Inspiration

We left the blog a month ago, at our office annual feast. A few days later I was off to New York, and Charlie back up to Rousay. I was there for a brief evening, passing on my way down to Charlottesville. There is always time for a walk at sunset...

1. New York & Charlottesville

2. Classical Virginia.

Two lovely days of speaking events, and then I was scooped up by my friends Kinsey, and Spencer (plus Austin, on his way back from Europe).  First stop lunch.

Kinsey Marable's beautiful house - classic Virginia. So perfect.  Kinsey is probably the best book dealer in the world if you are looking for classic books on architecture, gardens, decoration and making a library.

Such a wonderful spot.

And here is Austin and Spenny's beautiful little cottage, perfection for the next couple of days.

We had the best tours.

Spenny's fridge magnet collection is impressive.

Lunch pit stop...

On our way to beautiful Tuckahoe, one of the most untouched and historic houses I've been in, in America.

Wilton, Richmond, in the pouring rain... so beautiful.

And the next day, sunshine at UVA, Jefferson's amazing buildings sparkling in the snow.

I love the student rooms, each with their stack of logs (the only heating).

3. Chicago (briefly)

It was a short time at UVA.  I was then off to Chicago - which was bitterly cold but amazing, bright and clear... sunset...

And sunrise.

I was speaking at the Women's Athletics Club - the height of chic.  I want more gloss black walls in our lives I think.

4. New York again!

How much I love Chicago - but then, back to New York.

I was there for two days with the Winter Show.  But still enjoyed plenty of time downtown.

That evening we had an amazing tour of the Frick, with one of my very kind clients from London.

Amazing to see these beautiful rooms, empty (and to be allowed to take photographs).

The brilliant renovations by Annabelle Seldorf.

I love that I always find the cleaning trolley.

Charlie arrived two days later and we were speeding on our way up to Ghent, to stay with Valentina and Vito.

The countryside was covered in a thick coat of snow...  here is their beautiful farm.

The local book barn. Complete heaven.

And then we went to the brilliant Rockwell Museum. I've always loved his work so much, but what a treat to be able to see it all up close, taking in each brushstroke. Pure genius.

All the covers of the Saturday Evening Post...

Thanksgiving.

Astonishing details, hard to believe this is painted in oil.

New Kids in the Neighbourhood, 1967.  So powerful.

The Peace Corps.

The central rotunda displays the famous Four Freedoms:

Freedom of Thought,

Freedom from Want,

Freedom from Fear,

And Freedom of Speech.

The museum is incredibly moving. I'm often asked what I think of American politics and why I don't write about it in this blog, or on Instagram.  For those that haven't noticed, this is not a political blog, nor is my instagram.  But all I could say is that a visit to the Rockwell Museum told me a lot about what I love about the great country of America.  We would do well to send every world leader to this small gallery for a morning.

We were meant to stay for the weekend - but the blizzard was forecast and it looked as if the trains back to New York would all be cancelled, so knowing that we'll be back, we had an early supper at Lil' Debs and then took the last evening train back into the city.

The next morning we woke to the blizzard.

Our friends Wilfred and Will were meeting us for lunch at Odeon and we had a wonderful walk through snowy Chinatown.

It was really snowing.

Lunch turned into dinner.  And then the next morning was bright and clear.

And the next....

Charlie and I had one last date with our friends Frances and Wally.

We walked over and were a bit early for lunch so went to the Hudson - amazing to see it frozen over.

5. London

And then home. The next morning, Charlie was up to Orkney to be reunited with the dogs. I had a few days down in London. That weekend it felt like Bloomsbury was austere and strangely deserted.

6. Rousay

But magical to be back in London.  A few days later it was even MORE magical to be home.

Amazing sunshine and rain. The little road that forms our daily walk was almost purple. 

Misty and wet the next day, but still beautiful in a different way. Every light is amazing, really.

The evenings are lighter now.

Veg garden tidy for winter.

Silvery seas and skies.

Snowdrops are out in the woods.

The house gleamed in the sunshine. What do you notice? At last, we've got rid of the old Air to Air Heat Pump that was such an eyesore on the front of the house.  Hopefully we'll be starting our building works sooner rather than later now.

Much better.

(For those that missed earlier blogs, we are painting the house white. It's just going to be right!).

7. Paris

But then I was away again. I'd been invited on a rather amazing (work!) trip to Paris. To the opera - Eugene Onegin.   A wonderful Thursday evening.

I have never been to the Opera Garnier. It was extraordinary.  Pure spectacle.

My favourite bit was the mosaic ceilings...

And the mosaic floors...

And these quieter areas.  Beautiful.  Somehow the rest is too much for me.

A superb production, with such beautiful costumes (you get a hint here) that some of these images will be with me for a long time to come.

Walking back to our hotel, in the small hours of the morning, over the placid Seine.

Our little gang was back at the Opera the next morning. We had an incredible guided tour of the building.

Far below ground....

The original scene changing mechanics - five floors below the stage - preserved for posterity.

These would have been operated by huge teams - of sailors, as it happened - spinning the sets up and down through the vast building.

A note for Valentine's Day on one of the walls of the tunnels deep underground.

Incredible; like walking around a Piranesi prison.

We emerged out of this door back into the public rooms.

So many good signs.

More signs.

The sun lobby....

The moon lobby.

And then we were gone. An inspirational day.

Lunch - more signs in passing... and we were back to London on the train.  All on time.

8. Chichester

The next morning I was up bright and early, heading down to Chichester.  I have been wanting to see the Nicholson exhibition at Pallant House and had the perfect excuse.

Such a wonderful show.

I found myself first in the gallery, always a nice feeling.

Alone with these treasures.

I love Pallant House, both the ancient old house and the new gallery. The perfect small gallery, with an astounding collection.

My actual mission that day was to visit a glass house expert, tucked away in the most wonderful little workshop in the middle of nowhere.

We were discussing the world of Mackenzie and Moncur, the great Scottish Victorian glasshouse manufacturers....

Providing inspiration for Charlie's new greenhouse as Westness that we are beginning to plan.  Exciting times ahead!  And that is where we end.