Chapter 20 Part II Tasin-1

Tachin But he didn't seem to understand me; on Saturday, I received a card from Tachin showing a pre-Raphaelite girl looking back sheepishly.On the card he wrote: I am so sorry for my rude behavior last time! I hope this is up to you.Attached are tickets to Bayreuth - or, if that's not convenient, how about dinner? Tachin Dinner with Tachin, can you imagine what that would be like? All night in front of that weasel head? And what the hell is he trying to do? Hitt.Was it a new movie or something? Or he was talking about Beirut, the capital and largest city of Lebanon, located in the west of the country on the Mediterranean coast.Founded by the Phoenicians, it was an important trade center between Greece and Rome.The city has long been the site of ethnic disputes. ——Annotation? For God's sake, why are we going to Beirut?

Forget about tahin! I have more important things to think about today.Today is day six of my frugal plan—and, crucially, my first weekend since.David Barton reminds in the book that this is the moment when all previous efforts are most likely to be wasted, because there are no daily affairs in the office to divert your attention, and the day will be stretched endlessly, just waiting for the familiar shopping experience. comfort to make up for it. But I am a firm-willed person, and I won't be shaken so easily.I've already packed the day - I'm not going to be near any stores.In the morning I plan to go to the museum; and in the evening, instead of wasting money on expensive takeaway food, I'm going to make a curry meal at home for myself and Suzie.This really got me excited.

My financial budget for today is as follows: Travel expenses to the museum: free (I already bought a transportation card) Museum tickets: free Curry: £25 (David Barton says it costs less than £5 to prepare a curry meal for four, and now it's just me and Suzy.) Total daily spend: £25 Not only that, but I can also avoid meaningless material temptations and gain spiritual edification.I chose the V&A because I had never been there before.In fact, I don't even know what's in there.Statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert? Or something else? Whatever it is, it's going to be fun and exciting, I'm sure of that.And, best of all, it's free!

When I stepped out of South Kensington Tube Station, the sun was shining brightly, and I strode along, feeling terribly pleased with myself.I usually waste my Saturday mornings watching "Live and Kicking", a children's program on the British BBC. ——Annotation and preparations before shopping.But look at me today! I suddenly feel grown up and more urban, like a character in a Woody Allen movie! All I have to do is put on a long wool scarf and A pair of sunglasses, and it looks utterly Diana Keaton! (Obviously, a young Diana Keaton, but where do you find clothes from the 70s?) And, on Monday, if someone asks me how my weekend was, I can say, "I went to the V&A." No, I should say, "I caught an exhibition." That sounds like So cool! (Just a quick question, why do people keep saying they "caught up" with an exhibition? And those paintings aren't like Pamplona, ​​the northern Spanish city, east-southeast of Bilbao. As an ancient Basque The city was conquered by the Visgoths, Franks and Moors and became the capital of the Kingdom of Navarra (824-1512). In Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" (1926) Records the annual bull race at the celebration of San Fermin.-Annotated bull race is also famous.) Then, they will ask again: "Really? I don't know that you are interested in art Interested, Rebecca." And I'd say proudly, "Oh, yes. I spend most of my free time in museums." That way, they'd be impressed, Then say...

Only then did I realize I had walked past the entrance! Look how stupid I am! Preoccupied with the conversation between me and...At this moment, I realized that it was Luke Brandon who was talking to me in this little scene of my imagination.How strange! How could this happen? Maybe it was because I struck up a conversation with him during dinner that night.Stop thinking and focus, I'm here to visit the museum. I quickly walked back a few steps, and walked quietly and calmly into the entrance of the hall, trying to make myself look like I often come here.I'm not like the group of Japanese tourists who are always hanging around the tour guide, ha! I think with pride, I'm not a passer-by! This is my own national heritage, the culture of my own people.I casually picked up a floor plan of the museum, pretending I didn't care if I wanted it or not, and looked at the lectures on the list, such as "Pottery from the Yuan and Early Ming Dynasties."Then, I started to wander around the first exhibition hall leisurely.

"Excuse me?" a woman behind the desk said to me. "Have you bought your ticket yet?" What? You don't have to buy a ticket to visit the museum! Oh, of course - she was just kidding me.I gave her a friendly smile and moved on. "Sorry!" The woman's voice was sharper than before.At this moment, a guy in a security uniform appeared out of nowhere. "Have you bought tickets yet?" "Isn't it free?" I replied in surprise. "I'm afraid that's not the case." She pointed to the sign behind me.I turned around and looked, my legs went limp and I almost fell to my knees.

