Cultural day

Had a culture-filled day today, starting with a double Culturepool event: a look at the Aubrey Williams "Atlantic Fire" exhibition of colourful oil paintings with a talk by Reyahn King, the Gallery Director, followed by a train ride from Lime Street station to Edge Hill, the world's oldest existing passenger station still in use, and opened in 1830.The old engine house, which originally contained machinery to power a winch to drag the steam trains up the steep incline (they hadn't the power to manage it unaided) has been gutted and reinvented as a cultural space of exhibition rooms and offices, called Metal, and is now Culturepool's head office.Here we enjoyed a home-cooked lunch before examining an exhibition by Leo Asemota, who had come along to talk about his art installation.

In the evening my friend L took us to a hafla (Egyptian bellydancing party), where we were entertained by some fabulous dancers and also did some booty-shaking of our own.

I am now completely shattered with all the culture, hanging around on freezing stations and wobbling bits that are best left undisturbed, and will have to be up again early tomorrow to attend a photo workshop 45 minutes' drive away. Couldn't decide whether to post a pic of Aubrey Williams' vibrant paintings, a shot from one of the 3 stations I visited today, or some glamorous and sensual dance images. I imagine the male blippers (who aren't trainspotters) would prefer the last option, but instead I chose this sneaky one of one of the Culturepool group, obviously overcome by too much art. G'night all.