As you probably know we are taking a break from all the monthly events for the forseeable future, to concentrate on other projects, so until we return, we just wanted to say a massive thank you on behalf of the whole Mr Elephant crew for bringing the vibes to our last 41 events, and to everyone who has been part of any Mr Elephant event, workshop, radio show, or website.

We’ll really miss the events, and each one has been a truly inspiring experience, but the time feels right to move on to other projects until next year.

It was really important that we left things on a high, and we’re forever grateful to all the venues that have housed us throughout the last years, the Adam & Eve, Hare & Hounds, Epic Skate Park, Rainbow Beach, the Bulls Head & Prince Wales.

When we return to do events we will certainly be looking to promote local talent through smaller regular events, but there was a unananimous decision that we all wanted to return to another reason why we started Mr Elephant in the 1st place, and that is the larger more festival style events. Like the 1st 2 at Epic skate park in 2007, the family days at the Prince garden, the 12 hour celebration pf Birmingham’s Underground on the Rainbow beach/warehouse, and the workshops & multistage 2nd Birthday at the hare and hounds. Events that are one offs and that encompass all the areas of Mr Elephant in one cohesive event, or to put it another way, a balance of all the events over the last 3 years, and pushing some of the Mr Elephant ideas forward.

We’ll still be hosting our radio show on www.rhubarbradio.com with Marc Reck every monday evening at 6pm & Mr Elephant residents Skeleton & Dolhasz will be hosting The Beat Suite every wednesday from 11.30pm. However to avoid the whole website being taken up with the radio shows, it seems more appropriate for these to exist on their own websites & of course the rhubarb ones, so that the artists & events can remain on the front of this one. One of the main aims of Mr Elephant is to shine a light on great stuff, and so hopefully the videos of the events housed on this website helps further that.

There are many ideas and goals that we have as Mr Elephant and while we’ve achieved so much more than we hoped, (due to the ever expanding platform of talented contributors) there is so much we have yet to explore.

We have always been totally unfunded, and, as most will know, it becomes difficult to devote such a large portion of your life when you have to cover your own costs, and have other ambitions to explore. With that in mind we are looking at ways to fund future events so we can realise their true potential, and we’ll be taking time out to further our own interests in order to bring them back in bigger and brighter. We all want to keep the free party ethos alight wherever possible, simply because it allows the most accessibility to people, regardless of financial status, and therefore the most diverse mix of people, which is always a good thing… The logisitics of sorting the time and resources we can work out.

Anyway, once again, thanks to one and all for a truly inspiring 3 years, and on behalf of all the Mr Elephant crew, we wish you a beautiful hot summer.

One love
Mr Elephant.

“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

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

Courtesy of Dino!…..David Allen, and Thinking Rock

Courtesy of local D.I.Y guru Mick (Wythall, Birmingham)