Week Note 25/04/02
When the world feels like it’s collapsing, where should we look for hope? Geopolitics is so fragile right now. Trump is a fascist, a white supremacist, a convicted felon, a proven liar - yet somehow he’s currently (dis)gracing The White House - the American people, and hey - just about everybody else too. With this as a backdrop, what have I been up to?
Architecture, Design, Connections
I spent Tuesday in a less familiar part of London - appreciating some street art around Whitecross Street, and some stunning design work too. I caught up with Mark Catchlove at the stunning new Miller Knoll showroom right by St John’s gate. I’ve not seen Mark for a while - and I was welcomed like an old friend.
After taking in a mix of fascinating history and contemporary design, we made our way towards Soho together for the launch of a new book by Gary Cookson, titled ‘Making Hybrid Working Work’. The launch event was interesting to me for two reasons. First - the content and the discussion, and second, though definitely more important, the connections made with several good people who I’ve not seen for a very long time.
Post covid, I’ve drifted into a habit of keeping myself much more to myself - and I was genuinely uplifted by how many people welcomed me, and spent time with me. I’m often my own worst enemy; a client once called me ‘terminally self deprecating’. Harsh, but at times fair. I always knew this excursion would be enjoyable and useful - and it was far more than that. This time spent with good people feels like it has really unlocked something in me. If you’ve been feeling a bit withdrawn lately - I get it - and maybe after reading this - you’ll feel motivated to reconnect with good people you know too?
Mark Catchlove and yours truly - taken at Gary Cookson’s book launch. Photo © Mark Catchlove
The Seeker
I’ve been largely ‘gigging’ for work since 2009, and while this has undoubtedly provided me with some amazing opportunities - it’s a way of working that can often feel quite relentless. Blending delivery of work to a really high standard, with an almost constant need to seek out more, takes a toll.
After my cousin Audrey died in 2023, I took on the responsibility of dealing with her affairs. I was happy to do this - and it required my attention, focus, and effort, to the extent that other work slowed somewhat. Once my work as executor (a horrible term for a really important job that needs kindness and patience) was done, the reluctant, more withdrawn version of myself struggled to move on.
In addition to more conscious reconnecting with people, I’m being much more intentional about seeking out work, and I’m pleased to say that two new projects have come my way this week. One is a small seed, from which something interesting may or may not grow. The other is bigger, and potentially more regular too. Both projects have community at their heart - and that suits me fine.
Talking of Community…
We have a splendid venue here in Sutton - The Sound Lounge. It’s a safe welcoming place to eat, drink, listen, laugh, and much more. This week, they organised a multi-faith & community gathering. I went along representing myself and Arts Network Sutton, our local arts charity. We heard excellent stories from around 14 different groups - all doing good work in the borough. People came along and shared in a way that encouraged us all to welcome and celebrate opinions, beliefs, and leanings different to our own, and to appreciate the power of conversation.
I feel fortunate to live in a place where this is happening - it is much needed.
Being in Nature
In what has been a pretty hectic week - I also found time to get out and talk with the birds. We have a tree on a nearby farm track where I often stop to chat - and the song thrush was extremely happy to oblige with some beautiful conversation.