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Last weekend, lesson planning took me longer than expected, so I remember feeling quite stressed when I attempted to get back to assignments. I realised that most Sundays were better spent reading, though I’m feeling able to try to edit the word count of a smaller piece today. I had the draft tutorial for my longer piece and that felt quite overwhelming. There’s still a lot more work to do. My main problem is keeping to the word count, but without losing anything integral.

I went to the CPIFF film festival again, and have the last one next week. Placement was from home on Wednesday, which felt like I had a bit of a breather, though I was still working hard, I was able to take a walk and have my lunch outside, which was nice. I also had to finish a book to give back to the library by the weekend, so I spent some time outside reading where possible, but mostly I had to work indoors.

I hyper-focussed for five hours straight on Friday, completing the fifth ACE project grant application, and then the next morning, I read over it, tweaked a few last things and submitted it! That afternoon, I went with the Forest Hill Stanza group to share some poems as part of an event at Deptford Lounge. It was really lovely, well-attended, and people were really interested and I sold a few books too!

Watching: Race Across the World, The Simpsons, Adolescent

Reading: The Interpersonal World of The Infant by Daniel N. Stern, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, Qur’an (audiobook), The Game Changers by Tim Clare (audiobook)

Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah

Music: Göksel, Download playlist, Lemon drops

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!

I’m writing this on a Sunday morning, on the way to facilitate a Lego party, luckily not too far away as it’s only an hour long. I’m looking forward to spending the afternoon at the park, but with my laptop as I’m still not ready to submit my draft essay. I’m thinking to also bring some art materials to use during a break.

This week has been full of ups and downs. I hosted a SOLD OUT She Grrrowls at the Southbank Centre’s National Poetry Library, which is the first sold out show since the pandemic, having not been able to go back to The Poetry Cafe, not having heard anything directly from them about going back, and now being priced out of the hire fees.

The day after the event, I got the rejection for the ACE funding application I had submitted for the fourth time. Once I’ve submitted the draft of my Final Clinical Report, I’m going to amend and submit for the fifth time. I’ve even tried to find out many times I would need to submit probability-wise and it could be between 5-10 times, which could take over another year. However, I’m at the point where I have tried so many times, that I’ve gone too far to just stop trying. It was apt that the theme for the event just gone was about resilience.

I’d also met Troy Cabida, who works at the library, the previous week, at Catford Library, reading his work alongside Sanah Ahsan, who I’d met for the third time but it seemed like the first time that we might not both forget that we met. I do wonder how bigger names in poetry deal with meeting so many different people!

Things are otherwise ticking along, and I started with a new student on Fridays. I’ll be tutoring history, which isn’t my specialty, but I’ve found some good resources, my student having chosen to look at Elizabethan England.

The CPIFF festival brought another coincidence as one of the films ‘Root Note’ was made by Guy Larsen, who film a poem for me back in 2013, when I won the Poetry Rivals slam. It was actually one of my favourites, so I should get in touch to say.

Watching: The Simpsons, Race Across the World, Apple Cider Vinegar

Reading: The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens, Attacks on Linking Revisited, The Interpersonal World of The Infant by Daniel N. Stern, None of the Above by Travis Alabanza (audiobook), Qur’an (audiobook)

Podcasts: What Now? by Trevor Noah, Multiamory: Rethinking Modern Relationships

Music: Cheekface, Chappell Roan

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!

It’s been up and down this week as I may lose another student, but I may gain other one. It’s still hard to cover my costs, so I’ve tried my hand at matched betting again, which took a while to come through but worked out well! The main challenge at the moment is paying for personal therapy each week as this isn’t something that can be counted as an expense for Universal Credit, yet is an essential part of my training.

I’ve mainly been stuck into writing my assignments, aside from attending my placement and working. I had a couple less students this week due to half term, though haven’t had as much time as I would like on studying, so looking forward for some more time this afternoon for it. Uni was quite long this week as we had a whole day focussed on age and ageism. Initially, I just wanted that time to wrote, but it ended up being quite interesting, and I became more aware of everyday ageism, including its internalisation, and even came across an interview with Halle Berry on Trevor Noah’s podcast ‘What Now?’

That evening was also spent listening to a reading of Preciado’s ‘Can The Monster Speak?’ I watched from home to conserve energy, but it was still very powerful to hear LGBTQ+ people in the field reading the text, and useful to hold a discussion afterwards. I also put my brain to work in a different way by attending the local pub quiz, which initially I arranged partly because they have a cash prize!

