MARGATE

Springfield Market

‘The best laid plans’, did all that, went to bed early, set the alarm, got up before it went off, made it to the Underground….no trains yet…too early! Well it’s only 1.7.k’s, I’ll walk, over bridges, up stairs, down stairs, through tunnels, around corners and up and down hills…I made it! At this time of the morning, (5.45am) many of the ‘buyers’ have done their business and are leaving. Trying to cross roads in between what seems an endless procession of white vans, takes a bit of manoeuvring. I got yelled at more than once! Finally, I got into the market, managed to take about 5 photos and was approached by the market Constabulary…‘Have you got a permit to take photographs?’…‘No’…’Well then, you better get one, go and see Laurie and tell him your story and maybe he’ll give you a permit…or, delete the photos’…Photos deleted! So today was another walk around the Pimlico area..tomorrow, I’m going to board the train and head to Margate….maybe!

There were bright blue skies when I arrived in Margate, that was soon to change!

MARGATE

Barbara and I went to see the ‘TURNER’ exhibition at The Art Gallery in Adelaide. I loved his work and learnt a lot from the way he used light in his paintings. I then watched a show on TV about Turner and his work, so the other day when I was looking at a map on the computer, the town name Margate seemed to stand out, beckoning me to come and visit. Today was the day….another early morning. I was on the Tube heading to Kings Cross, St. Pancras by 6:45, went to the wrong part of the station, quickly realised my mistake and got to the correct platform just in time to see the 6:42 to Margate pulling away from the station. Next train 7:42…..no problem, time for coffee and pastry…breakfast! I made the next train and by about 9am I was in Margate, ready to discover this wonderful seaside retreat. The weather forecast was for overcast conditions, some sunny periods and possible storm and lightning activity. I left the train station to experience wonderful wide blue skies with clouds building, the conditions remained that way until late in the morning when the clouds turned from fluffy white to grey and black and as the rain began to fall I made a hasty retreat to a local pub. Lunch done, rain finished, time to continue my adventure.

This is The Turner Contemporary from the back, I took this shot from this angle to capture the menacing clouds that had began to appear

The Turner Contemporary, an art gallery dedicated to the work of one of Margate’s favourite sons, stands opposite the jetty or wharf. It is an amazing modern building that is in complete contrast with the much more traditional structures that surround it.

This shot is a long exposure, I managed to get the shot before the rising ‘Ebb Tide’ trapped me on the beach

Sunday..to Brussels

Tomorrow I take the EuroStar to Brussels, where I will meet Barbara and we’ll continue our adventure together.

Cheerio from the UK

Another long exposure, the dark clouds had passed and the light was beginning to re-appear

All the fun of the Fair

Colourful Margate