tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60401719464931967952024-03-20T03:13:45.227-07:00WordWell Writing Workshops Writing Together and Sharing Stories
WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-77754221039841871922021-07-15T15:11:00.000-07:002021-07-15T15:11:48.132-07:00The Arts Are Good for Your Health<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/" target="_blank">Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAQe0-buzgOLjmjvSdmSqR82X2k6VbNXzsNrRg2-lXT9_bedbVeNF1f9fbwYGWaer6VT3j8U8uEsSadsAIAPFRNk4HYkCXLn7HYHsSsroPka6QalCWMq0caK1SZ0UorgmK49ECuqU8D-N/s1600/Creative-Health-The-Short-Report.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAQe0-buzgOLjmjvSdmSqR82X2k6VbNXzsNrRg2-lXT9_bedbVeNF1f9fbwYGWaer6VT3j8U8uEsSadsAIAPFRNk4HYkCXLn7HYHsSsroPka6QalCWMq0caK1SZ0UorgmK49ECuqU8D-N/s1600/Creative-Health-The-Short-Report.jpg" /></a></div>
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">Published in July 2017 this report sets out<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> research, evidence gathering and dis<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">cussions with patients, health care professionals, artists, MP<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">s</span> and policy makers. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It was <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">p</span>roduced by the All <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing following two years of <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">inquiry. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">I've<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span>attended several A<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">PPG meetings over the last couple of years and <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">n</span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">otic<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ed</span> <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">a</span> commitment <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">from all in the room, including cross party MPs, to the idea </span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">the arts are beneficial for health and wellbeing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">T<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">he report produces evidence to show:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span><i>"...how arts-based aproaches can help people to stay well, recover faster, manage long term conditions and experience a better quality of life. We also sho<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">w how arts interventions can save money and help staff in their work."<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></h4>
<br /><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">r</span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">e</span>commends<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span>the
National Institiute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) includes the
use of the arts in healthcare in its guidance where evidence
justifies it. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It also hopes that:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">N</span>ew collaborations will be formed
across conventional boundaries. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">T</span>he thinking and practice of people wor<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">king
in health and social care will be in<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">fluenced. </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A</span> new culture will grow that
supports the government in the process of change towards the creation of
a society which is both healthy and "health creating."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">It </span>c</span>alls for "all those who believe <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">in the value of the arts for health and wellbeing to speak up. We will work with all who believe, as we do, that the arts offer an essential <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">opportunity for the improvement of health and wellbeing.<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">" <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Th<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">at</span>'s a call out to all arts and<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span>health and wellbeing <span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">practitioners </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">for sure</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>! <br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Contact Alexandra Coutler on<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">: </span>coultera@parliament.uk to show your support.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-39312528189349142702021-07-15T14:05:00.000-07:002021-07-15T14:05:29.646-07:00Reasons To Be Cheerful<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's February. We've already had three months of the light fading early. Some days the weather's cold and crisp, on others stormy and wet. At this time of year it can be challenging to be cheerful. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-4IW86HM_fLympqevMkfTZ3rW6iKBCTlprZ3gox9ermDXj-Nqd3BUigPZGVGLLKahtj5DrGfeP4RwWPMUJkBlWDvvJ-3Y2gDYxXa1PN2ntoZRgr9bc7pbvA3r5JNSfzSa7SbNx_W1xZj/s1600/open+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-4IW86HM_fLympqevMkfTZ3rW6iKBCTlprZ3gox9ermDXj-Nqd3BUigPZGVGLLKahtj5DrGfeP4RwWPMUJkBlWDvvJ-3Y2gDYxXa1PN2ntoZRgr9bc7pbvA3r5JNSfzSa7SbNx_W1xZj/s320/open+fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our writing exercise Reasons To Be Cheerful is inspired by the lyrics of Ian Drury and The Blockhead's song Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3. <br /><br />It also fits with the gratitude practice which is gaining in popularity and impact. This suggests writing three things you're grateful for each night before sleep. (Link below)<br /><b><br />Reasons To Be Cheerful: Part 1</b><br /><br />Write down as many reasons to be cheerful you can think of. Let your pen flow, be specific. Here are some:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> an open fire</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> crocuses - purple and orange </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the big blue moon last week</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> pets - a small tortoise shell cat, a black rescue cat, two Newfoundland dogs</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> turmeric tea </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Part 2</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pick one and write about it for 10 - 15 mins. Write why it makes you cheerful, describe it in as much detail as you can using all your senses. Get in touch with the feelings it inspires as you write. Write about the feeling. <b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Part 3 </b><br />Share your reasons to be cheerful with some one else.<br /><br />Here are Ian Drury's <a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/reasons-to-be-cheerful-part-3-lyrics-ian-dury-the-blockheads.html" target="_blank">Reasons To Be Cheerful </a><br /><br />And a link to: <a href="https://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-gratitude/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span>he <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span>cience <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">B</span>ehind <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">G</span>ratitude </a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This blogpost first appeared on <a href="http://thewordtherapycentre.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">The WordTherapy Centre blog.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The WordTherapy Centre is run by Diane Medhurst and Christine Hollywood </span></span></div>
WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-72736176969425776182018-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:002018-01-09T13:19:06.985-08:00Making Opportunities for Laughing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Ducks in Ponchos" - see story below</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I was studying how to facilitate writing groups and group dynamics, I remember one of the tutors saying it was good to bring laughter into a group.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've always enjoyed laughing. At the time with little experience of running groups I thought it might be necessary to manufacture these opportunities or even pretend. This is definitely an aspect especially in groups where laughter may not come easily to participants. And it's the basis of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/06/healthandwellbeing4" target="_blank">Laughter Therapy</a> where, put simply, you pretend it's funny until it really is. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it's also about being open to the opportunity for laughter, seeing the lightness in things, encouraging laughter that's within to find an outlet in the group.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I began to practice this in the groups I led in schools, holding space for students to write creatively and expressively over 6 - 12 weeks. In today's school system this is a rare and valuable opportunity, giving time for connection and storying in a safely held environment. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Humour was a useful tool in settling students into an unusual activity. Sometimes they seemed surprised by my attempts at humour - I can't say they were jokes - I hadn't rehearsed them! They were of the moment quips about inconsequential day to day stuff. Often I made light of something I'd done or thought. And then I'd laugh. And after a while the students joined in. Gradually over the weeks they became more relaxed, were eager to attend and able to share in and appreciate the humour of each others' stories. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And it was never about laughing <i>at</i> anyone. It was about laughter that connects, not divides, through good humour and fun. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is not to forget the sadness that can be present in a group too. Writing releases emotion. Laughter and tears are both bodily responses to finding and sharing words. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Holding
