A Falcon - Evenings - Dinner Jackets and Dresses - Bamboo, Tobacco leaves and a Rhino foot....

All Falcon Photos By H. Walker

The Falcon......

and the sporting life.......

“It is only after a fair portion of one's life that one really knows what are the things that matter, the things that will remain until the end.”

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Lovely.........Yes, occasionally you would enjoy it......bear with me.........

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“Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life”

-Jean de la Fontaine

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Evenings..... and as always trophies - we have them everywhere - we grew up with them so they have became a part of our lives ....you find them in trophy rooms, hallways, libraries, in the study, just everywhere - that is right - I have always packed and moved a few with me from continent to continent...often they want to stay somewhere...with someone...a boar head, a falcon .......some has been given away as presents and have found great homes.....(of course they all have names...)

. “It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.”

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...sunny days............

Photo by J. Dominis

...do not run..........simplicity is important in life......look to the Asian cultures .

“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.”

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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I live a simple life - although not in a bamboo....house.... at this time..

“Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty.”

Bamboo simple and elegant.....

build a watch tower in bamboo????
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..the simple life - dried tobacco leaves can be hand applied to wood panels or direct on to your walls for an amazing leather like effect (the texture - fantastic) or apply them to a table or dresser..... and you find an extreme stunning character added to your "home"....

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Sorry, a rhino foot - barefoot???...not back on the beach yet....

The Tropical Zone - Beach - Ocean - Life - The Surf...

Photo by L. Dean

“What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now.”

Photo by L.Dean

“It is the woman who chooses the man who will choose her.”

Photo by L. Dean

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Soon - I will be back in the tropical zone - on the beach, barefoot... the smell of the ocean, back in the waters where the green turtles live, this will make me feel alive and I will wear a smile on my face all the time - like the dolphins smiles at the world...

Photo by G. Parks

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

Photo by G. Parks

“Love life, engage in it, give it all you've got. love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it” - Maya Angelou

This is very true....everyday is a new day of surprises - many adventures and travels will come when you least expect it...

Photo by G. Parks

..in every shell, coral piece or grain of sand you will find an old story from the ocean....maybe a simple piece of art so complex that its beauty will make you forget that day and in the ocean you will free your mind and feel at peace...balance your life...slow down take a deep breath - Life is good...

Summer - Croquet..... and a Fierce Women

......sometimes we take a break and play a game of croquet.......

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All photos in this Post by T. Spencer

..and the lawn is always perfect......

. the competition is fierce.......

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we do still dress in white - at least on our lawn - tradition - tradition - tradition....

Henri Matisse - Sculptures...

All photos in this post by H. Groskinsky

“My curves are not crazy.”

- Henri Matisse

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“Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.”

- Henri Matisse


“I would like to recapture that freshness of vision which is characteristic of extreme youth when all the world is new to it.”
-Henri Matisse
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Pure and sophisticated.......

Constantin Brâncuşi - 1876-1957 - Sophisticated - Smooth - Sensual Forms ...

Romanian Artist - Constantin Brâncuşi

Abstract - Abstract - Abstract

Hungarian Painter Margit Pogany was his very, very famous love. As he loved to entertain many high society women in Paris found their way to his Studio in 1920s and 30s. Léonie Ricou, Mme Eugène Meyer Jr., Baroness Renée Irana Frachon, Nancy Cunard and Peggy Guggenheim.

English concert pianist Vera Moore was a very influential woman for him - not as wellknown as all the other women in his life - but definently a special woman.............

I fully agree that when he was asked - How to interpret his art of women - He advised to look until you see them: "Look at my sculptures until you see them. Those nearest to God have seen them Only then can we interpret them."

"Madam LR"

His Studio in 1920s.............

His friends - Romanian Artists and Intellectuals as well as Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Fernand Léger....a long list could here be written of famous artist and intellectuals all part of Paris and the avant-garde..

Henry Miller (1891 - 1980) - Writer - Painter - Traveller

Henry Miller - 1965

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(1969 - Paris - Photo C. Bavagnoli)

Henry Miller - his home (Today the Henry Miller Library) is located at Big Sur, California, South of San Fransisco approximately 3 hour drive. Beautiful drive along the Coast. I visit his home/library in Big Sur once - the year was 1989 and it was the last year of his closest friend Emil White (who founded the library in 1981 after Henry Millers death. Henry White was a writer, a publisher and an artist who was known for his paintings of the Big Sur coast of California)- I was fortunate to meet him briefly. Henry Miller known as one of U.S. great writers....

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"The Tropic of Cancer" - this book made him famous - note the text on the book cover - Not To Be Imported Into Great Britain or U.S.A. - and we know why......Anyways, he was actually a perfectly well skilled painter...
. Henry Miller - 1949 - Poseidon

Henry Miller - 1946

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Henry Miller - A la Durrell

few paintings were sold during his lifetime.

Henry Miller - Three Figures

He painted for sixty years had international exhibitions and today you can find his art in museums and private collections in US - of course - and on the continent in Europe and Asia.

Henry Miller - Tropics

He spent time on the Saronic islands and one of my favorites - Hydra - located in the Saronikos gulf - which, has been consider an island for Artists and writers alike. Miller wrote "The Colossus of Maroussi" in 1941 - the setting is Hydra. I rented a room here - right in the port - it had beautiful frescoes painted in it - a nice balcony with an excellent view of the harbour - I was told - It was here the movie "The Boy on a Dolphin" was filmed (1957)and that the room was featured in the movie.

Clubland - Exit - Departure Lounge - South Africa....

(All Photos in this Post by Tavarua)

Clubland Part IV

a "walkabout" around the club shows signs of paintings

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and old hand colored steel engravings

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"The Duke..."

as well as old framed photographs...

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and more.... framed photos of British Royals......
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Cabinet with a few silver and ivory pieces....

Kudu.....

Sable Antelope.....

We are now leaving the Rand Club and the African Savannah behind us.......

walking by the old elevator....

towards the Exit - Airport and the Departure Lounge............Flight destination Europa..... and Switzerland before arriving back to Sun, Beach, Ocean, and Palm trees......
for a while........until the wanderlust brings me back to.....?????

Rand Club - Joburg - South Africa...

(All Photos in this Post by Tavarua)

The Rand Club...... a four-storey Victorian building..Welcome inside the Palatial Rand Club. It was regarded as a cocoon for the socially elite since 1887...

The Rand Club houses a Snooker/billiard room, The Tommy's Bar and The Main Bar which, has the longest counter in Africa - 96 feet long, two libraries, two dining rooms. There are few en-suite bedrooms for club members to rent. There are private offices as well which can be rented to club members.

The main entrance........

Tommy's Bar adjacent to the main bar....

Cozy........

Hallway......

Welcome to......

the longest bar in Africa..........

Here comes Justin.......

Let me introduce my friend Justin......He lives at the Rand Club and been there for a while..he stays mainly at the Bar......he is very proud of it. The Rand Club was established 1886/87 .....the Club Building was built 1904 prior to this year the Club had two other locations.

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Stairs to the first floor....

Here is the central portrait of Queen Elizabeth (the original was by Artist Pietro Annigoni)... is it a bygone era? or can we still hold fast to our old traditions?

and now Wind of Changes........President Nelson Mandela(Picture on First Floor)..

First floor..........The Rand Club can easily rival the best clubs in London.

The Library.....

Here I am having a conversation with Justin.......... he does not have an opinion about anything - Except hunting......