Encyclopedia of Us issue 1

we have sky in our pie!

@eofushu3 volume 01 july 2021

hello lovely people of hu3 and maybe a step or two beyond

Welcome to the very first issue of the Encyclopaedia of Us, a newspaper like no other and unique to HU3. Captured in these pages are the life, love and truth of this community... what’s happening, what’s good and what we might want to think about changing.

so what is it about this paper that makes it different to others?

It is about this community, made with and by this community. Most of the content in here is written and produced by people living or working in HU3. Almost every article in here is accompanied by an invitation to act, be it a small act for you and your family to enjoy or a bigger act that contributes to the life of this community.

The creation of the newspaper is something we invite everyone to be part of... whether that’s a one off or regular contribution... whether it’s sharing thoughts and offering ideas, writing articles (in any language), taking photographs, creating drawings and illustrations or whether it’s having a go at journalism and uncovering the life, love and truth of the area yourself. As the newspaper develops we’ll be running all kinds of workshops, activities and courses to help this community use and develop their skills and talents to create the most interesting and dynamic newspaper there ever was!

Why are we doing this?

HU3 has some troubles that are often plain to see... nobody would deny that. What is often less visible though is the beauty of this place.

This is a community forged from the grit of generations of amazing people, with all the history that this brings, as well as the richness of cultures from around the world. It’s easy to concentrate on the challenges that this creates, and the press often do, but instead imagine what the collective potential is, if we only use it. This community is also often overlooked and has more than its fair share of troubles but this is also a community that works hard to help others with understanding, consideration and a pretty heroic dose of love. Long may that continue. You’ll see this newspaper is full of content created by this community. The map on the back page locates the source of the articles. So once again, WELCoME and read on to hear from residents on a street near you and from groups and organisations working in your neighbourhood.

HOPE hoop Speranza Kibo cerēt hpresoj naděj

HÅB

It’s a funny thing, the turning of a year. By the end of 2020 we were all fed up with the “same old, same old”, especially after living through a year of covid constraints that really squashed the possibility of doing anything very different from one day to the next. It felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting to get to 2021 so we could exhale, as if we would magically be past the worst of everything as the new year struck. Yeah, right. In many ways, this year it feels like we’re still waiting for New Year’s Day, for the chance to finally turn the page on lockdowns and restrictions and start a new chapter.

Walking around the neighbourhood close to midnight on New Year’s Eve, it was amazing to see the sky lighting up with celebration and sparkle, fireworks being sent out from back yards and forecourts and supermarket car parks. It felt like some kind of semaphore, as if people were calling out to whoever might see, saying “Hey, we’re still here too! We haven’t given up! There’s still life to be lived!” It was visible relief for having survived an invisible war, celebration for having made it through, joy at being alive. It was also a kind of defiant “eff-you”- to a year of COVID ...and untrustworthy politics ...and anxiety ...and the constant pressure of balancing safety and connection ...and masks ...and sanitisers ...and losing loved ones and income and hugs. And the rest.

Our neighbourhood, HU3, is not known for hope. In fact, it’s more often described in hopeless terms, a place so full of huge problems it might as well be written off. And what is hope anyway? Wishful thinking, delusional optimism, pie in the sky? Our New Year’s Eve midnight walkabout taught me something different. Hope is not a weak word, not some limp, beige, terrible-cup-of-tea, namby nonsense. Hope is the ability to look up and paint the sky with fireworks. Hope is the ability to imagine, and imagination is the pre-cursor to change. The folk in this neighbourhood are not ready to be written off, we are frustrated with how things are because we can imagine a better possible world. And hope is defiant, it throws two fingers up at “the way things are” and celebrates anyway. Because “this” is not “it”. There is sky in our pie. Anna Hembury

discover the s Ky in hu3's pie

If you would like to join us for a public meeting to discuss the idea of a Sky in Our Pie festival, then drop us a line or contact us to share any thoughts you have.

»See Page 24 for all the ways you can get in touch

orts is a women’s only group who meet and talk and stitch and share food [and sing sometimes]. This makes it sound commonplace, womanly, traditional...but it’s everything. The orts I know is radical and counter cultural - a world where the soft takes precedence and where you start from the inside and build out, from where the heart is. It is a place grown stitch by stitch, scrap by scrap, piece by carefully placed piece. A quilted land of compassion, seeing, connection and treasuring. And as I talk to the orts women over zoom I am reminded of an autobiography and a passage in it where one day, during his years of solitary confinement, Brian Keenan (who was held captive in Beirut for over 4 years) is given by his captors a small bowl of fruit. He writes:

"The fruits, the colours. I am entranced by colour. I lift an orange into the flat filthy palm of my hand and feel and smell and lick it. The colour orange, the colour, my God the colour orange...a feast of colour. I feel myself begin to dance, slowly, I am intoxicated by colour. Such wonder, such absolute wonder in such an insignificant fruit. I sit in

quiet joy, so complete, beyond the meaning of joy. My soul finds its own completeness in that bowl of colour" - This moment changes everything for Keenan.

"I am filled with a sense of love. What I have waited and longed for has without my knowing, come, and taken all of me….. Time is different now...I am calm and quiet. The manic alternations between despair and euphoria seem to have less potency. When I feel them coming I can set aside and prevent their theft of my understanding. They can no longer master me, nor drive me where they will. Now I know them and can go with them and hold them in my control."

What is Orts?

orts is that orange. The fabric and button treasures in orts are that orange. Their large table for sharing food is that orange. The women, for one another, are that orange. What orts offers has the same effect as that orange, and just like that orange did in that cell in Beirut back in the 80’s it offers a type of hope. A place beyond the walls, where acts of compassion and nourishment far outweigh the calories.

