Claire’s Corner

Posted on | May 13, 2010 | 24 Comments

If you’re in London then you may have noticed some elephants around. Between May and July there are 250 baby elephant sculptures dotted around Central London, each with a unique design by an artist; the Elephant Parade is a “conservation campaign that shines a multi-coloured spotlight on the urgent crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant.” The above photograph was taken by Verity when we met in Notting Hill Gate at the weekend and shows elephant #51, Oran, designed by artist Adam Bridgland. I find the charity event exciting and inspirational; I am hoping to volunteer my time and become involved as well as finding and photographing as many of the elephants as I can over the coming weeks. It is lovely to see London with so many splashes of colour (some of the elephants have wonderfully wacky and psychedelic designs) and it is such a fun initiative to raise the profile of the endangered elephants; I have been enjoying discussing it with fellow tweeps (that’s Twitter people to lay-people!) and sharing viewing experiences. I am also coveting my own miniature elephant (ornament, not a real one), which you can purchase here, in the official shop in Carnaby Street, Selfridges or Greenwich Central Market. I fully support the campaign and what it is set out to achieve; elephants are one of my favourite animals and the desolation their extinction would bring is beyond my imagination.

Thank you to Verity for the use of the photograph; I don’t have any of my own yet as the first few elephants I saw in early May, I was completely oblivious to what they represented and was out shopping without my camera. Verity and I had a fun day book-shopping in Notting Hill (in the amazing book and comic exchange, where we could happily lose ourselves for hours seeking green and grey spines and reminiscing about children’s literature we read) before the UK book bloggers’ meet-up. The meet-up was such a fun evening and perhaps the first of many; a second in Oxford this summer is already in the pipeline. Along with a lot of bookish chat and an ice-breaker hosted by yours truly (many thanks for that, host Simon T!) we also had a book swap; I received a hardback copy of a book I have been wanting to read for some time, The Child That Books Built by Francis Spufford, from Katy of Fifth Estate. Polly of Novel Insights received from the swap (from Simon T) a copy of The Vet’s Daughter by Barbara Comyns; serendipitously I also picked up a green Virago Modern Classics edition of the book earlier that day (credit to Verity who picked it up for herself before realising that she already owned it and has reviewed it here) so we have decided to read-along together at the beginning of June. For anyone who also has a copy of the book or can borrow it from their library, then please join us in reading it; it’s a short book and from the Comyns I have read before -Our Spoons Came from Woolworths- and the reviews I have read of her other books, it is bound to be a little bizarre!

Speaking of Virago Modern Classics, I am excited to see that Capuchin Classics are reissuing The Aloe by Katherine Mansfield later this year. I had been under the impression that Virago were themselves bringing it out again but this way I now have an excuse to take advantage of Capuchin’s online offer… From those familiar with my blog, you may know that Katherine Mansfield is one of my favourite writers and one whom I have waxed lyrical about in the past; I look forward to reading this earlier work that eventually became her acclaimed Prelude.

Comments

24 Responses to “Claire’s Corner”

Darlene
May 13th, 2010 @ 1:32 pm

Such a bright spot amongst all the concrete! Here in Canada, we have painted moose dotting the landscape…I know you’re shocked.
Simon (Savidge Reads)
May 13th, 2010 @ 1:47 pm

I love the elephants, they have lots down the southbank very near Riverside Readers current HQ! I have also seen lots around one of the theatres off seven dials – ish! They are a delight and for a wonderful cause, didn’t know you could buy your own… am off there now!
kimbofo
May 13th, 2010 @ 2:07 pm

As you know I’m loving these elephants too.

I wrote about them here: http://kimbofo.typepad.com/journal/2010/05/elephants-spotted-in-london.html
Amanda
May 13th, 2010 @ 2:09 pm

I love elephants! Seeing these around would make me so happy.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
May 13th, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

I love the hide-and-seek element of the elephants – you never know where you are going to spot the next one.
Buried In Print
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:12 pm

Oh my, the elephants are wonderful! I wish I could spot them myself! There was a similar event in Toronto with moose a few years ago, but I love that the elephant campaign is linked with conservation efforts. Have you read Barbara Gowdy’s novel The White Bone? Essential reading for elephant lovers!
softdrink
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:30 pm

I love elephants…they always look like they have a shy little smile. That little guy in the picture is adorable…I’m glad he’s campaigning for a good cause.
Geraldine
May 13th, 2010 @ 3:54 pm

Thanks for sharing that delightful picture and the information Claire. I’ve emailed the details to a friend who loves Elephants, the way I love Penguins.
Rachel
May 13th, 2010 @ 4:05 pm

There are two outside work and people keep thinking they’re an exhibition we’re doing! I think they’re really fun – I went past Green Park on the bus earlier and there are two parades of elephants snaking across near Hyde Park Corner – well worth a visit!

