Friday 26 December 2008

I DREAM TATE FLOODS UP TO 4TH FLOOR

On Christmas night I had a dream that TATE Liverpool had water coming up through the 4th floor.It was very real and appeared that the River Mersey was rising dramatically.
Let's hope it just stays a dream!!

Tuesday 23 December 2008

PARLIAMENT HAS RECORDS OF GARDEN FESTIVAL SITE GIFTED TO LIVERPOOL CITIZENS

Secretary of state for the Environment,, in the early 80's, Michael Heseltine set up the International Garden Festival by the River Mersey in 1984 in response to the Toxteth riots.He said in Parliament that after the 6 month festival was over that a small amount of the land would be built on with homes and that the rest would be 'a gift of additional green parklands for the people of Liverpool'.These houses he mentioned were built about 20 years ago .

The House of Commons have a stenographer who records everything spoken in what is called the 'Hansard Register'.Michael Heseltine's speech is recorded in this register.

Google: 'hansford register heseltine liverpool garden festival' for related reading.
I have also found a very interesting speech by Mr.Patrick Jenkins (197w dated 19/12/84) when I googled 'hansard register millbank systems' and searched 'liverpool garden festival' regarding the future of the site.

So....how come our land is in the hands of property developers to build 1,300 apartments? LangtreeMcLean paid about £12,000,000 for this green space.

I have sent an email to Lord Heseltine at the House of Lords to invite him to attend and speak at our event in the TATE Liverpool's '5th Floor exhibition' on Sunday January 11th 2009 2-4pm on the 4th floor in the 'International Festival' space.

Thursday 18 December 2008

Unidentified Hissed Object

We will see this coming festivities many unidentified hissed objects. In the home , in the streets, in the pubs becuase they will look enibriated, squiffy eyed, turn into instant crooners, casanovers, comedians, conjurers. But not like them selves until the following morning hangovers. Who hit me on the head with a frying pan?

The time of year to be good to all?

If this time of year is to be good to one and all why aren't we good to each other the rest of the year?

Bring Back The Christmas Of Old?

The open log fire with stockings hanging full of fruit and nuts. The smell of roasted chest nuts on the fire. The Christmas dinner slowly cooking mists up the windows. The port gurgles its ruby red substance into the glass. The innocence and humbleness of discovering a toy soldier or teddy bear.Returning from the Christmas Eve service with happy red warm glowing faces infront of the fire. The slight patter of snow flakes leaving patterns on the window pane.
Snow fights in the garden. The angel on the Christmas tree glistens in the light casting spells of Christmas cheer. Bring back the Christmas past.

Christmas Cheer

Got the turkey trots and stuffed. Developed ear sprouts. Become mince pie eyed. Feel like a Christmas pudding and saucy. Mistle toed and going Christmas crackers. Hissed on Christmas wine and beer. Merry hissed much.

What is Christmas?

Shop till you drop. Shop for stuff you don't really want. Frenzied last dash spending cash on reduced stuff. Sitting watching TV the same films, sipping alcoholic drinks, eating great mouthfuls of rich food. What is Christmas?

All We Want For Christmas Is Utopia?

A Peaceful, harmonius, more caring, totally shared society, aradicate poverty, crime, pollution,greed, suffering, world

There's No Business Like Snow Business

Las Vegas the desert gambler's paradise has had a rare blanket of snow. Snow fell like giant chips carpeting the sand dunes into snow dunes. Anyone For skiing on the strip?

Loo, Loo Loves George

George's sister's dog Loo,Loo always makes a fuss when she sees him. Sister says the dog has a canine crush on George but it is only puppy love.

Money For Old Soap?

The Old Brookside Estate famous for the Brookside Soap opera recently sold for £735,000.

Mama Mia Sinks The Titanic?

Mama Mia movie is becoming at the box office more popular than the Titanic epic film.

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Monday 15 December 2008

SAVE THE GARDEN FESTIVAL CAMPAIGN EVENT IN TATE

On Sunday January 11th 2009 at 2-4pm Save the Festival Garden Campaign host an event in the International Festival space on the 4th floor TATE Liverpool.

Property developers LangtreeMcClean won the public enquiry to build 1,300 apartments on the site but nothing has happened yet.One of the developers has gone into administration,the 'credit crunch' is probably delaying the start of building and Riverside Drive and Priory Wood have recently had some serious holes appear.Riverside Drive was closed for weeks when the sewer pipes collapsed and it's only just opened up to vehicles again last night.

