I like to reimagine things… (like I did here back in 2018; The Lane )
A quick reimagine…
I work near the towpath of the River Soar in Leicester City Centre, close to Leicester Castle Gardens, but until now I’d not take the five minute trip south to Castle Gardens and what remains of Leicester Castle.
Unless you look, you never know what’s around the corner!
Curiously, I took a relatively positive look at things recently (17/12/21) on the ‘Friday Fix’ blog post, about music.
Mid-winter is a season for stories, a time when we might listen closer. But there’s a lot of noise, bright lights, glare and mirage…
After the show, after the huge imaginative fantasy, when the angels depart, one has to see things as they really are, and one has to learn to put those imaginings to some practical use…
Breathe in… breathe out… ‘life’ is good… ‘and all shall be well’, ‘and the night can shine like the day…’ ‘All is well, all is well, with my soul…’
To paraphrase John Keats, heard sounds are sweet but those unheard might be sweeter still.
I am reminded by Brian Draper this Advent, that the Latin word for obey is ‘obedire’, literally means ‘listen to’.
What surrounds us outside the safety of popular noise? What is there beyond the concept of ‘the heard’? (or ‘the herd’ even?)
If we venture away from the noise, what might we realise?… Might there be treasures in quietness and riches stored in silence?
What do we listen to? What do we hear?
I digress, as mentioned in above, I shared some thoughts recently on a blog post about music; ‘a song that really moves me’. You can find the ‘Friday Fix’ blog here: Friday Fix.
A ‘popular’ song that reverberates?
I’ve never been able to pinpoint a song that I could share, there are sooooo many! However, I revisited a song that always inexplicably renders my soul.
Specifically Nina Simone’s recording of, Feeling Good – 1965
Nina Simone recorded the song in 1965 and it’s subsequently been covered by Muse, Michael Bublé and many others.
I first ‘really’ heard it played on a record player as a student in Crewe in the 1990s. I will never forget it filling the house – everything stopped!
I think it’s the ‘massive’ background musical composition (it’s simple, but just so BIG!), together with Nina Simone’s performance that is quite phenomenal.
What do we hear outside of the noise?
One way I have found to tune out of the noise is BBC Radio 3 on my morning commute.
Combine music such as Feeling Good with a sunrise, a river, wildlife, a friendly ‘good morning!’ fresh air, cardiovascular exercise, and occasionally you have a hint towards life in all its fullness.
Breeze driftin on by you know how I feel It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…
In years past, I would never have predicted that I might habitually listen to Radio 3! But, I have to admit, over recent years, my morning routine has seen me listening to (fellow Cornishman) Petroc Trelawny’s selections on ‘Breakfast‘ on BBC Radio 3.
During my morning commute, just as the day starts, it occasionally (and surprisingly often) seems possible to glimpse something ‘true’, before the business of the day kicks in, before the popular noise takes over.
River running free… Blossom on the tree…
As I cycle my 45 mins to work, occasionally, endorphins cause the abstract combination of musical compositions accompanying the fresh air, wildlife, seasons and the things and people I meet, to become more than the sum of their parts.
You know how I feel…
I know very little about the history of music, composers or the political or social relevance of specific music creations. I can imagine for the creators, there is a lot of loaded significance behind, underneath and inside many compositions. Perhaps I might dig deeper at some point. But it’s the raw essence of some music that I find wonderfully powerful.
I have heard it suggested that a definition of ‘classical’ music… is that it transcends cultural, as well as generational barriers… music that’s created through sincere devotion, not through selfish desire, but rather by something greater, which exists beyond time, history or culture. Golly gosh! When you hear a musicologist say “it’s a ravishingly beautiful piece of music … and we can’t quite understand why…” that’s the kind of thing that makes music special.
What has struck me over the last few years is the power of music to affect us.
This old world, is a new word, and a bold world… Freedom is mine… (and yours)
What surrounds us outside of the safety of popular noise? If we venture away from the noise, what might we realise? What do we listen to?
Listen… the mountains and the hills before us might break forth into singing, and all the trees might clap their hands!
The route is 95% off main roads, 75% off roads, 62% separate cycleway, meaning the trip is often a 45 minute tonic before and after work.
4; 12,000
It’s now been four years, and more than 12,000 miles since I switched to my delightful Gazelle Ultimate S8.
10; 30,000
It’s been more than ten years riding a bike to work daily. That’s more than 30,000 miles, and I’m approaching my eleventh winter, brrrrr!
2011… 2021
I started riding a bike back in 2011 – a lot’s changed since then.
2017 I moved to belt from chain etc – and you can read about it here: Gazelle Ultimate
So much has been learnt and unlearnt that I would not know where to start. Mindsets have changed since 2011 (sadly the cycle infrastructure has not!). You can see posts, from my dalliances with ‘the media’ to Bike Books here: #bike
Back in August 2012 I considered Another way. “poor, fractured, token cycle lanes”
In November 2013 I was asked by the BBC “Did I think cycle infrastructure was a good idea?”
Reprography: the art or process of creating, printing and reproducing documents and graphic material.
