By
helen on September 27th, 2009
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Since I don’t seem capable of removing myself from my couch today, I thought I might have a go at blogging.
Last night was part one of staging our final Impact events before we enter a life without Breakthru’ Artz next year. Today is filled with mixed emotions, as is pretty normal the day after a big show. But I guess they’re a little more highlighted in light of it being a season of lasts. On one hand I’m releived it’s all over because it’s all such hard work. On the other hand it’s such a privilege to be part of seeing kids having a ball and exploring creativity and community. It’s hard to let it go.
Last night was our second attempt to do a Kids Impact and it’s just way fun to do a whole lot of kiddy things like you get to relive your childhood. And it’s so rewarding to watch kids respond to seemingly simple things with laughter and excitement. I’ve really enjoyed watching Jon in his element these last few weeks putting this together. He has a real gift for making children laugh and capturing their imaginations. And his sets were really cool. One of my favourite moments was when part of the cardboard box factory transformed into a rocket ship with some simple snake lights, UV lights and a drop sheet on a fishing wire. I could hear the audience with the ooh’s and ah’s from where I was in the wings!
We were back at Covenant hall which was kind of nice because it sent me down memory lane to earlier Impacts in that same space. Although this one was unique in that it included activities and sets and roving characters across the entire space. So walking in was like walking into outer space. So magical! Go the fairy lights and Uv lights with glo in the dark paint!
It wasn’t the easiet of events to put together. Or pack down. In some ways we overshot our capacity and just didn’t quite have the man power we needed. So at least I’m not jumping up and down saying ‘let’s do it again!’. In some ways that’s good because we’re not. As we packed up for hours, it was a good feeling knowing that we’d given our best shot, that it was a really special night, and it was ok to let it be and not return to it.
One of the themes of the night was fair trade and anti-child labour. So we finally got around to ordering our etiko sweat-free shoes this week and wore them all day. Trouble with new shoes when you’re on your feet all day is they kill your feet! Bad move. I mean good move…to be consistent with the values of what we’re saying from the stage, right? Oh that feeling of taking rubbish up to the skips in pain will stay with me. Oh yeah.
The end of the show was a bit surreal. I hadn’t really thought about it being the last as the day had enough worries and adventures of its own. So standing on stage thanking people for the last 10 years was a bit wierd. I got given the biggest bunch of flowers I’ve ever seen. I could barely hold them up. Still trying to work out what to do with them!
On reflection another highlight from last night was seeing 2 young adults who were part of the first kids team now leading the kids team with confidence and gentleness. There’s something really beautiful about watching a cycle of leadership, knowing that something of what you’ve passed on, continues to be passed on. It reminds me that the future may take a different shape, but lessons from the past will always walk with us.
So what will I miss about breakthru’ kids and impact?
I’ll miss the excitement of show night through the eyes of a child.
I’ll miss praying for the kids in the cast meeting, nervous not knowing how they’ll respond to prayer, but feeling a sense of joy as I share my heart and passion with them to see God involved in our art.
I’ll miss teaching kids about performing as a gift. A gift to the audience. And a gift for those less fortunate.
I’ll miss seeing a community of the body of Christ stepping up and shining in the gifts they’re been given to work together for his glory. The young and the not so young serving each other.
I’ll miss the silliness, craziness and creativity that’s unique to working with kids. Adults just get a bit serious.
I’ll miss encouraging and training kids to find their own creativity and ways of expressing it.
I’ll miss parents saying ‘this is so different, the kids love it’
And so that’s kids impact 09. Blast Off! One small step and one giant leap.
‘Blast off! We’ve been exploring the sky
Blast off! And now it’s time to say bye
So much laughter, so much fun
So thanks for coming everyone
As we blast off!’
Part 2 of the end will be here in just 4 weeks. I hope we can find the energy to keep going. Really want to end well.
By
helen on February 20th, 2009
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Sun-
gettting to know Jon more by hanging out with his friend Steve
lunch at Coogee Bay Hotel (yes that’s right THE Coogee Bay Hotel…but we didn’t have ice cream)
spontaneous piano playing
Mon -
first contemporary class at Caramell just a few blocks away
pizza & gelato @ Haberfield (fond memories of times with Swans)
buying a lamp from Thai Potong - yet another piece of furniture from King St 
a lamp-lit night at home
Tues-
fruitful beginning for Fairtrade Fortnight
dinner with Sarah at Stephen’s house…I mean their house!
Japanese exchange students at Hip Hop, go the wordless langauage of dance! Much fun.
enough students for Ballet to run
Wed-
meeting up with Liam on his way to the airport 
successfully bussing to Rozelle to meet bus to Ryde
flourishing week 2 class at Ryde
Thurs-
stumbling across Jo K online on facebook
overcoming fears of difficult phonecalls
spontaneous request from V-Gen for O-week
Fri-
First day at new venue in Annandale
writing poetry about the profundity of 2 men hanging with Jesus
stimulating creative brainstorming for fair trade piece
meaningful moving mourning movement (dance)
By
helen on February 11th, 2009
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So I’m blogging in celebration that my computer is working today on wireless upstairs. it doesn’t always. It’s nice when it does and I’m not bound to a cord downstairs. I love Vista. I’m not completely sure if Vista’s my problem…but he seems inanimate enough to cope with my blame.
