#100happydays Day Two. Happily And Purposefully Taking The Long Way Home Via Two Buses, With No Time

Post- lecture thoughts

So a few thoughts that I had during my course session today: Should I in theory involve participants in my trail, in the trying out other audio trails? I don't think that it is feasible with my time scale, but a good thought in terms of creating a community project. Involve the community with decisions about how they want to create theirs. I feel mine is going to be driven by me in the main.

Something that was said today by our visiting lecturer kind of linked with my thoughts. She said that in terms of her education setting that it is about connecting the past to the present and it is not jut about knowledge transfer. I like that thought.

I was also wondering about referencing the visitor research that Kew Gardens did for their app - that was published in their paper entitled 'Delightfully Lost' - there may be some elements that are relevant to creating my trail - when thinking about what people like to do in an outdoor natural space - and the thought of wanting to be delightfully lost seems to fit with some of my reading on psychogeography.... still only in the initial stages and my introduction to it book!

Remembering Carol and Michelle

(Carol, J, me, Michelle)

February 2019

I have always known the my experiences in L'Arche London (formally known as L'Arche Lambeth) were special times. Explaining the experience of living with and supporting adults with learning disabilities is something that you can't explain in a way to give justice to it. It transformed my very being and allowed me to experience some of the very hardest and some of the very best moments of my life. I don't want that previous sentence to sound too cliche - but its true.

Before joining L'Arche fresh from University I naturally had a limited experience of life - mostly myself and my family. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for as such. I was going to a community that was very much rooted in beliefs of a traditional faith nature and I was/am of a spiritual nature but not of a religious background. I was also informed unofficially that I would be fine there in any home as long as I wasn't going to be in a certain home that had been experiencing some stressful months. Yes of course I then found out that that was the home where I was going to be! I had had no previous experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and when I first arrived I was met with a busy corridor - full of adults with and without learning disabilities. I can honestly say that my first feelings were those of anxiety. How on earth was I, literally just out of University going to be able to support adults with learning disabilities?!

However, it was in these early days that Carol was really the first person with a learning disability that I got to know. I can't say that I remember too much in terms of details from the early days or any of the days in a way that would be nicer to remember - as my memory is pretty awful sometimes. I was desperately looking for photos on my external drive, but sadly believe most of these early day memories are real photos in an album (which is also quite good) in another country from the one where I am now. I'll hopefully find them in due time. I do of course remember a sense of the time I spent in L'Arche.

What I do remember is Carol's welcome of everyone who arrived in the house - short or long term visitor - friend or acquaintance. I remember her interest in and knowledge of everything that was going on in the house. I remember her sense of humour and the persona she played when having fun. Although she naturally took a while to allow me to support her fully - something I respected - as why should she straight away with someone she doesn't know - and someone who is younger and has less experiences in life than her and who is also anxious about dong something wrong when first getting to know people. This is what I first respected about Carol, and the same with Michelle. They both knew who they were in terms of what was their personal space and what and who they did and didn't like. They also knew and expressed who their long term friends were and I knew that if I did anything Carol didn't like that she would let me know that she wanted to tell one of her friends in particular about it! However, over time we developed a trust between us and I can hear the way she called and said my name as I write now. I can also remember her taking my arm when walking somewhere. What I remember most fondly was her concern for others - she knew if you were not 100%. She would ask if you were ok. I remember her smile and her willingness to have a go at new things - such as when a colleague and I started doing some sensory storytelling in L'Arche a few years back. Carol is also one person who I can clearly see how she maintained her personality but also seemed to be able to find more peace and relaxation as life went on. I can't believe that I knew her over the span of 20 years  - is quite something for any of my friends.

As when remembering Carol I remember the house where I was first living in L'Arche - when I remember Michelle, I remember the stone workshop - which was the first craft workshop in L'Arche that I worked at. I was quite nervous around Michelle at the beginning and I guess she probably was of me as a new person too. However, through the great idea of my then boss and continued good friend, we started doing the health and safety checks together. We got an A4 ring binder folder and I printed off some accessible symbols and photos for the weekly checklist. Michelle could lead on the job, by carrying the folder and ticking off the checklist. She was so thrilled at the thought that she was 'learning' and had responsibility. From that moment on we could be friends. I can't remember when she first went to college but this was in 1998 (same year I came to L'Arche) but I will never forget her thrill at saying that she was learning and the pride she took in that role. She taught us that you really need to give opportunities, responsibility and let people with learning disabilities take the lead.

