I've never been to the Angel of the North, never even driven past and seen the heavenly host surveying the A1. So I thought it would be a good plan to do so - but to just see it: well, where's the challenge in that? Somebody sees the statue every second of every day. That's 90,000 views every day or 33 million every year. Albeit a lot of those will be the people who live locally or commute past it seeing it repeatedly but still it's not enough to just see it. You've probably worked out by now that I'm no thrill-seeking-bungy-jumping adrenaline junkie so I decided to mark my visit by paying homage to the statue itself in a more visual way.
If you've never seen it: It's big! I know this may sound like an obvious statement but its 54 metre (175 foot) wingspan is bigger than a Boeing 757 or 767 jet and almost the same as a Jumbo jet and at 20 metres (65 feet) high that is the height of a five storey building or four double decker buses. I've had the privilege of seeing a couple of Anthony Gormley's other installations including "Another Place" at Crosby beach which I found eerily striking and Sound II in the crypt at Winchester Cathedral but neither of these artworks is on the same scale as The Angel. He's proper big!
So how do I honour this colossal cherub? Well clearly by dressing up as an angel using my dressing gown, some fairy wings and a 99p halo from Wilkos! Who could argue that wasn't a fitting tribute?
Here I am looking positively Angelic despite the wind trying to steal my dressing gown.
And here is proof I achieved challenge 37.
It actually doesn't have a bent wing, it was just my first attempt at taking a panoramic shot! Hopefully you can get an idea of scale when you see the people that are up close to the statue.
Up close and personal, this is what his steel frame looks like.
I must thank my road trip buddy, Fola, for this escapade: he coped with me winding him up for the 5 hour round trip as well as the embarrassment of taking photos of a mad woman in fancy dress at a national landmark and he even had to deal with his first ever trip to IKEA (we were so close to the Gateshead one it felt rude not to pop in... have I mentioned I have an IKEA obsession? If not more about this next month after my trip to Eurovision).
Now before I head off to start packing my Buck's Fizz skirt I have more news. A while back I won a baseball cap and other goodies signed by Olympic Sailor Ben Ainslie and I promised I would celebrate accordingly. It took a while to think of something that was of suitable level and relevance but I hope you agree that this hits the spot. I drank some pink champagne whilst watching the rather bad movie "Charlie St Cloud" which features Zac Ephron going on about sailing and baseball throughout. Could there have been a more apt celebration? I think not!
But that isn't the end of my 40b440 endeavours for I've also been out an about in Manchester taking photos with my lovely friend Kimberly (who makes a very fine photography assistant/security guard) in order to produce my first Manchester Photo Montage:
It may be that in time this grows but for now I think it's good enough to tick off challenge 34.
People sometimes ask me why I'm keeping this blog and trying to do these challenges and the answer is simple. Life is about making memories and having fun. It has to be. I'm having a blast on my journey...perhaps you're beginning to make your own list too. Why not tell me about it in the comments section or if you're enjoying the blog spread the word. The more 40b440ites (I've changed your name already) that help me on the way the more fun we'll have. Go on... be an angel!
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