Nothing Cheap About This Hoard

So this weekend I escaped the confines of the office 9 - 5 for a morning outing to the Museum of London to see the Cheapside Hoard.

Now before I get carried away and tell you which jewels I would love to add to my personal collection I should probably give you a bit more background. Firstly what is a hoard? Well according to my trusty dictionary a hoard is a collection of large amounts kept hidden, secret and safe. There have been many hoards found over the years across the world, but some of the most exciting have been in the UK and the Cheapside Hoard is one of them.

Discovered in 1912, the hoard, is one of the greatest finds of 16th and 17th Century jewels and precious stones in London. The Elizabethan and Jacobean treasures were uncovered in a cellar in Cheapside which prior to the Great Fire of London, was home to some of the greatest goldsmiths in Europe. According to Curator Hazel Forsyth, Cheapside in the 17th Century was the equivalent to Bond Street with shop after shop selling beautiful handcrafted jewellery to men and women of the era.

The question is why were these gems hidden? Who hid them and why were they left behind and never recovered?

Cleverly put together, the exhibition attempts to piece together this mystery whilst also shedding light on the significance and fascination gems held for Londoners during the period they were hidden. As you weave through the rooms you learn about some of the key sellers and buyers in the jewellery world, but you also learn that these gems are not just for decoration. Many believed that jewels held "powers" to cure and heal. For example onyx lifted the spirits whilst emeralds deflected the plague. I don't entirely believe that we should store so much faith in their healing properties, but never say never.

The background to 16th and 17th Century life is fascinating, but it's the opportunity to see the hoard up close that got me excited and let's just say you are spoilt for choice. Whether you like emeralds, sapphires, rubies, pearls or diamonds the collection has them all. Not only did the hoard contain the precious stones in their natural and polished states, but there were also hundreds of highly decorative necklaces, buttons, earrings and charms from the period and even some antique items dating as far back as the 1st Century. You can't help, but be mesmerised by the intricate detailing and care taken by the jewellers to create these beautiful things. My particular favourite is the emerald watch which I would absolutely love to own. The detail is exquisite and the gold face of the clock contrasts beautifully with the dark green of the emerald.

So do we discover who owned the Hoard? Well some believe it was hidden by a soldier who went off to war whilst others believe it was hidden by jewellers and then forgotten about during the fire. I guess it's down to our own imagination to figure it out.

The exhibition closes on the 27th April so you are running out of time to see this great collection. To book tickets visit www.museumoflondon.org.uk. 

If you think the Cheapside hoard is impressive, check out these other treasures that have been discovered on British soil.

The Staffordshire Hoard - Over 3,900 pieces of early Anglo-Saxon treasure were discovered near Lichfield in 2009. The collection is worth £3.29 million
The Cuerdale Hoard - One of the largest findings of Viking silver outside of Russia. Around 8,600 items were discovered by workmen in 1840 in Lancashire
Sutton Hoo - Recognised as one of the most famous finds discovered in England, the site excavated in 1930 revealed a 27m long ship along with a wealth of treasure. It is also believed that the skeleton discovered with the boat may have been a King
The Hoxne Hoard - In 1992 around 15,000 Roman coins were discovered in Suffolk. It's the largest hoard of Roman gold and silver ever found in the UK
The Fishpool Hoard - Discovered in Nottinghamshire in 1966, this treasure trove consisted of 1,000 coins dating from around the reign of Edward III

The Bear Necessities

So this weekend I returned to Estonia (client) to immerse myself in the nature of the beautiful country and potentially get up close and personal with bears! 

Okay maybe face to face with a bear isn't the smartest idea I've come up with to date and I expect I'd pass out if I ever came across one. So what's my experience to date? Well the closest I've been to one is at a zoo which wasn't very close at all and my knowledge of how they act mainly comes from films and cartoons - the bear who lost his hair to John Candy in The Great Outdoors springs to mind.

Anyway, Estonia isn't all just about bears! There's plenty to see and do and with 50% of the country covered in forest you are likely to discover some form of wildlife whether its wolves, foxes, deer, elks, eagles or owls.

On this particular journey, we were trekking through the Soomaa National Park - a park well known for its fifth season. Yes we traditionally only have four seasons, but the fifth season is a natural event where the park floods after the snow and ice melts and Spring approaches. Normally you have to travel by canoe to get around the park however; snow was scarce in Estonia this year so you could easily walk through the trees and venture around the park. But you'll spot constant reminders that you should in fact be shoulder deep in water!

