2019 - but only the good bits

There was far too much heartbreak and loss in my life last year, and a lot of months passed in a haze of grief, but there were good times too, so for the purpose of this blog post I'm just going to ignore the bad bits.



The highlight of my year has to be our short break in Argyll. we were only there for a couple of days but went walking through forests and along Crinan Canal, and, best bit of the whole year, my daughter persuaded me to go swimming one evening in Loch Fyne.

Wells Next The Sea

Whitesands Bay, St Davids

We cautiously started taking holidays again, with short breaks to Norfolk, Manchester, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Edinburgh and St Davids, and most of the time had beautiful weather.

In Appleby I saw red squirrels racing along branches, seals at Abereiddi, dolphins playing out at sea off New Quay, deer up close at Dunham Massey, a nuthatch (first time I've definitely seen one) and a watchful owl at Acorn Bank, and red kites flying above Bwlch Nant yr Arian.












Nearer to home, in addition to my normal rounds of visiting Chatsworth and local National Trust properties, I eventually went to places I've been intending to go for years - Wirksworth Hidden Gardens, Hopton Hall rose garden, and Melbourne Art Festival.















Throughout the year I went out to local gigs - less than normal, but I'm getting back into the habit -  seeing Sean McGowan twice, Skinny Lister, From The Jam, Skerryvore, Deaf Havana, and other smaller bands.








And, not least (in fact a close contender for top spot), enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing, inspiring weekend at Timber Festival courtesy of organisers Wild Rumpus.

Melbourne Art Trail - 2019

I first heard about Melbourne Art Trail last year when I was looking around for local autumn events. Life took a down-turn then, and most of my plans were put on hold, so this year I was determined to visit, if only for one day.










It's not at all like a formal exhibition in a gallery. Instead, for one weekend each year homes and businesses open their doors, allowing artists to display their work, and letting the public wander in to view it.






Melbourne's a fascinating place, with buildings of old mellowed brick, a higgledy-piggledy skyline, even a thatched cottage or two -  and a trail like this gives the visitor an excuse to stop and stare at buildings and peer down alleyways - even go down them to discover a whole hidden part of town.

Metal Sculpture
by David Turner

There's a trail leaflet with a list of venues and exhibitors, and brief information on the history of buildings and the changes of use they've seen over the years.  As you walk along the street the 'open' houses are clearly numbered and marked by balloons, so there's little chance of disturbing a unsuspecting family settled down to an afternoon of TV sport.








So we wandered this way and that, into unexpectedly huge gardens, charming cottages, and community buildings ranging from churches to medical centres; learned a bit about the history of the town; ate cake and drank tea from real crockery on a terrace overlooking Melbourne Pool.

Boats on the Ocean

There was entertainment out on the streets too with live music at three 'busking stops' adding to the festive atmosphere. I was delighted to accidentally stumble across local band Boats on the Ocean at the beginning of their set as I've heard them online and wanted to check then out live.

Hamish by Duncan Thurlby

Displaying art in gardens and kitchens is a strange but wonderful way to fill a small town with beauty for a weekend, and I think takes away the stuffy, pretentious atmosphere you can find in galleries.








The art itself ranged from jewellery to paintings, sculpture to photography, and while I can't claim to have liked everything I came away with a clutch of business cards ready to follow a number of artists online and maybe catch another exhibition of theirs. Oddly I hadn't gone along prepared to buy (the red 'sold' dots showed others had!) but I don't think I could have made a decision then and there - there was just so much to look it and take in.

We'd intended to go along for just Saturday but, as we were warned, it was impossible to see all the exhibits in one day so we returned on Sunday afternoon.








I'll definitely put the whole weekend in my diary for next year.

Making plans for late summer/autumn - local festivals (2018)

A drop in temperatures, a shower or two of rain, and it's staring to feel like summer is over already (and I still haven't been on holiday). I'm not ready to get out winter woollies and start Christmas shopping yet, though. September and October can have glorious weather, and festival season hasn't quite come to an end yet. With that in mind, I've been looking around, both locally and further afield, at what's happening in the next few months ...

Originally this was going to be one post but I've decided to split it into two - home and away. Firstly because of the number of exciting things I've found going on (far too many for one post), and secondly because 'at home' I don't need to worry about events being dog-friendly (he can stay home alone for a few hours with no worries), whereas for a weekend away I'd rather take him along.
So you'll find dog-friendly festivals here, but lets begin with festivals happening round about Derby ... links will take you off to the individual festivals' sites.

