"Last Week In Liverpool"
We took two trips to Liverpool last week:On Monday (amongst other stuff) we visited a photography exhibition by Philip Jones Griffiths ( 1936-2008) at the National Conservation Centre Whitechapel ( http://www.nationalconservationcentre.org.uk/) .
And as with most successful artists, Griffiths revealed much about himself through his stunning work: we saw Vietnam war, we saw bombsites of 50's Liverpool (where children played, far freer than todays children dare) .....We glimpsed CND Demos in Trafalgar Square, Northern Ireland in the 60's, and yes.....when we stared into some photos, we reckoned we almost "heard" the Beatles..."Sgt Pepper" and "Eleanor Rigby" and " Michelle, ma belle" ...photos of four floppy haired lads, thrilling Liverpudlians at the Cavern...
And everywhere in Griffiths' work, we saw people: living their lives, often in ordinariness, in hopelessness, in poverty, but sometimes with delight, occassionally with celebration......
It was all there, for us to contrast and to reflect on....and certainly to appreciate.
On Tuesday, we were invited to an event at St Georges Hall, hosted by Liverpool solicitors, Mace and Jones, during the 2008 City of Culture programme.
The evening was for two reasons; to launch the latest book of prolific crime writer/lawyer Martin Edwards ( "Dancing for the Hangman" see http://www.amazon.co.uk/) and also to announce results of the shortstory competition, run by Mace and Jones as part of the Liverpool 2008 celebrations.
And after drinks, chattings and nibbles ( including the most delicate, tiniest, tasty portions EVER of fish/chips!)..... I was delighted to be presented with a prize for my story: " Red Geraniums", placed 3rd in the competition. Ist and 2nd prizewinners were Cathy Roberts and Mary D'Arcy.
And that's me ( smiling, of course) betwixt Martin Edwards and TV writer/producer Phil Redmond, who handed over a very nice cheque!
It was a lovely evening... and I'm now looking forward to enjoying my prize AND settling down some dark December evening ( with curtains tightly closed, cats beside me) plus a glass of red and Martin Edwards' chilling just-out tale of Crippen...
posted by Jan at 7:03 pm
14 Comments:
Jan, Many Congratulations on your prize, as someone who has zilch aptitude for writing (hence mainly photos on my blog), my admiration is total! The Griffiths exhibition sounds fascinating.
Jan, congratulations!! How very exciting to win a literary prize. You look so happy.
Congratulations on your win, and your brilliant evening. Love the picture too, well done you.
Thank you for visiting my blog. By the way, how did you find my blog?
I have had a quick read of your recent posts. I did not realise that there was so much going on in this area.
Congratulations from me too. Aren't you young and glamorous?
Congratulations Jan. How lovely to see you also.
Excellent! what great news. Like the picture too. Inevitably because I am always wrong about these things I was quite sure you were dark.
Thanks also for your lovely comment on mine.
How lovely to win a writing prize -- not to mention getting to eat fish and chips with literary types and distinguished photographers!
I thought of you this morning as I listened to the weather forecast. Snow in the north! Are you settled in, cosy and warm, with cat for companion?
Fern:
Yes, it was a very special exhibition.
Sarah:
OOh Good!
Nice to look happy! Thanks.
Debs:
Thanks DEbs.
Cheshire Wife:
This is always the problem, almost everywhere it seems...adequate marketing, adequate advertising...and frankly those 2 points need to be MORE than adequate, don't they??
Isabelle:
Hmm. Young? Glamorous?
I'll send you my Birth Cert to study AND some new glasses...!
Herhimnbryn:
But not as nice as your gorgeous socks!
Bee:
Yes, I have my very precious cat companions, but we haven't had snow here ( yet!) although it's been very cold...
Nice one Jan! Congratulations, you must be really chuffed and you got to meet phil Redmond too. I'd have asked him about Grange Hill!
Congratulations Jan - you look - almost - exactly like I imagined! I was told that my last short story should have started half way through so I am very impressed...!
Sahd
And congratulations from me too.
Hope the cheque was for a goodly sum.
Oh! So it was you! I read the news first on Clare's blog and wondered if the Jan she spoke about was you Many, many congratulations!!! I am so thrilled for you!
JonM:
I recall folks who refused to allow their children to watch GrangeHill.
Ridiculous! It was great, really told How It Was and that( in many ways) is what children need to see..
SAHD:
Thanks.
It's good to see you're writing your blog posts again.
ANNES:
Yers, very nice thankyou.
Kay:
It was a lovely surprise to see Clare ambling in to St Georges Hall with a big grin on her face.
So...yes! I am the same Jan as on Clare's blog!
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