Both Carol and Michelle had a great love of music and for me I remember the 50s/60s audio cassette we had in the stone workshop. Wish I knew what the playlist was - but do remember the song 'I remember You' - that Carol sung along to often - with a beautiful, passionate voice. She also liked the song about 'No Milk Today'... Michelle - I mostly remember her love of 'Michelle My Belle' and Abba tunes! Michelle was also a keen joiner in of the first music and storytelling sessions that I started doing with some colleagues as a freelancer out of L'Arche- and for that I am also grateful to her for her continued friendship.

reading and the lack of it

Worried about my lack of reading, I think i shall take the train a bit earlier to my course - in the aid of getting me reading.... too much time sending emails and organising and not enough getting down to it! I think I may need to take many a train journey in the next few months - not only to research psychgeography - but also to have a good place to read!

A Couple of Sensory Stories

November 2016

Hi there again...

Fresh from my day of music and storytelling sessions I thought I would share a couple of stories with you. My version of the Gunpowder Plot Story, which we worked on for the past couple of weeks and and The Highwayman story that I created today.

The Gunpowder Plot story I have to say thanks to the people on Joanna Grace's Facebook page who shared their stories and ideas for Bonfire Night sensory storytelling. The Highway Man was a bit last minute today as needed to fill in with a story last minute. So I could call it my ten minute Highway Man story... gather what props you can and random props you have with you. I got most of the ideas from when Keith Park, Emmie Ward, Coralie Oddy and I did our Great North Wood Storytelling - The Highwaymen (and women) was one of our themes. But both were sort of creating the story around props I already had. Thanks Emmie for a few of those on display in the tweeted pic :)

The Gunpowder Plot

Now we gather around the fire and remember, remember the 5th of November! (fire on ipad and candle scent)

A long time ago In 1605, there was man called Guy Fawkes. (chime)

A long time ago In 1605, there was a King called James 1. King James was not very popular with Guy and and his friends. They were annoyed about the King and his government. (Wear crown and say ‘no we don’t like you!’ but can also say we don’t like you as King but we like you as .... say their name)

So, Guy Fawkes and his friends decided to have a plot, the gunpowder plot. They wanted to blow up the parliament. (Popping candy on hand/eat)

They filled 36 barrels with gunpowder! They planted them under the cellars of the Houses of Parliament - ready for a big explosion. (Cedar wood scent for barrels) (can emphasise the secret through quiet voice)

However, there was a traitor in the group! One of Guy Fawkes friends! He got worried about all the people who would get blown up. He sent a letter to his friend warning him! (Big Ben chimes on Big Mac)

So the police, the guards of parliament arrived – on their horses (clip clop) they went down the stairs (walking sound) and crept slowly (shhhh) and….. bang! The plot was rumbled! The plotters were arrested, tortured and executed. (Bang on the drum)

Now we sit and remember remember the 5th of November. We light a bonfire (fire on iPad and bonfire scent candle)

And sit and watch fireworks (fireworks torch and sounds or app)

Then go home for a nice cup of tea (have a cup of tea/tea break)

The Highwayman

It was Autumn in the woods and the leaves were gently falling

(leaves in a basket – can handle them or drop them on people/the floor)

The leaves were red, yellow, orange, green, brown

(say whatever colours you find – show the colours – can spread them between different people rather than person by person)

Animals were looking for food and the wind was rustling in the trees

(rainmaker or shaker or similar sound)

There was a damp smell in the wood - after the rain

(cedarwood or similar smell – it sounds a bit like the musty leaves, but you could also get musty leaves)

Then suddenly!! The sound of horses hooves

(clapping sticks/pieces of wood – we have some round slices of wood – we had enough for everyone to make the sound who wanted to - we also sung ‘Horsy Horsy don’t you stop because it is a favourite song of one of the people in the session)

It was a carriage with wheels going around!

