I have been back in Glasgow for just over a week now, and had 2 Elderflower shifts and 1 Clowndoctor shift, and a fair few days of reminiscing about the workshop, feeling motivated and inspired, but also exhausted and needing to rest and absorb. My head is still full of all of this new stuff, and I am afraid of losing it all.
Clowndoctoring last week was wonderful. It was a creative day full of fun and complicity. We made an undersea world in a bed bay (complete with shark and master shark catcher), made the 'Wet Floor' sign come to life in the Oncology ward (turns out it was quite hungry), gave Dr Wallop special flying medicine, and lots of other things that I can't remember. The point is, that these games all came from the moment, from what we found in front of us. We were present, and physically available, and saying Yes, and it was a total joy.
Dr Wallop is also a real expert at asking permission from the child in a totally playful and in-the-game way. I am still learning from you all, all the time.
Application of the work we did to the Elderflowers programme is less clear for me, I think, but only because the improvisations we did were often very fast moving and very physical. It is taking me longer to assimilate what we learned and how it can be used.
I am interested to explore how we can develop the physicality of the work - using our bodies as landscapes, transforming objects. For some reason, this week Elderflowering I felt a bit stuck, physically. The stillness of a dementia unit can sometimes make physical movement and play seem impossible. The silence you walk into can swallow you up and take your voice. We mirror the ladies and gentlemen and sit gently; we sit in their energy, we talk quietly. Large, expansive movements, breath and rhythm bring life and vitality and playfulness to a room that is otherwise wallowing in a sort of stagnant puddle. We are Elderflowers. We can splash the water a little. And if that works, we can splash it some more, right?!
And in the name of reminiscence, here are some more photos of the workshop:
Clowndoctoring last week was wonderful. It was a creative day full of fun and complicity. We made an undersea world in a bed bay (complete with shark and master shark catcher), made the 'Wet Floor' sign come to life in the Oncology ward (turns out it was quite hungry), gave Dr Wallop special flying medicine, and lots of other things that I can't remember. The point is, that these games all came from the moment, from what we found in front of us. We were present, and physically available, and saying Yes, and it was a total joy.
Dr Wallop is also a real expert at asking permission from the child in a totally playful and in-the-game way. I am still learning from you all, all the time.
Application of the work we did to the Elderflowers programme is less clear for me, I think, but only because the improvisations we did were often very fast moving and very physical. It is taking me longer to assimilate what we learned and how it can be used.
I am interested to explore how we can develop the physicality of the work - using our bodies as landscapes, transforming objects. For some reason, this week Elderflowering I felt a bit stuck, physically. The stillness of a dementia unit can sometimes make physical movement and play seem impossible. The silence you walk into can swallow you up and take your voice. We mirror the ladies and gentlemen and sit gently; we sit in their energy, we talk quietly. Large, expansive movements, breath and rhythm bring life and vitality and playfulness to a room that is otherwise wallowing in a sort of stagnant puddle. We are Elderflowers. We can splash the water a little. And if that works, we can splash it some more, right?!
And in the name of reminiscence, here are some more photos of the workshop: