Distractions, reflections

Distractions, reflections

David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders

2008/09/12 South Kensington, London

September 19, 2009
After I had spent a few hours at the Tate Britain, Ellen arrived in town, and we went for lunch.  She suggested an art show a little distance away, so we hopped on the Tube to South Kensington station.   As we tried to get oriented, we found ourselves outside the Henry Cole Wing of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

DI_20080912 102504 VictoriaAlbertMuseum HenryColeWing

Looking at our maps, the Science Museum seemed to be the wrong direction.

DI_20080912 102540 London ScienceMuseum

We turned the direction we thought was north, up Exhibition Road, finding another wing of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

DI_20080912 103106 VictoriaAlbertMuseum ExhibitionRoad

Since I have a Brompton bicycle, I was intrigued to turn down Brompton Square.  This neighbourhood isn’t a likely one for bicycle factory. Continue reading “2008/09/12 South Kensington, London“

2008/09/12 Tate Britain, London

September 14, 2009
Coming into London from the south suburbs for the day, I found my way to the Tate Britain.  I haven’t been to this art museum before.

DI_20080912 081540 TateBritain Millbank

I had read about “Art with Legs” in the Toronto Globe and Mail, so I was looking forward to Work No. 850, by Martin Creed.

DI_20080912 071452 TateBritain MartinCreed WorkNo850 sign

The sign reads:

Work No. 850 centres on a simple idea: that a person will run as fast as they can through the gallery. Each run is followed by an equivalent pause, like a musical rest, during which the grand Neoclassical gallery is empty.

This work celebrates physicality and the human spirit. Creed has instructed the runners to sprint as if their lives depended on it.

So, I wasn’t surprised to see  a runner dashing down the long hall.

DI_20080912 071012 TateBritain MartinCreed WorkNo850

I moved over to the side, and a few minutes later, a different runner came through the hall. Continue reading “2008/09/12 Tate Britain, London“

2008/09/10 National Railway Museum, Yorkshire Wheel

September 13, 2009
The conference dinner for OR50 was scheduled at the National Railway Museum in York.  As we approached the venue, the size of the Yorkshire Wheel became apparent.

DI_20080910 140326 YorkshireWheel

The material and techniques to construct the wheel should have been low in complexity, given today’s technology.  The form, however, is still impressive.

DI_20080910 140448 YorkshireWheel

I had arrived on one of the later buses, because our driver got lost on the way.  Most of the other attendees had already had their ride on the wheel.

DI_20080910 142010 YorkshireWheel queue

Each pod seats up to 6 people. Continue reading “2008/09/10 National Railway Museum, Yorkshire Wheel“

2008/09/10 Walking tour of York: Shambles and City Wall

September 12, 2009
Included in the OR50 program was a selection of social activities.  I chose the walking tour of the City of York.  The core of the city is ringed by walls dating back to Roman times.  I doubt that original wall were constructed sufficiently wide to permit today’s normal automobile traffic.

DI_20080910 105130 York citywall

The bus dropped us off near the Yorkshire Gardens, and we walked towards the town centre, along the inside of the wall.

DI_20080910 105600 York citywall walk westward

We started our walking tour by the lawn by the wall.

DI_20080910 105226 York wall lawn

Just before crossing the Lendal Bridge, we could look down onto the road beside the riverside.

DI_20080910 105252 York LendalBridge lower

The passing centuries inside the city walls have allowed the maturity of urban forestry. Continue reading “2008/09/10 Walking tour of York: Shambles and City Wall“

2008/09/10 University of York, Yorkshire

September 10, 2009
I was at the University of York — at Yorkshire, not York University in Toronto! — for OR50: The 50th annual meeting of the Operational Research Society, centered in England.  As one of the top universities in England, I was impressed by the Heslington campus.  The plenary session were held in Central Hall.

di_20080910-054936-york-centralhall

When in the conference was in session in the lecture theatre of Central Hall, the scenery of the lake right next to it isn’t apparent.

di_20080910-055422-york-centralhall-lake

On the lawns by the lake, the ducks have settled in at home.

di_20080910-054824-york-lawn

Near the northern perimeter of the campus, Alcuin College was the choice for conference accommodations. Continue reading “2008/09/10 University of York, Yorkshire“

2008/09/08 Beverley, Yorkshire

September 8, 2009
Beverley — a market town, with a long history in Yorkshire — is where some of the professors at the University of Hull live.  After a day in seminars, we chose the town as a destination for drinks and dinner.  There’s been a market cross in Beverley since the 1700s, although the current structure must have been constructed more recently.

di_20080908-130208-beverley-marketcross

The market only happens on Saturday morning, so the space is a parking lot for the rest of the week.

di_20080908-130310-beverley-marketcross

The street named Toll Gavel may have been where road charges were paid in the 13th century.

di_20080908-130340-beverley-tollgavel-shops-visitors

As is common in most small British towns, stores don’t open late.  Window shopping is the only option. Continue reading “2008/09/08 Beverley, Yorkshire“

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