Symposium

Yesterday my course buddies and I had a day of celebration- sharing our areas of interests and sharing food from our cultural background. I brought a faithfully delectable bread and butter pud, and shared about how theatre can help alleviate the 'cultural bereavement' experienced by asylum seekers. The Rasta man is Winston who is a very funny and experienced theatre worker. Interesting discussions that arose throughout the day included contemplating the paradoxical role of a theatre facilitator working with an oppressed group. There is a danger that they abuse their position and become a facipulator (facilitator as a manipulator).

Mrs. Resourceful

RIP friendly boots. You served me well.

Today, the hubby and I were took a Sunday hike upon Ilkley Moor. (we try and go at least twice a month to cleanse our lungs- Leeds pollution and mould out- fresh crunchy autumn air in...) At about 2pm sad thing happened. One of the zips of my favorite red- docs bust when Drew and I were but a stone throw away from the highest peak. I felt sad on four counts.

1) We had being climbing for an hour and were a stone throw from the top, but I didn't feel save to climb the jagged rocks further without ankle support.

2) I still had to get back down in order to warm up with a cuppa.

3) The boots and I had drawn up a special relationship over the last couple of years- I will miss their confidence-boosting whispers they give me when no one else is listening.

4) I am as broke as a joke, so cannot replace them till the 17th of December (2 months of cold ankles!)

A quick burst of practical inspiration allowed me to rectify my first two HS points*- I pulled out the bobbles from my hair braids, and tad-daa!! strapped my boots on! Drew was too impressed to feel embarrassed of me!

* HS = Beth and Drew crazy married code language for 'how sad', similarly HB = 'how bizarre,' HF = 'how funny'. Sometimes we forget that the rest of the world are not following us!

Where have all the Bethblogs gone?

Ok where have I been? In a whirlwind of crazy activity and ENDLESS work. Anyone out there who has a MA and is still sane and does not have permanent nervous twitches has my full respect. I am still in the whirlwind by the was- which is why this is going to be a pocket-sized blog. Actually I feel I am in the eye of the storm where the lack of sleep; having two jobs and watching too many interest theatre performances that make fiction and reality merge, have made me gaze upon my pile of reading, dissertation, essays, symposiums, presentations and workshops I need to design and laugh a mad laugh heeeiahahahoooo he hee ho.

Also I have to write an academic critical journal of every theatre stimulus I get and I have to outline my reaction to everything I learn. This journal (which I have to present to my lecturers) is the reason that blogs do not seem as 'fun' any more. However if it seems my updates are few and far between it does not mean I am not reading YOURS!

I will try explain my course soon- when I get it under control (down tiger!) I want to tell my tales of working on creative space with asylum seekers, tell of my lovely coursemates, explain how God is pushing me and preserving my marriage amid the madness, explain why I decided it was not right for me to go to Malawi. However, for now I will leave you with a pic from Drew's birthday.