Last weekend, I spent a lot of time doing emails and admin, as well as seeing a few friends. I went for a meal at Silk Road for my friend’s 30th, which had hand-stretched noodles and a mix of flavours from the Xinjiang region of China, which was really interesting.
I went to Leo’s in Sydenham for the first time as poet friend Lateisha Davine Lovelace-Hanson was performing there. Including vegan food, with poetry and music, and the flow of intense through the room, it was a really special night. I got to see Viola’s Room again the next morning without interruption and was back in Forest Hill for the Stanza open mic that afternoon.
This week was the first of two days of placement and my first group. It was very eventful and seems to be a turbulent time at the moment. It’s clear that a lot of processing is needed and I’m maintaining a fairly regular response art-making practice, which I’m pleased about. I’ve also managed to spend more time in the ceramics shed at university, so I’m glad to be making up for lost time after two years of not being able to fit it in my schedule.
Yesterday I had some safeguarding training online, then gave blood. After a bit of a poor choice cafe-wise, I got cosy with some university books in Upper Norwood Library, a lovely library, where I’ve also previously performed poetry. I then met a friend after who is sadly leaving the country, so possibly the last time we share a meal together for a long time.
Today, I’ve had one student and returned home to deal with the news that Catford Mews, the venue for She Grrrowls, has closed. I had known there were financial issues, but it is such as shame that Lewisham Council had to close it, and so suddenly. As I don’t have the capacity right now to find a new venue, I’ve decided to cancel all events for the foreseeable. I will work on another ACE application for when I finish my studies next June and try to secure a new venue for September 2025, where I hope to be able to do regular events that then lead up to a launch event. Meanwhile, I’ll be focussing on my course, and trying to save around £3000 towards my tuition fees.
Watching: The Simpsons, Made in Chelsea, TOWIE
Reading: Art Therapy for Psychosis by Katherine Killick, Community as Doctor by R. Rapoport, Art Therapy, Race and Culture by Jean Campbell, and Introduction to Psychotherapy by Anthony Bateman
Podcasts: Let’s Talk About Forensic Psychology, What Now? with Trevor Noah
Music: GRLwood, AURORA, Ashnikko
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. 