Kate Genever

ort noun

archaic•dialect

»A leftover

»Scraps or leavings

»Any remainder

»Originally related to food but reappropriated by stitchers

»A scrap of fabric

»Snips of thread

»Old ratty threads

»Old random threads

I’m definitely an ort – some days more than others. orts means scraps. It is both a fact and metaphor. orts could be about making with textiles or making a life. Both ways are true and right because both things are what orts does.

It's like a sewing collective that’s not about the sewing. The sewing is integral. But it’s about something other. It’s a space to be held and be free – to be seen.

orts is a conundrum. We have lots of scraps in orts, from all aspects of life...fabric, food, textiles, people. It is a very receiving place. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been because it is a place you can come together to find solidarity and connection.

orts is a big table with everyone bringing food and sharing themselves. There is laughter and sorrow in the same space and often at the same time...you can have exuberance, silliness and also peace. It is a space that holds you when you haven’t got the capacity to speak or know why you came.

The doing with your hands gives you freedom to talk. And it is great for people without English as their first language. We women can just be together and understand the power of sitting with each other. In many ways it doesn’t need to be spoken. I love the comfortable-ness of being in a space with women from all over the world.

I like the idea that you feel like a scrap, but when you come together, the combination of us lot of scraps makes something very beautiful. Transforming things that are difficult and that we might see as broken.

orts questions what we consider and treat as rubbish. Its asks us to think about what we throw away. There’s so much potential in the things we throw away. We see the treasure in fabrics and buttons and textiles and people. But we also need to see it in ourselves…it is a reminder to find treasure in me rather than write myself off.

It is an accepting place and a great place to grow. My growth has happened here. orts is radical and takes traditional women’s work and uses it as a tool to empower. Ultimately orts is a safe space that supports connection, offers joy and gives the support that enables women to be themselves.

1

2

wH at

3 I used running stitch and then went over to fill in gaps. Turn right way out and stuff, making sure the chicken is well full

4 To complete your creation, bring the open edges together, making sure the existing seams match up in the centre of the new seam to give you a plump triangle shape. Turn in fabric edges. Pin and sew together.

YO u d O n't H av E tO fac E it alO

Samaritans is the biggest volunteer led organisation with 2000 volunteers nationwide covering 201 branches in the UK and Ireland. The 14th branch opened in Hull and has nestled at the top of Spring Bank in HU3 for 60 years.

It's not just a building “It's a wonderful, vibrant body of volunteers who are determined to do all that it takes to help anyone in emotional distress, including those who are thinking about ending their own lives” says Esther.

Hull Samaritans' beating heart comprises of 80 (ish) volunteers who in 2020 spent 7,797 hours of their time taking 10,530 phone calls and sending 2,065 emails.

other than listening on the phone, Samaritans take on varied roles and volunteers like Graham; Hull branch's treasurer, do a lot that keeps the place going. Listeners can take on extra as well such as duty leading and mentoring. It's only in central office where people get paid; the only paid person in our local branch is the cleaner. Samaritans couldn't survive without volunteers. Check out online the many different roles Samaritans can do.

Sams (Samaritans) have rallied round and kept going during the pandemic, covering priority shifts in the wee small hours of the morning and late at night, more than usual. They have even set up a helpline specifically to support NHS staff. Recruiting and training has kept going during lockdown as well, keeping socially distanced and safe of course. “Being a Samaritan is so rewarding and the training prepares you so well for the calls you will take” says Herbie.

New starters (newbies) are always paired up with an experienced Sam who is a mentor that gives support, feedback and encouragement. Sams are there for each other on shift and have a duty leader to talk to and offload, which is a key thing in place right from the start to take care of emotional wellbeing. “No matter

»Crisis

»NHS

wHY i

vO lunt EE r

I had often wondered about volunteering as a Samaritan but worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle calls from people in distress. A friend who had been a volunteer for a long time persuaded me to try the training. Samaritans are people from different backgrounds and are all ages. Most of us have not worked in any fields which you

i ntroducing a ndy’s m an’s c lub

As we know us blokes tend to be perceived as not being great at expressing our emotions or talking about how we’re doing up in our heads. It’s been seen as a sign of weakness, a signal that we can’t cope and there will be consequences if we don’t ‘man up’ or summot.

letter to a younger self Men’s talk

Well, yes, sometimes we can’t ruddy cope, thank you very much! And we’re learning how liberating it is to say so. And we’re feeling (yes, we do feel!) equally amazed at the freedom we experience when we lighten our load a bit, and we’re not talking about that mid-morning load lightening event.

One safe place men can gather to do this is HU3’s very own Andy’s Man Club, a place where blokes can “come through our door to talk, share and listen in a comfortable and secure environment. It’s where they can get stuff off their chests and be listened to. Nobody has to speak if they don’t want to and what’s said in the group stays in the group.”

The weekly session tends to focus on: How our week’s been? Anything to get off our chests, good or bad, positive or negative? What helps us to feel better, stay positive, such as types of music or a hobby of some kind.

Paul, who coordinates the Hull group says “Andy’s Man Club’s helped me because I was at my lowest. Now I’m giving back helping the next man coming through those doors.”

More info email: info@ andysmanclub.co.uk »Website: www. andysmanclub.co.uk

we are the authors of our own story; it's up to you how you write it

I’ve just left an abusive relationship and hoping to find somewhere I can turn to for support. I feel worthless and I’m not in a healthy place mentally. All of this is causing strains on my family, and I’m scared of anything and everything. I don’t know what to do anymore, I feel like I have nowhere to turn to and I’m close to giving up! Please help if you can?

First thing I need you to understand is this; you are not alone! It may not feel like it right now, but there is so much support available in our area to be able to take full advantage of. See the list on the page opposite.

