Actually we don’t have a dog, although Dobby the House Elf seems to spend an inordinate amount of time goggling images of cute pug puppies. However I am yet again in the doghouse. As you know the husband likes nothing more than pottering about in the kitchen concocting elaborate suppers and cold collations when, quite frankly, I’d be just as happy with a tub of hummus and a bag of designer crisps. He had somewhat optimistically assumed that once the exhibition opened I would be pulling a 9-5 (where he got that idea I can’t imagine). Instead I’ve been ringing home explaining that I simply must write my introduction to the conference, create my powerpoint presentation for today’s seminar, or even worse, I’m on my way to a pv somewhere.
In an effort to appease said husband I’ve been checking my diary since my last blog entry and realise that he is, as usual quite right – I have hardly been home, other than to sleep. On 7 June the V&A hosted a special event for members of the London WIs. I came over all Eva Peron as I took to the lecturn and welcomed everyone as curator of the exhibition and President of the V&A WI, which was only set up in March this year. I like the ethos of the WI, the focus of their nation-wide campaigns, their community spirit and most of all a sense of good manners and courtesy extended to new members. I wandered home full of the joys of spring and an rosy glow to find everyone in bed and not so much as a sandwich and glass of milk waiting for me.
Despite the frosty atmosphere on the home front, the two day conference was superbly attended with some excellent speakers and papers. If you attended the conference you will know that we are currently in the process of applying for funding to publish the conference proceedings, either on-line or in a related journal. Luckily the husband had jetted off to some undisclosed location on a mission so I was free to indulge in a little post-conference partying which resulted in spending the next day in a darkened cinema with Dobby watching back to back films and sharing an enormous tub of popcorn – an all too fleeting moment of mother-child bonding which I only now realise how much I’ve missed over the last two years.
As a reward for all our hard work, Claire and I nipped up to York to see Su Stockwell’s new installation ‘Flood’ at St Mary’s Church – we also thought we could slip into the Quilt Museum and Art Gallery incognito to see ‘Inspired by the Past’. Of course we ended up having long conversations with the lovely volunteers who do sterling work talking to visitors and engaging them in the finer points of quiltmaking. It was also interesting to see work by Sara Impey, Jo Budd and Michele Walker alongside historic examples from the collection. On the train home I suddenly realisted that we are entering our final weeks of the exhibition. I had an emotional moment this week when I conducted an early morning tour for the Parliamentary Arts and Heritage Group – on 4 July Qulits 1700-2010 will close. This chapter of my life will come to an end – it will be a bittersweet moment, but perhaps an opportunity for the husband to get out his recipe books. That or buy Dobby the cute pug puppy……
