Something for the Weekend Highlights & Links May 2021

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.


21 May 2021

Screenshot of hostsDressing Up to Go Out to Stay In Ju and Julie dressed up to perform in Eurovision; Tracy dressed up for Bromley Disability Pride; Robin dressed up for Euro Disability Pop; and everyone dressed up for #HatsforHeadway Day. For more information about these events, see The Week Ahead below.

Poems from the Together! 2012 Pop-Up Poetry Club Theme: Birds. If you’d like to join in from home, next week’s theme is Clouds. 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).

Glory Sengo: White Bird

When I saw the white bird in the street
I went to another pavement and turned right
and went straight to the zebra crossing
I went to church to pray.

Dwain Bryan: My pigeon

Do you want to fly?
I want to fly
birds want to fly like humans
we both fly high in the sky when we’re in the air
we might feel a little afraid
but when we reach our destiny we feel made
we fly over land and sea and sky
but we always feel high
we feel free and powerful that’s why we fly.

Crystal Peasey: Bird

The birds are many different colours
every bird flies up to the trees
and they sing in the trees
every bird has their own feelings
the birds sing different sounds
and the birds also make their own nests
and the birds make their nests from natural materials
such as grass leaves and mud
birds keep their babies in their nests.

Dawn Barber: The Robin

Hello little Robin sitting on my tree
thank you for coming to see me
days are better when you’re here
you sit all cute and fluffy
you seem to know when I feel sad
you give a lovely whistle it brightens my day
in every way
when you sip your water from the bird bath
it is a dream come true
Hello little Robin I do love you.

Julie Newman: The Magpie

This morning I heard a magpie shout
Raucous and loud, chattering in rhythms of eight
And thought of my Mother.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked about
Seeking the solitary bird
Checking none others were hiding.

Spying it out.

As she searched for the source of troubles untold
But about to unfold
On her unsuspecting family.

Blake Jarrette Gibbons: Bird or Human?

A bird, are you talking about the animal, or are you talking about a lady?

I can’t fly, yes it would be convenient at times, less waiting around for people to get out the way on the escalators, or behind those who are just slow.  Cheaper holidays, easier to escape, ‘Oh hang you forgot the lunch? let me fly back and get it.’

What colours would I have, white like a swan, greys and greens like a Mallard?

Or what about a non-water-based bird like a robin. Robin are you there?

Polly Parrot where are you now? Screech out I can’t hear you.

Maybe time to turn to a bit of cockney slang, ‘Yeah I’m looking for a bird, but she got’s to be right, ya know what I mean. Come on Del boy be honest you know.’

‘Well she seems a nice bird.’

‘Don’t take this serious, or anything you get me, but I think she better than Cassandra.’

Well Dell, you’re the one running up as Batman. Dressed as a cross between a man and type of flying animal.

Give me a break, the chance to fly away, or maybe float away down steam, when I know if I would like to be a bird, and which would I be. Being a bird, flying in flocks, I might actually have a social life. Might even go slightly quackers at times.

I’m going to fly away now, and will bring you more next time I come back from flying high in sky amongst the clouds, more sky high, or maybe I will appear from having dived down to the  deep low seas below. Or I may be resting on top of a cliff or on the soft sands of the beach below, just listening to the waves rolling in while the sun rises into the sky above, or dropping down below sea level and out comes the star-full night sky, some late night flyers going by. 

Oh you can hear the human birds on their way out to hit the pub, ya know where I mean. How long till they get back, is your relationship status still the same? Unlike the bird, I have to go and get changed to get ready for bed, alright for them being able to just settle down, lucky birds.

Can’t wait for you to read the next poem, for now though Ta Da.

PS actually I already know my answer whether to be a bird or be a human. Be a bloke or a bird, I will stay a bloke either way animal or human. No you’re not going to find out the rest of the answer now, that will happen another time if I ever decide to share, did you enjoy your time reading this? Speaking of time, time for me to go. Ta Da.

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

Dwain Bryan

Lee Brooker

Saffiya

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. This week the Club made animals out of toilet roll inners –  just pinch the top together to create the head and ears and decorate. You can use other pieces of card to make wings and tails. Click here to find out how to join the Art Club.

Crystal Peasey

Crystal Peasey

Saffiya

Saffiya

Glory Sengo

Join in with Sterre: Make a card from pressed flowers and send it digitally.

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.

