Dark skies

Oh, starry night

We chased a rainbow and it led us to Kielder Observatory - the perfect out-ofthis-world experience for winter. Elysia Fryer watched the sun set over Northumberland to settle in for an evening of stargazing...

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.” - Walt Whitman. This has always been a favourite quote of mine. It reminds me that all will be ok if we keep our head up and focus on what surrounds us rather than what consumes us. Yes, this quote is centred around the sun, but the same goes for the night sky - and actually, although a moonlit sky may not cast quite as many shadows, there is so much out there; so much to learn, so much to distract us, and so much to bring us back down to earth. So when looking for family activities to fill in the time while enjoying the great outdoors in the cooler months, we decided to take a leaf out of Walt Whitman’s book and turn our gaze to the sky. Time to explore the ‘Origins of the Universe’. Kielder Observatory has been on our radar for some time, but we were yet to book on to an event. And with Mars at its biggest and brightest in almost 20 years, there’s never been a better time to learn about our universe, its origins, and how it is shaping the future. Kielder Observatory sits within Kielder Water and Forest Park, an International Dark Sky Park and the second largest area of protected night sky in Europe. We’re incredibly lucky to have it on our doorstep, and there are some seriously inspiring people working on site and behind the scenes to ensure stargazing is as special as it should be. With hard-hitting estimations such as that 85% of the UK’s population have never seen a truly dark sky or experienced the sense of wonder that a clear night filled with billions of stars can give, it’s their job to share this fascinating experience with us. A rugged track leads to the observatory, set at a height just a stone’s throw from Kielder Water; but our experience with nature begins well before we start the incline to this stargazing sanctuary. As we cruise along the winding roads of Kielder, making our way around the water, we begin to notice all that surrounds us - simply because it is such a remote route - so quiet, so peaceful, and so effortlessly gorgeous. The indecisive October weather means that we’re greeted to the Dark Sky Park with a rainbow - a full, sky-scraping beauty, leaping out of the water and falling into the hills. We chase the rainbow and on this occasion, our pot of gold is Kielder Observatory. Sunshine, storms, rainbows. As we ride through the dramatic change in seasons, we experience all the elements in this breathtaking natural environment. And the beauty isn’t about to stop. On arrival, we’re met in the car park and whisked into the main observatory building. Groups are small and social distancing is easy. So, ‘The Origins of the Universe’ - what’s it all about? The universe itself is unimaginably large, old and complex. But how did it all begin? Do we have the answers? From our earthly perspective, humans have sought solutions for years. This educational course takes us on an incredible journey through space and time, out into the cosmos to unlock some of the mysteries our universe has to offer.

This cosmic voyage gives an excellent understanding of the physical universe and what it means to exist within it

From our solar system to the large-scale structure of the universe and on to the Big Bang, the experts guide us through our current perceptions and the important discoveries made along the way. This cosmic voyage gives an excellent understanding of the physical universe as a whole and addresses what it means to exist within it, in an interesting and easy-to-follow way. It’s worth noting that the observatory hosts a number of different courses - some for kids, some for the whole family, and some for those who already know a thing or two about the night sky. Whatever experience you go for, expect to navigate telescopes, play with high-tech stargazing kit, view objects from our own galaxy, learn from some of the best in the business and take it all in with a hot chocolate as you wrap up warm and gaze into the glorious universe. We leave feeling truly inspired - full of hot chocolate and newfound knowledge. Consumed by the uncertainty that surrounds us in the current climate, it’s hard to truly switch off and focus, but there’s never been a better time to venture out of comfort zones, learn something new and explore what is beyond us. A trip to Kielder Observatory - and the natural beauty surrounding it - puts everything into perspective. It reminds us that we should always look at the bigger picture, and there’s no bigger picture than the night sky. As Walt Whitman said, keep your gaze up, and it will all fall into place. kielderobservatory.org

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Pop of colour

Bring a bit of colourful, festive cheer to your home this Christmas with Annie Sloan chalk paint. With various stockists across the North East, there’s never been a better time to give your living space a seasonal makeover. We’re loving the bold, bright shades of the lamp shade and candlesticks. anniesloan.com

THE LUXE LOWDOWN: LEWIS POWER

Saltburn continues to deliver the goods when it comes to cool, creative folk. Lewis Power is a British designer who graduated in Industrial Design at Northumbria University, School of Design. His work explores the balance between traditional archetypes and a considered eye to the future. Back in February, he picked up the Rising Star 2020 Editors’ Choice Award at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair. Elysia Fryer gets the lowdown...