Tomorrow is the Forest Hill Stanza Open Mic, and otherwise there’s a few poetry events happening next week that I’m contemplating, though torn as I need to focus on my assignments. One I had a hand in recommending acts for, which is Too Crip, Too Queer, At Deptford Lounge (and streaming online) on Wednesday.

Watching: The Simpsons, Valeria, Race Across the World, Secret Diary of a Callgirl

Reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama (audiobook), It All Makes Sense Now by Alex Patridge (audiobook), The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens

Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah

Music: 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!

I am thrilled to say that I will now stop fundraising for my course fees! My prayers were answered and I have been awarded enough to cover the remaining fees! So by the end of next month I will be able to pay my fees off completely and focus my energies on surviving the next few months. I cannot express what a relief it is! I’m unsure if I can reveal the source of the award yet, but it means I will also get to allocate time to developing a new pamphlet of poems, which is exciting.

Last weekend, I managed to see the exhibition at the RA: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael. Although I tend to prefer seeing contemporary art, it was fascinating to see such old drawings and the relationships and influence between the artists. I’ve also watched a lot of Da Vinci’s Demons, so it was interesting for me to make these connections. I had a Lego party on the Saturday and on Sunday, I crocheted for the first time and made a very improvised heart shape. I think I’ll still to a scarf next time!

I had my mid-placement reports from both my university supervisor and my clinical placement supervisor. They were very encouraging, and having needed to build my confidence back up after not receiving great assignment grades, it feels like I am on the right track.

I’m looking forward to a weekend where I can fully focus on my assignments, other than attending my friend Ella’s yoga class on Sunday and maybe going for a hot drink. It’s in Forest Hill, if you’re reading this and fancy some affordable and trauma-informed yoga to get your day started! Book here.

Lastly, if you haven’t watched the series Mo, I highly recommend it. The last series was so poignant and important viewing. It features Mo Amer, a Palestinian-American comedian, and the story appears to be semi-autobiographical, it is co-created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef.

Watching: Stable, The Simpsons, Mo

Reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama (audiobook), The Interpersonal World of the Infant by Daniel N. Stern, The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens

Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah

Music: AURORA

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!

This week I’ve had a couple of work video calls and might get a new student all being well, though video calls aren’t usually part of the process. My trial lesson with a new student went well, but it’s not 100% confirmed to go ahead, and there might be an issue with days, so I’ll have to wait to see as it gets closer to March.

Meanwhile, I’ve found some ways to get cheaper deals on food. I’ve got a local community store, which can help to reduce my overall spend on groceries each week, but involves calling up to book an appointment a week ahead. I’ve also tried ‘To Good to Go’, which is an app that helps to reduce food waste by picking up food that would otherwise be thrown for a reduced price. The half an hour walk to ADLI and back wasn’t worth it for what was mostly different kinds of lettuce (lots of salads that week), but local cafe Galão had an amazing selection (though also helped to know the owner so got a few extra)! I also got into the Lottery Instant Win prizes and managed to put in £2 and leave with £20! Warning: it is very addictive, especially being one step away from a £100,000 win!

We didn’t have uni this week, but I went in to check out the new ceramics studio. Because Goldsmiths seem to make a lot of mistakes, it won’t even be ready to use until the last term, but I’m not even going to hold out for that to be honest. I dropped some books at the library, as I had read most of them, so I could focus on more relevant material. That day I also had a meeting with the subject librarian, which was massively helpful, and had a tutorial for some of the software I have. I’m making some headway on my assignments since thankfully obtaining client consent, so after my proposal is approved, I can really get stuck in!

My highlight last week was my friend Ella testing her yoga class out, and then going for a walk in local woodlands (where I took these photos). I think we both really needed that for the week ahead. I feel very fortunate to have a friend so close by that I’m able to do these things with. She’s doing classes in Brixton and Forest Hill.

Watching: Mo, Race Across the World, The Simpsons, Squid Games

Reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama (audiobook), The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold by Evelyn Waugh, The Interpersonal World of the Infant by Daniel N. Stern, The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens

Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah, Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman

Music: nothing specific

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!

This week I didn’t have a great time at the job centre, and found it really stressful and unsupportive. It kept me up at night as even with the financial support on top of my existing work, I’m barely covering my basic needs, let alone saving the last £2000 for my training. I’m looking into ways to make my groceries cheaper like community shops, and found a bag of mystery groceries on ‘Too Good to Go’ from ALDI for £3.50. If it works out well, it could prove fruitful!

