Recorded at BBC Radio Leicester
It is Zero Waste Week between 4-8 September 2017. Today, Tuesday it is trashless tuesday an opportunity for everyone to re-think their relationships with waste and packaging products. Ultimately it is about refusing packaged items, reducing our dependence on them, reusing what we have.
Showing posts with label leicester fixers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leicester fixers. Show all posts
When tools are not functioning
Frustration, annoyance, anxiety.
A wish that you did not have them in the first place.
Off they go, I'll be happy if they go in the bin...
And the other voices saying, you can repair them, you know you can. Argh...
A wish that you did not have them in the first place.
Off they go, I'll be happy if they go in the bin...
And the other voices saying, you can repair them, you know you can. Argh...
Product retention - the seed of innovativeness
They do not like to throw things away they say. They'd rather keep it even if it is not working, Transform it to give it a new lease of life.
They can see in the object form something unspoken, a gift of the present moment.
True materialist they are.
They do not accumulate for the sake of it, we could not call them hoarders.
They are retainers, protectors of the instant whilst everything else keep changing, they stand still. Here lay the seed of innovativeness, remaining still and grounded, using creativity to shield the world whilst everything else seems to be in turmoil
Slow Repair
Can the slow movement happens in manufacturing?
Could it be the answer for supporting repair?
I am wondering as I discuss with my colleagues 'SLOW'
The slow movement advocates a cultural shift toward slowing down life's pace.
You have probably heard of the slow food movement, slow fashion, slow design etc.
It asked us to slow down and stop trying to reach the speed of light.
As consumers struggle to repair ever changing small electrical products, may be it is time for manufacturers to slow down at least at the same rate or a bit faster than human development.
The role of technology can aid to make human capabilities leap forward, yet become counterproductive when it loses behind the many people who are unable to learn to fix and manage their environment.
So what is it to reckon?
Is the Slow Good Movement possible?
Could it be the answer for supporting repair?
I am wondering as I discuss with my colleagues 'SLOW'
The slow movement advocates a cultural shift toward slowing down life's pace.
You have probably heard of the slow food movement, slow fashion, slow design etc.
It asked us to slow down and stop trying to reach the speed of light.
As consumers struggle to repair ever changing small electrical products, may be it is time for manufacturers to slow down at least at the same rate or a bit faster than human development.
The role of technology can aid to make human capabilities leap forward, yet become counterproductive when it loses behind the many people who are unable to learn to fix and manage their environment.
So what is it to reckon?
Is the Slow Good Movement possible?
Learning to repair - the pointless and wonderful
Receiving the appropriate support from friends, family, mentors is an important requirement to learn a new skill.
Yet some skills can be simultaneously respected and looked down by our social circle.
Knowing how to repair is the aggregation of many skills for which two conflicting messages are sent by those around us
It is to ask the type of environment that will nurture the inquisitive mind we all have to pursue against the odds something that appear pointless.
Acquiring the skills to repair - both pointless and wonderful
Yet some skills can be simultaneously respected and looked down by our social circle.
Knowing how to repair is the aggregation of many skills for which two conflicting messages are sent by those around us
- Why would you learn to repair when you can buy new?
- Isn't it wonderful to be able to repair any object coming your way?
It is to ask the type of environment that will nurture the inquisitive mind we all have to pursue against the odds something that appear pointless.
Acquiring the skills to repair - both pointless and wonderful
Find your fixers, care for them and they will care for you.
Leicester Fixers and its Restart parties are gaining popularity.
We are getting busier at each event, more people are bringing their broken bits.
We are asked to organised events in other venues across Leicestershire.
We are invited to spread repair through education and media.
We would like to do it all.
Yet, our strengths - skills and knowledge - are also our limitations.
We rely on our fixers to share with us all their gifts.
We are very lucky to have them, time after time coming to the Restart Party.
We are, I am so grateful for them for coming to the restart party, one, twice, all the time.
I value the time, effort and energy they all bring in.
Their care is valuable.
Without it, none could be possible.
Items will be thrown away, no new skills would be learnt,
Our fixers tie with their know-how a community together.
Yet, each community is bound to space and time.
We care, I care about giving space and time to all those involved with Leicester Fixers.
Hence, very careful about expanding our reach, no one need burn out.
