For a couple of weeks in January, Canary Wharf was lit up with thirty light installations by some of the most creative artists and designers. Having been meaning to get over to the Wharf since it started on 16 January, we finally made it over there on its last night.
And no, I've no idea what took us so long.
Canary Wharf still confuses me, somehow whenever I'm there I lose all sense of direction and fall into the trap of believing that it all looks the same. This time was no different and if I'm honest wasn't helped by the dark evening. I'm not sure I'll ever get the hang of it but no matter with a step count of 16,000 by the end of the day I'd discovered the plus of walking in circles in London's Docklands.
ANGELS OF FREEDOM
It was great to see the angel wings and people - of all ages - interacting with them. MOH declined a photo with wings, which is probably wise. We avoided the groups of people and headed over to the Ovo which was on its first visit to the UK, from Belgium.
OVO
OVO
It was one of those calming and thought provoking sculptures and one I could have watched for ages. there was a small queue to go onto the platform and inside but I decided against that content with watching from the outside. Leaving the Ovo we headed over to Crossrail Place, had another wander through the Roof Garden and back again finding ourselves in front of the luminous colour of Our Spectral Vision, which was one of my favourite installations.
Well, you know me and colour. Stunning isn't it?
OUR SPECTRAL VISION
I was intrigued to see what the Cathedral of Mirrors was, and it wasn't what I imagined. There were twelve towers which I later discovered responded to people's movements using high-tech sensors. The Canary Wharf website says "pulses of light are sent racing through the columns generating more light energy as people congregate" and it was true, it was like watching an adult playground, each mesmerised by the result of their movements.
CATHEDRAL OF MIRRORS
CATHEDRAL OF MIRRORS
And against the lights of the office blocks, it really did look larger than it was. Before heading off to find a restaurant with a less than forty-five minute wait, we had a couple more circuits around Canary Wharf, when I *think* I might have just cracked the layout. Don't get too excited by that though, by the time I go back again it'll all be history!
In the short film below you'll see Water Wall where a mist screen transforms water into a canvas for projections and what looks like smoke rings. There's Huge Reeds which were swaying rhythmically at Cabot Square. You'll notice which is my favourite installation, I was mesmerised by Bloom, which when you know it's a thousand globes of light on a stalk and swaying in the breeze reminiscent of a field of flowers you'll not be surprised. But in the distance we could see what we were off to next - Horizontal Interference - and I don't think it's just me, but it reminded me of one of those windbreaks that was an essential in the 1970s. Ours wasn't as vibrant or fancy as this though, and mostly it was left in the car, I'm sure. Or just moved about the shed.
Did you get along to see the Winter Lights at Canary Wharf? I'd be interested to know what you thought, and which was your favourite - leave me a comment to let me know.
Trees. And snow. And being blown away by the prettiness.
Finally, I've found a way to enjoy snow. Yes, from a coach whizzing past snow-laden trees! Perhaps not the usual way, but this year I was almost disappointed when the promised deluge (or 1cm) only materialised as 1mm.
I mean when it makes trees as pretty as this, it can't be a bad thing can it?
As you can tell, all of these pictures are from the coach window as we sped down the autobahn from Munich to Kufstein, or back again. It's meant there's some window reflections in my photos, which is a shame, but it's also meant I have some photos of some very pretty trees, so I'm thankful for that. I mean, imagine if they'd all turned out to be blurry. Imagine how disappointing that would be.
Every time I thought I'd captured enough beautiful trees and returned my iPhone to my bag, I'd spot another that I deemed to be even more beautiful. And that's how I ended up with as many tree shots as almost anything else I took in those few days...
Truly beautiful aren't they? Beautiful in a way I've not noticed our trees to be in the snow here. Next time it snows, maybe I'll notice and be able to compare.
* While this post isn't in collaboration with Viking or Stihl, it was only possible because of the UK press trip arranged by them.
The Butterfly Lovers Pavilion at RHS Wisley, where else?!
The first thing that caught my eye was the greying wood, it's not usually my thing, but here it looked as if it was meant to be and gave the impression the pavilion had been in place much longer than 2005, when it was opened.
And then I looked up and saw the intricate carvings and detail, and I was sold. I knew then that I'd spend time in the pavilion simply soaking up the views and the detail.
It's on the edge of the lake, which seems entirely right and the water draws you close. It's only then the full view unfurls in front of you, and the sculptures ahead are framed perfectly providing a zen-like view, or at least a view that made my heart sing.
To the right was lush, and large, gunnera, with its giant sized leaves and strangely dolphin-like stones. Please don't say that's just me...
The detail was everything, and everywhere. Just look at the pebble and stone floor, not forgetting the darker border, and the direction of the pebbles.
You can see why it's such a calming and tranquil place can't you. I sat, I watched and finally I moved away and took in the view one last time.
And what a view.
After the calm and tranquility, my eyes settled on these vibrant clusters of colchicums. The contrast couldn't have been more vivid. Nor could I help but be a little envious, in my own garden if I'm lucky I'll have one or two of these, but a much paler variety.
But each time I spot one of my delicate blooms from now on, I know I'll be reminded of the butterfly lovers pavilion at Wisley.
And why Wisley, where else?
Well I saw that the butterflies are back at Wisley until March. These butterflies have much more sense though and instead of visiting this pavilion they'll be in the Glass Houses. It's been a couple of years since I visited, but it was a truly magical experience. Clearly not for anyone that's not keen on butterflies, but if you do and if you want a butterfly to land on you, wear bright colours!