It is surely time for discussion regarding the loss of our public spaces.The Garden Festival Site is a 'green wedge',a mature forest home to a complete bio diverse eco system of plant and wildlife.Some of the Promenade has also been given away for free to the property developers by Liverpool City Council.Is this democracy?

2009 is Liverpool's 'Year of the Environment' and we should really have been celebrating our 24 year old forest and coastal pathway.Instead we are trying to come to terms with it's future as a housing development.

The area is an old landfill site and although permission was given to build the apartments, the future residents will not be allowed to have gardens as the land must not be dug due to the toxic substances underneath.The flats will also be built on stilts to prevent contamination.

We should be protecting green spaces in the current climate and teaching people about the importance of wilderness for our health and wellbeing.

There will be a rainforest organisation film screened which shows how we are destroying nature internationally and we will show our own local Garden Festival film.There will be food to eat and John Davies,international photographer and curator of 'Cities on the edge' exhibition and book, will lead the debate on the loss of public spaces and land give aways.
Please come along to see what our campaign achieved over the last year and a half.

Sunday 14 December 2008

OYEZ OYEZ

PUT THEM AWAY!

Oyez Oyez

International Festival
Start Me Up
Start Me Up
International Festival

Friday 12 December 2008

there is something you should know.

Look at the sky; that is for you. Look at each person's face as you pass on the street: those faces are for you. And the street itself, and the ground under the street, and the ball of fire underneath the ground: all these things are for you.
They are as much for you as they are for other people. Remember this when you wake up in the morning and think you have nothing. Stand up and face the east. Now praise the sky and praise the light within each person under the sky.
It's ok to be unsure. But praise, praise, praise.

£4,000...... THE COST OF EACH NEW TREE IN CITY CENTRE

'Special tree soil' is being used to plant new trees in Chuch Street. A council spokesperson has said it's important to get it right the first time. Apparently if you don't get it right the first time it will cost MORE in the long term. So now you know!!!

This report comes at a time when Liverpool City Council are consulting 22,000 people regarding how their tax payments should be spent.

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Candles and Carols

One flamed candle lighting others till faces glow with light, the room shines, radiating peace and security, infused with light.

Singing, voices joyful, tones and counterpoint, straggling but united.

Then sherry, mince pies, cups of tea, presents.

Friends of the Earth

Trees are like fathers and mothers filling marsh plants for cooking, always be their home. Forest is sacred, protect forest for the world. Cutting rain forests, eco system, marshes, water, hectors of unfertile land, small farmers, bank, animals losing too, palm oil, not being paid, 9 million acres, no limit to power, laws, please be hospitable, forest will be lost, illegal trade, corruption, corruption.

Nan's rhyme

Ikity Pickity Pie Selicity
Bombelera jig
Every man that has no hair
should surely wear a wig.
1, 2, 3, out goes she,
Ikity Pickeity Pie Selicity
Bombelera jig.

meetings

It only takes two people to have a meeting.

What to do about work

Put salt on it and it will keep until tomorrow.

time's for sharing

Don't have too much time on your hands, it's a waste - share it with someone!

If you can't do it alone

Be part of us, if you can't do it alone, do it together, it's better.

Fifth Floor

I want a room on the fifth floor, imagine...

SWAN

Join in at SWAN and get well and educated together.

Red Cross

British Red Cross Rules!

If...

If you want to work, work with me!

Monday 8 December 2008



Dear Sir,

With your permission
I offer wishes of good health,
During this cold
That stills anything.


Yours Sincerely,
Adam Kacper Chudecki





Sunday 7 December 2008

Stars Shower over Merseyside

On the 16th of Decmber a meteor shower can be veiwed over merseyside.
Today is a lovely day!

Santa's coming to Tate.

A non-traditional santa is coming to Tate! He'll be in his grotto on Sunday 21st between 12:00 - 14:00! Donate gifts to the swap that you think someone else might like at the opening party on Sunday 14th. This even gives you a chance to recycle presents that weren't to your taste. All ages welcome (it's not just for the kids).

