Monday
Our final day and its sunny!
Arrived early to check I was happy with my route: I am.
Usual check in with the team and then handing out of pinks bands. A lovely group, including Emma, set sail for our adventure
Stop at the river, dive into the chocolate buttons, and hold our gaze under the wobbly bridge.
We pause to remember Pamela and I share her story: Pamela had sent me  a text this morning with thanks for the care that was shown her.  We pass by Brian's spot and off to King St
Maureen and Burt in the sorting room of the Cancer Research shop were beautiful framed, either side of the sorting desk, and they share the lovely story of how they met. Brian too shy to speak to Maureen kept brining donations into the shop, and had to stop before he emptied his home.
Off down Angel Walk, taking in Lees garden, and across the back of the church, and the gravestones. Hammersmith Station and the Help Centre lead us to our  meeting with Uweme. Such a gentle sole with a story of his gang life, with drugs and crime, to his new life now, as assistant pastor at the centre.
We took in the Apollo story and met with Mark the handyman as we strolled back to Riverside.
Polishing off the chocolate buttons, the group agreed, it had been a very special journey indeed!

What  a lovely end to an extraordinary week, as we drank and ate and applauded our endeavours at The Blue Anchor. And that was the week that was, and that was the week that was!

Sunday 7th

Arrive to chat with David, not part of our journey today, he is thanked for is time. Met Jean and Alan and their adopted dog Roxy and walk back with them to Riverside, chatting as we go. With a lifetime in Hammersmith, they may join our journey later. Have a chat with Kevin in Riverside, who will be the end point of our adventures today.

Were off...

And the sun is shining

Another team of five 'pink team' hit the road from Riverside. A great mix of energy, and its into the chocolate buttons as we hit the river to gaze. The pause under the bridge is again well received, as people marvel at how much is moves!

We walk past the Hammersmith Club and stop, as I share a brief account of Pamela's story, and how we met.

On to Brian's Mosaic, and the man himself! Armed with a postcard of the Mosaic for each of the group and a large black and white photo of when it was painted, he tells tales all those in it, and was a great hit from the off. 

We sallied forth down King St and snuck into the lobby of the Tower block, were the Muriel Brian painted, twenty years ago, still covers the lobby walls.

What a delight, when a resident left and ended up involved in the story, she remembered Brian and him doing the work, and reproached him for not including her in it!

We head back down Angel Walk and looked at Lee's Garden, then across the back of the church, the gravestones, and the Apollo story.

Kevin's framed, centre stage in reception as we enter Riverside and he entertains beautiful with tales of Canada and Acting, whilst making his work announcements over the Riverside PA. All back to the special space, with post it notes of adventures and the desire for more!

Friday onwards..

Friday was a lovely shared morning that I got totally lost in. It was only after our beautiful Maltese lunch on Fulham Palace road that I suddenly panicked and realised the clock was ticking and I still had to find another person or persons to tell their story on Saturday & Sunday.  So after a tip off I crossed over to the pub opposite the Maltese café.

Unfortunately I called Aurthur a couple of times and got no reply.  Reverend Rat however has confirmed, if not hazily, that he is still on for Monday.

So in my quest for a new story teller I introduced myself to the pub landlady Josie, a lovely boisterous lady who I thought would immediately say yes, but turned round and said no, but added that there was a person there that I should talk to instead and she called for a girl named Maria.

Maria appeared and at first was very embarrassed, she also said she had nothing to say or tell.  Josie however completely disagreed declaring, that she (Maria) doesn't think she's interesting but she is.

And Josie was right.  Maria has a wonderful story of arriving in London 10 years ago to study Drama at college.   She started working at the pub 10 years ago to fund her way through college and has stayed ever since.  A couple of years ago she went on holiday to Rome and was so inspired by all she had seen she began to study Classics at Open University and is currently learning Italian. She also works one day a week at the British Museum, a place she visited in her first week of arriving in London.  She has agreed to tell her story on Sunday.

I then rushed back to the Star Café Grill to find the manager Eser had left for the day, he leaves early on Fridays - clocking ticking I went back to Riverside - I spoke to Jane who told me there was a possibility that I could speak to one of the projectionist of the Riverside cinema and thankfully I could!

Mark the projectionist allowed me to speak to me in his domain and in doing so fulfilled a personal dream for me, I've always wanted to know what it was like to be up there in that box.  Mark was a wonderful character, passionate about his job and about film.  At the age of six they showed Charlottes Web on film at school and he was hooked.  He said if he met his six year old self he would say that he may not have made the money he wanted to or married the girl he liked at school but he ended up doing the job of his dreams.

That unfortunately is all I have time to write this morning.  Yesterday was an incredible day, and now I'm going to get ready to prepare myself for another....

Saturday 6th
Were off...........
And the sun is shining!
A small but beautifully formed 'pink' group leave the Riverside Studios. No time is waisted in getting stuck in to the giant chocolate buttons.
We pause to soak up the river and the bridge, then stopping under its heavy weight to hear the traffic over our heads.
We stroll to the Hammersmith Club, and I remind everybody of the very 'real nature of the stories we will hear. We enter Hammersmith club and I receive a welcome wave from my new group of boyfriends.The extraordinary Pamela is waiting for us. Such an incredible and life affirming story of hope over grief: everyone was clearly very moved. The group all thank Pamela and checking she is 'cared for' we head off on our route.
We stop at Brian's Mosaic on the way to King St, along with stories of others I have met. After a brief search I track down David with his interesting, if perhaps slightly truculent, view of what we are doing. All are impressed by his art work
We head back taking in the Headstone's at the back of St Pauls church and The Apollo story. By all accounts a "remarkable" journey.

