Here you can view films, photographs and artwork and read poems showcased on Something for the Weekend, and find links to websites and online events mentioned on the show. (You can watch the whole shows here including with captions on all videos). The content is usually listed in the order it appears on the show. This page is updated on Friday afternoons and should be complete by 6pm.  We’d love to see any poems, arts and crafts you have created at home using the same themes or activities: info@together2012.org.uk

Click on any photo to see a larger version.

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25 June 2021

Dressing Up to Go Out to Stay In: Julie dressed up for Dublin Pride Online; Ju dressed up for the Guerrilla Girls’ launch of The Male Graze; Tracy dressed up for a home spa day; and Robin dressed up to play the new Olympic Games video game (see The Week Ahead below).

Poems from the Together! 2012 Pop-Up Poetry Club Theme: Summer. If you’d like to join in from home, next week’s theme is A Song I Like. Find out more here about how to join the Club, which takes place on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am-12 noon by phone (we call you and pay the costs).

Julie Newman: Summer Solstice

On the longest day,
The stones stand tall
Against a marbled sky.

The light of the first rays
Come through the clouds,
As the henge starts to hum

With bird song echoing
The calls of their
Forebears in days gone by.

Skylarks sing their last
for the year, with
Blackbirds and song thrushes,

They welcome the day
And greet the
Wakening joy of dawn.

Now we shall gather
The fern seeds at
Midnight, while lovers dream,

And walk through the gates
Between the worlds?
Invisible as we

Capture the magic
Of centuries
Calling the sun to rise.

Taylor Henville: Summer Dreaming

Summer days, a hazy dream,
Blue skies, burning light,
Pavement sizzling, birds singing,
Children cheering, holidays nearing,
Ice cream dripping, seagulls swooping,
The crowds, sweaty, blurring, moving,
Looking for shade, sipping lemonade,
Waiting for day to fade
Into evening, summer dreaming.

Crystal Peasy: Summer

In the summertime I like going to feed the birds
The sun is shining bright
So, I go to the trees for shade
It is so hot I eat ice cream
And I put on sun cream and my sunglasses on
We go outside to see the sun and get fresh air
All the leaves that come off the trees
And fall on the floor
The days become longer and brighter
I go and visit my mum in the summer
And I have ice cream with her
At night time it is still very bright outside
And I go to sleep very happy

Dawn Barber:  Summer

The sun is out
Everyone on a high
The flowers are in bloom
The butterflies are flying
Birds singing in the trees
People beaming with joy
And feeling happy
I love the summer
I never want it to end
It is my special friend
My vitamin D that makes me feel happy
Sun keep doing your special work
And make us beam even more.

Glory Sengo: Summer

Summer is when you wear your sunglasses
And you sit down in the garden
And see the sun
The sun beams on your face
And you go and swim in the sea
And you put sun cream on your back

Alison Marchant: It was late June

It was late June
And there was a rise in heat in the afternoon
Willowherb, meadowsweet and grass
The blackbird sang over rich cowslips
And chestnut flowers
At Summers pace
Swallow’s chatter
Brightness burns
dandelion clocks
and the busy bee
ponderous with summer scents
poppies flicker
from an open French window
in the air of other summers.

Blake Jarrette Gibbons: A British Summer

Longer daylight hours. In the towns and cities every inch of green space is being used, children running around in the playgrounds, while others are just lay attempting to tan. As time ticks by night life starts brewing, still in summer outlandish clothes from bright colours of shirts and shorts to patterns and designs on dresses, summer clothes out, skin tanned from the day time, fake tan not required this time of year, parties start up. Want a tan all year round? Increase your iron intake.

The buskers are out, parties on the street corners and pubs and restaurants full of life. Away from this and out into nature. As temperatures rise, warm enough to be able to go and sit by the coast, better still go for a swim in the sea. Feel that beautiful breeze, the crashing of the waves so nice. Big holes and sand castles all around. Rock pools being explored, caves being visited while daylight shines in.

Away from the sea and into the woods we go. Waking up hearing the birds singing, the sun beaming down from the highpoint way up in the sky. Surrounded by forests with a river flowing through, a waterfall in the distance,that water reflecting the sun’s light beaming like a humongous mirror. Do I go upstream or downstream to get out the woodland,what’s around me now, fields, some have been ploughed some still full of grass and flowers.

