Moving to Scotland

I've just started work with SCoJeC on the Being Jewish in Scotland project. This has involved moving back to Glasgow, at least for part of the week. i'm currently staying in a friend's spare room in the wonderful West End, and hopefully will be moving into a flat in Shawlands in the new year.

Yesterday I was walking down Byres Road and saw a 'generic homeless person' (ie someone sitting on the floor by a bus stop with a cup held out) so my immediate reaction was to cross over the road. Following the example of the wonderful Alison Cook, for years I have been stopping and talking to people begging in the street and finding out their stories - which often is very elucidating and always has an element of 'there but for the grace of god'. Anyway yesterday my heart sank cos I saw this guy ahead of me, and I was thinking 'I just can't bear to stop, I feel dreadful, this is going to be horrible'. But when I got up to the bus stop, my heart LIFTED, cos it was the really nice alcoholic who used to sit at the top of the Kelvinbridge subway station, who I got to know last year when I was living here for 6 months. He was sometiimes the only person I spoke to in a whole day (I was writing up my phd and didn't want to get involved in any social activities while I was here then) - and he was always really cheery, considering his situation. He was very pleased to see me, and I was very pleased to hear he now has a flat, with his girlfriend, and is supplementing his income by sitting by the bus stop with a cup in his hand, to pay the electricity bills etc. Scotland is FREEZING in winter - I remember one day last year when I tried to walk to the gym, I was wrapped up in about 6 layers, and had to give up and go home again cos it was too cold, even with gloves on, to take my hands out of my sleeves to hold the stick I'd brought with me to keep my balance.... so i was concerned about him being out at night.

Anyway - I walked home feeling very cheered up.

fab open lectures at Lancaster Uni

Have you ever thought you'd like to learn some new stuff and expand your mind a bit, but not by watching the telly? This is news from the Continung Learning group at Lancaster University that I used to run and which is now put together by a fabulous energetic group of volunteers . The programme provides access to weekly lunchtime lectures fron an amazing range of university academics and their latest research and teaching activities. It's loosely for older people of 50 plus, but that's not fixed and the membership currently runs from people of 35 to 93. The lunchtime talks are all free with a voluntary contribution of £1.00 to cover admin costs. This week's lecture unusually is followed by a trip on Saturday - read on. They also run an open 'research circle' where you can get motivation and support to carry on with your own private projects. To go on the mailing list to get this information regularly email seniorlearners@Lancaster.ac.ukPlease pass it on to anyone you think may be interested! ---------- Forwarded message ----------From:Date: Sunday, 16 October 2011Subject: [senior-learners] Lancaster University CLG News (16-10-11)To: senior-learners@lists.lancs.ac.uk
Hello,
Last Wednesday we began our new term with a Welcome Day.
Everyone had a chance to hear about the workings of the library and ourplans for the new term as well as outlines of the Lunchtime Lectures,Research Circle and Open Lectures. We spent some time looking at theSenior-Learners-Forum website and we discussed research ambitions past,present and future.
It was great to see some old faces again after quite a time, and also towelcome new people to the group. We're hoping that everyone enjoys theselection of lecture titles we are lining up for this term and hopefullythere are some good ideas of subjects we may want to explore as personalresearch projects for discussion at the Research Circle.
This Wednesday (19th Oct) we have Brian Hodgson of the LancasterUniversity Ruskin Centre returning to give us a lecture entitled 'AnExploration Of Furness Abbey'.
Brian will look at the social and economic as well as the ecologicalimpact of the Cistercian monastery of St Mary's of Furness. He willexplore how the wilderness was tamed and became the Furness Plain and how,after the dissolution of the monastery under Henry VIII, the economic andsocial life of the area was changed together with the farming practice andthe subsequent effect on the environment.
Then on this coming Saturday (22nd Oct) CLG students, and others with aninterest in history are invited to join Brian at the Abbey where we willbe able to look at the picturesque ruins in situ and relate it to varioustheories on how the site was laid out. Brian will be available to answerquestions and there will be a chance to explore the visitor centre, whichhouses an education centre and an extensive exhibition about the historyof the Abbey.
This promises to be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy this stunning ancientbuilding with the help of Brian, who has a wealth of experience in Gothicarchitecture and historic design. Brian recommendeds bringing your camerasto take full advantage of the beauty of the surroundings. Full detailswill be given at the Lecture.
The Lunchtime Lecture will take place in Fylde Lecture Theatre 3 from 1pmtill 3pm, there will then be a tea/coffee break and this will be followedby the Research Circle (also in Fylde Lecture theatre 3) where we will beable to discuss any research projects we may want to undertake during theterm.
Full details of events can be found on the S-L-F (website)
http://senior-learners-forum.wikispaces.com/
If you want to attend the CLG but didn't make it to the Welcome Day, don'tworry, just come along any Wednesday and take part. You will be welcomed.
Regards,
Dave
(on behalf of the CLG Steering Group)

Marketing for Hippies! Workshop in Lancaster, Wed 5th October 10-12 and 2-4

MARKETING FOR HIPPIES! - pay what you can/pay what it's worth to you/ from Free to £20.00.

Are you a holistic and idealistic person trying to make a living doing stuff you believe in, who

doesn't want to get involved with traditional marketing because you think it's too commercial?

You are invited to a workshop on Wednesday 5th October 2011, 10-12 and 2-4, at DACRELANDS Centre for Health, Aldrens Lane, Skerton, Lancaster, LA1 2DU - a 20 minute walk from the centre of Lancaster, near Ryelands Park.

[THE MORNING WORKSHOP HAS SOLD OUT BUT THERE ARE STILL PLACES IN THE AFTERNOON]

Read on, and then if you're interested, contact DAWN KEYSE to confirm your place - email her on dawnkeyse@gmail.com , phone 07515 426670.

(Nb there are some stairs up to the room currently booked: please let us know if you have mobility issues and we will arrange an alternative venue).

The seminar is with Tad Hargreave, a Canadian who founded www.marketingforhippies.com. He's over in the UK for a short time, and most likely won't be coming back for a while. You can get a load of free stuff about marketing from his website www.marketingforhippies.com and get a feel for what the seminar is about - or read on, below.

This 2 hour workshop is for you if you're a Holistic Practitioner, or in the Healing Arts, perhaps you are selling a natural, eco-friendly, cruelty-free or otherwise healthy product, or maybe you’re a local business owner that just plain cares deeply about your community, nature and social justice? . . . and you want to be a better marketer, but you struggle with it. You just don’t get great results.

In this workshop, you will be learning:

-the underlying principles of how marketing for holistic practitioners works (don't worry, it's not pushy or gross or expensive).

-an overview of the top ten, foundational marketing things every holistic practitioner must have (and they're not business cards, brochures, fancy logos or ads in holistic magazines).

-the biggest two blunders that practitioners make when trying to describe what they do (and a simple, fill in the blanks phrase you can use to have people immediately 'get' you).

See more info on http://marketingforhippies.com/ You can also follow Tad Hargrave on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hippymarketer and on Twitter @hippymarketer. Please do that - and please circulate the link to this blog and tell your friends about this opportunity!

best wishes

Fiona and Dawn

don't forget to reserve your place by getting back to Dawn Keyse on dawnkeyse@gmail.com or phone 07515 426670

or for further information, call Fiona Frank 07778 737681

(There may also still be places on a workshop the night before in Bentham if you're interested but can't make the Wednesday morning. Ask us for info).

There has been lots of Hannah Frank-related news in 2011 - I have submitted my PhD (finally) and spent six months living in Glasgow finishing that off. That has kept me pretty much busy all year so I haven't been keeping this blog up at all. But I HAVE done a trade fair in Harrogate, donated a print to a 'riotraffle' to support small traders whose businesses were damaged by the August riots, and printed up 27 new cards to add to what's available on the Hannah Frank website. The next thing will be NOTELETS - to come in September, in response to demand from card-shop visitors to the Harrogate stall.

I'm going to be doing another Hannah Frank stall at the Glasgow Autumn Trade Fair on 18/19 September at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre - stand K20. The show is free to the trade, go to the trade fair website to complete a free registration form. At that stall galleries, card shops and others will be able to see how the 27 stunning new cards, the signed and unsigned prints, and books, would look in their outlets.

The value and profile of Hannah Frank's work in Scotland is likely to be greatly increased this year. September will see a rare chance for discerning buyers to acquire an original Hannah Frank drawing. An early work, 'Spirit of Delight', dating from 1927 when the artist was only 19, has been lying in a Norwich loft for 30 years, and will be coming up for auction, together with one of Hannah Frank's first sculptures, a bronze Head 1954, at McTear's 'Fine Autumn Pictures Auction' in Glasgow on 27th September.

At the SECC there'll be a FREE DRAW for a framed, signed and numbered Hannah Frank print of her drawing 'Dream', 1952, which retails at £350. The draw will be drawn at the end of the show, Monday 19th September. If you won't be there but would like to be included in the draw, *post your business card or contact details* to Hannah Frank Art Sales, c/o Fiona Frank, 3 Dalton Road, Lancaster LA1 3PR, England, to arrive by Wednesday 14th September 2011.

