Teaching, learning, music, heritage, nature, theatre, stories, art, cats, community, diversity. Kent, U.K. Instagram: @ret_uk
156 posts
Latest Posts by ret-uk - Page 4
Yesterday saw a fun trip down to the Thames with my friend's daughter. Our aim was to visit the Design Museum for the first time and say hi to my friend who works there. I love visiting new places - and we particularly enjoyed guessing what everyday objects were made from the parts of objects on the top floor. We made it into a guessing game and I think my friend's daughter did better than me! Other than that I am always amazed by how much fun kids can get from the natural (and manmade) environment. The Thames around London Bridge is perfect for this - exploring the bridge itself as well as boat watching, climbing on parts of ships and the steps around the scoop. We treated ourself to a fid value river bus trip too :) I reminded myself again of taking things at a child's pace with no agenda of my own :)
Amazing venue for part three of oral history training as part of the #inspiredbythesubway project about @cpsubway .Kingswood house is a hidden gem as is the subway itself. The training has been excellent - to get so much time to discuss and learn from each other over these three days. I'm also looking forward to doing some archive research as part of the subway project. Tomorrow sees more crystal palace culture - when I find out more about the local @funpalaces event, which is just getting started. I can see only fun in such things as the dinos, the hidden subway and more in the park and town. Would be great to develop a kids activity :)
Remembering my days as a Montessori Teacher in Vienna at 'The Children's House' http://www.montessori-vienna.at
Had such a fantastic time there and learned so much - which I use to this day when working as part of the learning team at the NHM. I can see how I might alter some of the activities I developed, now that my understanding of science has deepened. However, I look back fondly at these photos from the Cultural Studies room - where children learned about complex topics such as the beginning of life on earth.
New volcanoes and earthquakes gallery at the natural history museum! Only got a quick look today at work but looked interesting and as if it might be quite holistic in its approach (for want of a better word!)
Sydenham Wood - had a lovely walk in the wood with the London Wildlife Trust - I'm a big fan of The Great North Wood so it was fantastic to not only hear and learn about the natural environment - but also to think about the no longer present victorian houses and gardens - see above the folly and the Lebanon cedar that appeared as a shrub in a picture from 150 years ago - & the train track that once went through to the now bat inhabited tunnel - & the interconnected-ness of it all... enjoyed the rain though of course I treated myself to some cake and tea upon return.
Good morning Stratford and Olympic Park. ... Here for the re thinking parks Nesta day....
South London Botanical Institute - Victorians through trade and and empire - one of three rooms for the workshop - here year 4 our children were learning about Marianne North and her art. It is near the end of the hlf funded project. The children drew and wrote accompanying labels. I was helping out on the day.
A few years old but very interesting article about the time when there were four cinemas in Crystal Palace. At the moment the long ongoing campaign to bring back just one cinema continues with a dedicated team - Found on Twitter as: @picturepalace … They also posted this article on Facebook as ('Picture Palace Campaign') … Another worthy heritage cause that would have a present and future impact!
Main news so far this month is that the Bromley HLF 'Parks for People' bid has been turned down, with the main reason being cited as the current possible development by ZhongRong Holdings . Also check out the 'Inspired by the Subway' project website, which has a page dedicated to the development...
I have just made a quick twitter update of the latest tweets in the ongoing Crystal Palace Development news...
Lovely article about the Crystal Palace Subway and the 'Inspired by the Subway Project' that I am taking part in. A lot of the volunteers have had oral history training sessions and a few interviews have already taken place. It is a great project to be a part of and I am looking forward to the development of it...
I will try and keep more of a track of my work and career development here as well as interesting things (to me at least) connected with museums and learning, access and digital in particular.
