April

Ryde to Seaview
A brisk impromptu stomp along the seafront to the Seaview Hotel, (stopped for a cuppa),  and back, with a friend, putting the world to rights. Lovely! Excellent views across the Solent too.

 

Cowes

A brisk walk through the town and on to Egypt Point lighthouse and back in the rain, stopping off for a cuppa at Coast. Lovely way to clear the cobwebs away.

 

Quay Arts

Popped in for lunch (lovely) and had a peek at the current exhibition. Definitely worth a visit. Excellent exhibition of body sculptures and art (Olympians and meta humans) by artist Louisa Giblin.

 

Isle of Wight Cantata Choir

The IOW Cantata Choir gave a strong rendition of Verdi's Requiem, ably accompanied by the IOW Symphony Orchestra and four superb soloists. Another excellent evening out.

March

Snow Day
I had a pleasant amble around the town crunching through the ice layer on the snow and sliding on the ice patches on the hills. Good fun and very invigorating. Not quite the right snow for my sledge unfortunately.

Cowes
I needed a stomp after snow day so walked along to Egypt Hill, then up it and along Baring Road to the Zigzag and down, detouring through Mornington Woods and back along Queens Road and the lane behind Trinity Theatre before heading through town once more. Along the route were two of Paul Sivell's magnificent tree carvings; dolphins on Egypt Hill and Owls and squirrels at Mornington Woods. Lunch, prior to the walk, was at Tiffins, Lovely bacon and brie baguette.


Lower entrance to Mornington Woods

Lymington

We had a family day out to Lymington, travelling on the Wightlink ferry "Wight Sky", and noticing the penguin on the harbour wall as we passed. We then got the train to Lymington town, and meandered up the High Street through the snow, looking at the market and a few (warm) shops. We then had a lovely lunch in Prezzo before returning to the Island.

Isle  of Wight Symphony Orchestra

Another fabulous concert, with the orchestra playing 'Norwegian Dances' by Greig, a cello concerto by  Walton (not keen) with a fabulous soloist, Jamal  Aliyev, and then Dvorak's Fourth Symphony. Lovely! A very pleasant way to spend an evening. 



January Jollies

It's been a long month, getting used to being back at work after an illness that lasted a couple of months and making the money stretch a bit further than normal. However, I have managed a couple of evenings out.

Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra

Another wonderful concert by the IOW Symphony Orchestra. The concert began with  'Epic March' by Ireland, followed by Symphony No. 1 by Shostakovich. After the interval was a Violin Concerto in B Minor by Elgar, with the fantastic musical talents of soloist Charlie Lovell-Jones. Superb.

Social Night

I attended a meal out with a group I belong to, at the Victoria Lodge Hotel in Shanklin. This was very pleasant; we had a three course meal, which, for me, consisted of tomato soup followed by salmon in hollandaise sauce with a selection of vegetables, then apple pie and ice cream. After this was cheese and biscuits and tea or coffee. Once the meal was finished we were given a '2017 quiz' and a sheet of Christmassy anagrams to do. My team did rather badly, as we knew little about sport or popular TV! I may go again next year. 

IW Cantata Choir

The Cantata Choir were performing Mendohlssohn's Elijah at Medina Theatre last night, and I decided to go, with child, at the last (ish) minute. Good decision.  The choir put in a good performance, ably supported by members of the IW Symphony Orchestra. There were four soloists who also put in a good performance. I particularly liked the alto and the baritone. Definitely worth going to another of their concerts!