Day 2 onwards....

Please excuse my blogging, I find it necessary to massively abbreviate the retelling my encounters for so many reasons, and feel unable to fully do them justice here. I also don't wish to bore you with the details I have already tried to pass on in our time together in person, so today I think I will focus on putting down my thoughts and feelings as the project has progressed.

I have frequently felt overwhelmed during this process, I don't mean this in a bad way, just that although we are doing something seemingly small and simple it is also huge. I suspect we were chosen for this project because of an openness in our characters, and I have found that the more open I have allowed myself to be the more I have been affected by all I have seen and experienced. This has been both a positive and negative, mainly the former but sometimes the latter too. I have been hugely touched by people's generosity of spirit and desire to create a sense of community in their lives. I have also found it surprisingly difficult to be told "No, I don't want to talk to you." My approach has understandably changed from person to person, but of course you only get one opportunity to make the first contact with someone so sometimes it's just not successful.

As I mentioned earlier having the time to explore and the purpose of creating Stop-Look-Listen has really given me a sense of license to figuratively and literally open doors and climb on through, to follow whims, make connections and enter spaces I would not normally feel entitled to enter. I really hope to continue this, but more immediately to allow the audience to indulge in this feeling too. My fervent wish is to give them time and space, and not find fault in them or much more likely myself if they "don't get it". I feel incredibly fortunate to have been chosen to have this experience and really hope to give the audience a slice of this...analogies of picture framing spring to mind, and the phrase "moveable feast" has been with me for the past few days.

In fact having typed that I then unearthed this - By metaphoric extension, the term "moveable feast" was used by Ernest Hemingway to mean the memory of a splendid place that continues to go with the moving traveler for the rest of life, after he has had the experience of it and gone away. The author used the title A Moveable Feast for his late-life memoirs of his early life as a struggling writer in Paris in the 1920s. He said to a friend: "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."

I have frequently felt close to tears during our time together, for no apparent reason. I've not uncovered any particularly sad stories but have been just marveling at human kind in general. I have always been fascinated by the best and worst in human nature, and this week the predominant themes that have come up in so many conversations are - money won't make you happy and more fool those that think it will, it's better for your soul to always see the best in others, make the best of every situation that comes to you, and we need one another. Essentially Bobby McFerrin had it right, "Don't Worry Be Happy."

Judgement has so frequently reared it's ugly little head in the back of my mind this week. Not that I've been judging the people I've met or their stories, but wondering if other people will find what I've selected profound or interesting enough and therefore by extension judge my stories partners and me. However I've reconciled myself to the idea that they would have not made these connections at all without this project so whatever they take away from it is ultimately not down to me....However knowing money has exchanged hands in order for them to participate does bring up lots of questions about worth and cause me to doubt myself. Having said this I had a great deal of fun this morning in our very brief group walk around Hammersmith and hope that like me the audience will feel that that alone was worthy of their time and money!

As I said to Jane today I feel our two tours merging was a happy accident caused by having independently made connections with a couple of the same people and some how all roads seeming to lead to and from Bob. In fact it's emerged today that there is connection between pretty much every single person we have met and I've been astonished to uncover such a vibrant little community and feel so whole-heartedly welcomed into it!

I hope this doesn't read as self indulgent twoddle, or an irritating stream of consciousness...it's heading dangerously close, but as I said it's the enormity of it all which makes it difficult to record in any sensible way. Quite a few people we've spoken to have asked if we will be recording the "performances" and I've been responding by saying that no although it's like a documentary it's just happening in moment for the sake of all those lucky enough to be there at the time, and potential story partners seem to have been very satisfied with this explanation.

Anyway now I am rambling so I shall leave you all in cyber space peace for now.

Much love, A

Met with David and Alister, who then got questioned by the police. David and I went to his assistance. Interesting how the tone of a conversation can change when someone not homeless comes along: bit tense there for a while, but eventually all well and we went for coffee. Alister was a little shaken and visibly very cold. It seems he had his Big Issue vest and badge stolen and thats the problem
Off to Cancer Research shop to meet with Maureen again and Burt and it's a yes for Monday!
Off to meet up with the team and snatches of our excellent adventure
Off to walk the route, vey pleased how that has come together. Got into the walled garden to see Brian Deighton other mosaic work, sent him txt to let him know.
Met the team for a'spot of lunch' and another snip of a story.
Did  a taster of my Saturday walk and snips of others: fabulous!
Back to Riverside and look at how it all hangs: hangs pretty darned well I'd say
What a wonderful team we are!
Onwards!!!!!!!!!!!!

