Eppie Caredda drawn by artist and poet Heather Spears
at the 2010 International Womens Day Dance,
Dick Collins Hall    4 p.m. 06.03.2010

         I  was born in The Philippines in San Carlos City in the province of Pangasinan. I came to England in June 1972 , aged 39, and worked as a nanny in a private family in Slough, Buckinghamshire, with three boys (aged 10, 8 and a 3 month old baby).

          My contract ran out after two years and I applied to work at The Middlesex Hospital, London, in the catering department. Then I was offered a choice of a job as either a cashier or a secretary in the office. I chose to be a cashier. I was married and when my child Maria was born, I felt I had to resign to look after my child for two years. Then, so I could still look after her, I took part-time jobs at University College London and University College Hospital.

          I retired at 60. I had arthritis and high blood pressure, so my GP doctor recommended that I do exercises with the West Euston Third Age Group. I took Gym classes and Tai Chi classes and I joined the West Euston Third Age Project (and also the Workshop when it was created).

           My doctor now says I am alright and I have improved my physical health. Over the years, I have taken part in many activities. After joining Gym and Tai Chi, I joined Belly-Dancing (first taught by Kristina, and now taught by Anne) and also the Traditional Country Dance (first taught by Chris, and now by Mary). Then I joined Drama (taught by Alicia, now taught by Gary) and Poetry (taught by Kim). I also take part in Jewellery (first taught by Melanie, now taught by Beverley) and Sewing classes (first taught by Christine).

          I was amazed to find that I am one of the International Purple Poets. I feel wonderful. I never expected that I would still have these commitments and this community in my life.

As well as being a founding member of the Purple Poets, Eppie is also a talented member of The TADs (The Third Age Project Drama Group) and has taken part in shows directed by Alicia Frost and Gary Kielty. She combined her love of drama and poetry by recited her poem 'The Greatest Love' as part of the TADs 2009 Spring Talent Show. Her moving translation of Ang Bayan Ko, My Country, (by José Corazón de Jesús, 1929,  the unofficial anthem of the Philipines)  was performed for International Language Day  at the H-Pod, Cumberland Park in 2007.

In May, 2010, while attending her beloved TADS class, Eppie suffered a subarachnoid haemorrage and was a patient in the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery for several weeks. She has now recovered, and had the great pleasure of seeing her poem 'Dancing' displayed at the 2011 Capital Age Festival (part of the Coin Street Festival). Most recently, she took part in the Royal College of Physician's Re-Framing Disability : 'Poetic Responses to the Exhibition ' Project.

This series of poems-in-progress were created
in a series of five poetry workshops led by poet
Kim Morrissey, using prints and the catalogue
from the Royal College of Physicans'
REFRAMING DISABILITY EXHIBITION, 2011
as source material.

2011 workshop dates: April 16th, April 28th,
May 26th, June 7th, June 30th, 2011.
workshop leader: Kim Morrissey
workshop participants:
Babushka, Eppie Caredda, Bithi Das,
Patsy Futatsugi, Ferdous Rahman, Jean Watt,
Paul Nandi (guest)

THE CHRISTENING


Lazarus is my son.
God has chosen
To give him back to me.


So wonderful!


And Johannes, his twin,
I have named Johannes Baptista,
John the Baptist.


Giving light
To every Christian
To have faith in God.

Eppie Caredda, The Purple Poets
first draft: 28.04.2011
print: Lazarus and Johannes Baptista Colloreda (b 1617)
print title: ISRAEL. The Twin Brothers

SELF-ADVERTISEMENT FOR MATHEW BUCHINGER


I am most fabulous and amazing and the Wonderful Little Man of but 29 inches high
and no hands feet or thighs but married four times and I draw faces to life and flowers
and do fine needlework before Kings and Queens and write funeral poems so quickly
and make amazing pens very curiously and play astonishing music upon the duclimer
and the trumpet and the bagpipes and dance a hornpipe in Highland dress and fire
pistols and play skittles and ninepins and many other things too tedious to notice.



first draft: Eppie Caredda, The Purple Poets, 26.05.2011
print: Matthew Buchinger
print title: Matthew Buchinger.LONDON. April the 29.1724.
This is the Effigies of Mr Matthew Buchinger, being Drawn
and Written by himself. He is the Wonderful little Man of but 29....
(print includes the Lord's Prayer and several psalms
written in the hair of Buchinger)

THAI NEW YEAR:
MY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
by Eppie Caredda
05.02.2009


My New Year’s resolution
Is always the same as usual –

Oh yes, I am the typical woman
The so called ‘Spanish
Mañana Habit Woman’ O’la-la

You are a devil woman!
When are you going to change
Before it’s too late?

