white rabbit

^1st August 2012

Went to see my exhibition at Woolfson and Tay gallery in Bermondsey, they have done a great job of displaying it. Plus left a beautiful teeny tiny notebook as a gift for whoever visits first!

 

2^nd August 2012

Just donated to www.karuna.org.uk. Thanks to Judi Hughes for telling me about them and their amazing work. They are working to develop a forest gardening and permaculture site in Shropshire – Janta, Merav and their two boys at Karuna – Judi said, “they’re working so hard to make the world a better place and could do with some kind words and support”

 

3^rd August 2012

For the lovely family who run cafe at Jackson’s Lane Theatre without whom I would have perished of malnutrition the last few weeks, whilst making “Death and Gardening” with Wet Picnic.

 

4^th August 2012

Today I discovered one of my neighbours trying to shove her sofa through a window so she could redecorate. I tried to help. It was like watching a cat giving birth to a calf. But we did it. I mostly served as encouragement as my shoving was rubbish.

 

5^th August 2012

On the way back from Wivelsfield I saw a man asleep. I left this on the seat next to him with a note saying ” a present for when you wake up” Then I realized I probably should have woken him in case he missed his stop. Doh.

 

6^th August 2012

Ooo, I’ve had a right bloody day. First- I dropped my phone in tea, then I got a really mean email from someone, and I had to walk around my studio a bit thinking about the Dalai Lama to calm down (this is what I do now) then every single thing I tried to do went a bit wrong. So, I had a quick clear out of a cupboard, bagged up a load of stuff for the charity shop, and took it there. The man in the shop said I couldn’t take his picture as he looks too old and he’d break my camera (the amount of people that say exactly that) I said:

“Don’t be daft. Come on, you might get a proposal off someone when they’ve seen you on my facebook page”

Him: “Go on then”

Me: “Look if you let me take your photo, I’ll come back tomorrow with more stuff. Yes, that is blackmail”

For Sense in Deptford High Street, who by the way are really short of donations and will take anything, so they say (including compliments and bribes)

This cheered me up. That and the chat I had with Patrick from Birmingham on the 188 home, and the chat I had with the Gentlemen’s Drinking Club underneath Deptford Station. Always, always, it cheers me up.

7^th August 2012

My mate is growing her armpit hair for charity. This has tickled me, so I made a donation. She might tickle me herself with the hair when it grows, if I’m lucky. It’s for Verity, the polycystic ovaries self help group. Today I was really kind a lot because a. I have a new phone and this put a spring in my step and b. I was laughing out loud as Dawn French’s book is hilarious. I gave the Big Issue woman some money but said I didn’t want the paper. She asked me why

Me: Honestly, because I have two copies already

Her: That’s weird

Me: I know. It’s a long story.

I was gonna carry on talking to her but she was very popular and didn’t need my rabbit. Plus she already thought I was a nutter.

8^th August 2012

So, I’m in Hoxton, as my friend persuaded me to go to a life drawing class, even though I can’t draw to save my life. I was having a cuppa (unfashionably early as usual) when along comes this man

Man: Excuse me, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you look like the actress who plays Judy Garland

Me: O. I thought Judy Garland played Judy Garland

Man: Anyway, bye…

Me: Wait a minute! I have been looking for someone to give this “unbirthday present” to, will you accept it? In exchange for a photo?

Man: Yes! Thanks.

(As I am getting ready to take picture)

Man: My Dad was a psychic, and I knew as soon as I saw you that you’d have a beautiful soul

Me: Thanks very much. Hold still a minute

Man: I was the nesquik baby you know

Me: What?

Man: I was a child model

Me: O. Wow!

Man: Thanks for the present. Bye.

9^th August 2012

357th day of kindness- watched amazing Usain Bolt smash 200 meters, had the most beautiful walk on the Southbank from the London Eye nearly all the way home, during which I kept thinking “London is really showing off right now”. Gave all the money I had in my purse to the man who sleeps opposite the roman ruins near The Clink in London Bridge.

10^th August 2012

356th day of kindness. This is Derek. I bumped him wandering around Greenwich; he was looking for the cable car thingy. I took him to the DLR and helped him work out the route. On the way we had a chat

Me: So what do you do Derek?

Derek: I retired a long time ago. But I used to be a banker in the City

Me: O I see. You’re one of them boys

Derek: No not one of them boys. In those days it wasn’t like it is now. In those days there was just a few people laundering dirty money

Me: Not like now, all gambling with other people’s money

Derek: Exactly.