I’ve also gone through the same situation, I was in a relationship that was verbally, emotionally, and psychologically abusive - also physically abusive at times. It took me almost two years to realise how bad things were, but with the support of my family and after two suicide attempts I finally managed to leave. Even after I left I felt that my life had fallen apart, but this is when my recovery started.

I found out about a local gym. At first, I wouldn’t speak to anyone, but everyone was lovely and in my own time I started to talk to the staff. After a few months I was made aware of other courses the gym offers. At first, I thought to myself “No way I could possibly do that, train a group of people!” I finally decided to give it a go and signed up to the course. I even started going to the boxing classes! Through Vulcan I was introduced to Giroscope. They’ve helped me further build my confidence and I’ve taken part in their 10 week cooking course - I got to work with a professional chef and gain some more qualifications to boot.

Through all this I have found new self-confidence, self-belief, most importantly a life after abuse. I realised that I truly am the author of my destiny and have found my new calling. I am in the process of applying for college to gain a qualification to hopefully get me on to a social work degree. I have found a sense of belonging and feel there was a reason I had to face all I did and I’ve managed (even though I didn’t believe I would) to survive.

“We are the authors of our own story; it’s up to you how you write it.”

I wish you all the luck and success, I know you’ve got this. Sophie

W rite a letter to your younger self

What would it say? If you would like to share it with us see the back page for all the ways you can contact us.

don’t grow it alone

Every now and then we meet someone who looks like they’re doing exactly what they’re meant to be doing, like their role in life was created for them, it’s what they came to planet earth to do.

Lausanne, who set-up and runs Constable Community Allotment - one of HU3’s little gems - is no exception. She looks just like she should be bringing the community together to learn and grow its own grub, organise events and share pizzas baked in the site’s self-built clay oven.

Created on the wasteland of an old school, the permaculture project (that’s using the land in ways that get the best out of it and protect the environment, to you and me) is not only a testament to perseverance (she’d been badgering the council about using the land for some time) it’s also a ripe example of the potential of what’s possible with a good field of vision, a couple of wheelbarrowfuls of elbow grease and, of course, a coming together of a few wonky carrots like us lot.

Whilst Constable St is in many ways fairly unique, it’s certainly not the only little oasis in HU3. There are several places of a similar variety where the community has come together to grow and share food, socialise (whatever that is) and help and support one another.

We’ll be going further through this polytunnel of love over the coming issues of EofUs, checking out and chatting to folk involved down at Selby St Mission, Giroscope, St Matthew’s parish hall, Hull Community Diggers, Thornton Allotment, all great spots in their own right with features such as raised beds, BBQs and pizza ovens.

other organisations such as Growing St Andrews, based at Western library which helps to coordinate various events, and Rooted in Hull are also playing a role in encouraging us locals to grow our own. Rooted made and distributed - via the YFC breakfast club at Boulevard Baptist church - around 25 small wooden planters to families in the area.

Whilst it’s great to grow some stuff at home, that’s not always a possibility for some of us living in places without gardens, and besides, you can’t beat eating summot cooked with food grown with yer mates, which is why community gardens are important: so we can connect around food growing, sharing knowledge and breaking bread together. Speaking of bread, did you know there’s a little independent bakery down Arthur St? Feast Rising it’s called. Check it out. HU3 also has The Conquest of Bread home bakery which is basically a single mum (Catherine) who bakes sourdough loaves twice a week, with all the surplus going to Beanie Food Bank and Hull Trades Council’s Unity Shop, which then goes to individuals and families in need. Why’s she do it? “Because I believe that everybody has a right to good quality, nutritious food and that there’s enough to go round, and that when we share our resources to support each other, we are changing our world for the better.” ‘Nuff said.

That little call to rise-up speaks of so much in our world, our community. There certainly is enough to go around. And yeh, good quality grub should be available to us all, and whilst food banks serve a certain purpose, the stuff given out is often heavily processed food which as we know isn’t great for us. Maybe it’s time to dig a little deeper into why we actually need such things as food banks. Why don’t we have a basic income from which we can meet the needs of feeding ourselves, our families? Don’t get me started! Food for thought which we’ll be cultivating a bit more of over the coming issues. Peace and Love.

Martin King

you Can

some spuds

Grow some spuds outside and make your own roasties, mash or oven chips.

You can do this by putting a few bin liners inside each other, making a few holes in the bottom and filling it with compost. Then bung in a few what we call 'seed potatoes' (they sell em in Wilkos) which are basically small spuds that'll grow into loads more spuds.

You can even use potatoes from your cupboard that are starting to shoot. Water them regularly and watch the plants grow, after about 10 weeks the leaves will begin to die. Once they have completely died you can begin harvesting your very own potatoes.

r ecipes

sweet potato and CoConut soup

1kg bag sweet potatoes, peeled, chopped and rinsed

3 vegetable oxo cubes

1 tin coconut milk

500 ml water

Put the sweet potatoes, vegetable oxo's and water in a pan. Bring to the boil and simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft

Add the coconut milk and blend until smooth

Reheat until just simmering and serve

The soup freezes well

ma K e food connections

If you are involved or have an interest in fairer access to food, growing and sustainability and would like to connect with others we will be holding a gathering to look at how we can work together. Get in touch if you would like to join us.

»See the back page for all the ways you can contact us

Image: Ground. See p20 for more on Ground

t he kids ' bi

when Covid is over i want to go lay on a sandy beaCh and play in the water where it’s hot. i love aeroplanes Eddie

share your creations W ith us

»See the back page for all the ways you can get in touch.

HOPEs and dr E ams

These wonderful words and drawings about hopes and dreams from pupils at Chiltern Primary School really reminded us of comic strip drawings. What would your comic strip on this theme look like?

i want to be a builder and make big houses for people to live in Ralf

when i’m older id love to be an artist and make piCtures for people Izabela

my dream is to be Captain isaaC on a pirate ship and go find some treasure! Isaac

i want to move to a bigger house Millie you Can

have a go at creating your oW n comic strip

my dream is to visit a beautiful waterfall! Kristina

Here's a handy how to guide from comic artist Woodrow Phoenix bit.ly/3zeQNtH If you would like to join us for a workshop over the summer to learn how to create a comic strip drop us a line to let us know. »See the back page for all the ways you can contact us.