Aside from attempting to find signs of bears, our guide helped us to explore the park and open our minds to the local nature. Firstly we enjoyed a cup of tree. Yes, I drank the sap from a birch tree which had an oddly sweetish taste to it. Then we donned bog shoes to bounce our way off the beaten track in Kuresoo Bog before we finally got back to the mission in hand. 

We found signs of life including scratch marks on a tree, but sadly we didn't see any bears. Apparently speaking like David Attenborough won't seduce or tempt them out of hiding either. So we just jumped in our canoes and paddled downstream for lunch.

The Soomaa National Park is open all year round and if you are keen to see catch a glimpse of the nature on offer in Estonia check out these cool nature cameras here. You never know what you might see.

In case you do come across a bear whilst you are walking in the woods here are some tips from the Mother Nature Network should you ever need it:

1. Bears are shy of humans, unless they see you as a threat to their cubs. Make loads of noise to alert them to your presence

2. You might think running is the solution, but a bear can reach speeds of 30mph when chasing prey. Instead back away slowly and if it starts to follow stand your ground

3. If the bear charges hit the ground and adopt the foetal position and protect your neck

4. Playing dead is often the best solution. Even if it walks away remain still for at least 20mins as bears often linger in the area even if they think you are no longer a threat

5. As a last resort, fight back by aiming punches at the nose and eyes to get away from them. This is generally not advised and playing dead is the best option

The Vikings Have Landed

So this weekend I escaped the start of the working week with a trip to the British Museum to get up close and personal with the Vikings.

I've always been fascinated by the Vikings and in some ways I've always hoped that through dedicated research I'd discover that I descended from Viking explorers or Kings. I was after all the Captain of the Viking House at primary school and unless my memory escapes me we triumphed quite a bit in the sports - we certainly showed those Normans, Saxons and Romans how to win a netball game. Unfortunately, according to my mum, my family originates from northern France so I'm more likely to be a Norman than a Viking!

Anyway enough about my genetics and back to the exhibition. Vikings: Life and Legend is the latest large scale exhibition to land at the British Museum and it brings together artifacts and documents to bring the great Viking age to life.

Sadly, most people associate Vikings with raids, pillaging and rape, but this exhibition sought to show an alternative side to these so called "invaders" and instead highlighted the Viking sense of adventure and exploration, their craftsmanship, their incredible accomplishments  and how their culture impacted and grew with other great civilizations of the same period.

The British Museum has always presented it's exhibitions in a fantastic way that helps to bring the story to life. The home setting for the Pompeii exhibition painted a picture of life of locals pre-volcanic eruption, whilst with the Viking exhibition they decided to take visitors on a journey from the homelands of Norway, Sweden and Denmark via exploration, trade, wealth, religion and death to the last attempted invasion of the British Isles in 1066.

As you wander through the rooms you immediately learn just how far the Vikings travelled. From Turkey to New Foundland they were not afraid to stretch themselves to the limits of exploration and how the lives and communities they encountered on these travels impacted on their lifestyle, religion and culture. Prior to their explorations across Europe items were bought via trading however; this was eventually replaced with currency. You find yourself face to face with ginormous brooches and hefty necklaces all of which represented social status and power and also learn how swords had names and were interwoven with the lives of their owners. What's even more amazing is how well preserved most of the items are despite being almost 1,000 years old - I highly doubt my valuables will look that good after that amount of time has passed. Fans of the Thor movies will be delighted as there's even a special section dedicated to the Gods and Nordic mythology. If there's one thing you took away from the exhibition it is don't anger Thor or you may incur his wrath which is not great for a Viking as they spend most of their time at sea. Some of the extracts from anonymous writers also made me chuckle

- especially the following:

"A man shouldn't clutch at his cup, but moderately drink his mead; he should be sparing of speech or shut up; no man will blame you for bad behaviour if you go early to bed." anonymous, 1270

The jewel of the collection is the partially restored Viking Warship which I had been particularly looking forward to seeing as there had been a lot of hype surrounding it's arrival in London. The Sea-Wolf, discovered in Roskilde in Norway, is the largest Viking Warship, 37m in length, ever to be uncovered and with space for 40 oarsmen it's huge and impressive.

Despite almost a thousand years since they last landed in England, the Viking's have left a lasting impression on our country and our present culture. Did you know that the words sister and egg are Scandinavian in origin and if you travel to Lincolnshire you'll spot sign posts for villages and towns which seem a little out of place for the East of England.