Think it took me a whole term (of not studying) after my degree to get to the place where I am now - trying to think more strategically about my career.... In particular about how I can develop my freelance skills as well as keeping my eyes open for more permenant work opportunities. I'm open to a lot but also know what's important to me - to feel good in a role - and in what I can offer in a role. ... The journey continues!
http://www.gravensteengent.be/en/discover
My new year saw a short visit to Belgium that included an afternoon in Ghent with a visit to Gravensteen Castle. It seems a while since I've been to visit a castle and Berry Pomeroy Castle comes to mind when I think castle (hidden somewhere near Totnes)....
What amazed me was the location of this castle - as part of the city. The reasonable entrance fee was worth it for the views alone. I can't say that I came away with much knowledge of the castles past (not taking an audio tour) - however I knew it was a place associated with torture and a prison because of the in depth weapon and torture instrument collection and dungeons. I guess this is true of castles in general... I was impressed by the restoration of which the story was partly told.
You follow a guided route - which I found satisfying in that I knew I was not missing any part of the castle - and you are able to wander at your own pace and to any corner of the areas.
I went to the castle mainly because a Belgian course mate from the heritage module of my now completed MA has or is still doing an internship at the castle - and so that made it interesting to visit - because of the connection (however small) - I like visiting places I've been told of and where there is a connection of some kind...
Image taken from page 49 of 'Memories of the Great Metropolis: or London from the Tower to the Crystal Palace' by The British Library on Flickr.
From the British Library's newly released millions of images into the public domain! I had to do a CP search of course!
Collecting together images that relate to The Crystal Palace of 1851 in Hyde Park and in Sydenham/Penge from 1854-1936. Do you know where any of the statues are? Got any memorabilia at home? Lets start collecting it all together in one place! Web links and photos alike all welcome :)
My new experimental project…. Only pinned one photo so far! Would be great to bring together all Crystal Palace artefacts in one place and see how far they have spread. I heard that I think it was Big Crosby was amongst the people to buy one of the statues in the big sell off….. Wonder where it is now?!
Inspired by the Subway Project and more...
I've been quiet of recent… slowed down blogging upon completion of the written element of my dissertation. I have still been editing the interviews as you can see from previous posts - and have much more to do!
I quite often post links that I find useful to my course's Facebook page and was thinking that I could post some of those links here as well in case anyone is interested. Will also try and tie together some of my interests here.
As well as my museum and freelance work, I have been volunteering for the 'Inspired by the Subway' HLF project, which is a project that is collecting oral history and archive material related to the hidden subway in Crystal Palace Park. The finds will be gathered together to create a resource that will lead to an exhibition of work by local young people . Take a look at what we have been up to so far here:
http://www.inspiredbythesubway.org.uk
I've also been looking and applying for more work in the museum/heritage education field, which as you can imagine is quite a task! A hugely popular area to work in. However, I love what I do and feel that 2013 has been a great year for me in terms of gaining more experience and work so far! Fingers crossed for further work in 2014!
I hope 2013 has been a good year for you all and look forward to more adventures in 2014!
Well I do believe that winter is just about here… and so before it fully arrives I wanted to upload some of my favourite photographs of the beautiful London Autumn with the crisp but stunning light… it may be like that every year, however, I noticed it specifically this year :)
I aim to storify as many comments as I can from social media and the media about the planned £500m development of Crystal Palace Park by the ZhongRong group, that was launched today in #crystalpalacepark. So far this is a mishmash of initial tweets. I will hunt for more and accept suggestions!
Dear tumblr friends,
My apologies if you have been waiting for more updates here. I have been largely updating via Facebook and I realise those posts do not come here. Here is a link to the trail so far!
I hope you are well and I will get working on the remaining segments!
A selection of photos of my recording travels so far... I have some nice photos of more of the people I have recorded but want to check that they are happy for me to share them publicly before I do....
Do you work in or visit the park? I’m collecting memories, stories, poetry and songs about the park...
I must apologise for the absence here!
I have not kept up this blog as much as I wanted to. I have been adding the little updates of my recording on my Facebook Page - and have not found a way to link those up directly with this page! I will try and write some more posts here. However, in the mean time here is a link to my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CPPAudiotrail
You can also follow me as ret_uk on Twitter - which is linked with my Facebook updates...
