tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14238358682322780142024-03-13T17:03:08.693+00:00Following the StarA yearly adventure on Chatsworth Road, E5, where in true advent calendar style a new addition is discovered every day.
This year contributions will reflect on who (or what) is getting us through the Corona crisis? Where are the rays of light this Advent?
Follow us on twitter and instagram @chatsstarsE5 hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-5024085264707710762020-12-25T01:55:00.001+00:002020-12-25T01:55:16.059+00:00TWENTY FIVE<img id="id_d6cd_2780_e439_8577" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/i0HwzMwtOVMc-BLBEFjecjEy_OnPpSdgET0G09VhR7mCraxJkaHFjkAn943xmy0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_13dd_1837_fef6_c88a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hHIneT3lWRTt24EEHNJiw_AAKLBjqcggaHt6YD3x_quabByyB_16Ap5NLEv7kkU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Paul and Ruben</div><div><br></div><div>With words to follow I think... </div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-55754468714090480722020-12-24T19:40:00.001+00:002020-12-24T19:40:57.280+00:00TWENTY FOUR <div><img id="id_7a99_1bb1_d0a8_6bf8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/xg-xOz0h--qAsCR1UxkyqsvI_Pe5KZaoaofE_QoWApDYy06wJCdgDm7SpbyPyKY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1d3a_5ece_caa5_80e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cZdFBTofRzBRQUf3oAWdCiSJVVRsD8QHFjmE66XHATm1XztFohc7ZK0TL_LHod0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>By Neil</div><div><br></div><div>Words to come... </div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-52057421514452674282020-12-22T23:50:00.001+00:002020-12-24T15:02:04.435+00:00TWENTY THREE <div><img id="id_197c_29a2_4496_8656" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/rdTyjdIStgEHNBhvbIf-KX8jmXLIWTlIter6bar7nI4Hmgf0gRaA3XEc1GzRhF8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f257_2a9c_2d3c_440c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/cSMIFg7iQCBCVeXeoDfBSmu5fCCU5cLresSvS6TE9qLW4zJtOxGzohtCMZYdABg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>By Lee</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-3032916567592496882020-12-22T19:44:00.001+00:002020-12-22T23:50:14.063+00:00TWENTY TWO <div><br></div><div><img id="id_1d19_5e39_2e60_ad03" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/c_nCYX5dGsrJj80UvpXzJZ19r0mQRdcRW1FbdyOniy772GTDXV1EkeAqCDVDvQ0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6c0e_9ae_9259_ebe2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/EjROpqX9guqOgL5hcDECqYPfxYYDJuqCpIcbJbq6Gpha2sj40oQD0MTi_r3TMNA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c7b8_e87c_e9e0_1490" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/72ohr5B6Vxg9gGnIxiGBF6Gdw3rfde--TVHKNVWkjC6qTNtZFKr1NLQe9rl7VDI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>By Jennie</div><div><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">When we first went into lockdown, there was a sense of novelty, and time due to not having to travel to and from work. </span></div><div><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><span class="s2"></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">I thought I would do the couch to 5k, <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>bake bread, garden and start patchwork quilting! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">My husband also asked me to sort out the numerous clothes in our bedroom which needed to be sorted into piles to put away, give away or cut up for quilting. ‘Of course, I said’. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">At the second lockdown, he offered me a £100 to sort them. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">I started. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">Like I started baking Sour Dough bread. It was lovely! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I made about 4-5 loaves. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">Like I started the couch to 5 k, I almost completed it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(I’ve still got the last run on the last week to do!)</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">For the Star, I decided to do <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>patchwork. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">Despite having 3 weeks to do it, I left it to 2 days before it was due to start it. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">So my reflections on these strange times is that I don’t change even if the circumstances have changed. I still leave things until the last minute, needing the deadline to work towards. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">(Maybe in order to finish the pile of clothing, he needed to offer me a deadline to get the £100! </span>However I know what to get him for Christmas, a tidy room!)</p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><span class="s2"></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2">On a bright note, my daughter has asked me to do the couch to 5 k with her in 2021, so I may get that finished!</span></p></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-27005186108767413392020-12-21T14:40:00.001+00:002020-12-21T18:06:23.840+00:00TWENTY ONE <div><img id="id_54fb_bb7d_54ce_32c9" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uQALj34j4EIBt4zNP5ZGhqUxUZ4caISdW9ZklkYVSwufoj8wxy3O-KC1WvLl5hI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_773c_5ca4_5412_4534" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/s5wLvlp2Wr2EHIwoNu-DSGHhc7FnHbw9rfdMedGjQMlwcLBQU_wMzQzS9vraZAk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>By Joy</div><div><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Like many people, part of what’s getting me through this strange and difficult time is a range of indoor exercise options, and adventures in cooking.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">The unusual thing that’s been keeping me going, though, is breastfeeding. Not doing it myself, but helping others. My children are in their late teens, so those years are long gone. But I volunteer on the National Breastfeeding Helpline (and work, sometimes, training other women to volunteer on the helpline, and supporting them in their volunteering).</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Women call the helpline with a wide range of issues, and in a wide range of situations. Particularly in the early days of the lockdown, when women couldn’t get their usual support from the NHS, and when they couldn’t see their extended family. Lots of volunteers stepped up, and in March and April we took more calls than we had ever taken before. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Why? Many volunteers were stuck in their houses with school-age children underfoot. Lots of us had unusual stresses about health and jobs. But, when you’re having a hard time, one thing that can really help, is helping someone else. It makes you feel powerful, and it makes you feel connected. Our training focusses on listening skills – we have to be able to listen effectively, to help women over the phone. We have to be careful to get all the relevant details, so we can give women appropriate information and support. Those listening skills include empathising with the people who call us – and that connection, during a dark and difficult time, was uplifting. When you’re having a bad day, helping someone else can really improve your mood. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Sometimes, on the phone, it feels like a weird sort of sleepover. Just me and another woman (most of the callers are mums) talking in the dark. Ok, there’s more crying than I remember from sleepovers. But it’s a sort of intimacy, a contact. Each call is a leap in the dark – you don’t know what you’ll get. You don’t know if you’ll be able to help. But you know you’ll do your best.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_1245_5f6e_1cf9_adbb" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gATN9CWxQfYRIxgei6x6tm59Dnq9MZlz_xC59g0GEVCXAC_FwiSPENbXO_8cuJc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></span><br></p></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-11443579557867833582020-12-20T17:15:00.001+00:002020-12-20T17:15:42.732+00:00TWENTY<img id="id_2b12_1ae5_558_2ef2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xaFVocoTNCNOMANKWx5phYDW1wKV-pj9X4yjDvCGlHyPBC0icQxUfxYEKcIZY-E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_c6fd_3674_bf7c_d9b8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IUMvHItcGtwf_L1k7RC07_504FpO4ASV6Q_bMlrVC_-KNUr802JeR87A6pCKV6k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_74c9_b85c_3b69_1464" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4c2LlGOvPVhlyv-oCblLT6MAC57uYMIvPM5QbpIXUEFO8N7czs_ZXdmrd-sS8pM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Rhona</div><div><br></div><div>Can you spot the birds she’s been watching on Hackney Marshes and around and about during COVID?</div><div><br></div><div>A woodpecker? A kingfisher? And a pheasant she spotted in Asda car park. Glorious! </div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-21115513501209016572020-12-19T18:01:00.001+00:002020-12-20T17:10:14.740+00:00NINETEEN<div><img id="id_f545_3f37_f934_f613" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AQm97rbfdKOJLtIfCuuW2VW8ljFsqzyVNgxo3xnIiz8wLswmCGfx-d-Q-M43KTM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_c543_3407_9e32_26fe" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/czBFowCMFYqMO3obqm1L9RKqJtWNYLubFTCRSYDD0y8xzy4CpkB5ZW9Vj7e5Hqo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div> <div>By Esta</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-19310969850188313792020-12-19T17:59:00.001+00:002020-12-19T17:59:58.499+00:00EIGHTEEN<img id="id_cd8b_fa76_3202_a270" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CzZxkrdYgWmItXDgNKpaXqBflqqfX1viZUz510cRR05Cfaygg27Koo0C0kt1Ihs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9a49_5db8_10cc_3df6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6FQPdo8PoeiYNmvS1zXgfWCSx3Ungc82BfjWGuXAFmTHkFBHwKSzIpTHV0r5hKA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5cf6_c334_97da_4f58" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Oy4RrpH2KVAJmdFSsaEYk-pd3eMi1NkI2xAoexGAsOJqX4TIDwVkjorXlVfG3qA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Marie</div><div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">The installation some how felt a little, slightly, rebelliously naughty. Any way l just wanted to make a brief statement about my star but l don't know how to do it but how about... </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">A star of hope & a prayer of light for the approaching year ahead 2021. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><span class="s1"></span></p></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-66356945365088142032020-12-16T23:37:00.001+00:002020-12-19T17:56:57.810+00:00SEVENTEEN<img id="id_9f55_7650_c705_fd7d" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/N-GuFAPakzrQBrfChMHQa9ABu0l7lnOC2QI7X1qeJOwq4UnxHS_A_5XljvWgSxM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_65e4_e8f8_9083_63f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QptrewOvitCrYsClLZdh62AZ809SS2rCj6Houd5AQHWQzhDagOIkodem0kQoxxg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br>By Beatrice <br> <div><br></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-29535525251158212852020-12-15T23:20:00.001+00:002020-12-16T23:30:38.956+00:00SIXTEEN<img id="id_3035_b2f3_7238_a2f7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8PBIrF-R7ak_j2yhuUGjz2MHf5Efkttc0HnRdIC7Qq17KD_LxpKgewpgeUTyWYo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5d98_d2ac_78b1_1b5e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/BAZNxLCtJ6Plo696dWEDpE9brmVUNLd1STvJBQzzUcGiAWKY5q5wMm-nVEgf0r8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Helen</div><div><br></div><div><div>2020 what a weird year, </div><div>Covid 19 and living in fear.</div><div>Stock piling loo roll, pasta and tea.</div><div>Thank God for the NHS and it's free.</div><div>Wear face masks, wash hands and make space. Shop keepers and delivery drivers with good things to taste.</div><div>Reading a book then zoom quiz with time to fill. </div><div>So many hours to plan my next meal.</div><div>Pumpkin picking and walks in the sun. Watching the Christmas lights have been fun.</div><div>So much to be grateful for, our home, family friend's and hope. </div><div>There's various ways in which we can cope. ❤️</div><div>©️ Helen Eusebe</div></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_ce91_99c1_3ab_a24c" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rZaqC_SHu_HsclxhaL3ukEpaESLk0H6DM8g40cVrOAGvwh-TjFb9j2L7-evatNM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-33208470547961220152020-12-15T23:19:00.001+00:002020-12-15T23:19:24.884+00:00FIFTEEN<img id="id_5f2d_6c33_5172_2169" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/elxO1map80xbd2RdlYVqEkbxfyGDNO6Cx1TrDJBt5xJW6GKDSeH-hIwpj43Fm2Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2b39_45c1_e836_85a7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MrpEQyM5xnAG9Z6-B9lIipXY4UtNIjQzugdaOBzfTPH3z5K36gZ_bV0Gf7HcI4s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a616_a4ed_1597_32fe" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ix_k1WekmrMS4oF98QIuhjJB0QkdPJ46ICYzAy8_Bwf6mmnhGY9h9Eo-uz6V9yg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Chock and Sebby</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-18125849254141198112020-12-14T00:00:00.000+00:002020-12-14T00:14:30.801+00:00FOURTEEN <div><br></div><img id="id_5bca_c86b_f96_c0b8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yroMtcJVU9bqsR41lodVnAShaAaqnbZkDeunyCc4LqU_U2uSrBNCEqk76IKNhK8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><div><img id="id_30c0_bead_c2a7_e48c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OdsRECXY45HUdCjV3krM7zUH4E5LKNpLGUbmtxwDzQo5LHWgxCN-JaP8fO9EbCQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a33d_5541_aaba_efb2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/g3drfFEIF2tlSnHSRCfFz14ifvxf5gRxCiIbwUl4zbwEb-BQ8warXXhMBDweLGU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d7d_86f7_3672_60e5" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jMQbt9495rlCEd0RDe2mCZCrY331LHQLcH5qgLB6Nk_DRjkwrVRIYc4wD0EwQpw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>By Brett<br><div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Quinn, my daughter of 21 months, and I had a bit more time on our hands when Corona hit. Instead of whisking her away to exhibitions or playdates we spent a lot more time pushing our own creative boundaries in my studio. We started designing into everything we could find and pouring over artistic books from our shelves. Old clothes, scraps of paper, things destined for the landfill, all was our treasure to explore and rework. After a while I realized some of the clothes we were upcycling could be used to solve a serious problem that had been bothering me for ages. Before I had her I worked in the 2nd worst polluting industry in the world, Fashion. It sickened me that my creativity was feeding a machine that was eating up her future. I loved to create but I wanted to be part of solutions that she would be proud of and want to follow. Lockdown gave us the extra time to discover the magic of upcycling clothing and inspired me to start a book. I wanted to teach others simple tricks to make their wardrobe incredible. Why consume more or discard something that can keep being revived through your own expression. Even better I wanted to teach others how to bring their child into the making process and let them design their own wardrobe. What better way to combat fast fashion then to show the next generation the value of clothing and the power of their own creativity. The first chapter is on painting into our clothes so I drew from the Lascaux Caves, our species first recorded artistic beginnings. There is something unspeakably beautiful about the simple repeated shapes of our hands outlined in pigment blown through hollow bones. There is one theory that these caves were painted by pregnant women who might have been the only members of the tribe with enough time resting indoors to reach for something deeper than just survival. When I showed Quinn books of these works she reacted excitedly exclaiming, “Hand! Hand!” She loves to make handprints in any medium, a simple connection with the material and an identifier both universal and all her own. We tried replicating the Lascaux Caves with spray bottles of paint into fabrics and paper. The idea that these ancient mothers were reaching through time and still inspiring the youngest of minds today filled me with gratitude for the healing nature of art. It may have been a hard year with many setbacks but my daughter’s burgeoning mind and my ability to give back through sustainable teaching kept us feeling light and full of possibility. It’s incredible how loss of freedom can open up so much and how slowing and looking back for inspiration can bring the newest change.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">If you are interested in learning to upcycle clothing or want to teach the small ones in your life to upcycle please find us at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/genupcycle/"><span class="s2">https://www.instagram.com/genupcycle/</span></a> </span></p></div></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-72898870247129112012020-12-13T10:18:00.001+00:002020-12-13T10:18:45.357+00:00THIRTEEN<p> "Lap Swimming"</p><p>Stephen</p><p class="Bodytext">This year I have acutely felt among the lucky ones. Anne and
I could work from home. We weren’t furloughed or made redundant. No one in the
house caught the virus (that we know of).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>None of our family back in the US caught it either – until recently, but
in that case with a swift recovery. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Bodytext">Of course, there were losses on a lesser scale – no theatre,
no museums, no live music. Cancelled visits and cancelled trips. No going to
the pub after work. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Bodytext">But then again, we made the most of what we could do. A week
in the Peak District. Meeting colleagues for a picnic in the park. Chatting with
friends on Chatsworth Road. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Bodytext">And let’s be honest, London in lockdown was wonderful, in a
way. Clean air, quiet streets, empty skies. Every few days I
would cycle around the city, over London Bridge and then back across Blackfriars Bridge, stopping to marvel at the sight of Fleet Street or Old Street with not a soul in view. Cycling changed from being a way of commuting to being a way to catch an hour of freedom.</p><p class="Bodytext"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="Bodytext">This autumn, as the days grew shorter and the news became ever grimmer, I discovered – or rediscovered – the pleasure of lap swimming. When I was younger, I swam for play or I swam to compete. This time around, swimming has become meditation. From the moment I enter the pool and drop under the water, thoughts fall away and I can only and simply be in the moment: Pull, kick, breathe. Pull, kick, breathe. Pull, kick, breathe.</p><p class="Bodytext"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1iViWEccOmMt7Z3Cr-wy2FVx1f2aA5CsIfAPTCf3LG5uip0nKCl7nradrgxrxyiAB50KILrT8PRu5qP39nUkGSJBcJ13SgJXC4ttgf6FoMz4-4kk-WA4ekcJEJdEsYqMN3bx3QHvQG-4/s2048/20201213_070834141_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1iViWEccOmMt7Z3Cr-wy2FVx1f2aA5CsIfAPTCf3LG5uip0nKCl7nradrgxrxyiAB50KILrT8PRu5qP39nUkGSJBcJ13SgJXC4ttgf6FoMz4-4kk-WA4ekcJEJdEsYqMN3bx3QHvQG-4/s320/20201213_070834141_iOS.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_FhpQ0te6d_bf0ozTq54xgbngdENCYzXxazMAirBX0q5dOoiVx_EAFoXyA7_LpqcA-N1kGQC0-tlLU37LfLvMsao-hdxG0jAl-Guhy2de4tTTYaaJCPfkJ8LWNoD1nPvrBTzH9r6nzME/s2048/20201213_070749181_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_FhpQ0te6d_bf0ozTq54xgbngdENCYzXxazMAirBX0q5dOoiVx_EAFoXyA7_LpqcA-N1kGQC0-tlLU37LfLvMsao-hdxG0jAl-Guhy2de4tTTYaaJCPfkJ8LWNoD1nPvrBTzH9r6nzME/s320/20201213_070749181_iOS.