Arcadia at the Duke of York’s Theatre
Tom Stoppard created this incredible story of events at an English manor house in the early 19th century and then superimposes an attempt by various experts in archeology and history to determined what actually happened. The audience has the benefit of having “observed” the historic events and thus can simply laugh or shake our heads at the misinterpretations of the current day “experts.” Stoppard is a wonderful storyteller, managing to weave Lord Byron and Lady Caroline Lamb into the story in a way that thoroughly befuddles the latter day experts.
Old Favorite with New Reasons to Visit
On a Thursday afternoon, I was heading towards the Wellcome Collection, when I decided to stop at Saint Pancras New Church. To my surprise, a concert was taking place there.
To my delight, I learned that these concerts, by talented local advanced degree students, took place every Tuesday and Thursday. I have been back for two more, since.
The Wellcome Collection Helps Us See Aging Through Different Eyes
Another favorite local venue is the Wellcome Collection. It is just a short walk from Saint Pancras New Church and is also convenient to Euston Intercity Rail and Underground Station. I went to visit their exhibition on aging around the world and met two delightful gents, a fellow and his carer (or aid, as we would say in America) at the Wellcome Cafe where I stopped for a coffee. We had a nice chat before I went on to the exhibition.
I travelled through this exhibit and thought about life, my life, growing older, the joys of living a full life, the things that lay ahead, and most importantly, staying connected and making new connections. I was reminded of the words of the late American basketball coach, Jim Valvano, who, while fighting an incurable cancer gave this advice, “don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” I think that encapsulates how I felt after visiting this exhibition
The Tate Modern-Annoying but Unmissable
I love the Tate museums, but the Tate Modern always seems to be ina state of flux. I can’t find my “old favorites” but I’ll find something new and delightful. It also has a great Members Cafe overlooking the River Thames and Saint Paul’s Cathedral that always makes a visit worthwhile
Another Sunny Day at Craven Cottage (Another Fulham Loss-Showing Progress)
The All Whites got off to a better start than Transport for London (TFL), the group that runs the busses and trains. They did not mention that the maintenance would close down the only way fans could reach Fulham’s home, Craven Cottage. There was complete chaos outside the Earls Court Tube Station as hundreds of fans tried to find seats on the insufficient “replacement bus service.” After Fulham’s loss, the “fun” continued, as fans and opponents alike, crowded on to buses to try to make connections. I did meet a nice lady from South London and a visitor from Canada on the sweltering bus ride, though.
Winston Churchill-Artist At The Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a delightful small museum with a wonderful mixture of paintings, furniture, ceramics, weaponry and armor in what was once the home of the Marquesses of Hertford, Hertford House. I visited to see an impressive collection of the paintings of Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.
Sorry, I do not identify more of the pictures. I was pleased to see the picture of Igham Mote, a stately home I have visited with my dear friends Nigel and his (late) wife Gwynne Grant.
As noted above, there is quite an eclectic collection at the Wallace, below are a few more pieces.
September 11, 2026 – The Weiner Holocaust Library
As September 11th dawned, I found myself gripped by the melancholy of the 25th anniversary of the unspeakable acts of terror visited upon the United States that dreadful day. It felt wrong to go about the day, as normal, so I chose, instead to visit a place that reminds us of the cruelty our world survived over 50 years before 9/11/2001. I visited the latest exhibition at the Weiner Holocaust Library in Russell Square London. This exhibit detailed Nazi Slave Labor which became a more and more important source of labor as the German war machine faltered.
Let us all hope and pray, even after Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and all the other atrocities the world has survived since World War II, that we can truly say with conviction, “Never Again”.