Oh look a sign to a local brewery. Some food, fresh juice, maybe a fresh cider if I fancy alcohol. Along with this beautiful sunlight and warmth I can’t complain. Maybe a day up in the highlands of the hills or down in a valley, all the nature surrounding, people taking in the views.

Got to have a rainy day too. Walking in the rain, while the temperature is still high, such a nice experience. If you’ve not done it before, try it, you’ll be surprised. The refreshing feeling, now time to dry up. Maybe the odd thunder and lightning.

Forget the TV, come on, come and enjoy the summer, if you’ve got to watch something watch nature. If I get the chance I will visit the coast this year, does anyone have some 2p coins please, off to the pub you go off to arcades I go. See you in the sunlight soon, that’s if you don’t catch me under summer nights sky dancing in the moonlight under a starlit sky.

Duncan Bridgstock: Escalator to Heaven

If i don’t have wings
will i still go to Heaven ?
But i would much prefer
a double cheeseburger
bacon and gherkin
with fries and side salad
But my idea of Heaven is
a whole street of jazz clubs
like New York’s 52nd Street
in the 1940s
populated by jazz greats
If you don’t behave
you’re going to get
such a snack
what would you prefer
crisps or a Mars bar ?
my favourite sweets are
Ravel’s Boleros
Is it time for my nap?

Together! 2012 Art Club

The Art Club runs a still-life session on Zoom from 11-12 every Friday morning. Click here to find out how to join the Club, and click on the photo to view a larger version and join in from home. We’d love to see your pictures: info@together2012.org.uk

The Art Club also runs a Make and Natter session on Zoom from 11-12 every Tuesday morning. Bring along your own work, or join in with inclusive recycled craft activities. The Club is currently experimenting with different paper techniques including folding and collaging. Click here to find out how to join the Art Club.

Collages from recycled card by Duncan Bridgstock

Join in with Sterre: Painting with my fingers and arms.

Join in with Tracy: Pouring paint to make a picture

The Clockwork Paralimpics To join in at home, pick the toy on the right side or the left side of the screen to support before you start the video.

The Week Ahead

Tracy recommends…

The Great British Photography Challenge on BBC iPlayer. Six photographers took part in this 4-part series, which contains lots of useful tips for any photographer. The final two winners have an online exhibition which can be view here for free: https://www.public-offerings.com/gbpc

Julie recommends …

Online exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands. There are several categories of Vincent Van Gogh’s art work and his letters: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/art/vincent-van-gogh

The List has online and free events from all over the UK, including a festival of boats and a weekend of jazz from Scotland: https://www.list.co.uk/events/online-events/when:this%20weekend/

Dublin Pride Online from 12 noon on Saturday 26 June: https://dublinpride.ie/

The Wikipedia page on the Stonewall Riots gives a sense of the history and the emergence of Pride Month: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots

Ju recommends…

Virtual Poetry Reading: Remembering Lucille Clifton Sunday 27 June 7pm Lucille Clifton was an award-winning poet from her first book onwards, and was also the author of Generations: A Memoir and more than sixteen books for children, written expressly for an African-American audience. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84532069956?pwd=c2VzQWMrWnN6a3oxR3ZvaVVEWS93UT09 Meeting ID: 845 3206 9956 Passcode: 704102

Talking Dance: Improving Racial Equity Tuesday 29 June 10am-12.45pm. This industry-wide online symposium, held in partnership with The TIRED Movement (Trying to Improve Racial Equality in Dance), and world-leading dance teaching organisations bbodance , Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) explores how to improve racial diversity in the independent dance sector. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-dance-improving-racial-equity-registration-154536461717

You can book tickets for Act Up! Newham’s performance on Monday 28 June at 7pm here: https://www.newhamwordfestival.org/events/act-up-newham-a-doodle-journey-inside-lucys-mind/

