Monday, October 23, 2006
Had an interesting afternoon at the bookfair on Saturday. Saw so many old friends and comrades. The place was absolutely heaving, and I couldn't help but wonder why the movement is in such a sorry state when there are so many good people about...
The only things I bought was a copy of Class War, mainly because I wanted the very funny dartboard that was in the centre spread, some stickers that said things like 'There is no God' & 'Religion:dont buy this shit' and a rather dear booklet, 'When the G8 came to my town' which made me laugh when I'd skimmed through it.
I also was handed various fliers and stuff...the most readable and interesting of which was 'Resistance' the Anarchist Federation bulletin, which had a suprisingly enthusiastic and sympathetic write-up on Climate Camp and the Drax action. Read it online here
Then I made my way to the pub, not really expecting to find anyone in there I knew, but of course, the reality was very different, and spent a few happy hours hanging out with the old crowd.
I've been feeling a little weird since, not least because I was actually thrown out of the Peoples' Republic of Disco on the way home, I didn't think I was drunk at all, so it perplexed me, but more because it always does my head in to hang out with a bunch activists for some reason..
Perhaps I really was, just too drunk...
The only things I bought was a copy of Class War, mainly because I wanted the very funny dartboard that was in the centre spread, some stickers that said things like 'There is no God' & 'Religion:dont buy this shit' and a rather dear booklet, 'When the G8 came to my town' which made me laugh when I'd skimmed through it.
I also was handed various fliers and stuff...the most readable and interesting of which was 'Resistance' the Anarchist Federation bulletin, which had a suprisingly enthusiastic and sympathetic write-up on Climate Camp and the Drax action. Read it online here
Then I made my way to the pub, not really expecting to find anyone in there I knew, but of course, the reality was very different, and spent a few happy hours hanging out with the old crowd.
I've been feeling a little weird since, not least because I was actually thrown out of the Peoples' Republic of Disco on the way home, I didn't think I was drunk at all, so it perplexed me, but more because it always does my head in to hang out with a bunch activists for some reason..
Perhaps I really was, just too drunk...
Thursday, October 19, 2006
So yesterday Tea and I take the train to Tulse Hill and spend an hour or so walking around West Norwood, calling in at the splendid library which, as I said to the Librarian, is definately the hightlight of of the area.
He smiled and said dryly, "Well, there's also the cemetery..."
Walking past said cemetery it was impossible not to notice the plume of pale grey smoke eminating from its' center. Hmm...dead people burning...
A group of black clad mourners stand by the massive gates, awaiting the arrival of the next coffin
Many of the little shops around exist to support this industy and sell carved stone things...
Futher down the hill, inside the Norwood Conservative Assosiation shop front it looks full of blue rinsed activity.
The giant B&Q stands incongruously on the high street, no doubt attracting even more traffic to this major artery.
Yet there are hardly any high street names save for Woolies, Iceland and the ubiquitous Somerfield.
There's a feeling about the place that time has stood still, from the archaic independent dress shops, which I cannot imagine who would ever venture inside, to the good old fashioned honest Co-op, that makes the place feels almost like it's the 1970's, and there's definately something quirky about it that I kind of began to like...
Perhaps I could imagine myself living there
He smiled and said dryly, "Well, there's also the cemetery..."
Walking past said cemetery it was impossible not to notice the plume of pale grey smoke eminating from its' center. Hmm...dead people burning...
A group of black clad mourners stand by the massive gates, awaiting the arrival of the next coffin
Many of the little shops around exist to support this industy and sell carved stone things...
Futher down the hill, inside the Norwood Conservative Assosiation shop front it looks full of blue rinsed activity.
The giant B&Q stands incongruously on the high street, no doubt attracting even more traffic to this major artery.
Yet there are hardly any high street names save for Woolies, Iceland and the ubiquitous Somerfield.
There's a feeling about the place that time has stood still, from the archaic independent dress shops, which I cannot imagine who would ever venture inside, to the good old fashioned honest Co-op, that makes the place feels almost like it's the 1970's, and there's definately something quirky about it that I kind of began to like...
Perhaps I could imagine myself living there
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Well this bloody moving business has just brought yet another massive bust up in this house. And it's been so long since we fell out I really thought we'd cracked it.
But I managed to say something that offended, and before I know what's happened, he's swearing and storming out, driving the van after drinking a whole bottle of wine whilst I was at my evening class, and I'm left here with my indecisiveness...
But I managed to say something that offended, and before I know what's happened, he's swearing and storming out, driving the van after drinking a whole bottle of wine whilst I was at my evening class, and I'm left here with my indecisiveness...
This was my entry to the world's biggest blog: One day in history
I wrote it in such a hurry 'cos I'm running late for Maths, but thought I'd save it here quickly....
Today Lambeth council phoned me to ask if I really wanted to swap my council flat with the lady in West Norwood. I burst into tears after the phone call, because with all my heart I wish that the swap offered a better deal for me than it does.
I love the Brixton estate I live on, and do not want to leave the community I have become a part of over the last 15 years, and yet living on the third floor without a lift, or a balcony, with three children, has driven me to seek a swap. Unfortunately the only person willing to take on my flat, has a noisy flat, smaller than my own, in West Norwood, but at least it does have a tiny balcony, and I long so much to have somewhere to dry my washing, and grow a few plants (though they'd have to be shade loving because of course the balcony is north facing.