In brief, I have now finished two weeks of my main recording for what I hope will be a pilot audio trail of the park. I have really enjoyed it and been extremely appreciate of everyone who has helped me in some way - from suggesting people to contact to being interviewed or even creating music for it!
I will continue to collect stories as they come, but will not actively pursue them during what will become a time of editing and report writing!!
My musings from the Cutty Sark to Greenwich North on the Memoryscape 'Dockers' Audio Trail
Today I tried out the ‘Dockers’ Memoryscape Audio Trail. Here are my journey notes:
Easy starting point – you can’t miss the Cutty Sark.
Usual warnings about safety – which I always listen to, especially because I am not sure how deserted this route will be. I have never walked it before.
Toby Butler who narrates tells you not do it at home but to be on there and walk
I am told that we will not be looking at London landmarks but rather the hidden histories...
I’ve been here before. I remember taking my bike through it. The tunnel is smelly and cold and cramped and claustrophobic and its hard to hear the recording with the loud voices in the tunnel and the lift is out of service... I didn't know though that dockers used that tunnel – and it is certainly a place where you feel there is history there though!
I notice again that it is hard to analyse and experience at same time. It is always the same when you are studying something.
The narration reassures you that you can play things back again if you need to and that sometimes we will be simply stopping and looking.
It feels like I am in tourist territory - completely the opposite of Dockers time? Or not?
It’s a high tide – the tide is lapping loudly and the bells of naval college are heard and the somewhat unexpected smell of the sea strikes me. I am already much more aware of my senses.
As on previous trails I have tried out, again I notice that I am not listening to everything they are saying - it's key words that I pick up – and now the smell of blossom.
There is also the smell of new building ... New buildings are going up.
I think about what a strong and important word community is to me – and is something that I have always valued and been lucky to experience.
I think about my definition of community, of which I mean individuals and groups, bound together by a connection with the local park in my case – even as a visitor to the park.
I see it as a trail made with the voices of or in consultation with the local community
I always forget what side of the river I am on, or more don’t realise.
I have walked too far at this point – it is hard to follow some of the instructions and I am not sure which pier I am near, but may have been that I didn’t listen well.
I find it a mostly deserted route, but in some places a wildlife paradise with butterflies and bees and I am sure much more; but mostly a deserted string of old wharfs.
At first, I couldn't see how to get into the areas he spoke of and didn't notice all of the places, but that doesn’t matter. I am out of sync but don't want to go back! I can't go onto jetties?
The trees by the water at this point of the Thames are a surprise to me too. The sound of the water and the sun beating down. I wouldn't want to be here alone later in the day. But I'm discovering a new part of my city!
Distances are hard to judge as I have not found the public jetty that is mentioned.
I have found the jetty and the info plaque is rubbed away in places and hard to read. I do find myself looking for visual signs of industry past anyway - noticing things not necessarily mentioned on the recording.
There are mostly lone travellers and some couples. Cyclists too.
Toby is narrating the trail on the whole, with the Dockers’ voices edited in.
Something is still making a noise and looks very industrial and as I turn the corner I see lots of different sands/materials and people busy working - Victoria tunnel it says....
I notice the lichen on the wood railing... this is because I have had a small interest in lichens since a nature day a few years back.
Suddenly a new part of the walk – it is newly paved in set colours- because I am nearer the o2? The Thames path is closed off and I must follow a new smelling still tarmac path – a new part of the adventure? I hear a seagull as well as the industry building sounds - no more lapping of the waves.
It took me about an hour but had to cut it short due to the closed road, but it was enough – I might listen to the rest at home. Toby keeps repeating to stay near the river but I can't anymore in North Greenwich...
I like the juxtaposition of old and new.... Even if it is hearing old and seeing the new... I enjoy comparing and contrasting. I realise yet again that I have more listened to the flavour of what they were saying rather than what they are saying. I did feel and came away with a feeling of nostalgia and privileged to have seen the remnants of the docks still. As Toby commentates, who knows how long they will be there.
