All things bright and Christmassy

Tapestry - Edward Burne-Jones

Being on top of my Christmas shopping, and having finished all my singing obligations for this year, I decided to take some time out and visit a couple of exhibitions and include a walk. The details of the walk was ripped out of a magazine several years ago and has been sitting under my coffee table all this time. It actually turned out to be the best time for doing this particular walk with all the Christmas decorations up.

The first exhibition was Edward Burne-Jones at Tate Britain. I thought I knew most of his work, but oh no! There were many paintings I had not come across before. It was stunning, and walking into the room of Exhibition Pictures (1877-1898) was like walking into a warm bath for me! I just wanted to wallow in these wonderful paintings. One room was dedicated to the Series Paintings - The Perseus Series and The Briar Rose. Such beautiful art. Highly recommended.

After lunch in the cafe at the Tate I headed off to see the USA Embassy. I pass the building often in the train, and I'd heard there was a garden. The area (near Vauxhall) is still a building site as new apartments are going up around the Embassy in droves, and I did wonder if I would get close to it. Then I found my way into the gardens and was able to walk around the outside of the building itself. Very impressive close up. I shall return in the spring or summer and enjoy the garden.

From there I headed to the tube and Marble Arch where my walk began. This was undertaken through the side streets through Mayfair and St James and ended by Kensington Palace and Spencer House. I rather walked my feet off that day, but it well worth it. Everywhere looked lovely.

USA Embassy Gardens

Detail - USA Embassy

Mable Arch

Burlington Arcade

Near Berkeley Square

Inside Hatchard's

Blue Ball Yard

Spencer House

The second exhibition I visited was Good Grief, Charlie Brown at the Embankment Gallery (Somerset House). Ah this brought back memories of all those cartoons I used to read. The little gang, included Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Linus and Schroeder, Snoopy and Woodstock. I'd forgotten how much merchandise went with this and how many books there are now. Charles M Schulz's cartoons were global, translated into many languages. Knowing a bit about the man and his background I found his own anxieties came out in his cartoons, but with great humour. As I walked around I heard other people softly laughing (like me) at these cartoons. He brought so much pleasure to so many people over the years. If you want to know even more about Peanuts cartoon characters look here.