What's a dentist's favourite musical intstrument? Tuba toothpaste.

How do you make an apple puff? Chase it round the garden.

What can you clean in a www.ashing machine? Net curtains.

What do you call a bear with no ear? A b

What's an ig? An Eskimos house with no loo.

Why did the elephant cross the road? It was the chicken's day off.

What do you call a fly with no wings? A walk.

Where do you take a frog with bad eyesight? A hoptician.

What's blue and square? An orange in disguise.

Why didn't the ghost go to the party? He had no body to go with.

Doctor doctor I think I'm a goat! How long have you felt like this? Since I was a kid.

Knock knock. Who's there?

Nana. Nana who?

Nana your business!

What do you call a man with a seagul on his head? Cliff.

Where do rabbits learn to fly? In the hareforce.

What runs but never walks? Water.

What gets wet as it dries? A towel.

What did the sea say to the sand? Nothing it just gave a little wave.

What did one shooting star say to the other? Pleased to meteor

THoRN LEIGH

MALM

AIRLIE

ToPA z SPRING BANK

TYNE

WHEELER

MAYFIELD

DAIRYCoATES

WILBERFoRCE

FISHERMANS WALK

SUBWAY

CoRSAIR witty HALL

QUANToCK

WEST DoCK

MEADoWBANK

HAWTHoRN

GEE

EToN

KEMPToN

PEEL

ST GEoRGES

BEAN

zETLAND

FoUNTAIN

DALTRY

BoULEVARD

CURzoN

WASSAND

CAVILLE PLACE

Can you find your way to the play park?

CuP PHoNe Using the pencil, pierce a hole in the bottom of each cup. Thread the string through the hole in a cup and tie a knot on the end of the string. Thread the other end of the string into the other cup in the same way. Stand far apart. one caller speaks quietly into one cup and the other listens on the other cup.

need

you'll

Pencil Paper cups String

players

you'll need Rubber ball/ tennis ball

players

call YO ur d r Eams and t rib Es tO gat HE r

“Listen to the whispers of Your heart’s desire.

Let go your doubts, Your fear of shining.

Stand tall in space

And hold your dreams aloft, To see them glitter, or in the silence

Hear your heart’s new calling.

Just feel your way to joy and hope.

For hope for you

Brings hope to others too; And stepping out to catch your dreams Will all-ways change the world for better.

The world needs dreamers who will do.

So call your dreams and tribe to gather. Let them find you dancing, And let them sing your soul to love, And light, And peace.”

Caroline Johnstone

Jaki znak twój? orzeł biały.

Gdzie ty mieszkasz? Między swemi. W jakim kraju?

W polskiej ziemi. Czem ta ziemia?

Mą ojczyzną. Czem zdobyta? Krwią i blizną. Czy ją kochasz? Kocham szczerze.

A w co wierzysz?

W Polskę wierzę.

Coś ty dla niej?

Wdzięczne dziecię

Coś jej winien? oddać życie.

Who are you?

A Polish child.

What’s your emblem?

The eagle in white.

Where’s your home?

With my loved ones.

In what country?

In the Polish land.

What the land is?

My beloved home.

How was it won?

jarní básničkY

Kde se vzaly, tu se vzaly,  pampelišky v trávníčku,  ke sluníčku obracejí,  svoji zlatou hlavičku. Kde se vzali, tu se vzali, motýlkové, včeličky,  přiletěli, zulíbali,  pampeliškám hlavičky.

Where they came from, where they came from, dandelions in the lawn, they turned their golden head to the sun.

Where they came from, where they came from, butterflies and buzzy bees, they flew in kissing dandelion's heads.

V zahradě na hrušce sedává kos, má černý kabátek a žlutý nos.  Na našem komíně sedává čáp,  klape si zobákem, klap, klapy, klap.

A blackbird sits on a pear in the garden, he has a black jacket and yellow beak. A stork is sitting on our chimney, clap his beak clap clap clap.

poe M s fro M around the world

s hare a poem that’s special to you & tell us W hy

»Share your poetry gem in any language, on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @EofUsHU3, email us hello@threewayseast.co.uk or drop a copy in to our postbox at Constable St Community Allottment

pet superpower

CoCo bunny

This is Coco our baby bunny and his superpower is he has you wrapped round his little paws with cuteness. Owner: Kaiden

thomas’s Cat

My cat is super because his power is to protect me from mice and he gives nice cuddles too.

tank dog

Millie's doggy is called Tank... his super power is he has looked after her and has become her best friend since the day she was born. He can also high 5 and talks to you when he needs to go out for a wee. He also has the super power that everyone always thinks he is a puppy when he is actually nearly 10! Owner: Millie

CisCo skinny pig

His superpowers are running super fast and loves his salad and vegetables

Millie's Rat is called Rosie. She has taught Millie that humans should not fear rats. They are just purely trying to live their life and they dont realise they are invading human space. She is also very clever and Owner: Millie

luCy dog

My Dog Lucy is my best friend,  She is the coolest Dog ever I love her so much, she has the coolest special powers ever because her Ears are like Big Radars,  She has Super Sonic Hearing, she hears noises from really far away, which makes HER SUPER SoNIC Ears prick up so Big so she hears well. It helps her to save people and animals. She let’s us know because she barks at us to tell us something is wrong or that their is a problem somewhere, She such a amazing dog, I’m so proud of her, She so special to me, I love her so so much.

