Thursday Kew Gardens and the Tate Modern

On Thursday Noel met his daughter and her partner at Kew Gardens. They had a lovely day. For Noel the highlight was the temperate house. The main structure of this large Victorian glass house had a smaller annex at each end. It is the largest Victorian glasshouse still standing. Fascinating architecture. They had many Australian plants. The parklike grounds were beautifully maintained and the principal features were widely separated. Noel enjoyed less the high 30 C degree, high humidity of the palm house also constructed of glass.

I took th opportunity to potter a bit on my own. I wandered from where we were staying to Covent Garden area trying to keep to the laneways rather than the busy more direct roads. It was a lovely sunny day with many people sitting in pavement cafes. Somewhere along the route I saw some different pedestrian crossing lights. Instead of a green man indicating crossing was allowed there was an interlocking male and female symbol.

I crossed the river again and went to the Tate Modern. As background, in 2012 in Washington I was really interested in a room in The Phillips Collection that was purpose-built for 4 Rothko paintings, all similarly coloured but all slightly different. The smallish room just had 1 bench in the middle .There was a sort of progression from 1 painting to the next that invited contemplation ( well, for me it did). But why? They are just blocks of colour on canvas. In the Tate Modern there was a room, once again purpose built for a series of 9 paintings that Rothko made for the Tate. I sat a while thinking.

I came out of the Tate by a different exit to the way I went in accidentally and was momentarily geographically challenged. Where was the river, which direction was the hotel? Over the past years Noel has learnt when to say 'Right, Sue, time for some food for you'. But he was at Kew. So I ate a bit later than I should have.

In the evening we met Noel's daughter and her partner for a very enjoyable dinner.