(rolled hoop – saying ‘and the hoop rolled past….’ And gave a chance to push if people wanted – if not you can find anything that goes around as a visual stimuli)

There were rich people inside the carriage, enjoying looking at their jewels and money

(glass nuggets, money, or anything jewel like – we had a lot of baskets to hand so I handed a basket to everyone and then put the nuggets in each persons basket and encouraged them to look through them and be interested in them J)

But they didn’t know that someone was waiting for them! There was a swish of a cloak!

(piece of material – or a cloak if you have one – the material I grabbed was quite light so I swished it past people and over some people and gave the chance to feel)

And the brim of a hat

(feel a hat – I found a straw hat which was not really a highway man but did the job of being a hat)

The Highway Man was waiting and he said “Stand and Deliver! Your Money or Your Life!”

(encouraged people to repeat the words ‘stand and deliver’ and sung that bit of the song)

He took all their money and jewels

(one person had a cloth bag and asked people for their money and they tipped their nuggets into the bag)

Then he rode off

(clip clop sounds)

And the animals continued looking for food and the leaves rustled in the wind

(rainshaker again – or whatever you used)

I also added on a bit about the highway man sitting by a fire and had the fire app on the ipad and also the scent of a bonfire candle – but that might make it a bit too long)

I then did a bit of call and response with ‘The Highwayman’ poem.

Brixton to Hoxton to Bunhill Fields to Soho Stories

So at the risk of falling into the English cliché of talking about the weather, I really have found the weather interesting recently. I felt relieved when the weather suddenly turned for the sunnier recently – knowing that I would be inspired and keen to wander the streets of London, with my psychogeography book and phone at the ready. However, this is how today’s journal began…in the tube… ….‘It’s cold and wet and I’ve pulled myself away from my friends and their kids to make my way to Brixton Underground on my journey to Hoxton for the Geffrye and possibly Bunhill Fields if I can get a look in – will possibly look out for some of the cafes I’ve heard mentioned in a pscyhogeography context (courtesy of a website link from a friend:

http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/Psy.html

This will be an experience of a sat afternoon away from my familiar ground – which I am always happy to do – but interesting that these pyschogeography pastures seem to be in East London – an area that has never been my home or work ground – so I at least get to experience some of the wandering experience by following these trails… So, navigating my way around to find the entrance of the Geffrye was my first task and the entrance to the garden itself was even more of a task for me! I did question my navigation skills. I found it though and was able to listen to the entire trail, which involved phoning a number and dialing a hash tag for each listening place. Very easy to follow – the audio trail was to the left og the gardens and the children’s trail to the right.

It gave me some good inspiration for questions to ask when analysing other trials as well as things to ask myself about my own – when I get there. I realized that I will need to listen again because I was too busy writing down thoughts that came to mind and taking photos as well. Which was at least possible with the nature of it being over the phone, because I could also type and photograph at the same time as listening to the loud speaker. Some of the questions inspired or hi-lighted from visiting are:

How interactive is the trail?

What kind of things does it ask you to do/think about?

Are there options for feedback, ways to be involved, a way to continue finding out more and follow on from the experience?

How many different voices are heard? Do we know who the people are?

What point of view is it giving across?

How long is each stop? How long is the trail if you do it all?

Is it sequenced?

Voices talking in everyday speech or some drama included?

Do they invite you to/or suitable to have a communal or individual experience?

Do I take away anything from the trail? An opinion or something I’ve learned?

I managed to do the Geffrye without too much rain, but as I left it started tipping it down! I had planned to walk to Bunhill fields and peer into any cafes along the way. However, I grabbed my phone and ran for the nearest bus! I was not the only person standing in doorways and consulting my phone. I found Bunhill Fields and literally grabbed a few photos as I walked through and then to Moorgate.

I recorded some sound excerpts – of the rain and of me speaking in the rain. I am not so sure that I will publish me speaking on the phone just yet, however, it was today that I realised that recording sound excerpts and even practising speaking myself for audio will be an invaluable experience. If I expect people to sound interesting on my trail, then I need to be able to do it myself. I was wondering if Bunhill fields in torrential rain is what I was destined to see - as I had just spoken to a friend on the phone who I was due to meet up with after and she said that it was pouring with rain when she went there with her book club and so she didn't go in.

I realised a little while back that I am very much restricted in my movements and audio trail listening by the amount of battery life I have. Also how much of my internet allowance I can afford to use! I also contemplated GPS and how in a way it lets you be freer sometimes in your wandering, as you know you can find yourself when you want to be found. I am though nervous of the 1984 feeling that everything and everyone will truly be tracked and monitored very soon (well we are already sort of).

