Architecture, build it and they'll come

In another dream life I live in the big smoke. Which city? Well any of them to be honest, but at the moment it's London. I wander around from theatre to cafe and from river to park, I write, I snap, I breathe.

In any city it takes time to adjust to the proximity of so many people, the hurrying, the intriguing number of choices and the offerrings of consumerism. But when you settle into the endless stimulation your heart rate goes up, the blood rushes a bit faster, the brain kicks into gear. You feel yourself quickening, sharpening and responding to the world in a braver way.

But the biggest charge for me, is the scale and significance of the architecture. I connect with it instantly. Steeples, towers and bridges catch my eye and it's all up there where the trees usually are. I am looking up, I am elevated so I forget my feet. I am so rapt that I forget how far I am walking!

Isn't this what makes a town into a city? The quality of the architecture, the designers, the typographers, the planners? And again it's the conservationists who understand the importance of hearing the sounds and songs of our history through great buildings, streetscapes and gardens. Meticulously guarding heritage and encouraging experimentation from the very small to the royally grand.

And then we the people create the stories of the streets and villages within it. We add the heartbeat.





There's a previous London post here

News Flash!! This photo of the Shard taken that day was a runner up in the Open House, AJ, Gallery of Photography Photo Competition, 2013

It's the same sun, the same sky, and it's even the same me and you.

Everything about London and city life is a world away from my usual slow lane existence. I parted company with my camera (other bloggers/photographers will maybe understand) to spend proper quality time with other humans, and anyway I didn't want to carry it around. Travelling light, I thought.

London is wonderful. Full of cafes, art, trees, bridges, a great big river in the middle of it and skyscapes of magical towers and turrets. Wasn't long before the phone camera was produced and put into full use!!

Before I left home I had taken some Autumn sky shots. On the Thames I remembered our western view over towards the Commeragh Mountains. Same western sky, same sun, same me. Wherever we go I thought, and sometimes we travel a long way, this world is our home.

I thought about all of you who share your comments and thoughts. Those insights about the looming winter, changing seasons, and fading light, and also about your strategies to stay positive and close to the earth. It has been like a show of community strength in challenging times!

And speaking of travelling a long way, I am thinking of all of you Irish people around the world today, same sky, same sun, same you. We all belong here, wherever we are.

Hedgerows of silver and white as everything, including me goes to seed....

 

Strange days. Everything is changing. The hedgerows, only a few weeks ago full of inspiration and activity, are quieter. Some days I think nature will have little to offer an enthusiastic blogger with a camera, but luckily, so far, each time I find some treasure. Sadly today I came across a beautiful hare, now road kill, but completely perfect in every way. The lanes are sparse and brown, and the challenge of continuing the walks is greater.

My attention may well turn to more inward and interior observations. Like the one that the shortening days bring some gloominess to the view, like the one that many of us are struggling to find hope or to understand why, or like the one that the seasons are a powerful force that influence all of our moods and thoughts.

Next week I am hitting the big city of London! The balmy weather and the bright lights will probably turn all this "going to seed" talk upside down. I will miss the quiet silver hues and the golden western skies over the Comeragh Mountains each evening, but I won't miss the grey mist coming in from the Atlantic or the brown stalks, all that remains of the wildflowers that I love.

Packed noisy cafes with the strong smell of baking and coffee here I come! Art galleries, book shops and vintage markets are where you will find me but I will also sit on a bench and observe the wildlife of London in a small square in the sunshine......