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALZ1EuUI8yCTa_-wT3-_nWZQDq1UwgQztDsdB4REisXVR9TFasF73vzIJcFlGzl7Z7v-QfDGqemnysvuO-MLcwAfGC2qqG9ec1GRG_nEcWSIm8gvFfBdVyrQP99aRDAK0vDMgCsBmd76g/s2048/20201213_070815693_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALZ1EuUI8yCTa_-wT3-_nWZQDq1UwgQztDsdB4REisXVR9TFasF73vzIJcFlGzl7Z7v-QfDGqemnysvuO-MLcwAfGC2qqG9ec1GRG_nEcWSIm8gvFfBdVyrQP99aRDAK0vDMgCsBmd76g/s320/20201213_070815693_iOS.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHI4GgEiaAZLCD0cpUIal-0RDsIoWBfuc5Yakk25eTXdfwlWeT8zEs4RXU3AYTMsukNcJbriGaerzNwUsS2V1r7hnjoKtwB6dlcOAQ_caHgt33ZibxL81PpPFuFMotyMeHs9uDVA-QHib/s2048/20201213_070849186_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHI4GgEiaAZLCD0cpUIal-0RDsIoWBfuc5Yakk25eTXdfwlWeT8zEs4RXU3AYTMsukNcJbriGaerzNwUsS2V1r7hnjoKtwB6dlcOAQ_caHgt33ZibxL81PpPFuFMotyMeHs9uDVA-QHib/s320/20201213_070849186_iOS.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>AdventAdventurershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01335291873386504967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-36818373279124872142020-12-11T22:48:00.001+00:002020-12-12T00:31:17.745+00:00TWELVE <div><img id="id_bb2c_1d09_a102_c7da" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bD2zboU1-mD8RSZnYmGzMcsnCHpVQ_9fRxr4ZNi3iuO-q_E2kWV1sC2GJOY5aBc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_f19e_752f_cfcd_473d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7QkoPBPghWg8IPvJ7juz7C9HqSNJyEci8nOe3HUMJAVTUgORc_DGV0S_nVNUDOI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_54ea_fb50_f7a9_2fda" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/J8ENpSy3ASRWhPYrssVffPyiBWyWUgf_QyDa8rHgI2RvoKzZTSUjTJ6zrCwJyeU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>By Kari</div><div><br></div><div><div>Over the last ten or so years, the amount of time that I spend listening to music has dropped significantly as podcasts have filled up most of my available listening time. But the way I mostly listen to podcasts at home is through one AirPod with my phone in my back pocket as I move around the house, and listening in such a way means that anyone else who is in my vicinity can’t tell that I’m listening to something. As far as they can tell, I’ve available. When schools closed in March and suddenly my children were home all of the time, my private podcast listening was constantly being interrupted. And so I started playing music more instead – usually on the Sonos where we could all hear it. Listening to lots more music has definitely been a silver lining of the pandemic for us. It was so fun last week when Spotify released its “Wrapped” year-end listening summaries for each of us and we could review what had dominated our year in listening. Side A of our star includes lyrics from our most-listened to songs of the year, the songs that “got us through”. We even created a family playlist of the songs that were tops on our lists. You can find it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/135MarMD8eqcoQJxKYPSFg?si=43RDYQJZTamIbEhlWlFskg</div><div><br></div><div>Side B of our star is a mini photo album of special moments and the activities that filled our time and left an imprint: getting a trampoline, lots of bike riding (the youngest finally learned to ride a bike at age 8!!), trips to the Hackney Riviera, a holiday in the New Forest, baking sourdough, tie-dying t-shirts, playing with neighbours over the fence, making podcasts with sparkly new equipment, Zooming with family… and lots more. </div><div><br></div><div>In the future when we look back on this weird, weird year, there will be lots of warm feelings and happy memories despite… you know… 2020.</div></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-18471666155817901592020-12-11T09:47:00.001+00:002020-12-11T21:07:15.527+00:00ELEVEN<img id="id_fc2c_9b7a_5694_7b59" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MOhmolx_JNKFimtAgw0oEEDOx8Z-n4JtyWnbKu65SAaWQE5u7k3fei8yGxwTxQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4600_9efc_cda7_9c7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1RSd_yfTlovDWG8KKbW9UP1o3Sym8kE2Mdvbh8g-9n9QPalrdh7LBFlMOSUBsK8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Abi</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">During the lockdown in spring, one of my neighbours offered sunflower seeds to anyone in the street who wanted to plant some. Despite the awful news we were hearing, it felt important to watch these sunflowers growing. The flowers, like golden stars, brought their bright hope and beauty to the homes on our street. The bees, butterflies and squirrels really enjoyed them too! One thing that struck me again as I made this 'sunflower star' was how different they turned out to be from the very ordinary seeds that my neighbours and I put in the ground. It is interesting to ponder what might emerge from this time we are in, and from the gifts or 'seeds' that we might share or plant today. <br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Many neighbours have shared with others during this challenging time. I have been deeply grateful to be connected with so many people in this community who have given so much in so many ways - seeds, time, energy, skills, deliveries, support, donations - to support neighbours here and further afield. This grace and generosity has been a real privilege to see and receive... and it's great that we can all be a part of it. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">The picture in the centre of my 'sunflower star' is of Anthony Yates, one of the generous volunteers I had the privilege to meet during this year, but who is sadly no longer with us, due to a tragic accident. He spent a lot of time and energy during the first lockdown coordinating food deliveries for residents at Lea Bridge hostel. The first message he sent to me confused me a little, as it was sent to me by accident: 'Hi Abi. More food arriving in car park by garden shortly. Please come down to collect asap.' (No doubt many residents of the hostel would have been very glad to hear this news.) He also found some time to deliver food to people who needed it through the Round Chapel Old School Rooms and I met him once there when he came to collect a round in August. <br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Anthony also shared his gifts by setting up a website for local mutual aid groups, had multiple business including a fruit juicing business, and ideas for charities, including setting up a homeless hostel. He was a talented artist.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">His partner Kareen shared this poem with me:<br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><b>Technicolour Ant - By Janine Fortune</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">You are everywhere,</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">In the bright colours of the fair</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">On a skateboard by the river</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">In a pair of shiny sunglasses</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">With a shy, warm smile</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">That bubbles into carefree laughter</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">As you share your gifts with the world.