Mrs Tara Plumbing

It’s not just the museums at Margate & Ramsgate which are facing the loss of grants this year.  www.ekmt.fogonline.co.uk

 The Arts Council is cutting funding for many Kent projects:

For example, you can read here what a Thanet based company have to say about their lose of funds:

www.chalkfoot.org.uk/acefunding.html

 The Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury is also affected.  www.kent.ac.uk/gulbenkian/

If you are a Thanet Resident who doesn’t know about the saga of the museum funding issues then you need to be looking at recent feeds:

www.thanetbloglist.co.uk/?page_id=58

The blog of Tony Beachcomber (which is almost always fascinating and makes people with metal detectors sound mostly interesting) tells you all you need to know - http://thanetbeachcombers.blogspot.com/2008/02/museums-issue.html 

 More information with a coating of political colours can be found on the various blogs of our councillers. eg

http://birchington.blogspot.com/search/label/Museum

Finally, I have completely revised my What’s On page - which serves at the T.P. family diary for local events.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Panto, Aladin, at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (sorry - the local offerings were less appealing) - there are shows for 3 more weeks. The actor Lloyd Hollett was really good and apparently he is from Margate. I got quite close to him as he fell off the stage, into my lap - we were in the front row - was this a part of the show or and accident?

www.lloydhollett.com

The ticket price was a little scary - no wonder the theatre was half empty. When we saw the show, however, we thought it was actually excellent value for money.

Far better to spend the Christmas budget on trips to the Theatre rather than presents no one wants and too much food - I think.

The show was more than 2 hours long (excluding interval). As well as the usual jokes, songs and banter. There were:

acrobats;

amazing magic tricks throughout - I was in the front row, I watched carefully and I don’t know how they did them;

very good impressions.

There is a lot to be said on the subject of unwanted presents - such as how they are upfor auction on ebay - some not even opened! http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article3108159.ece

What about the morality and economics of such waste? To quote another Times writer: Kate Muir “the British nation, have given around £1.1 billion worth of unwanted presents to each other over yuletide. That’s the GDP of Malawi..” http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3068426.ece

Back to school today just in time for Nativity Play dress rehearsals. Our son was off for a few days with conjunctivitis.

As he is 5 he was able to tell me his eyes were stuck together with glue.  When, at age 2, he woke up one morning with this condition he was very frightened -

“My eyes! My eyes! I can’t open my eyes!”he said rubbing them with his tiny fists.

This gave him time to hang around with his mum. Weekends and holiday times this may involve lots of fun, but when all the other children are at school I made sure he wished he was there too!

Over the past two days my young son has been luck enough to meet not one but two published Kent poets and get autographed books.

Firstly he met June English at the launch of her latest book - Sunflower Equations. I am no poetry critic so all I can say is they really are very good.

www.poetrypf.co.uk/juneenglishbiog.html

Sunflower Equations is published by Hearing Eye - http://hearingeyepoetry.wordpress.com/

- unfortunately their website is suffering problems but you can buy the book from Amazon, but, I don’t know why amazon want to charge you about £8 when the cover price is only £6.95.  ???

Master T.P. junior also met John Whitworth:

www.poetrypf.co.uk/johnwhitworthbiog.html

who gave him an autographed copy of the only book he has written for children - The Complete Poetical Works of Phoebe Flood. It was illustrated by Lauren Child the creator of Charlie, Lola and Clarice Bean. So, in exchange, son graciously offered John a copy of one of his old Charlie and Lola books (no child’s autograph required).

Speaking of Junior school children this brings me to the important subject of the 11+.

Residents/parents local to Kent are invited to complete a consultation on when the Kent Test should take place.

Currently it is in January. It could be changed to September, so that parents would know the results when they apply to secondary schools. To be consulted here is the link:

www.kent.gov.uk/consultations

Unfortunately, they do not seem to be asking the more important question, in my view - which is how quickly can we get rid of this terrible Grammar school system which does not serve the community well and is a system that the rest of the country abolished 40 years ago.

We went to see Invisible Bonfires by Forkbeard Fantasy at the www.theatreroyalmargate.co.uk . One night only, much anticipation and hype. Not sold out but a large audience for a Monday night.

The show consisted of about an hour of amusing, interesting and entertaining moments.  The show was an hour and three quarters, however, with no interval. I particularly like the animated story of the carbon weevil. Mr T.P. enjoyed the cast and customer interaction before the show.

By the end I needed to check out the loos but I could not bear to stay in the Theatre any longer. I crossed my legs for the drive home. Dangerous - as I was the driver.

If you are seeking more reviews I found these: http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/invisiblebonfires-rev.htm 

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/drama/reviews/story/0,,2177696,00.html

Mr Tara Plumbing and I are rather fond of Art and we are lucky enough to have visited many great Art Galleries around the world, such as

www.guggenheim.org , www.centrepompidou.fr , in addition to those in London and Edinburgh.