The question on everyone's lips is, will it live up to the high standard set by last year's Pompeii exhibition which proved to be one of the top tourist attractions in London in 2013? From my point of view it's definitely the best exhibition I've seen in 2014 and if it can help to dispel presumptions about the Vikings then all the more reason for it to be successful.

The exhibition is open now and runs till the 22nd June. For more information visit www.britishmuseum.org 

Five Facts About the Vikings:

1. The Viking Age dated from AD 800 to AD 1050

2. Viking women could inherit and own land

3. Swords were symbols of status and were given as rewards for loyal service. Once the owner died the sword was bent and buried with them. This was known as killing the sword

4. The Vikings discovered Dublin and Reykjavik 

5. Leif Erikson, a Viking explorer, discovered North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus 

The Rain In Spain Lands Mainly on the Plain

So this weekend I journeyed back to the Cambridge Arts Theatre for a revival and 100th anniversary performance of George Bernard Shaws Pygmalion.

Whether it's Pygmalion or My Fair Lady most people are familiar with the character of Eliza Doolittle - the common flower girl transformed by phonetics specialist Professor Higgins into a society lady. The role has been immortalized on stage and on screen by iconic actresses including Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn and this time it was the turn of Rachel Barry to step into the lovable cockney's shoes.

Now before anyone gets carried away there is no singing in the original play version. Those expecting a resounding rendition of 'Wouldn't it be loverly' would have been sorely disappointed. I on the other hand am not the world's biggest fan of musicals, ingrained since secondary school, so I was delighted that nobody sprang into song to share their emotions.

For those who may not know, the play centers around a bet. Professor Higgins claims to his friend Colonel Pickering, that he can transform Eliza from a cockney flower girl and pass her off as a Duchess at an ambassadors garden party. Not only does he change her state of living, but he also changes her walk, her manners and her dialect to win the bet. From it's first performance, the play was acknowledged for mocking British class systems of the early 20th Century whilst also highlighting women's independence.

As I mentioned earlier a lot of famous actors have played the role of Eliza, but Rachel Barry definitely held her own. From her opening scene as the happy go lucky Eliza we saw her gradual, and believable, transformation into a high society woman who could fool anyone. It's also not easy to outdo Rex Harrison's version of Professor Higgins, yet Alistair McGowan deserves praise for his comical portrayal of Higgins. His impressionist skills definitely came in handy and he captured the stubbornness of Higgins exceptionally well. Jamie Forman never fails to impress me and his long renditions left the audience applauding and quite rightly so. Rula Lenska, as Higgins mother, provided the voice of reason to Higgins experiments and refuge for Eliza.

Although I was slightly apprehensive at first I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and felt that the director and cast had done the play justice. My only concern had nothing to do with the play. I'd had an early start and was running off 4 hours sleep so I was worried I'd nod off in the theatre. So did I? Not bloody likely.

Alas, you've missed your opportunity to see it in Cambridge, but never fear for the performance is touring the country so there is still time to see it! For more information about the Cambridge Arts Theatre visit www.cambridgeartstheatre.com. There are definitely some exciting plays that have caught my eye.

Fishing on Ice

So this weekend I found myself standing on Lake Peipsi, the largest lake in Estonia (client), attempting to catch a fish for my lunch.

No I've not become Jesus and developed the power to walk on water, but I have developed the ability to walk on ice. During the winter season the Baltic country becomes a snowy wonderland and rivers, lakes and even the sea freeze over. In fact the ice is so thick that you can drive on specially designated ice roads from the mainland to some of the surrounding islands - don't worry everything is regularly checked before anyone goes on the ice.

So why was I standing on the ice? Well I was taking part in a spot of ice fishing naturally. There was only one slight problem...... I've never in my life been fishing. I've seen fishing on TV, viewed clips on YouTube and even worked with someone who once caught a huge fish which he appeared with in a national newspaper. Despite what appears to be a good grounding in the subject I've never hooked a maggot on to a fishing rod in all my 27 years of existence. Yet my inexperience, and often craziness to try out something different, only spurred me on to ensure I caught something before we left the ice.

Well as you'll see below, I managed to win the "Catch of the Day" competition - I affectionately named him Bob. Whilst most of the group decided to give their fish a second go at life I decided to give my prize to the local fisherman. Well it is their livelihood.

The fishing session was accompanied by a delicious soup made from white fish, carrots, onions and even red berries. Yes we cooked the soup with a fire on the ice half a km from the main land. It was quite an experience. For those feeling the pinch of the cold a shot of vodka was the best remedy to warm the soul and at 60% it definitely hit the mark in the freezing temperatures.

