#shechoir

Some of the amazing @shechoirmcr meeting via zoom through lockdown. After lockdown I'll miss seeing them and will be needing excuses to visit #Manchester rather than waiting until the next all SHE retreat. #choir #singing #shechoir #she #greatpeople #positive #zoom https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ur25egKUm/?igshid=1v6fft7dsep2g

I miss all these people. Just found the picture - due to a technical hitch all my photos are now in a very strange order. Group photo in Manchester last autumn when members of the German SHE choirs visited. Taken after the surprise street performance during the fire alarm evacuation. Hope to see you all soon. In the meantime, SHE here in Newcastle is performing at @lindisfarnefest next Friday. SHE is a magical thing, no matter what city it's in. #choir #choirs #shechoir #Manchester #northernquarter #women #feminist #womenschoir #bestpeople #missyou #singers #powerful #womenaremint @shechoirberlin @shechoirmcr @shechoirffm (at Northern Quarter, Manchester) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZybMEAu5L/?igshid=ynx0zjp8chp0

Nearing the end of the SHE retreat we had a short creative response time. My time was much shorter due to having gone to fetch tissues for my runny nose after crying lots as we sang before and then sobbing on @gecobro from Manchester when I returned. Three minutes is enough for four haiku attempts and a haiku attempt that overran. Every imperfectly poetic word, from my heart. And I'm very close to crying again now. At choir rehearsals I often look round all the faces and I am filled with joy and gratitude that these people, this choir, this family is part of my life. Somehow this ritual of crossing the city and singing a few songs with a bunch of women has become, for many of us, so much more than singing songs. SHE is special. And I am crying. As we sang on Sunday morning, 80 of us from different SHE choirs, I looked round at all our faces. That feeling was multiplied. There were few people there I know well. I don't know the Newcastle people like I want to, and often my head comes between me and developing those relationships. But on Sunday I looked and felt total love for every person there. Then, as we sang of our sisters, I could only cry. I know part of it comes from those lingering beliefs that say I don't deserve such good. Many of us have such beliefs. Part of it comes from all those years of self hate and a belief that I could never live as me or find acceptance as me. But I'd have cried anyway. SHE is beyond choir. SHE is beyond voices. SHE is beyond belief. 1. You are my sisters. Thankfulness like rose petals In every heartbeat. 2. Let acceptance tears Fall. Here is safety. A home For my brokenness. 3. Eighty clear faces. Unique stars, unified souls. Unspoken luxury. 4. In every SHE, My joy unfolds. Women bear Rare luminescence. 5. The brightest place Is heaven. There we could stand. Holding, lifting, always. Embraces of the sweet and passion-filled. We, the eternal song. #shechoir #shetreat @shechoirffm @shechoirldn @shechoirberlin @shechoirmcr @shechoirbrussels @shechoirbtn @shechoirbirmingham #shesisterhood #choir #thankful #gratitude #haiku #poetsofinstagram #poetry #choirs #feminist #acceptance #sisters #poem #creative #love (at SHE Choir Newcastle) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx-PhvkAw__/?igshid=mcjsvdmu1s9d

Surprised myself by going for a meal with choir people after our performance at @cobaltstudios.ouseburn at the close of the Women are Mint Festival. We walked to Dosa Kitchen in #jesmond for some excellent food and company. Very tasty indeed and no mouth-burn spice levels. @dosakitchenuk Recommend it to you. I'll get back there sometime and eat more of the same. It's also a good place for a #vegetarian as the Sunday menu is pretty much veggie apart from a "non-vegetarian" banquet. I'm not veggie but appreciate this. I think quite a bit is vegan too but can't guarantee that. Also, if there was music playing I didn't register it. I appreciate that too. #shechoir #cafe #restaurant #indianfood #dosa #food #social #goodfood #recommended #newcastle #newcastlecafe #newcastlefood #newcastleupontyne #tyneandwear #tasty #vegetarian #goodday #shechoirnewcastle #womenaremint (at Dosa Kitchen) https://www.instagram.com/clarejmatthews/p/BxYVXQrA3RD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1d356uqglxigw

Lovely place for lunch yesterday. We were with #shechoir #Manchester who are fiercely #feminist (an article correctly said so) and great people. Love that I found the #Newcastle version two years ago. Choir members from the German versions were there too. We've had a weekend of happy times of singing and meeting. #Vegan street food each Sunday. Different traders each week. It'll all move inside soon when it's colder. We were treated to warm sunshine. Also to a burst of heavy rain and a double rainbow. #goodthings #goodtimes #goodpeople #goodplace #memories #eating #urban #urbanlife #cafe #grub #veganfood #recommended #warmday #sunshine #manchesterlife @shechoirmcr (at GRUB) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoHATV-gKcf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dk18oi1esk72

My awesome choir, She Choir #Newcastle, sang happy birthday to me and gave me presents. It wasn't my birthday but I wasn't able to be there on my birthday. Love my #choir so much. #shechoir (at Newcastle upon Tyne)

One of my worse #mentalhealth days. But at least I still have #socks with #stripes. And #friends too. Many friends. And many other positives. Home, books, music, chocolate, writing, rest, the big box of cereal bought this morning. I have @chillistudios @headsandtales_heritage I have writing groups, somewhere beautiful to explore tomorrow, @shechoirmcr but not that #shechoir because I live in #newcastleupontyne and haven't met the amazing Manchester choir. Yet. I have poetry, skirts, the best pub in the world, @thecumberlandarms and so much more. But mostly, I have far more friends than I have ever had before. Far more hope. Far more smiles. Honest smiles too. I can't even do my old scary smile anymore.