DESIGN MUSEUM

On a misty London morning we ambled to the Design Museum to see the Alan Aldridge exhibition. It was organized through our school, but not mandatory.
I knew I needed to familiarize myself more with graphic artists, so I thought this would be a good way to do so.



I think I may have a bit of a fascination with London's popular attractions...

Some route scenery - the fake tree amongst real ones that Emilia pointed out..

From the Ex: Alan Aldridges... he did a lot of work for the Beatles and some book covers for penguin.


The man himself (below) .. I'm guessing this is a pretty outdated photo... but it was the only one on display.



Can't say I was attracted to his work, he did some pretty mean sketches.. but the children's book type illustration is not my cup of tea.

More visions of my surroundings during the stroll to the London Bridge tube station along the Thames.

Aaron + I (accidentally) get political

After a wonderful day of trolling about Portobello Market with my favourite housemates, Aaron and I went to Kensington High Street to look for luggage at TK Maxx (a British designer version of Winners) and Whole Foods. We were curious as to why there were police officers filling the underground station when we emerged, but didn't think too much of it.

We didn't realize until we had walked onto the blocked off protest grounds that we had just entered a political demonstration to stop the violence in Gaza. It was pretty surreal walking around while police lined up with their riot shields ready.




It was just beginning when we arrived, luckily we didn't stay too long, I read online today it turned violent and an officer was knocked unconscious and windows were smashed.

Follow the link for a bit more on the worldwide protests.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/10/world/main4712112.shtml

BACK W/ A BANG!!!

It was a lovely holiday in Canada visiting friends and family, but I'm glad to be back.

I started off visiting an Icebar with Emilia, during a random wander in Soho.
She had just returned from seeing family in Finland and I from frosty Canada.
So the Icebar was kind of a funny place for us to end up. It was -5 inside and we were given space like pullovers with fur lined hoods and elasti-tached mittens to stay warm.




The day after Yunnie, Emmi and I went to the Clink Prison Museum.

On the walk...


Here's some info from Wikipedia:

"The Clink was a notorious prison in Southwark, England which functioned from the 12th century until 1780 either deriving its name from, or bestowing it on, the local manor, the Clink Liberty (see also the Liberty of the Clink). The manor and prison were owned by the Bishop of Winchester and situated next to his residence at Winchester Palace.

It was originally used for the detention of religious non-conformists (both Protestant and Catholic, as English religious winds changed). At one point the Clink was reserved for priests who refused the Oath of Allegiance, but came to be used for people who broke the peace on Bankside or in Southwark's numerous brothels. The prison probably fell into disuse after the English Civil War, though it was described in 1761 as being "a very dismal hole where debtors are sometimes confined, but little used". The Clink was burned down during the Gordon Riots of 1780 and never rebuilt.

The name of the Clink is the origin of the phrase "in the clink" (meaning "in prison"). The origins of the name are uncertain, but it may have been an example of onomatopoeia, referring to the sound made either by the prison's metal doors as they closed, or the chains the prisoners wore. The Clink Prison Museum is currently located on the original site in Clink Street, in the basement of a former warehouse. The Clink Prison was the first prison in which women were regularly confined."

It was quite tiny and very eerie - dark and smelly!

Not sure how this shot happened!

Methods of deciding who was guilty back in the day...

Check out this hot prisoner broad!

Yunnie checking things out in the Clink

Yunnie being whipped by Emilia as they used to attached to this device back in the day.

Sitting in the torture chair... eeeee!

This dude is looking a little roughed up!

Sometimes the prisoners ate Rats because they were so hungry! If they ran out of money, since they had to pay for their accommodation/food.

The execution belt.. wouldn't want to have that thing strapped around me!

"Off goes her head" Yunnie chopping me up on the cutting block.

Next we walked along to the Borough Market, full all kinds of fresh goodies! Some scenery on the way:

Looking at the end of the Green Market

Fish, bleh!!!

After my raving about sourdough bread Yunnie was curious... so we both bought loaves!

Mmmmushrooms!

The Green Market. I spotted a hummus stand with crazy flavours of hummus, including Beetroot! What's with these Brits and beetroot. I ran into Elle MacPherson at Wholefoods looking for some beets the other day.

Emilia decided to purchase some Baileys cheesecake with a brownie base. Mmmm.. too bad it wasn't vegan.