Never.

THE GREATEST LOVE
by Eppie Caredda
written 29.05.2008


The greatest love of all
I've ever found
Is here in this cosy place
Called 'The Third Age Project.'

Meeting so many different people
-- Different nationalities,
Cultures and religions
And sharing different activities.

We do so many exciting things:
Country Dancing, Belly Dancing,
Tai Chi, Drama, Jewellery and Gym
And most especially The Purple Poets.

Coming together with great pleasure
Writing poems through all the seasons
With our lovely teacher Kim
And all my colleagues -

And working together with respect.
With love as always

This is the greatest love of all.

EPPIE CAREDDA
I LIKE CHRISTMAS!
06.12.2007


Christmas is like a Mince Pie
Crunchy and buttery and messy

I can’t help it, I have to bite
And I can’t stop at just one!

Christmas is like Chocolates,
tempting, melting on your tongue

So amazingly gorgeously  sweet
and yummily yummily yum!

My friends, we can’t stop
Till we finish my box

So Cheers!
Merry  Christmas To Everyone!

from DIWALI LIGHTS: A POEM PERFORMANCE
performed for Councillor Nural Islam, The Worshipful Mayor Of Camden, West Euston Workshop Eid and Diwali Celebration at the H-Pod, Cumberland Market at 2:30 p.m. on 30.10.2008

This poem is part of a poem-sequence, composed and performed by Kim Morrissey, Eppie Caredda, Shelagh Beale, and Islam Molla at the Diwali Celebrations and T.A.P. Tenth Anniversary Tea-Dance of the West Euston Third Age Project on 09.11.2007 at the Dick Collins Hall.  It was also performed by Kim Morrissey, Eppie Caredda, Ferdous Rahman (reading for Shelagh Beale), and Islam Molla for the  Worshipful Mayor of Camden, Nural Islam, on 30.11.2009 as part of the West Euston Workshop Eid and Diwali celebrations at the H-Pod, Cumberland Market.

Advice to Tony
(for Tony Bloor, on his 60th Birthday)
by Eppie Caredda
13.10.2008

What is a Freedom Pass?

It’s the most amazing
Sixtieth Birthday Card!

At last, you are
one of the lucky ones.

Travelling around sas you like
from 9 to 4 in the morning.

And 24 hours on weekends
And Bank Holidays too!

Oh what a lovely present!
For you to have this fantastic gift.


This great card called the ‘Freedom Pass.’

Eppie performed this poem for Tony at the West Euston Third Age Project Tea Dance 14.10.2008

TWO WOMEN TALKING:   A GOOD MAN
By Nurunnahar Islam and Eppie Caredda
02.10.2008


A good man is he who cares,
Who brings bread home to share,
He listens and understands
His lover is safe in his hands.
He is respectful and kind
He protects and doesn't talk behind.

A bad man is he who shouts!
Always in command.
He never listens to anyone
Except himself.
A bad man dominates
And controls everyone.
Rude, cunning, violent
And vile ….


I married
The bad man
But I wish
I had chosen
The good.


I left the man who was good.
I married the man whom I loved

EPPIE CAREDDA
Dancing

I love dancing

bowing and twirling
like swans on the lake

heavenly, content
endlessly happy.



show-cased at the Capital Age Festival
and Coin Street Festival Tea-Tent 2011

EPPIE CAREDDA
Dancing
Performed with the Purple Poets
Spring Health Festival Community
H-Pod Cumberland Market
15.03.2008


I love dancing, yes I do -
It keeps me alive and kicking
Like the swans on the lake
The skylarks up above the sky
Swaying so gracefully
So heavenly

Non-stop dancing, with the rhythm
Of music playing air
Like a whirling wind
Blowing around the world
And above the blue sky!!

I love dancing, yes I do -
With enormous feeling of joy
To share with everyone.
So content, so endlessly

That's the wonderous art
Of dancing for me!