It is why we need other repair communities to emerge where people want to.
Luckily, Loughborough repair cafes have been running for a while now.
Melton space is opening in Melton Mowbray,
We want more of this to happened all over Leicestershire.
For it to happen, we need those inspired to create know how communities to knock on doors,
ask for help directly in the areas where they live.
Find your fixers, care for them and they will care for you.
We, as Leicester Fixers, we will support as best as we can in the time and space available to us.
Press the publish button
Did you have many thoughts going through your head today and yet no idea what you could possibly write. You had the thought to possibly draft something and publish tomorrow. NO,
there is always something worth sharing.
This is what in my dry-spell, I came up with:
[ - Living in Leicester? , learn the violin with Suzuki Violin instructor Zina Zelter, my main Footpaths partner in reducing carbon footprint. - Mindfulness in the making. ]
[ - Transition Leicester is still alive - Ask me, I'll tell you ]
[- OnlyWorn and Leicester Fixers discussing T-shirts, do you want to know more? ]
[ - There will be some sewing repair at the next restart party in Leicester - 6th May - check facebook page]
[ I dreamt of being a business/academic/fashion/laissez faire/actress - somewhere in my heart, there is a thirst to be on the stage somewhere in Broadway]
there is always something worth sharing.
This is what in my dry-spell, I came up with:
[ - Living in Leicester? , learn the violin with Suzuki Violin instructor Zina Zelter, my main Footpaths partner in reducing carbon footprint. - Mindfulness in the making. ]
[ - Transition Leicester is still alive - Ask me, I'll tell you ]
[- OnlyWorn and Leicester Fixers discussing T-shirts, do you want to know more? ]
[ - There will be some sewing repair at the next restart party in Leicester - 6th May - check facebook page]
[ I dreamt of being a business/academic/fashion/laissez faire/actress - somewhere in my heart, there is a thirst to be on the stage somewhere in Broadway]
Why help makes the best glue
Published on Thoughful
I am five years old. I’m in my bedroom with my coloured pencils and colouring book. Opening the book, I grab a pencil and start colouring. And then, it happens—the thing that always happens to kids my age. I simply cannot stay inside the lines. I am frustrated. It is SO FRUSTRATING!
Crying out for my mum to save me from this colouring disaster, she opens the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Help!”
I am five years old. I’m in my bedroom with my coloured pencils and colouring book. Opening the book, I grab a pencil and start colouring. And then, it happens—the thing that always happens to kids my age. I simply cannot stay inside the lines. I am frustrated. It is SO FRUSTRATING!
Crying out for my mum to save me from this colouring disaster, she opens the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Help!”
CropClub Magic Dust ready
I am working with the CropClub - a social enterprise - which have for mission to spread the joy of growing across communities on top of Leicester Fixers, a venture encouraging people to repair and my Ph.D.
With the CropClub, we have just launched a new product - the Magic Dust - it is to feed the bees - a mix of wildflower seeds and biodegradable glitter in an hessian bags.
I love the product - it has a magical side to it. You spread it on a ground, a bit of sunshine and it sprouts! All you have to do is to get it on their website, receive it and spread it!
I have my own bag of Magic Dust, The MarleFeed Magic Dust, a bag full of opportunities for new ventures and adventures with existing partners. It is just waiting to be spread and yet I am not ready. I have to find the ground, the space and time, take a deep breath and finally spread the joy of growing for all those seedling ideas with the gushing uncertainty that they may never grow... or they will, won't they?
It will come. Watch this space
With the CropClub, we have just launched a new product - the Magic Dust - it is to feed the bees - a mix of wildflower seeds and biodegradable glitter in an hessian bags.
I love the product - it has a magical side to it. You spread it on a ground, a bit of sunshine and it sprouts! All you have to do is to get it on their website, receive it and spread it!
I have my own bag of Magic Dust, The MarleFeed Magic Dust, a bag full of opportunities for new ventures and adventures with existing partners. It is just waiting to be spread and yet I am not ready. I have to find the ground, the space and time, take a deep breath and finally spread the joy of growing for all those seedling ideas with the gushing uncertainty that they may never grow... or they will, won't they?
It will come. Watch this space
Post Truth 3- this weekend
The poor old man is still not feeling well - yet, he is waking up to the fact that there is no where to go - hopefully, he will be awake soon and we will experience less up and down.
