Up at 9am and had a bath with the two big cans of water I heated on the stove last night. I washed my hair as I like to be clean and shiny when I work...
So, was ready to roll by 11.45am, and got to the station and bought my ticket by just after 12, easily catching the 12.15 to Leeds. I ate my sandwiches whilst sitting at the pick-up turning circle behind Leeds station, where I was due to be picked up by Allan and taken to Middleton Park, for the second time this year.
For me, this was a rather special occasion, as last time I worked with an 8 year-old girl and made quite an impression on her, so much that she has bought a flower stick (like a devilstick but with tassels on each end) and she, her mum Christine and dad Paul have all made me facebook friends! I'm even playing Scrabble with Mother and Daughter... So I was looking forward to meeting them. The daughter has been inventing tricks and was looking forward to showing me what she could do.
The venue was just being set up and I had a coffee before I got changed and got going with a little workshop followed by a show. My new friend turned up; she hasn't had a teacher with her flowersticks and has therefore invented a range of moves which are completely original and unique, tricks which although weren't well-polished, were completely new to me and I was very impressed. Not bad for a 8 year old!
The day went smoothly, everybody seemed to enjoy themselves and the light rain didn't dampen spirits unduly. I finished with loads of balloon give-aways and all-too-soon it was 4pm and time to get changed back into my 'John' costume (!) and get a lift back to the station, where I got the 5.15 train back home.
And a quiet evening, delicious meal, lit the stove so I could wash up and dry fruit, also made carrot soup on the stove too. Lots of York Green Festival stuff to attend to.
Showing posts with label devilsticks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devilsticks. Show all posts
A really good day apart from a runny nose. I had been invited into school to do a lesson for year 4, my youngest son's class. So I signed in and arrived at the lines in the playground just before they went in. My 'lesson' started with an introduction as my lad's dad and told them I preferred to be known as John, not Mr Cossham, and that I was also called Professor Fiddlesticks when I was out earning my living.
I started with devilsticks, I love it when they all gasp with amazement when the stick goes up and it looks like it's done with magnets! I showed them how it worked with the centre line being a balance point and then how if it is balanced off-centre, it begins to fall down and it can be caught with the other stick, and it then starts to fall in the other direction. I then did the trick where I balance the stick on my nose (cries of 'awsome' and 'beautiful'!) and explained how this works, moving the base in the same direction that the top is starting to fall in. Then got a third of the class out to balance a peacock feather on their hand or finger for a few minutes, followed by the second third and then the final group.
Then moved from this easy skill to a more difficult one, juggling three balls. The children had been given homework before the weekend to make 3 balls from a filler (rice or other seeds) and three balloons per ball. I showed them my basic juggling skills and how the curved throw worked with the three forces (how much it is thrown vertically up, how hard it is thrown horizionally and how much gravity pulls it down. I then explained how they could learn, starting with one ball being thrown up with one hand and caught in the same hand, then to try that with the other hand. Then onto the 'rainbow shape' throw from one hand to the other, making sure that the catch was in a hand in front of their tummy or chest, and not reaching up to grab the ball or clutch it to their chest. The next stage is to spot the top (used the word 'apex') of the curve which shows the juggler when to throw the second ball, in the same 'rainbow' shape. I showed them the juggling pattern I didn't want them to do, which I call the 'schoolgirl pattern', which is a throw up with the same hand each time and a pass from the other hand into the throwing hand, a roughly circular shape. I knew quite a few of them would get stuck on this, and that relatively few would get to the 3 ball flash and the 3 ball cascade. I was delighted that one child did get the 3-ball flash, and others had seemingly got the idea at least. Th eteacher showed us his juggling prowess, slightly better than me. Then I finished off with a diabolo demonstration with my pet diabolo 'Derek'.
Then I went onto the next classroom, year 3, and they got a shorter demo, with devilstick, hands-on feather-balancing and the diabolo show. Finished at 11am, and was invited up to the staffroom. I had a conversation with a volunteer who is also a mum with children in our children's classes, and she was really happy and impressed with what Id just done. I don't think she'd seen my skills before. We also strayed into the subject of my recent diagnosis, and she said that she now felt she understood me a bit more now I was 'out' as having Aspergers Syndrome with Hyperactivity. She was really lovely and I felt warmed by her comments.