On my way to the Riverside this morning and I noticed a beautiful house behind a lot of scaffolding that you can only see by peering through the gate. I went down the path and rang the bell. Lizzie opened the door and let me in to a building known as Temple Lodge. The former home of artist Sir Frank Brangwyn, it is now a Christian guesthouse and a church is currently being constructed on site. The house is peaceful, warm and serene with high ceilings, lots of books and natural light, a large garden and lots of greenery. It was completed unexpected to find such a calm oasis only moments from the Broadway and the Flyover. Lizzie was busy tidying away breakfast dishes but she said I could go back at 12 o clock when she would have time to talk.
I met Anna at Riverside and we set off in search of the Anderson Shelter Bob had told us about on Lillie Road but we were unable to find it, despite asking a few people in the area.
We visited Cosco cafe and chatted to owner Joseph. He has currency from all over the world decorating the walls of the cafe, and Bob made the frames for him.
We returned to Temple Lodge and met Alyssia. She showed us two pictures by Brangwyn (the only pictures of his that are there) and spoke about how she enjoyed working there and had not known of Temple Lodge previously, having seen the position advertised locally. She gave us the telephone number of the Priest, Peter and thinks we may be able to visit on Monday. It will be a lovely place to pause and we may get a story too, we will contact Peter to ask if we can visit.
We continued through the snow to The Distillers to try the chips Scott had told us about ... and they were indeed delicious. Scott told us he is happy for us to visit on Saturday and will even wear a clean apron for the occasion.
We met Emma and went to Bob's house in the afternoon. Bob showed us some photographs and told us many stories of his life that were both touching and inspiring.
After the meeting at The Riverside we went to see George, the fellow Geordie on Fulham Palace Road. He had just received a parking ticket but despite this was friendly and upbeat and he asked us to post his appeal letter for him on our way home. He worked as a hotel manager and a squash teacher before he set up his own soft furnishings company and he lives above the shop. He has agreed to be part of Moving Stories on Monday.
We then visited Joseph the Maltese patisserie owner. He showed us pictures of Maltese celebrities that have visited him and he has customers that come from as far afield as Portsmouth to purchase his goods. He loves London but misses the cafe culture that exists in Malta and he set up his own cafe to create that world here. We left with not just one but two pastries in hand each, which did not last long... He has agreed to be part of Moving Stories at the weekend.

 More coffee with David and Alister of course
Checked out the polish deli No go
Checked out Amnesty International No go
Doorsteps Sandwitch Bar lovely chat family owned by a Turkish family very interested in what we are doing but not open at weekends may come along to the walk on Monday
Chatted with Chris Tranchell Actor credits include Doctor Who in the 60's The Onedin Line The New Avengers and Z Cars filmed at a riverside  I think chopped up bodies and put them in black bags! Sadly away this weekend but may come to join the event as an audience member on Monday
Met Uweme at the a help Centre (church) at the end of Hammersmith Sation young man of Nigerian decent Did have a life of crime and drinking and gang involvement is now assistan pastor at the centre. Is willing to do Monday if we decide to go that way. Checking out Cancer Research tomorrow  as the other Monday option
Met Brian Deighton who painted the Mural in King  St having emailed him last night and this morning very interesting story of the project and others and his life will be joint us on Sunday.
Catch up with the team again
Nearly there!

Day One

I left Riverside after a lovely meeting, meeting everyone for the first time and walked towards King St.  My first stop was the shopping mall, a little empty and a little depressing.  There was a strange silence, no bussell and a number of people sitting on their own on benches.  I did wonder if they had just come there to sit in the warm.

My next stop was the Lyric, a much livelier spot and I stepped out on the deserted roof terrace just to take a good look at my surroundings, it has been quite a while since I was in Hammersmith last. What I love about being above street level is that it gives you a moment to look up and look out.  Being on the Lyric roof you can see reflections of self and of the sky in the glass windows that surround you.  Surrounding sounds were dulled and  I watched people in the square below.  A little girl in a pink coat was standing very still watching little spurts of water pop up from the ground.  A beautifully dressed middle aged business man stood in the middle eating a sandwich.

I walked to the other side of the roof terrace and started to observe people through office windows - watching them go about their daily business.  I looked down onto King St and saw Jeanette talking to David selling the Big Issue outside M&S. Thought how nice it would be for crossing paths such as this to happen on the day of presenting Moving Stories.

Love the overall aesthetics of Hammersmith, lots of layers and crossovers, surrounded by bridges and the fly over. Lots of bricks and glass and trees and luminous yellow jackets.

Took a walk along King St. Went into Headmasters. Met Andrea a hairdresser with wonderful pink hair.  She cut my fringe and we chatted, her life had changed dramatically in the past 2 yrs after the end of a ten year relationship.  There was a wonderful openness and hopefulness about her.  She's going to think about taking part. Have to go back on Thursday for an answer.

Went to 'Star Cafe Grill', a greasy spoon cafe that the manager told me has been open for 60 years.  It has had the same owner all that time. He himself has been there for 6 years. very chatty at first then silence.  I will return, something about the place.

Day Two

First port of call 'Timpsons' shoe repairs.  Met two great guys called Tony and Lawrence. Both in their twenties, they have been only working together for 3 weeks, but they give the impression they have known each other for years.  Wonderful banter between them both.  Both have a story of leaving school very young, Tony 13, Lawrence never really properly in regular school.  Tony began work at 13, a wide variety of jobs.  Lawrence has been in prison - documentary about him. 'Breaking the Cycle'.

Both of them, strikingly, spoke about being part of this business with pride and a sense of belonging.  They both have a history of no certs, no grades, no recognition of achievement until working for this company and there they stood, two grown men, looking like to young boys saying 'this is what I have done'.  Very touching and quite moving.

They are a definite YES!

St Augustin's a NO

The Nail Bar opposite a NO but a great place for people watching.

Two Train spotters on the District line a NO.


Day Three

Andrea the Hairdresser is a No.

The Manager in 'Star Cafe Grill' a maybe but he said he is shy.  he introduced me to a lovely 78 year old man Arthur Barnes who was born and bred in Hammersmtih but now lives in Rye.  still visits his friends here once a week.  He would love to do the project but maybe only on Monday.  Wonderful stories of how Hammersmith used to be.  His wife who died 12 years ago grew up on the same street as him.  They used to walk up and down the street aged 7 holding hands.  The image made my want to cry, how he must miss her. I have to call him in the morning.

