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Sandpit: Theme = language


Sandpit

So glad the sandpit has returned to the south bank. I was really starting to miss it! And the people who participate - always lovely, friendly, and of course playful people!

..I played......a game in which we were asked to translate Tristram shandy into..english, in a number of different styles - this game was designed as part of the futureofthebook project...hilarous results. Incidentally, since I've mentioned TS, why not digress..on their website they introduce an interesting book: "Reading in the Brain". Reading has become my downfall - it is my addiction..it's really becoming a problem...and access to all those academic databases has made it worse! When action is required I can't seem to take the first step without first reading a book...they're like a comfort blanket and finally, they become a reason to avoid doing anything at all...I haven't read enough about something to do anything.........motherhood was the moment when my dependence on books was finally broken...briefly - nowadays I can't even pretend that reading a book will help with childcare...although I still prefer reading to doing when it comes to all other activites!

anyhow, back to SP...

Also "conversation", which is an experience in which you are partially blindfolded (by a hat), and are then guided around the south bank, listening to a conversation that fades in and out...very relaxing experience -challenged my notion of "conversation". i found it relaxing enough...like an experience in a hairdresser, that I would have preferred to somehow have been wheeled around..not having to walk...the effort? I wanted to put all my concentration into listening to the music of the sounds around me......but would that have been as "embodied"?

There was a good turn-out. Hatchet - players are given cards with single words on them, and must use them to piece together beatle lyrics, seemed very popular, had a big turn-out.

The game in which a team have to try to understand the needs of a chinese woman who can't speak english, in 2 minute bouts was fascinating!

I love the evening, but am now reporting the evening after whilst tired and generally less hyped so I'm not really successfully managing to convey how great an evening it was!

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