I can not resist telling you I’ve seen loads of Pollocks: 

 www.moma.org/exhibitions/1998/pollock/website100/index.html

So you might imagine that I would be excited about the prospect of a new Art Gallery being built on our doorstep, in Margate. 

Well, NO. 

Much as we have happily parted with many pounds to look at Art, I think we have parted with far more money in the pursuit of thrilling fun fair rides.  I have never planned a holiday specifically in order to visit an Art Gallery, whereas I’ve planned many weekends away around the Thrills of Alton Towers and Blackpool (even taken in Drayton Manor Park on route - roller coaster that you stand up on).  Returning to the attractions time and time again, spending money in the local eating and sleeping establishments.

As for day trips, over the past 16 years I may have visited Chessington World of Adventure alone more times than I have visited all of London’s art galleries (not exactly sure of this).

Based on the huge unrepresentative sample which is my family - people do not travel far out of their way to visit an Art Gallery unless the area has a lot more to offer.  People will travel to the back of beyond to go on unique roller coasters (do you know how hard it is to get to Alton Towers - there is nothing else there and it takes forever).  What is more - people actually return to go on the same roller coasters year after year!

How many people, from outside of Thanet, do you estimate would make an annual pilgrimage to Margate to visit the Art Gallery?

www.turnercontemporary.org/

So my point is a new Dreamland, if it was really good, could attract far more business and money to the local area than an Art Gallery.  Thanet is easily accessible for day trips and weekends for most people in the South East.  An amusement park which attracts mostly young people is the ideal compliment to the nightlife in the Margate.

Margate Dreamland and or Turner Contemporary are often discussed, it seems to me a lot of sensible comments were posted in response to this blog:  http://birchington.blogspot.com/2007/10/turner-extraordinary.html#comments

I can not imagine why any one would travel many miles to visit an Art Gallery in Margate when London has so much to offer.

www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery

www.royalacademy.org.uk

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

www.tate.org.uk

Filmed in Margate in 2006, will be shown on Channel 4, Monday 19th Nov. 9pm.

 www.themargateexodus.org.uk/home.php

 This art film was Produced by Artangel, details here:

www.artangel.org.uk/pages/past/06/06_woolcock.htm

Mr Tara Plumbing and I have been on the Artangel mailing list since 2004 when we went to see

GREGOR SCHNEIDER
Die Familie Schneider in London

Two east London Terraced houses had been made to look identical, and room were divided in to smaller rooms.  This is what Schneider is known for.  Visitors had to explore each house individually, by appointment only.  The atmosphere inside the houses was oppressive, creepy, scary, sinister - you just need to experience it.    In each house there were people - also looking identical - women washing up at the sinks; men masterbating in the showers; and some weird stuff going on in the bedroom. It was an experience I shall never forget.

www.artangel.org.uk/pages/publishing/pub_schneider.htm

If you happen to be in Australia within the next week or so, there is a Schneider creation on Bondi Beach.

I was searching to find out the local times for High Tide, when I came across this excellent website all about Broadstairs:

 http://www.stella-maris.org.uk/Broadstairs.shtml

Broadstairs is just a 2 mile walk from my home and I will be there frequently in August, for the Broadstairs Folk Week (see link on right) which starts 10th Aug. 

In good weather it is an ideal place for families to relax whilst watching the outdoor entertainment.  There is a free ‘family’ (children’s) show at the Bandstand every day from 11am.

What to do in Thanet on a rain June Saturday. Mr Tara Plumbing is at Wimbledon but unlikely to see any tennis, judging by the forecast.

I decided we should visit some local museums. R.A.F Manston history museum proved to be absolutely fascinating.  I have never been here before because I’m typically girlie with no interest in anything along those lines: trains, planes, etc. To me the main difference between the cars on the street are the colour - don’t talk to me about models, injections and engine size unless you want to test out my ‘eyes-glazed-over’ expression.

 http://www.rafmanston.co.uk/

Even to my eyes it seemed strange that on the bomber, the Buccaneer,  the seats were labelled ‘front’ and ‘rear’.  If they weren’t sure which seat they were sitting in I’m not sure they should have been on board!  How strange - but what do I know of such things? 

There are many bits of aircraft (real and model) in this museum, but lots of interesting stuff too.

As well as a significant military history, at its peak in the 1960’s almost 200,000 passengers passed through the airport on their way to package holidays. There was also an excellent collection memorabilia from 1940’s, with a re-creation of a wartime home. Our son did not recognise a tin bath and was interested to see a sink situated in a box, the dirty water simply ran into a bucket underneath. Lucky for our family, most people have greater plumbing aspirations these days!

There is a map and photos of the tunnels dug under Ramsgate to provide shelter from the bombs for up to 60,000 people.  And photos and narative of the local death and destruction.

