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November 20, 2011

Social Read - FREE

The idea of the hashtag #spreadthelove was to simply see if people could exchange ideas, send a little something, write or letter or anything they thought appropriate to help lift someone else’s day or make someone smile.

Quickly the idea spread to incorporate the idea of events such as a gig in your living room or drum lessons. The first of these is now ready to take place - THE FREE SOCIAL READ.

Monday 21st November
2.45pm - 4.30pm

Jewry Wall Museum in Leicester is proud to present a free Social Reading session. Join Leicester’s Book Doctor for an afternoon of reading a book as a group. Hopefully it’ll be a novel experience!

Social Read is different from a reading group. In a Social Read session you’ll be read to and you can read aloud if the fancy takes you. We’ll stop to discuss things as we go along. It’s interesting, fun & sometimes tackles the big things in life. It’s also a great way to meet different people & find out what they think & share ideas for good reads too. 

All welcome. Free & refreshments provided. 

JEWRY WALL, ST NICHOLAS CIRCLE - opposite Holiday Inn
LE1 4LB

Hope to see you there!

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October 30, 2011

Working Together



The #spreadthelove project is fantastic. It’s an absolute inspiration.



It enables people to share their skills and resources in an open and democratic way. This means that items or actions are only exchanged when the demand is present.  Everyone has something that they can offer the global community, from mizuna and red mustard lettuce (@morrighani) to writing workshops (@BookDoctorLCC collaborating with @crumblin_cookie as a host) and there isn’t any complaining if you decide to accept an offer of help first. You still become part of the community and a part of the cycle.



The project is bringing strangers together who otherwise may have never known that they could help each other. Open communication and equality are abound within those who #spreadthelove. Just as you are all reaching out to one another by exchanging gifts & favours, the people involved in the global occupation movement are doing the same thing. They are offering their time and effort in order to remind us that a little care and compassion for your fellow human can go a long way.



Occupiers support a redistribution of wealth through means of financial reform. They want to give the chance for everyone to have the opportunity to live the life they dream. Occupiers believe that no good comes from a world where the standards of living and the opportunities of many are controlled by the greed and decisions of a few. Yes, some are anti-capitalist but some adore capitalism.



Much like the writhing mass of creativity that is seen within #spreadthelove, the individual within Occupy has a voice at all times and it is this vibrancy, this kaleidoscope of ideas that makes sure that the goals of Occupy will be ones that satisfy everyone.



The Occupy! movement does not have a leader. It avoids taking on a single, slick label perfect for a marketing campaign. This would only serve to disguise complexities, pigeonhole ideas and create divisions. A form of direct democracy is utilised instead. At the camps themselves, people hold general assembly’s where anyone and everyone can have a voice. Ideas are discussed and debated with responses given by the show of Jazz Hands. Online, forums can be found on sites such as Twitter where approval of ideas is shown by members resending messages from one community to another.



It is possible to get involved whether commitments mean you are restricted to working from home or whether you can make it to an Occupy camp. Get involved by showing your support through searching for articles online and discussing what you have found with your family & friends. Get involved by showing your support and visiting an occupation to discuss your newly found knowledge with the occupiers.



Together we can figure out how to make the world a better place for everyone. Make your voice heard – get involved!



@LucyPeel_com

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October 29, 2011

HEY! CHECK YOUR POST!

However small or insignificant it may seem, the enthusiasm and generosity of people seems to keep on coming with items being sent in and out of cities as far apart as Toronto and Paris. Maybe there’s more – let us know.

Has been brilliant to see tweets this morning as people have begun to receive treats in the post. Here’s a few examples and let us know via the email or hashtag of any more we may have missed.

There was a poem for @FRiccardi who has posted an elephant (perhaps not a real one) to @rachelDSK

Monster pictures have been sent out by @orbette to a whole cluster of people: @evilnoob @stuhall @mtcrowe @@SyzygySweetie

Winging it’s way from Canada to London will be a postcard to @orbette from @stuhall

“@clark_summers yayes! My #spreadthelove surprise package from @hazel_joy just arrived – a lovely piece of art and some sweet pea pink seeds! Thank you! Xx”

It looks like @louise_angell has come to the rescue of @zeldaenchante and @missellabell by sending beans to Paris.

And there have still been plenty of offers from people:

Surely someone would be cheered up by a duck caller from @amreeeves ?

How about some some traditional Geordie sweeties. From @andromedababe ?

“@morrighani I have loads of mizuna and red mustard lettuce in my garden. Any Leicester folk want some, all organic.”

“@jokerunning Welsh and missing home? Would anyone like a postcard from Cardiff?”

And @melliottmusic has made the offer of coming to perform for you! 

Let me know of any more we might have missed or if you want to be involved either by perhaps needing a pick me up or by wanting to offer something.

The very kind and lovely @enhughesiasm has mentioned the possibility of a slightly more interactive website for this to be hosted via – if anyone wants to suggest a domain name we can check that would be grand.

Keep in touch and have a great weekend folks!

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October 28, 2011

#Spreadthelove spreads the good deeds:

So we have our first FREE event!

The @BookDoctorLCC will offer a free writing workshop which the wonderful Crumblin Cookie (@crumblin_cookie on High Street Leicester) has offered to host for free. And Pamela Raith (@peachyraith has offered to photograph for free)

Keep checking back or the #spreadthelove hash tag or follow those people for dates and times – get in touch here or via the email on this page if you want to be involved or offer a workshop!

A flood of retweets will hopefully lead to more donations to @LindsayKateJ for her marathon run raising money for charity: t.co/06sFklZ2

A great offer from @alikichapple : “I can read a favourite story, record it and post it. Also, gluten free vegan baked goods.

@AlphaDesignUk: “I have some handmade cards that I will give away to the first two people who respond in the aid of #spreadthelove

And there have already been many acts of kindness through tweets or posting or emails – fantastic.

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October 28, 2011

What goes around keeps going around

It seems that this may last for longer than just last night. PLEASE post pictures of what you send/receive as they will definitely make everyone smile.

Already so many acts of kindness through the #spreadthelove on twitter. We have lots people offering many ways to make people smile - so don’t be afraid to wave your hand in the air to do a swapsie or just make a connection with someone that’s waiting and happy to send something to make smile:

@rachelDSK has an Ian Rush autograph

@melliottmusic will come to wherever you and perform for you. He’s great: Superstition - Stevie Wonder (Acoustic Cover) [HQ] and follow him here: www.facebook.com/markyguitar

@julietims would like to write a letter to someone

@FRiccardi hasn’t been taken up on any of her offers yet.

@Our_Man_Flint has shared this wonderful picture: flickr.com/photos/diddyc/…

@diddyc_ has this great picture: flic.kr/p/9CP631

@MrGJohnson says: I for one can offer comics about mice, drawings, and teabags. Possibly all 3. 

@ponshus I’d like to #spreadthelove sending postcards of cats if anyone wants one

@jokerunning offering second hand books, and Creme Eggs. Not necessarily together #spreadthelove

@sophiehardwicke I paint pictures - perhaps someone would like one? pic.twitter.com/VLIB9n1M

@Cool_Hand_Lou Unsure how this is working @CitizenNate but I always spread love with baked goods…any good here? #spreadthelove

This is just a small selection of what was suggested and offered – it doesn’t have to be a gift that is posted, maybe you could just offer a kind word or direct someone to a positive story or an event. Use the hash tag and feel free to direct people here – the more people that want to blog here or post the better!