Natural vs Man-made: A winter diversion

Although, snow is pretty and lots of fun, the extreme cold that usually accompanies it can be a problem for wandering/clicking-machines like me. I mean, try clicking in -7 degrees without gloves on and it's almost certain death (or at least, frostbite) for your fingers. So I set the camera aside and patiently started waiting for the weather to clear. And I waited. And waited. And waited, growing extremely impatient. Hmm, this didn't seem to be working.

So what do you do when you're snowed in?

In my Book of Profound Answers, there is only one answer to such a question:

"Make the most of it, dammit!"
So that's what I set out to do.

By heading to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington in London.

The Natural History Museum houses some of the world's best collections of - well, natural history. Now here's the thing. Although I studied Science at high school level, I did it only because it was the path that would lead me to my chosen obsession (and profession) - Cities. Yes, that's the way it used to work when I was in school in India. So, although parts of the exhibit were really interesting, that's not what this post is going to be about. Because I'm no museum chronicler. I'm the flâneuse, soaking in the the city around me, and I'm the cities professional, who, when confronted with such a fascinating piece of architecture, can scarcely look beyond it.

The museum was built by the architect Alfred Waterhouse in the German Romanesque style, in the latter half of the 1800s. The time I chose to visit was a snowy but thankfully not too cold morning and I was struck by the way the statuesque building stood out amidst all the foggy whiteness around it.

But what enthralled me even more was the spectacular detailing inside the massive building. Every little detail in this building seems to have been lovingly created by an artist - and at least to my eyes it gave stiff competition to the actual exhibits it houses.

The building is, in more ways than one, a tribute to its contents and its purpose. Yet, this structure manages to stand out on its own. It simultaneously manages to have a grandeur of scale and an intimacy with the user - the facade, the huge central hall and the grand staircase communing with the intricacy of the decoration, rather than overpowering it.

You only just need to look closely at the ceiling panels which are beautifully painted with hundreds of plant specimens from all over the world, in colours that reflect the dappled light that comes in through the exquisite stained glass windows, to understand what I'm saying. Or, pay attention to the cornices and to the relief carvings of animals and plants literally 'climbing' and 'crawling' all over the terracota tiling.

I could stand in here for hours just admiring this building. Of course, if you're so inclined, there's a really massive collection of dinosaurs and fossils and animals and plants and rocks and precious stones to gape at, as well. Either way, it doesn't fail to serve as an excellent winter diversion. Just what the soul needed.

Buried Deep Under

Chances are, you've already heard about it - while Australia reels under an intense summer, London today, just like the rest of England is being pummeled by arctic blizzards - the heaviest snow in the last 18 years. (Which one of you was asking for proof of climate change, then?)

It started late afternoon yesterday - I was out walking with my significant other and we'd just seen the extreme weather warnings on the news. He looked up at the clear sky and said it didn't look like it was going to snow at all. Three seconds later, we were caught in a snow flurry, which we thoroughly enjoyed for its suddenness and prettiness, not very aware of what was to come yet. The snow continued in spurts and became heavy sometime late in the night while London was asleep. This morning we woke up to about 6 inches of snow on our terrace, which has since gone up to almost 10 inches. That's nothing for Montreal, for Swiss Alps, even for Scotland closer home. For London, dear readers, this is rare, crazy weather.

I intended to post other things here today, but this could not be missed. In a flash I was out walking the streets of Chiswick with my cameras - there was no chance I could get to Central London or anywhere else for that matter, because there is almost no public transport today. Tube lines are severely disrupted, all major roads and highways are jammed and there is no bus service in London at all.

click on pictures to enlarge

Not in Service - Buses lined up at Stamford Brook Bus Garage

Empty roads, empty bus stops

Most schools are closed and almost three million people are "working from home", having to choose from either getting stranded somewhere on the way or to stay safe at home. Of course, a few brave and persistent souls were still defiantly trying to make it despite the weather.

London's knees are buckling under the weather, and a lot of people are bitterly complaining about how 'inadequate' the infrastructure is and how this is all a big disgrace to this developed country. But I'm on the authorities' side on this. This is freak weather, a one-in-twenty-years occurrence, perhaps more, on average. You plan infrastructure for peaks, for future demand, for projected growth - you cannot plan a city to cater to an extreme arctic blizzard, the chances of happening of which are completely remote if not entirely unpredictable. Saying London should have been prepared for this is like saying that all buildings in the UK should be built to withstand earthquakes of the highest intensity on the Richter, even though it is a seismic safe zone. But I digress. Not everyone is complaining. Most people, especially children are welcoming the forced 'holiday', are thrilled with all the snow, and are keen to make the most of it.

Call me shallow, but I fall into the category of people who are enjoying the day for what it has brought. Chiswick is under swathes of white today and is incredibly beautiful. I know this feeling will perhaps last only a few hours because this weather is expected to continue through the week and very soon it will become a major irritant. But I'm determined to enjoy the beauty while it lasts.

Winter Wonderland around The Christ Church at Turnham Green









Poor Mr. William Hogarth wears a crown of the white stuff.

All of you who're in England or Wales and reading this, please stay safe, stay warm, stay content. All I want is a refund on my December Swiss Holiday!

I'll soon be back with more flanerie from around London.