Some things that made me smile in… September 2024
The eternal life of Audre Lorde, dancing and dressed-up dogs
If you’re a regular here, welcome back! If you’re new, this is my round up of some of the things that have made me smile over the past month. Please feel free to share in the comments anything that’s brought you joy too, whether big or small! Are you currently a free subscriber but would like to upgrade? You can do that here.
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It’s only a month since my last round-up but in that time, the view from my window is distinctly different. There are more bare branches, a lot less green and more grey in the sky. I like being able to observe the changes and acknowledge the seasonal shifts.
I’m a Slow Horses obsessive, so very happy the new series has started. But possibly my favourite thing I’ve seen on TV this month is something I stumbled across by chance, In My Own Words with Jackie Kay, which also brought to mind, Survival Is a Promise, the book I’m currently reading (more on that below). In this documentary there’s a bit where Jackie Kay talked about meeting Audre Lorde and that it was her who told Jackie, “You know you can be Black and Scottish” at a time when young Jackie felt she had to choose one or the other. If you have access to BBC iPlayer, you can watch In Your Own Words here.
Survival is a Promise
Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde is the latest book by Alexis Pauline Gumbs.
This special book event was hosted by Foluke Taylor and Barby Asante, was – I learned – the first in-person Black Feminist Friends event since they originally launched. And I wouldn’t even have known about it had it not been for a serendipitous meeting and kind invite from Lehni whose podcast series, Radical Care, Radical Empathy I took part in (as did Foluke) last year.
I went to this on a day when I was feeling pretty shaky. In fact, I almost didn’t go, but I’m so grateful I did. I hadn’t realised how much I needed to be there until I was in the room. Hearing Alexis read extracts, listening to the conversation and insights from Foluke, Barby and others present and savouring the space that was offered for reflection was restorative.
I’m enjoying this book so much and one of the things I like is not just that it’s so beautifully written by Alexis, but also that although it’s an biographical account of Audre Lorde’s life it’s not presented in a standard chronological format. For me, as a reader this makes it easy to dip into and to want to keep returning to it. What I’ve been doing is opening the book to see what page it falls on and then reading that chapter. The (maybe not so) surprising thing is that reading it in this way has provided me with something I’ve needed at the time.
Survival Is a Promise is out now.
Find out more about Alexis Pauline Gumbs and her work here.
The Aunty Alice Foundation - Old Skool for a New School
A couple of Fridays back I had a fun time dancing to some old skool tunes at Off the Cuff in Herne Hill. Nemone Metaxas was playing banger after banger, which made me want to keep moving. That evening I realised three things:
I don’t think I’d danced in public for ages
I need to work on my fitness
I really do dance like an Aunty now (not that I mind!)
It was all in aid of an incredible cause set up by an old work colleague in memory of her Mum, Alice, raising funds to build a secondary school in the village of Matamp, Sierra Leone (the village where Alice was born).
Old Skool for a New School was an evening of old skool tunes and lip syncing. I sadly missed seeing the lip syncing bit as I had to be up early the next morning to teach but I’m really happy I was able to be there for part of the evening.
If you’d like to learn more about The Aunty Alice Foundation and help them reach their goal of £20,000 for the school, you can read more and make a donation here.
The Barbie I wish I’d had
When I was a kid I wanted a Black Barbie. I never had any Black dolls as a child – in the early 1980s Black dolls weren’t so easy to come by in England. So, once I discovered that Black Barbies existed, I really, really wanted one. Flicking through the toy section of the Argos catalogue never produced the miracle that little Paula hoped for, so alas, it remained a wish unfulfilled.
Earlier this month a couple of school friends and I had a catch-up day in town via The Design Museum, which is currently hosting the Barbie: The Exhibition.
Coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the launch of Barbie, this exhibition traces the full history of the brand (including a section dedicated to Ken) and it turned out to be a bit of a trip down memory lane as there were some dolls and accessories that we all recognised from the early 80’s. However, my favourite parts were the more recent examples of diversity including Barbies that were Black, Asian and Hispanic, the first wheelchair user Barbie, the first Barbie with Downs Syndrome and curvy Barbies with different body shapes. Among them was a doll that I would have totally loved as a child – Black, curvy, with hi-top trainers and an aspirational afro:
Given that most of the people there were fellow grown women, I think it’s fair to say there’s a lot of childhood nostalgia (and the success of the 2023 movie) bringing visitors to this exhibition.
