Travel

Midnight at The Opera House

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Mark

Much as I’d like to show you some pictures of Cats the musical, there were no cameras allowed and particularly vigilant staff hovering over me for the entire show. The evening was spectacular, a riot of colour and the second half conquered it’s first-night nerves for a storming performance. The British show, currently touring in the UK is also the longest running touring show in the States and is based on T.S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

Ben Palmer as Munkustrap

Cats the Musical poster

Spooky Old Theatre

The Opera House Manchester

Categories: Cats, Design, Photography, Random, Travel, Vibe Monitor | Tags: architecture, Cats the Musical, Culture, Entertainment, Manchester Opera House, theater, theatre | 4 Comments

Easter on the Edge

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Mark

Easter Bunny

Alderley Owl

The Cheshire Plains

To the Edge of Alderley

This is Alderley Edge in Cheshire, England. It’s a place steeped in myth and legend, inspiring Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat and Alan Garner’s series of spooky children’s folk tales, such as The Owl Service. King Arthur is supposed to have met Merlin the Wizard here, and tucked under The Edge is an ancient Wishing Well, with Merlin’s face carved into the rock.

Categories: Photography, Random, Travel, Vibe Monitor | Tags: Alan Garner, Alderley Edge, carving, Cheshire, Easter, Easter Bunny, King arthur, Lewis Carroll, Merlin, owl, wildlife | 8 Comments

Eggs Everywhere

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Mark

Orange Egg

Beatles Egg

Horror Egg

Laura Ashley Egg

Jules Verne Egg

Giant brightly coloured eggs are part of the Action for Children Big Egg Hunt, which stopped off to display these beauties at Manchester’s Exchange Square. The tour has gone down to London and you can find out more here www.thebigegghunt.co.uk

Categories: Design, Photography, Random, Travel, Vibe Monitor | Tags: Action for Children, Beatles, Charity, chocolate, Easter, Eggs, Eostre, Manchester, Ostara, street sculpture | 4 Comments

Blue Skies and Crocuses

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Mark

Crocuses in the park

Kitchen bowls

Painted cups

Polka dot cloth

Chinese silk

Plastic windmill

Spring was definitely blooming in Britain last week until Siberia sent it’s biting wind and snow, winter’s last hissy fit. “It’s a punishment for all the people who wore shorts and sandals last week,” said Panos. Even just a quick splash of blue skies and crocuses is enough to get my jolly on. Love the colour and the sunshine!

Categories: Photography, Random, Travel, Vibe Monitor | Tags: ceramics, Chinese, color, colour, crocuses, flowers, polka dot, silk, Spring, Textiles, weather | 13 Comments

Vintage Vibes

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Mark

Retro Vase

High Street Store

Annatiques Chorlton

Vintage books

Annatiques Cushions

Old Shopping Cart

The charging warrior within me can happily adapt to a day of gingham and cupcakes. So when the sun shines on a Sunday, I escape from being a home-building domestic god and explore the neighbourhood flea markets and antique stalls.

(This is my first proper post using the new WordPress Mosaic tile gallery function and it works like a dream… even on my iPad! Suddenly I’m a style magazine.)