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Your presence so vivid, <br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">A vibrant splash of warmth</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Shared with family friends and strangers</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Memories of your kindness</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Swirl in the air like the intricate patterns <br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">of the summer bandanas you adored.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Technicolour Ant</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">You dreamt of creating and shaping</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">change for those who could not help themselves.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Brave enough to seek your own path</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">You challenged convention,</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">with your originality that dared to be free</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Hanging out with your friends,</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Taking it easy, creating new goals</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Guiding others to their inner child</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">The sunshine inside of you always <br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Radiant.<br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">So much fun, so much vision,</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">You will always be surrounded by our love.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">As your eyes that smiled into soft crinkles <br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Join the stars</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">We thank you for making our lives</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Brighter, more beautiful, for having walked</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">These steps with you in colour.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-87415323331932958142020-12-10T00:30:00.000+00:002020-12-14T00:15:05.210+00:00TEN <div><br></div><div><img id="id_8201_20de_da4_ffa2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NgM1aD9plyKsQL-uwuaC092itga5hAkZ8mkbjEy1LjxBGqaGJ_Ly4eboN1I0S4M" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_702e_9f15_5fa4_c7e7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/LfQo9tsrYp5J_TnU48gkaCr396bogiRG8U3SLh5WHhsYwNDJq8eXPrOLoWue5dA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>By Hannah</div><div><br></div><div><div>This year didn't quite work out as I'd planned. As, I imagine, it didn't for anyone. I ended my maternity leave in the new year of 2020 and quit my full time job with a grand plan of becoming a freelance photographer. In March, as lockdown 1 came round, we withheld putting our toddler into nursery and the first few photography jobs I'd booked got cancelled. And as what we all thought would be a few weeks, then 3 months, then 6 months, instead almost a year has passed and I've spent it at home full time with an energetic, delightful, and sleep thieving toddler. Something that I am incredibly grateful to have the luxury to do but which wasn't how I'd thought this year would be. </div><div><br></div><div>Lots of people find it difficult to slow down. To permit themselves time to rest, especially in our busy lives where there is always something else to be doing. I have one precious nap time hour a day to myself, usually a stressful hour trying to get as many things done as I can and then sitting down with a cup of tea just in time to hear that familiar cry of a waking baby. </div><div><br></div><div>A few weeks into lockdown I read something that a friend of mine @richwells shared on Instagram about his creative practice as a collage artist which inspired my to spend my hour slightly differently:</div><div>'Everytime I sit down to do some collage I have a voice in my head that says 'what are you doing, get on with some real work, it doesn't even look like anything. Anyone can cut some stupid shapes out of a magazine.' But then slowly, I lose track of time, the voices fade, and I feel alive again.' </div><div><br></div><div>So every day, when the house is quiet, I sit down with a cup of tea and a good pair of scissors, and I cut some shapes out of a magazine. I enjoy it when some good colours come together, or when a couple of random shapes fit together in a pleasing way. And I don't need to think about the endless list of tasks or that pile of washing that needs doing. I never set out to make 'art' or for it to be anything other than a way to switch off for a bit. But 9 months on and I've created a whole lot of pieces of artwork, some of which I've sold, some that I've been commissioned to make. </div><div><br></div><div>This year has taught many of us to look at our time in a new way and to slow down in ways that we didn't ever know city living could accommodate. Cutting a few stupid shapes out of magazines has probably been the best lesson I've learnt in a long time about the importance of slowing down, turning off my screens, putting aside my life admin and doing a bit of mindful creativity, and being content to just play. I hope that's a lesson I can carry beyond Covid.</div></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-89899743002812449952020-12-09T21:09:00.001+00:002020-12-09T21:09:20.829+00:00NINE<img id="id_a805_476_bf18_7584" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/l8V8nJpdLAbaIPkmzdC9j-5lb6Z3PHuopNszc-yXqbp4phhuYzzkNLuDiQzBFqA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e2e4_aeb3_2072_a9d5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yA4ar0IHnpsf8fimrOEnBfF7an2ee5uOxPbnH-FZvLuNuBa_fnljPF7rWaGsALY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><br></div><div>By Steve</div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-40989363410656776682020-12-07T19:34:00.001+00:002020-12-09T09:57:33.050+00:00EIGHT <div><br></div><div><img id="id_b63f_4bb0_9468_a7e6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hJAm13y-0vn3a9JS3YYq2pBMjh0dmKZwbvVXSHjSZA1XOFS2h0eRaSEtBqo8uuo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ae99_18b5_a38d_486d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0p2YiiwuRo9kq_6XLztLn9N4-dEkNoriwN1kfCbrxmdHGxnqY-hXV8nXKvGwaYY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_62b6_aa7a_9df4_2686" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fZzzakLqk5X456FeFsJa2r6HRYNqCgi3xDKLO-35dnqPV136hEnm-EEGmCL4nHY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>By