Dear All
How are you?
How many times do we answer that question with an impulsive 'I'm good, thanks' or some such? When actually we might have many crises in our lives.
That is how it has been for me these last 2, nearly 3, months - one of my most prolonged testing times in Egypt, and anywhere.
Why? Because I am going through various legal processes for the company and trying to do that, in this country, is a nightmare. I wouldn't even know where to begin telling the tale, but let's just say it is Kafkaesque and not yet resolved; and just as at other times of my life I used to wake up musing on a word or a dream or an idea; these last months everyday has been consumed by issues.
Nevertheless, let me focus on the accomplishments; I have created the Writers' Centre www.writerscentre.blogspot.com
and I have been continuing delivering a plethora of creative writing workshops and two new artists, Jenna Crowder and Keith Lane have been staying for a month and will stay through to mid June, whilst they deliver workshops at the Townhouse. (see the ARC home page for links to their work in 'Other Pages')
I have also got a delightful balcony of pink, green and yellow and the beautiful tree and birds that continue to soothe my days somewhat.
I go back to UK for 12 days early next week, my first trip for 2 and half years since arriving here and I am feeling rather stressed about it as it is at a critical time both for me personally with all my legal situations and also for Egypt. Things happen here every minute and also I am concerned about coming back, as nowadays the authorities can be, let's say, 'unembracing' towards foreigners wishing to stay here.
However, everything is pushing me forward to depart and to be in UK for a short time, and so inshallah it will all be well.
I am actually looking forward to visiting Primark :/ Really! :))
Ok, yalla, I need to eat. I shall write again soon and in the meantime remember to check the main ARC page for updates on what I am doing! :))
www.artsresidencycairo.blogspot.com
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Launch Party for the Writers' Centre and Khamsin Winds...
Well!!!! Things ARE moving on with the Writers' Centre Launch Party now decided for Tuesday April 24th (you can follow the Writers' Centre blog here: www.writerscentre.blogspot.com
I went over to the space a few days ago and there are still some refurbishments being made, but it felt good and also very quiet and peaceful for Cairo!
Today there is a strong and sandy wind blowing (known as a Khamsin) and the tree by my balcony is lurching like a shipwreck and there is dust on my laptop keys ;) I've been editing this morning and have class tonight and soon I have to take a router over to the Writers' Centre - I have realised that it will be quite a lifestyle change for me, this Writers' Centre! My daily habit has been to get up late, edit and write and then go out about 6pm to teach class then home late evening. On the rare day off I am catching up with things or see friends and unwind. Being responsible for the Writers' Centre means I shall have to start getting up earlier and get out of the house faster to go over there. I hope I can find some volunteers at some point to do some shifts so that I don't have to go over there everyday, lovely as it is ;)
I guess I should get more 'normal looking' now and go take this router! Or maybe I should further decorate the work room/studio space and stay inside - as this Khamsin is very sandy!!!
Bye bye for now!! :))
I went over to the space a few days ago and there are still some refurbishments being made, but it felt good and also very quiet and peaceful for Cairo!
Today there is a strong and sandy wind blowing (known as a Khamsin) and the tree by my balcony is lurching like a shipwreck and there is dust on my laptop keys ;) I've been editing this morning and have class tonight and soon I have to take a router over to the Writers' Centre - I have realised that it will be quite a lifestyle change for me, this Writers' Centre! My daily habit has been to get up late, edit and write and then go out about 6pm to teach class then home late evening. On the rare day off I am catching up with things or see friends and unwind. Being responsible for the Writers' Centre means I shall have to start getting up earlier and get out of the house faster to go over there. I hope I can find some volunteers at some point to do some shifts so that I don't have to go over there everyday, lovely as it is ;)
I guess I should get more 'normal looking' now and go take this router! Or maybe I should further decorate the work room/studio space and stay inside - as this Khamsin is very sandy!!!
Bye bye for now!! :))
Friday, 23 March 2012
The Writers' Centre
The Writers' Centre
opening soon in El Darasa, Old Cairo
www.writerscentre.blogspot.com
A space for writers to hang out, write, use and contribute to the private library, network and share with an ongoing menu of events, readings, workshops, courses, salons and surgeries
Also offering:
Writing days out in places of inspiration and interest
Residential writing holidays to various places in Egypt such as Bahariya oasis, Nuweiba, Aswan, Siwa and Fayoum
On site residencies available to both emerging and established writers
Writing holidays at the Writers' Centre with accommodation provided in the hotel below
Choose membership with benefits or pay as you go. Some things will be free.