Robin recommends…

Booking early for the Glasgow Festival of Burlesque – The Midweek Fling 7 July and 22 July 8pm, Online via Zoom £3-£5. Online evenings featuring some of the best in Burlesque live performance. Bringing dance, comedy, music and more into your homes, The Midweek Fling will let you let your hair down or dress up to take part in these fun events while marvelling at the stage skills and fantastic costumes all from the comfort of your own boudoir, or lounge of course: http://www.glasgowfestivalofburlesque.com/online-shows.html

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Video Game Available for Play Station, Nintendo Switch, X Box One, PC and Stadia from £29.99. Celebrate the greatest sporting event, on your own with family with friends and even online, with the great games featuring all of the sports being played at the Tokyo Olympics.  Choose from a host of characters, dress in a wide range of costumes, and engage in some real fun from tennis to athletics in a space suit: https://www.olympicvideogames.com/tokyo2020/uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_dWGBhDAARIsAMcYuJyaK6JYOPgaTLI8ugp5BX-xVAOvJMz3T0k0g2uKGjlm-He5xDv4JRsaAgi3EALw_wcB

And finally…

Allan Sutherland talks to Robin Surgeoner about his new poetry publication Electric Bodies: http://d4d.org.uk/workstreams/electric-bodies/.

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18 June 2021

Dressing Up to Go Out to Stay In Julie dressed up to watch the solstice at Stonehenge; Ju dressed up to watch Brownton Abbey; and Robin and Tracy dressed up to join in Juneteenth’s Move for Equality.  Details of all these events and more are below in The Week Ahead.

Poems from the Together! 2012 Pop-Up Poetry Club Theme: The Night Sky. If you’d like to join in from home, next week’s theme is Summer time. Find out more here about how to join the Club, which takes place on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am-12 noon by phone (we call you and pay the costs).

Dawn Barber: The Dark Sky

Hello moon up in the dark sky
Shining shining bright
I look at you carefully
And study you well
It’s dark but here you are
Giving us some wonderful light
To let us know
You are here
Even in darkness you appear.

Crystal Peasy: The Stars in the Sky

The stars in the sky are all different colours
The stars are glittering
They are very shiny
They are also different colours
They can be
blue
Green
Black
Brown
Silver
Gold
And you can’t see the stars in the daytime
You can see the stars in the dark at night time
You can see the stars in the countryside
In London I never see stars in the sky myself
Because in the city there are too many lights everywhere
That’s why I can’t see the stars in the sky
And I love to see stars in the sky.

Glory Sengo:  Starlight

Hello how are you
It’s night
Let’s fly
Wa-hoo we can see the clouds
Yee-ha we saw the clouds
We saw the houses
We saw the buses
We saw the trains
We saw the lorry
Lit by star lights
The star is shining bright
And then we were fast asleep
The sky is dark.

Alison Marchant: Snapshot of the Nights Sky in Early June

In a clear night sky
is an ever-changing display of fascinating objects
stars, constellations, and bright planets, often the moon
and sometimes special events like meteor showers.

By the second day in June the Moon
has completed three quarters of its orbit around Earth
At third quarter a satellite always appears half-illuminated,
on its western side — toward the predawn sun.
It rises in the middle of the night and remains visible
in the southern sky all morning.

In a week of moonless evening skies
observing deep sky targets.
On the fifth day in June
in the eastern predawn sky
small round black shadows are cast by Jupiter’s four Galilean moons
All this looks like a grainy black and white film visible in
amateur telescopes as they cross the planet’s disk.

 Blake Jarrette Gibbons: Oh what a night sky!

I lie here, patiently waiting to see you at night. The daylight dims and dims, sun setting a dark orange glow with pinks and purple outlets. As we darken into the night the sky, dark blue this night is the colour of choice, in the distance the moon starts shining bright. Above us, many stars shine.

Asteroids with their cold ice whizz pass a hot patch of sky and leave a flash of light behind, yes the asteroid is a shooting star. Some may even fall to earth. Flashing by with lights many satellites, you might be lucky and see the international space station.

I have lay here patiently waiting to see your magic. Even the sky’s get rough, I give you all I got, still looking up, still looking up.

I have myself set up in the field, tent included ready to be dancing in the moonlight, I need some night life, but to hell with bars and clubs. Peace and Tranquility, dancing in the moonlight, a light display going on above, I have somewhere to sleep.