a space that's safe enough to find the words and allow the
connection with a bodily felt response is key to the work involved in facilitating a writing group for health and wellbeing.</span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently in a long running group for a London mental health charity, the photo above of three ducks in the snow provoked hilarious laughter after a theme of <i>coats </i>emerged during the session. Ideas were bouncing around culminating in one participant suggesting the ducks wore ponchos. Her infectious enjoyment set the group off laughing. We were all involved, there in the present moment laughing together about the juxtaposition of words, ideas, sounds and images and the funniness of ducks and us finding it all so funny. You needed to have been there! The feeling was great.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laughter is a big connecter. It dissolves awkwardness and barriers
between people. It's democratising. It's also <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm" target="_blank">good for our health.</a> Isn't it a lovely feeling to have a really
good laugh? </span></span></div>
WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-21768164377939571272017-11-01T09:00:00.000-07:002017-11-02T13:03:09.000-07:00Finding Words for Feelings <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sometimes ask participants to write down how they're feeling at the start of the session. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYqXyVV_8C8kicyPJrpN3Gr4Ss3-hyKM2WxzCT6ZUTOhvQXWrdIx4S1I0bs_q5HKH_bDLQ3FU2foP-43PI0XGuBO9NYCjo9Hvayx1DzsRjxsfqVBDT3DyPWCSZPhEDRkuWAyH47PLgkgy/s1600/Feelings+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYqXyVV_8C8kicyPJrpN3Gr4Ss3-hyKM2WxzCT6ZUTOhvQXWrdIx4S1I0bs_q5HKH_bDLQ3FU2foP-43PI0XGuBO9NYCjo9Hvayx1DzsRjxsfqVBDT3DyPWCSZPhEDRkuWAyH47PLgkgy/s320/Feelings+1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They
do this anonymously on pieces of paper which are collected in a
container, shaken up and then shared by writing them onto the board. </span></span>This <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">reduces</span></span> anxiety for <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">group members</span> around sharing how they're feeling. It may also increase openness. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">People may find they've used the same word or feeling as someone else.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The exercise </span>encourages connection and understanding.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It</span> </span>also acknowledges, validates and allo<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ws</span> expression of the feelings in the room.</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span></span></span>t makes <i>me </i>aware <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o</span>f the range of emotions which can be <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">present in a workshop at any moment.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These were the feelings at the start of a creative writing workshop for parents of children with disabilities earlier this year. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Calm</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anxious</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scattered</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anticipating</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Exposed</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wonderful</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Excited</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Relaxed </span></span></div>
WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-69799108075082825622017-09-18T05:53:00.001-07:002021-07-15T14:08:11.265-07:00The Power of Stories<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing in Response to Other People's Stories</span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">This post relates to the first of several I've written over the summer <a href="http://wordwellworkshops.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/dunkirk.html" target="_blank">inspired by current news topics</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Weymouth Harbour Bridge</span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhtWBZKl8x0vD2eRvDMren7h5iihmqRS_gMWZ9mm4YPFakXu-TiHP373NfPslfog1Of72UulKLMeFOHNrLozIZVLUsIutI174XPaUFywo8n5kBXBcUjB2TyzZb7AWxil3Cge8tZELVEFp/s1600/Weymouth+Harbour1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhtWBZKl8x0vD2eRvDMren7h5iihmqRS_gMWZ9mm4YPFakXu-TiHP373NfPslfog1Of72UulKLMeFOHNrLozIZVLUsIutI174XPaUFywo8n5kBXBcUjB2TyzZb7AWxil3Cge8tZELVEFp/s320/Weymouth+Harbour1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">The inspiration was the release of the film Dunkirk and it's link to Weymouth. It brought to mind a story my cousin Keith told me about his Mum. </span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Keith messaged me recently. He'd been in Dublin staying with his friend Padriac. He said, "</span></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">I
told him the story of my Mum's golden rose necklace from the Dunkirk
evacuation. He wrote this poem for me after
seeing a picture of it and I think it's wonderful!</span></span></span>" </span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for sharing your story Keith and Mum, Betty. And thanks to Padraic for writing and sharing your poem:</span></span><b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5"> </span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">A French Rose for an English Girl </span></span></span></b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">He kissed the ground </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">he kissed the air. </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">He waved to strangers on the shore </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">there greeting him, as he arrived </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">in Weymouth from Dunkirk.</span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">The French arrived without their boots </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">from bloody fields in Normandy, </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">grateful to be saved </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">from death, by tiny boats. </span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">My mother stood above the rail </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">and saw survivors climb to land </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">from baby ships that risked their lives, </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">to pluck the French from German hands. </span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">But a girl of fourteen years </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">she still recalls as if last week, </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">the soldier who threw this gift </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">a bracelet that she holds today. </span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">A dainty silver rose </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">his precious chain - who knows? </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">To an English girl in a Weymouth crowd </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">a Dorset rose today. </span></span></span><br />
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<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">Why do we kill those we do not know? </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">Why to stranger do we throw </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">our dearest charm in life? - </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">To the young English girl who </span></span></span><br />
<span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">became my father's wife.</span></span></span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-18985340135527507752017-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:002017-09-18T04:32:23.140-07:00Keeping A Diary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkBHqn3IKMT2txvnYTK1l5KHyy9h7fyHTTQ66XaYQz3y4YjltV_rbeXK-iODZP_ZNjwAHDiD3L7d_4bkzmBEWGd9iRa5pJogRO1CCUn2zQTZ05tf6XHtTAVvmPfCpsh5LsVMlnsxDNlvb/s1600/May+Morris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkBHqn3IKMT2txvnYTK1l5KHyy9h7fyHTTQ66XaYQz3y4YjltV_rbeXK-iODZP_ZNjwAHDiD3L7d_4bkzmBEWGd9iRa5pJogRO1CCUn2zQTZ05tf6XHtTAVvmPfCpsh5LsVMlnsxDNlvb/s1600/May+Morris.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each week during the Summer I'll be taking a topical news item as writing inspiration and going with the flow..</span>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Week 5</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inspiration: May Morris's diary</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The childhood diary of May Morris has been discovered, together with letters she wrote to her mother Jane, in an unlabelled box at The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May was the youngest of two daughter's of William Morris. Her diary throws light onto a privileged and unusual Victorian childhood. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last year I led creative writing workshops as part of a <a href="http://www.emerywalker.org.uk/" target="_blank">Heritage Lottery project </a>linking William Morris and Emery Walker. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Through the project I learnt about the lives of these men, their families, friends, passions and disputes. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They were great friends and lived near to each other overlooking the Thames close to Hammersmith Bridge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eight year old May Morris was writing her diary in 1870 - a turbulent time in the marriage of her parents. Her mother Jane was a great beauty and the muse and lover of the painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William's friend. Morris knew about the situation but it seemed did nothing to prevent it rather he appeared to facilitate it by removing himself and going on holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the diary May describes herself as, "very untidy and always very dirty and sometimes I am ashamed to say very naughty." Keeping a diary is a great way to express yourself on the page as May freely did, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">noting her opinions <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and feelings<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She described returning to London after a holiday away as arriving, "at this most detestable city under the sun."