Owner: Logan

i ntroduce your s uper-p et From Aardvarks to Earthworms, Guinea Pigs to Zebra Finches you know your pets are amazing and we’d love to hear about their Super Powers.

»Share a pic of your pet on our Instagram Page @EofUsHU3 and let us know what makes them extra special. you

losing and finding

Life, it seems, is one long process of losing and finding. We’re not always aware of it but our Covid 19 experiences have perhaps magnified this in a way that makes it much easier for us to notice.

During this time we have lost and found more than usual, collectively.

u se this space

you Can

By collectively I do not mean that we have all had the same experience of Covid 19 because that is not true. Most people have had some loss of freedom because of lock down or because they have had to work longer hours than ever before to help out. others have lost their job and income and the privilege of being at ease, knowing that the roof overhead and the food for the belly is there when it’s needed. Some have experienced the greatest of all losses... the loss of someone they love deeply. Whether this was as a result of Covid or because life and death proceeds it its usual way regardless, the sorrow of the bereaved remains.

Grief is already messy, confusing, exhausting and full of light and shade, even before the complications of a worldwide pandemic. Not being able to mark our losses in the ways that we know how, surrounded by the comfort of those we love and who love us back, could leave open wounds that we could easily forget to tend to. So perhaps we need to find new ways and ask ourselves what does that look like. And perhaps this is overdue because we weren't paying enough attention to it anyway.

If you would like to write a piece about someone or something, submit a poem, share a photograph or send someone a message, please drop us a line. And if you don’t know where to start, get in touch anyway and we can figure it out together.

r eflect on whether we could collectively create a special place in the neighbourhood for reflection and memorial. If you think this is worth talking about drop us a line and we'll gather people together.

»See the back page for all the ways you can contact us.

Imagine what the collective grief and loss of this time would look like if we could make it visible. Much like the air we breathe, we can’t see it, but it is everywhere.

And there are two other losses, both crucial as a human being. In all of this we

may struggle with our sense of identity when the losses stack up...eating away at the scaffolding that holds us up and on which we had built some certainties about ourselves. or so we thought. And our social nature. Although some may feel that they have been in training for lock down for most of their lives, at ease in their own company, most are experiencing a sense of loss and disconnection from the people that make their life warm and full of colour. The touch, hugs, laughter, body language, facial expressions that are the glue of life and the physical and emotional pick me ups that spur us on...are absent. The social expressions of our love have nowhere to go. Mostly we notice and count our losses without effort. often they are forced upon us. We didn’t give permission. We had it and now we don’t and there’s no getting away from the truth of it. But finding, perhaps, requires a little more work on our part. When we lose something perhaps a space is created for something else. Maybe you find out something about yourself. Perhaps you change and grow as a person. A new job may come along and where that will lead no one knows but maybe it is better in the end. Perhaps you develop a new skill, discover a new passion and happen upon a whole new place where you feel totally happy. You may see new opportunity that you could not see before. or new friendships and new connection. Perhaps when the scaffolding and the certainties are gone we feel somewhat bare and exposed and scared but maybe we also feel the breeze and see ahead of us the space of a new horizon. Whether our losses are forced upon us or willingly shed perhaps we have to lift our heads, when the time is right, to take a good look at what we have just found.

Deborah Munt

m antras

Positive mantras/ thoughts can be accessed anytime for any situation.

My mind is open to finding positive solutions

Focusing on not getting wound up when difficulties arise, not even big ones, and seeing clearly enough, without stessing, to find a way to solve things. Michele

i am calm and can breath deeply and freely. i am enough

When those self doubts kick in I find this thought is a way of feeling worthy. Lorraine

When things get on top of me i relax my head and shoulders. My thoughts are loving and caring

A thought to help cope when having a panic attack, focusing on what goes on in the body (tensing up) and dealing with something tangible. The second part of the affirmation is more to do with trying to interrupt thinking before a panic attack. Mark

i am relaxed, i am loved, i am a good person

Another affirmation to repeat to stay focused and to help thoughts stop running away with themselves leading into a panic or state of anxiety. Sarah

every day is a fresh start. i am loved and appreciated

A way to get over feelings and thoughts of injustices, of being wronged or used. A way to combat what is happening in the world and on the inside, healthily and productively. Paula

Behind the darkest cloud, the sun always shines again

Taken from the negative thought, “ Life is taking me down”. James

For further investigation check out this web page; positivepsychology.com/ daily-affirmations

hope is a tree’s trunk. the roots hold our thoughts and dreams and the stuff we want and don’t want

Having passed through the trunk, been embraced by hope, these thoughts and dreams and stuff weave through the branches to become leaves and blossom and fruit. Some won’t become fruit, they’ll just fall to the ground and go away. Maybe that’s the stuff we hope won’t happen. Maybe the good stuff we hoped for has become fruit, something to nourish and keep us moving; something to help us believe that - despite the contradictions and complexities of this life - good things can happen when we have optimism, when we hope for them. Because maybe we haven’t just hoped for them, maybe we’ve put in some action to create a reality from our hopes, to help them turn into something. Something tasty and satisfying. or at least something we don’t wanna spit out.

If we think that hope and gritty reality can’t exist together, then be encouraged: “Hope and reality can co-exist – in fact, they are intimately intertwined. We need to see the reality and we need to see hope in it. Hope is a daily, tangible and vital tool for being well.” (Dr. Radha Modgil)

And it seems that, whilst we may see ourselves and our situations as quite unique, we are in-fact pretty similar people. We hope for the same things. Surely not? over the course of these Corona Days, we’ve been asking us all what our hopes are for the future. And guess what? Yip. We hope for the same things. overwhelmingly. It’s almost as if we’re all meant to be in this place together, sharing and caring and being united in some sense of common good. Crazy, we know, but please, do read on. We’re all desiring for big lessons to be learned from these times. Holding out for “a very different public discourse on what’s been happening to us, how we’ve been living in this world, and what sort of a future we want” and through that, we “remember to go slower, to spend time with family and friends and others, to listen to what’s really important such as love, being grateful.” Crikey!