Barbie: The Exhibition is on until 23 February 2025 at The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG. Find out more here.
NAOMI: In Fashion
While catching up with another friend we went to see NAOMI at the V&A. It was in the same space as the DIVA exhibition had been, but visiting on a weekday meant that we were able to see so much more without the usual crowds or trying to peek over the shoulders of other visitors.
Naomi Campbell is the first Black British woman I remember seeing on a magazine cover when I was growing up and her cultural impact is undeniable.
A lot of the exhibition is comprised of items from Naomi Campbell’s own wardrobe (haute couture and ready-to-wear) as well as loans from designer archives and from the V&A’s collections.
I did really enjoy this. There were a number of iconic outfits on display. I loved being able to see many of the garments I recognised up close and really appreciate the designs.
If you’d like to visit and see for yourself then you have until April next year.
NAOMI: IN Fashion is on until 6 April 2025 at the V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL. Find out more here.
The Bermondsey Street Festival
Thanks to my pals who invited me to this!
On what turned out to be an unseasonably warm and sunny Saturday afternoon I ate, drank, heard a bit of live music, won a goody bag, saw a dog show featuring a one pup dressed as a lion and another dressed as a dragon and most importantly, I laughed with my friends.
I haven’t been to any festival type things this year and this one – powered by the local community in Bermondsey – was a really wholesome one with a village fete feel. With it being such a beautiful day weather-wise there were a lot of people out, but the vibe was relaxed and welcoming. Complete with multiple stalls (selling almost everything you can think of), lots of local businesses getting involved, DJs, a wellness area and even a maypole there really was something for all.
Laughter truly is medicine, especially when it’s with good friends. I’d been feeling a bit down but this really lifted my spirits. Plus, it was a lovely way to enjoy what was probably one of the last warm days we’ll get this year.
I was having so much fun I didn’t get any decent pictures. The photo above is from @bermonseyse1 on Instagram.
The Bermondsey Street Festival takes place in September each year. For more info visit here.
Last but not least, this month’s kitchen dance track… inspired by Old Skool for a New School is Pump Up the Jam from Technotronic:
Over to you:
What have been your highlights this month? Let me know in the comments below
As well as The Aunty Alice Foundation, a cause you might wish to support here and here
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE YOGA WITH ME:
IN-PERSON:
Hatha Flow, Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am at Yoga Point, Brixton. Book here.
Wake-Up Hatha Flow, Thursdays 8.30-9.30am at MIND Yoga & Pilates, Forest Hill. Book here.
Rest + Restore, Friday 11 October 6.30-8.30pm at Embody Wellness, Vauxhall. Find full details and book here.
The Rest Sessions: A Rest + Calm Mini-Retreat, Saturday 9 November 2.30-4.45pm at Yoga Point, Brixton. Find full details and book here.
ALSO… OCTOBER IS MENOPAUSE AWARENESS MONTH
If you’re in London I’d love you to join me at Embody Wellness on Sunday 27th October 2.30-4.30pm where I’ll be offering Embracing Second Spring: A Yoga for Menopause Mini-Retreat. It will be a relaxing afternoon, there will be bolsters involved and no yoga experience is necessary to take part. Find full details and book your place via the Embody Wellness website here.
ONLINE:
Not able to join me in-person? There’s now 18 months worth of yoga and meditation practices from me here on Substack in The Reset and A Peaceful Pause archives, with new practices added each month.
For Menopause Awareness Month I have the following on-demand practices available on the YogaEasy platform including:
Find more here.
I LOVE your Things That Made Me Smile Paula, always makes me smile & find a recommendation, both exhibitions! Black Barbie (resonated hugely with your childhood wish) & Naomi here I come 🙌🏾💜Have a great week Paula.x
I’m also deep into reading Survival is a Promise. Beautiful writing. So sad to have missed that gathering. I also recommend Undrowned by Alexis Pauline Gumbs. “Breathing in unbreathable circumstances is what we do every day”. X