<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">May went on to develop a career in arts and crafts primarily as an embroiderer and textile artist. She also employed other women in the sewing and production of her designs. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The exhibition <a href="http://www.wmgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions-43/may-morris" target="_blank">May Morris: Art and Life </a>is at the William Morris Gallery from 7 October 2017 - 28 January 2018</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-49545540088568601522017-08-22T09:00:00.000-07:002017-09-06T04:13:32.520-07:00Take Up Space<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each week during the Summer I'll be tak<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ing</span> a topical news item as writing inspiration and going with the flow...</span> </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Week 4</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Inspiration: </b>The 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4HgpxEWEp2CtYjeeSP8hnuBnKR1kEfIcb09P7uVK_qeT4ehRN8FV7ZTG52DLrodzQddM2TVBFm6ZRNQpMy3ICJB7Yxm8_EMOpd108FmmvinPu4cK8EsAI0iloqMl2cJvt2Qjt9dBR4ro/s1600/Princess+Diana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4HgpxEWEp2CtYjeeSP8hnuBnKR1kEfIcb09P7uVK_qeT4ehRN8FV7ZTG52DLrodzQddM2TVBFm6ZRNQpMy3ICJB7Yxm8_EMOpd108FmmvinPu4cK8EsAI0iloqMl2cJvt2Qjt9dBR4ro/s1600/Princess+Diana.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where were you when you heard Princess Diana had died? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was in Dieppe. On the ferry back a couple of days later we were at the news stand looking at the front pages covered in photos of her. A man walked up and asked, <i>"What - has she died?" </i>I replied,<i> "Yes she's died."</i> I was still in shock and he wandered away stunned not having heard the news while he was on holiday. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
documentary 7 Days screened on BBC1 this week was a moving account of
the period after Diana‘s death. </span></span>I remember that week in London, the atmosphere was heavy as though the sky all grey and cloudfilled wouldn't let the grief evaporate.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The programme also looked at her life and the pressures
she experienced.</span></span></span></span> I hadn't fully realised the attempts to sideline her during her life but was aware of a quietness about her since her death, as though to downplay or negate her power. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I see her retrospectively more fully as a woman challenging the establishment. She took on a huge task - whether it was completely conscious or not - and could not have foreseen all the ramifications it would have for her. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Diana was obviously angry but she was also strong in the things she believed in and what she felt to be right:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Being a loving and good enough parent to her children</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Her public charitable works</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Her determination to be seen and to individualise herself through her choice of dress, men and relationship to those who were suffering</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Being real</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I hear establishment figures talk of Diana as complex and complicated I feel this is an attempt to dismiss her and the things she believed in. Because aren’t we all complex? Calling others complex as though it’s a bad thing not only reduces their humanity but all of ours.</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How Diana was treated in her marriage and after her divorce are feminist issues which r</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">esonate around the world today in other women’s experiences when they challenge the dominant culture and do not conform. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I really like this poem by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B72_O9D4jNg" target="_blank">Vanessa Kissuule Take Up Space </a>- it's empowering and speaks especially to women to take up space to be themselves.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-43223722075765400802017-08-01T10:30:00.000-07:002017-08-04T02:59:10.693-07:00Dunkirk<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each week during the rest of the Summer </span>I'<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">m </span>tak<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ing</span> a topical news item as writing inspiration<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b>and <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">going with the flow...</span></span><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Week 1 </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Inspiration: The film Dunkirk </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently,</span> I went to see the film Dunkirk drawn by an overheard snippet of conversation about <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">location filming </span>in Dorset. I was born in Dorchester and spent the first seven years of my life <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">there</span>. It's a soft, rolling, rural county<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>with a beautiful coast line <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span>I love it.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiLLomQSbZcdtajG9BwHuXDDfQdKr5D4A3K_f0Hbz2iQKS7avdeCPOjej3Ur5YIO9bZ_8vySSQyTN0JwdkUCH0-QMkxYVxMmrsINWQFmyVU-uDwSjNth-rTzqh4SY5_rEl96psAn3q6H7/s1600/Betty+writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiLLomQSbZcdtajG9BwHuXDDfQdKr5D4A3K_f0Hbz2iQKS7avdeCPOjej3Ur5YIO9bZ_8vySSQyTN0JwdkUCH0-QMkxYVxMmrsINWQFmyVU-uDwSjNth-rTzqh4SY5_rEl96psAn3q6H7/s320/Betty+writing.jpg" width="226" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">he fi<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lm has three distinct story strands<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. One involves an older man and his son setting sa<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">il in their small vessel from Weymouth to Dunkirk, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">answering the call to assist with the evacuation of 400,000 service men stranded on the beach<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in France</span>.</span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My cousin told me a story about his Mum which links to this. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One evening <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">i</span>n 1940, Betty <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span></span>ged thirteen, travelled from Dorchester <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with her <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">parents to watch<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>the small boats carrying evacuated<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> soldiers</span> arrive <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">into</span> Weymouth harbour.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5">The<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> three of them </span>were leaning over the rail near the town bridge watching as French soldiers <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">were </span>unloaded on t<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">o the steps below. </span></span></span></span></span>T</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5">hey noticed how war worn,<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>dishe<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">velled and </span>emotional the<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> soldiers were</span> - kissing the ground as they came ashore and throwing their personal belongings towards the <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">watching crowd</span>.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">O</span></span>ne <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">soldier</span> threw <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">this</span> necklace <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">an</span>d it landed at <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tty's </span></span>feet. She's kept it ever since.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"> </span></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZPTfT1bmZ3vR439Y-YVbYj1YO6_wWVxgFytJAf526b1HBkubiOifSZ27s94Ft05Xwy7c58-2eaifRthD3xeOul6HYlEfcUNNLPj6hROJh2Kfc1ptbtONorBK7mTudNTfLee8a7UzatMX/s1600/Necklace+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZPTfT1bmZ3vR439Y-YVbYj1YO6_wWVxgFytJAf526b1HBkubiOifSZ27s94Ft05Xwy7c58-2eaifRthD3xeOul6HYlEfcUNNLPj6hROJh2Kfc1ptbtONorBK7mTudNTfLee8a7UzatMX/s320/Necklace+2.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wonder what happened to that soldier? I hope he <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">recovered from his war experiences. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="_5yl5"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See the film <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- it <i>is</i> an immersive experience and as such provide<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s the </span></span>smallest glimpse into what <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">they </span>went through.</span></span></span></span></span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-72525493930309163092017-06-30T15:41:00.000-07:002017-09-06T04:18:33.759-07:00The View From My Window<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As part of <a href="https://www.nationalwritingday.