Malaysia High Commission Independence Day

At the Independence Day Celebration at the High Commission
in Belgrave Square High Commissioner Zakaria and I met
discussing my work as
Bilateral Aid Advisor for New Zealand and Malaysia Governments
which started long ago ......
and which never appear to have stopped
as I am still in close contact with both Governments
and as shown here I am regularly guest at the
Government's engagements in London and overseas

........... .
The first English presentation of my new book
Victoria's International Art with my pastel of a butterfly
of Sabah on its cover was to Datuk Zakaria..
as the guests gradually departed after an excellent lunch

BIARRITZ

Biarritz... Musee Asiatica has so many ..always interesting..and like this
exhibit totally charming displays of Asian Arts crafts and other cultural
artefacts ..as I have had, unfortunately, been forced to cancel my recent visit
following injuries incurred in New York..I am planning to return in the Autumn,
when I should be able to travel once again

DUDLEY market place

At one end of the old outdoor market
stands the ornate Fountain...........
at the other
the view of the Castle ......
behind this decorative and very informative
engraving of the old Dudley, showing
a history of many centuries, with its background
of the feuds, the great fire which destroyed the
interior of the Castle, the walls, battlements and
the Keep still stand ..
a high point of the region
and a famous landmark, now surrounded by the
Dudley Zoo ..which has many of its inhabitents, where
possible in treed areas ..
similar to their natural habitat
DUDLEY.. famous also for its role in the Industrial Revolution
has so much to see...
and has always been a visitor attraction
From my home each day as I go out, my first view
is of the Castle which I have visited many many times..since I was a child

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 'my home' long ago

When I lived in Kuala Lumpur, my home was
The KUALA LUMPUR HILTON.......the Hotel is now
the
Crowne Plaza..but it is still in the same place on Jalan Sultan Ismail..........
just in the centre of the City,
now it has a good view of
the famous Petronas Twin Towers .............
then the Chairman of Petronas..the Oil Company.....
was also the Chairman of my Clients,
the Board of Malaysia Airlines,
and he was the Economic Adviser
to the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir

He and I spent many days together discussing the
economy, the airline, and many other aspects of Malaysia
which concerned me, as Advisor to New Zealand and
Malaysia Governments..and the Board of the Malaysia Airline
and which also concerned him
He was Raja (Prince) Mohar Badiozaman................
a sincere gentleman
I wrote much of my book 'MALAYSIA TERIMA KASIH'..the OFFICIAL BOOK OF MALAYSIA here ........by the pool

Victoria's International Art book

I will be launching my new book Victoria's International Art........
which, as yet, has only been seen
in New York with an Exhibition and Dinner at
LE CAFE GRANDE in DUDLEY

Martyn, the owner, here with me, has Dinner planned for the guests,
who will receive also a signed copy of my book as part of the evening..
this features France ..Malaysia ..Australia.. New Zealand... England ............
and other countries where I have been Advisor,

and to which I have been invited

........................................................................................
I have always returned to my home town,
and my English Drawings of my childhood places book
was launched at the nearby HIMLEY HALL, before being Exhibited at
The Frankfurt Book Fair & Copenhagen by The British Council
and being requested for the United Nations ..................
I will welcome my guests at his Cafe for the first time, to release my new book
Martyn and I look forward to hearing from anyone who would like to attend...
the date will be announced soon..........................................................................

Indonesia month at Harrods

This was a Special day.........
With Sapta Nirwandar Director of the Tourism Ministry
in London for the Opening of the Indonesia month at Harrods

He and I met and talked together last year when he brought
a brilliant cultural event
from Indonesia to The Horniman Museum in London
and to the Centre of the City
for an evening of Music =Fashion=Arts=
and an audience
which happily joined in as part of an Orchestra of traditional music
played on the historic instruments of the Country

Bonhams New York

In Madison Avenue New York
a delightful building houses Bonhams famous collection

of arts and antiques which it displays and Auctions for its clients.......
BONHAMS AUCTIONS are a wellknown feature in many countries
including Asia, Europe, USA ........and I find that their service is exceptional
...this is why I am so pleased to be reccommended by the company.
for my Talks and Exhibitions
in The United Kingdom................
and now..I do hope to give Talks and Exhibit my paintings, drawings,
and photographs here in New York
.

drawing Rockefeller Centre

on this sunny last day in NEW YORK
after I stopped at a favourite spot...to draw THE ROCKEFELLER CENTRE
and the summer flowers
in full bloom

NEW YORK FRIDAY morning

I had just over a day to add more drawings
of NEW YORK to my portfolio
and just completed one.....
before the accident which left me so injured
I AM PLEASED TO HAVE THIS PICTURE
of that sunny morning

PHILIPPINES EMBASSY 5TH AVENUE

Last year I was invited to the EMBASSY TO THE UNITED NATIONS
OF THE PHILIPPINES to see an exhibition of
a local artist....this year once again I was invited......... and this time
it was for the work of an amateur artist
who works at The United Nations.....
we spoke about my invitations to THE PHILIPPINES
and other ASEAN Countries........

this is part of the permanent rooms open to those who wish
to visit on 5th Avenue...and also read newspapers and other
current material...........................