11^th August 2012

357th day of kindness

My sis and me queued with many others to have our pic taken with torch at Excel, but they said they had run out of time. Children started to get teary, so we let the kids go in front then they extended the time so all kids and us big kids got pics taken with torch. Then we gave our seats to a family, made a card for a neighbour and stuck it in their letterbox and offered to make cups of tea to the firemen down our road. Good girls.

12^th August 2012

358th day of kindness- bought some ring doughnuts (Olympic theme there, geddit?) for the AMAZING and permanently cheerful/ nice/ helpful volunteers @Greenwich Park.

.

13^th August 2012

Today, for a lady in this shop, looking like she was having a stressful day, a bunch of flowers and a card.

 

14^th August 2012

As the Post Office have been such a big part of this year, always delivering (yeah, I know it’s cooler to slag them off, but they have been BRILLIANT) I made them a card and took a load of yumyums to the collection office. They were literally speechless. One of them hid and wouldn’t have his picture taken!

15^th August 2012

Volunteered at Surrey Docks Farm and made a donation- so I can carry on the kindness after these last few days are up have been looking for somewhere local to volunteer

16^th August 2012

Free beer at Evelyn Street! Left this beer on the doorstep. Gone in 5 minutes. I am told it is pretty good beer!

 

17^th August 2012

Hee Hee! I just called a total stranger and wished him happy birthday! This was brilliant! I considered singing but I had a bit of a croaky voice and decided this would be terrifying. He is one of twins and he said his actual birthday was tomorrow so I’ll call his bruv then. Thanks to Jo Goodwin for an excellent start to my last day of kindness!

Then my sister, my nephew and my friend Kirsty and I went back to Lower Road Post Office where my whole year of kindness began. I bought them a cake and a plant, and wrote a card explaining what had happened this year. They gave us free drinks and told us about this lady who brings them a ton of sweets in every Christmas. It seemed like a really fitting end to the year, to go back to where I started, but shortly afterwards, my sister and I found a small boy crying in Canada Water station, as he and his big brother had been playing too rough and he hurt his arm. We bought him a packet of Magic Stars and chatted to him till he felt better.

Off he skipped. Lovely end to the year.

 

What now? My friend Sharon Calcutt is carrying the torch of kindness, by commencing her own year of kindness from tomorrow. And I will carry on, and get a chance to do a few of the things I didn’t have time to do this year.

 

This whole year… best thing I have ever done.

 

Hello all

Here is the new podcast for your pleasure . To listen directly follow this link….http://whiterabbitpresents.podbean.com/2012/08/12/podcast-4-edinburgh-festival-special-week-two/  or to download from itunes use this link….http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/podcast-4-edinburgh-festival/id543504687?i=119291697

1^st July

I was at the Whitechapel interchange for the Overground line, super weary after an extremely long journey home from Brum. At the top of the stairs was a lady struggling with her buggy, hurrying to get the train, at the bottom was a tiny boy with his lip trembling. I scooped him up and carried to his Mum and they made the train, I was like a friendly child catcher. This used the last of my strength. I hope someone will scoop me up soon.

2^nd July

Helped blind man get good seat on train, & a man with bad hip walk up stairs. Thought a lot about how trains are a bit rubbish for those with mobility challenges

3td July

I just sponsored Inside Out Heritage project with Sponsume for #366daysofkindness. If you think this is a boring one- consider- I started work at 9am and have just got home! In between I only saw people I know. Tomorrow I will try to do something more adventurous.

4^th July

Gave my friends Grandad a ukulele lesson -he had wanted to learn for a long time and is George Formby fan! Great fun

5^th july

A girl was fast asleep on the train back from Winchester when I got into Waterloo.I tried to wake her up. The first time she just wriggled and settled herself in. The second time I tried she said ” get off” then woke up embarrassed. I got her a bottle of water and showed her where the tube was. I think she’d had a “good day!”

Plus today I got this lovely message from “Simona Marletta” on Facebook

“hello bernadette. i just wanted you to know that the card you gave me hasn’t moved from under my pillow. it reads “make a wish, sleep with this under your pillow…it might just come true”. i keep wishing for better things to happen, in the meantime i look at the card and that, in itself, puts a smile on my face… thank you, hope to meet you one day”

July 6^th

U-oh tummy bug has struck! Left an umbrella outside the house with a note saying ” this is a free umbrella- please take it. I prefer to get wet. ” It disappeared within 1/2 hour but I didn’t see who took it.