Cutty Sark to Greenwich North - listening to 'Dockers' audio trail - part two
Cutty Sark to Greenwich North tube listening to the 'Dockers' memoryscape audio trailer in photos - part one
A few images from the poetry and soundtracks event in what I think could be a great little venue in the station! Bit like a crypt type thing! Oh and finally seen the Paxton plaque - for the crystal palace photo collection!
You have to admit it does look very cute with its mini wind jammer on it! Tried it out a bit more with my friends daughter and today I also listened to more spoken word - gave out a few more of my mini flyers to the people speaking the words and making some music... I still have many more places I could go to at this stage to get contributors... However, I now need to wait for a little bit and see who gets back to me as well as start reading for the theory part of my research! Ill write a longer journal entry, but can say making this community trail is a way for me to get to know the local community more and for that, it is worth it already!
Jam packed Westow Park for the crystal palace overground festival... Where I was happy to meet some familiar faces as well as some previously twitter only acquaintances. I also met some new locals at their stalls (and shops) - i introduced myself and handed out some little flyers to try and recruit more trail participants!
Quite a long entry - only read if you are a glutton for punishment!
Time is pressing on and I am aware of a slight fear of what I will get done before my course deadline. I have been through my initial essay stress and relaxed again (to some extent). However, before today I was realising that even with having had a bit of interest shown and people saying that they would take part - that I had no proper confirmations and/or set times to record people. I have the feeling that creating a full park community trail is truly something that takes a lot of time planning and then creating. Perhaps this is even more so because I want this to be a community trail, with ‘real’ community voices as opposed to an audio trail written by me and with one narrator. I want to have a large section of the community represented and inevitably it takes time for the word to spread and to get to know people. I have already decided that I will make a small initial trail, perhaps about the top site for the purposes of my coursework - with the plan of completing the rest of the park in my own time. A short trail will nevertheless also require careful thought and planning!
The nature of the work so far is that as expected I am learning day by day. I had the suggestion of creating a Facebook event stating when I plan to be in the park and available to record people, which I will put into action. I could advertise more, but have to remember my limits. At the Crystal Palace Overground Festival today, I met a whole variety of very interesting and helpful people. I feel confirmed that it is a good idea to create an audio trail – however, as already mentioned, it is in theory a vast and far reaching project if truly carried out to the max! One suggestion of something that I hadn’t thought of was that I seek sponsorship – something to consider for the future?
I also learned that the more I talk about the project the (hopefully) better I get at explaining it to people. I am aware it sometimes sounded a bit floury when trying to explain it to people for the first time. I know that this comes from a desire to be open to what comes up in the creative process, as well as it being the first time that I have developed this kind of project. However, I feel that I don’t need to sound so unsure because I clear of my aim – which is that I would like to record people talking in the park, about the park – as a record of current stories, feelings and actions about and in the park – and these will include stories that reflect back to the park’s interesting past.
This journal entry will now cover both Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Sunday was again a day of fantastic spoke word and music (and more that I didn’t see). If there is one thing that this weekend has made clear for me, it is that I am keener than ever to include as much creativity into this trail as possible. I would love to have spoken word and music by local artists as part of the audio soundtrack because I believe it has the potential of engaging listeners all the more.
The experience of further trying out the recording equipment and interview questions on my friend’s daughter reveals that being open and having a relaxed conversational nature (with at the most semi-structured interviews) is a good method. My friend’s daughter was much more natural when put in a position of control and left to herself as such. It also worked to ask fresh, new questions and questions that connected with her feelings. We even had an interesting discussion about what makes a good audio trail. The main feeling was that it shouldn’t be boring and that it should contain humour!
Finale of the fantastic spoken word event that was part of the crystal palace overground festival! Glad I went. Would be great to have some park related spoken word in the audio trail.... Ill look into it. Time to sleep ready for the full on festival day tomorrow...