Bohemian Bristol

I spent a few hours in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol yesterday. For those unaware, Stokes Croft is a vibrant bohemian enclave with a fierce sense of independence, individuality and free thinking. What first strikes you about Stokes Croft is the abundance of colourful wall art. From original Banksy to anti establishment to all shades of everything else, wall art is not only appreciated here it is actively encouraged. When you have finished absorbing the colours and the political and social messages you discover what lies beneath, independent shops and squats that wear their colours with pride. Without a doubt these establishments contribute to the culture of the area and gift the visitor a sense of rebellion laced with warmth.

Stokes Croft

A must visit is The Canteen at the Hamilton House/Coexist complex, a vibrant meeting space where you can enjoy a coffee, a beer, or a lunch sourced from local and regional produce whilst surfing the web. The last time I visited the Canteen I was blessed with numerous a cappella African songs born from one of the workshops upstairs. The Canteen gives me a sense of belonging and the affinity I feel with its patrons is overwhelming. So, if you are in need of some soul food be sure to drop in.

The Canteen

The lessons learned from my journey so far have taught me that I am a social animal. I need people and I need to be close to people that have similar aspirations to my own. I would go as far as saying that I am needy in this respect. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. One thing is for sure, alone I would struggle with the trials and tribulations of life, as part of a free thinking family I know I can thrive.

The People's Republic of Stokes Croft HQ

Tomorrow sees me back to work after a four day break. Whilst not looking forward to this, I know that I am one day closer to breaking the chains of repetition. I am one day closer to being free.

The first day of the rest of my life

I am in no doubt that many of my friends and family will think I've gone a little crazy as I take to the streets of the United Kingdom offering free hugs to all and sundry. To those close to me I say this. For what seems like an eternity I have worked hard in order to pay my bills and my taxes. This has happened at a price, that being the erosion of my social life and my ability to engage properly with the friends and family I love dearly. I have no choice now other than to take back all that I have lost and this is my vessel for doing so.

I am tired. I have no further desire to be locked into the system. I do not consent.

I stumbled across the "free hugs" movement on YouTube a little while ago and it greatly inspired me. Total strangers sharing a moment of humanity and warmth in the most troubling of times. I have seen the most basic of human interactions make folk smile and remember that briefest of encounters for the rest of the day and beyond.

I hope to be able to hook up with like minded souls on my journey, wherever that may take me. I will document as much of it as I can and hope that you will enjoy the experience. I know I will. For the moment my blog carries generic "free hugs" pictures and YouTube videos. These will be replaced by my own as time progresses.

So, my blog, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts are now synchronised and stand ready to tell my story. I sincerely hope that you are part of it.