Introducing emerging artist Jessica Tania Bishop

The Week Ahead

Friday 21 May is Hats for Headway Day: https://www.headway.org.uk/about-headway/events-and-conferences/hats-for-headway-day/

Ju recommends…

6.30-8pm Friday 21st May 2021 Sisters of Friday launch their ground-breaking research into the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Disabled women live on YouTube with brilliant panellists Manishta Sunnia, Rachel O’Brien, Tumu Johnson and Martha Folds. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCik8PhVF2sDGYs70Bz0ZEEA. This research (supported by the Smallwood Trust and National Lottery Community Fund) collects together a wide variety of intersectional Disabled women’s experiences and concerns, most of which are made invisible in policy-making and society. For more information and to access the report visit Sisters of Frida’s website https://www.sisofrida.org

Tracy recommends…

Bromley Disability Pride 22 May 13:30-15:30 Free online event. After the cancellation of last year’s event due to COVID Bromley Disability  Pride has this year gone online.  The event features performances and material encouraging positivity in who we are as Disabled People, especially younger Disabled People, with acts from local artists through to well-known Disabled Artists such as Sign Kid, Laurence Clark, Magpie Dance, Richard Downes and Jamie Hale: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/disability-pride-2021-tickets-145297202845 or email barry@xbyxbromley.com or projectsupport@xbyxbromley.com or  phone 02086502102.

Robin recommends….

Peter The Wild Boy 2pm & 7pm 24 May online via Eventbrite. £10 per device. Peter the Wild Boy is a true story that is even more relevant today during the pandemic and as the world recovers, but a world that still hasn’t learned to adapt to all of its citizens. The story of Peter the Wild Boy is enhanced by the lived experiences of the tellers themselves.   The tale takes the audience  though the life experiences of an 18th Century man with learning difficulties who forged an incredible journey: from the forests of Germany to the palaces of the Royal Court; from farmhand to prisoner; from feral child to respected elder: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peter-the-wild-boy-tickets-145243129109?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

30 Animals That Made Us Smarter Available anytime on BBC iPlayer. Amazing things humans have learnt from the animal kingdom. Incredible animal facts and abilities that are being used to enhance human life, from automatic camouflaging properties discovered from studying Octopi, to how understanding mosquito lances are helping design painless injection needles. Inspiring, fascinating, bingeable: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xttw7/episodes/downloads

Julie recommends…

Eurovision Song Contest Saturday 22 May from 8pm on BBC One, hosted in the UK by Graham Norton: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0070hvg BBC iPlayer has additional items. This year’s Eurovision is ‘Open Up’, with an invitation for countries/contestants to put their own interpretations onto it: https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021

The British Library online, including a range of old maps, and painting from the late eighteenth century: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/viewmostviewed/index.html


14 May 2021

Screen shot of hosts

Dressing Up to Go Out to Stay In Julie dressed up for International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia and Trans-phobia (IDAHOBIT) – see more below. Ju dressed up for Mental Health Awareness Week. Tracy dressed up for a virtual tour of St Petersburg. Robin dressed up to lead his junior swimming team to success.

Poems from the Together! 2012 Pop-Up Poetry Club Theme: A Sunny Day. If you’d like to join in from home, next week’s theme is Birds. 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: Sunny Afternoon

As I walk along the bridge on a sunny day I look down at the water
I can hear the birds singing in the trees a man on a bike waves at me as he goes by
and I wave back it’s a lovely quiet time to think of all my lovely memories
some ducks swim along the water and I watch and smile for a while
I hear church bells ring and as I look up to the sun I hold out my arms and give thanks to this lovely sunny afternoon.

Dwain Bryan: A Sunny Day     

When I woke up the sun was shining
You can tell that spring and summer are near
And you feel wonderful you haven’t got a care
The trees start to blossom and produce wonderful plants
You might catch a sweat and feel a bit hot and bothered
But with just spring water or a fan I’ll be a happier man.

Glory Sengo: Sunny Day

When I was out in the sun I was swimming at the beach
I was looking at the sun with my sunglasses on
and I went to dry myself, dress up and go to lunch
I went to have fish and chips and I had a drink too.