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Writing Day</a> - a First Story initiative in partnership with other arts and literary organisations - the writing group I work with in Newham wrote from the suggested inspiration: The View From My Window...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two participants <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wanted to share their writing:<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmT4zJV4E5QxFJBEV3cmGzm4COHEB31EOLTJbdReiAHdHP_NoM-K1Ef2x2BURexKVFlZLG40-005EdUndw7IBBPqQPdNSMPLlBkylWTClm89Q1jloyiiHcIqxUWqjXzr1f2RwpklAluwvZ/s1600/DSC03543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmT4zJV4E5QxFJBEV3cmGzm4COHEB31EOLTJbdReiAHdHP_NoM-K1Ef2x2BURexKVFlZLG40-005EdUndw7IBBPqQPdNSMPLlBkylWTClm89Q1jloyiiHcIqxUWqjXzr1f2RwpklAluwvZ/s320/DSC03543.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From my bedroom window I see beautiful gardens - <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">m</span>y garden and my neighbours, especially at night time with the solar lights' many colours. I see foxes passing by walking without fear of people. Later in the afternoon I see swallows dancing and singing in the sky - when I'm sad they give a smile to me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Teresa </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQXw9Z2E1AsSdEKUBriB5iQSPWL3SLjUq6xhzwccAged1MyxRJd9SLyeNUOrqW0s_lEmKuekiJZ-QH-3Go9ENHAmvPXznnfbDr1dOZVvrzlTHDrzcGmO5_3ynelitPD6YspM6HTkoSun_/s1600/DSC03541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQXw9Z2E1AsSdEKUBriB5iQSPWL3SLjUq6xhzwccAged1MyxRJd9SLyeNUOrqW0s_lEmKuekiJZ-QH-3Go9ENHAmvPXznnfbDr1dOZVvrzlTHDrzcGmO5_3ynelitPD6YspM6HTkoSun_/s320/DSC03541.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The view from my window: As I open the curtains in the morning I hear the birds chirping away. As I glance through the net curtains I see Budda sitting silently in perfect harmony; <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t</span>he cherry tree's branches swaying softly.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My eyes hover over the flower beds where the marigolds sit next to the carnations in full bloom. The vibrational colours of the dahlias put a smile on my face and the red climbing roses rise high above the conifers. I look towards the sky, the pastel shades of blue are interrupted by the white streaks of the aeroplane's fumes. The pigeons and magpies are on a hunt to find food.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My cat appears chasing the birds away and then, finding a shady place, he stretches himself and falls asleep. A new day has begun...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Narinder</span></span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-80909650472243647912017-03-30T09:00:00.000-07:002017-06-17T06:12:40.512-07:00Hidden Stories 3<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.artsandcraftshammersmith.org.uk/single-post/2017/02/15/Hidden-Stories" target="_blank">Hidden Stories creative writing</a> is now available on the Arts and Crafts Hammersmith website. It's inspired by the stories around 7 Hammersmith Terrace and the people who lived there, their friends and colleagues. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwPBlgX_B__wAQFTuqMZ0_wyfEyM4IlLkRJ2C9CqS67Y-Fb-ex0O7s7qGePlwK5sZexqzIMeo6YyddBBmlOvfddaR8vWmo1VmK2FVmwP86sVy2JOLYwUvu1PDf56O2mhidPXCMgzj7eZH/s1600/Emery+Walker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwPBlgX_B__wAQFTuqMZ0_wyfEyM4IlLkRJ2C9CqS67Y-Fb-ex0O7s7qGePlwK5sZexqzIMeo6YyddBBmlOvfddaR8vWmo1VmK2FVmwP86sVy2JOLYwUvu1PDf56O2mhidPXCMgzj7eZH/s320/Emery+Walker.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The writing is by year 8 and 9 students at Fulham Cross Girls' School. It was produced during eight workshops held after school in 2016. Inspirations came from artefacts, original diary entries and letters, a visit to the house, improvisation, sounds, and our own stories around the journeys we've made. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Amie, Holly, Nabilla, Noor, Shahida, Siobhan, Yara, Uriela, Victoria and Wadad for the stories they wrote; thank you to Fulham Cross, for hosting the workshops and teachers Amy Barlow and Anna Michanou for their support. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fsiz7O_uzPJZ39EoZbrzN21nAXT6-Wak0hqKXn-wlV6XRO8d4hKXf59tlavdSa9bKbcWFKfyU7z4ku0wKCKPFxZhp6DK92pYldB20ilo7GnhXh_BGCHLv_lWAy0wvkumtamYPs2x3LYU/s1600/William+Morris+print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fsiz7O_uzPJZ39EoZbrzN21nAXT6-Wak0hqKXn-wlV6XRO8d4hKXf59tlavdSa9bKbcWFKfyU7z4ku0wKCKPFxZhp6DK92pYldB20ilo7GnhXh_BGCHLv_lWAy0wvkumtamYPs2x3LYU/s320/William+Morris+print.jpg" width="167" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This coincides with the reopening of <a href="https://www.artsandcraftshammersmith.org.uk/blog" target="_blank">7 Hammersmith Terrace -</a> the Arts and Crafts home of Emery Walker until 1933 which was preserved by his daughter, Dorothy and her companion Elizabeth de Haas, exactly as he had lived in it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The house overlooks the Thames just along from Hammersmith bridge towards Chiswick. It is of interest because of its decor and because of Emery Walker's friendship with<a href="http://www.wmgallery.org.uk/" target="_blank"> William Morris</a> who lived nearby and whose designs are present in the wallpaper, furniture, art and rugs. It's <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">w</span>ell worth a visit!</span></span></span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-2590447293060315282016-06-20T12:37:00.002-07:002017-06-17T06:13:44.862-07:00Arts In Health<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently attended the <a href="http://www.criticalvoices.org.uk/critical-voices-2016.html" target="_blank">Critical Voices 2016</a> Conference aimed at connecting people, ideas, arts, medicine and health. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR0jaYj4ANHGE8x7uP-uos3MOQtWYdM_Ur61XUs8eg7E8VGdU-J-yxuVk6cgoqw5SXe25lQrBByb7oduanDlc_mwTS1CFibQit1GVn9rrHbqNY5ikwsiBUA2IuxrRwioIZo61mIlO-F2j/s1600/Critical+Voices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR0jaYj4ANHGE8x7uP-uos3MOQtWYdM_Ur61XUs8eg7E8VGdU-J-yxuVk6cgoqw5SXe25lQrBByb7oduanDlc_mwTS1CFibQit1GVn9rrHbqNY5ikwsiBUA2IuxrRwioIZo61mIlO-F2j/s320/Critical+Voices.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The day began with a short impactful presentation by Tulsi Vagjiani who told of being orphaned and suffering burns as a child </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">in a plane crash</span>. Her story is one of survival, hope and growing self confidence. Tulsi now works as a pilates Rehabilitation Specialist and volunteers for the Katie Piper Foundation as a peer supporter and motivational speaker.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">During the day the audience of clinicians, artists, arts practitioners and service users heard stories of others' mental and physical health difficulties and the interaction with an art form that had provided a crucial factor in recovery or coming to terms with their illness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">These included Monica Suswin who journaled to her ill self from her well self to find an insight into her depression. She used expressive writing - poems and prose - and found she engaged with "healing inner resources." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Antonia Attwood is a film maker whose own anxiety and her mother's bi-polar illness formed the subject of her film, which led to a new way of talking between mother and daughter. <span style="color: #030303; font-family: "georgia"; line-height: 20px;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Daniel Regan, a photographer, used this art form to chronicle and manage his own illness. In 2014 he produced Fragmentary, a tantalising exhibition of images of archive self portraits paired with his mental health records. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was a small but vital conference. I hope that next year there will be many more clinicians and stakeholders in the audience to witness the therapeutic benefits of arts in health.</span>WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-10870621651211209922016-04-04T11:34:00.000-07:002016-05-02T23:37:09.816-07:00Spring Haikus<span style="font-size: large;">Last week we went to the Keir Hardie Recreation Ground - the park in Canning Town, near <a href="http://www.careinmind.org.uk/space-to-think/" target="_blank">Care In Mind</a> where I facilitate a weekly writing group for clients. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkgkmzsad1_bdRfgCR-3bqd2xbqeudUqa30JHT6bMDkfCBwlMia2mW00aZ8iLbvp2Mt9pHeN_dz4Dk8vSbzN1rH5UleFdYhz4NLPASgDebGjVa-FxtI13W9LzUX1JHa3RyPIQgs0slmUM/s1600/Keir+Hardy+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkgkmzsad1_bdRfgCR-3bqd2xbqeudUqa30JHT6bMDkfCBwlMia2mW00aZ8iLbvp2Mt9pHeN_dz4Dk8vSbzN1rH5UleFdYhz4NLPASgDebGjVa-FxtI13W9LzUX1JHa3RyPIQgs0slmUM/s320/Keir+Hardy+Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We sat for a while on the benches beneath the trees. Daffodils were
growing nearby. The sun was shining. There was a definite glimmer of