I had my mid-placement report and it went really well! I’m building up my confidence despite some recent knock-backs and navigating it all as best I can, balancing it with reading and writing. I’ve started early enough that it should be okay as long as I can get the client consent! I have a meeting with my tutor soon too, so I’m hoping that will help too.

Work has felt better this week, and I have a trial lesson on Saturday with a new student, which I need to plan for today. I’m currently in a queue waiting for applications to open for Hot Box for festival work, so hopefully I’ll manage to sign up soon and have something to look forward to post-studies whilst also hopefully getting some income!

Watching: Gavin & Stacey, Squid Games, The Traitors & The Traitors Uncloaked

Reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama (audiobook), The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold by Evelyn Waugh, The Interpersonal World of the Infant by Daniel N. Stern

Podcasts: What Now? with Trevor Noah

Music: Bright Eyes, Weezer

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!

I’ve been unwell the last week, but managed to find a balance between cancellations and continuing activities. I facilitated a 6th birthday Lego party on Saturday, which had 15 children! I could have done without this drain on my energy, but I was able to get a lift to make it a bit more tolerable. I stayed at home and reduced my exercise to just walking at the start of the week and was able to return to yoga by Friday.

I managed to make my placement to conduct my first ever solo Art Therapy group! I had only two people who came in at different times, but it felt like a positive start, and some nerves were alleviated. I presented during supervision the next day and had individual clinical supervision on the Wednesday, where I was able to work from home. I agreed to bring reading materials on groups to study with a fellow trainee in a local café, which was nice.

On Thursday, I went to the trust’s trainee forum, which ended up being really useful and a great opportunity to connect with different trainees from different universities. I then had an afternoon of work, so it was quite a long, tiring day. After yoga on Friday, I did some chores, and spent the afternoon trying to focus on assignments whilst navigating work admin, feeling quite overwhelmed. Again, I felt devalued by agency work, yet hopeful about the work I could actually do with this new student.

I took a break that evening as a friend offered to cook me dinner. With the rest of the weekend ahead, I plan to focus on my studies, aside from the first Forest Hill Stanza open mic of the year on Sunday. I’m hoping I can find balance and make some progress with my assignments as a result.

Watching: The Simpsons, The Traitors, Squid Games, A Good Deed, Gavin & Stacey, Bottoms (film), How Israel Won the West (documentary film), Israelism: How Young American Jews’ Views of Israel Are Shifting (documentary film)

Reading: A Promised Land by Barack Obama (audiobook), The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold by Evelyn Waugh, Art Psychotherapy Groups: Between Pictures & Words edited by Sally Skaife, Group Analytic Art Therapy by Gerry McNeilly

Podcasts: Sleepy

Music: Gaffa Tape Sandy

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!

This week has taken its toll on me emotionally, and now physically. I write this in bed, as I hope to rest and recuperate (whilst studying) as much as possible before Monday, when I will now be running my first solo Art Therapy group. Having spoken to my fellow trainee ahead of what was meant to be our first group on Monday, I was shocked to find out that they were terminating their placement. I received no further communication. As someone who tends to take on too much responsibility, aside from the upset, there is part of me that is more comfortable doing it on my own. I just hope I’m physically well enough.

I’ve had a few ups and downs personally, and I often feel my throat becomes sore during period of emotional intensity. I have survived a full moon during my period, but despite letting out some emotions, a lot has also been bottled up. I have continued to do artmaking, exercise, meditate and practiced the ukulele. Despite many of the work coaches at the job centre being unsupportive and defensive in their manners, a second woman engaged me positively, and it really touched me that she described me as “strong” for doing the work I’m doing on placement. She had no idea how much I needed to hear that this week.

I am down to three students and I would love to keep it that way, but unfortunately I need at least three or four more hours of weekly lessons to meet the threshold for Universal Credit to cut down my meetings from weekly to monthly. I don’t mind attending meetings, but it’s anxiety provoking when you don’t know who you’re going to get and what they will say. I have to do some more work over the weekend, but I’m grateful to not have the evening and morning lessons I was due to have, now having lost three students I expected to continue with this term, so I can be home as much as possible before the big day on Monday!

Watching: Traitors, No Good Deed, Girls 5eva, Squid Games

Reading: Faces in the Water by Janet Frame, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy and Inpatient Group Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom, The Work of Whiteness by Helen Morgan, A Promised Land by Barack Obama (audiobook), The Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate

Podcasts: Sleepy

Music: Weezer, AURORA

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!