The school Reprographics Department I facilitate supports teaching and learning through the timely provision of a variety of printed resources and graphic design.
High volume colour & mono printing, on A4, A5 and A3 paper and card. Integral folding and stapling of worksheets, booklets, pamphlets etc. Creation and production of labels, stickers, postcards, flyers, certificates, posters.
Teaching and learning time is valuable, teachers and support staff at the frontline of secondary school education are well aware that their own time is also valuable. Our department is here to create and produce requested printed resources, making more preparation and teaching time for staff.
Mindful of good service, a timely response to print requests is just part of the value we provide. As a reprographics service, we aim to turnaround print requests from all staff, within hours. Juggling numerous requests from multiple staff can be exacting, but scheduling work so we meet required deadlines is an essential part of the service provided.
Requests may be for a few dozen worksheets, a few 1000 booklets, through to a varied mix of classroom material; reward cards, certificates, posters, notices, incentives etc. The quality and broad range of items possible is notable. Work may be single-color, full-colour, stitched, folded, hope-punched, laminated, bound… all on a variety of stock materials and finishes.
From scheduled test material and syllabus resources to items designed for more kinesthetic, tactile and visual learning, our daily output is significant and varied.
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In an age of digital information,printed visual material is still important in our education system. Printed material can beused in classrooms to encourage students’ learning process and make it easier and interesting. Quality printed graphic material can be a great tool, helping make teaching and the dissemination of knowledge more effective and more successful.
I was recently asked to share some graphics I’ve created for a community group in Northenden in Manchester – St Nics.
St NICs @NorthendenInclusiveChurch
It focuses on the idea that ‘all are welcome’; inclusivity, with no exceptions.
Martin Luther King said “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
There’s an Islamic proverb that says something like “A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.”
St NICs @NorthendenInclusiveChurch
@AFFIRMCOMMUNITY · Church
I also created similar for a roller banner for a church in Oldham. Affirm Community, see left.
If you need help with similar just let me know, I can design and supply graphics, or design and deliver finished large format roller banners, vinyl banners, posters, flyers etc. Contact me here: #julesprichards
The inclusivity design above, aligns with a ‘Safe Space for Everyone’ project I created. “Diverse, Inclusive, Accepting, Welcoming, A Safe Space, For Everyone” The design below is available on Mugs, Bags, Coasters, Stickers, T-Shirts, Prints…
This and the other designs are available on a range of products. Email me!
As mentioned, if you need similar I can design and supply graphics, or arrange for production and delivery of finished products; roller banners, vinyl banners, posters, flyers etc. Contact me here: #julesprichards
I thought it was time for a revamp and so here we are…
Approaching a reader… when is it safe?
Children who read for pleasure are likely to do better in maths and English, research suggests. The study, indicated reading for pleasure was more important to a child’s development than how educated their parents were. See more here: Institute of Education, London University
This poster above is available as a free download, but if you use it please credit me and do drop me a line – ta! contact Jules.
Reduce stress: Get lost in a good novel and take time out of your hectic lifestyle to unwind.
Help you sleep: Turn off the TV, get into bed, pick up a book and snuggle down.
Keep the brain in shape: What better way to work out your brain than reading?
Improve knowledge: Even a fictional novel can teach and inspire you.
Health and well-being: Regular reading is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementia.
Feeling: Reading boosts empathy. Fiction can simulate real-world problems and therefore has real consequences for the reader.
Boosts Vocabulary: What better way to discover new words?
Achieve: Reading for pleasure helps to improve skills at the same time as increasing enjoyment, self-confidence, motivation and a sense of achievement.
I’ve used some of my photography recently on a small project for a faith community in Nottingham…
Rivergreen Methodist Hub in Clifton Nottingham are committed to praying for local people, places and situations. They will provide cards for individuals to suggest prayer requests.
It’s perhaps a simple idea and effective idea that might offer a grounding and potential comfort or peace, in what can be a busy and conflicting world.
The bible says ‘Do not be anxious about anything but, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests…’
The Japanese Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda says ‘Prayer is not a feeble consolation; it is a powerful, unyielding conviction. And prayer must become manifest in action. To put it another way, if our prayers are in earnest, they will definitely give rise to action.’
The sepals stretch, the pistils punch through… boom! Wow! Speachess…
The garden is abundant with life, creatures, and colour… life is busy; butterflies, dragonflies, birds, nature is at a peak of activity… a grand efflorescence… energy sparks, people are full of potential…
When the position and configuration is right we have potential to be. Life is possible, we may become, things can be achieved.
The Saturday morning footballers are churning with potential, they need to ‘do’. They need to run and kick and engage a primal urge to be active… it’s a wonderful thing.
The summer club children burst with excitement and a final game of parachute and… and… ice-creams all round. Yeaaaa!
Johan is able to walk to a shift of work with his mind on his daughter’s birthday.
Maria returns from a busy morning, she needs a cuppa and some time-out.
Two sparrows wash in the birdbath, and an apple falls from the tree.
Babies are born, on average four every second worldwide. Memories are created. Seven billion people are alive… the potential is great. On average we know a few hundred people each.
