Lure of the East

Went to the Tate Britain the other day, possibly for the first time since it became the Tate Britain rather than simply the Tate - very remiss, I know. Found the Lure of the East exhibition very beguiling. Like my favourite annual exhibition, the BP Portrait Award, it shares artistic interest with human interest. And, of course, in this case authorial research interest, shedding another kind of light on Cairo for me.

It's fair to say that the pictures are of mixed artistic merit, but most are interesting in one way or another. The galleries are thoughtfully arranged in themes that are not too wearying - opening with portraits in Eastern dress is inspired, though I have to say for me it just showed how wildly incongruous most of those who 'went native' (at least for a portrait) would have looked, particularly those of a celtic complexion who look almost blue in colourful silks that clash with their hair. Apparently, though, it's not unusual for the Afghans to be pale also. Jean-Leon Gerome's small portrait of Napoleon near the Cairo cemeteries was my favourite here - very much in his own dress and looking all the more striking for it.

Room 2 'genre and gender' is really just about the outside - and so male - spaces, with an occasional incursion by women, as slaves or as customers. Some lovely market scenes and a very good commentary on these available on the bench in the centre, but the most unusual room 2 picture for me is the cock fight where the cocks have been blurred into invisibility leaving only the audience.

Room 3 centres on Jerusalem, but also has some lovely paintings of mosques and churches in Cairo and Istanbul - not the most compelling room for me as few of the paintings contain people, and it leads into the really rather dull room 4 which has a rather too small screen of photographs from the three cities, and a rather too large screen with a map showing the movements of some of the painters and patrons, with the occasional scattergun historical event.

Room 5 is devoted to Harem and Home, with a very lovely screen casting evocative shadows all over the walls. Although, as ever, this exhibition fails to reproduce all the most interesting paintings as postcards or prints, they did choose wisely for their poster with a section of Arthur Melville's limpid Arab Interior, definitely my favourite image from an artistic standpoint. Why you can only get a postcard size reproduction of this (or the poster with writing etc) is beyond me - anyone else care to join the campaign to improve gallery shops? Their selection of 'Eastern' paraphernalia is also largely lamentable - yes the turquoise bowls are pretty but one can get them far cheaper elsewhere.

I was flagging by the final room, which contains some fine landscapes though I am dubious about the merits of aerial perspective in painted form. As you might expect, the gender politics of the exhibition are careful - credit to them for including comment from several Egyptians / Africans. It was interesting, and plausible, to learn that English women admitted to the Harem found it much more a family area and sometimes a retreat than male fantasy had created. I do find the arguments about the liberating impact of the veil harder to understand though - certainly there have been times when veiled women have been able to go where those with bare faces could not, but to argue that this is liberation seems disingenuous. A complex subject though, even without recent years history - I also enjoyed a recent BBC show about modern Muslim women which showed how elaborate and beautiful the veils can be, with colours, embroidery and complex knotting at the back.

Off for a week where I may or may not have internet access - more thereafter.

Words I would like to hear more of, part 1

I am a big fan of words in general. But it's particularly nice to hear one you don't hear so often. This week's word revival chez me is 'farewell'. Somewhere down the line it became all over-dramatic and Heathcliffesque, but it's really rather more friendly than 'goodbye' to my mind. You wish someone a good journey or even life, in effect, rather than saying it's good that they're off. I suppose you could take it either way though cos now I think about it 'have a nice life' isn't a great sentiment either...

As ever I turn for help to the Online Etymology Dictionary, which tells me that 'faren wel' (journey well) was said in Middle English, and the standard REPLY was 'good-bye' which comes from God be with you (godbwye)...

So we should be using both.

Did I mention that I love words?

Doughnut nemesis

And so, as promised, some thoughts on Alton Towers.

Thoughtlessly, Calke Abbey is closed on Fridays so although we had a nice meander around their extensive parkland our attempt at mature culture was thwarted. Likewise at Alton Towers my best intentions to explore the ruined towers and the really rather attractive gardens fell by the wayside in favour of more adrenalin highs (and an unreasonably long wait for lunch).