Gill was out in town when I got back, I went on the computer to do emails and after lunch did a stint if splitting logs with my hydraulic/electric splitter, as I have been unable to do these rounds from Woodlands with my axe, the wood is too tough. Some logs split really easily, these don't.
I brought the children home, my eldest was too tired to go to cubs. I, amazingly, fell asleep after tea... this is a rare event! Only for 30 minutes though, and woke to make the kids their supper and put them to bed.
I started with devilsticks, I love it when they all gasp with amazement when the stick goes up and it looks like it's done with magnets! I showed them how it worked with the centre line being a balance point and then how if it is balanced off-centre, it begins to fall down and it can be caught with the other stick, and it then starts to fall in the other direction. I then did the trick where I balance the stick on my nose (cries of 'awsome' and 'beautiful'!) and explained how this works, moving the base in the same direction that the top is starting to fall in. Then got a third of the class out to balance a peacock feather on their hand or finger for a few minutes, followed by the second third and then the final group.
Then moved from this easy skill to a more difficult one, juggling three balls. The children had been given homework before the weekend to make 3 balls from a filler (rice or other seeds) and three balloons per ball. I showed them my basic juggling skills and how the curved throw worked with the three forces (how much it is thrown vertically up, how hard it is thrown horizionally and how much gravity pulls it down. I then explained how they could learn, starting with one ball being thrown up with one hand and caught in the same hand, then to try that with the other hand. Then onto the 'rainbow shape' throw from one hand to the other, making sure that the catch was in a hand in front of their tummy or chest, and not reaching up to grab the ball or clutch it to their chest. The next stage is to spot the top (used the word 'apex') of the curve which shows the juggler when to throw the second ball, in the same 'rainbow' shape. I showed them the juggling pattern I didn't want them to do, which I call the 'schoolgirl pattern', which is a throw up with the same hand each time and a pass from the other hand into the throwing hand, a roughly circular shape. I knew quite a few of them would get stuck on this, and that relatively few would get to the 3 ball flash and the 3 ball cascade. I was delighted that one child did get the 3-ball flash, and others had seemingly got the idea at least. Th eteacher showed us his juggling prowess, slightly better than me. Then I finished off with a diabolo demonstration with my pet diabolo 'Derek'.
Then I went onto the next classroom, year 3, and they got a shorter demo, with devilstick, hands-on feather-balancing and the diabolo show. Finished at 11am, and was invited up to the staffroom. I had a conversation with a volunteer who is also a mum with children in our children's classes, and she was really happy and impressed with what Id just done. I don't think she'd seen my skills before. We also strayed into the subject of my recent diagnosis, and she said that she now felt she understood me a bit more now I was 'out' as having Aspergers Syndrome with Hyperactivity. She was really lovely and I felt warmed by her comments.
Gill was out in town when I got back, I went on the computer to do emails and after lunch did a stint if splitting logs with my hydraulic/electric splitter, as I have been unable to do these rounds from Woodlands with my axe, the wood is too tough. Some logs split really easily, these don't.
I brought the children home, my eldest was too tired to go to cubs. I, amazingly, fell asleep after tea... this is a rare event! Only for 30 minutes though, and woke to make the kids their supper and put them to bed.
I slept well and was woken by a shout from Meg as I'd asked, at 8am, and had a pleasent breakfast. Meg was helping with a Farmers Market at her church, St Michaels, which is just 2 minutes walk from their house. The bus stop is right next to the church and the bus came very soon, dropping me off near Adelphi Street, which is where the University of Central Lancashire centres around.
I easily found the Harrington Building and waited for the person who was our named contact. Various other entertainers rolled in, including my friend Robin Ellwood, who does 'Visitation Productions', playing various characters including today, Madge the Cleaning Lady. Robin is a very big guy, perhaps 6 foot 6 tall, and almost as wide (I jest!) so he makes quite an impact in drag and being very OTT. He also does a robot character but I didn't see him do this during this weekend. My friend Hugh Barwell the accordion player came, he's got a new digital accordion and it does an impressive array of different sounds, including trombone and trumpet, Scottish accordion, saxaphone and double bass. It is truly a lovely instrument, and Hugh is so good at it, he has a vast repetoir and a good style. (http://anaccordionist.co.uk/) Then 'The Wonderful Stevie' arrived, who does contact juggling and some other circussy stuff, and a pair I didn't know so well, Muttonchops and Mark Wazzjazz, who play drunken strolling players with a wide knowledge of tunes on a banjo and tiny saxophone. They started the day with a can of lager each! There were some other entertainers too, but I didn't see them until I had started working.
