GEEKISH NOTES.
I have noticed that some bloggers are having difficulties uploading pictures to their blogs, this may be due to using internet explorer particularly with if you are still using Windows XP.
In a general sense I think this due to the wealth level in Thanet where a substantial number of people are using old computers and operating systems, this means that the latest version of Internet Explorer, version 9 is something they can’t install.
As far as I can see from my web statistics the average Thanet user is using out of date and unsupported software, myself included. There is no easy way for me to update I have four scanners and five printers, most of which don’t work properly with Windows 7 drivers.
Fortunately the solution for blogger and images is to download and use the Google Chrome browser and use this to publish your blog posts, this also overcomes problems with copying and pasting into the blogger publisher.
RAMBLE.
The weather was to unpredictable for anything much today, I had contemplated the French Weekend in Sandwich, but didn’t fancy wet children and cameras.
Sorry about this if you were on tenterhooks for some pictures, they will mostly be gardens at Quex as one can go into he house when it rains, on this sort of day Quex is really the only place in Thanet that the children will tolerate for several hours.
The Turner Contemporary usually has some sort of indoor activity for children, but the other adults just get bored after about half an hour of the gallery, it just isn’t really big enough to make a family day of.
My own approach to art galleries and museums, photographing and sketching exhibits and the people looking at them, usually causes some sort of problem eventually.
For instance photographing the events like the Dancing Queens or the Margate Meltdown seems to be no problem at all, even getting in really close for the videos or asking people to pose seems to be very acceptable.
In and around historical attractions the security soon become agitated and in art galleries people are inclined to start behaving like primitives who think you are trying to steal either their souls or the essence of the exhibited art.
Gardens seem to be an exception, a sort of neutral ground.
Fortunately here in Thanet people have got used to me and seeing the pictures on the web, but there is nonetheless a tension or strain involved with taking photographs that doesn’t seem to be present when photographing gardens.
QUEX, MUSEUM, HOUSE, GARDEN, BARN.
Although primarily the museum is a natural history museum of the stuffed animal and bones type, not something that is really my bag, although it provides considerable entertainment for my children. There is a considerable cultural artefact oriental china collection, which from an arts point of view rivals anything I have ever seen from the point of view of diversity.
I would think most people would be entertained by the collection for several hours, oh yes there is also a considerable weapons collection, once again not really my bag.
Photography isn’t allowed in the museum so you will just have to take my word for it that it is worth going.
The house is very much a medium sized Regency Country House with about eight largish rooms open to the public, at one time more of it was open, including the nursery and a bit of the below stairs part.
It is furnished in the manner of gentry of the time,parts of it with an oriental influence, there are some interesting clocks, maritime paintings and associated Napoleonic items, a Congreve Clock in the library. The atmosphere of the house and the friendliness of the staff make it pleasant to visit with children.
The gardens are my favourite part and despite the rather iffy weather today I managed to take some pictures, links to them below.
As gardens in East Kent go these rate among the best, I am still learning the buttons on my replacement camera but I hope the pictures give you some idea.
We ate at Quex Barn, this is on the way into Quex Park there is a shop where thy sell quality produce and a restaurant that is very good, food and drink for four adults and two children coming out at under £10 per head, link takes you to the pictures.
This is a good place to eat if you have children, the staff are very friendly and accommodating.
On the way home we stopped off at the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum, this has free entrance, link to the pictures below.