I am on my way too.
This weekend, I strived to be pragmatic.
We had a repair event this weekend. Few people came over to get their item repaired. We received £40 of donations. The repair event only happen once every 6 weeks, it is a great opportunity to learn something, have a nice chat with people and get something from home sorted. We started to work on my laptop. We took all the data out for me to transfer on another device. We will work on it at next event on the 25th March.
I had few pieces of fabric to deal with at home. I have made 4 dolls, two juggling balls, a bracelet. I started cutting off some felt to make some pads.
I cooked, cleaned, prepare myself for the week to come.
Hopefully, it will be a good week.
I am on my way too.
This weekend, I strived to be pragmatic.
We had a repair event this weekend. Few people came over to get their item repaired. We received £40 of donations. The repair event only happen once every 6 weeks, it is a great opportunity to learn something, have a nice chat with people and get something from home sorted. We started to work on my laptop. We took all the data out for me to transfer on another device. We will work on it at next event on the 25th March.
I had few pieces of fabric to deal with at home. I have made 4 dolls, two juggling balls, a bracelet. I started cutting off some felt to make some pads.
I cooked, cleaned, prepare myself for the week to come.
Hopefully, it will be a good week.
Ph.D journey - each year has been pretty special
I have one year left to finish my ph.d. My topic is on the factors influencing consumers to repair small electrical products. It is linked to this concept called the circular economy. It take a pro-conservation lense as opposed to a pro-growth focus. but you will soon understand after reading how the three years went that it is all a mirage.
My first year was special. I organised a festival. It was called the Green Festival of Making and Mending, here in Leicester. It was the birth of me. a painful birth but nevertheless worth it. I was trying to manage as best as I could my voluntary activities with university. I was trying to find my voice in this mess called the literature review. It was a struggle but I manage to get there eventually. I believed that all humans can acquire new skills and flourish by working together. It is through this mean that we can make our time here better and help generations to come to live longer and safer on this planet. I wanted to organise more events to bring people together, more courses, more knowledge transfer, more more more.
My second year was special too. I got married. It was in Paris with the sweetest thing I have ever met. I crawled at first, took few steps, fail few times to walk during this year. Oh man, wedding can be stressful. Yet, how beautiful I was when I walked down that aisle. A beautiful woman and my groom the most beautiful thing I ever seen. I had a voice, I could walk and I felt wonderful. Nothing could possibly stop me on my way. I felt so much love and care from the people around me. It was magical. I never wanted it to stop, we should be together all the time. I wanted to organise more parties and events to feel the love I received once more, more, more, more.
I am now in my third year. It is, it will be special too. I got a news. My father has been diagnosed with lewy body dementia. My world crumbles. I am asking myself: what is my ph.d about again?
I have been told to be strong and the best way I could help is by keeping the machine going, stop feeling sad, be strong, finish your ph.d, get a job, keep going, live more more more and forget about old age, loneliness, illness and death. forget about who you are, a mere mortal that care for those he/she loves, focus on what you can have, a life full of illusions 'money, fame, good reputation, more more more'.
Oh man, what is the purpose of the machine? can we just pause it for second and have a re-think. I just want less of all to be with those I love a little bit more.
My first year was special. I organised a festival. It was called the Green Festival of Making and Mending, here in Leicester. It was the birth of me. a painful birth but nevertheless worth it. I was trying to manage as best as I could my voluntary activities with university. I was trying to find my voice in this mess called the literature review. It was a struggle but I manage to get there eventually. I believed that all humans can acquire new skills and flourish by working together. It is through this mean that we can make our time here better and help generations to come to live longer and safer on this planet. I wanted to organise more events to bring people together, more courses, more knowledge transfer, more more more.
My second year was special too. I got married. It was in Paris with the sweetest thing I have ever met. I crawled at first, took few steps, fail few times to walk during this year. Oh man, wedding can be stressful. Yet, how beautiful I was when I walked down that aisle. A beautiful woman and my groom the most beautiful thing I ever seen. I had a voice, I could walk and I felt wonderful. Nothing could possibly stop me on my way. I felt so much love and care from the people around me. It was magical. I never wanted it to stop, we should be together all the time. I wanted to organise more parties and events to feel the love I received once more, more, more, more.