Spring.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We began to make notes of what we could see, hear, feel and smell. We produced long lists and then we went searching. I'd prepared some things to look for. These included: </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">something curved</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">something covered</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a shadow</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a corner</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">some written words</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a movement</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">something shiny </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a sparkle </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUN90aK_swLiFf1D-Eu5Uy4vR95Uwk1dTM2jXfLkL1nSHrJ4kZaMpyqm7nYL7W6-lBlVCZyfWlr9yes_1gu-M1B0s2mO_OTel4r_sTbD-UuoGvhjEuS2P42Z-RrIYfv8XghhA9RcAu_h3/s1600/Keir+Hardy+Park+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUN90aK_swLiFf1D-Eu5Uy4vR95Uwk1dTM2jXfLkL1nSHrJ4kZaMpyqm7nYL7W6-lBlVCZyfWlr9yes_1gu-M1B0s2mO_OTel4r_sTbD-UuoGvhjEuS2P42Z-RrIYfv8XghhA9RcAu_h3/s320/Keir+Hardy+Park+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Across the grass, past the daffodils, round the play park, along the paths we investigated this small park in the middle of houses, building development and roads. We found all these things and more. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then we went to the cafe in St Luke's Church and over our cuppas we composed <a href="https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poems?field_form_tid=414" target="_blank">haikus</a> - short three line poems ideally suited to the images we'd collected. These are some I made that day:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A bag hangs in a tree</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">two construction workers walk </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">amongst daffodils.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A dad holds his son's hand </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">pigeons waddle in a group</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">on a sunlit path. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are two from haiku master, <a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/basho" target="_blank">Basho Matsuo</a> <span style="font-size: small;">(1644 - 1694):</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The old pond</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a frog jumps in</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the sound of the water.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The sea darkens</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the cries of the seagulls</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">are faintly white. </span></div>
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WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-74782159743660450212016-02-08T17:31:00.002-08:002016-02-08T17:43:15.410-08:00Writing Character<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Try this 30 minute writing exercise:</span></span></span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Pick someone you know and describe their appearance in as much detail as you can. Write for ten minutes.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Write for ten more minutes about what they do in life and how they engage with the world in general.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Now write about your connection with this person.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVXlNJOZQTx0F6XmkJxylw-jiKdBy_CCa5LxuoNCflPxWHtwnaeJFUtsBc-ibgRWcGOCxywkUp7hT3zrVpQLw8Xhn1opI1dMPWONYQImhJJpoqoI-gMrcTsX5L-JcKMNnPBkNB1XBivv9/s1600/seagull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVXlNJOZQTx0F6XmkJxylw-jiKdBy_CCa5LxuoNCflPxWHtwnaeJFUtsBc-ibgRWcGOCxywkUp7hT3zrVpQLw8Xhn1opI1dMPWONYQImhJJpoqoI-gMrcTsX5L-JcKMNnPBkNB1XBivv9/s1600/seagull.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> " But I hear her still, welcoming me </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">with a seagull's voice..."</span></div>
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You could use your descriptions to make a poem about the person, bringing in similes and metaphors as <a href="http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poets/norman-maccaig" target="_blank">Norman MacCaig </a>does in his poem <span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/aunt-julia" target="_blank">Aunt Julia</a> </span></span>- <i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">"</span>She was buckets </i><br />
<i>and water flouncing into them. </i><br />
<i>She was winds pouring wetly </i><br />
<i>round house-ends. </i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">She was brown eggs, black skirts </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">and a keeper of threepennybits </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">in a teapot".</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Y</span><span style="font-size: small;">ou don't have to write a poem, the exercise is complete in itself. The process helps to clarify thoughts and feelings about a person and can move from a negative perception to a more positive understanding. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The first two parts could also be useful for creating and developing fictional characters. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not
sure where this exercise originated. A colleague passed it on to me
several years ago. I've found it helpful personally and used it many times with groups since. (Thanks Aisha!) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-79906142063027190632016-01-18T15:33:00.001-08:002016-01-25T13:12:21.067-08:00New Year Poems <br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">It's 2016 and Spring is on its way!</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is</span> how <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">people</span> were feeling at the Care In Mind group I work with on Tuesdays. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the poem we made, <span style="font-size: large;">Winter is Nearly Ending. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpVB0250iGSBrNDYbswSm0o5yZK-GkZI8OzTXZfUVx1q1XMnUGf13nwS58GZEF5nGV5L74u0N8Rgn_eDciKrWO30tR5zjs4qly0zZ0mBkJbEYf-ysfjRkj_WVc_S8yXPFdgR2zImd4ks1/s1600/Winter+is+Nearly+Ending2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpVB0250iGSBrNDYbswSm0o5yZK-GkZI8OzTXZfUVx1q1XMnUGf13nwS58GZEF5nGV5L74u0N8Rgn_eDciKrWO30tR5zjs4qly0zZ0mBkJbEYf-ysfjRkj_WVc_S8yXPFdgR2zImd4ks1/s400/Winter+is+Nearly+Ending2.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was very spontaneous, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">with people </span>speaking their thoughts inspired by <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t</span>he sunny, cold weather that morning in Newham. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As they spoke I wrote <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the words they said. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">also </span>like this <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #274e13;">New Year</span></span> poem writte<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">n by WS Merwin. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">T</span></span>he last lines <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">are</span> so full of hope and possibility ...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>To the New Year</b></span><br /><br />With what stillness at last<br />you appear in the valley<br />your first sunlight reaching down<br />to touch the tips of a few<br />high leaves that do not stir<br />as though they had not noticed<br />and did not know you at all<br />then the voice of a dove calls<br />from far away in itself<br />to the hush of the morning<br /><br />so this is the sound of you<br />here and now whether or not<br />anyone hears it this is<br />where we have come with our age<br />our knowledge such as it is<br />and our hopes such as they are<br />invisible before us<br />untouched and still possible<br /><br /><a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/w-s-merwin" target="_blank"></a></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are <span style="font-size: large;">more </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/article/245070" target="_blank">New Year poems</a></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span>from the Poetry Foundation and some early <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2016 </span>crocuses too. </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <i><br /></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-25730574295143354662015-12-07T02:22:00.001-08:002016-03-10T06:19:17.234-08:00Hidden Stories 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The White Horse at Osmington, nr Weymouth</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today is the last Hidden Stories writing workshop this term. The theme is <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Home</span> and <span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">Homeland</span> - what home means to us, and the <span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">journey </span>involved in leaving, returning to and finding home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The subject is inspired by Elizabeth de Haas who travelled from her home in Holland in the 1940s to be Dorothy Walker's companion at </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://emerywalker.org.uk/the-house-interiors/" target="_blank">7 Hammersmith Terrace,</a></span> the last authentic arts and crafts house interior in Britain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'll be looking at poems by Bernard O Donaghue and ex Fulham Cross student, Safa<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">who </span></span>attended the Write 2Be Me project in 2012. This is her poem, Moving To Another Country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Moving to Another Country</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's all confusing</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">don't know what direction</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you're meant to go,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">everything is different</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you're lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All the places are strange to you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">moving to another country</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">that's a lot different from your country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's all confusing </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">don't know what direction to go</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I feel lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everything is different to me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">all the places are strange.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moving to a country</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">that is a lot different from my country,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">all my mind is confused.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also love Bernard O Donaghue's </span><a href="http://thepoetryproject.ie/poems/great-good-places-iii-ailbhe-ni-bhriain-westering-home-bernard-odonoghue/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Westering Home</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. It reminds me of the feeling I experience each time I visit Dorset where I was born, especially if travelling through the <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">New Forest. </span>We used to picnic there and say goodbye to the rest of the family on our way back to our new home in Kent.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmhbtIrucTlt2sW95FkuwwteOzk3ozcTHVV8mr1J4YGOpSTewIcw2KqSacIFsQCmmU1UdgmshXBNZNGy3l86JQPnK8VihcvDec4LC3r8DlP7iT6Ynwde3sjiVeUbv7Dqe-1tlhgfZOSOE/s1600/family+in+the+New+Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmhbtIrucTlt2sW95FkuwwteOzk3ozcTHVV8mr1J4YGOpSTewIcw2KqSacIFsQCmmU1UdgmshXBNZNGy3l86JQPnK8VihcvDec4LC3r8DlP7iT6Ynwde3sjiVeUbv7Dqe-1tlhgfZOSOE/s320/family+in+the+New+Forest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here we are - me with my aunty Margy on the picnic rug, my sister, Mum, great aunties and Grandad in front of Margy's Ford Anglia in 1967. My Dad is taking the photo. <br />
