SATURDAY OCTOBER 3RD - More viewers

After breakfast in our usual cafe and a little shopping, I make my way back to the sea front, while Aide goes off elsewhere. I find another cafe, but this time one with wifi. Our usual one is just out of the signal range. Great view of the harbour and I am happy being online for an hour or so, until Aide comes back to pick me up.

The tweckler 'R' , who I have written about, has contributed a blog to One and Other. It's very good and reflects the special nature of this unique project. There are two more parts to come, which I look forward to.

www.oneandother.co.uk/blog/2009/10/looking-over-the-fence-a-twecklers-view-part-1.html#comments

Get a phone call from Auntie June, Uncle Brian and Debbie. They have just watched the film and are full of kind comments. It is a surprise that they have taken time to view it. They say they will put some money in the post. Very kind.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 2ND - Aide home

Up early - again. Off to Manchester on the 6am train. Good. Lots of time for plinth viewing. Damn. Left the dongle at home. So no live action, just reading the tweets.

Find a cafe with wifi at the airport and the waiting time passes quickly. Aide home after four weeks of travelling and working with very little 'chill' time. Know that being a plinth bore will not be the best way to welcome him home, so restrain myself. Well, as much as I can. I wait for Aide to bring the subject up.

I had thought we would stay in York and go to the cottage tomorrow morning, but Aide can't wait to see all the building work, so spends no more than 30 minutes in the flat and off we go.

So no more plinth watching for the day. Just tweckling.

On the home page of www.oneandother.co.uk, there are linls to many blogs with thousands of comments. Yet another part of the whole picture, which will make good material for the archive.

Unfortunately there are always party poopers. These party poopers tend to be rude too, although I note that there is a real childish note of, "Ya boo sucks, I'm not playing, it's a stupid game anyway." In response to one such, I left the following comment:

At 16:49, Friday, 2 October 2009 rita-i-in-art wrote:

Dear Jane

I came a little late into the project. I was aware of it, but didn't think it was relevant to me. I am not an artist per se and I have not personally seen any of Antony Gormley's work, other than the Angel of The North in passing. I have no thoughts about the man, either way.

Then I heard a bit more on The Archers, of all programmes. Yes, nicely middle class. I looked it up. I saw the 'Apply now' and pressed the key. After all, we have choice and, like you I could refuse, though I knew it was unlikey I would be chosen.

August 1st and there was an email offering me 4am in the morning, Sept 26th. The usual churning of stomach followed.

Art? Painting/sculpture et al is not an abiding love, but history is. And what history this event will provide. 2,800 personal histories. Thoughts, beliefs, wishes, music, causes, memorials and activities. What a superb snapshot for history. Personally I think the 20 minute audio interview will provide a deeper insight to the state of the human pysche in 2009 than the plinth itself.

My mother is a Londoner, who ran through Trafalgar Square on VE day. She probably ran past the plinth. Could she have ever thought that one day her daughter might be on it? She has dementia now and can't quite understand what I've done. Only five years ago, she would have been up there with me at 4am. Same with my father, now bed bound, but three years ago he would have been there. But I can't think about what could have been, I've done it for the future generations.

I saw a video on the website, with a woman artist saying what she was seeing wasn't art. I felt indimidated and thought that I was out of place putting myself on the plinth. Then I realised that the letters a r t are in my name, leaving me with an i. It seemed appropriate and provided me with the encouragement that I had as much right to stand up there as anyone else.

I love cinema and theatre. I look at the plinth as the art of street theatre. So I performed.

If we are fortunate, we are provided with five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. If we look at the plinth and use less than all five, we cannot fully appreciate the depth and perspective of what is there. We are judging on the superficial, when being up there is so, so much more.
Jane, I believe someone has hurt you and made you feel not good enough. Don't listen to them anymore. Put the ugly anger aside, step out of the prison of hate and be the you, you want to be.

