Thursday 23rd July 2020 – Day One Hundred & Twenty One
Good morning all, 
Thank you all for the lovely warm welcome! It’s been great hearing from all of you and catching up. One request I had was to share a little bit more about myself.
Well, I am originally from Hawaii (the island of Oahu). My family move here from New York in 2001 when I was a child and we have been there ever since. I moved to London last year in August with my partner and we absolutely love it. If you can imagine it from my perspective, London is quite a contrast to Hawaii! However, our circumstances changed after COVID-19 began to spread and we had to return to Hawaii for a time.
I am currently in Hawaii with my husband and are reapplying for new visas to come back to the UK in September. In Hawaii, we spend our time mostly catching up on sleep, going to the beach, going on a hike, or working on art. I have been working on a tree sculpture project since I arrived earlier this month. I will share a photo later (when they are more formed…currently they are unrecognizable blobs).
Yesterday I went to the beach with my husband, Kainoa, and remembered to take a photo for you. Just so you can remember what I look like! (Don’t mind Kainoa’s expression, I caught him off guard). Also, we were wearing masks! We just took them off for the picture (real quick!). That is me in a nutshell. Have any of you been to Hawaii?
I’d love to hear about your experiences here. Or, is there a place you hope to visit in the future? I want to hear about it!
My email is Amber@DragonHall.org.uk If you need to reach John, he is still around via email and phone.
What can I share with you today?
FOOD / SHOPPING
Thank you to everyone who has forwarded their wonderful support and comments to me regarding the Food Bank Project organised by Covent Garden Community Centre / 7 Dials Club. It is really gratifying to hear that so many people are benefiting from the service: Foodbank – We are flexible with regards to who we can help. If you fit the following criteria, please register.
- Self Isolation due to symptoms
- Isolation due to vulnerable or shielded status
- Income reduction because of lockdown & crisis measures
- Income reduction while waiting for benefits to arrive
- Homeless
Go to Registration Form
Just a reminder. If you (or know of anyone) who cannot go out because they are vulnerable, self isolating or for any other reason and need help with food etc. Assistance can be found on the government web page. The form is rather long, but is fairly straightforward. If you (or know of anyone who needs support) please let us know.
Here is the link:
TABLETS & DONGLES
I just wanted to reiterate this message from John about the tablets and dongles (simply because I am so excited about it! We have been waiting to get this in motion for months!) We were successful in getting some money to purchase new tablets and Dongles (this allows people to access the wifi without a router). Sometime ago, we contacted you asking if you would like one. Please could you let John know if you are still interested? These tablets and dongles would be yours on a long term basis and give you the opportunity to learn at your own pace and perhaps test drive to see if you wanted to get maybe an ipad in the future. Next month, John will be organising formal 1-1 support at Phoenix Garden, so if you needed this as well, John is in the process of organising. If you would like 1-1 informal support (say from a volunteer), please let John know so he can arrange it. If you no longer want a tablet for free, please let me know (and your reason). I cannot stress enough that people have to get connected – things are still improving, but will take a long time to get back to normal (whatever that means) and reliance on being digital inclusive will remain high Thank you for your patience, I appreciate that this has taken a long time, but fundraising for income is a slow and intense task.
ART & CULTURE
From Chris B: Covent Garden’s back! (From Time Out)
Boy have we missed London. And if you’re anything like us, right now you’ll be itching to explore and dine out again in this magnificent city as it continues to return to something approaching normality – in a safe and responsible way, of course. One part of town with which we’re really looking forward to getting reacquainted is buzzy and brilliant Covent Garden. One of the things we’re most excited about is the huge amount of outdoor dining on offer. All around the Piazza, on the newly pedestrianised streets and in the neighbourhood’s beautiful floral courtyards, restaurants are really taking advantage of all this space to serve up some gorgeous al fresco options. It’s basically like being on holiday. And do you want to know the best bit? Some of our favourite venues in the area are making it even more enticing by lining up exclusive offers for Time Out subscribers. We’re pretty impressed so hold onto your hats because here they all are for your viewing pleasure.
Check it out!
