Gratitude in Bloom

I went back to school today to do the final evaluation of our Young Promoters Project kindly funded by Night Out, The Arts Council of Wales. 

How lovely to receive a bunch of flowers from the children and staff who took part in the Scheme, thanking me for my work with them. The children so excited to give me them.

It has been  the most wonderful experience, being back in school. I am so grateful to the children and staff for being so utterly kind to me and totally understanding of my hearing disability. 

One little lad, who himself wears a hearing aid, told me, 'Cheryl, you might be deaf but you're brilliant.'  I was truly moved by this. 'So are you,' I replied and he smiled his cheeky smile.

Well, as you can imagine, I have been flying high all day,  knowing that I have inspired children to get involved in theatre, yes, but that I have also inspired them to be kind, likely the most important of all life skills.

Where's my Igloo Gone?

For the last 7 weeks, I have been visiting Ysgol C'aer Felin with the Young Promoters Project funded by Night Out, the Arts Council of Wales. It has been an amazing journey. The children have learnt to become promoters organising the whole event. We have visited  backstage at Y Ffwrnes Theatre and had a marvellous tour, we have filmed a promotion video, learnt about advertising and marketing. It is magical to watch the children grow in confidence, speaking on the telephone writing letters, preparing speeches.

The children even made the cakes for the tuck shop this evening to raise funds so that can all go to the theatre together to see the welsh language panto. 

The children even made a lovely big pot of cawl for the team and the theatre company who came to put on the show Where's my Igloo Gone with The Bone Ensemble.

It was so wonderful to see the community out in full force, excited about theatre. WE SOLD OUT! Unheard of in our little village. Councillors, School Governors, local police, parents, siblings, friends and off course the children.

Well Done Everyone, I'm so proud of you. Thank you Mrs Davies, Head Teacher and Miss Tanner the class teacher for all your hard work and to all the staff for helping.

Gosh! It's February Already!

Well, where on earth did January go? Kicking off 2017 with a NEW CONTRACT for the  Storytelling & Health International Conference as the Creative Digital Developer  kindly funded by The Arts Council of Wales. 

I have also been busy EDITING A NEW BOOK FOR ARTS IN HEALTH as my Poet in Residence at Renal Dialysis came to an end this month, so I have been working on the Anthology due for publishing in March, as well as a report for Nursing Journals 

VOICES OF THE VALLEY PROJECT

Throughout January I have been busy in Rhondda Cynon Taff working as a Resident Digital Storyteller & Guest Songwriter with the Voices of the Valley Project touring 8 Primary Schools, training children to interview older members of their community, led by my dear friend Patricia Price, Head teacher at Penpych Primary.

INNOVATION DAYS 

IN PRIMARY EDUCATION

In addition, I was invited to join the whole of Penpych School for their LOVE IS ... Innovation Days, commissioned to write a whole school song about core values. I workshop'd with 180 children to collate their words and ideas for the song which I then recorded so that the children can learn it for their transition concert! 

YOUNG PROMOTERS

I have secured a new contract for Young Promoters re-visiting Fenton Primary School which will be lovely because I have worked with the Head Matthew Harries for some years and it is always a pleasure. Again, kindly funded by The Arts Council of Wales via the Night Out Scheme.

SOUND MEMORIES

I continue my work for Sound Memories maintaining the Digital Radio & have been in meetings on a re-design of our Award Winning Postcards from Louie, a wonderful dementia friendly book and CD created by myself in collaboration with Louise Davies.

MY OWN WORK

For some time, I have been on a deep journey of creativity and self exploration. I am finally coming to a cohesive understanding of my current work ... I have given myself a whole week dedicated just to my own work in February and in April to start formulating tangible outcomes. 2017 is for sure a time for me to step into my power as multi genre artist in my own right and get my own work out there for the world, as well as supporting others.

In between all this, I spend as much time as I can in my woods, chanting ancient Chakra cleansing Sanskrit mantra, as well as my newly written English mantra & sacred songs. I find the Earth most welcoming of such loving vibrations; likely the best listener too. 

So now I understand where January went ... 

What an incredible planet we are.

Mermaid Scales: My first 'Behind the Scenes' Fusion Inspire film

HERE IS MY FIRST BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE WRITING & COMPOSITION PROCESS OF MY NEW PRODUCTION: 

  

the dragon tree

Sailor Speak, Mermaid Scales & Guinivere Seasalt are the first 3 tracks of my Fusion Inspire production: the dragon tree.

They are a combined concept composition, based on the sign language of my lyrics by Maggie Hampton.

The lyrics from the first 3 songs are based on the old tales from the West Coast of Wales and introduce the audience to a new folk story, one written for yesterday, today & tomorrow ...

I will be making a series of films throughout the process of writing, filming, composing & producing 'the dragon tree' to give you an insight into the layers, the thoughts and reasoning, the creative journey I have taken for each piece.

Quick update Folks!

