What a beautiful weekend. It’s been great to see so many photos of happy faces all over social media, I hope you all had at least some opportunity to enjoy a bit of warmth and relaxation over the last few days, or if not then that you’ve got some coming up.
I’m back! Did you miss me? Hopefully not as part of my work here is to make myself dispensable :0, to put into place the systems, processes and most importantly people who can take Chrysalis into the future. Speaking of which did you see that our trustee Sammy has made it into the international press, NBC News no less?
Today I am sad, I have been sad all weekend and indeed before that. Two homophobic attacks in the press in the last week. Those poor women in London and then after that the cast of Rotterdam. Only the night before Sammy and Jodie from Chrysalis were part of the cast Q&A after the show. The atmosphere was positive and everyone was feeling that we genuinely are making progress towards acceptance and understanding for all.
I’m writing another job description, thanks to the Lottery we’re going to be looking for a project coordinator very soon, and the drive in today got me thinking (always better than listening to the news) about our staff handbook and how Chrysalis should work towards promoting freedom of expression, body positivity and authenticity.
The sun is shining, the birds are singing and here I am stuck in a windowless room! Ah pity me, poor thing who has just had an amazing few days off catching up with friends in the North.
Yesterday I was honoured to attend the memorial service for a friend, a trans friend and someone who had touched the lives of many, many people. A woman with a love for proper curry, although I dispute that Birmingham curry is best, I’ve eaten curry in Leicester! A woman of the most incredible engineering skills. A woman for whom we trekked all the way to the top of the hill for. A woman with a passion for nature, authenticity and connecting with people.
It’s Monday! And the sun is shining and it’s nearly the middle of May and oh my goodness, where has the time gone.
Last week, all unnoticed passed my 18-month anniversary. Wow! It has both really been 18 months and has only been 18 months. Chrysalis has come so far.
Basingstoke! That’s what this week is about. Time to think and plan and talk about Basingstoke. I have a full day up in (hopefully) sunny North Hampshire to focus on development of our support in the area. We are actively looking for volunteers so if you are interested in getting involved with delivering the groups, speaking at the groups or helping promote us then drop the office a line.
Wow! What a day at our conference! The trials and stresses and blind panics in the lead up to the 9th April just melted away. I hope that you all saw SuperDawn’s cloak, what a stunning amount of organisation. Thanks to everyone who volunteered, compliment after compliment did I hear about how good you all were, how well informed and attentive.