I’ll take a photo later and post it on this post. This is just the beginning, now we have big plans

If you are interested in the cards, or would like any other type made get in touch: info@choona.co.uk

Get in touch if you want to know how to get hold of a copy: info@choona.co.uk

The first half of the DVD delves in to the life of Mestre Biscuim in his home town of Fortaleza, Brazil – North East. His work with the local community, in capoeira, music and boxing. His work stretches through all ages from kids to adults, those that can pay for classes and those that can’t

The second half of the DVD is rodas in Fortaleza. I hope you enjoy it! All comments welcome.

There is no doubt about it making life changing decisions is one of the hardest things you will ever need to do. You consider waying up the safe and known against the unknown… and for so long the safe and known was the chosen direction. Until I decided to take a leap of faith. By no means am I on an easy road, but I feel that I am that one step closer to realising my dreams, all may it be a million miles away, but I am on the right road.

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given is:

“For every problem there is a solution, you just need to find it…”

For me it helped me put things into perspective, the solution may be a long way off, but there IS a solution! I have been blessed in meeting a very good friend who continues to inspire and love me more everyday. Giving me the strength to keep going.

I am known for working on a million projects at one time, often causing myself allsorts of problems, but I am fighting through, and without his amazing energy I don’t think I would have even got this far.

Life is certainly for living, and I cherish it more and more everyday. Never stop living…

Its not something I have been proud of, and after so many failed attempts of cracking this habit, I think I have done it! Granted I now how the motivation that I think is needed to crack a habit of any kind. But its been 3 weeks and they are doing well hahaha I speak about them like they are little living beings with names and minds. Its not the case, they are just my finger nails, but they are becoming a new addition to my body which I never had before!

So to some this  may seem like a very small achievement, but for me I am in a new world of nail care!

After looking around on the web, I found that its not just eagles and dogs portraits that they use in pyrography, but there is some amazing very creative and stylish work out there. So using capoeira, as always, for my first point of inspirtion I have started to create a series of key rings, or what will be keyrings. So far I have only used the burning as the medium, but I will shortly be experimenting with colour too.

Their video channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/user/lavender2003

one of my favs is:

All prepared in our crisp whites and our freshly painted faces… (A new talent I have aquired:)) Mestre Biscuim gathered us all together to warm up. Without a doubt we were making a statement, and with our two beautiful sambistas we were perhaps pulling more attention our way than some of the other groups, and to add the final cherry to the cake our “full of energy hero” Christos was our very own Carmen Miranda, topped with his very own fruit salad.

We were placed right at the front….. AT THE FRONT!!! and it sure was the best place to be… with the thousands of people that lined the sea front in Southend we were one of the first things they heard and then seen. They danced in the streets on this night.

It was glorious evening, we couldn’t have wished for better weather, the stage was set and all was perfect. The drums started banging… and amazingly enough we managed to keep the drums banging for over an hour! The route is just over 2 miles, there was a break in the middle, but for us it was about 2 thirds of the way through the parade.

One of the highlights, without a doubt, was stopping under the pier and hearing the drums boucing around off of all sides. It was like being plugged into a giant natural speaker. Glorious… our drums were singing a treat.

Thankfully for us we didn’t have too many coins thrown at us, a long standing tradition… not a very nice one really, supposed to be thrown at the floor, but some kids took it upon themselves to have some target practice, and unfortunately for Sergio, he clocked one in the face.

When we did finally stop for the 15 minute firework display, we downed our instruments and let the roda commence. A real spectacle and the crowd really got involved and cheered as we threw ourselves around.

We were rushed to get our instruments back in order and off we went again for the final stretch. I couldn’t quite believe how many people where there! As we pictured the finishing line we gave it our last burst of energy.

We had been playing samba for over 2 hours. 2 HOURS!!! the girls had been dancing for over 2 hours, and Christos… I have never seen such a great leader of the parade! The man is AMAZING. We were all shattered and pleased to finally stop banging the drums, but we were well and truly satisfied with our performance and a great evening was had by all.

We wanted to bring a touch of music, culture and Brazil to Southend and that we did without a doubt, being praised by the local ministers and all of the officials on the day… and to top it off, I received a call from a good friend who happens to be the photographer for the Southend Echo and we have dominated 4 of the 6 pages dedicated to carnival! AMAZING!!! Roll on 2010..

I would personally like to thank all that contributed to the day and massively to you guys that came down from Leicester and London.

Following the pink feet through town and into the event field I had no idea what to expect, but was fantastically greated with a great roar from Christos, and from that moment it was going to be a great time. After a few attempts of setting up the tent, do the black pole go in the middle or the outside…, we finally got it all sorted, with an inflatable double mattress, glorious, some lasagne passed to us from the ever caring Reema. We were set for the festival experience.

I did manage to forget one thing, shoes…. I spent the whole weekend walking on uneven ground trying not to slip out of my flip flops… but as it was so warm, I don’t think I could have had it any otherway.

With a Sol in hand and some pre cut lime, have to think of everything, we went up to see what was going on. There was country dancing in one tent, a few songs and drumming session round the camp fire. The atmosphere was beautiful. Things were starting to come to a close, so a mad stumbling rush to the car we collected our instruments and started an impromtu batucada show. We all felt so free, everyone was dancing and enjoying the opening night. After a few beers and a few Jim Beam’s I was ready to hit the sack.

Saturday started nice and early, proper energy fueling breakfast, ready to give our nusic workshop. We had too many people in the class, so had half playing drums and the others were led in a collective dance with Christo “our hero”. The cavaco made its live debut too, plugged into an amp, it sung its little heart out. I was very proud of meself. After changing the musicians many times and having a good ole knees up the class came to an end…

I decided to enrol myself in the African dancing workshop. Was great but my knees could only hold for 40 mins, was no wonder the teacher was fit as pancakes. Then later on truely finished off my knees with Maria do Samba’s samba workshop… Back to the tent for food, then slipped in to me whites and ready to support the leicester crew with the capoeira demo. We were opening the evening of entertainment, all of which was very successful. Two bottles of wine later and I wasn’t just ready to hit the sack, I hit the sack.

Sunday arrived with another day of glorious sunshine. I’m starting to get a tan… It’s unheard off, but parts of my body are starting to turn brown… kinda off white, but I like to call it brown. It was the most relaxing day ever, sitting around talking and expriencing. As most of the lesicester crew headed off into town the rest of us got to know each other a little better, shared stories and enjoyed the spirit of barefoot for what I think it stands for.

It was a real shame to leave, but I knew my little puppies at home would go mad if I didn’t return soon, uncle Tucker had done a grand job, but I knew that I would owe them more than the normal amount of cuddles. For my first festival, Barefoot was great, and I am planning to get my butt back there as many times as they decide to run it. Thanks to Louisa and the barefoot team who created this opportunity for everyone to enjoy.

I am no longer a festival virgin… my cherry has been popped