Do get in touch if you want to stock Hannah Frank prints, cards, or sculpture, or would like to know more.

all the best

Fiona Frank

Director, Hannah Frank art

Large Hand-Made Jewellery Trees for sale!

For sale: two Jewellery Trees! The two EMPTY trees in the photos below are the ones that are for sale. The first photo with lots of jewellery is an example of approx how the black one would look when it's full of jewellery. The black one is 67cm high and has 6 fixed metal arms (3 pairs) which are each between 13 and 17 cm long each. Its base is 36 cm wide which means it's very well balanced.

The other one, designed to look like a real tree, is made of wound wire, with a very heavy slate base. It has about 50 separate little branches, perfect for your rings, earrings, necklaces and bangles. Its highest branch is about 57 cm high.

They are both hand by Wendy Moore, Lancaster artist and designer, and are less than a year old. They are individual commission pieces, she hasn't made any others this year.

The black one is for sale at £50.00 and the curvy metal one is for sale at £65.00. They are great for home jewellery storage OR for use at craft fairs to display your jewellery. I've had one for a year and wouldn't be without one. To come and see them (no obligation) call me on 07778 737681 or email fionafrank "at" gmail dot com. They have to be collected from Lancaster, I might be able to post the black one but the brown one is too heavy to post.

April - a new start, new cards!

and THESE are the cards available now in the Hannah Frank card range.... see below!!

OK - I've been in Glasgow for nearly six months. I still have to complete my conclusions but my plan is to get the whole thing off to my supervisors THIS THURSDAY, with Friday as a fallback....

I'm quite excited about my PhD. I seem to think about it most of the time, racking my brains about little problems like 'how did that particular person ever get to university' and 'where do I put this bit I have just found in a book I read years ago and have just looked at again'. But as a very helpful friend has explained, you never actually FINISH a phd, but it comes to a point when you just have to STOP.

So once I do that, my supervisors can tell me what I still need to do for my final submission. The university date is 31st July - if they get it back to me in a month (mid May) then I get a couple of months till mid July to sort it all out.... viva in Sept.... graduate in Nov? maybe ! except that I really would prefer to go to a conference in Boston on graduation week, and graduate the following July.

Which also brings me to the question of What Next?

So, I didn't get the ESRC grant I thought I WOULD get, to roll out the fabulous Senior Learners link between U3As and Universities around the country for a year. Hmm. That was a bit of a shock. But it's pretty much par for the course: 3 referees and the assessor recommended it and it still didn't get funded. Well - loads of organisations have had their funding cut this week. It's all part of the 'squeezed middle'. There is NO MONEY for the public sector any more - the sector that has been feeding me since I left uni, with no gaps at all. So I'm going in three directions -

1. I'm available for consultancy work, and have already started on a job for Strathclyde Uni Centre for Lifelong Learning. When I get back to Lancaster I'll also start putting out that I'm available for other work. (see my post, further down, about Soundboard Consultancy).

but more exciting

2. our family have the copyright on Hannah Frank images for the next 50 years. So, with lots of help from printmaker/artist Louise Scott, I'm going to start taking the cards and prints round to trade fairs/art fairs. We're already launching 'Hannah Frank at Glasgow University Visitor Centre' this Tuesday, and at Westacres, the old people's home where she used to live, next Sunday - and the Glasgow Women's Library will be promoting them on their website, and the Iona Gallery will be selling them from May. Just need to find five or six more good outlets like that.... to celebrate all this new activity I've just had some new cards printed including one of Women with Birds which has never been a card before.

So we now have cards of the all the pix at the top

Sea Story, Dance, Garden, Woman with Birds, Girl at Window, Dream and Garden...

ok off for lunch and then back to Glasgow

will update about the launch at Westacres and Glasgow Uni next week.... and whether I get the full draft off at the end of this week or not!

Fiona xxxx

ps you should also follow the blog of Lancaster Cohousing http://lancastercohousing.blogspot.com/ lots more photos and news than this one!

The age of Google

OK. So today I am trying to finish the Literature Review for my PhD. I wrote one four years ago, but I have to rewrite it in a different way - I have to comment on the literature that I choose, saying where the writers differ with each other, and where my work builds on and differs from theirs.

I've written 10000 words or so in the last couple of weeks and still have a couple of sections to put in.

But I'm finding it impossible to STOP.

Why?

Google books!

everything that you read, these days, refers to other books. In the old days you could make a note of them for interest sake, get them out of the library perhaps the next day, and make a few notes on them before you gave them back to the library.

These days, you can go to Google Books (or download online articles) and read nearly every single reference that's ever mentioned by anyone else - immediately!

Well - there isn't that much 'immediately-time' in the world, to read every reference in the world.

But it still means that I can never get to the end of a paragraph about someone else's writing....