as my day begins, somewhere else is supper time...
i am back with the need to upload my thoughts, feelings and visuals (as concealing/ revealing/ symbolically/ protectively) as i do.
i have made myself very busy, busier than before, that is, with activities and work, which i enjoy, prefer and can put my heart in with fullness and passion.
call it fate, time, planetary hustle and bustle, time, age, circumstance, determination, self - motivation, the sheer need for some kind of revolution, i had to do it, wanted to do it and the more i involve myself in it, the more right it feels.
so, after a great deal of thought, past planning, coming into my present, anticipation, a limited budget, but plenty of courage and positivity, i decided, conceived, organised, funded and launched my own little venture, aside from queen Bees and the Platform, my own video - performances and the djing: stav B's slammer bar! a speakeasy, prohibition style bar, where ideas spark, projects materialise and exquisite liquid consumed, i wrote in the blurbs of the facebook group i created.
in the slammer; a 1920s building, ex police station (hence the name, as it's a slang for prison, a cocktail and perhaps epitomises my character correctly, which i devised in my friend's garden in peckham one sunny afternoon), with cells - turned into art spaces (men) and toilets (women) - is that by chance?, interview rooms - turned into exhibition galleries and a surgery room - turned into my storage space...
participating in AA (architectural association filming) led me to an encounter, led me to the old police station, led me to my original planning, led me to the materialisation, led me to the fact that i'm finally doing my own thing, without the shackles of some pointless authority/ bureaucracy/ male energy... phew...
i found myself doing the things i was doing for other people, for myself and my little business: meetings, wine tasting, stock choosing and ordering, calculating what money i have (next to nothing), opening a business account, registering the company (doing this later today), searching for funding and sponsorship, discussing with my good friend, who records my performances and designs my flyers and plays the music, the new project (he has been super supportive and amazing with fabulous results) and my favourite, of course: shopping!
so, i set this little bar up, knowing exactly what i wanted, how i wanted it, what i was going to sell and how with a few pennies (no exaggeration, there, but i took the risk, as it's juicier and more interesting and so fundamental), to see how it goes, evolves, develops, via my part - time job, fashion shows and modelling, boutique bar show visits, for contacts and reunions and i got really drunk, after a 6 week sabbatical, as i wasn't driving and i was excited and between good friends... sushi later sorted me out and i was composed again!
stav B's slammer bar is held at the old police station in deptford, london se14, the first and fouth friday of the month.
we had fun at the launch and i could see it working. hard work was rewarded and i didn't mind at all.
the main reason i write so extensively about the slammer bar, is because i believe it symbolises a great turning point in my life:
1. i created myself a job, because i needed one and i'd rather not work for other people (although my part - time job at the moment suits me fine and helps me financially)
2. it feels good for me to have my limits of action, pro - action, skills and personality stretched with something interesting and worthwhile causes, which i devise and control.
3. it's high time to actually lead
4. to put everything i've done up to now to some kind of sense
5. to feel more secure and save tickets money and other lovely enterprises
6. to make some kind of political point: woman, dyke, slim, stylish, little money, lots of guts, attitude and experience... let's see how it goes...
... which brings me to my main focal point of life: how much i love and how i want to love deliciously, maturely, innocently, spectacularly!
she has been on my mind from the beginning; in my visions, she is in dialogue with me, involving herself with my new project, ready to spring her opinions and take over and i recruit her, when she asks whether she can help: ' you are good on the phones, with projects and computers, get me some business'! she smiles cheekily, calls me bossy and trots off to start work... because she is a hard worker, in oher matters other than the heart; it's easier this way.
hard work as of late has given me a better and clearer perspective, but it has changed nothing regarding the state of my heart; still, very much full of her...
... what i am letting go off, is the anxiety, the pain, for pure love and beauty and peace and some hard passion to rule and make me happy...
meanwhile, the indirect glimpses continue and i wait quietly, i stand still (in my reactions; let me have some ego, please and call her bluff) and relish them
i am strong, i am powerful, i am in control, i am in love and i love and there is nothing wrong with that... i have just changed the guidelines of the game, for some variety, stirring, excitement... en veras...
faith? always
hope? forever...
south london press (24/9/10. page 8) article (not very accurate, but on paper) by nadia gilani
logo designed by doug haywood
poem written by sophie lord
