Footnote to my November visit to Edinburgh

Hiya again

Washed out after a very busy time. This year has been madder than ever. Mind you, I'd rather be overactive and overbusy than the other way round. Thursday I attended the opening of a retrospective of George Steinmann's paintings, earth-art and photographs. I've known this Bernese artist (and rock guitarist) for a great many years. He's been a client of mine, too, and I've had the privilege of working with and for him for a long time. So it was a great pleasure to attend the opening of his show at Helmhaus in Zürich. Some of his pieces and photos are at http://www.george-steinmann.ch

On Friday, it was the Annual Assembly of NEFU, a network of self-employed women. Amazing how many women are contributing to the economy in their own micro-enterprises (I'm one of those, too). Very interesting talk by Monique Siegel, philosopher, writer, thinker. She has a great website (in German only, alas) at http://www.siegel.ch

I couldn't stay until the end of the NEFU event, because I had been invited to the opening of yet another art show, this time a memorial (sadly!) exhibition of works by the late Rémy Zaugg, a concept artist I had the honour of working for and with several years ago. His widow and his daughter have curated the show in his honour at Zentrum Paul Klee. While I have been involved in translating some of the texts for this exhibition, the English text on the website is not my work. Still worth a visit, though, if only to see some reproductions of Zaugg's works: http://www.zpk.org -> program -> temporary exhibitions -> Rémy Zaugg: My neighbour Death and perception (I did manage to convince them to take out the "the", but they didn't do it everywhere).

Saturday I spent all day, from ten to four, in the company of nine women and one man -- Writers' Works Berne. We're a creative writing group that's been going for about ten years. Last Saturday was dedicated to honing contributions to our third anthology. More about that later, hopefully.

Looking back I'm not surprised I'm tired. So, rather than push myself into a new job, I've been doing a bit of tidying up. And came across this wee diary entry I've had on my other laptop for weeks:

***
Queen Anne Café, Edinburgh Castle, Tue, Nov. 21, 06 – 1:10 PM

Waiting to be served butternut squash soup and a salad. And some water.
The castle is not included in my Edinburgh Pass, which was rather expensive to start with and is extremely commercial.
Have used very little of the Pass so far: a day’s bus rides and a half, last night’s Murder and Mystery Tour, which was entertaining, got me out of the B&B and into the city at night; and a couple of free admissions to exhibitions I could’ve done without.
Although the one at the Queen's Gallery was interesting enough. I learnt that Canaletto adjusted / changed the proportions of the Canal Grance etc. to suit the purpose of his views and compositions. And that he made dozens, if not hundreds of drawings before he proceeded to paint his dozen smallish paintings, with their exquisite detailing, and the two very big ones.
They're like photo-montages avant la lettre, very beautiful.

A small private museum in Baden, Switzerland, has a gorgeous collection of Canalettos, as well. I saw them last summer and found that environment really suited them perfectly. In either place, it's a shame they are hung too high and with virtually nowhere to sit up close to look at them long and in a leisurely fashion.


Scottish War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, Nov. 21, 2006

Away from the main nave I've come across a Celtic weave and Gaelic inscription. Across the nave, in a similar side 'chapel' there are bas reliefs of camel, ass, horse and ox, and the inscription, 'Remember Also The Humble Beasts That Served And Died.' I'm deeply touched.

Cities from all over the globe are listed on the walls – all the battles of WWI / II and armed combat since then.

Gallipoli
The Somme
Baghdad
Persia
Megiddo
Bretonneux
Hindenburg

Some of these names I’ve been associating with quite different [events and/or] things", a Zeppelin, for example, and rugs, and the totally illegal, totally destructive, totally counterproductive war GWBush's troops have been waging in Iraq since 2003.
***

More some other time. Cheerio!

P.S. That lunch at the Queen Anne Café was delicious, if rather pricey. One of the most beautifully presented leafy salads ever, and a fabulous soup.