I’m also procrasting the act of having breakfast. For some reason I rarely feel like breakfast. So I have to summon up determination to look ahead to 10 or 11am when my stomach will be grumbling if I don’t in fact feed it now. Toast? Meusli? Coffee? Water? Life is full of so many decisions.
Week 1 of Breakthru is full of so much uncertainty. I generally spend the week on a roller coaster of nerves, disappointment and excitement. It’s quite an odd experience putting down some ideas of activites and times on a piece of paper in Dec and waiting till Feb and just sitting back and watching people turn up. You never really know who’s going to turn up to what. And you never really know why some things are more popular one year and not the next. I’m learning you just have to put it out there and be ok with what it is. Thankfully I’ve had more encouragements than disappointments so far. We’re on day 5. 2 to go.
Highlights so far:
First creative worship & community lunch on Sat - so nice to watch people stay late and come early and connect
Watching boys arrive for boys hip hop
Teaching our first class at Ryde
Starting to create with Core
By
helen on January 20th, 2009
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So Obama will be president soon.
I’m so excited.
I’ve decided the US are quite good at celebrating.
All this talk of Lincoln and King…it’s stirring.
Sadly I don’t think the state of my head will allow me to be awake.
But I’m sure I’ll get some sound bites in the morning.
History in the making.
By
helen on January 4th, 2009
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Lying on a park bench looking up at the clouds, feeling the wind against my cheeks, waiting for a friend running late
Taking in the massive cruise ship sipping on wine at the Cruise Bar
Introducing friends to my new fav coffe spot
The giggles of a 3 yr old caught on a swing mid swing
Reading a new recipe, buying ingredients I’d never bought before, making the creation come into being
Sinking into lounges, contemplating the complexities of faith, doubt & suffering, with a backdrop of endless bookshelves
Ordering the pictures and magnets on our fridge, throwing away 2008 calendars, writing on Jan 2009
Finding small bits of rubbish in nooks and crannies and disposing of them
Handing over a bag of old clothes to the clothing bin
Walking further along Glebe foreshore than I’d walked before, sitting beside quiet waters
Clean green sheets
Lights at night by the Harbour
Chocolate choc chip cookie
Cafe quality froth on my very own home made hot chocolate, fairtrade even
Pine nuts
Music
By
helen on November 29th, 2008
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Today is a day where I had nothing planned. Such an odd and infrequent feeling, but a nice one. Jon and I dragged ourselves out of bed after 10 and wandered up the road for breakfast. I always get a shock when I hang out in Newtown on the weekend because I’m so use to being there in the day mid week. The hustle and bustle of ‘normal’ people having breakfast on a Sat morning makes me feel almost like I’ve stepped into a completely different place. But a the same time, it makes me feel a bit more ‘normal’.
We wandered over to the Vargarbar which use to be one of our most frequented spots but we hadn’t been there for months. We both went knowing what we wanted to order only to find that their menu had completely changed. Oh dear. I feel like in my old age (now I’ve hit the big 30) I don’t cope so well with change. I really did want my bacon and avocado melt. Some things in life just aren’t meant to change. But I guess it’s jus the Newtown way. Always changing.
We then meandered up King St and stopped off at the new bookshop cafe opened quite close to our house. It’s beautiful. And grungy. And arty. And light. And spacious. And peaceful. And quiet. A lovely discovery! Perhaps a new breakfast destination. Or at least coffee.
I then came home and have spent the last 2 hours on Skype with Helen and looking at her beautiful 8 week old baby Hannah. Ah the wonders of the internet!
Life is starting to slow down.
I’m looking forward to some moments of just being.
By
helen on November 28th, 2008
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So, I’m thinking about re-entering the blogoshpere. I miss it.
By
helen on February 9th, 2008
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We have a core ensemble!! AHH!!! It’s very exciting. After day 2 of rehearsals/training I’m very inspired by the creativity and potential. Oh yeah. We’re here.
By
helen on January 23rd, 2008
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So we watched the final episode ever of West Wing last might with Tom and Mil. I’m really sad. I’ll miss it. Don’t think I’ve ever been quite so attached to a series before. What will we do to relax??
This year Wednesdays is our day off. And this is my second Wed off. It’s an odd day to have off right splat bang in the middle of the week. A little disorientating. But I’m sure it will become normal.
By
helen on January 18th, 2008
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We visited Tom last night at camp with Once Was Lost. And what an eventful night it was. It was really nice to see everyone again and remember why we’re doing what we’re doing.
Jon and I hired some lights from Lots of Watts for not very much money. I felt extremely ‘techy’ driving across Sydney with lighting bars, parcans, trees, a lighting desk and a couple of mega cords.
Sadly other technical elements of our night were a little less successful. The DVD skipped and stopped in the middle of a live scene heading towards the climax of the show. Two ‘intervals’ and a change of DVD player later we managed to finish off the show. Thank God for exciting drumming at the end to lift our spirits!
I enjoyed dancing though and chatting to people afterwards. It was nice to do something practical and creative in the midst of lots of emails, phonecalls and paperwork.
We also brought the lights up overnight so they didn’t get stolen. They filled up our whole lift and our hallway. A little odd. But fun.
Took them back today and picked up a rowing machine that we bought on ebay.
Our first ebay purchase! It’s very exciting. We’re going to get fit in the comfort of our own home. Well…we think so anyway….maybe…we’ll see….
I also just bought credit on Skype and am attempting to call Helen on her mobile in Hong Kong. Seem to be having difficulty with sound…I’m sure we’ll work it out.
Seems to be the week of new technological experiences