The all-dayer
Commune1[ verb kuh-myoon; noun kom-yoon ]
verb (used without object), com·muned, com·mun·ing.to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy, etc.; interchange thoughts or feelings.to be in intimate communication or rapport:to commune with nature.
noun interchange of ideas or sentiments.
What
The all-day Monday Communion arose from my weekly communes. There is a desire to create more space to listen to amazing stories that free us from lockdown; there is a desire to share the stories that changed the world (even if it was just the speaker’s world); there is a hunger, no, a need for us to come together and share. Communities can form online. I’ve been thinking about this idea for weeks and it just won’t leave my head. So it is time to do it. The day will comprise a series of one hour sessions, each with two people talking about their thing for 15-20 minutes, then 10 minutes of questions, then repeat. After the hour there is a gap of 60 minutes to allow you to make a cuppa, feed yourself, educate the kids, do some work. The sessions will encourage interaction and questions from the audience. You can hop in and out of sessions as you wish - like a sight-seeing bus. But remember, although the famous sights are great you can also find joy in the less well-known ones.
The day will also include a morning qigong session at breakfast, a lunchtime breathing session, an after-dark (ish) chat and some music to close the day.
When
The next All Day Communion will take place on Friday 20th November, 2020. Via Zoom. Speakers to be announced soon.
Click here to buy your ticket.
Below are the talks from the first All Dayer. We hope you enjoy them.
Becky and Huw - Paynter Jackets
Paynter Jackets are amazing. It is an incredible company, run by two lovely people. They make jackets, small batches of 300. But they don’t make them until they’ve sold them all, that way they have no waste fabric and no unsold jackets. Made to last, made to love.
Instagram: @paynterjackets
Toby Clark
Toby Clark was a fashion designer, A really bloody good one. One of Britain’s best. Now he wears the same clothes everyday. Yep the very same clothes every single day. He explains why.
Instagram: @toby_etc
Adah Parris
I met Adah about 6 years ago. I utterly love spending time with her. She is brimming with ideas and positivity. A real firebrand who invites you into her world of digital shamanism. Such an extraordinary and talented woman. She is a cultural strategist, Board Advisor and speaker.
Instagram: @adahparris
Anita Sharma James
Anita is a vegetarian Indian chef. She is such a marvellous person. I met her at an entrepreneurs forum in Birmingham about 12 years ago as she was growing her business. She just shone. We became friends, she ran a masterclass at our house for some mates and my family, she has continued to grow her business and has written an amazing cookbook that is part recipe book, part love letter to her mum.
Anna Jones
Anna Jones is the reason I changed what I ate. Her take on food is refreshing and inspiring. She celebrates the beauty of vegetables. Her books are the most thumbed in our collection. Her first book “A Modern Way to Eat” has no spine left. It has worn away. Anna is passionate, inventive, and creative. She is also such a lovely person to spend time with. A real treasure. Author, Guardian Columnist, Cook, speaker, mother and friend.
Johnny Nelson
I was sat a hotel bar in Atlanta. The only other person at the bar had the most amazing rings on. They were heads of black American civil rights leaders and they were amazing. We got chatting. We were in the home of Martin Luther King Jr so we talked about him. We talked of NYC (where Johnny lives), we talked about music, food, business, and Atlanta. We stayed in touch over Instagram. Johnny is a beautiful man doing beautiful things with jewellery. His work is necessary and urgent.
David Carrewyn
A skate boarder who grew up (a bit). I met David last year in my beloved Atlanta. Actually, that’s not true. I met him the year before in Oakland. We just got on. Then we worked together. He’s done loads: Currently the head of global design at the Coca-Cola company. Prior to that, global creative director for The North Face, Converse, Abercrombie & Fitch and 2 tours of duty at Levi’s, US and Europe. Responsible for game-changing campaigns at each. David talks about his work, life, design and the things that fire him up.
Philip McDougall
Philip is a Creative Director at Google. But I didn’t know that when we met on Instagram. I knew him as the guy who doodled Peaboy. A cute cartoon that expresses more than cute sentiments. When I had a tattoo (a shared addiction with Philip) he sent me drawings of my kids as peaboy inside flowers. I’m waiting for the chance to get it inked. Creative to his core he talks about his life journey and how scribbling has been at the heart of it.
A simple twist on a Gin Sling
Recipe by Chole Merz (@chloemerz)
You will need
5 cl Gin ( or non-alcoholic Gin)
3 cl Fresh lemon juice
2 cl Simple syrup
(to make use 1:1 ratio of sugar to water, bring to boil until sugar dissolves and leave to cool)
1 tsp of strawberry or blueberry jam
Ice
Fresh mint
Soda water
A shaker or jar
Bar strainer or large spoon
Fine strainer or sieve