Margaret Hale Academy of Tea-Pouring & Wallpaper Selection at the University of Milton Northern

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Welcome to our new common room which, as you would expect, is decorated in impeccable taste (despite the limited choice of wallpapers available in Milton Northern). Above the marble mantelpiece hangs a portrait of the Vice-Chancellor of the University. As we recline elegantly on the chaise longue, we partake of tea and ratafia biscuits and discuss the works of Plato, although in the evening the finest wines and Polish cordials may be served.

Evening all.

I am hoping to get to that play, Massive as I am a regular at the Old Vic, doncha know. It was reviewed on the wireless tonight - I hope that doesn't mean it will sell out.

We'll cobble something together I expect. Mr M has some hols coming up so maybe he can do a bit of man to man bonding with them. They have been out most days this week with friends -- soon that may rebound on me.

I thought you might want to go when I read about it, Maud, it looks interesting, and you never know who you might run into in such cultured circles.

Mummy play-dates - our Academy get together, and all going well a trip to the aforementioned Tracey Emin exhibition at the Hayward Gallery.

Luckily DD has quite a few friends whose mums I also see socially, so will get a fair few 'play-dates' in by default!

We were in the vicinity recently and saw the billbaoards outside, so I added it to my wish list. I'm sure we've seen Mr Spacey on stage before - although I can't now work out when and where - and have always had a soft spot for the play.

Yes I am sure I remember your seeing Mr Spacey before, too, Maud

Do you like Tracey Emin, Spiro? TBH she always seems a bit Emperor's New Clothes to me. although perhaps more old clothes than new.

Unless she's mellowed a bit since I last saw a report on her work.

TBH Massive, I know very little about her beyond the unmade bed and the tent with her ex-lovers name embroidered on it.

However, I was looking at a video review of this exhibition which covers most of her career on Times Online the other night and it looked brilliant. Very Pop Arty in places and lots of work incorporating words, phrases and text as a design element which is very much my kind of thing so I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

No, no, no. I wasn't messing about or alluding to his role as compere of a recent show you might have seen mentioned in the yellow press. Ahem. I have a very clear memory of having seen him on stage, in the days when Bloke and I went to the theatre a lot, in something American and mid-century but had failed to pinpoint what it was. But now - ta da - I have just worked out that it was The Iceman Cometh.

I'd quite like to see the Tracey Emin show ::groovy emoticon:: although my taste in art is generally more traditional.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what I think were described as 'light poems' - phrases styled to look like handwriting made out of neon tubes.

Yeah, Spiro, I like anything with inscriptions or lettering too.

I guess for me it's the combination have of having dabbled in graphic design as well as journalism, but I've always been fascinated with lettering, even since I was quite a young child.

I'm always drawn to designs incorporating text, be it from cushions to mugs to handbags and clothes. I've picked up loads of bits and bobs over the years with a newsprint design - even my camping chair!

phrases styled to look like handwriting made out of neon tubes

Now that does sound interesting. My beef with the more outre forms of modern art is that it seems to be all idea and no craftsmanship.

Sorry to cast naughty nastertiums on your cultural past Maudie, I should have realised that you were bigger than one Brief Encounter.

Which might also be a good title for that pic of Lucas in the concrete shelter wot you have on speed-dial.

Right Ladies, I shall bid you goodnight. I'm working on a little project that I've just transferred to laptop and need to update all the file location before I can crack on with it another time, so must get on and then get to bed!

Night night - sweet dreams (I wish - never bloomin' happens)

Night Spiro, I do hope you get lucky Must go myself too, gotta be up early tomorrow.

Nighty nighty to you and Mr T. too, Maud.

Ha! You see, Massive, I have always found Mr Spacey a very compelling actor. I still wobble at the recollection of some moments in American Beauty. I think I can live with idea and no craftsmanship if the idea is good enough. It's the half-baked and puerile idea and no craftsmanship that I struggle with.

Snurk at Brief Encounter.

Ha! Made you look, didn't I?

a very brief encounter...

B*gger, caught red-handed!

...a not so brief encounter!

No wonder Julie Graham has such a big smile on her face.

And [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KWuhhqZoMXQ/R7QHqSQEyUI/AAAAAAAABD0/BDeeovTBek4/s320/north-south-John%2BThornton.jpg a little something for Maud to take the last but one image away].

Speaking of which, whilst looking for those pics, I came across one of RPJ that really does require some serious brain-bleaching to get over!

Sorry Maud here you go

I'm always drawn to designs incorporating text

Me too, Spiro

Maud, some time ago I was also trying to work out what Kevin Spacey play I saw and I'm still not sure. I will have to ask the friend I went with and see if she remembers. I'm a huuuuuuge fan; when you mentioned wobbling at the recollection of some American Beauty moments, were you thinking of this scene? This makes me cry every time, he is just AMAZING in that scene. The look in his eyes... I mean, how does he DO that? I wish it showed up on DVD as much as it did at the cinema - I remember being completely awestruck by that on the big screen Also, man, he is hot in that film :)

Spiro, I think we need to see the 'brain-bleaching' photo. Just for accuracy's sake, you know.

Morning all. Just tryng to keep up to date with you all.

I'm with Twigs, I think I need to see the RPJ pic as well.