Annabelle Joe Hattie and Elliot </div><div><br></div><div><div>I know that for some people Lockdown has been a wonderfully space-filled time of creative awakening, home baking, reading and online yoga. With a full time job in the NHS and two children to home-school it didn’t really feel like that for me. This Advent it is a rare privilege to stop for a moment and reflect on the past year. As an occasional poet, I’ve always enjoyed a good thread-based metaphor: the intertwined threads of our complicated lives, the joining of people and places with cris-cross stitching, the rich tapestry of sadness and joy that makes our life’s story. Our star is made by our family - Joe, Annabelle, Elliot and Hattie - in the centre is a weaving of many threads: some brightly coloured and others long and grey. This is our 2020 - a weaving of precious moments and tiring times, a selection of threads that we are currently still untangling, winding round and round. We trust, with a pinch of Advent hope, that it will eventually become a beautiful star.</div></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-52215268791614808472020-12-06T14:12:00.001+00:002020-12-07T18:40:45.821+00:00SEVEN <div><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5e1a_16b8_c94_8c7b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JcZrPgNOzGud6p2C7faqDnIzHLP7QCZ13Ww14tYQrRQHGPQxcgGPvaV9qChn6Jk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_da1a_3c3f_35_6fb7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/oQ9Sb_KO8udtuqE3Mczm0HfaCTsqE-8l8he55FXAycR8FxPki-oAZpOikSTWwN4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>By Mary</div><div><br></div><div><div>In March, the Drop-in service at Round Chapel, Old School Rooms took addresses, where possible, of our guests so Urban Table (marking 15 years) could become a delivery-only service. Throngs of volunteers came forward to enable increased provision and home deliveries. It has been truly inspiring to see this welling up. Some coordinators have carried the lion’s share in time & effort and continue to do so. 👏👏👏 And some volunteers find doing UT THE only (socially distanced) activity they do and hugely enjoy it. </div><div>(I’ve secretly wanted to do something with a soup can for years. Thanks, AW.)</div><div><br></div><div>In times of loss particularly, the natural world can offer restoration that quietly builds on the inside. We are more fundamentally connected to it than busy lives can let us know. I found out recently that phytoncides, produced by some plants and trees, increase the number and activity of a type of white blood cell so our immunity is built up also. Mind, body, spirit.</div><div><br></div><div>Yellow socks show solidarity with young people, many of whom have felt lonely during the pandemic. They shout out ‘Lonely but not Alone’.</div><div><br></div><div>Who could have known that 00 lager would be so good and replace - at times, at times I say - 🍷</div><div>(The ‘can’ thing was catching!)</div><div><br></div><div>Many neighbours are around and working from home. We see one another lots and it feels like a real community here. Some have become friends, one even donating £s to cover nearly 1000 UT meals.</div><div><br></div><div>I’ve wanted to read ‘A Time of Gifts’ by Patrick Leigh Fermor for over twenty years. During a lockdown clear-out, someone left it in the lobby to take. It is a remarkable work of poetic beauty and erudition which traces a journey on foot from the Hook of Holland to Esztergorm in northern Hungary (on route to Constantinople, covered in a second book) by a nineteen-year-old Englishman in 1934. Books take you places and it was amazing to read it this year when travel has been limited.</div><div><br></div><div>My adopted dog changed my life! She is highly social and can run up to 40mph. During lockdown, I couldn’t but meet lots of lovely humans - socially distanced of course! We’ve kept one another laughing, every day for months. And in the absence of human hugs, Lotte gets a lot.</div></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5a39_8d9a_f500_7166" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mxe1kAEwJaAp0ArBwU7_XxOYy9lVdFbO7LkJeIe2riCGUhBbEwOBU6kX8_QiH3Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_51e9_c5c5_385e_ab9b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/xgmxzYE7YCX7D-dQgxVAksQHZTFY3Q8e28cfXk81x31s4DJDJug6lQ_ugGlyx5s" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-36081777327867946862020-12-06T13:40:00.001+00:002020-12-06T16:10:28.428+00:00SIX<img id="id_9fe3_3c02_f2ed_b0c0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bbq9mYq69rnbYK0OIhPqU0Q18LeW-erKVrZhiN_1A-ZHzTibtUESjaVLzRRLd5g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_95fc_d84_dbfb_2afc" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IsZk0rTC2M_YVuYjQMtQgvnNwTywBRycdC_FyYlB5mH0grlbq6D1cAsyRP9A1kg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Andy</div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Muffled silent.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span class="">Swaddled, weary and sore.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span class="">A Zombie apocalypse of a year.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span class="">We wait to see where<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span class="">Justice will roll, and<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span class="">how time will heal.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span class="">And what the removal of bandages,<o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><span class="">Will bring.</span></p></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-50861285178142431472020-12-04T22:08:00.002+00:002020-12-04T22:08:36.097+00:00FIVE<p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By Anne</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of the
things I’ve been thinking a lot about in the early days of December is how
strangely time has passed this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Days, weeks and months have seemed to stretch infinitely long, and yet the
year seems to have passed in the blink of an eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things that I read, watched or thought in
January and February seem to be from years in the past and yet I cannot believe
that it is nearly Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
measure of how much our world has changed in the past year – as though so much
and so little has happened simultaneously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">With this
in mind, I chose to decorate my star with leaves – green on one side and
