Postcard from Huddersfield

one of the watercolor postcards I made.

I know it's been a while since my last blog post. . .  

We're still doing well over here, staying warm and enjoying the sunny days! 

Ray has a new recording of a piano piece he wrote, "Diagrams of Drawings Not Meant to Correspond." The piece was performed by Kate Ledger and the recording was done by Scott McLaughlin, both buddies over here. You can listen to it on his website at http://rayevanoff.wordpress.com/ it sounds great!

In cooking news, we recently found duck legs to roast, anyone have any ideas? I've been thinking something with citrus and cloves and a side of mashed sweet potatoes. . .  

More soon! 

Liverpool, part III

The Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is situated at one end of Hope Street, while further down the road is the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool. On our way to this, the Anglican Cathedral, we stopped by the Philharmonic Pub to see the stunning interior design and architecture, and to have a beer. The "Phil," as it is sometimes called locally, opened in 1898. It is very near to the Philharmonic Hall and it seems a popular place to visit after a concert. The inside is decorated with dark wood-panneled walls with reliefs. The floors are mosaic and the ceilings are stunningly ornate. There's a Grande Lounge room, as well as two smaller lounges one called, Brahms, the other Liszt. I've also been told that the men's room has elaborate marble urinals! But unfortunately it was little too busy in there for me to have a peek.

By the time we reached the Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ, it was growing dark. We made a quick jaunt down a tunneled ramp lined with headstones to the cemetery. It was quite beautiful. The headstones were kept mostly along the edges leaving the center open and spotted with trees. In a way it reminded me of the Unitarian Churchyard in Charleston. 

This cathedral was giant! It was designed by a young Catholic architect, Giles Gilbert Scott, who won the competition that was held to select a design. Construction began in 1904 and wasn't completed until 1978. Unfortunately Scott wasn't able to see it in its completion, he died in 1960 (wouldn't that be strange?).

Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool

Following our tour of the Cathedrals we packed up our things and went out for a very tasty dinner before catching our train home. 

Tired but very happy after such a lovely stay.

Liverpool, part II

In the afternoon we headed towards the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Cathedral, that was designed by Frederick Gibberd. Construction began in 1962 and it took five years to complete. The cathedral is sometimes referred to as "Paddy's Wigwam" because Liverpool was a place of refuge where many Catholic Irish fled during the potato famine. We made it there just as the sun was beginning to set and saw how beautiful the stained glass windows looked from the inside. 

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

Abraham!

a painting from a chapel in the cathedral

the stations of the cross designed by Sean Rice.

After viewing this cathedral we walked down Hope street towards the Anglican Cathedral

with a stop at the Philharmonic. . . more photos in part III!

Liverpool, part I

Liverpool is the pool of life. 
- Carl Jung.


On Friday evening we went to visit John and Mary Rose in Liverpool. It was only a 90 minute train ride and despite the snow we'd had in Huddersfield that day, all went smoothly. 
When we arrived in the evening Mary Rose had put together a scrumptious dinner for us. After a night of delicious food and good conversation we headed to bed, for the following day we would set out for adventure. 

the Banksy in town.

We started off the day with a visit to the Tate where I enjoyed seeing a Giacometti sculpture, Man Pointing, a Francis Bacon painting, Reclining Woman and a Henri Matisse, Nude Study in Blue, among many many others. It was great to see these works in person! The Tate is situated by the docks on the river Mersey and it is quite beautiful there (and windy!), it reminded me of standing on the Mississippi back home. Along the way John and Mary Rose pointed out historical buildings and I especially liked the story behind these Liver Birds. . . it is said that if they fly away the city will cease to exist. In the photograph you can see only one but there are two of them, one faces the city, the other, the water. 

(can you see the Liver Bird at the tippy-tip-top?)
Also, this clock face is bigger than Big Ben!

We strolled down Matthew Street where the Beatles were born and saw the Cavern Club (it was rebuilt in 1984) where John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr played in their early years!

Matthew Street

As we walked home for lunch, we passed this stunning Church (or rather, carcass of a Church). The whole inside was bombed out during the Blitz of the second World War. Currently it is used for art openings and even to show films. 

We made it home for a light lunch and cup of coffee before setting out to visit the two Cathedrals. . . more photos on the way!

birthday in Leeds!

This is a statue of Harold Wilson, a past prime minister of the UK,
in front of the Huddersfield train station. He looks quite jolly with that perk in his step.

Ray turned 27 on Thursday so to celebrate we spent the afternoon in Leeds, which is only a short train ride from where we live. We'd been to Leeds a time before, but it was nice to browse the shops on our walk to Oriental City, where we ate dinner. 

good old british telephone box.

Ray, looking very happy with his Chinese meal.

To the right is dim sum, I'd never had it before, but it's tasty,

kind of like a dumpling.

New Year's Resolutions.

I've been thinking and reading a lot about New Year's Resolutions lately.


Check out what one man did for 2008: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/26/132263637/perfect-thank-you-notes-heartfelt-and-handwritten

Happy New Year!

(A good way to start off 2011.)