Acetaia Piglet

Piglet recently made their first visit to an acetaia in Modena, and learned all about the process. Here you see them guarding the oldest barrel.

Here Piglet looks proudly at the final product. With thanks to Acetaia Gambigliani Zoccoli!

Spotlight on Teatre Grec Piglet

Looking through some old pics I found this one of Piglet in Barcelona in 2015 when we visited the Teatre Grec amphitheatre. In fact, it's not very old. It was built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition. It fell out of use for a while but these days it is the focal point of the summer GREC Festival. The place was completely empty on the crisp December day we visited. Piglet was thus able to be the focal point of the photo!

San Siro Piglet

Although we weren't able to attend an actual football match, there is still something to be said for visiting an iconic stadium. The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is the biggest stadium in Italy, and home to both Milan teams. I don't really have a preference, although in the era of the great Dutch footballers that played for A.C. Milan (Gullit, Rijkaard & Van Basten) I was definitely more red than blue. And now they have Zlatan, my (not-so) secret love. So ...

Anyway, it was a thrill to get to see the San Siro in its concrete flesh, and thanks to Ire for driving me there and Piglet for posing.

It's All Relative - Da Vinci Code Piglet

Yesterday I somehow found myself back on Flickr, browsing through 124 old photos of mine that still sit in a gallery waiting for attention. This photo of Piglet in the courtyard at the Louvre, so tiny against the lamp-post, yet as tall as I M Pei's pyramid, helps to remind me that sometimes it is all about perspective.

Wishing you all a safe & healthy week!

Routemaster Piglet

I do so love an old Routemaster, especially when it is a Number 9. Piglet is also clearly riveted, and posed for me I think when we saw a stationary example on the Strand one afternoon. Approaching the end of 2021, my mind is wandering through random memories. 

Seeing this photo reminds me of when there were no traffic lights at Hyde Park Corner, and you could stand on the platform as the bus took the Corner, holding onto the pole with one hand, and leaning out to swing round with the bus, jumping off as it turned left into Knightsbridge while the conductor shouted at you. Hard to accept how long ago that was!

Marble Arch Mound Piglet

I had some time to kill before the rehearsal, and there was this strange-looking mound by Marble Arch where usually there are provocative sculptures, so I thought I'd climb up and see the view. It's not much of a view, and turns out that the Marble Arch Mound is also maybe a bit of a disaster, at least according to the Guardian, the BBC online and Forbes magazine.

On the other hand, Matthew Green, Westminster Council's cabinet member for planning, business and licensing said, "it's a fantastic celebration of arts and culture, which are central to the City of Westminster's unique role at the heart of London."

All I know is that climbing up and down the c. 130 steps (very bouncy scaffolding - thought it might break at any minute) was good for my heart. The view from the top, though, was rubbish. The new building at the start of Edgware Road is taller than the mound. Green treetops of Kensington Gardens with the Knightsbridge Barracks barely visible in the distance over the leaves, a bit of a view of the beginning of Park Lane, and then off in the distance you could see about half of the Shard and a quarter of the London Eye. Could barely see Marble Arch itself, or Oxford St, or some Xmas lights, or the point. A mound is not a hill. It's just not high enough for any interesting views.

And finally, there was the lightshow. Two kind young docents opened the curtains for me to stumble into a dark room with geometric patterns in various boxes. Piglet enjoyed it very much. When I finally found the exit curtains, I needed to lie down. And then it was time for the rehearsal.

Piglet Returns to Modena

The pandemic has certainly curtailed his travels, but after Piglet returned from his day trip to Milano, he stopped to admire the chimney at the former tobacco factory in downtown Modena. Here's hoping that he'll be able to head out on another journey soon!

 

Piglet Retrospective XIX

 

PSA - PIGLET SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT

Here is our friend Piglet, basking in the sun on the beach at Eastbourne. Many of us are hoping for beach holidays this summer, especially after such a difficult year. However, it may not be safe yet. If you get the chance to go to the seaside, please do be careful. Wear a mask and keep some social distance. Piglet doesn't have to since he's not a sentient being. But we do. It's still possible to enjoy the water, the sand and the sun. Have a great summer!

Piglet Retrospective XVIII

For the people of the United States it is a holiday weekend, celebrating Independence Day. Piglet is pictured here aboard a facsimile of the Mayflower ship in Plymouth MA. He is dreaming of a country that lives up to the ideals that motivated its founders, and he is humming a little ditty that goes like this:

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

There is always hope. As Rabbi Tarphon wrote, you are not obliged to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.

Piglet Retrospective XVII

I'd like to say that this post of Piglet is in solidarity with the Euros Round of 16 footy match tonight between Croatia & Spain. However, tbh, Piglet isn't that much of a fan. Of course he has been to Loftus Road several times (#COYRS) but that is more a family loyalty than any real interest. 

Meanwhile, this shot recalls for me my very first trip to Italy. It was a lovely birthday gift of a long weekend in Rome with my mother, and I remember that when Piglet was done posing, I cooled off in the fountain at the bottom of the steps.