Even the sky it can teach us things. Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight. The darker the colour at night, the further you are from our artificial light. The moonlight shines down, in the distance I can hear water. Is it a waterfall, is it the sea? I see owls in the trees, foxes run by, all under the dark sky of night while we have a live performance from the stars and the moon.

The natural light leaves patches of brighter colours in the sky above. You know what, even on a cloudy night the night sky is still amazing. The patterns that show through the shine of the moonlight. The different shapes that come as the clouds gently blown by.

The rain, yeah it’s a pain but we need it, the pitter patter sounds as it lands on the ground below, the splash of the water in the distance with the plop plop plop of the rain. Somewhere over there is the town, I can tell by that distant light. Moonlight please guide me there,I need to clean my camera and my binoculars to be cleared so I can star gaze again on another clear night.

As the night eases, the dark blue starts to change, eventually into the light blue of the daily light sky as the sun rises. Now while you all go and recover from your night out in the artificial light, I’m going to be relaxing after a night with nature and the wonders of the night sky and nature’s night life.

Thank you to you who work at night, keeping us safe. And on that note I’m going to enjoy both the daylight bright sky and then night light later. Thank you Mother Nature giving us your beauty day and night.

Julie Newman: Celestial Homesickness

My eyes closed, my mind drifted
As I listened to the song of the shipping forecast…
Familiar names of unknown places…
Carrying me away to dreams within dreams…

I swam with the stars and danced on the moon,
My feet not heavy, my spirit light enough
To carry me up and over
The brightness of countless constellations…
Diving in and out of meteor tails,
Delighting in the sparks that light the endless night.
And then I played with asteroids,
Relentless in their pursuit of the path that leads Nowhere.
Looking for partners in their timeless flight
Around the planets…

And as I awoke from the dream…within the dream,
I reached back to the stars and the endless dance…
Longing again to feel the joy of the light
And the wonderful belonging in the night of endless dreams…
To join in the dance and play with the stars,
Forever part of the harmonics that form
Calling to all, but unheard by many…
The glorious song of the universe.

Taylor Henville: Night Sky in the City

Night sky in the city,
a murky blurring swirl
of colour-black, purple, midnight blue
and that ever-present amber glow,
the reflection of the city lights below.
Night sky in the city,
it’s like a heavy curtain
pulled over the stars,
sometimes you see them poke through and sparkle
then retreat behind the curtain for the evening
to get some privacy from the busy city.

Together! 2012 Art Club

The Art Club runs a still-life session on Zoom from 11-12 every Friday morning. Click here to find out how to join the Club, and click on the photo to view a larger version and join in from home. We’d love to see your pictures: info@together2012.org.uk

The Art Club also runs a Make and Natter session on Zoom from 11-12 every Tuesday morning. Bring along your own work, or join in with inclusive recycled craft activities. The Club is currently experimenting with different paper rolling techniques including folding and ‘quilling’ (see more examples below from previous weeks). Click here to find out how to join the Art Club.

Join in with Sterre: Using the Sun to make leaf prints.

Join in with Tracy: Make a picture frame out of recycled card.

The Clockwork Paralimpics To join in at home, pick the toy on the right side or the left side of the screen to support before you start the video.

The Week Ahead

Ju recommends…

Curating Institutional Change: Care and Compassion. Wednesday 23 June 1.30-2.30pm. Free. Curating Institutional Change is a series of three panel discussions about how the visual arts sector can become more inclusive and accessible. Part of the Future Curators programme organised by Disability Arts in Shropshire (DASH), which supports Deaf and Disabled curators to develop their skills and expertise through residencies within arts organisations and change the culture of the visual arts sector: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curating-institutional-change-care-and-compassion-tickets-154244981893

Boisterous Ravens. Thursday 24 June 7-9pm. Free. An evening of live Spoken Word performance for and featuring strong Black women and Black non-binary voices for Pride Month: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boisterous-ravens-lgbt-pride-2021-tickets-158896564903

Sound & Vision Drawing Club: Life at Sea. Thursday 24 June 7-8.30pm. Free. Celebrating the International Day of the Seafarer with curator Simon Stephens, photographer Cezar Gabriel and music producer George Shilling. See the latest contemporary art from Rise Art and the rich archive of Royal Museums Greenwich alongside a broad variety of music from experimental jazz to folk and classical to electronica: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sound-vision-drawing-club-life-at-sea-tickets-158555659245

Julie recommends…

Watch the sun set over Stonehenge on Sunday 20 June and rise again on Monday morning the English Heritage social media channels. Includes interviews and music. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/solstice/.

