really evocative and sentimental and wonderful especially packed into a little south Durham hall.

Tynemouth

It was a beautiful sunny morning so we decided to go to the coast. I had been feeling grotty all week and really wanted to go to the seaside. Usually we go to Saltburn or Whitby but today we went north instead. We're lucky to live near to the coast (within 20 miles at nearest) and on a sunny day you can't beat the north east seaside.
We went to Tynemouth which is basically through the Tyne tunnel then east. It's ages since I've been maybe even 10 years when I used to go with friends and family to the Sea Life Centre. We went to the other end today and the town is pretty and has definitely gone upmarket with cafes, bistros and even a chocolatier! We had a quick lunch which was ok and then went to the priory. It is right on the edge of the cliff and is ruined. Each side of it looks down onto a beach. There is a grave yard and a gun battery.
We then went for a walk on the beach and I paddled as usual. We had an icecream and walked back through the town.

My 'technology time out' week

I decided to try a week without technology as a reaction to information overload and for a break, a change, a rest.  It was a good opportunity as I was going to be off work and going away for a few days so not near a computer.  I usually use my iPhone for most interactions so deleted my email accounts from it (home, work, gmail accounts), deleted all the Apps including Facebook, Twitter, blogs, news, games (yes, even Angry Birds). I could use maps if needed but otherwise not the Internet.  I could use the camera on the iPhone although I took a separate camera too.  I kept my phone in case of emergencies and limited it to 3 texts a day - one to my Mum, one to T1 and one occasionally to Teenager2 with whom I left the iPad.
The first day was the worst as I realised that in certain situations I automatically reach for my phone - when we stopped for a cup of tea at a motorway service station, waiting in queues, to look at the news etc. just for fun and out of interest to see what other people are doing.  It was quite weird recognising the feeling of wanting to be connected as a matter of course and wondering whether it was good or not.  I took my phone out of my bag a few times and realised that the only thing I could look at was the weather forecast or the compass!
Over the next few days we (Geoff and I) went to Birmingham (Malmaison + cocktails + riots / looting + botanical gardens), Bletchley Park, Cotwolds (16th century hotel + gardens + deck chairs), Hidcote gardens, Ragley Hall, Jerwood Sculptures, Malvern (ivy clad hotel + G&Ts + restaurants + priory + libraries).  I gradually stopped thinking about technology and read - 6 books in 7 days.
The good points of the 'technology time out' were relaxing, switching off, not watching or listening to the news and reading - it's years since I've galloped through books for hours at a time.
The bad points were that I missed the fun and excitement of technology, I missed being part of a connected society.  When we were in the bar of Malmaison in Birmingham during the riots I was the only person not on a smart phone following what was happening.  The same with the cricket - it's good to share the highs and lows.  I missed sharing photos of beautiful places and I missed seeing other peoples updates.  It was also really difficult to find out information without the internet - what time were places open such as gardens, restaurants - it was frustrating to look at a map in an atlas rather than sat nav (but probably good for the brain). Arrangements depended on others texting me. I lasted the week without checking emails which was an achievement as I don't like the idea of something nasty lurking in that inbox.
Today is back to normal and I think the 'technology time out' has been a good experience and forced me to switch off and relax and realise that, if for me it is all or nothing then, I need to make sure I have space for nothing occasionally.

Time out / detox / cold turkey on the technology

After blogging about an overload of technology and social networking in particular I have decided that while I'm off work for a few days that I'll have a break - no email, no Facebook, no Twitter, no blogs, no Apps - maybe a couple of texts a day but that's it.  I'm expecting not to like it in the least and it might be a pointless exercise but I'm going to try it.  I've got lots of books to read, a camera and a notebook and pen (urgh).
It starts 23:59 tonight until 23:59 Thursday (roll on Friday).