BCAO Winchester excursion

Southampton, a city going back to Roman times. Launching place of ships such as the Mayflower and Titanic. The walking path to the train station takes one past some medieval city walls. Got to see the less than prosperous city center.

One of several old buildings

The town played an important role in providing supplies and additional ships when England was threatened by the Spanish Armada.

Some old wall
High street winchester
Claims to be the oldest eatery in England

Winchester, anglo saxon capital of england before the Norman conquest. By the 12th century London took on more prominence. Under the Normans the capital was where the king sat.

Painting above the fireplace is from the early 1500s

Fireplace is in a bakery in an old building facing the high Street. Old wooden floors sloping as usual

During the Saxon era, Winchester rose to prominence as the capital of the powerful kingdom of Wessex. Alfred the Great, a pivotal Saxon king, redesigned the city for better defense. Later, Winchester’s religious significance grew, serving as a bishop’s seat. While London eventually surpassed it in national dominance

Read blue sign

Unfortunately, QB‘s breathing is not as good today. No idea why the south is worse than London. It might’ve been the very cold walk from the hotel to the train

One of billions

Fortunately, QB’s breathing got better during the day and she’s OK now.

More
Music in cathedral, live

Hot tub discussion with nhs employee. Project manager for controlling costs. 45 minutes of what are the issues with cost, staff, entrenched management, etc. One tidbit; most gps have 5 minutes per patient time allocated.

Grilled seafood, yum

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BCAO Southampton

Early morning, breakfast with Bobby kens and then off to Victoria station to take the train.

However, when we got there, I found the train actually goes from Waterloo station. Southern Railway southwestern Railway they all seem the same.

Fortunately, we got to Waterloo in time

Naturally did not know which car to get on because the tickets didn’t say which coach and we were supposed to get on the coach that had an orange dot on it even the fellow passengers didn’t know which car was which, and which cars went to Southampton. 

That said an excellent train.

The most outstanding part of this trip as far as I’m concerned is that Sharon ‘s breathing has been good. Maybe the pollution of London?

Our balcony

Too cold to use it. 52 at photo time.

Take your pick

Hot tub has been the only disappointment with this fine hotel. They are calling maintenance to see if i am correct about the temp. Apple Watch does not fib!

Sea bream, cod, fixins

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BCAO. House of Lords tour, LBS AI mentoring

Late night at the opera. Early morning breakfast before heading to the tour so nicely arranged by Bobbikins.

Well, after getting up bright and early before the sun and having lovely porridge at Gales, the tour was canceled.

Some of the house last evening

We figure the lead soprano must be recovering for about a week. And an amazing performance and amazing amount of energy.

New local chain Vietnamese restaurant that just opened on Baker Street 
Launchpad- just like MIT 

The main difference is this is a student run club where the MIT group was an alumni run club for Angel investors of alumni from MIT

Tomorrow off to Southampton.

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BCAO. Shopping and steak- next day Opera

Morning, Sunday, barely, breakfast at Bobbikins. Walking and then nap and steak dinner.

Monday:

Went to the Caravaggio exhibit at the National gallery.

Downstair queue to get to the upstairs queue

After a 30 minute queue you get into the exhibit. It has two paintings and several panels of explanation.

Yes, the full exhibition is two paintings

For Dee
Explaination follows

The main piece:

His demise

Note awaiting commentary by Dee with explanation why we await Dee.

A Canaletto for QB

And one my faves

Incredible opera. I don’t know if this was the best performance ever, but it was certainly the best performance I’ve ever seen.

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BCAO museums again

BCAO. National Portrait Gallery , Palmer Gallery, Shopping, SMCG Muru and some of his pieces

Muru made this Penang soup just for me

A busy day was planned. Breakfast at Bickenhall Mansions (eggs and porridge promised), then an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery – an opportunity to see Muru as he is mostly living in his flat.