I am now in my third year. It is, it will be special too. I got a news. My father has been diagnosed with lewy body dementia. My world crumbles. I am asking myself: what is my ph.d about again?
I have been told to be strong and the best way I could help is by keeping the machine going, stop feeling sad, be strong, finish your ph.d, get a job, keep going, live more more more and forget about old age, loneliness, illness and death. forget about who you are, a mere mortal that care for those he/she loves, focus on what you can have, a life full of illusions 'money, fame, good reputation, more more more'.
Oh man, what is the purpose of the machine? can we just pause it for second and have a re-think. I just want less of all to be with those I love a little bit more.
Restart Radio: Restarting in Leicester
Podcast by Restart Project
After literally running together from our Parliamentary Restart Party, we had the pleasure of chatting with Marie Lefebvre and Divya Pujara of the Leicester Fixers. Together they have been hosting Restart Parties in their city for a year now.
After literally running together from our Parliamentary Restart Party, we had the pleasure of chatting with Marie Lefebvre and Divya Pujara of the Leicester Fixers. Together they have been hosting Restart Parties in their city for a year now.
Boiler Fix
It is November.
It has been 3 weeks, our boiler has not been working.
Someone came around to have a look, he said that he needs to have a proper look at it and it will probably involved quite a bit of work.
It has been 3 weeks, our boiler has not been working.
Someone came around to have a look, he said that he needs to have a proper look at it and it will probably involved quite a bit of work.
How can you get a Ph.D.Scholarship?
Every two weeks or so I am meeting up with my Ph.D supervisors to talk about my research topic. At out last meeting, we finalise my research question...
---
2 Years ago, 1 month after starting my new job, 3 month after finishing my studies, it was clear for me that I wanted to go back to academia. I set up myself to gain a bit of experience and look for a new job.
18 month ago, I had two interviews, one for a knowledge transfer partnership leading to Ph.D with Birmingham City University and one for a Ph.D with Cranfield University on Sustainability and Communications. Deep inside it was not really what I was looking for.
12 month ago, I almost gave up finding the Ph.D. Then, I changed my mind. I systematically send emails to to find the gap where I could jump in
9 month ago I applied for Design Star with the intention to investigate how design for sustainable behaviour and eco-design will contribute to the concept of the Circular Economy.
2 month ago, I started my Ph.D
1 month ago, after a lot of reading on my research area, I figure than my initial questions did not fit with my interest in social innovation, activism, marketing, community building etc. I was lost.
Now, It is clearer.
---
The research question is
How to foster social innovation through sustainable behaviour and/or the re-use and remanufacture of household waste?
What do you reckon?
Drop your comments
---
2 Years ago, 1 month after starting my new job, 3 month after finishing my studies, it was clear for me that I wanted to go back to academia. I set up myself to gain a bit of experience and look for a new job.
18 month ago, I had two interviews, one for a knowledge transfer partnership leading to Ph.D with Birmingham City University and one for a Ph.D with Cranfield University on Sustainability and Communications. Deep inside it was not really what I was looking for.
12 month ago, I almost gave up finding the Ph.D. Then, I changed my mind. I systematically send emails to to find the gap where I could jump in
9 month ago I applied for Design Star with the intention to investigate how design for sustainable behaviour and eco-design will contribute to the concept of the Circular Economy.
2 month ago, I started my Ph.D
1 month ago, after a lot of reading on my research area, I figure than my initial questions did not fit with my interest in social innovation, activism, marketing, community building etc. I was lost.
Now, It is clearer.
---
The research question is
How to foster social innovation through sustainable behaviour and/or the re-use and remanufacture of household waste?
What do you reckon?
Drop your comments
Restart Party Host profile: Meet Marie
Published on Restart Project
My name is Marie Lefebvre. I co-founded with Divya Pujara, Leicester Fixers in 2014 with the support of Footpaths, a carbon footprint project, Leicester Hackspace and Transition Leicester. Other little things about myself, I am not a repairer yet I am absolutely delighted every time an electrical item gets opened and I can see inside it. I am also a Ph.D student at Loughborough University investigating the propensity of users of stuff to repair. I love each and every Restart Party because I always learn something new and meet lovely people.