 

7^th July

A card posted to remind someone of the endless possibilities of life, as suggested by Charlotte Dubery. I have been writing about Death for the new Wet Picnic show Death and Gardening and it is giving me a “seize the day” mindset!

8^th July

In Kingston I met this waitress from Cork, she and I discussed the English Market there, and Paradiso and all the other brilliant things about Cork. I had haaloumi tandoori (I know!- “fusion”- lush!) after the storytelling gig we did for the festival. I also drank a glass of prosecco really fast. I gave her a golden envelope containing a lottery ticket and attempted to explain what I was doing but… the prosecco was talking. She seemed half charmed and half scared. Anyway, hope she wins

9^th July

Just sneaked this into a letterbox. A mysterious card and some sweets. A man stared from the opposite house as he saw me taking pics.

10^th July

Made a thankyou card for the man who makes The Best Coffee in Highgate. He wasn’t there. I left it by the tips jar and told the lady in there to give it to him. She gave me a bit of a look. Think I started a rumour….

11^th July

This morning, I went back to The Best Coffee in Highgate place, and the guy was there opening the card as I went in, it was amazing! He read it out and said ” Bernadette, who’s that?” I thought about remaining mysterious then thought it might be wierd later on if I am with someone and they say my name and he’ll think I’m a stalker. So I said “it’s me!” he said I made his week. First time all year I have seen someone open the card I secretly left.

So, the saga of the Best Coffee in Highgate continues a bit, as I found out the waitress who found the card I left for the man had thought it was for her, as it was her birthday the day before, so she thought it was from a friend as a surprise. SO I got her a birthday card and a little present. I am not gonna bother them, apart from in a normal getting a coffee way, again.

12^th July

Nipped in and out of Latitude Festival to perform in Stan’s Cafe’s “Just Price of Flowers” before returning to rehearsals of Wet Picnic’s “Death and Gardening”. Spent total of 5 hours at the festival, the shortest time I have managed ever, and left rather reluctantly after scoffing a veggie hotdog, just as the rain started. This is Nicky who kindly gave me a lift through the mud in his buggy. I gave him some rolos.

13^th July

At Toynbee Studios to do our Olympic themed storytelling show “Winners and Losers” including egg and spoon races! Found out it was this lady’s birthday during show. Got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to her and cobbled together a present and card. Great show. Ended with an Olympic Swearing Competition.

 

14^th July

Hee Hee. Just getting ready for my Exhibition at Woolfson and Tay- left this in the books section

15^th July

Today, my oyster card slipped out of its folder and fell onto the tracks as I was getting off tube. I had to explain myself to the guard, and was expecting trouble

Him: That is bad luck

Me: I know!

Him: Go through

Me: Really

Him: Yes. You can’t have more bad luck

Me: You are the nicest underground staff person, you are absolutely the best one. Plus you have a smile like a ray of sunshine

Him: O my God! (laughs)

His colleague: Oy! I heard that! What about me?!

Me: And you. You both are. I’d like to give you a reward but I don’t have one

Him: You can get us a coffee tomorrow

Me: OK.

I will do. Sometimes that’s enough. Just a little compliment.

I also donated to Big Isssue sponsored bike ride.

16^th July

Today I recieved a beautiful anonymous package through the post. Beautifully wrapped  It is gorgeous. It contained a phone jacket with Alice in Wonderland on it. Whoever it was THANKYOU xxx

Went to the charity shop in Highgate. I thought I’d leave something in one of the second hand bags, so I made a little note saying “this is a magic bag, everytime you use it you will have an extremely lucky day” and I put a pound in it. Then I tried to take a picture but the woman in the shop was looking at me wierdly and I got skittish.

17^th July

Received this lovely message via Facebook from from Audacity Chutzpah

“I’ve never even met Bernadette Russell but she still inspires me to be kinder. Thanks love. Given that we’re neighbours and have much in common I’m sure our paths will cross soon!”

Just left small card and gift inside “the actor’s handbook” in 2nd hand book shop. Figured anyone trying to be an actor in the current climate deserves a gift.

18^th July

So, out of the house between 7.30am- 10.30pm, most of the time in a black box with Matt Feerick shouting “cue sperm” and other such Wet Picnic madness, like a porn set it was in Jacksons Lane today, nearly home and remembered I hadn’t done a kindness. I mean, I’d smiled etc, but hadn’t gone out of my way. I ran to the busstop and saw a young woman

Me: Hello, do you like chocolate?

Her: er… yes

Me: Would you like this (nice lindt orange chocolate)

Her: Are you sure?