Menu of prices available soon
opening soon in El Darasa, Old Cairo
www.writerscentre.blogspot.com
A space for writers to hang out, write, use and contribute to the private library, network and share with an ongoing menu of events, readings, workshops, courses, salons and surgeries
Also offering:
Writing days out in places of inspiration and interest
Residential writing holidays to various places in Egypt such as Bahariya oasis, Nuweiba, Aswan, Siwa and Fayoum
On site residencies available to both emerging and established writers
Writing holidays at the Writers' Centre with accommodation provided in the hotel below
Choose membership with benefits or pay as you go. Some things will be free.
Menu of prices available soon
Saturday, 25 February 2012
The Tree of Life
Hmmm, contented sigh as I sit on the balcony which is finally filling with warmth after these cold days in Cairo that have gone for too long and loving the tree that spreads across the street. I am sipping my peppermint tea and amazingly only have 2 pieces to edit today before going out to writing class at 6pm. I haven't written a poem or prose piece myself for a long time, as each day is full of activity and editing and the prime goal this last while of finding a place for my new good thing: The Writers' Centre - a place for events, readings, courses, salons, surgeries, hang out, networking, chill space, private library. And there will be a membership with benefits or pay as you go and some things will be free. This centre will bring together all my activities into one space and also allow collaboration and outreach.
However, as strong as this idea is (as there are many writers here who would love to have a place to gather and work) and as ready as I am to go for it - the issue of a suitable place is critical.. and I have been on several wild goose chases... My partner is a real estate broker and we are actually setting up a British Egyptian real estate company HOME. But I called in some other 'brokers' to widen the search and it ended up as a fiasco with people telling me crazy stories about amazing places that were so cheap because they had a ghost (!) but when I asked to go see them the place went PUFF! Into thin air... This happened numerous times and the whole fustrating and tiring experience has only served to make Shady, my partner, feel 100 times better about his professionalism in his broker work!!
Anyway.. hopefully a place is being arranged now, details as soon as it all goes through..
Other than this life has been courses, courses, courses with new venues requesting me to deliver writing courses including The Left Bank cafe, bakery, bookstore - owned by Sequoia restaurant and with an amazing modern design right on the Nile.
Yes, spring is arriving and all is rising - the return of Up On the Roof (open mic night), creative writing courses, The Writers' Centre, HOME real estate, and more artists asking to work on projects at ARC.
I think I need more tea ;))
However, as strong as this idea is (as there are many writers here who would love to have a place to gather and work) and as ready as I am to go for it - the issue of a suitable place is critical.. and I have been on several wild goose chases... My partner is a real estate broker and we are actually setting up a British Egyptian real estate company HOME. But I called in some other 'brokers' to widen the search and it ended up as a fiasco with people telling me crazy stories about amazing places that were so cheap because they had a ghost (!) but when I asked to go see them the place went PUFF! Into thin air... This happened numerous times and the whole fustrating and tiring experience has only served to make Shady, my partner, feel 100 times better about his professionalism in his broker work!!
Anyway.. hopefully a place is being arranged now, details as soon as it all goes through..
Other than this life has been courses, courses, courses with new venues requesting me to deliver writing courses including The Left Bank cafe, bakery, bookstore - owned by Sequoia restaurant and with an amazing modern design right on the Nile.
Yes, spring is arriving and all is rising - the return of Up On the Roof (open mic night), creative writing courses, The Writers' Centre, HOME real estate, and more artists asking to work on projects at ARC.
I think I need more tea ;))
Friday, 9 December 2011
The Month of the Archer
Helllllloooooooo!!!!
Yes, another long dip out from blogging, what can I say dear readers.. other than the truth - Life takes hold!!! :)
Soooo... OK OK OK since last writing to you all the dancer Leena Vaswani stayed, danced, glittered and then left for India some weeks ago, Florin Dan a Romanian poet came to stay and we will hopefully engage in an exchange project next year. Two veritable and interesting artists; Ronnie Close and Yvonne Buchheim visited ARC and were introduced to several writers and artists - Ronnie will be coming back to live in Cairo in a month's time and take up a cool job as Professor of Photography at AUC (we bow down..) :)) and Yvonne will do lots of groovy things here - watch this space. And next Wednesday Leena Chauhan will come for a month's residency and work on a project. Looking forward*** ;))
I finished a load of courses, am now starting new ones up and will also be managing workshops, events and arts initiatives with Darb 1718. I also started wearing day-glo nail varnish, went to Wadi Hitan (Whale Valley) and after a huge stint of Russian literature followed by Camus I decided to come into the decade with Irvine Welsh. I also got a lovely blue bag ;))
*All links to artists on the ARC home page
My new courses are, first one first - starting Saturday 10th December (tomorrow!):
Creative Writing Course
The Creative Writing course will act as an extended masterclass looking at various techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills.
We will work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts, as well as free writing.
