ISSUE 14 20th NOVEMBER 2020 Cover – THE FLOWER TREE by Mags “To all my friends, you’re all flowers so I would pick all the flowers because you’re all good friends.”
I’ve been good, still getting out and about. What did youse make of the fireworks? Down here it was like a war zone - the fireworks are really powerful nowadays. Planned events are OK but obviously due to COVID-19 events are cancelled. I saw a news article about houses in Motherwell set alight with stray fireworks, such a shame for the tenants. I got me family their calendars, cards and money wallets for the kids. I want to have it all sorted before anything happens with this virus as it is unpredictable, we just don’t know what is going to happen. I’ve been taking part in a project called Unseen Women. I have written a monologue and an actor will perform it at the end of the month - will share it on Facebook and hope people can take the time to watch it. Susan Milligan
2
3
4
I hope you enjoy my drawing – Ahlam
5
Wellhouse Allotment artworks above by Peter Woods and below by Steven Carrick
Elaine Fisher
6
football
Elaine Fisher
7
TONGUE TWISTERS
I am not a thistle scyther, I am a thistle scyther’s son And I’m busy scything thistles Till the thistle scyther comes I dare you to say this second one fast… I am not a pheasant plucker I’m a pheasant plucker’s son And I’m only busy plucking pheasants Till the pheasant plucker comes! Rena Quinn
George Drennan
8
9
Samuel
10
11
Kit McKeown
A NIGHT GOBLINS AND IMPS The night was dark, The wind was howling Vampires roamed the streets Little imps with light up hats demanded from us... Sweets! Ghosts and goblins they flew by Some of them with just one eye A clown was terrorising all who passed his door Popping balloons and grabbing veins Because they asked for more. Lanterns were abandoned as they screamed along the street, Yelling out a warning to everyone they’d meet The streets were full of happy weans enjoying a night of fun, showing all the adults “This is how it’s done” Now the day is over, up to bed they go Taking with them memories Of a day that they loved so. Annie Love
12
13
THE PINEAPPLE
I bought a juicy pineapple today I thought of everything you’d say I know what I’ll do and it won’t take me long I’ll carve out the flesh and I’ll cube it all Then I’ll empty it back inside with it’s hat Oh I know you’ll join me in eating that We’ll have cocktail sticks and cubes of cheese And cocktail onions if you please Then we’ll settle down in front of the fire And enjoy our treat till the flames expire.
NATURE’S LARDER
At lunchtime I bought a large basket of fruit It smelled delicious and looked nice to eat The shapes and the colours they looked so neat They smell so sweet I really must eat Red apples and green feel firm to the touch Huge oranges and small tangerines a treat The yellow banana’s they hang from the stand While strawberries red and grapes of green Ask to be eaten see what I mean Now the time has come to taste All the fruit I will not waste Five fruits a day is what they say They touch my lips and taste so sweet Oh now my fruity feast I’ll eat Margaret MacCallum Steele 14
SKANKY THE SKUNK Skanky the Skunk has hair like a punk, she’s a feisty little minx who has a scent gland with a super pooper stink, she will stamp her feet first, then out it will come, from her hairy bum, her repulsive spray, it truly will make you sway, you’ll konk oot in the mud and you’ll lie there like a total fud, another one of her super powers is her big spike in her hairy heid, so be careful how you proceed, she’ll toss you up and down, all over toon, you’ll feel like an absolute eejit, and you’ll think she’s a crazy git, she’ll slam you doon on the ground, with a big smile like a scary clown, and you’ll feel like a wee ragamuffin, and remember you’ll be boking and guffin, her spike will knock you aboot, and you’ll want to scoot. So this is the story of Skanky the Skunk and her rank, reekie, smell and her big spikey wig as well. Angela Cunningham
Marlene Finnegan
15
Being cut open for a repair on a knee Lay there for time to go by‌ Slowly the op is near a end As the repair area is being stitched up Not seeing what is going on Once finished to the Recovery Room Then to the ward Now home with pains waiting to fully recover.
I went for a left knee replacement operation on November 4th It lasted three hours. I was injected in the spine from my hips down. I was numb and kept awake. I was told the op went well. Now I have 2 - 3 months healing time for swelling to go down. 16 Rob Haughie
I made a playlist of songs I heard live, over the radio, or in the shows at Platform or just feel connected. I bet DJ AL could make a good playlist too! Anonymous
17
How can you tell if a vampire is sick? By how much they are coffin What happens to a frog’s car if it breaks down? It gets toad away! What is the tallest building in the world? The library - it has many stories!
Rob Haughie
A man was given a present of a boomerang Sorry to say - he went nuts trying to throw his old one away! 18
Rena Quinn
Dance artist and choreographer Katie Armstrong is working with Platform on SKETCHES, a new film project in 2021. Each SKETCH follows a chance encounter between two dancers, who engage in a fleeting whirlwind of movement and music. For this version, in partnership with Platform, the work will be performed and filmed in locations in and around North East Glasgow.
Image taken from a film made by Stuart Alexander. When working with Tramway last year – Katie filmed a duet on the platform of Pollockshields East Station
Where do you think Katie should film her work in Easterhouse? Any/all suggestions of iconic locations are welcome and we’ll pass them onto Katie. For more information about the project head to www.katiearmstrong.co.uk
19
platform-online.co.uk 20