I was placed outside the Harrington Building and so was Hugh, which was excellent as I had some lovely music to twiddle my devilstick to, and it was fairly quiet, audience-wise, certainly for participation. However I did engage with a group of six chinese students, one of whom displayed quite a talent with the devilsticks, so I suggested that I taught them to juggle. This particular young woman learned the 3-ball cascade in about 5 minutes, and was well pleased with herself. I was also extremely pleased, as it kind of justified my being there and having a generally quiet day.
At about 4pm I gathered myself up and strolled into town and caught the No 25 bus, back to Ashton, and as I was still in costume, some of the bus passengers had a giggle, which was good.
And as I was still in costume when I got back to Meg's, I did a mini show for her neighbours, then we walked the 10 minutes along to her son John's house, as he had never seen my skills, and she thought he would be intrigued. He was pleased to see me and remembered that I'd sent him a letter following his Countdown success. I demonstrated the various tricks I do outside his terraced house, and some neighbour's children came to watch. I finished by making them some balloon models, it was good to have an appreciative audience. The taxi-driver was right, it is lovely to bring fun and colour into peoples' lives, I feel very lucky to be someone who can do that.
When we got back to Meg's, I picked some apples for her, using a step-ladder, and she got a stew together for when Stephen was due in after 8pm. We then settled down with a drink each and watched some overacted 'Casualty' until Stephen arrived home. I was very happy to see him again, and we had the aubergine-based stew together before retiring to bed.
I easily found the Harrington Building and waited for the person who was our named contact. Various other entertainers rolled in, including my friend Robin Ellwood, who does 'Visitation Productions', playing various characters including today, Madge the Cleaning Lady. Robin is a very big guy, perhaps 6 foot 6 tall, and almost as wide (I jest!) so he makes quite an impact in drag and being very OTT. He also does a robot character but I didn't see him do this during this weekend. My friend Hugh Barwell the accordion player came, he's got a new digital accordion and it does an impressive array of different sounds, including trombone and trumpet, Scottish accordion, saxaphone and double bass. It is truly a lovely instrument, and Hugh is so good at it, he has a vast repetoir and a good style. (http://anaccordionist.co.uk/) Then 'The Wonderful Stevie' arrived, who does contact juggling and some other circussy stuff, and a pair I didn't know so well, Muttonchops and Mark Wazzjazz, who play drunken strolling players with a wide knowledge of tunes on a banjo and tiny saxophone. They started the day with a can of lager each! There were some other entertainers too, but I didn't see them until I had started working.
I was placed outside the Harrington Building and so was Hugh, which was excellent as I had some lovely music to twiddle my devilstick to, and it was fairly quiet, audience-wise, certainly for participation. However I did engage with a group of six chinese students, one of whom displayed quite a talent with the devilsticks, so I suggested that I taught them to juggle. This particular young woman learned the 3-ball cascade in about 5 minutes, and was well pleased with herself. I was also extremely pleased, as it kind of justified my being there and having a generally quiet day.
At about 4pm I gathered myself up and strolled into town and caught the No 25 bus, back to Ashton, and as I was still in costume, some of the bus passengers had a giggle, which was good.
And as I was still in costume when I got back to Meg's, I did a mini show for her neighbours, then we walked the 10 minutes along to her son John's house, as he had never seen my skills, and she thought he would be intrigued. He was pleased to see me and remembered that I'd sent him a letter following his Countdown success. I demonstrated the various tricks I do outside his terraced house, and some neighbour's children came to watch. I finished by making them some balloon models, it was good to have an appreciative audience. The taxi-driver was right, it is lovely to bring fun and colour into peoples' lives, I feel very lucky to be someone who can do that.
When we got back to Meg's, I picked some apples for her, using a step-ladder, and she got a stew together for when Stephen was due in after 8pm. We then settled down with a drink each and watched some overacted 'Casualty' until Stephen arrived home. I was very happy to see him again, and we had the aubergine-based stew together before retiring to bed.