Is The Aloe included in Mansfield’s Collected Stories, do you know? My copy is in the attic so I can’t check!
Jenny
May 13th, 2010 @ 4:15 pm

I love the Book & Comic Exchange – I stayed in Notting Hill for a month when I was in college, and nearly every morning I’d go to the Book & Comic Exchange, then take whatever I’d bought to McDonald’s (I know, I know, but I wanted ice cream for breakfast) and read it over ice cream. It was that McDonald’s in the back of your elephant picture, actually! Good times…
The Sumatran Orangutan Society
May 13th, 2010 @ 4:16 pm

We love your blog and are really glad to hear that you are wanting to volunteer time for this great cause.
Hope you get the chance to see oure lephant and also send us a photo of yourself with our Harapan, as we are running a mssive photo competition:) Check our blog for more info: http://orangutanssos.blogspot.com/

Best of luck

Ida Bondø
PR, Communications and Outreach Officer
Sumatran Orangutan Society
Tel: +44 (0)1865 403343
E-mail: info@orangutans-sos.org
http://www.orangutans-sos.org
http://twitter.com/orangutanssos
http://facebook.com/orangutanssos

Support our Restore Rainforest Appeal: Plant Trees for Orangutans at
http://www.justgiving.com/restore_rainforest

With fewer than 6,700 surviving in the wild, it is predicted that the Sumatran orangutan will be the first Great Ape species to become extinct if current trends continue.
The Sumatran Orangutan Society works with local communities living alongside orangutan habitat, helping them work towards a more sustainable future for their forests.
Jodie
May 13th, 2010 @ 4:51 pm

A mini elephant is what my friend is getting for her charity birthday present now I’m going to London to see the tower and a show at the end of June and we’re both excited to see the elephants. Bath had decorated pigs for a while but I don’t think it was for charity so this is different.
Verity
May 13th, 2010 @ 4:56 pm

What a lovely post Claire. As you know I snapped another one for you today, and spotted many more in the distance-lots of fun! I got off at Notting Hill tube to get bus home and very forcibly walked straight in the opposite direction from that shop to the bus stop! It was hard…
Verity
May 13th, 2010 @ 6:28 pm

Mi picture came out quite well – I couldn’t see it when I commented using my phone!
vivienne
May 13th, 2010 @ 6:38 pm

I want to see all the elephants! I didn’t know this was happening. What a great day out, tracking down the elephants.
Erin
May 13th, 2010 @ 8:07 pm

Here in Boston we have the Cow Parade. The money goes to different charities. If you go to the website http://www.cowparade.com you can see them.
claire (kiss a cloud)
May 13th, 2010 @ 10:32 pm

Love those elephants, what a treat seeing them around!
Jo
May 13th, 2010 @ 11:14 pm

I saw something similar with elephants dotted around Norwich a couple of summers ago. It was brilliant to wander round and try and see them all! Ended up buying a mini Dr Who one for my son!
jennifer Ravey
May 14th, 2010 @ 12:46 am

Fantastic! What a great way to raise awareness. I hope others stop to determine why the elephants are parading.
Mystica
May 14th, 2010 @ 1:27 am

Love the idea of the elephants and your photograph is so very cute as well. I come from a country where the elephants are much endangered as its always a conflict between man and animal. Its nice to know that awareness is being built amongst countries so very far away from us.
Hannah Stoneham
May 14th, 2010 @ 2:04 pm

What a lovely post. There are a lot of colourful elephants at the Victoria end of Green Park but I had no idea why when I saw them a week or so ago…
I do hope that you enjoy the Barbara Comyns read along. I have read the book but will enjoy reading what you all make of it and Our Spoons Came From Woolworths as well.
Happy reading and elephany spotting
Hannah
Simon T
May 14th, 2010 @ 6:13 pm

I spotted some elephants, and wondered what they were for. I love things like this – I remember the cows in London a while ago, and the pigs in Bath. Such a fun idea. My favourite I spotted was the one outside Waterstone’s in Notting Hill Gate, with writing all over it.

I’m looking forward to the Comyns readalong! Her later novels are more normal, but her early ones (including The Vet’s Daughter, it seems) are delightfully surreal!
Novel Insights
May 15th, 2010 @ 10:50 pm

I saw an elephant today too, now I know what you lot were all tweeting about (I thought you were a little crazy)! Mine was behind Oxford Street near Top Shop – wish I’d taken a picture now Really looking forward to our Vet’s Daughter readalong!
anothercookiecrumbles
May 16th, 2010 @ 1:15 pm

I saw about three outside Harrods yesterday, as well as a couple in St. Christopher’s Place last week. The ones outside Harrods were incredibly colourful, and loads of tourists were taking pictures of them/with them.