Then I met Reverend Rat, a man of about 60 with so many stories. Think the line of story telling I will take with him is how he rebelled at the age of 11 against his RAF, public school upbringing and seems to have led his life in the same vein since.  I have to call him Monday morning to see if he will still be a definite yes for Monday afternoon.

Went back to the boys at 'Timpsons' and worked through with them the loose structure of where our story telling will take us.  They had alot of customers today so timing and banter will be interesting. They do, however  have a lovely, positive energy to be around, so I think all will be well...

Looking forward to tomorrow..

Moving Stories - Day 1: the approach!

a blog post from Sarah - Moving Stories, Day 1: 

A first thought about a Pause moment: st Augustine church poster that says, "god may be calling you but not on your mobile." Oh how things have changed! 

I saw a wonderful, tiny, older woman walking with her groceries and it sounds silly but I sort of gently followed her for a bit, watching her way of life and the cadence of her step. Then her whole face lit up because she recognized a child and gave the child an enormous hug. I felt odd then continuing to follow and I left this woman. 

I searched the streets, around the back of the Apollo, saw men loading things in and out of locations. 

I went to the underground station to find the older gentlemen who I found had kind eyes each morning when I left the station. I pursued the entire station first thinking where he might eat and go for breaks or shop for a book etc. Two younger men called out names to be on the escalator and it made me think about this exercise and the vibes we give out. I was in such positive and observant spirits and they darkened that temporarily - how fragile we are. 

Then there was Malcolm. He had worked for the underground for 12 years, more recently at this station "sometimes on the tickets, sometimes here". He expressed his love for theatre and that he is a member at Riverside. He said be was happy to meet but not if it interfered with his matinee of Spamalot. 

Then I talked to Frankie & an Indian woman at the Cornish pasty stall in the station. Her plan was to work for "the next 10 years straight to have lots of money and never work again in India."

I walked after down to a local, cluttered hard ware store with a rather annoyed British man (Peter) running it. I annoyed him further with my ignorance on bathroom washers, and ended up buying one for 30p. I figured his annoyance was basically just shy ness or feeling misunderstood. I asked him for a coffee to get to know him the following day and he said, "no but a pint is good." So we're on for 5:30 at the Eagle. 

After leaving the hardware store a rubbish collecting gent stopped me (Galab,  55) and told me ... Everything. About his 3 marriages and two current girlfriends and 5 children and how he was a champion boxer... all with his endearing Spanish accent & vibrant nature. He talked openly & loudly in the sunny street about sex with his wife and money and life and nature and more about sex and more about boxing and told me to "never have children because they are too expensive but to have one in 5 years and it should be a boy." He would have been an ideal story partner but he is only around on Tuesdays and "goes to church with the family Sundays and goes out to the disco-Tec with his girlfriend on Saturdays." This chance meeting made me think about how Moving Stories is exactly that, a moving thing, and something will just certainly be in the moment - a living, evolving theatre. 

After this I summoned my guts and pressed the big bell outside the fire station. A clean cut British gent from Mancester came to the door and let me in. After trying to explain what we are trying to create and the theme of our piece he finally got it :) and he brought me into the station further. I saw the poles and the trucks and was pretty excited abo all this. They had hilarious posters of Boris everywhere and he was very helpful and self effacing. Tom said "Simon and Billy would be perfect for this." Then he buzzed them downstairs loudly so the entire building could hear this command, and on second thought he said over the systems "but it's not important". I laughed and he said "sorry but I just meant its not an emergency." Fair enough! Billy and Simon came down, they all understood the project. Try showed me the calendar for the different watches. They said "we're green watch which is the best and the next best is white watch, you'll love them because they just started and they are full of beans and young handsome guys - good for telly!" I explained it was like documentary theatre and not on TV :). Simon and Billy started making up funny stories about "their first love" and "the first thing they ever killed" and things like that, but I could tell they were genuinely very bright men with hearts and would definitely be up for an open dialogue one on one. Simon made fun of the Fulham station where he came from saying, "it's much better over here, at least they don't speak in monosyllables and most of them read the guardian." They kept using bigger and bigger words after that almost to be the chosen one for the project! They kept saying"draconian and Machiavellian, etc". 

They were very excited about my idea of showing "the human being behind this heroic position" but they were concerned about the bureaucracy of it and they got my on the phone pitching to the head of the fire department for London, David. David kept saying, " are you am actress? What exactly is this?!" But I eventually won him over. Now I have to email him the pitch and see what he says. 

After the Fire Brigade extravaganza, I took my own... Pause... In the children's room of the Hammersmith library. The ceiling was covering in strings of colourful little socks and I was the only one in the room. :) 

Next stop was M & S because Mandy the baker always interested me. I suppose I've been drawn to people who seem a bit wounded but there is a true kindness that comes out if you spend a moment, like warming cold butter in your hand. (I bake a lot) :) 

She agreed to a meeting the following morning and said I could come back and meet her here again. The customers were quite aggressive with her and it made for a strange dichotomy. 

Walking back I was aware of how and where I would walk/pause. I saw I man outside his flat in the council flats at 2 Bath Place, and he was smoking. I was desperate to talk to him but didn't for some reason. Instead I stopped in my tracks and we looked at each other, with fairly neutral stares, and then he went inside. 

There was a "experience healing today" sign which seemed an appropriate way to conclude. 

I noticed so many men who were collecting rubbish were on their phones so I could not approach. I turned and hadn't noticed there were two men fixing a car and lying underneath it who had been watching me watch the man having a cigarette. Chain of observing! ...

I took one last little poke down a different route where Sid and Jane had set off. I talked to a young woman in a falafel shop named Sarah from France with stunning blue eyes. She said she probably couldn't take part because "she was young and hadn't lived yet" ... Something tells me that would be inaccurate :). 

