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Illustrator IllustratorGraphic DesignerStephanie Barnett Ted Weaver Kamile Stasyte

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Illustrator Graphic Designer Photographer Graphic DesignerHarriet Tomkins Becky Weale Sakib Yasin

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AS THE SUN GOES DOWN IN THE CITY

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- “GET IN THE CAR” THEY COM-

MANDED-

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As the sun goes down in the cityof Birmingham. a sense of fearsweeps across alL who inhabit it.

Darkness falls and shops shut for the night, chaos erupts on the streets as people hurry home- home to the safety that lies behind closed doors. The empty streets, once filled with crowds of cheery shoppers ring with an eery silence, bar the distant sounds of sirens.

Cars flood the streets in a race to get home. Shadowed figures linger on corners, dimly lit by orange street lamps. It’s clear to see why people choose not to congregate in the city at night. For me, I will do almost anything to avoid being alone as the sun is setting.

-LIKE CINDERELLA AT MIDNIGHT BUT INSTEAD, HURRYING HOME

BEFORE THE CLOCK STRIKES SEVEN PM-

Home is a place where you feel safe. You can shut the world out and for me this is true, but to get to my place of safety I have to venture down a road that fills me with fear. Curzon Street. When I moved to Birmingham just a matter of weeks ago, Curzon Street was just a road to me, I walked to and from my flat with no issues -until one night. I was on my way home from a meal out in the city centre with a friend, and home was in sight. The block of flats were glowing with a sense of assurance andprotection. All of a sudden we heard a voice.

- “GET IN THE CAR” THEY COMMANDED-

we started to walk faster as the car proceeded to follow us, filling me with fright. My friend and I started to run and soon reached the safety of the flats, but Curzon Street still terrifies me. I do not wish to subject myself to the same experience again.

This means, once the sun goes down Ifeel trapped in the place I call home. But refusing to feel like a prisoner,I decided to challenge myself to leave my flat after dark...

Alone.

Modern DAy Cinderella

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by Becky Weale

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Night FallThe sun starts to fall from the skyIt is that time when I have to leave

I don’t want to but I said I wouldA promise is a promise

At least it is not a blood oath

As the darkness creeps I try to find my armour

Armour against those black tendrils That curl around all corners

They hide the monsters

The sun has gone from the skyI take my final step from the dread portal

The last gate that protects from the horrorsWind whips around throwing leaves

Cars forever aggressive fighting for space

There are no stars hereBirmingham is both dark and light

Not like home where stars shine brightI have to make it up this hill

Make it to the burning lights

Lights burn garishly People all around cackling

Grotesque caricatures hiding monsters withinI hope none see me Don’t look at them

Heart starts racingThe beat pounds over the music

Sweating profusely Stop it

I don’t want this

Trying not to runNot along the canal

There I could trip and fall inIn to the murky depths

What creatures lies beneath those inky waters

The waters ripple with movement It grabs my full attention

What monster could this beA kraken, a lake lurk, a mermaid

Panic tightens its hold

A GOOSE!A FUCKING GOOSE!It’s just a goose

It makes me feel rather silly Terrified for nothing

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a poem by Stephanie Barnett

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Must make it to The FlapperI have to go

I promised that I would No monsters will stop me

Not now

Crowds gathered on the bank Must make it through them

Don’t let them see me My pulse races again

Just breath

Must make it throughThere is the path I need to take

The bridgeNot far now

A few more metres

Just the road to crossCars roar past

Lights blind and leave trailsAll I have to do is wait Wait for an opening

A gap big enough for meThis is it, get ready to go

Look both ways that what mother always saidMake sure no car is coming

Cross now I have friends waiting

Safely made it across No car will take me tonight

Mobile vibrates in my pocketIt’s a text asking “Where are you?”