Hello folks
I am so busy living Fusion Inspire that I haven't got time just now to tell you all about the inspirations this last week, but just had to leave you a quick note to say that ...

I ended up in the actual front of the steam train with the driver when I went to film the Gwilli Railway this week! How totally cool is that! Have written a banjo piece to fit with the rhythm of the tracks ...

It didn't rain for the film shoot of my song 600 Castles, where I was joined at Kidwelly Castle by 45 children with teachers and Tai Chi instructor Teena Gould .. BEAUTIFUL!

It poured down when we took 45 children to a life size inflatable of Stonehenge to film them bouncing on welsh stone at The National Botanic Garden of Wales . The inflatable installation was there as part of the Cultural Olmpiad!

I have almost finished composing & recording the introduction to the production which feels completely magical ... will explain why in more detail but short story, feels like fulfilling a childhood dream!

My Ukuele film shoot at The Tin Shed Experience in Laugharne is set up now for July 1st with Swansea Ukulele Group and others (YOU IF YOU FANCY IT!) who will all be learning my song Mr Blue Face about the Dylan Thomas Trail!

Seriously, ...  if you DO fancy joining us, drop me a line on facebook or email cherylbeermusic@gmail.com

It's all falling magically into place!!

Will tell ya the full story very soon ... ttfn!

Dylan Thomas The Boathouse: Paned o De?

As you know, I've been longing to go to The Boathouse since finding myself drawn to all the places on the Dylan Thomas Trail at New Quay.

Laugharne has a special magnetism to it. Let's face it, any place with the word 'Laugh' concealed within it, is flirting, winking, beckoning you in; And 'IN' I am!

I thought I might take you on the walk with me from the Car Park, which will be especially nice for those of you who haven't been to Laugharne yet or live so far away that a visit would be a once in a lifetime trip, but that would be a trip worth making, especially if you are a writer or a creative, especially if you love contemporary history, especially if you want to feel close to the heavens, if you feel a compulsion to be part of 'the strangest town in Wales' Although, I do not find it strange, neither do I feel strange within it, it is as if I have always come here to visit, as if my childhood days were spent running back and for to Dylan's writing shed; his seashaken house ... On a breakneck of rocks

'

So, I start here in the Car Park and this is a wooden sculpture/bust of Dylan looking out over the Taf Estuary & 13th Century Laugharne Castle 

Up past the castle I walk following the immacualtely polished and laid local slate stone pathway until I reach ...

SEA VIEW

Just time for a quick sit down and a moment to ponder over how I might explain
never going home ...

Now then which way next?

I'm not sure if this is the Graveyard where Dylan and Caitlin are buried. There is just a little white cross for them in St.Martin's Church I know this, but I could not see any signs here so I'm not clear which Graveyard it is. Still, it matters not who is buried in this place, only that many are and where better to rest your forever sleepy head than peeping through the trees to the West Wales coast line; The very coastline that has inspired such wonderful and inspirational  words, beaded like threaded jewels and hung around the neck of one so tall his gifts will always be just out of reach for us mere mortals to assimilate.

Past the marsh ...

Follow the walkway ...

Rows of newly painted railings stand on guard ...

Nearly there ...

Dylan's Writing Shed ... I want one!

I peeped through the door and this is the window on the other side of the writing shed above his desk, so this view is THE view that he will have wistfully gazed from while drinking beer or having a sneaky ciggie & being a genius!

 

It really is very beautiful indeed, isn't it. Completely inspirational!

The Writing Shed is staged exactly as it would have been had Dylan still been using it ... and if I'm honest, I'm not entirely sure he isn't still there!

And just up from the Writing Shed .. The Boathouse. I didn't take this photo. I've taken it from their website so that you can see what it looks like from a distance.

www.dylanthomasboathouse.com

But I did take these .. down the stairs to the cafe for a  Paned o De ( which is Welsh for a Cup of Tea!)

 

My Conclusion? Laugharne, The Dylan Thomas Boathouse: A place more beautiful than words can paint, more inspirational than melody can sing & more moving than choreography can leap ...

Tin Shed Time Travel Experience

Well, you know me, always up for killing a few birds with one stone ... oooh no! That sounds awful! Knocking over a few skittles with one bowling ball .. now that's better!

So, after performing as part of the same line up at The Dylan Thomas Birth House, Lorraine King, (very well known, respected and gifted song writer from Wales) and I  chatted on facebook and decided we'd like to meet up.

I thought it would be good to chat through ideas with Lorraine.  In fact, when I was looking for info on mermaids, it was her Jemma Seasalt song that came up first on youtube. Besides which, Lorraine is such a good giggle!

At the same time, a facebook friend called Meinir Evans had been trying to tempt me to go to The Tin Shed, a 1940's Museum in Laugharne.

And as you know, I have been really pining for Afternoon Tea at The Boathouse because ...

I had such a calling from Dylan when I was retreating in New Quay and I  felt an overwhelming need to be in Laugharne.

So, I decided to do all of these things at once, because as luck would have it, Lorraine is good friends with Meinir, they go way back from when they were girls.