THE PLAZA NEW YORK

What could be nicer
than morning coffee at THE PLAZA...
after a nice stroll down 5th AVENUE in the sunshine
from THE HARVARD CLUB.........
looking at... BARNES AND NOBLE en route

bonhams madison avenue...meetiing

AFTER MEETING WITH MANAGING DIRECTOR
MALCOLM BARBER
we took a few photographs of the current arts and
sculptures

new york BONHAMS/ACCIDENT

One of my last meetings with MANAGING DIRECTOR Malcolm Barber

before the awful accident just
near to THE HARVARD CLUB
as I waited for a taxi to take me to THE EMBASSY OF INDONESIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
..........................
So I never got there instead a long few hours of hospital checks and xrays
at THE ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL NEW YORK
fortunately these revealed that my head injury
had not caused permanent damage

the PARAMEDICS who collected me from the accident
THE NURSES DOCTORS SURGEONS AND
NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT were excellent
I cannot praise to highly how I was treated
and thanks to all of the people in W44TH STREET who
stopped to assist called for help ..and also comforted me ..wish that I knew who all
of them were...........
anyway my thanks to NEW YORKERS who were so caring
thank you..........
I DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL ONE DAY READ THIS..........

NEW YORK ...2010

....There are so many delightful places in New York
some I really enjoy are The Plaza near to Central Park,
the Saint Regis, The Pierre...At The Lincoln Centre I listened to a favourite composer,
Stravinsky, conducted by Gergiev
At The Algonquin, near to The Harvard Club
in the evenings many well known theatre and
cabaret artists provide entertainment for the guests

In summer evenings the tourists swarm around The Rockefeller Centre

BONHAMS NEW YORK

At BONHAMS IN MADISON AVENUE I had a meeting
with Managing Director Malcolm Barber
The picture shows a display of Bonhams very attractive
literature from the Auction room and sales held
internationally
BONHAMS are a world leader
in this field of valuations and sales
and I am delighted that the firm recommends
my Talks and Exhibitions in addition to the INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
BY THE BRITISH COUNCIL

and by the London based PHOTOGRAPHERS GALLERY

NEW YORK ROCKEFELLER CENTRE

My New York route always takes me along 5th Avenue to the Rockefeller landmark
at lunchtime for a meal at the Rockefeller Club
alas no longer there-----for the excellent Cipriani food
sunny everyday of my 2010 visit..
I had brought just a few copies completed of
VICTORIA'S INTERNATIONAL ART------
my latest book..showing it to a few very special people.....
it will be launched soon in England on my return..
at a DINNER IN DUDLEY..
most appropriately..in my home town ...............................................

with FREDERICK B WHITTEMORE at his Union Club

today we looked at my work for Indonesia

and as ever I value this insight into world affairs

from his perspective, and we enjoy this difference of viewpoint each time that

we meet

New York would never be the same for me without the presence of this

man whose breadth and scope in the affairs of many countries

is complementary to my own

and yet so different

New York sunshine

And what better place to sit in the the sunshine than
in front of th Rockefeller Centre
with the daffodils in full bloom
anyone who visits New York finishes= sometime at this spot
here I am with my new book
VICTORIA'S INTERNATIONAL ART

HARRODS Indonesia dinner

I was invited by The Cabinet Ministers

of Indonesia ..to attend a Dinner, Cultural and Fashion Show to mark the Indonesia month at Harrods
As I had my new book Victoria's International Art with me to take to New York
we decided to show it in Harrods..where my book Drawings of my childhood places was sold
photograph taken at the restaurant

Indonesia Batik

I always take to my Talks some of the batiks from Asia and also songket............
the cloth made from 24 carat gold....
this is one of my batiks, which I like from Indonesia..I am dining with Two Cabinet Ministers at Harrods
on Thursday 29th as part of Indonesia month..we had an excellent lunch there previously
This was taken at my Talk at the Park Royal Hotel with the CAMEO ladies

Dudley Worcestershire

In England we have such a wealth of delightful buildings
that we become so blase

In some countries where I have lived, even one would be the subject of learned discourse...........
pamphlets and pictures would be distributed
and visits would be made in Groups...............so what would I do with this fine building of 1700's
sited near to the Art Gallery ...........not sung about ..no plaque....and yet what a fine example
of a well proportioned house...just ideal for a Townhouse..and where I can pass on the way to
seeing people about my latest book.........today The Express & Star newspaper came to
brighten a lovely sunny afternoon even more...Patrick took photographs ..we talked ..he saw my books
and I invited him to return soon, to see more of my Paintings..when they also are framed ..to show
alongside my new book....................Victoria's International Art.....................

Victoria by Patrick Express & Star

Patrick came today from the Express & Star newspaper

to take photographs of me
with my new book
Victoria's International Art
he took some especially for me...........
to show my Sabah butterfly cover here..to my friends
it will be nice to see the article soon

Dudley Market Fountain

Even as a small girl I liked to look at this...for me ......
the famous fountain which seemed to stand guard over the beginning of the
open Market ...which had small lamps at night...
a wonderful atmosphere on Christmas Eve, garlands hanging from the stalls.
the striped awnings lit by the lamps...how I loved it...
holly, mistletoe, wreaths hanging in each stall ..
the cobbled areas between the Market Stalls
making the area even more exotic for me

I think that I never lost that enthusiasm

Dudley Castle

It is such a lovely day
and as yesterday Saint Georges Day...had the patriotic sounds of music
at the Concert Hall
I could not resist this very English view
my Castle ...as I always thought it was
flying the Flag
this is what I saw every time I returned home
from living, working in Spain New Zealand Indonesia Hong Kong Malaysia New York
etc etc ..is it any wonder that now I like to spend a pleasant
afternoon strolling through the Market
talking to the traders..they know me..
and enjoying home
what a delightful word