To celebrate 125 years of Tower Bridge, artist Di Mainstone was commissioned to create a film exploring a make-believe world caught between dream and reality. Making the Bridge Sing also includes creative activities to enjoy at home. https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/making-the-bridge-sing

Robin recommends…

Swan Lake Digital Stream 18 June 7:30pm – 20 June 10:30pm Free or with a donation. The Ballet Theatre UK and their Ballet School present a full scale production of Swan Lake, with stunning costumes, fascinating sets, and incredible dance.  The show features the whole Ballet School and the principal dancers from the company, in an enchanting version of this most famous ballet:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swan-lake-digital-streaming-tickets-143563830281

Gentle Dance Online Every Friday from 2pm on hourly slots until 5am next day. Enjoy relaxing on Friday with Gentle Dance sessions for all ages 19+. Working with a range of dance styles  and music.  These classes aim to be fun and inclusive: https://parasport.org.uk/oaopportunity/opensessions2020-EventSeries-6944

Tracy recommends…

Celebrate Juneteenth with 8CRE and the NIH: Move for equality at 11am on Saturday 19 June 2021. Juneteenth is now a national holiday in America to celebrate the end of slavery This is an online event that gets your body moving by exercise, breathing and meditation or dance. Take a selfie and share on social media  to show your support for racial equality and enslaved people. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/juneteenth-virtual-celebration-tickets-156600459189?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch&keep_tld=1

And finally…

Tanya Motie is interviewed by Robin Surgeoner about her long career as a television executive, and offers advice to anyone seeking a career in the media.

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11 June 2021

Dressing Up to Go Out to Stay In Julie dressed up to go to Cornwall and remind the G7 Summit not to forget about Disabled people; Ju dressed up for a school story collectors’ meeting; and Robin dressed up to watch the football.

Poems from the Together! 2012 Pop-Up Poetry Club Theme: Nature. If you’d like to join in from home, next week’s theme is The Night Sky. Find out more here about how to join the Club, which takes place on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am-12 noon by phone (we call you and pay the costs).

Julie Newman: I Remember the Wind

I remember the smell of the wind
Blowing air, fresh from the ocean.
The memory of open water
The sails snatching at the breeze.
Catching my heart.
Pushing us forward.

I remember the smell of the wind
Blowing air, fresh from the forest.
The memory of the leaves and trees
Rustling and moving in the breeze.
The scent of pine.
The sound of freedom.

I remember the smell of the wind.
Blowing air fresh from the heathland.
The memory of insects buzzing
As they hover then fly away.
Bracken pungent
Birds calling from high.

I remember the smell of the wind
Blowing air ahead of the storm.
The memory of the rain falling,
Softly at first, hitting the ground.
Then petrichor
The clean smell of earth.

I remember the smell of the wind
Blowing memories, smells still fresh
As I watch through the window pane.
The leaves moving with the breeze.
Gentle zephyrs
Capture my memories.

Dawn Barber:  Nature

Beautiful coloured flowers and their smells
The sound of the birds whistling in the trees
Butterflies flying everywhere
The sound of running water
I wish I could keep this scene in a book
And look at it each day
Nature is a wonderful thing.

Crystal Peasy: Nature

Nature is everywhere
Nature is everywhere you go
Everything that lives and grows
Is nature
Animals big and small
Nature is plants that grow so tall
Nature is beautiful in every way
Beautiful and exciting and needs our care
So listen and learn and do your bit
To keep nature beautiful forever
You can buy plants and grow for yourself
Many different coloured plants
are beautiful and you can look after them
They can live so long
I like to grow different coloured flowers.