I have a confession to make. I will ride on (almost) any rollercoaster, but I don't really like the newer ones. They go so fast that my tendency is just to close my eyes, grit my teeth and hope that it ends without my neck compressing itself entirely into my spine. I did manage to keep my eyes open for the beginning of Nemesis this time but failed miserably on Rita Queen of Speed (no idea why they called it Rita but I like it). My favourite rollercoaster is the Runaway Mine Train - it's got sufficient thrills to be interesting but at a speed where you can see them coming; it doesn't cause physical pain; and you get to go round it twice! What could be better.

I am also a big fan of Hex, which makes you feel gently nauseous without moving you much at all - also very funny to watch people who haven't been on it before and don't understand that the room is moving round them not the opposite. And I love the spinning teacups - albeit they have now become piratical rum barrels - which are basically waltzers where you control the speed and direction.

The doughnuts are dangerous in conjunction with rollercoasters, but not to be missed in their soft warm fresh-baked state. Water rides are also incompatible with doughnuts, but very good fun - except that the water really doesn't smell too good... I advise mouth shut and waterproof jacket on. Oh, and the sudden appearance of a giant rubber duck out of the darkness on the flume can be nightmare-inducing if you're of a nervous disposition...

On a more serious note, this week sees the next vote on 42 day detention, which despite government 'concessions' still flies in the face of international human rights and undermines the values it purports to defend. You can see Amnesty's reasons why it's a bad idea here, and sign the 'not a day longer' petition here.

Sex & the City - postscript

Just found someone else who enjoyed S&C the Everyman matinee way - this is officially the top way to enjoy an afternoon off this week.

Also forgot to mention my personal favourite scene, where Big accuses Carrie of being the only person who still gets books out of the library and she says she likes how they smell. Shades of Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer explaining to computer teacher Jenny Calendar that knowledge should have texture and 'be smelly' - also in reference to his library books. I couldn't agree more.

Sex & the City - once more with feeling

A topic that cannot currently be avoided. In essence, if you like the series you will like the movie. A movie that faithfully replicates its own series is a lovely (and rare) thing. Very happily, it's a bit like they made another season of the show, which you can watch on the big screen.

The best way to enjoy it, as tested by myself and friend, must surely be as follows:

1. Enjoy some ritual pampering or preparation - I had just-stepped-out-of-a-salon hair, my friend had fabulous painted toenails.

2. Don't even consider watching this at your average cinema. At the everyman in Hampstead, for a price no more unreasonable than Leicester Square, you can have a comfy sofa and put your feet up with a G&T. Bliss. Now I just have to persuade them to stock cakes from their local bakeries...

3. Be comfortable, as above, with the fact that this is like the series. That's to say it's about friendships, fashion and romance. Plot is not really a huge feature - you may have read the outline in magazines e.g. 'Charlotte is pregnant' - that is basically her entire plot line, plus one comedy toilet incident. But friends are still friends, Carrie and Big still have the big dramatic romance (while the others have satisfyingly realistic relationships), and the fashion is inspired. My personal favourite is the stunning purple jersey dress Carrie wears when leaving her apartment, but there are so many to choose from.

4. After your lengthy and relaxing cinematic experience, prepare for a lengthy and relaxing digestion of it - Dim T is minutes from the everyman and does bento boxes (before 6pm) that are cheaper than the everyman's snacks, and can be followed by chocolate fondue - need I say more.

I think the only down side for me was the fur - anti-fur protesters are portrayed in the film, but as screaming frumpy lunatics - hardly Stella McCartney darling. Also, kudos to Carrie / SJP for not sharing her sex life. Yes there has to be some but it felt a bit like we were going round each couple's bed in turn at one point. Let's be clear though, i love this and will see it again, and again, and again...

Coming next...the report from Alton Towers. The life of a low key high flyer is not ALL about guilty pleasures though, honest - I cracked 100 pages on the draft novel this week (though unfortunately this draft is not going to reach 200 - i need some more subplots!)