A tough day for me, although Gill took the boys to school which was good. I had several things to get done first thing, mainly yet more Green Festival things. Then at about 11am, loaded my Fiddlesticks stuff onto the bike trailer and set off to town, where I popped into The Anti-Gravity Shop to get a couple of Devilsticks for one of my clients next week, and from there onto Manor School for my last gig with the group I've been with since January. I just let them play freely, and made some balloon models for them.
Then on the way home I visited Graham's parents, who had my penknife which I'd lent to Graham at the last Critical Mass and forgot to get back off him. They were lovely, I've met them both before, York's a small place! They told me that Graham had recieved his degree confirmation yesterday, a 2.1 which is excellent, especially for someone so active in community matters. Well done Graham! Good chats about composting and other ethical issues over a fair-trade coffee.
Then went to pick up my prescription. On the way into the surgery, probably cycling too fast, my trailer overturned (probably on the kerb) and I came to a sudden halt, my groin landing on the handlebar stem, quite a bump. Still aching hours later. Silly fool, speeding!
Anyway, got home a little more slowly and carefully than I sometimes do, and was in time to pick up the kids.... and in the playground was greeted by 'IRA Bob' who's building the new Japanese garden, and he was very angry with me for saying to the school about the railway sleepers not being suitable. He accused me of trying to sabotage his work, called me lots of vulgar names very loudly and threatened to kill me if I ever got in his way again. This was the first time I had 'got involved' in one of his projects, and my feelings about the unsuitable sleepers were nothing to do with him as a person. They are because tarry sleepers aren't allowed to be used in playgrounds or where there might be regular skin contact. The tar is difficult to get off skin and clothes, smells horrible and can cause cancer. And as this garden is in memory of a pupil who died of leukemia, it is particularly inappropriate. So Bob was really out of order, I didn't lower myself to his level and didn't retaliate. I could not reply to him as he shouted over my attempts to explain. So, feeling shaky about his threat to kill me, I went to the office and complained to the very tolerant Mrs C and then the Headteacher, who told me that I'd done the right thing and she'd go and tell him that using that language and intimidation was wrong.
My eldest child asked if he could go to S's house with several other lads, to celebrate the last day of term. I said yes, and Maria took his bike home in her car, and was dropping it off when I arrived back home, with a trailer load of recyclables from the school bins.
I spent quite a while doing more YGF stuff, made a quick tea of tempeh and onion, potato salad and cabbage salad, and then went to town to the Blue Bell to pick up the keys for Space 109 for our last York Green Festival meeting there. The meeting was well attended, with representatives from three bands, several stewards and various others. We got a lot sorted, it is all coming together I think. However I still think the council will cancel the event because the ground will be too soggy.
Home to sort out a letter to local residents, neighbours of the park, and other email stuff.
Whilst on the computer, did a search for health and railway sleepers, and yes, there is an EU directive saying that they shouldn't be used in playgrounds or if they would be in contact with skin if they have been treated with creosote, which these had. I am relieved that my info was correct... previously I had objected because I had a memory of the subject coming up on a gardening programme. However, I reckon that IRA Bob may try to get his own back because of this... I hope not, but only time will tell.
Then on the way home I visited Graham's parents, who had my penknife which I'd lent to Graham at the last Critical Mass and forgot to get back off him. They were lovely, I've met them both before, York's a small place! They told me that Graham had recieved his degree confirmation yesterday, a 2.1 which is excellent, especially for someone so active in community matters. Well done Graham! Good chats about composting and other ethical issues over a fair-trade coffee.
Then went to pick up my prescription. On the way into the surgery, probably cycling too fast, my trailer overturned (probably on the kerb) and I came to a sudden halt, my groin landing on the handlebar stem, quite a bump. Still aching hours later. Silly fool, speeding!
Anyway, got home a little more slowly and carefully than I sometimes do, and was in time to pick up the kids.... and in the playground was greeted by 'IRA Bob' who's building the new Japanese garden, and he was very angry with me for saying to the school about the railway sleepers not being suitable. He accused me of trying to sabotage his work, called me lots of vulgar names very loudly and threatened to kill me if I ever got in his way again. This was the first time I had 'got involved' in one of his projects, and my feelings about the unsuitable sleepers were nothing to do with him as a person. They are because tarry sleepers aren't allowed to be used in playgrounds or where there might be regular skin contact. The tar is difficult to get off skin and clothes, smells horrible and can cause cancer. And as this garden is in memory of a pupil who died of leukemia, it is particularly inappropriate. So Bob was really out of order, I didn't lower myself to his level and didn't retaliate. I could not reply to him as he shouted over my attempts to explain. So, feeling shaky about his threat to kill me, I went to the office and complained to the very tolerant Mrs C and then the Headteacher, who told me that I'd done the right thing and she'd go and tell him that using that language and intimidation was wrong.