Ceilings smash, and rivers burst their banks. We store for a rainy day, or a drought.
The nature of the mind is limitless as far as we dare to imagine.
Memories fade, but don’t die.
I return again to the phrase from Wallace Stevens that has travelled with me since my university daze…
“The interaction between things is what makes them…” …flourish!
To flourish: to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, to release potential…
What might come from our interaction, our integration, our commune-ity, is often unknown.
The sharing of words… pazazz, palaver, paradise…
The sharing of minds… erhebung, dance…
The sharing of bread… com-panion-ship…
As T S Elliot pondered… a perpetual possibility… quick now, here, now, always… complete simplicity
Our world is abundant with life. Busy, human nature… energy sparks, we are full of perpetual possible potential.
It’s mid summer -ish and after a lot of hard work, things bear fruit.
Working in a school support role, I admire, from a distance, the work that teachers and classroom staff do. They are at the sharp end (and occasionally blunt end) of education. I am told, and can see, the work is extremely rewarding, but I can also see it’s not for the faint hearted. It can be a challenging environment. I applaud everyone who takes up the classroom role. Keep up the good work. Good work produces good-ness.
After noticing the local allotments over the last year, I have been thinking about the growth and abundance that nature creates… life in fullness.
Syston Allotments – in the heart of England
A lot of dedication hard work is put into these allotments.
Whatever we start with might grow to a certain extent. We can feed, nurture, train, guide, prune, cultivate… and… life bears fruit.
Life is what happens during the growing… What do we feed on? Where do we reach towards? Where do our roots hold? When do we rest, when do we stretch? What to control, when to let go…
…fruit is a consequence.
Our daily decisions and contemplations might be… how do we encourage or tend to the ‘growing’?
What fruit do we want in/for our world?
“A tree is known by its fruit; a person by their deeds. A good deed is never lost; those who sow courtesy reap friendship, and those who plant kindness gather love.” Basil
…plus, after good fruit, might come wine (or vinegar)!
Walking to Tesco recently the energy of people that passed by was tangible, almost sparking. A frisson of fractals. Alongside the swagger and the over-energetic boombox bravado of youth, wandered a war-torn veteran, a simple existence yet textured with age and toil – a lifetime of wisdom and wear. A lady in purple seemed excited, she seemed urgent to share a secret but was unsure where she was going. We were not to know, but the man on a bench is struggling with loss – it comes to us all. In the park, on a blanket in the hot summer sun, a spirit of sorcery enchants a young lady reading. A lad just out of jail is extremely happy yet anxious for support in what’s become an intoxicating world. A couple about to embark on a great adventure are singing “we’ll be in touch…” to everything they new. Wood-spirits dance. Energy pulses. The Tesco sign is blue and red. That man you see every now and then, what’s his story? We are all walking stories. Perhaps it’s worth realising this.
My mind is sometimes like a broken kaleidoscope… The room’s quiet… silence can really transport you can’t it? Occasionally I need a silent significance to focus my wondering.
If you’re of my age you can probably recall walking the shelves of a library, looking for that author, the writer of that book you read last year… ‘Fiction K-M’… The library, a cavernous space with nooks, crannies, and arches to other worlds. The room’s quiet, except for the “mummy, mummy…” appeals from a little one in the children’s section “look, look…” (something about a bear and a mouse in New York).
You’re looking for a new read/story. A multitude of spines are stacked tight, but although last year’s book was a great read, you cannot recall the author’s name. Where might you find a new read ? Where might a new read take you?
I was recently roaming the shelves of an online book store looking for another read. I’ve read a few books recently that sparked the synapses; exciting, delighting and warming the cockles of my random access mind. Is it addictive?
The scientific benefits of reading fiction are well documented. Reading fiction provides mental stimulation, helps with memory, vocabulary, and focus. Identifying with characters can help develop empathy and emotional intelligence.
So, looking at what’s popular on ‘the shelves’, we’re offered a lot of exciting or uplifting ‘escapism’… do we need to escape? Well perhaps we could do with less despair, less pretension, less negativity, but do we need to escape these things to celebrate the good in life?
When entertaining supposed ‘fictions’, stories, characters and visions, I don’t think we are escaping. I think we are augmenting our reality with a virtual reality that amplifies, celebrates and realises what we might have. If you want to amplify the darkness, that’s your choice, but I think focusing our kaleidoscope through reading people’s stories might help us share the sparkles of light that visit our ‘Guest House’. A frisson of fractals, the contrast between the shadows, the harmony behind the complexity, helping us to see beauty in and around us.
I heard a colleague recently “I’ve not read a novel for ages… since school”… It made me wonder, who’s missing out? I guess they’ve no need for a kaleidoscope.
Is reading a substitute reality, or is it part of our mind’s kaleidoscopic RAM?
The word ‘kaleidoscope’, created in the early 1800s, is derived from the Ancient Greek words ‘kalos’ (beauty), ‘eidos’ (that which is seen) and ‘skopeō’ (to look/examine), combined as ‘observation of the beautiful’… even outside of Tesco.
Jules P Richards 