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Water and Light - London Aquariam
May. 12th, 2003 12:23 pmLondon Aquarium was brilliant. I was very impressed by the displays and the wide range of sea life they had. The educational stuff wasn't too intrusive [grin] and we got to see the sharks being fed. I took a photo of the Younger Sibling against the glass, sharks swimming directly behind her. Watching her standing there whilst a large nurse shark went belly-side up the window only inches from her back was quite a frightening sight - I squeaked the first time and then quickly told her not to turn around. She's terrified of sharks and I imagine it would have given her nightmares for weeks. Even so, the shark pool was lovely and peaceful and creepy at the same time. My other favourite was the tank wherein shoals of mackerel swam around in schools of flashing silver, creating almost visible currents in the water, with manta rays gliding below. I liked the piranha also, large ugly brown fish with red edged fins, swimming slowly between waving fronds of river grass, and looking totally disinterested in the world around them. Definitely a trip I'd recommend to anyone, and at £8.75 per adult, quite cheap for a couple or so hours' entertainment.
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After months away from her, I always forget how much I just plain enjoy being with the Younger Sibling (who, OK, even though I call her that is actually less than half an hour younger, but it's a good way to annoy her royal twininess). In some ways I suppose it's because my idea of The Day From Hell is having to spend it with the Older Sibling.
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The other thing I tend to forget about the Younger Sibling is that going shopping with her is lethal on my VISA. We're talking major purchases here, not just a girly day out on the town. But I honestly can't complain as it's usually something I really truly secretly lust after, but just didn't want to plunge into the cold waters of financial indebtitude for. She's very good at punting me off the pier.
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So after this Saturday, I am now the delighted owner of a spanking new lightbox - a Larn A4 color-corrected lightbox, to be exact. It left me almost no change from £200 [cringe], and cost almost three times as much as the light tracer I was looking at buying, but after comparing the two in the shop (London Graphics, who sadly are the most expensive, even if they are the most extensive), I came to the conclusion the light tracers were absolutely useless. There was no way I was going to get anything more than blurry outlines under 160-gsm paper. But I spent Sunday doing art and making extensive use of my new purchase, so I believe it was worthwhile and will get used. Certainly my illumination painting students are going to be happy - they whine like anything whenever I make them use tracing paper!
<><><>
After months away from her, I always forget how much I just plain enjoy being with the Younger Sibling (who, OK, even though I call her that is actually less than half an hour younger, but it's a good way to annoy her royal twininess). In some ways I suppose it's because my idea of The Day From Hell is having to spend it with the Older Sibling.
<><>
The other thing I tend to forget about the Younger Sibling is that going shopping with her is lethal on my VISA. We're talking major purchases here, not just a girly day out on the town. But I honestly can't complain as it's usually something I really truly secretly lust after, but just didn't want to plunge into the cold waters of financial indebtitude for. She's very good at punting me off the pier.
<>
So after this Saturday, I am now the delighted owner of a spanking new lightbox - a Larn A4 color-corrected lightbox, to be exact. It left me almost no change from £200 [cringe], and cost almost three times as much as the light tracer I was looking at buying, but after comparing the two in the shop (London Graphics, who sadly are the most expensive, even if they are the most extensive), I came to the conclusion the light tracers were absolutely useless. There was no way I was going to get anything more than blurry outlines under 160-gsm paper. But I spent Sunday doing art and making extensive use of my new purchase, so I believe it was worthwhile and will get used. Certainly my illumination painting students are going to be happy - they whine like anything whenever I make them use tracing paper!