You can’t get much for a £1 these days and yet that is the admission price! What a bargain, I highly recommend it as good value for money.

I was also very pleased to see that in the gift shop there were lots of inexpensive toys or souvenirs, which is something else that usually need to budgeted for in a day out with children. (”Usually” as it is not a problem I suffer, I have NO difficulty saying NO.)

It is next to the Spitfire museum see:    http://www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk/men/B-Manston.html

I had been here before, as I visit everything that has FREE Admission! It is not really free, because I always feel compelled to eat in the cafe there. This cafe is highly recommended, is always busy and has lots of space outside, when the weather is suitable.

On a similar theme, for those who may be interested: http://www.battleofbritainmemorial.org There is an annual memorial day soon and this is near Folkestone. 

Not quite the weather for it, any where in the UK!

Such a shame as there will be a production of Peter Pan in the Gardens of Quex later this week. I hope the weather improves.  We saw Alice in Wonderland there last year, by the same theatre company, it was an excellent performance.

              Thursday 28th & Friday 29th June at 7.00pm
             THE GARDENS OF QUEX HOUSE
              Powell Cotton Museum, Birchington, Kent. CT7 0BH

Free community transport available from Margate and Ramsgate to and from Quex Park: please ask about this service when booking your tickets

              Box Office: (01843) 280077

We are going to see the Peter Pan performance later in the summer, as they are touring many local venues.  You can find out more by following the link from my Whar’s On page.

Also on the What’s On Page you can find out details of an event to cellebrate 160 years of the Vegetarian Society in Ramsgate!

We made it to the Royal Academy of Art on Saturday (see my previous blog

http://mrstaraplumbing.wordpress.com/2007/06/01/hockey-at-the-royal-academy-of-arts/

).   It is a challenge to take a 5 year old to an Art Gallery.

Don’t touch (or lick) the paintings. Don’t run around the installations or sculptures. Be careful you don’t knock over that piece of Art, yes that stack of old brocken chairs. Don’t sit - that is not a colourful chair but a piece of Art! Yes you can sit here, it is not Art, it’s a bench. How do I know it’s a bench. To be honest, I’m not sure of the answer, but loads of other people were also sitting there.

So if an Art Gallery is just a place where you can’t do anything but be in trouble then it is not going to be a nice day out.

I find it is better to discuss what we see. “What is your favourite painting in this room and why?” Our son liked the black canvase with a ghostly whisp of silvery grey hinting at something that we couldn’t make out.

In the next room I challenged him to find the painting of the whale, in the next a painting of the chair with a big bra hanging from it!

I explained that sculpture is a type of Art that you can walk all the way around! He liked this a lot.

As for the the massive Hockney painting, our son just said, “wow!” as he walked into the room. It was really impressive, I am pleased we saw it.

As we were going to be in the Piccadilly area I went on to a very useful website to find out what local attraction might offer a 2 4 1 discount. We decided to visit the Wellington Arch, which is in the middle of the roundabout at Hyde Park Corner. This property is under the care of English Heritage. It has an interesting exhibition about the history of that area of London and a view over the wall into the back garden of Buckingham Palace. There was nothing hanging on the washing line. In fact, I think someone must have taken it down and I think I spotted some Union Jack boxers attached to a flag pole.

We travelled to London that day by train, with a railcard it was approx. £25 for the 3 of us, Which is not too bad, but I could have driven and parked in zone 2 for less, you can even park for free in zone 1 on Sundays. Children can travel free on London transport, so we just bought 2 bus passes for the day at £3.50 each. Each individual bus journey in the centre of London is now £2. So very expensive! I am telling you this, because it was impossible to find out the bus fares for central London on the internet. I knew we did not need to travel on the underground.

The cost of public transport does not encourage us to give up our cars and it is prohibitive to the poorest families. Recently, we investigated travelling to Worcester from Ramsgate by train, booking a long time in advance and travelling on a certain appointed off-peak train, the cheapest fair was £65 return! That is each!

Please take note of this, Mr Ladyman, MP for Ramsgate and with resposibilities for transport.

P.S.  I note the growing ruthlessness with which train companies are gethering fares has been reported widely lately and is a disgrace:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1969212.ece

“Britain’s biggest train company has told its guards that they will be disciplined and possibly dismissed if they show discretion to passengers who are unable to buy tickets before boarding because of long queues at stations.

… guards are judged according to the amount they collect in penalties. … treat passengers as fare dodgers even if they come up to the guard on the train and ask to buy a ticket. “

The guards must sell the most expensive adult ticket, with no discounts (eg railcard) even to children.  On BBC R4 it was reported that a woman with 2 children had to buy another ticket on the train because she boarded the train at the station AFTER the one named on her ticket! 

It would be like me getting a ticket in advance from Ramsgate to Victoria, but getting on at Margate instead.  Being told as I got on at a different station I would now have to pay the full most expensive adult fare.