“Not far now.” I reply

Not far nowNo I will be there with in minutes

Not far now Just a stones throw awayThen I can claim my prize

Through the gate The bouncer stands in the doorway My chest tightens, have I got my ID?A panicked rummage in my handbag

There within the depths is the burgundy jacket

Proudly I walk up to the doorThe bouncer lets me through with a smile and a nod

Warmth surrounds meMy friends are by the door

I made it, nothing bad happened

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& and deeper

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by Kamile Stasyte

DOWNTHE RABBIT

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As the darkness of night takes over Birmingham, fear, tension and all sorts of irrationalities invade the streets. Many dangerous things, whether imagined or not, lurk in the dark, which makes it most preferable to stay cosy at home after sundown. Yet when I stumbled upon the website of The Jekyll & Hyde, an eye-catching Victorian-themed bar and gin parlour, serving exquisitely crafted cocktails and ginspired cuisine, I couldn’t feel intimidated enough not to go and have a look myself. Curiosity just suddenly outweighed any fears I had... And killed the cat, though, didn’t it?

Still, armed with determination and hope of having a nice drink, one Friday evening I set out to 28 Steelhouse Lane, where the bar is situated.

Here it is, windows, glowing with vibrant purple light, calling me to step inside. I have a reservation at the gin parlour, so following the pointing hand sign, I head upstairs. Bartender wearing a quirky feathered hat and suspenders greets me; I decide to have a pan fried sea bass and Angela Langley to wash it down.

The cocktail comes with a floating edible flower – nice little accent. It’s cosy up here, the room is dimly lit, they’re screening silent films and playing hits of 50’s. I’m not too keen to rush anywhere from here, although after a lovely meal at Dr Jekyll’s abode, I’m starting to get curious what Mr Hyde can offer me at the bar downstairs.

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The place is packed with people, the air is just vibrating from the loud chatter, music and clinking of glasses. Without any spare minute the bartenders mix up cocktails with cleverly coined appetizing names such as Lemon Bon Bon, Turkish Delight, Love Hearts and many others. Gripping tightly my Peach Drop, served in an adorable little jam jar, I manage to get through the crowd into a bit more spacious courtyard. And then, there, to my greatest delight, it’s all Alice. Alice in Wonderland everywhere - Mad Hatter staring at me from one wall, Tim Burton’s Red Queen, Tweedledum and Tweedledee from another, not to forget Cheshire cat, grinning mischievously above the door. Hardly able to snap out of the surreal, I find an empty chair to sit down and finally take a sip. Curiouser and curiouser, isn’t it…

After the Peach Drop, follows Candied Violet, whose taste faintly resembles medicine, and after that, there is Wild Ting. I’m quite immersed, watching the bartender mix it all up, slice half of lime, squeeze it out and fill it up with rum and then – whoosh – blowtorch – fire - flaming lime in front of me. Served. And I just stand here for a second looking at the blue flame, something clicks inside my head – oh right – I blow the flame out and pour the rum into my drink… Cheers, cheers, cheers! The name of The Jekyll & Hyde is floating inside my head like an image patched up of gin, Victorian era, Wonderland, purple light and every possible thing peculiar… I seem to start thinking now that venturing into the dark streets of nightly

Birmingham was definitely worth doing so.

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My name is Harriet and I am 19 years old. I live in a small town on the outskirts of Leicestershire and so far have had a quite normal kind of life. The only difference I see is that I have Aspergers; this is a form of autism and places me on the high end of the autism spectrum. I am lucky enough to be high functioning as this means I can do almost anything other 19-year-old girls do. If I am able to overcome the very heightened anxiety levels I sometimes battle.

Most people have a fear of something, for example heights, dogs and flying insects. My fears go slightly deeper than those types due to my Aspergers I am unable to do even the most simplest of tasks suck as catching a train into Birmingham city and then visiting the library, all at nighttime. Travel for me can be very difficult during daylight hours let alone after dark. I’m sure some of you are thinking it’s not always easy for most people to travel at dusk but I wanted to highlight potential issues for people with Aspergers. Therefore I set myself the task of traveling from Rugby, my nearest station to Birmingham New Street and continuing onto the library and then the return journey. As well as proving to myself I can accomplish this seemingly mundane task I also wanted to maybe help others with Aspergers to think of their own challenges and how they can concur them.