Thank you for your rant. It has made me think.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 1ST - Twitter & tweckling

Aide has left Hong Kong, but flight changed. Instead of via Paris, it's now via Helsinki. Except that I wake up to find that he hasn't gone anywhere and is still on the ground in HK. Sweltering after 4 hours with six grotty kids in front. He will miss the connection and have to stay overnight in Helsinki.

So, I don't have to go to Manchester Airport today. More time to tweckle and watch the highlight of today's plinth for all twecklers. The loudest and most opinionated tweckler 'R', has managed to get a stand-in place for 2pm.

Like a great deal to do with this project, I wonder what history will make of the social networking sites, Twitter, Facebook, My Space etc: I joined Twitter and Facebook over a year ago for marketing purposes. But I do use them for personal stuff and they have been useful in connecting with family.

When I first looked at the One and Other main page, I could see...and indeed read the tweets, but couldn't work out how to contribute. The contributions were mostly heckling the plinthers through twitter, so the term tweckling and twecklers had been created. It was a hashtag# thing and I had no idea how to find one on my keyboard or how to use it. Seems so simple now, but it wasn't then. I rang the O&O office and sent email, but no help was forthcoming. So I left it mostly, tried on the odd occassion and then one day pressed all the right keys and I was on.

The contributor, 'R', I felt overstepped the mark on occasions. One part of me thought him purely attention seeking and knew to leave alone. but another part could see that some people appeared in awe of him and wouldn't say anything to stop him. So I joined the affray...

...and have thoroughly enjoyed being part of yet another family, though temporary. It really has made the plinth appearance a much richer experience, because it added another dimension. I shall never forget that the guy on the cherry picker, who picked me up after my hour and wanted to report to me immediately that there had been some good tweckling in support of me and in particular from 'R'. The crew in the hut were full of surprise at his support too.

It's also a huge time waster, but Aide hasn't been here and there is an end in sight. Otherwise I would be more disciplined.

Meanwhile 'R' appeared at 2pm - and the twitter site went down. Conspiracy theories abound. His hour was a bit of a predicatble 'cock-up', but had many redeeming features. Humour, self deprication, an apology and a lesson in how to engage postively with a regular plinthside watcher in Trafalgar Square, who has irritated others.

As a professional observer of people's behaviour, I think I can count my plinth watching and tweckling as a work related activity. Well, that's my excuse. Perhaps I could put down as counting towards my CPD requirements? (Continuing Professional Development)

Melanie from Water Aid's media department rings. Can she put me in touch with a Daily Telegraph Journalist, who is writing an article about women's groups. No problem. Ring President Joanne to warn her.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH - Blogs

It’s now Sunday. Just can’t get down to writing post plinth. I’m a procrastinator by nature, but this feels different. No idea why. I don’t plan to write the blog forever, but I thought the days afterwards may be of interest and complete a picture of the event.

So what did I do on Wednesday? With Aide returning home on Thursday (supposedly, see blog tomorrow), I remember doing housework interspersed, with plinth watching, tweckling and eventually finishing four days of blogs. The writing took me hours.

I do remember Sarina from Water Aid ringing me and asking me if it was okay if she passed my name to another staff member who was liaising with a jouranlist from The Daily Telegraph.

That’s what I mean about ripples.

My laptop freezes. I take out the battery, re-boot etc; but no go. Now what? At least I have my Iphone to keep in touch. A few hours later, I notice my old laptop that stopped working some months ago. Plug it in. Strange. It's now working. Even stranger, my new laptop starts again. So now I have two and I put them side by side so I can view and tweet at same time.

Great. I must be in the grip of a severe addiction.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH - Radio 5

Start listening to Richard Bacon on Radio 5 at 12.30 and wait. Finally at 12.55 and in between discussion on drugs, they play the clip and say very nice things too. Very kind.

Today, I will do the blogs. Definitely.

President Joanne emails. We raised over £300 on Saturday, which is tremendous for a street collection like ours. Speak to Sarina at Water Aid and she is very pleased. With other monies in the pipeline and my Just Giving site, we may reach £600, which is great news.