My name is Marie Lefebvre. I co-founded with Divya Pujara, Leicester Fixers in 2014 with the support of Footpaths, a carbon footprint project, Leicester Hackspace and Transition Leicester. Other little things about myself, I am not a repairer yet I am absolutely delighted every time an electrical item gets opened and I can see inside it. I am also a Ph.D student at Loughborough University investigating the propensity of users of stuff to repair. I love each and every Restart Party because I always learn something new and meet lovely people.
Storytelling: A method to change yourself and the world
I have been contemplating using storytelling as a method to investigate the narrative of people trying to repair devices.
Instead of looking for journals that indicate the limitations and quality of this particular research method. I spent most my day looking out for pieces of information on how to become a storyteller.
I have learnt a few things.
First of all, a story is a strategic tool that can be used to change the world. It is a device that most of us as some way some how have and this through the magic of language. Language, sound is what allow us to connect with others. It is through this connection that we make that we can find ways to create a more compelling world. It is a leadership device that we have to make the best use of. It is our opportunity to get closer to others through the story we tell.
There is ways of telling a compelling stories. The story has to be visual in order to transport the audience in your realm. You have to show and not tell, body gestures and props are then welcome. Your story has to have a point. Without a point, it is just talking for talking and no one learn something from it.
For me, what revealed itself the most powerful is this video by Donald Davis on TedX Charlotteville. He share the story of his father who was called Joe Davis. Most in town called him Joe the Banker. Some called him Joe the Cripple. Why? Joe Davis tell the story to his son on how the experience of being crippled made him the banker that he is. Joe Davis tell the story on how his mother forced him to tell the story so many time to learn something from it and transform his outlook on his situation. From Donald Davis, I have learnt how the story can change the teller and why it is so valuable to tell and share your story, to change the world, to change yourself, to love more.
I have learnt something powerful about stories.
I also reflected on my own behaviour. I am always transported by other's stories and sometimes disgust by some current ones (climate injustice, child hunger etc.). I do not always take the time though to tell my own story. It is a big mistake. Big is probably not the right word. Mistake probably not too. It is just a shame to think that your own story is not as important as other people story. It is just a SHAME to think that your failure should be kept secret and weigh you down when actually by sharing the story you can learn more about yourself and teach something to other too. So after that experience, I note down all the stories I have experienced in simple bullet point. I took my voice recorder and started to tell them. One by One. There is the story on how I became a minimalist from having for most part of my life a messy room? How I became an environmentalist by first caring for child hunger? How I chose the love of my life from having positive and negative experiences with other men? How I embrace storytelling and how it change my life? There are more little stories there and then but I haven't found the point of them just yet. It will come as long as I keep telling them.
Video Links on storytelling:
How To Tell Stories: Storytelling Tips : How to Practice Storytelling Techniques Mastering The Art of Storytelling - Gordon Hester Doug Stevenson: "The Power to Persuade – The Magic of Story" | Talks at Google
Storytelling Skills / Training / Choose Your Stories
The power of storytelling | Andrea Gibbs | TEDxPerth
The power of storytelling to change the world: Dave Lieber at TEDxSMU 2013
The mystery of storytelling: Julian Friedmann at TEDxEalin
Instead of looking for journals that indicate the limitations and quality of this particular research method. I spent most my day looking out for pieces of information on how to become a storyteller.
I have learnt a few things.
First of all, a story is a strategic tool that can be used to change the world. It is a device that most of us as some way some how have and this through the magic of language. Language, sound is what allow us to connect with others. It is through this connection that we make that we can find ways to create a more compelling world. It is a leadership device that we have to make the best use of. It is our opportunity to get closer to others through the story we tell.
There is ways of telling a compelling stories. The story has to be visual in order to transport the audience in your realm. You have to show and not tell, body gestures and props are then welcome. Your story has to have a point. Without a point, it is just talking for talking and no one learn something from it.
For me, what revealed itself the most powerful is this video by Donald Davis on TedX Charlotteville. He share the story of his father who was called Joe Davis. Most in town called him Joe the Banker. Some called him Joe the Cripple. Why? Joe Davis tell the story to his son on how the experience of being crippled made him the banker that he is. Joe Davis tell the story on how his mother forced him to tell the story so many time to learn something from it and transform his outlook on his situation. From Donald Davis, I have learnt how the story can change the teller and why it is so valuable to tell and share your story, to change the world, to change yourself, to love more.
