Muse by Craig Ranapia

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Muse: Postcard from London: Lines Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, May 25, 2012

36 Responses

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  • Juha Saarinen,

    3/5 for effort. There are, not there is.

    We didn't really need to know about your caramel nuts being burnt either.

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Never mind - you should enjoy my tale of ticket office extortion at Tate Britain today. I fucking didn't.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    While you're still in London, have you visited Senate House - the one made (in)famous by George Orwell?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    Very good, Craig! I can picture all of that, and it both makes me want to be there, and makes me want to run away from anything like the scene you paint.


    ETA: Also, thank you for the postcard from Liverpool! It reminded me of a particular cultural experience there that is still blowing my mind a little. Not in a good way.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    While you’re still in London, have you visited Senate House – the one made (in)famous by George Orwell?

    Rather hard to miss - staggered past on the way to the British Museum if that counts. Please expect months of wailing and gnashing of teeth over everything you couldn't possibly do in four days. It's the question: Do you do a lot of things on the trot. or swallow hard and decide to spend half and full days somewhere?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    Do you do a lot of things on the trot.

    Fill your memory banks with colour. Sounds like you got good weather Craig.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Jos,

    Pics or it didn't happen

    Whakatane • Since Jan 2012 • 877 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Craig - you may already encountered this place, But sir John Soane's house is a treasure trove. Entry free. A host of antiquities (let us not enquire how obtained) and the use of colours from Etruscan tombs - all the rage when he was building.
    He was an architect, and he had a thing about mirrors- well worth a couple of hours-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    The building that Hitler had earmarked for his London HQ? I had a temporary office on the 4th floor when I was on sabbatical in 2007. Creepy building!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    The last rays of the sun beautifully peep
    Round The Eye the South Bank lion ignores still

    A Waterloo Sunset? {also triggered because the original 'Lines Composed...' always puts me in mind of the song, and also because its magnificent]

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Conrad Heine,

    Bear in mind that the extortionate ticket prices for temporary exhibitions (and the ripoff restaurants etc) at the likes of Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Gallery, V&A, British Museum etc etc, to a degree subsidise awesome and free permanent collections. You'd have trouble filling four weeks, let alone, four days. This year, I'm ignoring the temps.

    And I concur: the Sir John Soane Museum is London's most fabulous hidden treasure. The Hogarth panels especially.

    London/New Zealand • Since Mar 2008 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Conrad Heine,

    Bear in mind that the extortionate ticket prices for temporary exhibitions (and the ripoff restaurants etc) at the likes of Tate Modern, Tate Britain, National Gallery, V&A, British Museum etc etc, to a degree subsidise awesome and free permanent collections.

    Sure - but what I got fucked off about was having a Gift Aid loading put on my ticket without being asked or having it explained to me. I'm going to de-spleen a post as soon as I've had dinner, but if they're pulling this on half the 3 million plus non-UK visitors to the Tate in 2009/10 (the last year figures are available) -- who can't actually benefit from the Gift Aid tax credit.... Well, it's one hell of a scam.

    I was ready to rip the clerk a new arsehole until a thought passed my brain-rage barrier: You know, he's probably doing exactly what he was trained to. Gave him the gimlet eye instead, and suggested he look up "donation" on his tea break.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Please expect months of wailing and gnashing of teeth over everything you couldn't possibly do in four days. It's the question: Do you do a lot of things on the trot. or swallow hard and decide to spend half and full days somewhere?

    I've heard it's also a bit like that in New York or Tokyo - 4 days is way too short. 4 days in Los Angeles, on the other hand...

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    London demands poetry.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    "I’m sure there’s many things more fair:
    The smell of burnt caramel nuts drift by
    As gaggles of giggling chavs seek their destiny:
    This City does, like a sweaty garment, wear."

    London has so many smells, all trying to break through. It's a cool poem. Well captured.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    4 days in Los Angeles, on the other hand...

    Beats an hour in Palmerston North.
    And Craig, thanks for the delightful postcard of you and David on a bike.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Attachment

    As seen here.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    That's a picture of you and your dad man. Your Dad smoke and rode. Respect.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Jeremy Eade,

    On an old situp&beg woman's step-through with half-chain guard too! Waua!
    But - what is the contraption mounted on the front wheel?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade, in reply to Islander,

    I wouldn't insure that guy.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Islander,

    Looks like a Solex motorised bike to me. I used to see them toodling around Christchurch,

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Jeremy Eade,

    The kid is kind of vulnerable to chain-mangling too-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Attachment

    Looks like a Solex motorised bike to me. I used to see them toodling around Christchurch,

    The one Solex pic I happen to have, from 2009 scooter run. Not made for hills.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade, in reply to Islander,

    The english are crazy.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Not made for hills.

    Nor anywhere else in ANZ except round v. flat ChChCh suburbs...
    one of my brothers once made family history by running away to Oamaru (from North Beach!) on one - took him nearly a day & a half...

    And Jeremy Eade? You are __not__wrong!
    It's a kind of crazy which doesnt afflict the dour-but-warm-heartedvengeful&cantankerous lot my Lanchashire forebears were - but sometimes I relish it...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

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