Piglet Retrospective XV

The day that Elvis met Piglet at Graceland. Clearly a bucket-list moment for them both. We took this for a birthday card for my father, who spent his first years in Mississippi in the town of Baldwyn MS with the wonderful Gorden family (whose son Phillip was born in Tupelo in the same hospital & 2 weeks apart from Elvis). As you can see, Elvis was thrilled to hear of this connection.

It was quite wonderful to see Graceland. And you may remember from my February post that this was also when I was chased by the security guard, who thought that I had stolen Piglet from the graveside collection of fuzzy tributes. 

Piglet Retrospective XII

 

It has been rather a while since we went on a trip to see friends and did anything touristy. It may yet be another while before we can do it again. Meanwhile, as the new James Bond movie prepares to open, the trailers show that they filmed some scenes in the town of Matera. Let's just say that Piglet got there first.

Piglet Retrospective XI

 

This is one of my all-time favourite Piglet pics. Very An Affair to Remember (or Sleepless in Seattle for the slightly less ancient). This view from the top of the Empire State Building includes the World Trade Center towers, Liberty Island (with a teeny tiny statue) and my beloved Flatiron building amongst others. It evokes a lot of memories.

Piglet Retrospective X

 

Feeling the need to escape from everything at the moment - too many plates spinning and don't want any of them to smash. The most random thing that came to mind was the Atomium. My mind is now in Belgium. Here is Piglet's view from a birthday bus tour of Brussels. 

Piglet Retrospective IX

Oscars have been announced. Nominations apparently more diverse than ever before. To be honest, with all cinemas closed here, and without a Disney+ subscription, we have no idea who anyone is or what they were in. O, wait, we did watch "Mank". A very long movie that for some reason reminded us of "Citizen Kane". Except that was shorter. Although, surprisingly, only by 12 minutes. 

Anyway, good luck to everyone. Piglet dreams of a time when once again we may leave town and take tourist pics of famous sights.

Piglet Retrospective VII

Thinking about loss, and anger ... this week I attended a funeral and shiva prayers for Rosita Rosenberg & Walter Kammerling. They were not people to whom I was especially close, but each played a positive part in my life and work. I was greatly touched by the love with which they were memorialised. 

Somehow, this moved me to reach out to another mentor, who broke off our relationship in anger many years ago. I read recently that she is unwell, and sent her a message this evening. It wasn't so easy - I was afraid she would still be angry, & she is a passionate person. Then I thought, what's the worst that could happen? If she doesn't want to reconnect, that's how it will be. So I wrote.

In this frame of mind, today I share a Piglet pic from Disneyworld c. 2006. I am usually very clear that I do not like the Disney version of Winnie the Pooh characters, and am utterly loyal to E.H. Shepard's designs. Piglet himself, however, decided to connect universes that were formerly parallel, as seen here when he posed with Eeyore, Pooh & Tigger during our visit. My ears should hear what my Piglet is saying. Reach out if you still have the possibility.

Piglet Retrospective VI

 

I miss the Tube. I even miss the Northern Line. The idea of public transport being a safe way to travel seems so far away. So here is a picture of Piglet on the platform at Highgate, waiting for the train to Finchley Central. In fact, this is probably what the station looks like as you regard the photo - empty. (If people in Italy ever get vaccinated) I do hope to use the Underground again. Stay safe & well y'all.

Piglet Retrospective V

It's February already? Wow. Let's start the month with a bit of February fun. This photo is from a visit to Graceland. This is one of the entrance gates whence you walk up to the house. Can you spot Piglet? & can you spot me?!

I think I need to make this a twofer, as there's a second shot that goes with this one. Apart from looking around the house itself, it is also possible to visit Elvis's grave. Here is Piglet paying homage:

Nu, after taking this photo, I picked Piglet up, put him back in my pocket, and headed towards the exit (the Union flags weren't mine so I left them there. Lucky coincidence). I was all shook up to realise that I was being chased by a security guard, and even more surprised to learn that she was accusing me of stealing Piglet from the graveside. Luckily, there were some photos of Piglet in other places on the memory card of the camera so I could prove that I'd had him with me beforehand. So the guard enjoyed the slideshow, then sent me on my way.

Happy February y'all!

Piglet Retrospective IV

 

Just another pig in the crowd, eh? QPR are live on Sky again tomorrow, so the nation and fans across the world will be able to see how we do. We don't have a great record on tv, but who knows. Part of the beauty of football is that anything is possible when the whistle is blown to start the match!

In this pic Piglet is in the Upper Loft with me. I think we might have been playing Chesterfield, but can't quite remember. Looking forward to the time when it will be safe to do this once again!

Piglet Retrospective III

 

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. Piglet visits The Empty Library memorial created by Mischa Ullman. 

In memory of all who suffered, with the hope that one day soon we will actually learn from the past, and eradicate the fear and hatred that causes such pain.