autumnal on the other – to signify the passing of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On each leaf I wrote something.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B79UcsWsrdq05YqDStr9RVni_UMwTd9x7CPOFGdM7TYjwEazswp_XT5BeXlAlHUQ2HdMcm8fslxvWb-qlBI1-MEOektWxyq-b6uksscdEKosMM7Z5Rxu9Bp15KgeGybqLAWrBRmOPL7h/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B79UcsWsrdq05YqDStr9RVni_UMwTd9x7CPOFGdM7TYjwEazswp_XT5BeXlAlHUQ2HdMcm8fslxvWb-qlBI1-MEOektWxyq-b6uksscdEKosMM7Z5Rxu9Bp15KgeGybqLAWrBRmOPL7h/w202-h269/3AC9F156-3C99-4D51-A17A-BCA4F506D663_1_105_c.jpeg" width="202" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the
green side are all the local businesses that have been more important than ever
this year. To name a very few: Dorée for bread and coffee to take on a socially
distanced walk, the greengrocer for fresh fruit and veg, Wild & Wooly for
yarn and emergency knitting needles, Pages of Hackney for books to distract me,
the Castle Cinema for the hope that someday going to the cinema will seem
normal again, Chatsworth Supermarket for just about anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always loved my proximity to Chatsworth
Road and the fact that we can get so much of what we need locally, but this
year I feel like all these businesses have kept us fed during lockdown and kept
me calm when all the supermarket shelves emptied, and we felt so isolated at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could thank the people working in
them for their hard work and good nature during some very stressful times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also included Homerton Hospital as the
embodiment of all that the NHS has done for us this year – I don’t have words
to express how much I value that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmHYWCQeeTlZOFCRt6R5v6lRZk8_hqcqBKVC6tv5kNiQVQn12jZAkGvwKbrv8WwAI-wH55t7Ur20SSQkLqcYE-7IHi2aFaMLSwZACaYD7XwIx32ehDsEnb_Y_4cMHP9iMJF78pR_Yuaow/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmHYWCQeeTlZOFCRt6R5v6lRZk8_hqcqBKVC6tv5kNiQVQn12jZAkGvwKbrv8WwAI-wH55t7Ur20SSQkLqcYE-7IHi2aFaMLSwZACaYD7XwIx32ehDsEnb_Y_4cMHP9iMJF78pR_Yuaow/w219-h292/7E9F3C9B-92B2-40C9-99B8-4F42F5C63924_1_105_c.jpeg" width="219" /></a></div> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the
yellow/orange side I wrote all the things that have helped me though the year, amongst
others: birdsong on early morning walks in the Marshes, music – familiar and
new, knitting, my family – especially time with my children who seem to have
turned into adults while I wasn’t looking, my friends, walks in the Olympic
park, the written/video conversations with colleagues that have taken the place
of a chat in the office, cycling through empty central London, my book group
moving to Zoom and unexpectedly growing in consequence, about a million cups of
tea, and a fair amount of gin!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
so much that I miss and so much that I am anxious about, but also an enormous
amount to be thankful for.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In putting
together the star, these words are mostly hidden, but the act of thinking about
all these things proved to be a meditation, a moment of calm at a busy time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to slow down at this time of year
(even this year!) and I’m grateful to be pushed to take that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the year turns, I’m hoping that 2021
treats us more kindly, but I don’t want us to forget some of the lessons we’ve
learned this year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I went
to hang up my star, there was a tree on Chatsworth Road that still had one
orange leaf hanging bravely on, like its own star, so mine went to join
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TwdzyQnseDAcOp8JJzPDphy6fLx5teq9NSAZP9hB_lqE2N19QNf_IYrZVKcwT6szVuFIBzVDUY-3Ee8BWmWe4ugFI6zfj3uplwrpq5bfLrjBnYRXgxcs-wA6otDcSY9YnK4_B-5EDQH1/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="716" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TwdzyQnseDAcOp8JJzPDphy6fLx5teq9NSAZP9hB_lqE2N19QNf_IYrZVKcwT6szVuFIBzVDUY-3Ee8BWmWe4ugFI6zfj3uplwrpq5bfLrjBnYRXgxcs-wA6otDcSY9YnK4_B-5EDQH1/w190-h290/67DBF8EF-2A00-48D5-8208-86C809575925_1_105_c.jpeg" width="190" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GwDmlYdkvmTO8MuiEgAwEI_MubJoWPZoivVmi-abPlBBTdEnKsUeTpDmOlpmccy2hMqrc3x1QK8q2K-KYqh2a8j9OsO7Ncx7dKlFXTOs-unC_1qZ9hEfVsyXdjvLcjAAy66zbDh-Fstv/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GwDmlYdkvmTO8MuiEgAwEI_MubJoWPZoivVmi-abPlBBTdEnKsUeTpDmOlpmccy2hMqrc3x1QK8q2K-KYqh2a8j9OsO7Ncx7dKlFXTOs-unC_1qZ9hEfVsyXdjvLcjAAy66zbDh-Fstv/w242-h323/CD3E2C0D-473C-4EA6-8325-D42014B100DC_1_105_c.jpeg" width="242" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style> <br /></p>AdventAdventurershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01335291873386504967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-35133790070666976672020-12-03T23:09:00.001+00:002020-12-03T23:09:33.178+00:00FOUR <div><br></div><div><img id="id_7eb0_3da5_7ee7_a8ae" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/opiap3sHxF2ClEQHRlkfx_yGl2bzpehiRM7SGSuPbnDi5vqmojOJyNRNr4n3UDk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_11fb_5582_5f08_7244" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1EylRyOQzaBc2q5CGhTQSAcOTTvuR3TFamUGppPXhGfbTRVKp6-XqeeYlq11cvo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>By Rachel</div><div><br></div><div><div>My star reminds me of 3 things that have kept me going during 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>The gold star is for my work in education. The beginning of the first lockdown coincided with a change in direction which has been both a privilege and an adventure. The regular rhythm of travel throughout the year gave an appreciated pattern and routine, and the wonderful colleagues and inspiring children are a treat to work with.</div><div><br></div><div>The gold reminds me of our 13 year old retriever Honey who accompanied us in Lockdown 1.. then left us in August. Even after her hair has been hoovered up she still leaves a hole and we still mourn her loss.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, the familiar 3 blue letters are a blatant reminder of my heroes this year. So many of our family and friends have been served by health teams across the UK - not just for COVID issues. I'm amazed at how much we have leaned on them and evermore grateful to those who literally risk their lives to care for others.</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you NHS.