Menoffagainorrhoea; Suffolk Sojourn Day Two - part 1

The Saturday dawned and Aitch suggested a visit into the big town of Ipswich. (Until now, her village of Baylham has remained an actual village, but the stretch of new-building is such that in another decade it will have become an outer suburb.) The purpose of the trip was three-fold. She needed to collect some prescription glasses, the "Made In Suffolk - Ed Sheeran" exhibit was on, and the gallery was within one of the great historic properties of the town, Christchurch Mansion, so a visit to the museum too.

It was a glorious summer day again, with temps in the high 20's centigrade. [I remember Christchurch park from my childhood. The toddler sibling (Mac3) went missing on one visit there. It involved police and ambulances and things. Quite the palaver. All was well, but a family 'marker'!] We found a perfect park under a tree and only five minutes walk from the venue. Now, as hinted in the title above, this post is going to stretch out a bit. There was no restriction on photographing the exhibition, so I (and a gazzilion other folks) took advantage of that! I did, as usual, snap info boards too, so the really interested parties can share in that.

Let me just say, when I shared that Ed Sheeran vid with you earlier in the month, I had no idea about this exhibit or the four shows he was performing in Ipswich, OR that I would be attending! (The exhibition, not the shows. Trust me, the vibe was B.I.G. as Ed began his career by busking in Ipswich and the place is extraordinarily proud of this young man!) As we waited for our turn to go into the gallery (batches of 40 in a fifteen-minute timed entry system), we enjoyed ice cream and listened to folk around us. Catching snatches of conversation as they shared thoughts, feelings and memories of Ed - many having already attended the first concert on the previous evening. The atmosphere around the whole event was fabulous and reflected, I feel, something of the nature of Ed Sheeran himself. An upright human being is how I would describe him, who has an incredible musical talent and the ability to communicate to the masses. That a fellow not yet in his thirties warrants a retrospective display of his life and work says a great deal, would you not agree?

There were double that in total over the four nights at Chantry Park.

Ed is rather fond of Lego...  click here...

Ed is quite a talented artist as well. That portrait is of his brother.
(The sculptures were commissioned by their parents.)

...and to the right, a huge pinboard with reports from all the years by local newspapers about the rise and rise of their new favourite 'son'.

This was where the shop was located. We may have spent a penny or two...

I left this display impressed on so many levels. Even from the art curation and presentation perspective - it was wonderfully organised and laid out and nothing was missed. I have shown you but a fraction.

This day is to be continued here on Monday!