Plinther Smont replies. She's feeling strange as well. Thought she would. Talks about being disorientated, which is a good word to use.

Grandson Jack (8) has sent me one of his first emails. Wants to know whether I was embarrassed on the plinth. Aaahh!

After chocolate tasting, go to the dentist. Exactly! Lucy hears all about my plinth adventures and gives me £20.

Start to tidy up the flat interspersed with emailing and plinth watching and tweckling. Really looking forward to going down again next week, when I shall pop into Trafalgar Sq when I'm not visitng father. Also planning on being there for the final morning on the 14th, especially in time for the dawn at 7.20. Along with hundreds of others. Please let it be fine. I joke about The Power of The Plinth, but who knows...

Go to bed. Blogs still not done.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH - The day after the day after

Wake expecting to feel a little more 'normal'. But it's not to be. I am not in a state of mind to see anyone, as a therapist. I am very likely to speak my mind, not helpful. That's what happens with life changing experiences.

Drive to York for chocolate tasting. At least I can do that - a solitary occupation. Some of the other panelists have watched the hour. One man thinks I'm daft, but wrote a nice comment on the page. Another man got bored and switched it off!

Go home and plan to write up the blog. Still don't do it, but do emails, read papers and plinth watch instead . At last speak to Adrian, who is now in Hong Kong. He is telling the Chinese, that he is only at the conference to escape me and the plinth. Ha! He has left the red dust storms behind in Australia and landed into typhoon warnings.

Write to Rachael Hodges telling her about the Richard Bacon programme mention. I get a reply. She said it made her laugh and they are going to put the section out on air after 12.30am!! Bloody hell!

Speak to sister, Carolyn, who is with mother. Carolyn watched the first bit on a computer without sound on Saturday. She thought I was nervous and getting irritated. Now she has seen it with sound and understands the Judi Dench joke!!

A whole lot of messages have appeared on my plinth page, from people who have watched. I feel very humbled by the comments.

Go into city centre to meet the friend I was supposed to meet last Monday. Have a good meal and catch up. 10 years ago we were lowly nursing assistants on a psychiatric unit. She's now a lecturer in Occupational Therapy and I've come on a bit too. Why do so many people give up on life too early? No, I'm not back to my empathetic best yet.

Go to bed by 11pm and put alarm on for 12.30am, so I can listen to the Richard Bacon show.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27th - The day after.

Wake up at 7.40am. Nearly 10 hours sleep - Hooray!

Plinther at 7am is Smont (Sarah). Her page says that she has been hoping and hoping for a place since before the project began and only just had got a place. She is reading beautifully to her nephew, from Winnie the Pooh. Towards the end, she becomes reflective and mentions that when the was asked on the audio interview what the experience meant for her, she was too emotional too answer. At that point I start crying. At last. I write to her.

A really beautiful autumn morning. Drive over to cottage. What a contrast. Complete silence except birdsong. Wonderful. I'm not going to drive back today, but stay overnight and start early on Monday.

Feel weepy, short tempered and other worldly. I'm calling it PPS Post Plinth Syndrome. It feels like the aftermath of shock, but expect it's to do with tiredness, adrenaline withdrawal and effort too. Elizabeth texts, to check up on me.

Neighbour Kaet has offered to give me lunch, which turns out to be just right. Am able to take her a huge bowl of raspberries and runner beans all freshly picked. As her broadband link is rubbish, she hasn't seen the film. I'm probably a plinth bore, but try not to be.

After delicious food, wander back to cottage A beautiful day, Sunday papers and rest.

Pat texts. A friend has seen the film and enjoyed it. But he wants to know if Judi Dench got out ok!!! Was I that convincing?

At 5pm decide to go to the SeaLife centre for their wifi, but it doesn't work. So go down to seafront. Spend two hours with the laptop on the LandRover. Dusk is wonderful and it's just a great place to be.