Glory Sengo: Nature

You see the squirrels, birds and the pigeons in the park
They’re picking up their food on the ground
And beg for more
The birds are flying on the peoples’ toes
And sit on the peoples’ lap
And fly on their heads and go away
The squirrel are eating the food
And they run up the trees.

Dwain Bryan: Nature

Nature is all around us
From the trees to the leaves
To the humming of the bees
We have land, sea and air
Which we all should care
When the sun shines
It can be really hot
When the moon shines
The darkness is what we’ve got
You can see the stars at night
You can see a rainbow when its bright.

Alison Marchant: Nature and the Seasons

Flowers fresh and fragrant
Inside in bleak mid-winter
The wind blows from the sea to the hills and wood
By lakes and sandy shores
Beneath the clouds
Frost hangs up in icicles
Quietly shining to the moon

Winter nights enlarge the number of hours
A perfect weight of snow on tree-boughs
Red-ploughed fields where larks nest in hedge rows
The blackbird flits from tree to tree

Pink wild roses and the bubbling sound of a brook
On the sweep of curving hills
Sucked up from the sea

The rain blasts a simple passage of weak notes
From the black branches
webbed and weaved by tiny spiders
In the flat blue mist of the sun

Dragon flies and spotted butterflies fly around the forest pond
in threads of crimson hue across the sun peppered meadow
Of dandelion clocks and cow parsley where birds are singing
And herds stand in field ponds

And ivy flowers where the busy bee ponders on summer scents
Of unquiet days.

Paizah Malek-Neave: Nature

One morning I woke up late
Just had cup of tea and Moroccan date
It is my natural habit
To take some more rest and sit
Keep gazing through the window
After making the bed and spreading the throw
I heard my neighbour begin gardening
With pail of water pouring
Over the rose plants next to the jasmine.
“Typical of roses, always running
Away from others and stay alone
Like dogs who always prefer bone
Instead of meat before the walk
Similar to us when eating, never talk.
It is the nature or character of Ivy
Loves to crawl along the wall looking prett
Heavy pumpkins stays down among its leaves
As skylarks enjoy the breeze
It is human nature to go with emotion
Get frustrated when cannot find solution.
Stay in solitude and brood
Stop smiling when in bad mood
Just as dark heavy clouds stopped moving
and soon it was raining.
Eyes full of clear tears
If you feel the fears
For being alone and gloomy
Start singing and be merry
These are characters of nature”
Murmured my neighbour.

Art Club

The Art Club runs a still-life session on Zoom from 11-12 every Friday morning. Click here to find out how to join the Club, and click on the photo to view a larger version and join in from home. We’d love to see your pictures: info@together2012.org.uk

The Art Club also runs a Make and Natter session on Zoom from 11-12 every Tuesday morning. Bring along your own work, or join in with inclusive recycled craft activities. Click here to find out how to join the Art Club.

You can find the instructions for making a Kitchen Carnival percussion shaker here.

Join in with Sterre: Making a word picture with tape and paint

The Clockwork Paralimpics To join in at home, pick the toy on the right side or the left side of the screen to support before you start the video.

The Week Ahead

You can book tickets for Act Up! Newham’s performance on Monday 28 June at 7pm here: https://www.newhamwordfestival.org/events/act-up-newham-a-doodle-journey-inside-lucys-mind/

Robin recommends…

Squidz Club Online 7pm – 9pm 11 June 2021. Free. Squidz Club welcomes you to the House of Do Your Own Thing! Squidz Club is an evening for young people (aged 10-25) with learning disabilities and autistic people plus their families and friends.  Join young people from Do Your Own Thing for a house party like no other!  Show the DJs your best dance moves to DJs in the Disco Room, hear your favourite songs in the Radio Request Room or chill out in the Draw and Relax Room. There will be something for everyone!  Plus look out for a special performance from Danielle, who will be celebrating the release of her second EP ‘D.M.S. Lovesheart’. https://disabilityarts.online/events/heart-n-soul-presents-squidz-club-online-2/

and, of course, the football!

Julie recommends…

A virtual tour of the Great Exhibition of 1851: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/the-great-exhibition-virtual-tour

A virtual tour of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/video-virtual-tour-summer-exhibition-2020

Ju recommends….

