I had been getting way too used to not working as much, having been blessed to have two days of work for great pay, and then was blessed to be offered more TEFL work, although due to an email malfunction didn’t realise I was offered more work one week during an impromptu trip to Hastings to see my gran, who I’m thankful had survived a bad case of pneumonia. In any case, I’m was back at the language school on my return for four morning lessons, then had a private student in the afternoon.
Prior to my trip to Hastings, I had a low-key weekend, including a birthday celebration with local poet Lateisha Davine Lovelace-Hanson, which was very wholesome, with lots of other creatives and community organisers present. Although I was a homebody, I also spent a lot of time engaged with news of the far right pogroms happening across the UK, and following the counter-protests. I’ve been concerned for my loved ones and although initially had hoped my gran would be up for the counter-protest, she became too fearful that she would not be strong enough physically should something bad happen, as well as protective of me, always seeming to be a child in the eyes of family elders.
I spent my time in Hastings working on creative admin – organising documents and notes, and adding to my spreadsheet of poems, consisting of reading and creation themes. Perhaps after completing at each year, I could form documents of themed poems to build towards more potential collections, though I have one or two already formed. I also managed to squeeze in a swim on arrival, an afternoon at the gallery on the coast to see the Elias Sime exhibition, and an incredible lunch at Porters before I left. As well as evenings playing board games with my gran.
It was my partner’s birthday on my return, and we went to Lao Cafe before seeing Spirited Away at the theatre (and after going to another friend’s birthday rounders picnic!). In Japanese with English subtitles, it was unlike anything I’d seen before, and had such small details, though I wished we were in the stalls! I also surprised him on the actual day with a group experience of Viola’s Room. Although there was a bit of disruption, it was incredible – they do cheaper tickets on Sundays and so I’ve arranged for a few friends to go again in October! I was also fortunate to be able to have some swims in the lido and lake over this sunny period.
Next, I went off to Camp Bestival to do paid work, which involved checking wristbands, scanning tickets, putting in wristbands and generally directing people and answering questions. I had a lovely time and although I spent more on the day of travel for a peak ticket, I managed to get a refund for my original ticket, and should have a refund for the return journey due to delays. Of course, there’s travel expenses and some food expenses, but it’s nice to do a few festivals to break up the summer teaching work, though I’d only do paid in future I reckon! I got to enjoy a lot of the festival as my shifts were so good, enjoying much of the talk, comedy and music. I even did some art making, though found trying to learn how to crochet wasn’t the right time.
Since returning, I’ve eased into work a couple of tuition days and a couple of mornings at the language school. Next week I’ll have four full days at the language school again, which was unexpected, but will help out as I take some actual time off and build my tuition days from September.
Watching: Emily in Paris, The Simpsons, Arrested Development
Reading: Michael Rosen’s Getting Better and Malorie Blackman’s Just Sayin’ (audiobooks), Gboyega Odubanjo’s Adam, Kate Tempest’s On Connection, Philip G. Zimbardo’s Shyness, Abbi Mitchell’s The Year of the Butterfly, Marian Liebmann’s Art Therapy & Anger, and Marion Milner’s On Not Being Able to Paint
Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah
Music: Jungle Cakes, Hak Baker, Coach Party, Snayx (Camp Bestival highlights), Say She She, McFly, Flowerovlove, Paloma Faith, Bandini, Faithless
Again, if you’re able to share or donate to my crowdfund as I train to become an Art Psychotherapist, or buy some books, please do!
Poet on page and stage. Creator of She Grrrowls. Facilitator. Writer. 