I got back to Riverside Studios and I saw the cleaner, Marlene, who I often talk too. We had this banter right off the bat for some reason. She kept trying to take me to the front desk or the cafe because she maybe thoughts wanted tickets. I kept saying "you're the one I want to talk to!" And her face lit up and she giggled. We set a meet up for 4pm after her shift tomorrow. She works 6 days a week at the Riverside. I am probably most looking forward to talking to her.

My journey thus far...

Hi all,
So here goes.

On my first day of exploring Hammersmith I was full of excitement and nerves. On leaving the theatre I saw a sign that said "Healing" so I followed it and ended up in the Tenant's Association Hall on the Peabody Estate. I went in and explained that I didn't want to be healed (I had no money and therefore couldn't pay the suggested £5) I just wanted to hear more about it. Dixon told me a little about how healing worked and I explained the project to him. He then told me he'd like to heal me for free as it would be a good first experience of Hammersmith, so I willingly hopped up on to the couch and was told much about the ideas behind healing. Dixon told me it was time to stop talking for the benefit of the healing, however by this point we'd struck up quite a dialogue, so neither of us were very successful at not talking to one another. He told me about how he'd got into healing in 1996, and how it was possible to heal yourself, and also protect yourself with the Protective Egg Breath (which he had successfully used previously against a disagreeable boss). He spoke with excitement about the 6 years he had spent doing amateur dramatics after having been in the army, and told me a story about his grandson's acting prowess. This so course is the massively abbreviated version as we spent about 40 minutes together and Dixon was a very interesting and kind spirited man who was very interested in the project. Unfortunately the healing only takes place there on a Tuesday, and Dixon lives in Fulham so would not be available for the project. He did however refer me to the chairman of their society.

I had a brief chat with Justin, who thankfully Sid also met, as although he seemed great I just didn't feel I could connect as deeply as I wished with him because we were talking about his beautiful car, so I had no idea what I was talking about!

I later met Jay in the entrance of the tube station, he was selling bags of make-up to passers by, and so stopped me/I was hanging about as I knew that I wanted to talk to someone with this type of job. I told him about what we are doing and he delivered his sales pitch to me....which was fascinating as he remembered such an incredible amount of facts and figures (it made me wondered if he had ever been into acting, as it seemed like a very well learnt and delivered script). However it transpired he had actually previously been working as a make-up artist, and had established his own promotions company to sell this make-up in the station in the hope of reaching his dream of having the ability to move to SW6. The dream of moving to Chelsea lead us to talk about where he was born in Coventry and his family history, which all was incredibly interesting but it was more the fact that he had bothered to research and remember how many postcodes there are in the UK and then work out how old he would be to have lived the same amount of days as there are UK postcodes that fascinated me. Jay told me that he would be willing to take part, although not be in the show, but after further explanation he was up for taking part.

I then had the joy of spending a long time in Sid's shop on the Fulham Palace Road, which has to be one of the friendliest places I've ever had the joy of visiting. The conversation here was long and meandering. I brought some shoe polish and in return was brought a cup of tea. Gary and Gary who I met here had a huge amount of knowledge about the area and other locals, and together were like some brilliant comedy double act. Gary (who doesn't work there, but was a visiting friend) told me that he couldn't take part....there were a strange, but interesting assortment of reasons - he'd never been to the theatre, was agrophobic, couldn't have middle class people coming to listen to him, and wasn't born in Hammersmith. Despite all this he actually seemed very open to the project, but it was my hope that Gary/Sid who owns the shop would be the one who would agree to take part. However he didn't say either way, but they did say I absolutely must meet Bob, who is 89 (yes 89) and in their minds perfect for Moving Stories.

Dear all,

I'm so inspired and uplifted by your work these past two days; such courage and sensitivity in your approach. Thank you. A few links for you:

Vivi Tellas - the Argentinian Director who inspired Moving Stories, and a clip of her show 'My Mother and my Aunt'. 

Adrian Howells, the Performance Artist who I really admire, speaking about his approach and philosophy: 

So excited about our next few days - rest well, and feel great about what you have achieved so far!

Emma x

8.45 David and Aliister at Mc Donald's: very different energy and dynamic: David very forceful over Aliister, bit of a challenge to be around.

Care Home: spoke with Manager again, not sure they have anyone, said they would ring me this afternoon. Didn't call.

Shop directly opposite Riverside: no go

Charring Cross Hospital: no go

Wetherspoons: very long and very interesting conversation with Alan who came to the UK from Barbados in 1962, was working as a Policeman in Barbados as a young man, when he saw an advert to come to the UK and work on the busses: the rest, as they say, is history. Had LOTS of very interesting stores and views on immigration and 'intellectual pigmies' otherwise know as politicians, with no accountability.  Not able to do the weekend as he is going to Skegness: may see him again tomorrow. Maybe for Monday?

Hammersmith Club: met with lots of people and did a bit of line dancing: met the remarkable Pamela. Pamela spoke of her troubled marriage, building a new life and the loss of her three children, two boys, and a girl. Has agreed to share her story on Saturday as she wanted to share her experience of how its possible to live on after such sadness. Has found love with Brian: said her children are at peace, and she line dances at the Hammersmith Club. Brian's son and partner recently had a baby, one of Pamela's joys!

Good to meet the team at Riverside and get the days updates

Exhausted!