Alison Marchant: Sunny Day

Sunny or clear means there are no clouds in the sky
Sunlight refers to the electromagnetic radiation of the sun
that reaches the earth
visible light
and ultraviolet light
Most of the sun’s radiation does not reach the earth’s surface
Some of it is absorbed in the atmosphere while others are scattered to space

The colour of the sun is white
The sun emits all colours of the rainbow
this combination is white light
That is why we can see so many different colours in the natural world under the illumination of sunlight 

Today is a sunny day
And the brain produces more of the mood-lifting chemical serotonin on sunny days than on darker days

Taylor Henville: Sunny Day

Sunny day, the month of May,
Chasing all the grey away.
Blue skies ahead, no more dread,
Bees buzzing in the flowerbed.
Sunny day, shining bright,
Warm yellow golden light,
That slowly fades out of sight,
Into lazy hazy purple night.

Julie Newman: Sunshine

Breaking through the grey clouds
A ray of sun does shine.
A gift on this cold, cold day.
And then the sight of bees in crowds
Gathering at the flowers on the vine.
Gives us hope of June in May.

Looking out onto the waking world,
The sky starts to lighten.
Little flashes of colour in the pots
Show promises of flowers as petals unfurl.
Birds are singing louder as skies brighten
And flocks start to gather, sitting on the roof tops.

A little glimpse of sunshine opens the day ahead.
It warms the hardest of hearts,
And calms the rampaging breast.
The colours form and glow, pinks among the reds,
Lavender blue and honeysuckle starts
To bud, as the birds create their nests.

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

Crystal Peasey

Eve Smith

Glory Sengo

Safiyya

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. This week the Club began to experiment with paper folding. Click here to find out how to join the Art Club.

Safiyya

Crystal Peasey

Join in with Tracy: Make a set of 3 ‘Russian dolls’ that fit inside each other from folding paper. (Dolls like this can also be used by directors to ‘block out’ stage moves, in which case make the dolls all the same size and store them flat. Add photos of the performers’ faces if they have already been cast instead of drawing identical faces.) You can find more of Tracy’s accessible inclusive craft activities to join in with here.

You need three square pieces of paper in different sizes, a pair of scissors and a glue stick, plus something to draw or decorate them with.

You can create a square piece of paper from a rectangular piece by folding over one corner to meet the other side and trimming off what is left over.

Begin each doll by folding the paper so that the opposite corners join to make a triangle

Take the right side point and fold it over toward toward the opposite side.

Take the left side point and fold it over to meet the fold on the right.

Take the 2 open triangles at the top and fold down flat.

Use a glue stick and stick 1 triangle onto the folds.

Then tuck the final triangle into the opening. This will give the shape stability and also a space to slide the smaller dolls in.

Your first doll is now ready to decorate.

Be creative and have fun decorating your dolls using pens, paint, pencils, stickers or anything else you have available. You can also use photos for the faces.

Our regular guest presenter Sterre Ploeger returns next week with her Join in with Sterre series of inclusive accessible arts activities. In this new film from Act Up! Newham we find out more about Sterre and her stage work before the Covid-19 pandemic.

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

Monday 17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia and Trans-phobia: IDAHOBIT. IDAHOBIT was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTQI people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions and sex characteristics. IDAHOBIT is now celebrated in more than 130 countries. https://may17.org/
This link has further resources: https://globaldimension.org.uk/events/international-day-against-homophobia/2021-05-17/

Julie recommends….

The UN Free and Equal Campaign website has additional IDAHOBIT resources, including a Bollywood style promotional video endorsing LGBTQI equality: https://www.unfe.org/the-welcome-new/

The Royal Academy of Arts has some virtual tours on their website, including a tour of the 2020 Summer Show: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/ Their annual Summer Shows are open to any artist to submit their work.

Robin recommends…

Has The Dial Moved – Stories of IDAHOBIT Free Webinar from ‘Inclusive Companies’ 17 May 2021 10:30am – 12pm. This free webinar brings together stories of real-life experiences of people affected by discrimination, oppression and hate crime with a discussion about various aspects of IDAHOBIT and whether the dial has moved since its inception 17 years ago. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions as the webinar explores how positive actions can be delivered.  https://www.inclusivecompanies.co.uk/event/has-the-dial-moved-stories-of-idaho/

Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me Written and Performed by Amy Trigg. Kiln Theatre 21 May – 12 June 2021. £15-£32.50. Age Restrictions 14+. We don’t usually promote real-life activities, but we hope that there will be a film of this available later on and we wanted you to know about Amy’s success. Winner of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020, Amy Trigg’s remarkable debut play Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me is a hilarious, heart-warming tale about how rubbish our wonderful lives can be. This coming-of-age play, told, from the voice of experienced, is a tale of the impact that form moving from childhood into adolescence and adulthood as a Disabled Person. Juno was born with spina bifida and is now clumsily navigating her twenties amidst street healers, love, loneliness – and the feeling of being an unfinished project.  https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/reasons-you-shouldnt-love-me/

Tracy recommends…

St Petersburg virtual Walking Tours. YouTube anytime. Free. This link takes you to a series of YouTube films that take you around the beautiful city of St Petersburg in Russia.  Tour at your own pace and discover some of the fascinating places that St Petersburg has to offer, including going to places with no wheelchair access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QerG0MFdYag

A Conversation with Philip Pullman and Michael Rosen Free event with booking via Eventbrite on Friday 21 May from 5.30-7pm. This is a rare opportunity to listen to the acclaimed and inspiring children’s authors, Philip Pullman and Michael Rosen, in conversation about children’s literature. Philip Pullman will be talking about his writing and some of the stories and ideas behind his influential and much loved books: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/philip-pullman-in-conversation-with-michael-rosen-tickets-148347283719?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

Ju recommends…

Surrey Poetry Festival takes place this weekend 15 & 16 May online and is free: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/surrey-poetry-festival-2021-tickets-146642992137

On 20 May from 6-7pm join acclaimed writer Wendy Moore to learn about the story of the suffragette doctors who ran Endell Street Military Hospital in the heart of London in World War One. Free. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/suffragette-surgeons-of-endell-street-tickets-148331665003

Tour the McMichael Canadian Art Collection‘s Early Days: Indigenous Art with a selection of dates: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/virtual-tour-of-early-days-indigenous-art-at-the-mcmichael-registration-132582964215

Artists’ paint manufacturers Winsor and Newton are sponsoring a free step-by-step Watercolour Painting Zoom demo on Saturday 22 May from 5-7pm. Book now to secure a place: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-step-by-step-wn-watercolor-painting-zoom-demo-registration-152384071861


7 May 2021

Screen shot of co-hosts

Dressing Up to Go Out to Stay In Julie and Ju dressed up to fly to Neverland for a swashbuckling adventure with Peter Pan. Tracy dressed up ready to use the Balance app, and Robin dressed up for a virtual tour of the NASA space centre (see The Week Ahead)

Poems from the Together! 2012 Pop-Up Poetry Club Theme: The Moon. If you’d like to join in from home, next week’s theme is A Sunny Day. 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: The Moon Sings

As day leaves us, Helios dipping down
Drives her chariot into the ocean,
The light fades and colours no longer
Shout their happy cacophony of
Demands for our attention.

Selene rides forth into the darkening sky,
A crescent on her long flowing hair,
A veil embracing the air above her,
And driving two white horses, her chariot
Shining bright. White against the sky.

As the Moon rises, listen to hear her song.
She sings to those who sit alone, gazing upwards
Longing for peace. She sings for those who dance
In fields, their feet beating the rhythm of her tune.
The dreamers find solace, the world sleeps on.

Glory Sengo: The Moon

When I was outside flying to the moon in my silver spaceship it was night time
I saw an aeroplane and a helicopter and I flew back again
I went outside to take my outfit off then put my clothes on to have dinner
I had some fish and chips and beans.

Dwain Bryan: The Moon

The moon shines at night with a lazy glow  and you can watch it during the night
They say the moon covers the sun and it gives you night
I believe man first landed on the moon in the sixties and it was an amazing achievement
People were happy and everybody was in agreement
You land on the moon and you stamp your flag
You land on the moon and you feel so glad
Stars shine around the moon
And you know the sun will shine soon.

Dawn Barber: The Moonbeam

You are not in the sky tonight but I hope you will be tomorrow
Shining your light on us to give us more meaning in the world
I heard on the TV weather that you were turning more pink
What a clever thing you are Moon, when you are not in the sky I miss you
Darkness, nothing to see, Moon will you come back to see me
And beam your light tonight.

Crystal Peasey: The Moon

The moon is quarter-high, the moon can be seen so easily at night time and daytime
Usually the sun’s light is so bright that it makes the moon invisible
When we use a telescope you can see more clearly and closer
Although the moon is only half and far away I love so much the moon
I would love to see a full moon but unfortunately I never see a full moon.