It would appear, too, that we’re all fed-up with feelings of disconnection and we crave more than anything a sense of community and the feeling of belonging that such a thing brings. We’re hoping we’ll “realise that there’s more to life than the rat-race, that money isn’t the god of everything”, that we’ll “take time to think about each other, what our roles are in life, realise we can all play a part and help each other”, and through this helping we can “build better friendships, better communities and make a better world for ourselves.” It’s madness, aye? It doesn’t end there.

Another major theme we seem to be drawn to is a sense of us taking back control of our lives and the communities we live in: “We’ve realised – again – that we can’t rely on the government to look after us. We need to self-organise more and have more mutual aid stuff going on” and that “the concept of custodianship, the idea of people taking a bit more ownership, having more of a stake in the area they live in, is growing and we’re seeing more community spirit, neighbours getting to know each other, more localism is happening.” Blimey! We’ll never get away with it. Will we?

Let’s go back to that tree idea and think of it as part of a forest and how the trees work together to cushion each other from the winds and how, through doing this, through sticking together, they sway rather than crack. It’s the same with us lot. on our own we’re more exposed to life’s winds, more likely to feel the chill of disillusionment, but together not only can we support each other through the personal winters, we can act as one thing for the blossoming of the common good.

Martin King

dEEP cHE cki ns at g r O und

i'm not a serviCe user

In her speech at Davos in 2019, Greta Thunberg said: “Adults keep saying: ‘We owe it to the young people to give them hope.’

But I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.”

With David Attenborough's documentaries, the rise of Extinction Rebellion and the school strikes, more and more of us are waking up to the climate catastrophe unfolding around us, the Sixth great extinction, the Anthropocene. And for many of us, this waking up comes with vast waves of fear, despair, grief and anger.

At Ground, we wanted to honour our pain for the world by creating some spaces for people to come together, to share together, and to hold one another as we process these emotions. So we arranged some gatherings, which we called “Deep Check Ins”, to do just this. Each gathering had the same structure. We would start with five minutes of shared silence, before each person was given 5 mins to share whatever they wanted to share. once everyone had had a chance to speak, we had a second round, for people to follow up with further reflections. We then finished with a potluck dinner and some time for catching up. The Deep Check Ins were profound evenings, with tears and laughter, with differences revealed and common ground found, with everyone leaving the richer for the mutual giving and receiving. And so, I'll finish with some more words from Greta:

“There are no grey areas when it comes to survival. Now we all have a choice. We can create transformational action that will safeguard the living conditions for future generations. or we can continue with business as usual and fail. That is up to you and me.”

s.H.u.s.H. s HOw YO u car E

Focus on the other person, make eye contact and maintain eye contact, put away your phone. Show you’re really listening by giving them your full attention.

H av E Pati E nc E

It may take time and several attempts before a person is ready to open up. Non-judgemental listening allows the person to relax into the conversation and use it as a place to reflect or work through difficult emotions.

u s E OPE n qu Esti O ns

open questions need more than a yes/no answer. Follow up with questions like ‘Tell me more’. When – Where - What – How: All good ways to start your question, and remember nothing they say is right or wrong.

saY it back

Check you’ve understood, but don’t interrupt or offer a solution. Checking you’re hearing what they want you to hear, not putting your own interpretation onto the conversation.

Try asking clarifying questions like: When you say…do you mean…? Tell me more about…? What do you really mean by that? It sounds like…is that how you feel?

H av E c O urag E

Don’t be put off by a negative response and, most importantly, don’t feel you have to fill a silence. The best support is helping them talk through the problems they are facing so that they can decide what’s best for them.

I’m not just a service user, I’m not just a face in the queue

I’m not just a mum or a member, I’m a person through and through I’m not just a service user that others so often see through

I’m not just a name or a number,

I’m a person through and through

I’m not the blind or the needy, just one of the deserving few

So don’t give me your charity hand outs, I’m a person strong and true And I’m not your client or helper, not a vandal or sniffer of glue And I’m not the grass roots or just local,

I’m a person through and through

Am I your wheel chair user, that others so often ignore?

Am I described as homeless, sleeping rough by the superstore?

No I’m not just a service user, I’m not just a face in the queue

I’m not just a mum or a member,

I’m a person through and through And I’m not your single parent and my kids ain’t a problem to you

And I’m not just the gypsy they’re moving again

I’m a person through and through

bite the bisCuit neighbourhood market

A market, a place for gathering, an artistic experiment, Bite the Biscuit Neighbourhood Market takes place once a week on Thursdays from 11am to 4pm at the former St. Matthew’s Church. Anyone can have a stall in the market and all are welcome. There's a cafe area where we serve hot brews for a donation and delicious food at a right friendly price. our slogan is ‘Local Economies Against the Pre-invented World’.

have your oW n sta l l

»Tel: 07732 295 838

»Email: bitethebiscuit@giroscope.org.uk

»Facebook: @bitethebiscuitneighbourhoodmarket

»Twitter: @bite_market

»Instagram: @bite_the_biscuit_n_market

»More info: bitethebiscuitneighbourhoodmarket. wordpress.com

b it E t HE b iscuit

bO ul Evard r adi O

Did you know there's a little DIY radio station down Boulevard with listeners in Mexico, Malm St and Middlesborough? Based at the old church were we do the market, the station is both a community space and a tool for local self-organisation, a place for people to express themselves and an enjoyable excuse to get together. It streams online at radioteahouse.org every Thursday 2pm-6pm (ish). To listen live just go to the link and press play, it only comes on at the times we are streaming.