I’m nearly running out of steam here and to be honest I am not even sure if anyone will be with me by this stage. This blog is surely a very personal process type thing…. Hmmm….

So my day ended with a little respite from the rain and a test of a the Soho stories app with a friend. I have to say that this was a positive experience. Very ambient and interesting characters speaking. I only listened to three stories, but have the feeling it will be easy to return and listen to more.

Okay, I had better leave it here for now. Pictures to upload and even more entries that I have not written yet…

I’ve also been working on my blurb to attract people to speak about the park!

Bye for now!!!

This museum is so colourful & stunning - it's so pleasing to look around :) wonderful collection delightfully presented! #brooklynmuseum

From Mile End to Victoria Park... and a bit before....

Good morning Stratford and Olympic Park. ... Here for the re thinking parks Nesta day....

Weaving in Sounds

October 2016

Hello again! It's about time that I explained a bit more about what I have been doing on the theme of rural/work life past.

Connecting with the Autumn theme I begin sessions by creating a group soundscape of  travel - train and time travel. Tibetan Chimes and other instruments such as tone chimes are useful to set the scene for going back in time. You can also add in appropriate rhythm rhymes and words. Have a google for some poems if you want something to get you started :)

We follow the soundscape by singing our 'We're All Walking' song (courtesy of Emmie Ward) - this time singing that each person is ' walking back in time'. Playing the chime again signifies this. We have continued to use the turn taking activities that I described previously. Activities have included having a bowl of water and a measuring jug - scooping and pouring water  into the bowl, or ladling the water. Everyone gets a turn with the activity after we sing their name. I've also used popcorn instead of the water. Last week I used a short cardboard tube and everyone posted a small round piece of wood through it. (It could have been anything though - e.g. a conker or bead). Whereas the popcorn had been like grains of rural life/time, I said that posting the object through the cardboard tube was an indication of the industrial machinery that was to come. I know - I'm pushing it a bit!!!

I realised last week that soundscapes have started to take over the first half of the session. Following the turn taking activity we have moved into a second soundscape. At the moment this is a knitting/weaving soundscape. I start this section through playing a track by the band Capercaillie called M'loam. I find it creates a gentle contemplative atmosphere. To symbolise spinning wheels we roll and spin everyday objects on the floor - such as empty food containers, lids, cotton reels, wooden objects. You can roll the objects to someone or just randomly roll them, experiment and encourage others to do the same. I found a wool ball winder (from the Craft Workshop's weaving days) and we took turns spinning that around. It is a good visual object and makes a bit of a creak too.

This activity then led into a more active sound making soundscape, where we clicked knitting needles together, tapped wooden sticks and played thumb pianos. Last week my colleague and I found some tapestry forks with metal prongs and some metal loom winders. Together they make a good guiro style sound.

The soundscape led into singing 'Yan Tan Tethera'. It is a song I learned from Aimee Leonard that she developed as part of the Yan Tan Tethera project with the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Listen to Aimee singing it here on Soundcloud. There are more songs and information about the project at the Yan Tan Tethera project link above. Yan Tan Tethera is a sheep counting system traditionally used by shepherds in the north of England. Read more about it on wikipedia. I think it is also used for counting stitches.

I started the activity by singing the low part of Yan Tan Tethera and unwinding the wool from a ball of wool so that gradually everyone was holding onto it around in a circle. I added different voice parts gradually (taking turns with the parts myself) and people joined in with whichever part they wanted. I didn't ask anyone to sing anything in particular and it seemed to happen naturally that people took different parts. It was also really helpful that the support staff present joined in with different parts too.

It would be interesting to experiment with colours and weaving movements and sounds as with the Yan Tan Tethera project. There is no Weaving Workshop anymore, however there are still looms in the Craft Project , which are used occasionally.

I think that is probably enough for now! More about the other songs we have sung in a future post!

Using #MoMA mobile guide on phone. Great that you can get free audio guide - easy to navigate & runs smoothly - couple of feedback things though - would be good if 'back' button just went back to previous page rather than home page as need to scroll through again to art works and some kind of map navigation tool/map on it would be great....