My eldest child asked if he could go to S's house with several other lads, to celebrate the last day of term. I said yes, and Maria took his bike home in her car, and was dropping it off when I arrived back home, with a trailer load of recyclables from the school bins.
I spent quite a while doing more YGF stuff, made a quick tea of tempeh and onion, potato salad and cabbage salad, and then went to town to the Blue Bell to pick up the keys for Space 109 for our last York Green Festival meeting there. The meeting was well attended, with representatives from three bands, several stewards and various others. We got a lot sorted, it is all coming together I think. However I still think the council will cancel the event because the ground will be too soggy.
Home to sort out a letter to local residents, neighbours of the park, and other email stuff.
Whilst on the computer, did a search for health and railway sleepers, and yes, there is an EU directive saying that they shouldn't be used in playgrounds or if they would be in contact with skin if they have been treated with creosote, which these had. I am relieved that my info was correct... previously I had objected because I had a memory of the subject coming up on a gardening programme. However, I reckon that IRA Bob may try to get his own back because of this... I hope not, but only time will tell.
Another busy day, York Carnival or York Green Carnival. As the rest of the family are not going to see Uncle Tom in Scarborough so I said it would make me happy if the boys would decorate their bikes and come with me to the Carnival procession.
So they wound some ivy prunings around their handlebars and we had an early lunch and headed for the cycle track. I had loaded my trailer with my Fiddlesticks gear as I had a booking for a Christening at 2pm, and was due to do the carnival procession in costume, with loaded trailer.
So got to the Minster in good time and joined in with the unicyclers and jugglers before the procession started. We were following a samba band and choir, and followed by some children from Badger Hill with a chant about recycling, very positive. The procession took about 40 minutes to wind around York and ended up in Parliament Street, where we met Gill and Iwent off to my gig which was in a hotel on Bootham.
They were running late so I had a half hour wait whilst the group had their nosh. But the 24 or so kiddies and a handful of adults came and sat down and watched my show, and took part in the bits of the show where participation is invited, and seemingly enjoyed themselves. I know I did, and this usually means my audience is as well.
The show finished at 4.30 and I loaded up my trailer and went back into York centre, as I'd been asked to do a talk at 5pm on Green living. But the advertising wasn't brilliant and no-one came so I just had some time devilsticking and met a student called Hannah who's a novice devilsticker before packing up and coming home.
In the evening I planted up a lot of germinating sweetcorn seeds that I soaked in water in a margerine tub. I've planted them in single pots which are in blocks of 6, in home-made seed compost.
So they wound some ivy prunings around their handlebars and we had an early lunch and headed for the cycle track. I had loaded my trailer with my Fiddlesticks gear as I had a booking for a Christening at 2pm, and was due to do the carnival procession in costume, with loaded trailer.
So got to the Minster in good time and joined in with the unicyclers and jugglers before the procession started. We were following a samba band and choir, and followed by some children from Badger Hill with a chant about recycling, very positive. The procession took about 40 minutes to wind around York and ended up in Parliament Street, where we met Gill and Iwent off to my gig which was in a hotel on Bootham.
They were running late so I had a half hour wait whilst the group had their nosh. But the 24 or so kiddies and a handful of adults came and sat down and watched my show, and took part in the bits of the show where participation is invited, and seemingly enjoyed themselves. I know I did, and this usually means my audience is as well.
The show finished at 4.30 and I loaded up my trailer and went back into York centre, as I'd been asked to do a talk at 5pm on Green living. But the advertising wasn't brilliant and no-one came so I just had some time devilsticking and met a student called Hannah who's a novice devilsticker before packing up and coming home.
In the evening I planted up a lot of germinating sweetcorn seeds that I soaked in water in a margerine tub. I've planted them in single pots which are in blocks of 6, in home-made seed compost.