12:45pm

The Small Markets podcast

About grassroots economies

Rebel Music

Calling all rebels, layabouts, activists, beatniks, armchair anarchos, feral freestylers, world changers and cosmic crusaders. This show's for you, baby.

Playing tunes and reading bits of stuff that stick it to the man, a middle finger up to the powers and a celebration of those who stand-up or sit-down for what's right. Reggae, ska-punk, DIY, (proper) folky, bluesy bits n bobsy music of the people. Dropout and tune in for some grooving with the eternal now.

Big up now Sisters

A show dedicated to female musicians, bands and singers. It explores different themes every week, from nature to names, freedom, the weather and motherhood, to name a few. With an eclectic mix of soul, pop, folk, punk, electro, blues, disco, dance, reggae and all the rest, combining golden oldies and contemporary tunes, we celebrate and discover women's contribution not only to music but to society and mother Earth.

The Wizard

30 mins of tunes from Ade and his scrabble partner, a sort of biscuit all sorts.

I’m not the demonstrator or the housewife you interview

So don’t give me your newspaper clichés when I’m taking a stand for what’s true

Am I the refugees fleeing, seen silent on TV?

No I’m not just that body, that picture, I’m a person - hey that’s me!

So I’m not just a service user,

I’m not just a face in the queue

Not just a mum or a member, I’m a person just like you

So time now to drop all your labels, start talking both straight and true I’m me with my rights, my loves and my fights

Watch out now, watch out now

I’m coming through

Thank you to Steve for sharing his thoughts in this poem.

»See Page 16 for more poetry

t ell u s What you t hin K

Have you got something you’d like to share, or are passionate about? We’d really like to know about the things that are important to you, so see the back page for all the ways you can get in touch.

Eddy Bewsher radio show. Songs from all over the planet, a sort of Eddyvision song contest

You moved from beautiful Southern Bulgaria to Hull and you see many things in the UK that long term residents never notice, forget or miss. I’m interested in what you see and what this seeing teaches you about yourself or both countries?

Parks and gardens

The gardens and the parks here...I love. In Bulgaria there are those natural, untouched places. And we are very proud of their beauty. Here the man-made things are so colourful, so beautiful, so well looked after. Like the first time I’ve seen Queen’s Garden. My first visit here was December –Christmas time.  It was winter and it was cold, but still in the park there were so many trees and little bushes all wrapped in lights and everything so bright and festive. And then when I saw it in June next yearsame park, but transformedwith thousands of flowers, colours and shapes. Hanging from baskets or growing in perfectly rounded pots. I was so impressed. When my friend told me that I can sit on the grass. Really?! o n the grass?! And no one will fine me, or shout at me? And so my love for this place grew. The Ferry I’ve been on King's Georges dock countless times, what was different was the night and the departure of the Ferry. o h it felt so rewarding watching it preparing for its journey. This giant fully covered in lights and with full belly was nearly ready. The evening chill was not too cold and off putting. The dark blue hoodie of the night was making the situation more intimate, more personal. The moon was big and in warm deep yellow instead of the usual pale self. In an instant the water turned into a boiling pan and in well synchronized performance the ferry left the port. It was like the departure of an old friend. A loss of a loved onevoid feeling invades the heart. And until the turmoil of the water in the river settles down the turmoil of the heart brings water in the eyes. Well, I hope you have a good journey, my friend. Travel safe and visit different places, meet new people, be true to yourself and overcome any storms the life may send your way. o ne day we will meet again.  Nelly

The River and the bridge Bulgaria has beautiful nature and UK as well. o ne of the first things that impressed me to the point of mind blowing was the Humber river. The colourok, I think this gets everyone. This cappuccino colour is hard to not see. I learned how beneficial the sediments are and actually how unique and special this place is for flora and fauna. Somehow that clicked with me very, very deep. Then the mind blowing part happened. o ne afternoon we were out for a walk near the river. The lovely sun in May was so welcoming and warm we spent hours outside. I was really itching with a question. I could swear this river flowed in different directions on the way to the café...and on our way back the river was full blown running the other way. How is this possible?!

In Bulgaria all the rivers flow only one way, you see. So feeling conflicted and embarrassed I asked: is it some optical illusion or what? My friend patiently explained to me the word estuary. (I still cannot pronounce “estuary” for the life of me). We have a word in Bulgarian to describe the places where rivers meet the sea as well and it even sounds a tiny bit similar. The dynamic of the tide in and tide outthis is what got me. It is still so amazing for methe hard work Humber river is doing 4 times a day. Running wild one way. Tons and tons of water going in and then all this abundance goes back to the sea. Humber Bridge. Place that builds bridges and not ruins themis place where I would love to live. The atmosphere around it. The connection between the 2 different places. There is something about bridges. Something so wise.

l ook and look again

Over the summer of 2020 Kate Genever (artist working with Three Ways East in HU3) had a conversation with a quiet, unassuming individual who was originally from Bulgaria and was seeing HU3, Hull, the world and the human beings in ways that were curious, beautiful and refreshing. They emailed each other a while and Kate realised that perhaps the ‘outsider’ eye could help us ‘see’ and ‘notice’ anew what goes on all around us...including each other. This is one part of their conversation and in their own words.

light on boulevard Yes there is a light and it is an ever renewing life, a hope, all the world cries it. Yes there is a light in the green shoot bursting through deadened concrete. Yes there is a light in the golden autumn leaves shrivelling, falling then emerging new green brightness. Yes there is a light in the bold and bright colours, of the glass smashed underpass. Yes there is a light in the flowers given by neighbours to someone in mourning. Yes there is a light in the entwined woven threads of women’s safe belonging. Yes there is a light, and it is on Boulevard, and it is an ever renewing life, a hope, and all the world cries it.