Me: I don’t like chocolate and you’d actually be doing me a favour. I’m on a mission.

Her: Ok. Thanks

I ran off. I hope this was a kindness.

19^th July

I have had the mentalist journey home, culminating in meeting a man on 43 who claimed to be a mathematician who knew the beach boys who tried to teach me Esperanto. Left this on the tube. After the crazy man I didn’t have it in me to approach anyone

20^th July

Met these two tigers on the tube after a very long day.

Me: Where have you two cats been?

Tiger 1: Late night at London Zoo

Me: You look amazing

Tiger 2: Thanks

Me: I know you’re not supposed to feed the animals but would you accept a small gift?

(I had some munchies)

Tiger 1: er…

Tiger 2: yes please

Friend of the tigers: You’ve made them very happy.

Me: They’ve made me happy.

After this I went to Canada Water tube and gave a man sheltering in the doorway a bit of money. Feel slightly mental.

21^st July

So today I was at the bus stop and there was a lady in a pea green coat. ( no owl, no pussycat)

Me: I love your coat

Then she smiled. The best smile I have ever seen. I had to say something

Me: that’s a great smile. You are beautiful.

Her: thanks. ( she giggled, I felt myself blush and feel stupid)

Me: I love green

Her: me too. And I forgot I even had this coat, it’s really cheered me up

Me: and me

We had a chat and then I kept seeing her, and we kept seeing ” hello” and smiling at the coincidence of making the long journey from deptford to Highgate.her green coat brightened up my bleary eyed morning. Then I got home to this amazing present from my friends Anna Sinfield and Abby Butcher. I seem to be getting a lot of gifts now….

22^nd July

I was waiting for a call from Debbie McGee. Not every day you get to say that.She was interviewing Viktor and myself for the Wet Picnic show “Death and Gardening” She was as nice as you’d expect. I did like her (a lot)

Found out my neighbour had heart attack ( only 42!) so made her this card hopefully will be able to help her with shopping etc

23^rd July

I carried around this fiver, waiting for someone to ask me for some money. I had it for 3 hours till anyone asked for money. In the end I gave it to a man and his dog.

24^th July

Today I met a lady called Cindy on Russell Street in Covent Garden , in a sweet shop called Hope and Glory. I went in and she was drinking a bottle of water, she said she loved the weather but was parched. I went back later and bought her a bottle of orange juice. She gave me a giant lollipop. Everyone’s a winner.

25^th July

Today I helped a woman on an extremely busy train to Brighton find a place for her rucksack. That train was like a cattle truck. There was a lot of rage. I am staying in Brighton as I never ever want to get on a train again. Or at least until the Olympics has gone.

26^th July

I thought I’d say yes to the first person that asked me for anything, and this totally charming man asked me to do a monthly wotsit for a charity he worked for but he asked me not to say which one he works for, so I won’t. He says they’re not allowed, and then he had to take his work t shirt off for the picture. I signed up and we had a chat for a bit.

27^th July olypmics

Just donated to sports aid after watching that extraordinary Olympic opening ceremony. Had to really.. I am massively over excited and tipsy.

28^th July

This is my neighbour who owns the newsagents near me. For 32 years he gets up at 5.30am and finishes work at 12.30pm, he gets up a bit later on Sundays. He’s always cheerful. He told me this just when we were chatting about work. I asked his son what he might like for a present, as I thought he deserved one, so I got him a bottle of JD as suggested. It was difficult to get him to accept it at first, then he was really chuffed.One of my favourites ever.

29^th July

Winging it’s way to Northampton for as suggested by Ursula Dares

30^th July

Wrote to and donated to Pussy Riot You can write to them here: pussriotsolidarity@gmail.com or read about them here: http://freepussyriot.org/

 

 

31^st July

Winging it’s way to Wellingborough as recommended by Ava Bonham-Garter

That’s it for this month!

18th Days To Go folks!

 

Hello

We have been in edinburgh now for 5 days, 10 hours and 32 seconds. We have eaten, drunk, had one of our cast members fall of stage and end up overnight in hospital. I have ran to the sea and eaten meat by mistake.

Here is the first of many edinburgh podcasts – if you want to get involved as a guest, pop me a line on gareth@thewhiterabbit.org.uk

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/podcast-3-edinburgh-festival/id543504687?i=118847457&mt=2

 

or to listen

http://whiterabbitpresents.podbean.com/2012/08/01/podcast-3-edinburgh-festival-special-day-one/