Jeanette

I arrived in Hammersmith bright and early in the sunshine and decided to take a meandering stroll to The Riverside. I walked past a Launderette on Fulham Palace Road and on a whim, decided to go in. Having no laundry in hand, Awat the owner assumed I must be cold and told me I could sit down. He asked where I lived and I discovered he used to drink at the pub on my street in Muswell Hill. Awat told that theatricality runs in his family, sharing with me some personal stories about his family. I asked if I could return to chat with him later on and he agreed to meet me at 11am.

I met the Moving Stories at 10 for a lovely morning meeting and then I returned to the Launderette armed with some croissants from Emma. Awat made us some tea and insisted we both ate the croissants. He told me about growing up in Iraq and how he had to hide in the mountains to avoid military service. This was extremely dangerous and he would have been shot if he was caught.
He also worked as an Aids Worker, taking food to villages in Iraq in convoys. One day his convoy was delayed by 10 minutes and the convoy ahead of him was blown up.

He came to England illegally via Turkey and paid around 7 thousand pounds to do this. At this point, our conversation took an unexpected turn when he paused mid sentence to ask the age old question 'tell me, who does your eyebrows?' I told him that I did, clearly not competently and he told me that I did one well and the other one could do with tidying up. He also guessed that I had a younger sister and my age, I am not sure if this was related to the eyebrow comment or he is just a very good reader of people! The conversation then included Turkish baths, his son who is at University in London and was born here and how when he returned to Iraq, it did not feel like home anymore. He was a very interesting man and unfortunately said he will not be here on Saturday or Monday. I asked if I could bring a group to meet him on Sunday and he said probably, but I will need to call him first to check he is not too busy. I said I will visit him tomorrow. He said when I walked in the door he knew we would be friends, which was lovely.

I then crossed over the road and went into Sid's The Cobblers and met Owner Gary and Luke (who does not work there but was helping out today.) They told me how much the area had changed and how you used to be able to go out with your doors unlocked. Luke once saw a man assault his girlfriend so he went over and stopped it while nearby police filmed it, but did not get involved. Luke was then arrested when the couple alleged he had assaulted them and spent the night in a police cell. The next day the Judge threw the case out and told Luke he was a pillar of the community. Gary said he would not like to be involved in Moving Stories but his friend Bob might. However, Anna and I are going to go back tomorrow to try and change his mind.

I wandered along the River and stood and looked at the two plaques on the handrail of The Hammersmith Bridge, which might be a nice pause point. I then walked along the river, past the house where George Devine the first Artistic Director of the Royal Court lived and along to a lovely pub called The Dove. I ventured inside for a coffee but there were only a couple of very flustered staff and a large work group? there so I left.

I walked back to Kings Street and went into Cashino. There was a gentleman in a wheelchair who shook my hand and then wouldn't let go, which was slightly awkward. He also asked me what my favourite sport was and told me his was "making love.' Perhaps this might be a good place to go in pairs and maybe try to avoid this gentleman if he is there again.

I had a nice stroll around Hammersmith and looked at the view from the Lyric before returning to The Riverside to meet everyone. It was great to hear of everyone's experiences and it seems like we have hopefully already met some potential story partners.

On the way back to the station, I walked the same route I came this morning along Fulham Palace Road. There was a curtains and interior design shop that was closed this morning but was now open so I went in and met George the owner. He had some beautiful fabrics hanging from the ceiling and had painted the walls dark red after he was inspired by the Redwood he saw on a visit to Vancouver. I detected a slight northern accent and soon learned he was born in the same part of Newcastle as me! We had a brief chat about Newcastle (he still thinks of it as home, even though he has lived here for 30  years.) He has fitted curtains for many multi millionaires and famous people in London but said he will never tell who they are as he thinks this should be private. He did say he had fitted curtains for a very rich Australian gentleman, who was then paralysed in a skiing accident leading him to think you never know what will happen. I arranged to meet him tomorrow afternoon.

Before I left, George told me to visit Joseph across the road in Parparellu, a Cafe/ Patisserie. I went in and ordered a mozarella and tomato pastry and chatted to Joseph. He told me Parparellu is London's first Maltese cafe and all of the food was made on premises. He seemed busy so I asked if I could go back and chat to him, and he said he will be there on Thursday afternoon so I could return then.

I was so deep in thought on the way home about today that I actually missed my tube stop and went one stop too far. I am really looking forward to tomorrow and meeting some more people and learning their stories.

Spilling out of Riverside and on to the sunlit streets of Hammersmith I made a beeline for a sign that had caught my eye last week. On the corner of Fulham Palace Road and Chancellor's Road stands an estate agent's office called "Lawsons & Daughters". The sign had made me pause for a moment and reflect upon the fact that I do not believe I had ever seen anything other than "& Sons" before. As such, I wanted to uncover the story behind it.

The story is anticlimactic, I'm afraid. I spoke to the manager, who told me rather brusquely that "I haven't got any daughters, there's no daughters on the horizon and I only called it '& Daughters' as a marketing ploy since no one else did". 

Disappointing, to say the least. Nonetheless, I shall definitely aim to meander back past Lawsons & Daughters if only to take a pause and reflect on the rarity of such a sign.

Continuing down Fulham Palace Road I came to Den London, which is both a cafe and a florists and sits across the street from the Charing Cross Hospital. I went in and ordered a latte, enjoying the all too rare experience of sipping coffee immersed in the scent of fresh flowers. It is run by Raj and his wife, and while they were both lovely and friendly it soon became clear that the language barrier would prove too difficult to surmount for the purposes of our event. I was therefore  forced to bid them a fond farewell and continue rambling, leaving them a flyer in the slim hope they might choose to attend one of the events.