The deadline for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2021 is 5pm on Thursday 17 June. There are five cash prizes including one for students (entry fees apply). https://tbwdrawingprize.artopps.co.uk

Brighton Fringe Festival is on now and has a great selection of free online events: https://www.brightonfringe.org

It’s also the Architecture Fringe Festival and on Wednesday 16 June from 8-10pm Hans Klammer presents Crinkle Crankle. Using a sustainable, 90% recycled brick as the generative element for a musical score, installation, and film piece, the installation will be an interpretation of a crinkle crankle wall, built using K-briqs, that will be documented through video and sound. This event will be introduced online by two of the designers followed by the installation performance film and then concluded with a live Q&A with the artists. https://www.list.co.uk/event/1672264-crinkle-crankle-by-hans-klammer/

Coming out as a girls’ school story fan? Make new friends at the Elsie J. Oxenham Appreciation Society, the New Chalet Club and Friends of the Chalet School.

And finally… A chat with and song from Dennis Queen

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4 June 2021

Dressing Up to Go Out to Stay In Julie and Ju dressed up for Pride Month (see The Week Ahead below for Pride Month activities); Tracy dressed up for Australian Fashion Week; and Robin dressed up to watch the Euros.

Poems from the Together! 2012 Pop-Up Poetry Club Theme: Kindness. If you’d like to join in from home, next week’s theme is Nature. Find out more here about how to join the Club, which takes place on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am-12 noon by phone (we call you and pay the costs).

Crystal Peasey: Kindness

Kindness is being friendly
Respecting and loving one another
I like people being kind to me
It makes me feel happy and gives me a warm feeling inside my tummy
It’s important to be kind to people
They may be having a bad day and your kindness makes them happy
Kindness is respecting people
Without kindness the world would be sad.

Dwain Bryan: Kindness

Kindness is when you give and take
Kindness is the friend you make
Kindness is when you show Love
Kindness is when you get a hug
Kindness is an important thing
Kindness is the love you bring.

Dawn Barber: Kindness

Being kind is one of the best
To help someone who is in distress
If someone falls down
Being there for them
Being by their side no matter what problem
You are their rock
You are the sun that shines down on them
Kindness is great you open up the gate
To give your heart and soul
So kindness fills that great big hole.

Julie Newman: Kindness

Like a thief in the night
Sneaking in on silent kitten paws
Comes that hidden act of kindness.

Rarely seen, but often present.
No shouting from the rooftops.
No arrogant thinking about self.

This virtue hides shyly away.
Until needed, then without thought
Of cost, the action readily given

Opens a door, steps aside, smiles.
Remembers the oft forgotten.
Seeing the worth in the most humble.

A friendly hand held out to those
Who may have stumbled and fallen.
Hard times come in many guises.

Kindness demands no payment.
Requires nothing back. An act of
Compassion, from the heart.

Kindness is caring, and noticing
The need in others. Giving gently,
Freely without thought.

Then quietly stealing back
Away from the light, ready
To emerge again when needed.

Paizah Malek: Kindness 

It is one of the abstract words
Often said randomly or purposely blurred
It comes out of habits or upbringing
Comfortably uttered with full of feelings
Sympathy, sorry and wishing to help
Getting up and and taking off your cap
Lending your ears, giving your time and putting your effort
To one in danger, distress, difficulty and hurt
By saying soothing words, providing loving care and attention
Suggesting something possible and trying the action
It is the kindness which is making and pushing
To divert the feeling of torture and depressing
A little sweet word and small phrase of sympathy
Means a lot to someone with problems mentally
Those signs of kindness tendered is always welcome
As they help to clear all worries of being harm
Kindness would bring the person back to reality
To start better life style is possible but not easy
Kindness helps them to see the ways
To enjoy moonlight and sun rays
Unconsciously we too feel great to be kind
As we managed not to leave them behind
To suffer emotionally, physically or financially
Thus make ourselves too feel proud and happy.
This kind behaviour, habits and feelings
Could be practised as our daily greetings.

Duncan Bridgstock: Kindness

The kindest kind
are
the Together
kind
Kind people
of the Together
kind
Together
of the
much appreciated
kind.