</div></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-27849951552881802772020-12-03T09:48:00.001+00:002020-12-03T10:05:53.525+00:00THREE<img id="id_e553_ef1e_d366_6d95" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wlPSebOGrH7jVp91kihhrZ82wLQwk5_i_VBWW9VKuWPawkEH6ekNdn-3BAPkcWs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_88d2_9bfd_9ecc_4253" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/A4mLzYjLw_SJqq8MyS8e8jYSDKEroeSzUTeMBKitY1VPYqg8wyV6x-W4yOl51TA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div>By Jasmine</div><div><br></div><div><div>This star is inspired by the Dickens' 'Tale of Two Cities'. At the start of the pandemic there was a lot of talk of it being 'the great leveller', we were all vulnerable, rich or poor, all of us were at risk. I remember Emily Maitlis on Newsnight debunking this myth with clinical precision - </div><div><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-emily-maitlis-newsnight-bbc-inequality-boris-johnson-a9456696.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-emily-maitlis-newsnight-bbc-inequality-boris-johnson-a9456696.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>She set out the truth, while the virus had no favourites, society did. Those who could work from home, live in spacious housing and had their own transport were far less likely to fall seriously ill with the virus.</div><div><br></div><div>Much like the aristocrats in France and Britain in the 1700s many of our politicians were criminally unaware of the differences Maitlis outlined. It seemed that 'a tale of two cities' was a novel our MP's had skim read at best.</div><div><br></div><div>Running through Dickens' novel is his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation, both on a personal and societal level. A hope that violence, both physical and structural, will give way to a new and better world. The pandemic's recurring images of people organising to support neighbour and stranger in streets up and down these isles is emblematic of this hope today. A hope that we the people will rise and rebuild, and renew our commitment to love one another.</div><div><br></div><div>As we emerge into 2021, my hope is for us to keep the fires of justice that have been kindled alive. That we will remember those who would give their lives to keep a life we love beside us, and refuse to go back to business as usual.</div></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-1010360716363388652020-12-01T21:22:00.001+00:002020-12-01T22:01:09.538+00:00TWO<div><img id="id_df0c_59eb_7e11_81c4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/otcIoL4ZB-imdnrZAY7-8w7QrDMdSfiL7PakKP2Gi20MVPOxCqh6h37YAKdZq_Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><img src="blob:null/e6d3cd55-e568-474d-ae7d-c569cd798ffa" id="id_e959_adaf_8dbe_77b0" style="width: 0px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_39bc_73c3_c90e_5d50" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/k3UPDheosWj2Yp_hu6JHQiQA7RwiNcNfmz-6vxVg-OvNGdWSTP6aTZzEgo55NNI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br>By Lisa</div><div><br></div><div>‘During this strange year, I got a new job and have the stress of it at times overwhelming.I have turned to nature and the fire and music and candles to cope. Coffee has become even more important like a morning ritual. San Miguel has played a part but I thought the metal would not stick! My bike has been good to me and essential for work travel. Baking and hugging my husband and children feels like a treat when I know others are alone. Radio and comedy have helped me unwind. Especially my brothers cartoons in the metro.</div><div>This star is not amazing but it’s okay and is a pretty good representation of 2020 for me!’</div> hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423835868232278014.post-81329840058394017252020-11-30T22:02:00.001+00:002020-12-01T22:02:46.509+00:00ONE <div><img height="320" id="id_9c6b_cba4_98c3_e24f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IzYWOGC8lZo42WM9SNeGdsUrU8dr3mD_L5ughvHQrjamwrgd0K7opVYlb3b9xfE=w240-h320" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" tooltip="" width="240" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By Lynda</div><div><br /></div><div>2020. What a year? And what pain and sadness you are still wreaking? </div><div>So I found it rather cathartic to think of all the things, people, places and habits which have go me through the corona coaster. And decided my star would try to capture it all collage style... small stones, sea shells (Welsh holiday) and all. </div><div><br /></div><br /><img height="320" id="id_c654_6b7f_f03_1ea2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZMs91Tvkikt1XbYdfFNgpp8d3f1szwFUhSJdK2aW3Vxe_hU8Iby0rK6cjNYu6U4=w240-h320" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" tooltip="" width="240" /><br /><br /><div>Needless to say lockdown has comprised of quite a lot of alcohol and gardening. I’ve been lucky, I know, to have a patch of albeit untidy and muddy garden this year. And I’ve spent more time on it than ever before. It still is a bit scrubby and muddy but it had a lot of flowers too. And I managed to grow marigolds and Californian poppies for the first time. </div><div><br /></div><div>I rediscovered our wonderful Marshes, along with most of Hackney of course, and was truly grateful for the wide open skies, near limitless space and the various friends who we walked, picnicked, cycled and foraged with (restrictions allowing). </div><div><br /></div><div>And I was super grateful for my family, for extra times to hang out with teenagers who may not have usually chosen that socialising option and for a solid relationship which can bear the pressures of lockdown. And grateful for a job which has (so far) been secure at an organisation which has cared well for its employees though its income has been severally affected. </div><div><br /></div><div>Light and hope is what we think of at Advent. And I want my star to help us remember those shafts of light and hope: the wonderful NHS in all its myriad departments, the delivery drivers, shop assistants, shelf stackers and care workers. Many of whom are under paid and under valued and who paid a heavy price - sometimes with their long term health; sometimes with their lives. 2020 you've taken many things, but you've given something too - a commitment to a world where things might look different, where neighbours look out for each other and black lives really do matter.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" height="317" id="id_39b1_cf1b_4b22_7336" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OD6qFTNTl6WElA2OJon3We6pH0v-O0UXoRdE6cDX00jvSnCIVJmJKtUpXftMEDI=w238-h317" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" width="238" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_65d2_4629_361c_8fd2" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/VnM0u3zAYOEdCsWJaG0H5m1CU_L6i44ZqW7ydbhXHF5zA1q9SeMNC6ZRAbxDrtI" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><br /></div>hackneymachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977316135061745874noreply@blogger.com0