Pausing outside the hospital to gaze pensively at a pair of ambulance drivers indulging their nicotine habit, I walked back up towards Hammersmith before finding myself stood inside a small courier's speaking to Kyle, one of the business partners.

Kyle was lovely, telling me about how he had moved to the UK from Poland eight years ago with a master's degree in Computer Science. During his first summer here he had worked his friend's stall in Camden Town Market before they had both taken it to Glastonbury. Realising he could do this on his own he set up his own festival stall business, which did incredibly well over the next three summers. However, since it only really worked for three months out of the year, he also started a taxi service, working as the booker himself. That became so successful that it was bought by Addison Lee, at which point he began working in their IT & Systems department before leaving to start the current courier service with his business partner at the beginning of 2013. They have, so far anyway, been doing very well. He enjoyed talking to me and loved the idea of Stop-Look-Listen, but he is going on holiday with his girlfriend over the weekend and will not be back until Wednesday next.

Wishing Kyle and his business the best, I let my feet carry me to the shopping centre that engulfs the entrance to the District & Piccadilly section of Hammersmith station. It was in here that I met Tom, a young man running a flower stall not ten yards from the gatekeeping Oyster barriers.

Tom had worked the stall, which belongs to his Uncle, as a part-time job until he had qualified as a carpenter, at which point he had thrown himself in to that wholeheartedly. However, his experience working on construction sites and being yelled at by foreman for a measly paycheque inevitably left him yearning for the better pay and personable chat of the flower stall. Although his commute and eleven-hour working day are exhausting, he truly loves what he does and is saving up to buy the stall from his uncle, who also owns stalls in Acton, Ruislip and Chiswick.

While talking to Tom, we were approached by a woman in her sixties holding a container of porridge from Prêt à Manger, which she presented to Tom with a "There you go my darling, with the sweet stuff the way you like it". He took it gratefully while she took another container to the man running the sweet stall opposite. I raised a questioning eyebrow to Tom who smiled and said that she did this every day. Before I could ask him anything more, she came towards me and clasped my hands in hers, proclaiming "Your hands are freezing, darling! Let me get you some porridge!"

Touched and alarmed in equal measure, I was trapped by the fact that I truly cannot stand porridge in any of its forms and had therefore to decline, as politely as I could. As I watched, transfixed, as she vanished around the corner, I heard Tom tell me that she spent every day in Prêt; that she took care of him and the other stall owner.

Leaving Tom, who does not work on the weekends, I followed my mysterious porridge godmother, catching up with her, as promised, inside the Pret. She was sat across from an elderly gentleman, the two thoroughly engrossed in each other's conversation.

I went in to the shop and ordered another latte, ever-so-slowly adding and stirring sugar, watching out of the corner of my eye. She suddenly got up and walked over to the sugar counter, at which point I turned and opened my mouth to speak. She cut me off with "OH GOOD! A warm drink. You needed that, darling!" once more clasping my hand. Deftly avoiding spillage, I gave a brief explanation of what I was doing and told her how fascinating I found her. Her name is Ella and she agreed to meet me at noon tomorrow.

Stumbling back in to the sun, I wandered, somewhat dazed, up King Street. I went in to a store called Bushwhacker Whole Foods and chatted briefly to the attendant there. Although fascinating and a supporter of the project, he was obviously very shy and I did not wish to make him uncomfortable, so I continued on my way. 

Using Ravenscourt Park as the edge of my world, I turned back towards Riverside. Pausing briefly in St Paul's Centre, I was walking back down Hammersmith Bridge Road when something caught my eye. Something bright orange. Truly, gloriously, alarmingly bright orange.

I cautiously approached down Rutland Grove. A car - a CAR! What a car. Compact, clearly designed for speed and nothing but; a death trap in the wrong hands but nothing short of sensational in the right; the sort of pure racing car that a particular breed of slightly psychotic, adrenaline-fuelled child dreams of.

Whose car could this be? If only - if ONLY - the owner and driver of this angel would somehow make himself apparent, they would surely be a character and a half. As if by magic, a head suddenly emerged as I drew closer.

Hands covered in grease, sweating in the sunshine, treating his baby with the tenderness of any parent: this was Justin. He told me how he races when he can, showed me the engine, took me through the details of which parts were second hand, which he'd bought off ebay, which had been hand-crafted by one of his friends (an obviously gifted engineer).

Then he told me of his life. What a life. Originally from Australia, he came to Rome with his Italian girlfriend twenty-six years ago. She had then left him, at which point he made his way to the ski slopes of France, skiing for the next few months. When the season came to a close, he hitched a ride back to Paris with the ski instructor and crashed on his floor for three months before coming over to London. Seven years in television journalism, ten years with MTV, now a freelance producer happily married to his Dutch wife (who he met when he auditioned her as a presenter for MTV). His garage houses two motorbikes (beautiful things) and his stories are witty and enthralling.

I am meeting him tomorrow for a pint and I hope most sincerely he agrees to be a story-partner. If not, then at least I know tomorrow's drink will be a fascinating one.

8.45 Met with David (and Alister) coffee Mc Donald's. David gave me a beautiful etched flower on a flattened out coke can, with my name on it! Meeting again tomorrow at 9am: David definitely up for the project.

10am lovely to see the team at Riverside.

Into Hammersmith: Lee a no show and also John and Oscar a no show. No luck with the charity shops. Went to Polish Centre very interested in project but very quiet at the time, no one to talk to

Went to the Irish Centre met with Aibee from Malaysia who plays the tin whistle and the fiddle. Plays music from her childhood in Malaysia on the fiddle. Told me her life story: at the moment not keen on talking with group. Meeting her again tomorrow at Hammersmith Club: Irish Centre closing down: great place to frame something.

