A fixer upper?

This Soane-designed house could be rather tempting, but you have to be slightly wary, with the line: But nothing less than a permanent hotline to the chief planning officer will do, suggesting more problems than the obvious ones you will already have

taken on.

Pastoral symphony

This pair of bucolic oil on canvas pictures by James Ross (British, c.1735), each depicting a landscape with rolling hills and figures, both signed lower left, 12 1/2'' x 39 1/4'' have joined the "collection", as we are now grandly calling it.

They were described as "over mantel" in the sale, but as "over door" by Christie's. Either way, they are very charming. As I wrote here, I am particularly drawn to the shape of the canvases, however odd that attribute might sound.

Whether or not this will make finding a space for them easier, is yet to be seen, but it will be "moving pictures" revisited.

When I initially began writing this, they were languishing in Thai customs, having enjoyed that privilege over a number of days because of the long weekend for a public holiday, (no work without an additional "fee"). And despite the endeavours of Craters & Freighters in America to get one vital number in my telephone wrong, ("we were only off by one number", I kid you not), they have now been delivered today, and so the exercise of where to hang them begins in earnest. More about that anon.

Oh, yes, and they do look stunning and extremely elegant.

Flying visitor

I can't fathom the obsession with Halloween, but my hat off to the likes of Hallmark who have made it such a commercial success. Martha Stewart seems to spend endless programmes dispensing advice on how best to "celebrate" it too.

Anyway, this will be my one and only comment on the subject - a very large moth, the size of a hand came a' calling last Saturday, briefly taking up residence on the balcony. As it looked like a bat, I thought there was some vague connection to the silliness that will pervade this coming Saturday evening, yes even in Bangkok, where Halloween is about as relevant as Loy Kratong would be in Los Angeles.

Vague in the sense that it was a week early, and it's not actually a bat.

Dynastic manoeuvres

Gyles Brandreth, a former MP and networker extrordinaire, including with members of the Royal Family has written his diaries: Something Sensational To Read In The Train to be published by John Murray on October 29 at £25, and has this entry about Prince Philip:

Yesterday, when he came to NPFA [National Playing Fields Association, of which the duke was chairman, and Brandreth a committee member], and I told him I had had breakfast with Blake Carrington from Dynasty, he said: 'I haven't the first idea what you're talking about. I had breakfast with the Queen.'

Grey Monday

I've been particularly drawn to things grey of late, perhaps favouring blue-grey as in the silk covered bergeres. The colour is usually one associated with blandness, but I see an elegance in it, especially when it's accompanied by gold accents, as on some of these pieces of furniture.

The choice seems the more odd as the cloudy skies we have experienced, and significant rainfall might want me to favour something a bit more vibrant. But it's all in the accessories, as we know.

Kreative Blogger

Debra Healy of Paris Originals has tagged me with a Kreative Blogger award.



The conditions of this award are: that I tell you 7 things you may not know about me, and then, I nominate 7 others blogs for the award.



The 7 other bloggers I am nominating for the Kreative Blogger award are:



Architect Design

Attic Mag

Habitually Chic

katiedid

Pigtown Design

The Blue Remembered Hills

Studio Annetta



Their blogging work speaks for itself, and I am very happy to nominate them for the Kreative Blogger award. The 7 things about me are as follows I-VII:

I. The world's my oyster

Bangkok is the ninth city in which I have lived. Previously I have called Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, London, Frankfurt, Bahrain, Riyadh and Edinburgh "home".

II. Past life

I manufactured under licence to the National Trust for Scotland. These boxes depict Trust properties, and are designed to hold CDs.

III. Past life 2

I worked for an international bank for over 20 years.

IV. Daily routine

If I'm not swimming 60 lengths (1,500 metres) in our pool, (and sadly it's not this one, although I have swum there when we stayed at Amanpuri in Phuket), then I will be exercising in the gym 5 days a week.

V. My reading preference

I'm more likely to be reading a biography rather than anything else.

VI. Etiquette

I believe it's very important to say thank you, when you've been entertained by someone whether they are close or distant. I find it irritating if people forget. Sending an amusing sms can be just as appropriate as writing on engraved stationery.

Invitations issued for a Friday evening in Bangkok at any time before 8.00pm, and preferably 9.00pm, are unlikely to be accepted. The traffic is so bad that you would spend about one hour sitting staring at the same motionless cars ahead of you and to the left and right, and I can think of better things to do.

VII. No can do

This is an expression that I find difficult to live with. I believe it's possible to do almost anything. A "can do" attitude is very desirable, and something I admire.





CAN DO

Pointing the finger

This must be one of the best stories around of this genre, as reported in The Times.

Cartography around the world

This map has taken on a life of itself. Fellow blogger Little Augury has written about it here, and this follows Pigtown Design's, The Blue Remembered Hills', and Pat's Addition's posts, and and...

Harrods shoppers

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, 1891-1938

The Victoria & Albert is holding an exhibition: Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts, until Jan 17, 2010. This article from The Sunday Times provides an interesting insight to the life of excess.

Worthy of pursuit

William Dietrich (American, 20th Century). "Diana at the Hunt". Textile. c1925. Two matching linen panels with repeating pattern. Panel 1: 118 in. x 35 in. Top and bottom edges cut irregularly. Sides uncut and even. Some minor scattered staining verso, a few small areas (3/8 - 1/2 in.) barely visible recto - you need to look hard to see them. Panel 2: 102 in x 35 in. Top and bottom edges cut irregularly. Sides uncut and even. Some minor scattered staining verso, one spot, approx 1/2", top left, approx 4" from top edge, visible recto.

Sold at auction for USD300. Ashe Auctioneers Inc, Phoenix AZ.

Leading horses to water

A bronze statue weighing six tonnes, of a giant horse's head, by Nic Fiddian-Green was unveiled in June at Marble Arch in London, as part of a GBP2 million refurbishment of the area, which includes the upgrading of the fountains, which were installed in 1961.

I don't object to it all, but one wonders how such extravagance with public money can be justified. Perhaps it was commissioned during times when money was less tight. And horses were more amenable.

Wavering

This rather splendid gilt bronze rendition of a great wave caught my eye in the auction catalogue, and reminded me of Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanazawa, below.

It seemed particularly apt, given our impending visit to Kanazawa in November. Further inquiries however revealed that the piece has a number of obvious imperfections, as below, which would be difficult to ignore.

Unfortunately riding the crest of this wave has therefore come to an end.