Philharmonia Concert, 21.10.07

A pleasant concert at the RFH yesterday:

-- Sibelius Finlandia, which I didn't realise was on the programme and which I find tremendously evocative of my idealised mental Finland. (There are trees and lakes in it. And snow.)

-- Grieg Piano Concerto. Gosh, it really is as overwrought as I thought it was. Spectacular performance from Yundi Li, who I've never heard play before.

-- Holst Planets (without Colin Matthew's 'Pluto', which I suppose is now obsolete what with the declassification of said object). I found myself noticing things I don't remember noticing before: the violin 'morse code' in 'Mercury', the syncopation of the rollicking main theme in 'Jupiter' ...

All in all a very pleasant concert. Though I must remember that afternoon concerts are not efficient -- two hours of music equated to nearly six hours away from home (and the return journey was unpleasant in a way that only engineering works and reduced service can achieve).

Hard times indeed

"Some sports fans in Sevenoaks were forced to sit in their cars and listen to Saturday's match on the radio."

Phew, close escape. I'd have been pretty annoyed if anyone'd forced me to sit in a car and listen to rugby.

Leith Hill, sunset, looking south

Leith Hill, sunset, looking south
Originally uploaded by tamaranth

On Friday I left a little earlier than usual to look at the sunset. Which this isn't a photo of, as it's the view south, rather than west, from Leith Hill. But it was still and cool and clear, and the planes circling Gatwick left trails of vapour like argyrocomate* meteors.

Not bad for a cameraphone.

(View west posted over on Flickr.)

*Umberto Eco's term. Actually not that accurate, as the vapour-trails were coppery rather than silvery, but never mind.

A Quiet NIght In ...

Was feeling a bit blah by the time I left werk, so I decided to get something nice for dinner and go home and relax.
But ( cut for language )