From me (Amber):
I recently found out about this cool project happening. On July 25th (that’s tomorrow!), film part of your day and send it in to be a part of this historical documentary! Join people around the world to capture a single day on Earth in the year 2020. Film your day and share your story on July 25th for a chance to be part of a documentary film produced by Ridley Scott, directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, and filmed by you. Premiering at Sundance 2021. Click on the link below to submit your footage.
Visit the website
From John:
UK Parliament is kicking off a series of three weekly online talks reflecting on 150 years of the Palace of Westminster. Go on, embrace your inner history enthusiast: this is a chance to hear some seriously cool stories about UK Parliament – past, present and future. The series kicks off on Thursday August 6 with a guided 360-degree virtual tour through several rooms, including the Commons Chamber, Lords Chamber and Westminster Hall, which happens to be the oldest part of the building and scene of the trials of Guy Fawkes and King Charles I. Then on August 13, you’ll learn about some of the impressive collection of furniture and how it’s cared for. Lastly on August 20, artist Mary Branson will shed light on her extraordinary (and immense) contemporary sculpture ‘New Dawn’, commissioned for permanent display in the Palace of Westminster commemorating the women’s suffrage campaign. Interested in joining a session? All you need to do is register online.
POETRY CORNER
Wayne Kaumualii Westlake Poetry
Westlake (1947-1984) is one of my favorite local poets from Hawaii. He was born on Maui and raised on Oahu (the island I live on). His work broke new ground as a poet in living and working in Hawaii. Translated Taoist classical literature and Japanese haiku interwove perspectives from his Hawaiian heritage into his writings and art. He has work published locally in the islands, regionally, and internationally.
I took a few scans from one of his books I have and shared them here.
HEALTH
From News from Age UK Camden:
Our Health and Positive Living Hubs, Our Health and Positive Living Hubs, Henderson Court in Hampstead and Great Croft in Kings Cross, were transformed into emergency food parcels distribution hubs for three months during the peak of the pandemic. During this time Hub staff were keeping in touch with members, making 1,350 welfare calls and delivering 1,423 hot meals. This week they have reopened to Camden’s older residents. Great Croft manager, Abul Choudhury said, “Some of our regular visitors were used to coming to the centre five days a week and they have missed the support and company dreadfully. So many have told us how much they are looking forward to returning.” Stringent measures are being followed to ensure the safety of our members with a limited number of members attending the centres on a rota in bubbles named after flowers; tulip, daffodil and rose, and kept to zones with the same members of staff. It’s great to have them back.
Calling all seamstresses! We’re in need of fabric masks to keep our service users safe. If you can help us make some, please email sophie.smith@ageukcamden.org.uk
INFORMATION
From Sarah (Partnership and Prevention Hub):
We would like to introduce ourselves as the Partnership & Prevention Hub (normally based at Holborn Police Station). We are part of the Central North Command covering the boroughs of Camden and Islington. We are a small team at present comprising of one Sergeant and four police officers. The Hub currently encompasses five specific areas of work which include: Youth, Vulnerable People & Vulnerable Places, Drugs and Alcohol, Hate, Crime & Community Tension, Social Media & Technology. We work jointly with colleagues from other teams across the two boroughs in mid-long term solutions for local crime reduction and strategies to reduce re-offending, both for individuals and for hot-spot issues within the community. We specialise in extensive problem solving by working in partnership with all internal departments, Camden and Islington councils, charitable organisations, Non-Governmental organisations, and UK Government Departments to develop effective outcomes for past and present problems. We are focusing on the use of social media to inform people of events/projects/campaigns going on within the local community and are happy to help promote suitable information passed onto us.
Here are some helpful links Sarah has shared with us.
LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE
From Jerry (Quote for the day): ? “A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love. She gives most who gives with joy.” ― Mother Teresa From Jerry (Aging Fun!): An elderly couple had dinner at another couple’s house. After eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, ‘Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great I would recommend it very highly.’ The other man said, ‘What is the name of the restaurant?’ The first man thought and thought and finally said, ‘What’s the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know, the one that’s red and has thorns.’ ‘Do you mean a rose?’ ‘Yes, that’s the one,’ replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, ‘Rose, what’s the name of that restaurant we went to last night?’
From me: Check out the beats coming out of this Russian subway!
*Celia has graced me with her artistic talent and drawn a chibi character of me!
That’s all for now! You can contact me on 07759 646507 in case of an emergency Be safe John