I was very excited about spending our Sunday morning strolling through The British Museum - a nostalgic excitement, like how you would look forward to going on school outings with your rucksack full of notebooks and a packed lunch! To help wake us up properly after the previous night out in Soho, we sat bleary eyed with a coffee and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings of the main hall - a spot of people watching is always good fun! This regal lion watches over the visitors coming and going with a certain air of nobility, there are several more from his era scattered throughout the museum. Once I felt my brain to start engaging we were off exploring, only managing a handful of rooms from Egyptian, Ancient Greek and Roman artefacts before the hoards of tourists got too much and we retired for lunch (weekend visiting wouldn't usually be my first choice, not the most patient person in a crowd!) But I was so pleased to be back in one of my favourite places, these museums will always be filled with joy and wonder for me, I'll never tire of them. Hope to take you on a mini-tour with the pictures I took whilst walking those amazing halls!
What's your favourite museum to visit? Uk or abroad, all suggestions welcome!
The Gothenburg Natural History Museum was founded in 1833 and is the oldest museum in the city. The museum is most famous for its taxidermy blue whale (the only one in the world - which once doubled as a tea room!) and African elephant, but offers a vast array of taxidermy and beautiful dioramas to it's visitors. Needless to say, Bruce was particularly keen to drop by on our trip, but I was blown away by the extent of their collections, you could get lost in there quite easily! I particularly loved seeing the narwhal, tapir and sloth, all my favourites under one roof! Sometimes being surrounded by so much taxidermy can be oppressing, but because the building is so impressive, it carries it well! Plus, the animals are well looked after, not too old and shabby looking!
I was blown away by these stunning dioramas by Gustaf Werner, they lie behind a small pitch black room, so certainly take you by surprise when you peek through the glass! By far the most impressive i've seen to date - spot the moose!
If you find yourself in Gothenburg, you must pop in and say hello to the blue whale!
During my recent trip to Brighton, I visited The Booth Museum for the very first time! Founded by naturalist Edward Thomas Booth in 1874, it remains true to its nickname "home of the dioramas", as Booth was the first man to depict taxidermy animals in scenes resembling their natural habitats, down to the type of foliage and rocks included. His detailed sketches and notes show how determined he was to keep his work true to life, and as well as his taxidermy and famed bird collection, he also studied fossils, skeletons and insects. The skeleton room is vast, holding elephant skulls, and narwhales amongst other amazing examples, even a human skeleton features!
Booth was born in 1840, to a well-to-do family. His early years were spent in education in Brighton and then on to Trinity College Cambridge where he studied only briefly, before be asked to leave having spent more time on the fens shooting and observing birds than studying! The museum guide told us he was quite the playboy character, with too much time on his hands as a young man, it was the best career choice he could have hoped for! He was considered a real character, and even had his own carriage at Brighton Station to hook up to the next outward bound train whenever a new or rare bird was spotted!
The view inside the museum, as it was around 1911.
Sorry I didn't take a photograph of the entrance now to compare, the light in the museum is so dim (to preserve the taxidermy) that my Iphone was quite useless, and the next photos aren't exactly brilliant, but hopefully they'll give you an idea of the sheer amount of work in this building! It doesn't look like a large space from the outside, but they sure have made the most of the space! Floor to ceiling cases, some absolutely huge, the top ones housing eagles and vultures which are eating lambs and rabbits...nice! Apart from a new desk and study area, the exhibits look exactly the same as the above picture. Here are a few pictures i managed to take, apologies for the quality!
My favourite bird of the moment! See all the leaves and foliage included?
Family of Partridges
1. Claire and the giant fish! 2. Fantastic Flamingo!
Painted dioramas in the fossil room
Booth should never be regarded as a commercial taxidermist, as his collection until his death was a private resource. The building itself was built specifically around the collection, some cases even featuring in the walls themselves. Considering I co-own several taxidermy pieces with Bruce, I did find the museum quite overwhelming, all those little bodies peering out into the dim lit room...I don't know why I felt like that, I'm pretty tough! I guess the thought that Booth shot all those birds and animals himself is another factor, he certainly was busy! But it's a true gem in the naturalist movements crown, you won't be stuck in queues to look in the cabinets like at the Natural History Museum, it's much more curious at Booth! It's a truly unique place to visit and I thoroughly recommend you pop by when you're next in Brighton, especially if its raining cats and dogs like on our trip!
Myself by the Narwhal/Killer Whale/Dolphin and Indian Elephant specimens.
Last weekend I went to visit my best friend Claire who's recently moved to Brighton, a town I hadn't yet explored very thoroughly, only nipping around it in the pouring rain for the Photo Festivals!