GETTING TO KNOW YOU >> Name: Lewis Power Title Industrial Designer (and things…) Where is home? Saltburn-by-the-Sea Three reasons you love where you live? Great people, great town and great surf.

THE DAY JOB >> What do you do for a living? I’m a designer - the closest title would be industrial designer, but I’m not limited to that. In a nutshell, I design furniture, lighting and homeware for residential and commercial properties and sell the designs to brands for either a royalty-based contract or a fixed term agreement. If I design something and it is viable and feasible for me to produce, sell and distribute myself, then I’ll choose this option and sell directly to customers, retail and various interior design projects. A day in the life of you? I wake up at 8am and scroll through Instagram - my account is full of brilliant designers producing amazing work, so it’s great motivation to see what they’re working on and what the industry is doing. Next on this list is a run around Jesmond Dene, then coffee, tune into Radio 6 and start working. A day at the office involves CAD, rendering, sketching ideas, visiting factories, prototyping, admin, finding new stockists… the list is endless. I try to knock off at around 6pm, but when you love the work you do, you kind of just carry on, usually at the aid of a few beers. Any ongoing or upcoming projects we should know about? I have recently moved to Newcastle with fellow designer, Tom Leslie. We’re working on a couple of pieces together and I’m also up to my eyeballs in new ideas and projects that started bubbling in lockdown. The whole situation has been incredibly beneficial for me creatively. One thing I am very excited about is a new cast iron homeware range. Keep your eyes peeled online for updates. What does downtime mean to you? Attempting to sign out from design. This is tricky, you kind of have to live and breathe it. One sure way is a good surf. There’s nothing better than jumping in the North Sea to clear the mind.

LESSONS IN LIFE >> What did you want to be when you were growing up? A secret agent - design is just a cover! What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Roll the dice! The nature of my work is rather unpredictable. It’s a sink or swim kind of gig. Very competitive with a lot of risk, but equally a lot of reward. I’ve been fortunate to see more of the latter, so will continue to roll the dice with new ideas. What is your greatest fear? Failing design and getting a 9-5 job with zero creativity involved.

LIVING LUXE >> What is top of your bucket list? I want to go to outer space. What is your most treasured possession? A gold pendant necklace with my initials inscribed on the front. Me and my twin sister Charlotte were both given one at birth from our French grandma. It’s a tradition within the French side of our family for the grandchildren to receive a pendant at birth from the grandparents. What does the weekend mean to you? I work long hours through the week and very often weekends, so well in need of a release come that glorious night off. Aside from that, it means doing things - permitting I

have the time - that I wouldn’t be able to do through the week. This could be trips out to new places or camping. I believe it’s always good to get a change of scenery; it’s too easy to get stuck like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. A memorable holiday? Amsterdam 2018 with Leo and Ollie Smith. Best dress? I have a Nigel Cabourn denim Jacket that I love. Who would be your top three dinner guests? Louis Theroux, Joey Diaz and Brian Cox. The last place you ate? The Bridge Tavern in Newcastle - exceptional. The last book you read? Noguchi, A Sculptor’s World The last thing you listened to? Music was Nightmares On Wax - great music for working. Podcast was Duncan Trussel, I can’t remember which one, they’re all mad. The last thing you watched? Film was Interstellar, I’ve watched it so many times. TV show was probably Come Dine With Me, I keep saying I’m going to go on it at some point, I just need to figure out what I’ll do for dessert. Three luxe things in life? Cats, my Bose headphones for working, and Saltburn beach at sunset.

lewispower.co