Alison Marchant: Acts of Kindness

Sending a positive messages by text and email
Sending gratitude to participants and co-workers
Coming together by telephone and Zoom and supporting each others work
Writing a list of things you like about a co-worker, friend or family member
Watering garden flowers
Making hot chocolate on a cold day
Recommending your favourite film, poem, or artist
Appreciating the sunny weather and the sun setting
Saying Thanks.

Art Club

The Art Club runs a still-life session on Zoom from 11-12 every Friday morning. Click here to find out how to join the Club, and click on the photo to view a larger version and join in from home. We’d love to see your pictures: info@together2012.org.uk

The Art Club also runs a Make and Natter session on Zoom from 11-12 every Tuesday morning. Bring along your own work, or join in with inclusive recycled craft activities. Over the past two weeks the Club has been folding paper and cutting out leaf shapes before learning to ‘Quill’ or roll paper – watch the show for more details about how to do this. Click here to find out how to join the Art Club.

Join in with Sterre: Paint with the rain.

Join in with Tracy: Make a mini Top Hat from card (you can make a full-size hat using a bigger piece of card).

The Clockwork Paralimpics To join in at home, pick the toy on the right side or the left side of the screen to support before you start the video.

The Week Ahead

Ju recommends…

The Oban Online Sea Shanty Festival, Saturday 5 June from 2pm. The Together! Music Club often sings sea shanties together and we have worked with a variety of shanty artists and crews. The festival includes free afternoon workshops – there is a £5 charge for the evening performance. http://www.obanshanty.org.uk

Dis-Section: Disabling Stereotypes in the Media and LGBT+ Society. Wednesday 9 June 6-7pm. Free but booking is required: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dis-section-disabling-stereotypes-in-the-media-and-in-lgbtq-society-tickets-155527449789.

The Great British Photography Challenge, BBC iPlayer series with Rankin. A group of photographers are brought together to learn from the famous photographer Rankin. Great tips whether or not you just use a phone to take pictures.

Julie recommends…

Channel 4 is celebrating Pride Month with a collection of films and programs that reflect the LGBTQI+ experience: https://www.channel4.com/collection/the-pride-collection

Gay Times has a review of LGBTQI+ films, a lot of them older but iconic in their way. While there is no information on how to view them, it is useful to have the list of films to refer to:
https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/incredible-lgbtq-films-to-watch-this-pride-month/

BBC Springwatch has news and updates from the Live feeds on YouTube: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e5fn5v/live/crwzp6

Robin recommends…

Teenage fiction for Pride Month: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. Published by Holder ISBN 9781444951387. Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they’ve never met… until one day when they’re made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realise. Cloaked In Shadows by Ben Alderson.  Published by Oftomes Publishing ISBN 97819997068-6-9. Zacriah Trovirn is concerned with two things I his life: hunting and dodging Petrer, the boy who broke his heart.  Heartbreak becomes a distant concern when Zacriah is taken to the Elven capital of Thessolina, where he is forced into King Dalior’s New Legion of shape shifters, but Zacriah isn’t a shape shifter.  In truth he doesn’t know what he is.  Follow Zacriah on a fantastic adventure of ‘forbidden’ love and war.

Society X Therapeutic Arts Workshops Online via Eventbrite – mostly free or by donation or small fee – different days. A collection of therapeutic arts workshops, including spoken-word, drawing, painting and photography.  A great list of things to do, many with mindfulness as part of the sessions: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/societyx-therapeutic-art-workshop-tickets-131366202849?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse

European Football Championships – Euros 2021 Friday 11 June – Sunday 11 July 2021. Rescheduled from what should have been Euros 2020, Euros 2021 sees the best national football teams in Europe competing for the coveted Euros Trophy.  With Wales, Scotland and England all having qualified.  Wales have their first match on the opening day with Scotland and England both playing next weekend on the 13^th. The link takes you to all you need to know about the competition as it progresses, and will enable you to plan you around any matched that you are interested in: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=euros+2021&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#sie=lg;/m/0p3p7v6;2;/m/01l10v;mt;fp;1;;

Writer and poet Penny Pepper is interviewed by Robin Surgeoner about her international success, and reads us a short story.

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