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WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-74776078482677300882015-11-20T03:20:00.002-08:002015-11-21T16:25:07.345-08:00Hidden Stories Creative Writing Project<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxftWwLlCYduGJxVodmQh-2R6lJ8WXcE_a7WZQ03ov9at95fBiauDDNdnL4N5A0hX0E6waL9_yegXogfvKKVgIx5_1dNKFlYSmIeWr7SvCcgSl06oiKHSqY78kv57GRbQVDpMISQvN2Vsp/s1600/20151120_104934-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxftWwLlCYduGJxVodmQh-2R6lJ8WXcE_a7WZQ03ov9at95fBiauDDNdnL4N5A0hX0E6waL9_yegXogfvKKVgIx5_1dNKFlYSmIeWr7SvCcgSl06oiKHSqY78kv57GRbQVDpMISQvN2Vsp/s320/20151120_104934-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A year or so ago <a href="http://emerywalker.org.uk/" target="_blank">Arts and Crafts Hammersmith </a>- a partnership of the <a href="http://www.williammorrissociety.org/" target="_blank">William Morris Society</a> and Emery Walker Trust - was successful in securing Heritage Lottery funding for <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">a programme of repairs, refurbishments and improvements to </span><a href="http://emerywalker.org.uk/emery-walker/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Emery Walker’</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px;">s home at 7 Hammersmith Terrace </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">and </span><a href="http://www.wmgallery.org.uk/collection/themes/william-morris/object/jane-morris-in-medieval-costume-d223-1861/page/2" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">William Morris</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px;">'s Kelmscott House. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">Both houses look onto the Thames just beyond Hammersmith Bridge and are a ¼ mile away from each other.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">The two men were great friends and worked together on The Kelmscott Press. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">The HLF funding includes initiatives to encourage local community participation in activities designed to deepen knowledge about their lives, work, interests and relationships. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">I</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px;">n early November, I began work on the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fulhamcross.squarespace.com/latest-news/23/10/2015/hidden-stories-of-hammersmith-terrace" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Hidden Stories Creative Writing Project </span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">i</span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">n collaboration with Amy Barlow, year 8 and 9 students at Fulham Cross Girls' School and Simon Daykin from Arts and Crafts Hammersmith. Together we're discovering the stories the houses hold, and through learning about the characters who lived and visited there, we're writing stories both true and imagined. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">These include the stories of </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Dorothy Walker</span><span style="color: #333333;">,</span></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"> Emery Walker's daughter, and </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large; line-height: 25px;">Elizabeth de Haas</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">, her Dutch companion, who lived at 7 Hammersmith Terrace and preserved the house as it was when Emery Walker lived there. It's completely due to the work of these two women (who died in 1963 and 1997) that t</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">he house has been preserved as the last surviving example of an authentic Arts and Crafts interior </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;">in Britain. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "avantgardegothic_wf" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-73736689159024345632015-10-28T07:28:00.001-07:002015-11-21T16:15:55.708-08:00Sussex Poets competition 2I was thrilled to receive <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: small;">2nd prize</span> for my poem <i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Teatime at The Clarkes</span>,</span></i> in the Sussex Poets Competition, judged by <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://clarebest.co.uk/" target="_blank">Clare Best</a> </span>and hosted by <a href="http://www.bh-arts.org.uk/sussex-poets-competition-2015/" target="_blank">Brighton and Hove Arts Council</a> recently.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Afterwards in the pizza place with some bubbly</span></div>
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The Awards evening in September was a really enjoyable event with readings by eleven shortlisted poets culminating in a rather exciting reverse order announcement of the prize winners.<br />
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Congratulations to Nichola May who got first prize with her poem Bubbles. You can read all the poems <a href="http://www.bh-arts.org.uk/Sussex-poets-competition-2015/" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teatime at the Clarkes</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><i>When Mr Clarke <br />calls my sister fat,<br /><br />time ticks slowly <br />on the big clock. <br /><br />The sun throws shadows <br />round the sundial.<br /><br />Red Admirals freeze <br />with their wings shut tight,<br /><br />flying ants crawl into cracks<br />and cacti prickle.<br /><br />Mrs Clarke pours scalding tea<br />and teacups in their saucers wobble,<br /><br />and no one <br />has an appetite for cake. </i></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><i></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="color: #073763;">by Christine Hollywood</span><i><br /></i></span><br />
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WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-17791159566265303792015-09-13T03:07:00.001-07:002015-11-30T05:35:56.234-08:00Sussex Poets Competition 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was thrilled to get an email from the <a href="http://www.bh-arts.org.uk/sussex-poets-competition-2015" target="_blank">2015 Sussex Poets Competition</a> run by Brighton and Hove Arts Council to say I'd made the shortlist with my poem</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i>Teatime at the Clarkes.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't know which prize but they're being announced on Friday 25th September at the <a href="http://www.bh-arts.org.uk/arts-diary/sussex-poets-competition-awards-night" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">A</span>wards Evening.</a> I'll add the poem here afterwards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a welcome boost, as any writer knows, and especially as I've been concentrating on developing my own writing lately. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also attended a poetry course with the <a href="http://www.johnmccullough.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">poet John McCullough </span></span></a>recently. John's tuition is excellent and I learn a lot. </span><br />
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<br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-60747936701766750032015-06-22T10:17:00.001-07:002016-02-12T06:33:20.767-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing for Wellbeing Sussex</span></span> is a recently established group interested in writing and poetry for its creative, fun, health and wellbeing benefits. <br />
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We've begun to meet every couple of months upstairs at the <a href="http://www.thehopandvine.co.uk/contact-us" target="_blank">Hop and Vine </a>in Fiveways, Brighton. The format is flexible and ranges from writing together to discussing our work to planning events. Do get in contact if you'd like to come along to a meeting. The next one is on 1st October.<br />
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One of the events we're planning is <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bowmanted.com/index.html" target="_blank">Ted Bowman's </a></span> visit to Brighton on Saturday, 26 September, from 10 am - 2pm. Ted is a poet and editor who uses literary resources in his work in loss and grief. He is a long-time resource for <a href="http://www.lapidus.org.uk/" target="_blank">Lapidus</a> and a former board member of the <a href="http://www.poetrytherapy.org/" target="_blank">National Association for Poetry Therapy</a>. He lives in Minnesota, USA.<br />
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This year Ted will use prompts and guided discussions to explore the theme of Belonging and its implications for life and work.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Belonging</span>
is an evocative and multi-meaning word.
Whether used as a noun, ...a verb, even metaphorically,
belonging often links heart and
head. To fit in, to be a part of,
to be the property of…close, secure relationships…belonging can mean many
things. Opportunities to
explore meanings can be important, stimulating and
clarifying. In
this experiential session, participants will be invited to explore the layers
of meaning the word belonging evokes."