Ellie

at a glanCe

A guide to all the things you can do, and details of organisations you might be interested in, as featured in this issue.

you Can... organisations...

page you can... ideas for things to do

3 discover the sKy in hu3’s pie

4 seW a triangle chic Ken

6 get in touch

7 Write a letter to your younger self

Have think about what a Sky in our Pie festival in HU3 would look like and join us for a public meeting to discuss it...or contact us to share your thoughts.

Take some time out with simple and fun craft activity.

Find contact details for support in difficult times.

What would it say? If you would like to share it with us we’d love to hear from you.

9 groW some spuds Instructions for trying your hand at growing your own spuds (even if you haven’t got a garden) ready to make your own roasties, mash or oven chips. share your recipes

maKe food connections

11 share your creations With us

12 have a go at creating your oWn comic strip

16 share a poem that’s special to you & tell us Why

17 introduce your super-pet

18 use this space

Let us know what you cook with what you grow, or just send us your favourite recipe – and tell us why you love it.

Let us know if you’d like to connect with others interested in fairer access to food, growing and sustainability.

Use our social media streams to share your creations.

Find a handy ‘how to’ guide on creating comic strips. Let us know if you’d be interested in joining us for a workshop over the summer.

Share your poetry gem in any language

From Aardvarks to Earthworms, Guinea Pigs to zebra Finches you know your pets are amazing and we’d love to hear about their Super Powers.

If you would like to write a piece about someone or something, submit a poem, share a photograph or send someone a message, please drop us a line. reflect on Whether we could collectively create a special place in the neighbourhood for reflection and memorial. If you think this is worth talking about drop us a line and we'll gather people together.

21 have your oWn stall

tell us What you thin K

24 get involved in so many Ways

you Can

How to get in touch with the lovely folks at Bite Biscuit

Have you got something you’d like to share, or are passionate about?

We’d really like to know about the things that are important to you.

Whether you like writing, organising, thinking, drawing, talking to people or just joining in, do get in touch with us. We want the Encyclopaedia of Us to be by and for everyone. If you don’t know how you can contribute but would like to get involved please just get in touch. We are experts at revealing interests and superpowers!

page o rganisation contact details

1 encyclopedia of us hello@threewayseast.co.uk @eofushu3 @eofushu3 @eofushu3

4 orts collective ortscollective@gmail.com

www.ortscollective.wixsite.com/orts

6 hull samaritans jo@samaritans.org

Freephone 116123

www.samaritans.org

7 vulcan centre 42 Heron Street, HU3 3PF info@vulcancentre.co.uk 01482 229230

www.vulcancentre.co.uk

@VulcanLearningCentre

8/9 con Q uest of bread

constable community allotment

www.conquestofbread.shop @conquestbreadshop

Constable Street, HU3 3DF www.constableallotment.org.uk @constableallotment

feast rising baKery @feastrising

giroscope info@giroscope.org.uk

01482 576374

www.giroscope.org.uk

@Giroscope_Hull

@Giroscope

groWing st andreWs @groundworkhull @groundworkhull @groundworkhull

hull community diggers @HullCommunityDiggers

hull trades council's unity shop

Phone/message: 07709 064386

www.unityshop.co.uk @UnityShopHull

@unityshophull

hull yfc www.hullyfc.co.uk @YfcHull

HullYFC

rooted in hull www.rootedinhull.org.uk @RootedinHull @RootedinHull

selby street mission www.hullcentreandwest.org.uk @apmchurch

thornton allotment association @ThortonAllotmentAssociation

11/12 chiltern primary school www.chiltern.hull.sch.uk @ChilternPSHull

20 andy’s man club info@andysmanclub.co.uk

www.andysmanclub.co.uk @hullandysmanclub

sign up and get involved

Whether you’re a wannabe reporter, a budding photojournalist or just interested in finding out more, send us your name, along with an email or postal address and we’ll keep you up to date.

ground groundarts@hotmail.com @GroundGallery @groundgallery @groundcollective

21 bite biscuit @bite_thebiscuit oR @bite_market @bite_thebiscuit

@bitethebiscuitneighbourhoodmarket

add to the map

Draw your own house or favourite building

»If you’d like to share your creations with us you can do this via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or email us.

The coloured dots on this map show you where the articles and contributions for this issue have come from.

glasgow st.

selbyst.

ground

buddhist Centre

woodCoCk st.

sCrap store

hessle road network

vulCan

anlaby rd.

queensgate kings benCh

boulevard aCademy quakers

Coltman st.

fountain

Constable st. allotment Encyclopedia

asda

lidl

Thank you to the editorial team and to everyone who has contributed content to our very first Encyclopaedia of Us. Your efforts are very much appreciated. If you are interested in getting involved as part of the Editorial Team for one of our future editions, just let us know

Data protection statement header

Contributions of thoughts, ideas and creative works are always welcome and are accepted as being the original work of the person supplying them. If you are contributing things on behalf of someone else, or work created by someone else, please make sure you have their permission and let us know how they wish to be credited.

We only record and process personal information in order to credit contributions to the EofUs and keep you up to date with the project (if you wish). We do not share any of your personal information with third parties without your permission.

hessle rd.

home bargains

boulevard

wellsted st. peep's shop

ryder soCial

g et involved in so many Ways

Whether you like writing, organising, thinking, drawing, talking to people or just joining in, do get in touch with us. We want the Encyclopaedia of Us to be by and for everyone. If you don’t know how you can contribute but would like to get involved please just get in touch. We are experts at revealing interests and superpowers!

get in touch

If you want to respond to any of the You Cans in this issue, have ideas for future issues or just want to get in touch you can:

»Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @EofUsHU3

»Email: hello@threewayeast.co.uk

»Don't do technology? Drop your thoughts, ideas and artworks in one of our postboxes at Constable Street Allotment or Ground Gallery at 60 Beverley Road