Anyway my dilemma will be over tommorow, because I have to make my final decision by then. My boyfriend wants me to go, and is pressuring me to do so, because he thinks it will be better for our small son, and me, I just don't know. I don't want to leave this central location, all the people I know on the street that make my day happy when they say hello...but I feel I must go because lord alone knows when, or if, I'll ever get another offer.
I wrote it in such a hurry 'cos I'm running late for Maths, but thought I'd save it here quickly....
Today Lambeth council phoned me to ask if I really wanted to swap my council flat with the lady in West Norwood. I burst into tears after the phone call, because with all my heart I wish that the swap offered a better deal for me than it does.
I love the Brixton estate I live on, and do not want to leave the community I have become a part of over the last 15 years, and yet living on the third floor without a lift, or a balcony, with three children, has driven me to seek a swap. Unfortunately the only person willing to take on my flat, has a noisy flat, smaller than my own, in West Norwood, but at least it does have a tiny balcony, and I long so much to have somewhere to dry my washing, and grow a few plants (though they'd have to be shade loving because of course the balcony is north facing.
Anyway my dilemma will be over tommorow, because I have to make my final decision by then. My boyfriend wants me to go, and is pressuring me to do so, because he thinks it will be better for our small son, and me, I just don't know. I don't want to leave this central location, all the people I know on the street that make my day happy when they say hello...but I feel I must go because lord alone knows when, or if, I'll ever get another offer.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
I'm here with some time to myself, and I ought to be at least doing some maths, or more importantly, writing my personal statement for the teaching thing, and my brain is hurting because try as I might, I cannot come up with a convincing, succinct reason why I would make a good teacher, or indeed why I want to be one in the first place, or what skills I have that would endorse this...This is quite posssibly the hardest thing I've ever had to write. It's almost twenty years since I last applied for anything, well save for that spate of MA applications in the mid nineties at fancy art schools, which ultimately proved to be fruitless.
So I'm stuck. Good and proper..
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Well I was very good, and went to my maths class on my birthday, although I did skip off a bit early without finishing the ratio questions...
For some astonishing reason I seemed to have the best present haul ever, I mean I normally recieve a bar of soap and a tenner from my Nan, but this year Jay goes and buys me some new Magnum boots (as worn by the police) and many of my relations who in other years forget I even exist (like my dad) sent me eighty quid in total, so I threw caution to the wind and ordered my new camera...
After months of research and agonising, I finally decided on the Fuji finepix f30, mainly because I'd got sick and tired of waiting on the Samsung NV7, which I really wanted...
Well I would of waited, but Rachel and Magda have asked me to photograph their civil ceremony in November, and I had to have the new camera before that. I need time to practise, so I don't mess it up.
God I hate the responsibility of weddings...
Anyways, so I'm now so excited waiting for its' arrival next week, also I'm crosssing my fingers that it isn't delayed.
For some astonishing reason I seemed to have the best present haul ever, I mean I normally recieve a bar of soap and a tenner from my Nan, but this year Jay goes and buys me some new Magnum boots (as worn by the police) and many of my relations who in other years forget I even exist (like my dad) sent me eighty quid in total, so I threw caution to the wind and ordered my new camera...
After months of research and agonising, I finally decided on the Fuji finepix f30, mainly because I'd got sick and tired of waiting on the Samsung NV7, which I really wanted...
Well I would of waited, but Rachel and Magda have asked me to photograph their civil ceremony in November, and I had to have the new camera before that. I need time to practise, so I don't mess it up.
God I hate the responsibility of weddings...
Anyways, so I'm now so excited waiting for its' arrival next week, also I'm crosssing my fingers that it isn't delayed.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
I went along to the sack parliament action yesterday. Apparently it was lucky I arrived late because the poilce were extreamly heavy handed at the begining, arresting 38, over half of the people involved in the open planning/training meeting, and even hospitalising one journo...Grim.
It was a low turnout, unsuprisingly considering the total lack of anarchist networks these days, and police outnumbered protesters by a stupid number, but still I thought it good that at least something was being done, and that this session of parliament wasn't allowed to open without at least some dissent.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
It's odd, but I seem to be actually enjoying my maths class...
Not least for all the new people I'm meeting.
I guess above all things, I am a people person..
Anyways, I was chatting to this sweet young girl from Stockwell called kim, who whilst studying business at Westminster is re-doing her maths to improve on the D she got last time so that she'll be able to get a good job, "inputting data", and she says to me,
"Uni must of been well wicked back in your day..." Which of course is true, getting a full grant and fees pays was indeed a wonderful thing that should never have been done away with, but somehow it made me smile to have a deadpan conversation about 'back in my day'
Not least for all the new people I'm meeting.
I guess above all things, I am a people person..
Anyways, I was chatting to this sweet young girl from Stockwell called kim, who whilst studying business at Westminster is re-doing her maths to improve on the D she got last time so that she'll be able to get a good job, "inputting data", and she says to me,
"Uni must of been well wicked back in your day..." Which of course is true, getting a full grant and fees pays was indeed a wonderful thing that should never have been done away with, but somehow it made me smile to have a deadpan conversation about 'back in my day'