Called at the Care Home just around the corner from Riverside: spoke with the Manager, took a flyer and will see if they have anyone I can chat with: going back tomorrow.

Went around the back of the Apollo met the guy that has been the maintenance man there for the last 32! years. Invited me inside stood on the Apollo stage. Told me about the bus loads of tourist that come and look at the fire escape steps at the back of the building because they featured in A Hard Day's Night with the Beatles standing on them.

Found the grave stone of Joseph William Allen who turns out to be this remarkable painter: gravestone obscured by another stacked up leaning against St Paul's church in the car park. The graves were dug up to build the church extension: bones now stored in boxes in the church.

(Would really like these two points to stop and look on route.)

Back to Riverside to the Team and all their stories: home knackered!

Jeanette

Today's Adventures Nervous/Excited/VERY cold /sad

Well, the sun wash shining and I needed to walk off all those EAster Eggs! It was mentioned we could use this time if we wished, so I did!

My first port of call was The Cancer Research Shop, where I spent some time in the back room/sorting area. I met the very lovely Maria who told me a great deal about her life and the loss of her husband to cancer and lots and lots of other stuff, including how she met her current partner, who was too shy to speak to her in the Charity shop and kept brining things in from home to donate. He now also volunteers in the shop having spent a life time working in Wormwood Scrubs

Unfortunately she only volunteers Fridays and Mondays and try as I might, I couldn't entice her to be at the shop next Sat/Sun but she would be happy to do the Monday. This raises the question, are we up for different people on different days?

I have been told there are others to talk to in the shop and have arranged to go back tomorrow: but they have different volunteers on weekends/weekdays so the same issue will remain

David was my next chat. David sells the big issue outside Marks and Spencers and had an interesting life. Originally from Macedonia where his father was a watch maker, they moved  to LA, David worked as a painter /decorator on film sets: also an artist. Had an interesting Tom Cruise story He was interesting, vey politically minded and had a few strong and interesting views: it did make me wonder about how that would work in terns of getting into a disagreement?

Would like to discuss this tomorrow in our group please.

I have arranged to meet David again tomorrow at 8.45 (his idea not mine) so will see how its goes. I bought David and Allister his mate across the road a coffee. I had  a very brief chat with Allister, who was less able to be vocal. I of course bought  a big issue, but i'd have done that anyway

I also had a brief chat with the guy at  Great Scotts the cobblers in Hammersmith Tube/Bus Station, but I don't think that is a runner, for me anyway. Can touch upon tomorrow

I was then in the station waiting for my bus home, honest I was, when I met John and his dog Oscar: he had come to the bus station for a sit down. Sometimes he goes and sits in Charring Cross hospital because its warm, but he has to hide Oscar in his wheeled shopping trolly if he does that, because they aren't keen on him bringing the dog in. After spending some time with him, I missed my bus and then, taking the next one home cried. This is just a brief snapshot of John, who told me a lot more. I have arranged to meet him tomorrow at The British Heart foundation at about 11.15, where he does some volunteering. I will tell you more about John and Oscar tomorrow. I touched upon what we are doing and gave him a flyer, but we will have to see......

I have met some amazing people already, but I'm still not sure if they 'fit the bill,' so to speak. Welcome thoughts on this tomorrow

Very moved and very excited

Jeanette 

Hi Team
I went walk-about after our meeting on Friday and then I sent the e-mail below to Emma  whilst waiting for our blog to arrive and here it is! 

I went walk-about last night after we finished and met a first 'potential' and the start of a route.

I would like to walk out from Riverside towards the flyover and then walk directly under the flyover, across the car park at the back of St Paul's church, where the grave stones that have been moved to lay the tarmac car park, have just been left stacked up leaning against the church wall.

I thought this a great place to stop and look /pause for a moment.

Then across the main road at the lights and down Angel Walk where (at the moment) the plan is to meet Lee!

He was doing his slightly eclectic garden when I introduced myself last night. 

He never pays more than 50p or £1 for anything for the garden, and then its more or less up to it, if it grows. He's from overseas and as a child grew up moving every six months as his family were in the forces: this left him without any root and he strongly believes London/Hammersmith to be his home. He's 65 and seen a lot of the world touring with bands, and thats as ar as we got before, Kathryn/Kathleen? his friend arrived, also a Hammersmith local who I gave a flyer to. He struck me as a good soul rather than an 'entertainer' and it left we wondering about that balance?

I have arranged to go back and talk with him some more at 2pm on Tuesday. I did have one thought this morning: I may like to spend £5 of the budget, not on coffee, but on seeds and trays from the £1 shop: that way we could do some seeding/planting together as we talk. If it then works out Lee might give one of the little plastic pots to each of our group as we move off to the next spot. What do you think of that as an idea?

Of course he is only me first 'moving story' and anything could happen so he may not be on the final walk, but this is where I am for now. I will post on the blog when it arrives.

I do have a cafe I am very drawn to, for reasons I cant explain, so I'm going to go there next

FYI  Emma said yes to the seed idea 

Hope you are all enjoying the Holiday weekend

Jeanette 

We're off!

Welcome Story Guides to our blog site; the place for us to meet and exchange virtually!

It was great to get started with you all on Friday, and I am so looking forward to the coming week of adventures and discoveries. Jeanette has already got going and made her first connection, which is really promising. Jeanette - perhaps you could share your email to me here so everyone can hear your news?

Looking forward to filling up these pages with news, posts, images, thoughts etc. In the meantime, I hope you are drowning in chocolate and having a wonderful Easter.

Best,
Em x