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September 8, 2022 - a normal day. I am sitting at my desk. Merlin arrived, ready to help me dismantle the display for the Queen and I, art & craft project. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse at Quetzal created the display to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee, honoured our late patron Sue Townsend and showcased their talents. As we dismantled the display, we discussed the possibility of reusing the artworks when the Queen will pass. Little did we know that it would be on the same day. For Merlin, the 8th of September is a special day full of celebration with the birth of the Virgin Mary and in her hometown back in India, they also had a full day of celebration. As she shared with me the meaning of the day, I thought, yes it is a special day. I returned home under the heavy thunderstorms, entered home, took off my shoes, and walked up the stairs to greet my husband. He announced that the Queen passed. I could not help it. I shed a tear for her family.  Later, I wondered what convers...

  The documentary explores how African-based spirituality has informed Americas popular culture. The old African gods have taken on new forms since their arrival on North America's shores. Their spirit now manifests in turntable wizardry, improvisational skills and mind-blowing collages, performances and rituals. The film shakes up traditional and stereotypical ways of thinking about race, religion, rationality. Through meetings with musicians, writers and artists, healers, gumbo cooks and Mississippi Blues men, the documentary draws a picture of a culture which has always drawn on a unique mix of different ethnic influences to produce its cultural diversity, allure, and vitality (IMBD, 2012) I remember being in the West Indies getting dressed up for the Carnaval, hearing the music and percussions up and down the streets. Not something you would find in metropolis France. But there on the island where African tradition meets a religious event such as Mardi Gras, all is transformed....

At the theatre, my favourite part is when the light goes off. There and then, you know that: ''this is it, you cannot come out''. The configuration is as such that you are stuck with those sitting next to you on a ride. The actors speak to a part too often unknown to ourselves so we can get to see in between their lines the truth. Sometimes, they are so good at their jobs that they send us into a slumber, who knows what happens when we jump into another alternate reality as they continue their ritual. When the show finally ends, it is time to release the actors, ourselves and others from any further attachment to this world of dreams and come back down grounded to planet earth. Over the years, some plays impacted me more than others, Hamlet and King Lear by Shakespeare, Waiting for Godot by Becket, A Respectable Wedding by Brecht, La Baye by Philippe Adrien, Mefiez Vous de La Pierre a Barbe de Ahmed Madani...I was there the spectator, the actor, the confidant...Until I ...

September is always a special month. It is the beginning of the artistic season. In our family, it was always the month when my father would also present a new production. Fo r the first time, In September, this year, I am delivering a show - an exhibition to be exact called Stor ies of Change.  My brother is also opening the season with.a play called Catch! at Le Theatre de La Tempete directed by Clement Poiree and I shall join him in October to watch him. The old man would be proud! So yes, I feel supra connected to him this month at so many different levels. On the 6th September 2018, I wrote an article called  Freedom Time - We heard you .  about a message my father passed to me and my mother in his cloud. The article included my response to his message. He said:  'Why do you stay at home? You and Marie Toto. You have to come out of the house sometimes if you want to start collaborating with people.'' My response in summary was "at home I can be the whole me'...

Lightseekers is a creative social enterprise that uses photography and storytelling as a platform to learn about and engage with important social issues. They specialise in cross-cultural education and deliver thought provoking programmes to low-income areas, where creative engagement is low and students are likely to experience exclusion and discrimination. How did I get involved with Lightseekers? I started Yoga in 2019 while finishing my doctorate and I met Kajal Nisha Patel, founder of Lightseekers and yoga teacher at Nilu.Yoga. The rest is history. We became friends and collaborators through the Breaking the Silence Initiative at Quetzal. Over the pandemic, we discussed in great details the impacts of poor mental health on wellbeing and physical health. Through our discussion, a project started emerging that will become Ways to Wellbeing - a 9 online session programme providing the tools and knowledge to communities to enhance their wellbeing. She invited me to become a director a...

What I learnt from watching the 4th season of Ready to Love - know yourself - be clear about what you are looking for - be open to the opportunities that come your way - to love someone, you first need to love yourself, be secured so nothing outside of yourself can sway you away - give space to the other person to grow and flourish - listen properly - be in touch with your emotions so you can better address situations and be present when love is available for grab All the best for all the contestants, I wish you to find love 💘

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.  At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school.  And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress' eyebrow.  T hen a soldier, Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation E ven in the cannon's mouth.  And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part.  The sixth age shifts I nto the lean and slippered pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide ...

I have watched fat sick and nearly did a joe cross movie. I was well inspired. I bought a smoothie machine for hubby. it is arriving for valentine's day!

This friend gives you a call. It has been a long time you have not spoken to him. It is nice.  He asks you how is the writing. You ask him how is the acting. He said everything is well, to each his role. He tells you that he enjoys his spare time going to the cinema 3-5 times a week. You are thinking he has time to do so.  He tells you there is this movie you need to watch, you environmentalist. You think, I am not sure I can contribute to this industry in any ways and you'd rather watch Netflix at home.  Before you can answer he said 'No seriously, you have to go and watch this movie, it is great'. It really uplifted me. We went to watch 'This changes everything' by Naomi Klein together, it was good, Demain - I truly loved it'. Tomorrow - a film by Cyril Dion and Melanie Laurent - Showing in Derby 5/5/2017

An evening listening to Lauryn Hill Unplugged. This song caught my ear I just wanted to share it with you. [Singing Chorus]  Everybody knows that they're guilty Everybody knows that they've lied Everybody knows that they're guilty Resting on their conscience eating their inside It's freedom, said it's freedom time now It's freedom, said it's freedom time now Time to get free, oh give us yourselves up now It's freedom, said it's freedom time [First and only verse] Yo, there's a war in the mind, over territory For the dominion Who will dominate the opinion Skisms and isms, keepin' us in forms of religion Conformin' our vision To the world churches decision Trapped in a section Submitted to committee election Moral infection Epidemic lies and deception Insurrection Of the highest possible order Destortin' our tape recorders From hearin' like under water Beyond the borders Fo...