Alison Marchant: The Moon

The moon is earth’s only natural satellite
Four times smaller than the earth
But the same size as the sun
It can cover the sun in a solar eclipse
It orbits the earth
Its main driver is pulling the ebb and flow of the tides
Classified as a planetary-mass object
And a differentiated rocky body
Lacking in atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Or magnetic field
The moons orbit around the earth is just less than twenty-eight days
It reflects sunlight
Contrasted in the night sky
After the sun the moon is the brightest celestial object

Blake Jarrette Gibbons: The shine from the moonlight

The Moon, the mirror for the sun, that shines day and night but better seen at night.

The moonlight, along with the stars, so lovely, Mother Nature thank you. Sitting out in the dark just looking up at the moon, no city lights, Oi do me a favour and turn your torch off.

You may catch people dancing in the moonlight, you will see others with a tent camping under the moonlight, only going in when they start to drift off. You even get those like me crazy enough to go, if it’s not raining let’s sleep out while the moon is shining with all the stars, enjoy the fresh air. Could I do it in a city? Sadly not, too much noise, not enough tranquility.

The moonlight is so relaxing, it’s that light not only through the physical darkness of the night, but also the mental darkness from within you.

It’s a natural delight, no wonder so many people are spotted dancing in the moonlight.

The moonlight even in the hardest times can shine hope, please keep shining, shine for our key workers, shine for our emergency services as we say thank you to them and thank you to you, oh wonderful Moon.

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

Glory Sengo

Dwain Bryan

Crystal Peasey

Lee Brooker

Eve Smith

Safiyya

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. This week the Club began to make paper rosettes, as demonstrated by Tracy in March. Click here to find out how to join the Art Club.

Sadiquet

Safiyya

Join in with Sterre: Making an eco-art bicycle. You can find more of Sterre’s films here.

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 read about Disabled artists, Disability Arts and relevant issues at Disability Arts Online: https://disabilityarts.online 

It’s Newham Heritage Month with lots of free online activities including embroidery workshops inspired by the artist Madge Gill: https://www.newhamheritagemonth.org

Robin recommends…

Can Do Musos Festival 21 Online from 11pm 10 May and remaining on YouTube. Join Can Do Musos for a celebration of music and Disability Arts from all over the world. This is their first ever online music festival which has been designed to inspire all who watch it.  Hosted by drumming’s global ambassador Dom Famularo, this 2.5 hour show features 60 artists from 20 countries.  Premiering on YouTube on 10 May in the US and beyond, (11 May in Australia): https://youtu.be/45JwB7Io6oI

Can Do Musos (online any time). This is a web site for Disabled musicians from all over the world.  A Can-Do Muso is a musician with challenges who is very passionate about their music.  We use the word “challenges” with Can-Do Musos because, quite often disability gets mis-interpreted as inability. People with challenges can overcome them and be empowered and successful.  Can Do Musos was established to promote and support musicians who face “challenges” in their lives from all over the world:  https://www.candomusos.com/  https://fb.me/e/54btqPhcz

National Share A Story Month 1-31 May. This annual celebration has proved to be an excellent way to celebrate storytelling and how powerful it can be. Children and stories are brought together with a variety of different events that take place across the UK – but you’re never too old for a good story. A different theme is used for each year and this year’s theme is “Myths, Magic and Mayhem”: http://www.fcbg.org.uk/national-share-a-story-month/

NASA Kennedy Space Centre (online any time). If you like space travel and science fiction, then the real world base for beginning to explore these topics is The Kennedy Space Centre.  Of course for many of us travelling to Florida and visiting in person is very unlikely, so instead try a virtual tour.  There are a number of these available and here is just one for starters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_6terwDDWU

Tracy recommends…

Balance. Free for the first year: This is an App (available for Android and Apple devices) for self care and offers a comprehensive menu of self-help activities to provide support across such issues as anxiety, pain management, concentration, energy levels, creativity etc. Improve your stress, sleep, and more with the world’s first personalized meditation programmehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elevatelabs.geonosis&gl=GB
Julie recommends…

A virtual tour of the The National Gallery, looking at paintings from the Romantics: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/search-the-collection

There is a selection of online events to be found in Visit London, including tours, both indoors and out: https://www.visitlondon.com/virtually-london

The List also has free events and tours for this weekend and the week ahead: https://www.list.co.uk/events/online-events/price:free/#results


Click here to view the Highlights & Links from the previous month’s show.