Extended london family
The penthouse downstairs

National Portrait Gallery

https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/the-time-is-always-now?_gl=1*8n5mu1*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwrIixBhBbEiwACEqDJRxK2tFAtST4tAe_-GNsYKg5Rbdc7cW0wdxVoDTwu3QoHjlM4GRD0RoCGm8QAvD_BwE

Not the artists
https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/the-time-is-always-now?_gl=1*8n5mu1*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwrIixBhBbEiwACEqDJRxK2tFAtST4tAe_-GNsYKg5Rbdc7cW0wdxVoDTwu3QoHjlM4GRD0RoCGm8QAvD_BwE

Palmer AI portraits

https://palmergallery.co.uk/exhibitions/11-post-photography-the-uncanny-valley-exhibition-02/overview/

On 17th April 2023, Boris Eldagsen won the Sony World Photography Award in London. However, instead of receiving the award, he confessed that the image he had submitted to the competition had been made in collaboration with various generative Artificial Intelligence systems

Available for sale in the gallery for 20,000 pounds
Interesting composition that looks like the burgers of Calais to me

Other AI works in the range of 1000 to 6000 pounds

Muru’s work

This and the following pictures are just a very small percentage of what is hanging on the walls on the floor and all over 

Covid work, lots of symbolism
That is usual style, but he likes to try many styles 
War, doll in textile
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BCAO Museums day

Started with unexpected rain for which we were not properly dressed. Had planned a lovely walk over to the Royal Academy, but taking the tube got in the way.

Stopped at a favorite shop of Japanese gardening and other sharp items

Arrived at the Royal Academy, slightly damp.

Royal Academy

Typical art

First voter
Terrible action of brides
Paris treaty with refused guests read rhs words

Fabulous exhibit of ships, cutouts, and colonial . Black art.

Ships first

Cut outs. The highlight by far of an excellent exhibit.

Words important
Each cut out had a short summary exactly like

Interesting pieces

Racist color palette
Read rhs words

Off to the Garden Museum and a Monet exhibit. Basically a bust

Some great gnomes there so not a total bust.

Great gnomes

The plan was the garden museum for Monet and dinner at the museum with…..

Dee in middle

Excellent dinner at the museum cafe

John Dory

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BCAO. Tate Modern and a bit more

Nippy weather today and forecasted for the week. QB will no be complaining about the heat.

Major installation at the Tate modern – recycled plastic three star stories high 
Special exhibit

https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/capturing-the-moment

Just liked it because on 108th St. 

Millennium bridge in the background 

Just some
One i liked

Exhibit was heavy on photography, some of it the most incredible color compositions put together. One of them was probably 25‘ x 10‘ made 1000s of pictures in color and completely seamless. Apparently took a year. Was homage to Hokusai

Local sushi place
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BCAO. Transit

Virgin Air this time.

In lounge, thinking of Bobbikins forthcoming lasagne

Having flown a number of the majors in the recent years , rating just for comfort of sleeping: Singapore, JAl, UA Polaris, Jet Blue Mint, Virgin.

Aligned like auto parking

Flight greatly shortened by turbulence leaving 40 minutes late and arriving 40 minutes early.

After fussing a great deal about the room, lack of things that we had sent notes about to prepare such as having a bathrobe and slippers and towels, amenities and other items working… It’s England. None of the staff seems to speak English or at least the version that we speak. That said they’re all trying hard but understaffed This time we returned to the Holmes unlikely we will come back here again

Lovely dinner withBobbikins

Cornish crab

Sea bream.

Dinner was at the Fish house a place we had been to in the past, but is now both lower in price and veteran quality according to Bobbikins.

Oh, central heating in London. The room was cold. Maintenance came up and said it’s is working fine summer temperature now the room was about 61°. We got a space heater.

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BCAO – Boogs Cross Atlantic Ocean

This is both an introduction and a test of the blog now that is moved to WordPress.

Luxury travel this time, not adventure sleeping in a different bed each night. Hopefully more relaxing and less likely to cause unexpected illnesses.

What we have left behind.

Cali to London to southhampton to nyc to RI

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testing this for the conversion to a new approach

Midnight Dinner Translated

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