Ted Bowman</span></span></i> <br />
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Places for this workshop are limited. </div>
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If you'd like to book a place:</div>
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e: <span style="color: black;"><a href="mailto:writewordwell@gmail.com" target="_blank">writewordwell@gmail.com</a></span></div>
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m: 0777 3379 526</div>
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Cost: £25, Lapidus members £15 </div>
WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-6715270822041582032015-06-11T03:40:00.000-07:002015-06-11T01:12:19.380-07:00At Ty Newydd Writers Centre<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">I arrived in a sea fog </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">which made the beach invisible and muted the sounds of Easter Monday holiday makers. Thereafter it was a perfectly sunny, warm week at the The <a href="http://www.nawe.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nawe</a> / <a href="http://www.lapidus.org.uk/" target="_blank">Lapidus</a> Writing Retreat at <a href="http://www.literaturewales.org/ty-newydd/" target="_blank">Ty Newydd Writers Centre</a> in North Wales - ripe for gentle distraction activities like winding the coastal path to <a href="http://www.criccieth.co.uk/html/town_history.html" target="_blank">Crricieth</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was co-hosting the Retreat this year with Nawe's Chair Liz Cashdan. It's essentially an unstructured opportunity to get away from everything and write. The environment is calm and conducive with delicious and healthy meals provided (all dietary requirements catered for!) by Gwynn and Erin who live on site, and a congenial office staff on hand to help with anything from printing to taxis and local info. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Optional workshops were also available including one on poetry and a novel writing workshop from a published author. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Liz and I also offered one to ones which allowed time for individual participants to explore aspects of writing and <span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">writing for wellbeing.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDZkbD-3jYsVtUvM4xxwsRcKKWzAM9MIT6Q_fIj5913STdTEi_6PjBl5AfGqYnkL2WY97rfbqvfH3iasUIfaSNRKnOg7jS_cU5y5G6RvDLF_ZESiF4IiDtnDCmhzieQra2gEkdZ4Ft_Am/s1600/tynewydd3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDZkbD-3jYsVtUvM4xxwsRcKKWzAM9MIT6Q_fIj5913STdTEi_6PjBl5AfGqYnkL2WY97rfbqvfH3iasUIfaSNRKnOg7jS_cU5y5G6RvDLF_ZESiF4IiDtnDCmhzieQra2gEkdZ4Ft_Am/s320/tynewydd3.jpg" width="320" /></a>A highlight of the week was the visit from <a href="http://jill-teague.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me_17.html" target="_blank">Jill Teague</a> of Lapidus, who lives nearby in the North Wales forest, to facilitate her <a href="http://www.lapidus.org.uk/index.php/category/lapidus-writing-for-wellbeing-blog/page/4/" target="_blank">Writing in Nature</a>
workshop. This gave us an <span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;">opportunity</span></span> to focus on the landscape around
the centre, encounter nature and its inhabitants and process the
experience in writing and words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Robert Graves' <a href="http://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/welsh-incident/" target="_blank"><i>The Welsh Incident </i></a>begins with the lines </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">‘But that was nothing to what things came out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From the sea-caves of Criccieth yonder.’</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.nawe.co.uk/" target="_blank"></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfcPXGiJNQJcf5B32d7bxJ31kQTuzOZlpT74h3TDAvH8bDpiOZPbj81vU-F27wFJk40mpDdkqHmtaUzXMct3jll5t3JjcLJmZn862Aj7lq6ZyexR97vXlh2rZTbo6G6cAjLO8jyww85U3/s1600/tynewydd03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfcPXGiJNQJcf5B32d7bxJ31kQTuzOZlpT74h3TDAvH8bDpiOZPbj81vU-F27wFJk40mpDdkqHmtaUzXMct3jll5t3JjcLJmZn862Aj7lq6ZyexR97vXlh2rZTbo6G6cAjLO8jyww85U3/s320/tynewydd03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPSRFNdhmrTarw7OMYK8myxh4R3aqL1dcPRoxngTjMaWYvAlk1cj5QPeRmtxpTEbkzXmIWGHQJHk7nVMHODbdtWsO7lbMZNtYcuWuDQS3Ya1MHbOCa5P5yOCXhJDRZ8X-NV4sxi437CGH/s1600/tynewydd4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPSRFNdhmrTarw7OMYK8myxh4R3aqL1dcPRoxngTjMaWYvAlk1cj5QPeRmtxpTEbkzXmIWGHQJHk7nVMHODbdtWsO7lbMZNtYcuWuDQS3Ya1MHbOCa5P5yOCXhJDRZ8X-NV4sxi437CGH/s320/tynewydd4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Retreat is held each year in April at Ty Newydd. More details are available from <a href="http://www.nawe.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nawe.</a> </span><br />
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<br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-77023851917053751882015-05-27T04:10:00.001-07:002015-05-27T04:39:07.884-07:00Words and Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><a href="http://www.careinmind.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Care in Mind</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #990000;">creative writing group</span> I facilitate meets each Tuesday morning in Canning Town. There are up to six regular members and this week we welcomed two new members.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've agreed a format which includes some light stretching and relaxation exercise at the beginning, about 10 minutes of <span style="color: #e69138;">journal writing</span>, and <span style="color: #e69138;">sharing words</span> we like or are feeling by writing them in coloured pens on the board throughout the session. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I choose a different theme each week and yesterday it was <span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Stories</span> - remembering the stories we know, changing story endings and creating our own stories. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UcNeGVa5JQ0Ni0R0LaDSvz9WFUONyHrKoYPwUG-zvEExgorEYvvAyQ-WuLLcJxKCLDOhNg8YBAKwnipJQ9a0Xt9vKVWEuZ3RSP1cMJp5tP0J1vVpCMcwr_q8Y2QkI9rWsxbcwAzv8sIm/s1600/Stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UcNeGVa5JQ0Ni0R0LaDSvz9WFUONyHrKoYPwUG-zvEExgorEYvvAyQ-WuLLcJxKCLDOhNg8YBAKwnipJQ9a0Xt9vKVWEuZ3RSP1cMJp5tP0J1vVpCMcwr_q8Y2QkI9rWsxbcwAzv8sIm/s320/Stories.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stories we know</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPUVaI_sQEDX_vi39OQwhyJQDnEQQQOJfaJdI3TbCirWcEVRnJoPFbQHcS-Jjp75BrLsqneXYAQ7ZOrg3Pug12l6WvH8nQxdi3DOWDtpnPZ6xQ-LBxBwu8PNZZz9rJaHO0rlle5pIaV7A/s1600/Words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPUVaI_sQEDX_vi39OQwhyJQDnEQQQOJfaJdI3TbCirWcEVRnJoPFbQHcS-Jjp75BrLsqneXYAQ7ZOrg3Pug12l6WvH8nQxdi3DOWDtpnPZ6xQ-LBxBwu8PNZZz9rJaHO0rlle5pIaV7A/s320/Words.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Words we like</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each week is full of stories as life is made up of the stories we tell ourselves and each other, and the subjects we've written about include neighbourhoods, animals, favourite places, seasons, names, gardens, people and shoes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The group also enjoy reading and writing from <span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: large;">poems</span>.</span> TS Elliot, Grace Nichols, Langston Hughes, John Hegley, Raymond Carver, Mary Oliver, Wordsworth, John Agard and Norman MacCaig are among the poets who have joined us over the weeks. (See links to specific poems below)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I really enjoy working with this group. Thanks to Care in Mind for asking me! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.best-poems.net/t_s_eliot/poem29268.html" target="_blank">Mr Mistoffelees</a> by TS Elliot, <a href="http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/services/schoolmagazine/assets/pdf/bo_3_09_sea%20timeless.pdf" target="_blank">Sea Timeless</a> by Grace Nicholls, <a href="http://www.johnhegley.co.uk/networds/docs/judith.htm" target="_blank">Judith</a> by John Hegley, <a href="http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/carver/7416" target="_blank">Happiness</a> by Raymond Carver, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/poems/upon_westminster_bridge.shtml" target="_blank">Upon Westminster Bridge</a> by William Wordsworth, <a href="http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/adlestrop/" target="_blank">Adlestrop </a>by Edward Thomas.</span><br />
