Mr Elephant Presents

With the birthday bash almost here, here’s a run down of the expected evening’s entertainment.

9 pm - Doors Open - Free Cds for 1st 100 people / Free Kazoo’s for first 200 people

Room 1 - Mr Elephant’s Birthday Room / Room 2 - hosted all night by Jam Jah & Friendly Fire Crew

( Mask Decorating Tables open in both room - (Decorate your mask ready for the midnight mask parade) )

10pm - Manic Organic start serving a range of organic food from around the world til 12am

Film Crew and performers play and investigate your top tips and messages of inspiration

10.30 pm - Possible Party Games like Hit The Pinyada

11 pm - Mama Matrix Live on Stage

12 am - Midnight Mask Parade led by 4 Local Percussionists on stage & 6 percussionists parading the room.

Feel free to join in with you kazoo / Prizes giving for best mask made/worn

12.30 am - Dj Marc Reck, Vj Chromatouch, Khalgani Belly Dance & Percussionist Drummond

1.30 am - Dj Steve Lopan & Drummond & Vj Chromatouch

2.15 am - Back to Back 30th Mash Up

3 am - Close (Free afterparty sorted, so let us know if you want to come

Hope you can be there

Report #1

Industrial belts like Digbeth that were once the guts of our nation, now lie in states of limbo as Government and private developers grapple with the complexities of regenerating spaces and local identities.

Investment should not disregard existing ways and means of living and would be advised to support rather than engulf active communities. Realistic planning benefits from grass-roots intervention as the professional consultation process remains disconnected from communities and isolates individuals.

Walking, talking and standing still are important to the outcome of my work and in the influence we have on the fabric of our communities - finding commonality and sharing experience reliant on our contact. Today’s pace of life often leads us to forget the power of a smile or spoken word.

Development of up-market residential zones and the expansion of all considered ‘Creative’ and ‘Cultural’ threaten the growth of independent economies outside these sectors- loud and lively elements discouraged in favour of appropriated art. Digbeth High Street seemingly split down the middle into a ‘Creative side of the street’ and a potential residential zone. The suppression of popular entertainment and activities will only extinguish the vibrancy that already exists.

As an artist I should be rubbing my hands together. Instead I am concerned that yet again the activities of an existing working community will be disregarded in favour of preferred bourgeois lifestyle options. The research and outreach in Digbeth will focus on the workers of the area. Responding to current debate and the predominant issues surrounding the invention of a place called Eastside. (RHR April 2008)

“Here’s a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If your alive, it isn’t” - James B (Shrewsbury)

“Live in the moment, Not for the Moment” - Rich Batsford (Kings Heath) - www.richbatsford.com

“Life is short, so lets have another one!” - Paul Pushkin (Kings Heath)

“Most inspirational thing anyone’s ever said to me is “Huh” from James Brown!” John Mostyn (Moseley) - www.mostyn.net

“The most boring thing in the entire world is nudity. The second most boring thing is honesty!” - James L (Kings Heath)
“The tradegy of life is not what men suffer,but rather what they miss” - Steve Farrington (Kings Heath)- www.myspace.com/thesexuallstars

“What keeps me on track is the poster on my wall which i wake up to each day which says ” You must be the change you wish to see in the world” and is by Mahatma Ghandi :)” - Sofia A (Moseley)

“When you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it. The mind in itself is a wonderful tool. Dysfunction sets in when you seek your self in it and mistake it for who you are” (Exchart Tolle) - Marc Reck - www.marcreck.com

I’m excited to report we have quite a few flavours from around the world at our next Mr Elephant, which is fitting right in with the journey around the world mixtape we are giving to the first 100 people through the doors.

Room one will be jammed full of rich reggae music, alongside traditional jamaican roots & dancehall.

Food from greece, turkey, spain and a host of other places will be served from Manic Organic with a taster from their menu’s.

Room two see’s Balkan Gypsy Jazz Music from the mighty Mama Matrix, with music from around the world from our djs, before their final dancefloor sets.

And we also welcome 10 local percussionists all playing various drums and rhythms from around the world, in our midnight mask parade. So far we have a cajon, darboukas, djembes, conga’s, bongo’s, shakers, guiros, clavas, jungle snare, 2 sirdu’s, and a cowbell. And thats not forgetting the 200 kazoos, and various masks made from your good selves.

And last but by no means least, we welcome back the Khalgani Belly Dancers, who were most impressive at our 2nd event last year.

So it’s all shaping up to be fitting birthday for all involved, and one that will make me feel a lot less homesick!

Courtesy of the Liz and George (Yorkshire)

Sloes are the fruit of the blackthorne tree and can be found in almost all country hedge rows. In autumn sloe bushes can be recognised by their long sharp thorns and small dark blue skinned fruit. They are very similar to damsons. They are a wild fruit and adults and children can have lost of fun gathering them. Beware though they have long sharp thorns. Thick gloves are a good idea.

To make 1 lt of sloe gin you need;

1 kg sloes

200 gm castor sugar

1 lt gin

Wash sloes and throw away any damaged or extra soft fruit, then prick each sloe with a sharp knife. Sterilise a large glass container, put the sloes in the jar and add the sugar and the gin. Shake the jar daily for the first 3 to 4 weeks then store in a cool place for a further 3 to 4 months, shaking occasionally. After 4 months pour through a strainer lined with muslin and then pour into bottles.

Leave if you can in the bottles a further 2 months or longer if possible as the taste improves up to about 10 months, then drink and enjoy.

This recipe is for a rather dry taste so if you prefer something sweeter just add more sugar.

This is uncles George’s special recipe and I accept no responsibility for drunkardness.

Love

Uncle George

Courtesy of Janet (Hollywood, Birmingham)

Courtesy of one healthy sun!

Courtesy of Pyn (Kings Heath, Birmingham)

• Instead of buying normal washing powder, or washing up liquid, (which is reaaaally bad for the environment), go to your local oxfam and buy Bio-D. Its better than Ecover in my opinion, and works as well as any branded washing powder.

• Lush do reeaaally nice shampoo, and really nice body moisturizer in the form of soap bars. You get a free tin, and never have to throw away a plastic bottle