I met Meinir at the Dylan Thomas Boathouse and in my next Blog I will show you the wonderful walk up to The Boathouse from Laugharne Castle.

Then we toddled off to meet Lorraine at

The Tin Shed Experience.

Now then, I bet you're thinking .. Tin Shed? Mmmm, Old Uncle Albert had one of those down his allotment and you never ventured down there did you, no, neither did I, because we didn't think it would be fun, did we!

Well, hats off to all the Uncle Alberts in my past who had a tin shed! I GET IT NOW!!! THEY ARE FABULOUS!

I was sooooooooooooooooo excited

I can not tell you!

The vibe at The Experience is chilled and laid back; a time wharp almost and this is not just because the tin shed is a time travelling catoclysym of nostaligia, no, it's because the people running it are such warm, beautiful, genuine passionate Shed Heads; noone could fail to feel as if they never want to to leave! To quote the man himself ...  

got off the bus in Laugharne,

and never got back on again

Meinir is partners with the Director of the Tin Shed Experience (and it really is an experience) Seimon Pugh-Jones, then there's lovely young Matthew Hughes, with a smile that would cheer up the sunshine during showers, he's in charge of marketing and the internet. Another Director is Andrew, but he had to shoot off ... seemed like equally as nice a chap though ...  Oh and I met Matthew's Dad who has been hammering and chiselling and making and doing all that building type stuff that tin sheds need!

The result is outstanding! He is most likely one of the most up-beat tradesmen I have ever met and that will be because he could not fail to be happy overlooking the fields, with 50's music trailing the wind and good old fashioned community spirt by the bucket load; working for love <3

Meinir is the Queen of Cakes! I kid you not, she is West Wales' answer to Nigella!

She contacted me the night before my visit to ask me about my dietary requirements and then made me cakes to meet my needs.

Now that is being looked after!

So me, Lorraine, Meinir, Seimon, Matt, Andrew & Matt's Dad have all talked in the sunshine on the verrandah of the tin cottage and  we are planning some exciting Fusion Inspire collaborations which I will blog about as and when they are confirmed!

(Which will be very soon!)

WOW! GREAT RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR A DANCER

DDC Street Dance Crew

Wow .. what a great response to my call for a dancer! Thank you for wanting to be a Fusion Inspire Consultant and take part in  my  film shoot.

I really appreciate the effort made by everyone who took the time to answer my shout out.

I am very pleased to tell you that a young dancer from Swansea called Martin Kurina contacted me.

He has set up and runs a street dance school for young people in his community and he has said today that he would like for his school to take part in Fusion Inspire, so we have booked in July 3rd.

Martin  is going to talk with the dancers next week and I will go to the school in July.

After class, when everyone is warmed up, we'll all head down to the beach for the shoot.

How totally cool is that dudes!

Martin Kurina

Seriously, I'm so chuffed because I love the fact that Martin as a young person is making a difference for other young people and that they are coming together to share thier gift. It sits well with me.

If all goes well,  the troop may be up for coming to perfrom live as part of the end production ... we shall see!

Oh, and if you or someone you know wants to go along to DDC Street Dance Crew then why not have a look at the facebook Group Page for full details. Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Martins-Street-Dance-School/115467168487169

• Special thanks to Sarah Passmore for spreading the word.

Recording with Elgar in Pigeonsford?

I have been back to Llangrannog quite a few times now and have recorded the sea in nearly 20 different locations so that I can go into my studio and put all of 'the seas' together as one and then listen to see if I can feel the intensity of Elgar’s composition Welsh Tune.

I am convinced now that I will feel the intensity, having heard and stood in the waves crashing against the towering rocks.

This visit I went for a good walk over the coastal path and it is a moving experience! As I went for this walk, I passed a National Tourist Board Sign telling the story of the Giant Bica who lived in Llangrannog and telling how it is his big foot steps and his raging tooth ache have cut up the land, leaving little rock islands stranded sometimes by water. So I need to think about his footsteps when composing the piece.

I saw a friend while I was down there, Yo, and she said that she thought that Pigeonsford Mansion, where Elgar is known to have stayed when he composed his Welsh Tune, is down the turning opposite the Urdd Centre site.

So we bundled back in the car and pootled off to Pigeonsford to see if we could find it. AND WE DID!!

Or at least we think we might have. It said outside that there are holiday cottages to let in the grounds of the farm so I’m going to ring them up.

Imagine if I can actually go to stay at the place where Elgar stayed and compose my piece there! I would be blown away! If I can, and if it is the right place, I will take my recording studio with me and set it up and the cottage to record it there too.

The grounds are absolutely stunning so I am hoping it is the right place. I think Elgar would have liked this. He was one of the first composers to really experiment with recordings.



Many thanks to The Arts Council of Wales for my Individual Mainline Grant. It really is giving me the opportunity not just to journey through my creative mind, but to challenge and expand it in a way I could never have done otherwise.

www.cherylbeer.co.uk