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<br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-46776299676138382992015-03-31T10:32:00.000-07:002015-05-27T01:59:16.835-07:00Creativity and Wellbeing Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84XVP66CNw06VTAAV-u0HnOQQFwmeJvS23ZyuG5CFqiTRivhL4I5kHt-IAgoSd3AXGE3oI8PwNBJSYM9Uh1ipo9gWB3-OlqssiG9Q-TfIjgovPJIRzjCoJ5vGU7MPKySH2K5gWk3vfVwj/s1600/writing+in+groups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84XVP66CNw06VTAAV-u0HnOQQFwmeJvS23ZyuG5CFqiTRivhL4I5kHt-IAgoSd3AXGE3oI8PwNBJSYM9Uh1ipo9gWB3-OlqssiG9Q-TfIjgovPJIRzjCoJ5vGU7MPKySH2K5gWk3vfVwj/s1600/writing+in+groups.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New WordWell Workshops are planned for <span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.creativityandwellbeing.org.uk/" target="_blank">London Creativity and Wellbeing Week</a> </span>which takes place from 5 - 12th June 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first, <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.creativityandwellbeing.org.uk/week/events/words-life-writing-workshop" target="_blank">Words for Life,</a></span></span> is on Friday 5th June with colleague </span><a href="http://www.charmainepollardcounselling.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Charmaine Pollard</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, at the Poetry Cafe near Covent Garden in London. This workshop will look at fun ways we can increase our resilience and confidence using writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing in Nature</span></span> workshop is on Wednesday, 10th June between 10.30 and 12.30pm, in the </span><a href="http://www.fulhampalace.org/garden/garden-this-month/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fulham Palace Walled Garden.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This is a natural space tucked away between the Thames and the Fulham Palace Road. <i>"Are we in the country?"</i> a child from a school in the centre of London asked when he visited recently for a story writing workshop. It's true. The garden feels a million miles away from inner city stress, even though it's in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This workshop is an opportunity to be in nature and to use the sights, sounds, smells and feeling of the garden as inspiration for writing. We'll have use of a room in the Education Centre (the old stable block) so even if it's raining we can still write!</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">writing and nature have health and wellbeing benefits</span></span></b></div>
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<br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-12884194959135795112014-12-03T06:15:00.000-08:002014-12-03T15:52:16.277-08:00Latest news from Lapidus: The Writing for Wellbeing Organisation <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was </span><a href="http://www.lapidus.org.uk/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Lapidus: The Writing for Wellbeing Organisation's</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 2014 AGM on 29th November and the room was alive with energy and positivity from Lapidus members passionate about writing and words for wellbeing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's been a challenging year for Lapidus and as Chair I'm pleased to report the organisation is now solvent and stabilised. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Member numbers continue to grow but as all funds derive from membership we need to look for other sources of funding too. This is one of the challenges for the coming year. Another is to ensure a place for Lapidus and writing & words for wellbeing on the National Wellbeing Agenda. Over the next few months the Lapidus Board will be looking at ways to promote Lapidus as the 'go to' organisation for writing and words for wellbeing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Earlier in November I attended the <a href="http://www.nawe.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE)</span></a> Conference in Bristol. This was an inspiring event with workshops and seminars from 9am to 9pm. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://uktouring.org.uk/rogermcgough/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Roger McGough </span></a>and <a href="http://www.deborahmoggach.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Deborah Moggach</span> </a>were both interesting and hilarious. I learned about notebook poems, lines as inspiration, celebrating mother tongues, poetry improvisation, wild writing and creative approaches to change and renewal. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Lapidus is a partner organisation with NAWE and holds an annual joint <a href="http://www.nawe.co.uk/writing-in-education/training-and-events/annual-nawe-retreat.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Writing Retreat at Ty Newydd</span>,</a> North Wales. Next year it will take place from Monday, April 6th - Saturday April 11th, 2015. I'm happy to be co-hosting with NAWE's Liz Cashdan. There will also be a guest workshop from <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://jill-teague.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jill Teague</a> </span>entitled, Tre</span>ading Softly - Writing in Nature. </span><br />
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WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-52523391056501271642014-10-05T14:33:00.002-07:002014-11-08T03:57:18.483-08:00Writing Workshops at the Mint House Book Shop<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Autumn is a time of change and opportunity... </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">We are excited to be holding FOUR WRITING WORKSHOPS </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">at </span><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mint-House-Shop/138191876250569" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">The Mint House Book Shop</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">94 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, BN6 9PX</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">INSPIRATIONS and POSSIBILITIES</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span>writing from the season, senses and the self</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Thursdays 16th, 23rd, 30th Oct and 6 Nov </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">7 - 8.30pm </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">£60 </span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">with poet </span><a href="http://www.charlesantony.co.uk/about/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Charles Antony</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">To book a place email Christine at: writewordwell@gmail.com </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">or contact Charles on: 01293 519688 </span></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6040171946493196795.post-53480618422862271042014-06-16T06:52:00.000-07:002014-06-16T07:04:28.878-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEWHhc2P-4dzgBMF7EZ_6ep3y9gJUM7jvv14w77xaAOPw2EG2y-0iBnTtUEjOEHuf0YPq7E9q5i_FV_niGMXRaQrHR5Xo2aZYQ0fZw6RKBZqcrxbxXVT6zYcF7uM0AI5Ifjl-dghop9aw/s1600/W2BM+1a+postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEWHhc2P-4dzgBMF7EZ_6ep3y9gJUM7jvv14w77xaAOPw2EG2y-0iBnTtUEjOEHuf0YPq7E9q5i_FV_niGMXRaQrHR5Xo2aZYQ0fZw6RKBZqcrxbxXVT6zYcF7uM0AI5Ifjl-dghop9aw/s1600/W2BM+1a+postcard.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are my new Write 2Be Me postcard flyers. They highlight the different ways Write 2Be Me can be used in school and the results. Just look at those happy sunflower faces! There's also a quote from a student and teacher there too.<br />
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The artwork is by Jim Browne of Doodling Jim. He's an excellent illustrator and very versatile as you'll see by the range of work on his website at <a href="http://doodlingjim.com/">Doodlingjim.com</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-crS8vZXxHMUkkg3e5ok0Zjd5v1WGUtQ2o_TCfJgpyiUlPa9smKQ9anWxDSJG6E6Eu6YyDgOZnzLAObTpX1Py5825nxSp6a1pBdX65xOYfGG-LqXqdcqMD9jEwTvStAUZpSt_F3jcU2OA/s1600/W2BM+pcard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-crS8vZXxHMUkkg3e5ok0Zjd5v1WGUtQ2o_TCfJgpyiUlPa9smKQ9anWxDSJG6E6Eu6YyDgOZnzLAObTpX1Py5825nxSp6a1pBdX65xOYfGG-LqXqdcqMD9jEwTvStAUZpSt_F3jcU2OA/s1600/W2BM+pcard2.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.colourfast.co.uk/default.aspx" target="_blank">Colourfast Brighton</a> for a good deal on printing! <br />
<br />WordWell Writing Workshopshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09581925194406838685noreply@blogger.com