Again to most, choosing to travel to the library would be second nature maybe thinking about money, library card, keys and what shall I wear today. For myself and others like me my thoughts take a different path such as, how crowded is Rugby going to be, will I be in the correct line to buy a ticket, will I get on the right train to Birmingham, what if I’m not sure I can ask anyone for help because I can’t talk to strangers. The problem is I can’t just turn how I process things off and this happens whenever I decided I want to go or do something different. By the time I get to Rugby station my brain and nerves are frazzled, so is my mum because she has to take me to catch the train and knows how I’m feeling which then of course worries her. And so it goes on while traveling to Birmingham I have a few things I need to think about, become of the Aspergers I find it very difficult to picture how a new situation may evolve.

A not so simple journey

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by Harriet Tomkins

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by Harriet Tomkins

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Over the years I have tried to self improve things to make my life a little easier but really it’s seems I can take 3 steps forward and 1 step back. Even trying to talk to you now about how my day may or may not pan out is quite difficult; this syndrome I have has nothing to do with intelligence in fact as a general rule people with Aspergers are actually very intelligent but as my mum has always said Aspergers is like having a million pounds in the bank and no code to get to it, meaning no good being super clever when you can’t even make a cup of tea or feed yourself properly.

I digress, back to topic, when I arrive at New Street station my anxiety level rises due to now having to get from here to the library, and it’s darker than I normally walk through Birmingham so straight away I’m on heightened alert.

My mind is racing, my poor heart is racing and now I’ve got to start walking towards my destination because if I don’t move now I will never get outside the main station doors. Of course the people around me have no idea of how I’m feeling or that I have a disability, why would they, Aspergers does not flash up on my forehead and even if it how many people would know the meaning behind it. It is one of the silent disabilities, no physical problems to see but maybe an adult who looks like a rabbit caught in the head lights. Not everyone on the autistic spectrum feels exactly the same but there are common traits.

I pull myself together and begin what seems like my biggest challenge to date I know exactly where to go as I have planned my route down to a tee, I even look at other routes incase the one I want is diverted expectantly the reason for being over cautions is because I find talking to complete near on impossible. Being ready for unknown obstacle is a must for me. This is not just a rule for today but something I do everyday I venture out. I really do try and prepare for what ifs. Maybe your thinking why would anyone go through the trouble of all of this, sometimes I think the same, sadly everyday is a challenge but a lot of my day can be put into a routine which helps enormously but this trip to the library is not a regular occurrence so I have to push myself out of my comfort zone. The whole time I’m walking to library my mind is a buzz, I have a plan and I need to just follow it, no diversions wanted.

I see the library coming up to meet me, I am relived all went to plan, I can enjoy this amazing building, of course I have other anxieties about being inside the library but it’s a time for my thought process to calm down. I enjoy life and where it is taking me, it will always be challenging but I believe helping others to understand even just a little of what its like for myself and others on the spectrum is something I should do. Thank you for reading about my trip into ‘Birmingham after dark’ it was not an easy task but one I have enjoyed immensely.

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JiujitsuQuestion: Could you explain briefly what Jiu Jitsu is? Answer: Jiu Jitsu is a Japanese martial arts that uses other peoples momentum against them. Using a variety of throws, locks and disarms. It originates from the samurai who when disarmed would resort to Jiu Jitsu against armed foes.

Question: why did you decide to learn jiu jitsu?Answer: the reason I decided to join Jiu Jitsu was to get fitter, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I began but ended up falling in love with the sport.

Question: Why do you have to bow as you enter the room?Answer: We bow before we get on the mat as a sign of respect. It’s the mat etiquette.

Question: Could you explain to us a few simple moves that we could use if we were ever in danger?Answer: The first basic throw is called osotogari meaning major outer reap. This throw is done when Being punched, first you must know our fighting stance which Is left foot forwards and right foot 45 degrees behind with hand protecting face. This is used as it is a balanced position and allows you to be ready for any attack. When someone punches you, you step to the inside of the punch using you’re right leg, your left leg follows, for train-ing purposes you bring your arms over the uke (opponent) and go for a hug taking there balance. Then with your left leg you step through so you’re hip to hip, then you bring your right leg forward so you are looking at it straight on and you sweep there leg with yours, this turns out to be a deadly attack.

An interview with Akash Parmar

by Becky Weale

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Question: Why do you have to bow as you enter the room?Answer: We bow before we get on the mat as a sign of respect. It’s the mat etiquette.

SCAN QR CODE WITH MOBILE PHONE

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