Thursday 4 December 2008

WE NEED PROPER CYCLE LANES IN LIVERPOOL

I had an unfortunate experience last night as I cycled into town in the icy weather.I had a vital trip to make so had to brave the icy 'arctic style' conditions.

Previously in the afternoon , whilst cycling in the icy road  on  Sandringham Drive, I had skidded and nearly collided with a van that was skidding in the ice too so I decided it was the most sensible thing in the evening to cycle slowly on the pavement to avoid a nasty accident.

Two community police officers stopped me on Princes Road at 6.42pm  and interrogated me as to why I was committing a crime by cycling on the pavement.I told them that I was trying to  stay safe and avoid a terrible accident on the icy road.

They made  me fill in a stop (and search) form although I knew my legal rights and did not give my full name and address.
I told them I was not happy about this treatment and that I was  going to demand proper cycle lanes so that I don't have to take my life into my hands every time I ride my bike.
I felt I was doing the right thing.Look out in the future  for details of a petition to sign online for better treatment for cyclists.

2009 is Liverpool City Council's year of the environment so it's a good time to sort this out.

Tuesday 2 December 2008

What I'm thinking

Fire on, hot chocolate, duvet with our favorite cover - the one that's been washed so many times it's soft like your soft skin and almost translucent. Me and you on a big settee watching an old film, full of drama and passion and precise diction. Plain chocolate digestives. McVities. Nothing remarkable, just an ordinary wish to keep us warm.

You're never too old to learn

I walked to the SWAN Centre building and from the outside it looked dismal and sad, just how I felt, deep inside. I had heard about the SWAN Women's Centre from many women who had all found help there. I needed help and knew that if I didn't get it soon I would go under.

I walked in the door and the receptionist asked for my name and made me a cup of tea and I sat in the seating area waiting to speak to the counsellor. After a while another lady came in and sat down by me. The receptionist said that the team wouldn't be long and the lady turned to me and said "Hello, are you new? It's a fine place here, you can come in any time you're passing to chat or visit as there's usually someone here to chat to." A door opened and a lady came out, saying my name. We went into a smaller room and sat down. The lady introduced herself as Anne and asked me about myself. I told her I lost my husband last year and was now finding I needed help as I was not coping very well at all and I was worrying about my daughter and son. We sat and talked for a while and I was offered a list of courses to take to get me out of the house and to make new friends. I took all the leaflets and walked home.

Later that night I was at the computer and started to look up diets on the web as I was determined to lose the weight and try to get some mobility back as I was so oput of condition. I found a site called www.Sparkpeople.com.

They offer you a free diet, a nutrition sheet plus exercise tracker and Spark teams where you can join a team of people with the same illness, hobbies and ilk as you.

I am so glad I found this site. I am a member of 6 teams and we help and support everyone we can as we all know we are in the same rocky boat trying to lose weight and get a healthy lifestyle for ourselves. We have fun and laughter all the way and when you fall someone picks you up, dusts you down, and supports you on your way again. There are challenges, games to play, plus a great deal of time and friendship for each other.

I have lost weight and now eat the right foods, drink 13 glasses of water and walk as much as I can, sometimes 5 miles a day and I am living again. I know if I need help all I have to do is ask.

The following Monday I joined two groups in the SWAN, one on a Monday doing Watercolour Painting for two hours. It's so relaxing and we have fun. Wednesday morning I am doing Creative Writing, and then, after lunch with the girls, we attend the Reading Group where we read poetry, discussing it as we go along, then we read a book together.

Now, 6 months on I have more confidence in myself and I have lost weight and I am more able to cope with life once again, made new friends from all over the world and it's a much better and bigger place to be in thanks to the SWAN Centre and Spark's people. I am on a very enjoyable journey of adventure and I don't wish to get off.


Lynn Gregory

Monday 1 December 2008

RIVERSIDE DRIVE ROAD COLLAPSE UPDATE

More barriers have been erected around both the large holes in Riverside Drive and Priory Wood,Aigburth, next to the Garden Festival Site.
Priory Wood is now full of sewage pipes and pumps making a racket.Trees have been felled to make way for industrial equipment and the whole site is like AREA 51 in USA ....home to alleged crashed UFO's.!!!!
The place is crammed with machinery,portakabins and police tape .There are no sounds of cars as traffic is unable to use the road.
Away from the industrial noise is the sound of beautiful birdsong; it's worth a visit for that alone.