Distractions, reflections

As a visiting fellow to the University of Hull Centre for Systems Studies, I come to the area once or twice each year.  This time, Allenna arrived amongst the confluence of visiting systems scientists, and offered to share the experience with of a mini-syntegration.  The university has had some renovations since the last time I was there, with a new plaza completed just before fall term started.

Amongst the more traditional brick buildings, I noticed the modernity of the Enterprise Centre.

I liked the curve in the Wiske building (where humanities classes are taught) on the way to the Hull University Business School.

Since classes had not yet begun, the undergraduate reception desk in the business school was still closed.  Read more... (389 words, 13 images, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

Coming to Oxford in September is getting to be an annual event.  I did the tourist walk of famous Oxford colleges last year, so I decided to tour some more mundane sights this year.  The conference venue was St. Anne’s College again.

St. Anne’s is north of the town centre.  I walked south Woodstock Road.

Across the street, on the west side, is the Radcliffe Infirmiary.

After dinner, the more social attendees staying at St. Anne’s meet at the Royal Oak Pub just down the street.

Before arriving at in the main shopping area in Oxford, I noticed  St. Giles Church.

In the new world (i.e. North America), it’s not so common to have a cemetery so prominent on the church grounds.  Read more... (578 words, 34 images, estimated 2:19 mins reading time)

I had watched the movie The Other Boleyn Girl on a series of airplane trips, so when Martin and Nicola suggested that while we were in Kent, we might see Hever Castle — the childhood home of Anne Boleyn (the second wife of Henry VIII) — I was intrigued.  The village of Hever is so small that I might have missed it when we went through.  The castle is approached through a gatehouse.

Down the walk, the castle gradually emerges from behind the trees.

The gardens have a large collection of sculpted topiary.  I like the idea of topiary, but I sometimes puzzle what the shapes are supposed to be.

The variety of shapes leads me think about the natural growth from which the sculptors start.  Read more... (651 words, 31 images, estimated 2:36 mins reading time)

On this visit to the UK, Martin whisked me away southeast of London.  In Kent, one of the major historic sites is Chartwell: the former home of Sir Winston Churchill.  The estate reflects the Old English meaning of chart: rough ground.

Chartwell is operated and maintained by the National Trust.  For residents of the UK, gift aid admission enables the National Trust to reclaim some taxes on the amount.  This required a little paperwork for Martin and Nicola.

In the countryside, the main house is surrounded by luxurious lawns and gardens.

The house contains furnishings from the period when Churchill lived there.  Tours are given on a timed schedule.  Read more... (315 words, 14 images, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)

The welcome dinner for my class was an easy walk across the centre of Helsinki.  Kluuvi is the commercial centre with major stores (and katu is Finnish for street).  Part of the city centre has pedestrian malls, and bicycles are most expedient.

Without automobiles in this area, pedestrians have to watch out for oncoming trams.

Sculpture provided a scenic touch to the walk.

Approaching the harbour, the Esplanadi is a wide pedestrian boulevard with traffic running down both sides.

The statue of Runeberg is a landmark where birds conveniently perch.  Read more... (364 words, 25 images, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

I’ve been going back to Helsinki one to three times per year over the past five years.  On the past few trips, I’ve been staying at the same apartment in the city centre, just behind the National Museum.  I usually land one day early so I can get over jet lag, and do a little visiting.  On the way to the grocery store at at Kamppi, I came up to the plaza and noticed another in the ever-changing schedule of activities.

The Finns can make hockey a year-round sport.  I noticed that the goal post and net are a smaller target than in the winter.

On another rink, women were making aggressive moves with their hockey sticks.

The next day was rainy.  I arranged to meet Ritva at one of my favourite places, Kiasma: the Museum of Contemporary Art.  I assume that the large pink writing described the show, because I still don’t read Finnish.  The Kiasma web site describes a show called  Fluid Street.

These 2005 “Modified Social Benches” by Jeppe Hein don’t encourage visitors to lounge.  Read more... (804 words, 29 images, estimated 3:13 mins reading time)