Happy birthday siljamus!!!!!!!!

[alexandral]

It came to my attention that yesterday was also the birthday of siljamus!! Happy belated birthday!!!!!!!I hope you had a lovely day full of every wonderful thing!

Something for you behind the cut below, a painting I saw in "Tate Britain" on Tuesday, "Hope" by George Frederic Watts. There is something about it that is in equal parts disturbing and soft and it is "calling" to me in a way that makes me want to drop everything and solve the mystery behind it.

Comments

[savepureness.livejournal.com]

Dear friend -

I'm sorry for brutally interrupting this moment, but I wanted to make sure that you've got that comment of mine, in which I was telling you how happy you've made me by mailing me the DVDs and the most lovely card I've seen recently!

Once again, many, many thanks; sending you kisses and hugs, and if there's something else than words that I can do to thank you, please let me know :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh , I am so sorry for not responding to your comment!!!!! (I am really busy at this moment and this slipped somehow, but of course I don't have any excuse)

I am so glad you received it -and I hope you will like them! I also hope your school work is doing fine!

[savepureness.livejournal.com]

Oh, please! There is no problem at all; I just thought you didn't get the other comment, so it was quite imperative for me to let you know that everything you've sent me arrived safe and sound. I'm actually displaying the lovely postcard somewhere in full view as we speak! :)

I can't wait to find the time to watch them, actually. As for my school work, it's not fine at all, for now; I really hope I'll be able to come up with something quite soon.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - you are so thoughtful!

I am glad your schoolwork is coming along nicely!

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of G. F. Watts. I wonder if you saw an exhibition of his portraits about a year ago at the National Portrait Gallery?

It is a melancholy painting, isn't it, in spite of what it's symbolising. I much prefer this vision of hope than if it had been simply bright. Hope can indeed be blind, but there is something here too of the kind of weary resignation and submission to uncertainty, which does accompany hope, even if it's almost precisely its antithesis.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It is a melancholy painting, isn't it, in spite of what it's symbolising. I much prefer this vision of hope than if it had been simply bright. Hope can indeed be blind, but there is something here too of the kind of weary resignation and submission to uncertainty, which does accompany hope, even if it's almost precisely its antithesis.

True. There are few elements here for me - hope is usually applicable in a hard or uncertain situation (happy moments in life don't call for hope) . The other element, hoping for a good outcome is different from believing in it. And finally, hope is tender and peaceful. Also I wonder why she is sitting on something that represents the Earth?

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Also I wonder why she is sitting on something that represents the Earth?

Perhaps because hope is universal?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really like this explanation! It could be as if hope is encompassing all the earth!

I'm very fond of G. F. Watts. I wonder if you saw an exhibition of his portraits about a year ago at the National Portrait Gallery?

Sadly, I didn't! I don't go to London very often.. I wish I lived closer - there was this amazing "Chinese terracotta warriors" exhibition in the British Museum and all tickets were sold.

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, I know! My heart breaks thinking of The First Emperor exhibition at the British Museum. I did so want to see it but as you say, tickets sold out like never before. I was told some should be available on the day on a first come first served basis - but I had been so preoccupied of late, besides not holding out much hope for it (ha! Back to hope!) and I quite forgot about it. :( I don't think I shall ever forgive myself. :(

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It says on their web-site that 500 tickets available every morning. I think you CAN TRY!!!!!!!!!! Advanced bookings are all closed, unfortunately (I wish I knew about this exhibition before!).

I wonder how they transported them - mind boggles!

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Oh, then I shall try! Thank you!

Yes, you're absolutely right - the mind boggles indeed!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

The museum opens at 9 but I guess people will be queuing outside. Also - may be it will get easier later on, in a couple of weeks time?

I liked London during the last visit, it is was so nice just to ramble it's streets. It was second time I was on my own in London and both times I loved it.

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

London streets can be lovely to walk through. :)

I hope it does ease up a little - I do worry it may be the opposite of everyone rushing to it during its final weeks... :(

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I wish you the best of luck with this (and I hope you will have a chance post about it if you have a chance to go :D)

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - and I shall if I do! :D

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

May I ask who that is in your icon?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It is gorgeous Kyle Schmid, the lead from "Blood Ties" (a vampire detective show) : Blood Ties info (http://www.tv.com/blood-ties/show/68415/summary.html)

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. Thank you! :)

*Is rather flustered*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Hee!! I think they been showing it on the "Living" channel, so may be there will be a repeat one day. :D

Kyle plays this too-hot-to-live vampire who is also an illegitimate son of Henry VIII. :D

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

My Goodness!

The 'too-hot-to-live' part sounds about right... :P

I don't have Living TV though... I'm incredibly out of date with most of these things, in fact. I don't have digital television or satelite or any such thing.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

The first season is quite cheap on Amazon, actually, Here :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Ties-Complete-Christina-Cox/dp/B000V9LOHS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1204421684&sr=8-1

The show has some cheesiness factor but Kyle and his romantic interest are totally worthy of watching.

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Aha! Oh, thank you so much for pointing that out! :D I just may yield to temptation and buy it... :P

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Fantastic!

[siljamus]

Oh, thank you! (I'm sorry I've only gotten to this now, but I've bare been on-line since my birth day *s*)

That is a very fascinating picture, I have to say. I'm not really familiar with the artist but I've come across the painting before. I gather (from a google-search) that it is one of his signature paintings.

I'm very moved by the fact that you gifted me with Hope for my birthday as I think it is the one thing that I need to hold on to right now.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

** sends more support **. I hope hard times will be over soon.