First up is Wirksworth Festival which runs from 7th to 23rd September. It opens with a weekend in which the whole town becomes a festival site. An art and architecture trail leads to displays of art in unconventional settings. There'll be a wide range of art from painting, print-making, and photography to  ceramics, jewellery and textiles; you can meet the maker, buy original art, and get a glimpse behind doors which are normally closed to the public.




Meanwhile, on the streets and in the market place there'll be music, food, family activities, and street theatre.



Over the following couple of weeks the festival continues with events  taking place in the Town Hall, and, like any self-respecting festival, there's a wide-ranging series of  'fringe' events running alongside. There'll be music ranging from the Climax Blues Band to Verdi's Requiem, puppetry, theatre, and performance poetry from Elvis McGonagall.

It's a festival I've always intended visiting but coming just at 'back to school' time, I never have. This year I intend to visit, if only for one day!

metal sculpture
 David Turner

Unfortunately this clashes with another festival (see how busy the local arts scene is!) - as for two days, 15th and 16th September, the quiet town of Melbourne (Derbyshire, not Australia) becomes host to its own Art and Architecture Trail, with houses, shops, and businesses opening their doors to the public, hosting artists and their works. You'll find paintings, ceramics, jewellery, photography and more. All for sale, and in most cases you can meet the artist, chat or perhaps catch a demonstration. The buildings that are opened are of historical interest in themselves, hence the 'architecture' part of the trail. Buy a badge and a leaflet of the trail and off you go!

poppy-making

Each year the festival has a theme or special project - and this year hand sewn and knitted poppies will be decorating the town commemorating lives lost in WW1.

abstract expressionism
Heidi Best

Alongside this there'll be a teddy bears' picnic for younger visitors, live music in three marquees, pop-up cafes, and a classic car rally. Something for everyone!
You can find more on their website here, and I'd highly recommend checking the Gallery page for details of artists exhibiting over the weekend, meanwhile here are a couple of examples from Heidi Best and David Turner.

Elvaston Hall
photo credit - Derbyshire County Council

Once you start to look, there's more taking place than you might realise, for the weekend 22-23rd September sees another clash - this time with Derbyshire Woodland Festival, held at Elvaston Country Park.

photo credit
Derbyshire County Council

As you might guess from the name, it will be focusing on woodland-related activities, with a wide range of crafts on display - wood carving and turning, furniture, bushcraft, willow weaving and sculpture - plus children's activities, wide variety of food stalls, birds of prey and shire horses. Also, there'll be an appearance by the Vikings of Middle England with a living history encampment, and Arbor, the 18ft part-tree, part-man!

photo credit, Derbyshire County Council

Photo credit
Derbyshire county Council

Circa Tsuica

The next weekend there's even more happening in Derby!

For over ten years Derby Feste has been brightening up the city centre in late September with a weekend of entertainment. This year it runs 27th to 29th September and will be celebrating 250 years of circus. From Thursday, Circa Tsuica will be pitched on Bass' Recreation Ground with several performances each day. On Friday evening there'll be 50s style sideshows and a Virtual Reality Playground in the Marketplace.

Compagnie Quidams FierS a Cheval

Saturday starts with a circus procession through town, followed by free events taking place throughout the day, and a parade of super-sized illuminated horses through the city's Cathedral Quarter in the evening, followed by a light show in the Marketplace to celebrate ten years of the Quad film and arts centre.





4-7th October is Folk Festival time for Derby, with musical events taking place at the Guildhall, the Cathedral, and City Marquee. Alongside these there'll be an arts and crafts fair on the Market Place, fringe events at the old Bell Hotel  - and a flashmob ceilidh, free for anyone to join in.







Over to Nottingham to round things off, with Hockley Hustle, held on Sunday, 28th October in Nottingham.

Nottingham cellist
Sheku Kanneh-Mason

It's an arts and community event, working with local promoters and creative groups, and raising money for local charities. There'll be music, art, food, and street performances, with over 300 acts performing at more than 30 venues - the organisers suggest you book the Monday off work! I can't get to Edinburgh Fringe this year, but it looks like someone brought it to me :)





Children aren't forgotten as there are special events and classes for 'Young Hustlers' - ranging from a silent disco to learning how to beatbox or DJ, and even how to improve your graffiti skills!

Hackney Colliery Band
 playing in the Spiegeltent

It's the furthest off of these events (over two months), and it's a little early for everything to be organised and ready to announce, so I'll be watching their FB page in the coming months for further details.

Harleighblu and Liam Bailey
with The UFO Orchestra

If I get to half these events I'll have had the busiest autumn ever! And then it WILL be time for warm sweaters, winter boots and Christmas shopping :)