The sign said: Tickets £5. I was so shocked that I almost passed out.What the hell is going on in the world? Museums are taking away admission? This is so infuriating! Everyone knows museums are supposed to be free.If museums started charging money, no one would want to visit! Our cultural heritage would be missing for an entire generation, and it would be kept out of the public by a onerous economic fence.This country will become more depraved, and the entire civilized society will be on the verge of collapse. Is this what you, Tony Blair, want? Besides, I don't have £5 with me.When I came out, I deliberately only brought 2 pounds 50 pence, which was just enough cash to buy the ingredients for curry rice.Oh my God! This is such a nuisance.I mean, I'm here with a lot of joy and ready to be cultured.I just wanted to go in and see... well, whatever was available - but couldn't!

Now all the Japanese tourists are looking at me like I've committed some heinous crime.Go away! I thought angrily.Look at your art. "We can also use credit cards here," the woman said again, "VISA cards, Switch cards, and American Express cards are all acceptable." "Oh." I replied. "Then... alright." "Annual passes are £15," she added, as I reached for my wallet, "and you can use them anytime for a year." Available anytime during the year! Wait a minute.David Barton said in the book that before buying anything, you should estimate the "expenditure per use", that is, divide the price by the total number of times the product can be used.So, assuming I go to the V&A once a month from now on (which I think should be very realistic), then if I buy an annual pass it will cost me just... £1 each time 25p!

Well, that's a pretty good deal, isn't it? Come to think of it, you have to admit that it's a worthwhile investment indeed. "Okay, I'll just buy an annual pass!" I said, handing over my VISA card.Ha! Cultural artifacts, here I come. This one opened really well.I looked at the small floor plan in my hand, stared at each exhibit for a long time, and carefully read the brief introduction card.Silver goblet, Netherlands, 16th century Order of the Holy Trinity, Italy, mid-15th century Blue and white ceramic bowl, early 17th century What a beautiful bowl! I wondered on a whim how much it was worth.Looks like it's expensive... as I was looking around for the price tag, I suddenly realized where I was.Of course, this is not a store.Why do things have a price tag here?

This approach is still problematic, I think.Because if you put a price tag on the exhibits, you can get more fun from it, don't you? You walk and walk, just keep looking at things, and after a while, people lose interest.However, once you put the price on it, your interest will soar.In fact, I think all museums should put a price tag on their exhibits.You look at a silver goblet, or a marble statue, or the Mona Lisa, or whatever it is, and you admire its beauty, its historical value, everything about it—and you reach for it The price tag, gasped and exclaimed: "Hey, look how valuable it is!" This will definitely add a lot of color to the exhibit!

Maybe, I'll write to the V&A and suggest it to them.After all, I'm an annual pass holder and they deserve my opinion. Now, let's go check out the glassware next to it! Engraved goblet, England, mid-15th century God, I really want a cup of coffee.How long have I been here? There must be... Oh, only 15 minutes! When I came to the costume history exhibition hall, I put on a serious academic face.Also, I did spend a little longer here than anywhere else.However, after seeing the clothes and shoes shown here, there are statues and neat little things in boxes.I kept looking at my watch, my feet ached... eventually I sat down on a couch. Don't get me wrong, I love museums, I really do.I'm really interested in Korean art.It's just that the floor is so hard and I'm wearing really tight boots and it's hot in the museum and I've taken off my jacket and now it just keeps slipping on my arm .Oddly, I always feel like I keep hearing the cash register.Must be my imagination at work! I sat dazed on the couch, wondering if I would be able to muster enough strength to get back up.At this time, the group of Japanese tourists walked into the exhibition hall, so I forced myself to stand up and pretend to be looking at something.I stare blankly at a tapestry, then continue down a corridor lined with ancient Indian tiles.I looked and thought, maybe we should get a ceramics catalog and redecorate the bathroom.Then, through the metal grating, I caught a glimpse of something that took my breath away. Am I dreaming? Is it not a mirage? I see a cash register, people queuing up to pay, and a display case with price tags... Oh my god, I was right! It was a store! There was a store right in front of me!