Wednesday 8 June 2011

The Bishop's Palace at St David's...


If ever you find yourself in Wales, then do go westwards to Pembrokeshire. It's magical; the standing stones and Celtic crosses, the wild sea and the sheltered, ancient churches. There is the same feeling as being on the edge of things as in Du Maurier's Cornwall... those places where you sense the the veil between the past and the present becoming translucent.

15 comments:

Lilacs said...

Love that last line. A real shiver giver!

kairu said...

It sounds magical! I agree with Lilacs, that last line gives me the most exquisite shivers!

Speaking of exquisite shivers I have just received the catalogue from Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - the book being much cheaper than a plane ticket to New York. The cover is a shifting hologram of McQueen's face juxtaposed over a gleaming skull, beautiful and slightly haunting, like his gowns...I thought of that lovely and moving elegy you wrote last year, Justine, as I flipped through the photos of dark grotesques and lighter-than-air creations...

Karen, Surrey said...

I fondly remember a visit to St David's Cathedral when the children were tiny. As you say the coast there is wild and mysterious. Small communities clinging to the shore; I often find myself thinking they are bleak places now and try to imagine what they would have been like back in history.

the veg artist said...

Hush! Don't tell everyone!

Strandofsilk.com said...

Justine,

Just heard your talk for the KCWC in London on the Coco Chanel book. It was truly inspiring (have to admit that I have not read the book)

I just wanted to drop a quick line to say hello and tell you that the talk was very good and inspiring in a lot of ways

Thank you

Justine Picardie said...

Thanks so much for comments. I met several people today who remarked on how much they enjoyed reading the comments on this blog -- the writing, the sharing of ideas and poetry, the enthusiasm for gardens and cooking and wild places. And I said -- which I truly believe -- that this is a shared space; and I am endlessly grateful for (or is that to?) the community here.
Speaking of which, I'd love to see the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the Met -- not sure if it will still be on when I go to New York in September -- but in the meantime, inspired by Kairu, I shall look forward to seeing the catalogue.

Stephen Pope said...

The literary imagination in its widest sense - writers & readers and the two-way traffic of ideas - together with shared passions for food, design, gardens and landscape... it's a subtly rich and sensory combination. The photos too are important...well, to me anyway. I guess everybody has their own particular take on it, but one aspect of the blog I've come to appreciate is the space for a certain kind of constructive melancholy and the acknowledgement that interrogating sadness is both necessary and worthwhile, enriching even, and needs no apology.

Charlotte said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Happy Bloomsday! I very much enjoyed your recent talk in Dublin. Thank you for being so generous with your time when answering questions and signing books. B

jaywalker said...

We leave for London tonight. I have received my instructions on how to find Justine. Her secretary tells me she has been in Russia all week so she should have some interesting tales when we meet up on Tuesday.
We have the ipad with us so I'll report back now and again and take lots of photos.

Lilacs said...

С ДНЁМ РОЖДЕНИЯ !

Alex Carter said...

Not strictly about the Bishop's Palace, but I couldn't find where else to post to you- sorry.

I wasn't expecting to be so captivated by your account of tracing the life of Coco Chanel at your talk for KCWC earlier this month- and I so enjoyed your talk and in particular, your sincerity. I always though fashion in general was just a little bit silly, but this was much more almost about bravery in coping with what is thrown at you,using style almost as a sort of shield.

Astounding what an effect the symbols she lived with and through, had on her, and on us- what an incredible story. I'm sending it to my sister in France, I'm sure she'll enjoy it, and I've had a sneaky peek especially at the Coco song but I'll have to get my own one too. Or she'll know I've been at it...

Justine Picardie said...

Thanks, everyone. So glad to hear that people have enjoyed the talks in Dublin and London. 'Only connect'...

Lyn said...

We have been many times and love it, your right it is magical!
xxx

Anonymous said...

It is indeed a beautiful sight, I love all related with ancient ruins and knowledge, it is mindblowing to visit this place.

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