Random Play by Graham Reid

That's lovely, Graham. I don't often have Auckland Envy, but now is one of those times.

I'm going to be visiting Auckland soon and was thinking of going to the museum, but sadly I'll be leaving the day before this opens! Waaah!

This seems to really suit the quiet stillness of Auckland Museum - being able to wander around listening to a special soundtrack, having your own experience while everyone else around you has their own experience.

I was trying to imagine how this would work at Te Papa. I don't think it would in most places. Te Papa is so full of text telling FUN FACTS that the idea of ignoring the writing and just appreciating the objects for what they are would be really hard to work out.

Sounds really interesting, will give it a go.
The Musei Vaticani are amazing for the "stampede". At the entrance is a little sign - right for the Pinacoteca (which houses Carvaggio's Entombent and Raphael's incredible Transfiguration) or left for a bunch-of-things-ending-in-Sistine-Chapel.

After queing for hours it was amazing to be so alone in the Pinacoteca.

The music sounds wonderful, and it's nice to hear some of the lesser known names like Rachel Shearer and Rosy Parlane mentioned Graham - they've been producing excellent music for years.

Any chance that the compositions may become available as downloads for those of us overseas?

you have convinced me . i'l visit, and will put a link to this on my blog at wordpress

I know what you mean about people behaviour in galleries, Graham. One of the most odd experiences of my life was encountering the ten-deep crowd clustered around the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, all taking photos. All quite inexplicable to me, for the photo would be a rather poor record of I Was There. Meanwhile all the other treasures/pleasures seemed to be ignored.

Russell Brown, since you sparked my interest in the Uffizi Gallery, under false pretences, (I'm going there soon) I can stretch the thread even further by asking you why, as technological guru blogger extraordinaire, there isn't a wireless head phone that you can remove from a landline base while you wander around the house, doing whatever and talking - I do a lot of talking and get neck ache from clutching the large receiver of the landline between my neck and my shoulder while I prepare the dinner.

I've been to Dick Smiths and Harvey Norman who know of nothing. 'Harvey' told me that if I took the mobile handhold put it in my pocket, plugged a head phone into it, I could achieve mobility and communication.

But, I said to him, why can't all that be set into the head part which would resemble a hairband with a mouthpiece like XBox live, Skype with no extras to carry? He said the battery would be too big. Batteries can be tiny. I don't get that reply. Why hasn't my dream technology been invented, Russell.

Russell?
Russell/
Are you there???

I guess it's like the wildflowers beside the motorway, seeing something other than your point of focus slows you down.

I think the Auckland Museum is great - we frequently take visitors there. Although when we're being tour guides it wouldn't be practical, the idea to involving more of the senses in the experience of the gallery seems delightful.