But I just can't get started on the blog. Strange. Friday and Saturday to write up. Spend time viewing plinthers and tweckling instead. Sue Hanisch rings. She had a doze on the M1 on her way up to Derby from Trafalgar Sq. Wouldn't like to think how many miles he did in only a few hours. Up and down the UK - amazing. But then she's an amazing woman. Google her name.

Receiving more wonderful messages. It's all feels a bit much really.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH - Today's the day!

Fitful sleep until 1.30am. Get everything ready for the off. Put props outside front gate. It's mild. I am not going to need thermals. There isn't even a breeze. Remarkable and very unusual in these last few weeks.

Joe get up at 1.58, taxi arrives at 2.08. Taxi able to drive quickly through the streets. Almost empty London at night. Magical.

Arrive at O&O portacabins at the south of Trafalgar Square. Security immediately challenge us and check contents of suitcase and backpack. Very friendly O&O staff. The 'crew'.

Joe and I are welcomed into the cabin. Lots of red shirted crew, ooking at live feed, the twitter site, getting forms filled, talking to next plinther, Gav and wife. There's a very large prop in the corner. Now to fit in my props! They must have seen some weird and varied stuff in this cabin.

Joe pops out to get some decent coffee from Charing Cross and I chat to whoever comes up to chat. Seem to sign a lot of forms that I don't read properly. Have I signed my life away to Rupert Murdoch? Oh, the irony.

At 2.55, Gav leaves the hut with his props for the cherry picker. More room for mine. Coffee is good.

Lawrence, the 2am plinther arrives back in the cabin. He's been a stand in for a young woman, who thought that it was 2am on Sunday, not Saturday. Bet she's not happy. Lawrence has been causing a few raised eyebrows with his repartee with the crowd. Bit of a 'Jack the lad'.

Jack, the 5pm plinther appears with Dad. My mind isn't quite on the ball and I call Jack, Lawrence.

Gav_C is creating a memorable memorial to his son, Tom, who died at 6 years old.

Katie asks me to go into a side room for the 20 minute audio interview. It's also set up for the official photo too. I find the interview fascinating. First of all, the chairs are from Ikea and like the chairs in my therapy room. Then I am being asked the questions at close quarters in front of the mike. Funny to be on the receiving end. And what questions. Katie is very good. They include, "why did I apply, what am I going to do, how do I feel about being 60, what did I want to do in the future, what's important to me in my life?"

The photo is taken and then it's all rush to get me out of the cabin and on to the cherry picker with the props. We're off.

As we approach the plinth I can see Sue Hanisch, son Joe and Elizabeth at the base of the plinth. Sue has driven from Kendal through the night and Elizabeth has been staying around the corner. Above and beyond the call of duty in the name of friendship.

Up and on. Changeover with Gav. Legs a little bit jellylike. Must get table up with notice about Dame Judi's supposed reading on the plinth. Speak to crowd, well, the few people below, telling them I am Dame Judi's dresser and am getting plinth ready for her.

Plinth cover won't quite fit on the Visit York end and I haven't got time to spend on it.

Now for the acting: Dame Judi is locked in the toilet. Phone Antony Gormley, Linda Snell of Radio 4's The Archers, Rachael Hodges of the Radio 5's Richard Bacon Show and finally Jenny from the Maidenhead Drama Guild. Seems to go okay.

Now my reminscing, poems, readings etc: All meant to be from the 'throne', but stand for much of it. My natural speaking stance.

I can hear Joe cheer the family photo, Elizabeth cheer the chocolate tasting mention and Sue's laugh.

Announce Holly and Joshua's birth and put up photo.

Forget names and stories, it's slight panic shutting down the brain.

I forget that the clock on the building is five minutes fast, so start shutting down too early. Could have done my *National Gallery story and *Haymarket story. Look down and see Joe do a 'thumbs up', so that's alright.

Cherry picker arrives with Jack, who I called Lawrence in the cabin. I apologise.

Down we go. Crew tell me that twecklers have been favourable especially Raideeboi. I'm amazed. Cannot really remember going back to the hut, think I was in shock.