I have learnt something powerful about stories.
I also reflected on my own behaviour. I am always transported by other's stories and sometimes disgust by some current ones (climate injustice, child hunger etc.). I do not always take the time though to tell my own story. It is a big mistake. Big is probably not the right word. Mistake probably not too. It is just a shame to think that your own story is not as important as other people story. It is just a SHAME to think that your failure should be kept secret and weigh you down when actually by sharing the story you can learn more about yourself and teach something to other too. So after that experience, I note down all the stories I have experienced in simple bullet point. I took my voice recorder and started to tell them. One by One. There is the story on how I became a minimalist from having for most part of my life a messy room? How I became an environmentalist by first caring for child hunger? How I chose the love of my life from having positive and negative experiences with other men? How I embrace storytelling and how it change my life? There are more little stories there and then but I haven't found the point of them just yet. It will come as long as I keep telling them.
Video Links on storytelling:
How To Tell Stories: Storytelling Tips : How to Practice Storytelling Techniques Mastering The Art of Storytelling - Gordon Hester Doug Stevenson: "The Power to Persuade – The Magic of Story" | Talks at Google
Storytelling Skills / Training / Choose Your Stories
The power of storytelling | Andrea Gibbs | TEDxPerth
The power of storytelling to change the world: Dave Lieber at TEDxSMU 2013
The mystery of storytelling: Julian Friedmann at TEDxEalin
Other links
The New Mobile Phone Dilemma PART 2
This Saturday at the Restart Party, we haven't managed to repair my poor mobile phone (PART 1).
Luckily, one of the members of the Hackspace have a spare one that is happy to lend me until I am able to repair my own. I accept gratefully.
I get home and get myself two spares part to replace the screen on my mobile phone.
They arrived at home.
I put them in a drawer.
They stay there.
The current mobile phone that was lent to me is perfectly convenient for the time being.
I forget to bring the replacement screen at the next restart party and I come to learn that the person who lent me the mobile phone has gone and will never come back to Leicester and I will not find a way to give it back to him.
I accept fate.
Months pass by and I never manage to repair my old mobile phone. it is somewhere in a drawer with its spare parts.
I forget about it. I have a working phone in my hands.
Until this Sunday morning after having repaired the bottom drawer of a cupboard, the screw driving machine fell on my borrowed mobile phone...
Luckily, one of the members of the Hackspace have a spare one that is happy to lend me until I am able to repair my own. I accept gratefully.
I get home and get myself two spares part to replace the screen on my mobile phone.
They arrived at home.
I put them in a drawer.
They stay there.
The current mobile phone that was lent to me is perfectly convenient for the time being.
I forget to bring the replacement screen at the next restart party and I come to learn that the person who lent me the mobile phone has gone and will never come back to Leicester and I will not find a way to give it back to him.
I accept fate.
Months pass by and I never manage to repair my old mobile phone. it is somewhere in a drawer with its spare parts.
I forget about it. I have a working phone in my hands.
Until this Sunday morning after having repaired the bottom drawer of a cupboard, the screw driving machine fell on my borrowed mobile phone...
Repair - Diary Entry (1) Green Festival of Making & Mending Leicester
Since September 2014, My main project focus has been on repair.
I have been working with Zina, founder of Footpaths, a carbon reduction project in Leicester to organise the Green Festival of Making & Mending on the 31st October 2015 and a serie of events throughout 2015. Our main aim was to introduce people to ingenious ideas to repair and upcycle items in an environmentally friendly way. The event idea stemmed the recognition of our own vulnerabilities. Zina and I were not really the creative/diy type. For me, personally, my hands were only used as so far for typing and some random drawing but never to make something tangible. Maybe they were but I never appreciated their magnificence.
Is gold in our hands?
A year working on festival and following up to that, I mended all my clothes, darned socks and gloves, repaired a mobile phone, made a rag rug and a banner, painted signs, made sculptures out of papers and christmas decorations, repaired pieces of furnitures, shortened curtains.
My hands saved pennies and more...
They connected me to so many people with the skills in Leicester that are willing to share their knowledge and crafts.
I wish they would save the many people across the planet sewing and making clothes and homeware , making furnitures and electrical items everyday for pennies. But the day will come,- I am sure.