We took a stroll along the beach, and found the "Brighton Fishing Museum", but it actually houses a variety of really lovely posters and general seaside paraphernalia! The above picture was our absolute favourite find, gentlemen on wooden horses enjoying a floating tea room....well, why not! Thoroughly recommend you pop into here if passing, it's right by the sea front, you can't miss it!
Amazing Typography on these posters, on the wish list!!
The Brighton Swimming club lads! Claire would like this poster-sized! ;)
Creepy Punch&Judy characters....and me!
We continued strolling, and stumbled upon the wonderful "Jack&Linda Mills Traditional Fish Smokers"which I recognised from Nigel Slater's "Simple Cooking" show. It's a fantastic shop, and Jack and Linda are the most friendly and likeable people you will be lucky to meet! We chose the simple hot mackerel roll, and it was absolutely splendid, one of my favourite foods!We also ate the rollmops, scrummy! They smoke fish in the traditional way with oak and apple wood, and i can assure you, you'll taste the difference! Jack and Linda's represents real, fresh honest food and brilliant value! Watch the video below and see how delightful it is to visit, I'll be back every time I'm in Brighton.
Nigel Slater meets Jack and Linda Mills
On the way back to Claire's pink house, we stumbled across "The Tea Cosy" - a tea room famous for its overwhelming collection of royal memorabilia! Sadly it was closed on this occasion, but I will be back to experience that 'Blighty beauty very soon.
My favourite aspect of Brighton is it's thriving cafe and food culture, businesses that aren't afraid to do things "their way". Considering I work in a coffee shop, I do know my good from bad, and i champion the individual businesses 100%...no...make that 200%! I never drink in chains out of choice, and in Brighton, you are so spoilt for choice on interesting places to sit and enjoy, it would be a crime not to investigate!
Our first cafe stop of the weekend was Marwood, who are proud of their "Kick Arse Coffee and Life Changing Cake!" and a very snazzy interior to boot! I really admire their passion to do it their way, particularly their views on decaf! ;) (Not cool, of course!) I doubt they faff about with "Babyccinos" either!
Now can i be honest here? I don't really drink coffee. There, I said it. Why? Because when you're around it (in a chain-environment) all week, it's not an inspiring choice. And in all honesty, you're not even focusing on real coffee because everyone wants "frappe-latte-mocha-choca-ccinos" (devils drinks!) Here, and also in the FANTASTIC "Redroaster" cafe, I had my soya latte, and loved every sip! Coffee can be enjoyable, I KNEW IT! I am a fan of the simple (yes, be it dairy free!) beverage, excessively modified drinks aren't big or clever.
The "life changing" cake also lived up to expectations, I had Pear and otherlovelystuff cake, and Claire had the Guinness Cake, Yum! OH, and they also win the best decorated powder room in town - Check out the saucy tea ladies!
Saturday was raining non stop so I dropped into the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, which is right next to The Pavilion, which I also visited for the first time - outstanding! Their collections of local pottery drove me simply maaaaad with jealousy! ALL of these can be added to the wish list. Just need to open my own museum to house them!
Claire also introduced me to "Snoopers Paradise" a very popular flea market which you could spend all day rummaging in, but it does get crowded and a bit fraught at the weekend...quite a few oddballs in there too! I didn't want to laden myself down with heavy purchases...but I did find some great photographs that i will put on the blog soon! This one stall had a great collection of bits and bobs, and nice wallpaper (not many of the stalls focus on display, just cram it all in!) This proud stag SHOULD have been mine if the world was fair.
In the end i did buy this 50's London themed scarf, and of course, some old photographs! Saturday night was wine, Japanese takeaway and Withnail&I. Utter joy!
And finally, my favourite purchase of the weekend comes from the utterly fantastic "Utility" who offer no nonsense, long lasting products for 'Blighty homes. You enter to the sound of cheery 30s jazz, and a warm greeting from owner Martha Tiffin. I honestly could have brought one of everything. I really admire their long lasting quality products that are Made in England. Everything is also most importantly, USEFUL! And NO shabby chic what-so-ever, joyous! Until I get a kitchen of my own to buy for, I settled for this brilliant "Teas Provided" tea towel, and some great post cards! Amazing shop, you won't be disappointed. I'm saving up for one of their aprons now!
And that was our weekend! So good to have my favourite 'gal back by my side! I will write a separate post for our visit to The Booth Museum, but I hope this could inspire a few trips to Brighton soon! (I know regulars there won't be surprised by my selection of venues, I haven't even scratched the surface yet!) It really is a brilliant town.
Hope you had a good weekend, never mind about the tennis eh?
