London Canal stroll

That was more then a year ago, and the light was just right for great reflections.

I strolled with my camera along the Canal, without aim, discovering a new aspect of London. I did not imagine, a year later, I will be able to tell a story about how I arrived and what I did from then on, just a year later, in a Cafe Theatre near the canal, in 13 month!

I would not have believed it if someone told me then.

It is great to have flickr where people can find some of your old photos and put them in their gallery, like it happened yesterday with this one. It brings back so many memories!

Also it mesures, for me, all that happened from then on, and also how I felt that time. Each time has its own enjoyments.

I like to share, and sharing this picture, gives me today a new view of it and all the period: I was not yet, as I remember, even in my appartment then and that day, I got a call: "you got it", as I remember. Yes, I looked it up, it was August 2008. I moved in, a week later here. It was a great walk along the Canal a month after I got in London!

Now or never at Canal Cafe Theatre

Yesterday, the seven personal stories were a success at the theatre, with 60 persons it was full, and they do enjoy it.

I was the second to tell my story and the only one who did not read it, just told it. Finally, I had no problem with the lights coming to me and the audience in dark, I did look at them as if I have seen them and "owned the stage" too. Used props, a chair at the beginning, my small camera and a photo of me at age five.

Got a few laughters, also it was not a funny story, and a huge spontaneous long applause at the end. It was a great joy, only 15 month after my arrival to London to be able to give a live spectacle in English!

My English, of course, but they told me they did understand everything. Here is the beginning...

Now or never Beginning.mp3

I did not post yet the middle, also it can be listened to at the Box.net, but the end is in my photoblog already.

Preparing for tonight

Preparing for tonight, I was helped by Stark's founder Johanna, and also by one of my Toastmasters mentor Dave and by Philip, the president of our Lewisham Club. I did not realise someone can not have heard about Toastmasters clubs!

That means to know to whom you address!

"The toastmasters brings us the speaker from us in a supportive environment." Yes! I'll put that at the begining, because they did help me at age 45 to have my second chance, indeed!

And at the end, I'll add something more.

A bit afraid of the strong lights on me and the dark in the audience, but one more thing to get used to. Listening to the young woman afraid to tell her tale even in the repetition, even to read what was written, I realized even more how long way I made from my first Table Topics, where I was trembling like her.

Here, some images from yesterday, I'll add tomorrow, more.

To Little Venice & back

I had to wait for twenty minutes in the Station until the train arrived - that was my luck!

She was so interesting, this young woman all in black lace.

What a beauty and beautiful smile, too!

Not only did we speak to each other very well, for the twenty minutes, but she had also time to read my text!

The text, I spoke later at the café theâtre near Little Venice, without problem, without looking. And my voice went well all to the end of the room, my accent was not so bad as not to be understood, so all went well. Tomorrow, the "real" thing, with spectators.

I listened to three other personal tales, different, interesting, funny, and one girl's hesitations, but I am sure she'll be great tomorrow. She has such graceful movements and smile!

In all we will be seven to tell a personal story with the title "now or never" at 7:30pm. Some slight modifications, to my text, and I am ready for tomorrow.

Canal café theatre, were we will be tomorrow, with this two who are so funny and tell so well their stories!

And yes, I love to speak in public, tell personal tales, and be there up, even with the light on me.

Symetry in nature

There are so many marvels in the nature that before I would have passed by without even stopping, observing, marvelling at them!

From the time I took my camera in my hand to stroll, I see so much more, all around me, and not only in the nature.

People, interactions, sadness or happiness, all the people reading in the Tube, and not just journals, but lots of them also books.

Today, I feel I have been fullish to decide to speak in public, tell about my life, storytelling is wonderful, but I am not sure I am yet, well prepared for it. But no more backing out from it.

I'll do it.

Tomorrow, repetitions, I am looking forward to hear the other nine, personal stories. Reading, or telling. I would prefer to tell. But I'll do how most of them do? I'll really know, tomorrow evening, after we all got together.

I'll for sure learn something from this adventure.

From 222 photos

The images go so fast, one after the other!

A rose, I received, the geraniums with no more flowers, then outside, flowers from very near and the house entrance with flowers and a green watering can.

The church entrance from outside, inside, and a Saint teaching her daughter to read. Here is a link to 50 of those 222 images.

Then suddenly, outside, a mother arrives, with a scarf holding near her the baby and a incredible happy smile on her face, communicating with the child while she walks.

That is why I make photos!

That is what I really like!

May I? Yes, of course, she told me, smiling towards me, too. The radiance remaining on her face. But the baby felt, not being the centre of the whole attention of his (her) mother, and was less happy. Here is the picture.

That is life. That is why I went out, even if I thought it was to take some "minimalist" pictures.

Telling a story

Storytelling is very important, "I was already convinced" some wrote me. Wonderful! For me it is almost a new great discovery.

Monday, I will tell the story of my last change of life, from Paris to London, from the different Meetup Groups to Public speaking. If any of you can come to the theater near Little Venice, the public personal storytelling event organised by Spark, welcome.

Those who can not, I'll put here, Tuesday, the text of my story - but it is not the same thing: perhaps, I'll just add the sounds (without video) I will register at the delivery or, at rehearsal.

After that, I go to Farnham, to assist to a Storytelling workshop, where we will be guided to tell a story, better. When I do believe in something, I do put all I can into it.

I do hope, it will help me, at long, to write also better stories.