Who else can say they have had Rihanna swinging over their head?

A case study about one blogger's learning journey

1.    What was your situation before you got interested in learning?

I was homeless for several years sleeping rough with friends. I managed to get a room in a B & B and received Housing Benefit from Camden Council as it was on their registered list. New owners took over and decided they could evict us and turn in into a backpacker’s hostel. We organised ourselves into an action group fought our case with the help of Shelter and other agencies. After several months of campaigning I was eventually offered a studio flat in Holborn by Camden Council Housing Dept. I think it was to get me off their back and our campaigning.  I would have lost my credibility if Camden Housing had said that I had been offered accommodation and had refused it.  Due to my situation I found it difficult to take up or continue any learning course.

2.    How did you first became interested in learning and what motivated you to take part?

I have always been interested in learning and was always encouraged in this by my parents especially my mother. I enjoy reading and learning I would read all sorts of books but I was never very responsible about doing my homework. When I was younger I did not take learning seriously.  I now feel learning and education as a way to empower oneself. I have learnt that the establishment or officials do not like it when you can put forward your case in an informed manner.

Like music? Free concert on 30th November

Our blogger McTaggart is singing blues this Friday night in a free concert at the Working Men's College in Camden.

He'll be writing about music and how it can help people for the blog next week. In the meantime, if you'd like to hear him and other performers, the concert is free to all.

As well as the blues band, the concert will feature drumming, piano, country, jazz, world music, choral music, classical music, guitar and harmonica...so there is something for every taste.

When: 7pm, Friday 30th November
Where: Working Men's College, Maurice Hall, Working Men's College, 44 Crowndale Road, London NW1 1TR
Nearest tubes: Mornington Crescent and Camden Town

Music as a healing power

What makes people love music so much?

“In all the world in all the gin joints you had to walk into mine.” Sam did play it again. Mainly music makes people decide to move to it in accordance as to how they feel.

Music can cost a lot to enjoy, but it’s just a normal part of life, of the system of things. Nothing initiates music but its own starch. Like at the football, songs can be heard by all. It’s part of the system. ‘Knees up mother brown’ and ‘Gee me the ol’ piano’ is decorously in the past. But how does music come about? Nobody in my opinion can resist music. Everybody can love it. So what makes you sing, play, gong, pong etc? 'Love I’m all shook up'. All the songs of the past come from life experience. 'Are your pants on fire'? Setting an example within society as a musical parody is badly missed as a stage. So come on, give us a round of ‘love is a splendid thing’ and then you will know music better than you did before.

I used to be a jazz singer for a group called Jasmine. Singing for them I felt spoilt because I never expected them to take me on really and it was a real treat. I sang in a pub called the Old Dog and Dumpling. There were drums, oboe and sax. It made me feel well. When I am feeling unwell, it’s like a full stop. A straight line of thought is gone.  You don’t realise what is happening or whether you can get up or talk or even speak. My life has been compromised by not coping. But, when I am leading or listening  to the music, it lifts my spirit. It just makes me want to move. It coordinates me between one reality and another. Music gives all realities. It helps me to know where I am.

E.M.