If there's one thing I've learnt about Estonia, it is its ability to always surprise me. I've been a few times and each visit throws up a new and often unique experience.

For more information about Estonia and the different activities you can do visit www.visitestonia.com.

That Takes The Biscuit

So this weekend I headed out on a week night to one of my favourite café's in town to test my food art skills and immortalise 80's sensation Lionel Richie on a Rich Tea biscuit.

Drink, Shop, Do is one of my favourite hang outs in Kings Cross. Not only can you relax in vintage surroundings with a delicious cocktail, I recommend a Purrrr, but you can also take part in a host of crazy events which they host on a daily basis. From vintage hair and make-up sessions to Lego robot building sessions there's a wide variety of creative to eccentric activities - there's even a Beyoncé dance workshop. The best thing of all is that most events are either free or there's a small charge so there's no need to break the bank for a night of fun with friends.

So Tuesday evening found me sitting in a kooky 1960's chair, cocktail in hand, and a plain biscuit staring up at me ready to be transformed into Lionel Richie. Now when I told people about this event I received quite a few strange looks, but mostly laughs. Everyone thought I'd made it up, but no. This is one of the reasons why I love this place as they come up with the craziest ideas!

I've worked with quite a few food artists in my time and I can honestly say that none of their skills have rubbed off on me. As you can see by the below evidence I won't be short listed for the Turner prize anytime soon. Although my friends Lionel RichTea strongly resembled Jesus rather than the pop icon, so maybe mine isn't that bad.

Unfortunately Lionel RichTea didn't last the night and met an unfortunate demise. He wasn't dunked he was chomped.

For more information about the different events taking place at Drink, Shop, Do events visit www.drinkshopdo.com. 

I've got my eye on the MC Hammer dance class. Just need to purchase some baggy trousers.

Before

After

Blown Away by Isabella

So this weekend I meandered my way through the crowds at London Fashion Week to take in the vast collection of hats, frocks and tops owned by fashionista and magazine Editor Isabella Blow at Somerset House.

Most people probably associate Somerset House with ice skating at Christmas or outdoor movies in the summer, but it has also played host to some of the most exciting exhibitions I've seen in London. I quite happily queued to get into the Valentino exhibition and I nearly depleted the shop in the Courtauld Gallery of all it's prints from its Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition. So after seeing two thoroughly enjoyable displays I was intrigued to see if Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore! would live up to my high expectations expected of the embankment venue.

Before I go on to talk about the exhibition I think a little background on Isabella is required. Now she's not a fashion designer so most people won't be as familiar with her as they would be with Chanel or Givenchy, but in the fashion industry and media Isabella was a big name. Despite being born into high society, Isabella grew up in a house on the edge of the family estate after her grandfather squandered the family fortune, she knew that from a young age she would need to find a profession. So she entered the world of fashion. Starting out as a fashion assistant for the likes of Anna Wintour, she sped through the ranks and became Fashion Director for Tatler and consultant for various brands. However; her most famous accomplishments included establishing the careers for designers Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy, whilst also discovering models Stella Tennant and Sophie Dahl. Sadly at the age of 48 she committed suicide leaving her collection of clothes as her legacy.

As soon as you walk into the exhibition you can't help, but be overwhelmed by her vast collection. From the dazzling and well cut outfits by Alexander McQueen (he's up there with Chanel as my favourite designers) to the millinery genius of Philip Treacy and Isabella's huge collection of his hats - my jaw dropped. The famous lobster hat was on display, although my favourite was Treacy's ship hat made from feathers - extravagant, but I could make it work, alongside some of his other extraordinary creations. The beautiful hats were matched well with the gorgeous outfits by McQueen and other designers and finished with a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels. What I wouldn't give to be slim enough to wear McQueen's beautiful pink and grey feather dress - best hit the gym!

My only wish would have been to learn more about the infamous woman and not only her wardrobe collection. We caught glimpses of her lifestyle, but there were definitely more opportunities to uncover more about this fascinating woman. Then again you can't cover everything and the exhibition definitely piqued my interest enough to go off and learn more about Isabella.

The only other problem you'll face is realizing how inadequate your own clothes collection is. Maybe I'll use my next pay check to invest in a collection worthy of Isabella.

Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore! runs till 2nd March and for more information visit www.somersethouse.org.uk.

For fashion enthusiasts it's a must see!