Sue, Elizabeth and Joe meet me. Joe goes off to run 10k with his friend Billy. They are meeting at 6.30am. Sue is driving straight off to Derby, crazy woman. That leaves Elizabeth and me. Crew great in the cabin and say we can stay for as long as we need. Can remember talking to next plinther, Catherine, but really it's a blur. Katie rings and has loved it

Elizabeth and I hail a taxi with the toilet, cistern, suitcase, plith cover and three bags. We go to Kings Cross Station for 6.15am train to York . Elizabeth has very kindly treated me to a 1st class seat. We find the seats, lodge all the props and I sit down, while Elizabeth goes back onto the concourse to find some food and drink.

Messages are beginning to come in via text and email. I'm choked and very near tears, but don't cry. Elizabeth suggests I should. Try to doze, but still running on adrenaline. Train arrives at 8.30 and we get a taxi straight to Coppergate. Elizabeth goes home.

Start to set up Soroptimist's Water Aid stall, "Give a penny to spend a penny' with Rosie, Susan WW, Denise and Ann C. The plinth cover lies on the ground and helps spread the stall along the pathway under the awning. Denise dresses up in the inflatable hand, that Susan WW managed to collect from Water Aid HQ in London. More Sorops appear, Joanne and Kaet. The Mayoress arrives at 10am and has photos on the toilet. She stays for 30 mins and is excellent.

Lyn, a York plinther comes up and introduces herself. A big hug. This is indeed like family. She'd like to meet up for a coffee and talk about the plinth experience. Can fully understand why. It's the shared experience thing.

Around 1pm I noticably 'wilt'. Get taxi home and take it easy for rest of afternoon. Manage 30 mins sleep. Susan WW arrives in her mini with the toilet, cistern, plinth cover and all her stall stuff. Amazing capacity.

It has taken me until Wednesday to write this, due to what I have called PPS. Post Plinth Syndrome! As a result, I can't remember the rest of the day, except that it included tweckling, watching Strictly Come Dancing, eating and finally falling into bed at 10pm.

It's online now: www.oneandother.co.uk/particpants/rita-i-in-art

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26Th - The day before tomorrow

(Writing this on Monday at 9pm. Out of signal for w/e.)

At father's flat because I think I will get a better night's sleep there, rather than Joe and Nic's sofa bed. Now I'm not so sure. Eventually get to sleep around 2.45am. Woken up at 5.15 with searing cramp in right leg. Great. Feel yucky. Sarah Kennedy mentions me on her Radio 2 progamme at 6am. Can't back to sleep until 7.45, when I grab another hour. Feel marginally better.

Go to see father for lunchtime at noon. First, pop into Copywell, opposite nursing home, with memory stick for copies. The files won't transfer and I have left laptop back at the flat. Aaargh! Is nothing straight forward?

Have lunch with father, take taxi back to flat, pick up laptop & take bus back to Copywell. The staff are really helpful and I get everything I need.

Sit with father until 3pm. Try to doze when he does. Then back to the flat. Taxis are a bit illusive around 4pm, until Jake comes home and tells me to use Barnes Taxis from the station. It works and everything gets packed into yet another taxi and we go to Joe and Nic's.

1 toilet. 1 cistern. 1 plinth cover 14'5 x 5'. 1 suitcase. 1 small card table. 1 backpack. Me.

Props outside Bracken View for taxi.

Nic comes home and looks bemused at the props in a sort of 'What on earth is she doing?' way.

Joe and Noah with the toilet.

A quiet evening watching TV. Aide's niece, Fiona rings. Lovely surprise. She tells me that she and Chris were planning on coming up to TS, but Chris has a knee injury from hockey. How kind of them to even think of coming up. Get text from other niece, Amy, too. All so kind and thoughtful. Hope they like the surprise tomorrow.

Joe goes off to bed early after ordering taxi. I decide not to try to go to bed or use sofa bed, but just lie fully dressed on sofa. It works - to a point. Wouldn't have been any better in a bed anyway.