There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.
4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Saturdays
Starting 10th December
from 7:30 pm till 9:30 pm
at Diwan Heliopolis
Price: 480 L.E
Limited number-please register in advance at any Diwan store
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)
Yes, another long dip out from blogging, what can I say dear readers.. other than the truth - Life takes hold!!! :)
Soooo... OK OK OK since last writing to you all the dancer Leena Vaswani stayed, danced, glittered and then left for India some weeks ago, Florin Dan a Romanian poet came to stay and we will hopefully engage in an exchange project next year. Two veritable and interesting artists; Ronnie Close and Yvonne Buchheim visited ARC and were introduced to several writers and artists - Ronnie will be coming back to live in Cairo in a month's time and take up a cool job as Professor of Photography at AUC (we bow down..) :)) and Yvonne will do lots of groovy things here - watch this space. And next Wednesday Leena Chauhan will come for a month's residency and work on a project. Looking forward*** ;))
I finished a load of courses, am now starting new ones up and will also be managing workshops, events and arts initiatives with Darb 1718. I also started wearing day-glo nail varnish, went to Wadi Hitan (Whale Valley) and after a huge stint of Russian literature followed by Camus I decided to come into the decade with Irvine Welsh. I also got a lovely blue bag ;))
*All links to artists on the ARC home page
My new courses are, first one first - starting Saturday 10th December (tomorrow!):
Creative Writing Course
The Creative Writing course will act as an extended masterclass looking at various techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills.
We will work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts, as well as free writing.
There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.
4 weeks (8 hour course)
One session per week (2 hour session) on Saturdays
Starting 10th December
from 7:30 pm till 9:30 pm
at Diwan Heliopolis
Price: 480 L.E
Limited number-please register in advance at any Diwan store
Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Hello Again & The 4th Floor Project!!!
Hello All!
Yes, it has been a long time but that's the Cairo bubble that sometimes happens!
So I am back (not that I went away) and I have moved again, now in another spacious and lovely new abode which you can read about on the page link:
http://artsresidencycairo.blogspot.com/p/all-about-arc.html
So - new news.. well I moved house again, I've been giving 5 writing courses a week, Leena the Indian dancer came back to stay, I've been exploring expansion opportunities and various art initiatives, Up On the Roof has continued to shine - what else... well, that's quite a lot! :))
And now I am up horrendously early as I am excited about my new project The 4th Floor.
The 4th Floor is the latest art space and residential available via ARC. Situated in a classic featured original building opposite The Egyptian Museum, Downtown Cairo - The 4th Floor comprises of a large 3 bed room with balcony, high ceilings and wooden flooring and its own conservatory style studio/workspace adjacent to the room with a bank of windows allowing a flood of light and a downtown view into the studio. Shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. The cost of staying at The 4th Floor is 70 LE per person per night or 200 LE for the private use. The cost includes the studio use and free wireless.
So!!!! Book in and be in the downtown groove!
*ARC continues to accept guests at ArtHome as usual.
Yes, it has been a long time but that's the Cairo bubble that sometimes happens!
So I am back (not that I went away) and I have moved again, now in another spacious and lovely new abode which you can read about on the page link:
http://artsresidencycairo.blogspot.com/p/all-about-arc.html
So - new news.. well I moved house again, I've been giving 5 writing courses a week, Leena the Indian dancer came back to stay, I've been exploring expansion opportunities and various art initiatives, Up On the Roof has continued to shine - what else... well, that's quite a lot! :))
And now I am up horrendously early as I am excited about my new project The 4th Floor.
The 4th Floor is the latest art space and residential available via ARC. Situated in a classic featured original building opposite The Egyptian Museum, Downtown Cairo - The 4th Floor comprises of a large 3 bed room with balcony, high ceilings and wooden flooring and its own conservatory style studio/workspace adjacent to the room with a bank of windows allowing a flood of light and a downtown view into the studio. Shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. The cost of staying at The 4th Floor is 70 LE per person per night or 200 LE for the private use. The cost includes the studio use and free wireless.
So!!!! Book in and be in the downtown groove!
*ARC continues to accept guests at ArtHome as usual.
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Creative Writing Course in Alexandria!! Yalla!!
Sabah el foll ya Alexandrians!!!
For those of you living in Alex or visiting, I am running a 3 evening course in Creative Writing - 24th to 26th July at Diwan Alex.
Please see the link for all details and register via Diwan
http://www.diwanegypt.com/en/node/136937
For those of you living in Alex or visiting, I am running a 3 evening course in Creative Writing - 24th to 26th July at Diwan Alex.
Please see the link for all details and register via Diwan
http://www.diwanegypt.com/en/node/136937
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)