TRANSLATION

Ang Bayan Ko
[(written by José Corazón de Jesús, 1929.The unofficial anthem of the Philippines]
Ang bayan ko Philipinas
Lupain ng gintot bulaklak
Pag-ibig ng sa kanyang palad
Nag=alay ng gandat dilag
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak ka sa dusa ...

Ibon mang may layang lumipad
Kulangin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di nag-nasang makaalpas

O! Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad, ka ng luha at dalita
Aking aghika -- ang ...
Makita kang-sakdal laya.


My Country
[a new translation of "Ang Bayan Ko"]
by Eppie Caredda 15.02.2007


My country the Philippines
Land of Honey, Tropical Flowers and Gold
Love permeates its heart.

Which brings panoramic beauty
And amazing grace.

These niceties captivate many strangers
That may be why they had to stay so long.
Even more than a hundred years.

Oh my beloved country, the Philippines
Was held hostage and enslaved in hardships for so long.

Like the chirping bird that craves to fly
Without limit. Cage it
And it will surely cry.

What more will this beautiful land endure.
Will it not also aim for a boundless Liberty?

Philippines my beloved
Lair of struggles and tears
My only dream for you

Is to see you again
Completely Free.

Let's Work Together
To Fight the Drought
(OUT WITH DROUGHT!)
by Eppie Caredda
04.06.2006

Summertime is here again
The mighty sun starts shining

Over me and London Town
Oh, what a lovely feeling -

I love the sudden change
From wind and rain to sunny days

But this time
we have to watch out

To prevent the drought.

Let us tighten our  water taps all around
The house and in our gardens

Love plants, but choose them well
Knowing that everything needs water for life

So Let's Work Together
To fight the Drought.
OUT WITH DROUGHT!


Eppie Caredda first performed this poem with the Purple Poets at the 2006 Camden Green Fair, Regent's Park, June 4, 2006

Lucky Joy
2004


My pet cat's name is Lucky Joy.
Whenever I come home from any appointment
He is always there to welcome me with his Usual greeting
'MEOW, MEOW, MEOW!'
Oh how I felt so relieved
So happy to get a hug, cuddle,
Stroke his silky hair
No matter how tired I am
Or how exhausted I am
No more pain nor sorrow within me
But joy, love, care
That's the best time of my life, with my cat
LUCKY JOY!

Eppie Caredda first published this poem in London Time: Poetry from
London's Workshops ( nef: London, 2004)

DIWALI LIGHTS
08.11.2007
30.10.2008


(KIM, LIGHTING DIWALI PURPLE TEA-LIGHT)


One tiny light lights other lights
Like stars, rejoicing
We share India's joy.



(EPPIE, LIGHTING DIWALI PURPLE TEA-LIGHT)


DIWALI LIGHTS


Star lights, star bright!
How I wish I could reach them out!
Like this candlelight
That I could touch
And feel the warmth
Of the flame in my hands
And the feeling of joy
In our hearts!


(SHELAGH, LIGHTING DIWALI PURPLE TEA-LIGHT):

DIWALI


Candlelight, starlight

Like the first dawn

The beginning

Everything new, fresh, bright



(ISLAM):  

 DIWALI LIGHTS

I am holding my God in my hand.

I can feel His Warmth
In my body and soul,

God is Light to me.

God is everything
From Cradle

from DIWALI LIGHTS: A POEM PERFORMANCE
performed for Councillor Nural Islam, The Worshipful Mayor Of Camden, West Euston Workshop Eid and Diwali Celebration at the H-Pod, Cumberland Market at 2:30 p.m. on 30.10.2008

This poem is part of a poem-sequence, composed and performed by Kim Morrissey, Eppie Caredda, Shelagh Beale, and Islam Molla at the Diwali Celebrations and T.A.P. Tenth Anniversary Tea-Dance of the West Euston Third Age Project on 09.11.2007 at the Dick Collins Hall.  It was also performed by Kim Morrissey, Eppie Caredda, Ferdous Rahman (reading for Shelagh Beale), and Islam Molla for the  Worshipful Mayor of Camden, Nural Islam, on 30.11.2009 as part of the West Euston Workshop Eid and Diwali celebrations at the H-Pod, Cumberland Market.

(In 2008, as Shelagh had to leave the celebrations early; she opened the celebration with her poem 'How To Read a Poem' Shelagh's Diwali poem was read by Ferdous Rahman.)