To learn more about Footpaths - www.leicesterfootpaths.org.uk
I have been working with Zina, founder of Footpaths, a carbon reduction project in Leicester to organise the Green Festival of Making & Mending on the 31st October 2015 and a serie of events throughout 2015. Our main aim was to introduce people to ingenious ideas to repair and upcycle items in an environmentally friendly way. The event idea stemmed the recognition of our own vulnerabilities. Zina and I were not really the creative/diy type. For me, personally, my hands were only used as so far for typing and some random drawing but never to make something tangible. Maybe they were but I never appreciated their magnificence.
Is gold in our hands?
A year working on festival and following up to that, I mended all my clothes, darned socks and gloves, repaired a mobile phone, made a rag rug and a banner, painted signs, made sculptures out of papers and christmas decorations, repaired pieces of furnitures, shortened curtains.
My hands saved pennies and more...
They connected me to so many people with the skills in Leicester that are willing to share their knowledge and crafts.
I wish they would save the many people across the planet sewing and making clothes and homeware , making furnitures and electrical items everyday for pennies. But the day will come,- I am sure.
To learn more about Footpaths - www.leicesterfootpaths.org.uk
The New Mobile Phone Dilemma PART 1
Every 6 Weeks, I organised a Restart Party at Leicester Hackspace along with a number of amateur/professional repairers.
My first trial at repairing an item was a mobile phone.
The poor thing painfully fell in the middle of the street as I was cycling home after a gorgeous meal with friends in an Indian restaurant. The screen was cracked and my belly was full.
I was paired up with a bald head man quite tall. He is related to one of my acquaintance who is really involved in environmental campaigning in Leicester. He is warm and a very good pedagogue. He never repaired a mobile phone like mine before. We know that there are plenty of guides online. Together we decide to give it a go.
I am smiling and cheering as we are trying to open the piece of equipments. How wonderful those green and copper pieces are assembled together. It looks beautiful, a real piece of art. We take off all the parts to reach the front screen. We replace it. We put all the pieces back together. Turn the phone on. It is not working. We are scratching our head asking ourselves what went wrong.
We reopen it, take all the piece out. Here it is, we damaged the LCD screen as we were trying to take out the front screen.
He is very sorry and feels that he is fault. I reassure him that it is ok and it was one of the greatest experience I had. I truly enjoyed it.
I have to buy a new spare part.
My first trial at repairing an item was a mobile phone.
The poor thing painfully fell in the middle of the street as I was cycling home after a gorgeous meal with friends in an Indian restaurant. The screen was cracked and my belly was full.
I was paired up with a bald head man quite tall. He is related to one of my acquaintance who is really involved in environmental campaigning in Leicester. He is warm and a very good pedagogue. He never repaired a mobile phone like mine before. We know that there are plenty of guides online. Together we decide to give it a go.
I am smiling and cheering as we are trying to open the piece of equipments. How wonderful those green and copper pieces are assembled together. It looks beautiful, a real piece of art. We take off all the parts to reach the front screen. We replace it. We put all the pieces back together. Turn the phone on. It is not working. We are scratching our head asking ourselves what went wrong.
We reopen it, take all the piece out. Here it is, we damaged the LCD screen as we were trying to take out the front screen.
He is very sorry and feels that he is fault. I reassure him that it is ok and it was one of the greatest experience I had. I truly enjoyed it.
I have to buy a new spare part.
When items break, they are not repaired but rather recycled or they end up landfills. - My toys
When my toys broke, they were either taken away from me or they left at the bottom of the toy box, waiting for some type of resurrection which never occur. I wish that:
A) someone would have tried to repair them
B) someone would have shown me how to repaired them
C) someone would have looked after me when my toy world crumbled.
D) someone would have looked after them when their compatriots failed to function
E) Someone would have collaborated with me to create a better world
F) I was more confident at such young age to repair my world
What would you have wished for? Add your options in the comments box
A) someone would have tried to repair them
B) someone would have shown me how to repaired them
C) someone would have looked after me when my toy world crumbled.
D) someone would have looked after them when their compatriots failed to function
E) Someone would have collaborated with me to create a better world
F) I was more confident at such young age to repair my world
What would you have wished for? Add your options in the comments box
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