Haringey Independence Day 2009

Yesterday, Denise and I were at the Haringey Independence Day event. We ran a stall for Spectrum London. This is the 2nd year we have attended, and we learnt our lessons well. Last year, we brought heaps of literature for the stall. It was an achievement for any one to see behind the teetering piles of paper :P This year, it was a lot less, and less to carry home too.

http://www.haringey.org.uk/independenceday/

You can get an idea of what it was all about there, though It probably won't give you the feeling of the event. One of the most constructive, inclusive and friendly events I've been to in a long time. The sun was out, and it was a lovely day. I got a new friend who is called jeffrey. It is a Peace Lily, which is one of my favourites. Now I have one plant, I expect it won't be long before Mikey Mansions becomes home to more flora in the near future.

Lots of workshops and films, which we both missed as we stayed on the stall for the most part. We had a few interested folks taking literature and met some great people. Most folks looked, and moved on. A few raised their eyebrows but nothing negative. We were well placed, by the food area which was very convenient. We snacked away with organic lemonade, scrumptious salads and carrot cake. Denise made some good contacts with some folks involved in Domestic Abuse issues in local london boroughs. We had copies of the press release for the Trans Domestic Abuse online survey which launches Monday, and this was very well received. It was nice to get some honest views from some folks, thanking Spectrum for the work that we do. I think I blushed a few times :=]

I managed to get a couple of the Visteon t'shirts (in XL, which was a blessing as it only just fit me!)

Last year, Reel News ( http://www.reelnews.co.uk/ ) filmed, and as they had a stall there I tried to get a copy of the issue with a report on last years HID. It was the one edition they hadn't brought with them, still we have a copy on its way through the post to us. They were also interested in the short film that Spectrum London produced for this years LGBT History Month, and we may have it included in a later edition (once we have sorted out copyright clearance issues).

I met a few old friends from the past which was great. One of them was there with the food stall, which did an amazing job feeding all the hungry attendees. If you are looking for a vegan caterer for your event, then check them out. They are non profit making, concentrating on producing gorgeous vegan grub. I watched as the cake stall was replenished periodically with fresh out of the oven slices of wonderfulness :D Their website is http://www.vegancampaigns.org.uk/ or you can write to :

Vegan Campaigns
BM 2300
London
WC1N 3XX


Email via info@vegancampaigns.org.uk

At the end of the day, we joined the final workshop session where in the far to short amount of time left, we discussed ways forward from the event. Some excellent ideas, with folks committing themselves to work together bringing them to fruition.

We missed the after party as I wasn't feeling too good, with what felt like a horrible head cold coming on, though it could be related to finally kicking the smoking habit.

I can't wait for next year, so much to do but all good stuff!

"warning! slightly introspective bit coming up..."

We are now in a period of sunny weather which is lovely. I have been noticing the green shoots appearing in the trees, particularly one I see when I get my bus in the morning. It was just a month ago, when it was all 'twiggy' and bare, and now its blooming with a fantastic green haze of leaves. There seems to be this outbreak of gorgeous tiny blue flowers everywhere I look. In the front of our flat, on the walk down the hill to highgate station, the roadside grass verges on Colney Hatch Lane, just everywhere :=]

I've been feeling really upbeat these last few weeks, with the sunshine, the flowers and getting to a real quiet place inside myself. So hectic at times too, what with getting involved in stuff a bit more, like Visteon and other things going on. I'm going to have to put some serious time aside soonish, to work on the proper launch of Spectrum London's 'Something Special' project. It's a simple idea, which could grow. We are talking of trans history directly from the people themselves, in their words and pictures with no 'editing' or other such interference. I'll go into it in more detail at a later date, when I've figured out the details :D

I may start being a social animal again, soon. The other weekend, Denise and I popped into Hackney to collect a duvet which were going to take up to the Visteon occupation and we stopped off at the Rochester Castle. An old favourite watering hole of days gone by, when it was known as the Tanners Hall. Lots of lovely ales, and plenty of space to relax and have a sup. We liked it so much, that I've been thinking of going down there again, perhaps meeting a few folks and making a real Sunday day out :)

Also, been asked to a pub for drinks on this weekend from some people I've not seen in years now. I may go if I can, though what they will think of the new enlarged version of me (yes, in my later days I've become a bit of a lardy bum :P.....way too much cake!) We shall see, as I'll be stepping from my 20's to my 40's with some of the folk...time tunnel anyone? :=]

well....a meander and a lazy blog thing today, just trying to keep in the habit. Still, next one may be altogether different.....if I choose to follow the white rabbit down that hole again, who knows? :=]

outloud&proud

....Pride has been and gone....and wasn't it wonderful ?

the mad rushing around.....getting t shirts a banner and leaflets printed for spectrum putting the poles together the night before and the early start to the day on the Saturday...free breakfast on offer to the early birds soooooooooo........hot chocolate and cheesecake mmmmmmmmmmmmm seeing the crowd grow, the floats lining up.....the buzz in the air...its damp..its wet..its raining and no one gives a damn

the first viewing of the banner, photo opportunity !

..and we're off...the long march, the smiles and dancing and the calls of the crowd....people lining the streets all aglow with grins and good feelings....some seeing the banner call out ..'totenham!!! haringey!!!'drip drip little june showers.....rain comes down and we dont care, out and proud happy and loud....blow the whistle some more....even ticked off by one of the anarchos in amongst our sections....'can you be a bit quieter?' I offered to play the trumpet instead

things I remember...the spontaneous applause for the police sections of the march....the handful of sorry looking christians and fascists with their own banners.....poor things they looked soooooooo put out ..remember Riga you bastards, not so cock of the hoop now eh, compassionless ones....

it was a short march, the weight of the banner made it just seeeeeeeeeeeeeem that bit longer ...lucy the hero who didnt falter even when giving interviews....it was good to arrive...a quick nibble and a trawl of some stalls, thanks to camden for letting us put some of our new improved groovy leaflets on their stall...

it seems just a short while ago when we were in Trafalgar Square for a different reason.....no coconuts shells this time just smiles grins laughter and happy faces ....always look on the bright side of life...well, no need to sing that here today, tis already in full view

shame about the doctor..rain stopped play, so have to wait to watch it at home sometime.... a wonderful brilliant great happy gorgeous fabulous groovy day...