(Cwtch of Swansea, Social centre eviction) The World…according to Zola de Cwtchi 14Feb12

(Cwtch of Swansea, Social centre eviction) The World…according to Zola de Cwtchi

Four of us drove down to Cwtch of Swansea on Saturday 11th February, i cant speak for the other three, except to say that we all enjoyed ourselves and thought the effort was worthy. I wasnt sure what to expect. My experience of ‘taking’ empty spaces is limited…and then how to occupy and make into a positive working space is something ive never stopped to think about.

We left the car and walked through the town, busy Saturday as every Saturday in Swansea im guessing. I had me wig and make up on, but no dress. I wore jeans and plenty of jumpers, no heels either…i just didnt think it was appropriate.

Im not sure that Swansea town centre is used to having a tranny walking about, i saw the looks, more of amazement than anything negative really, i felt safe with my three friends.

So we find the street after a little while, and there is Cwtch. Front door open, an artist busying himself just to the left, working on a white sheet tied at the corners, properly fixed so he can work easily. People walking in and out, people smoking outside, passers by looking in as they walk past…not sure what they will find inside, some pull a face and walk on, some finding the confidence, or maybe just out of pure curiosity, enter the building.

We walked in. Met with hello’s and welcome’s, my eyes focused, trying to scan everything in a split second. A positive atmosphere immediately hits you, a low mumouring of patrons talking, the odd laugh and raised voices, but soon to die down again.

Plenty seating, tables with chairs and sofa’s nicely spaced. At the back of the room is the tea shop, offering free tea and coffee to everyone, there is a donation jar there too, an option for those who can maybe afford…but not placed to scare off people that cant…definately its more of a case of just have a cup of tea whatever, find a seat and chat to your neighbour.

There is a library, lots of books…one book, ‘Staying off the Grid’ was of particular intrest to me.

A free shop, doing exactly what it says…everything is free. i have a peruse and find a pair of khaki shorts aged 11-12 for my littlun…fabulous i thought, he will like those. He has since seen them and raised his eyebrow and nodded when he heard they came free, he does have experience of a free shop in Cardiff and he has helped himself on many occaions, bringing some treasure home…then returning the nextweek and donating some of his own stuff…i love it when i see my littlun inspired by such an activity.

A noticeboard on the wall highlights the forthcoming week’s ideas, workshops and meetings…it’s packed with stuff happening.

We get a cuppa and sit down and just watch the activity. People of all ages milling around, ive never seen anything like it my life. And i mean all ages, OAP’s and teenagers together, quite unusual i think. The older people kind of reminded me of when i was living in Splott, we had neighbours who were in their sixties, old school working class Splott community i call them. Always smiling and being nice, offering a conversation if you wish to participate, i love listening to the experience of life and i chat to a few. A little old lady worried about bailiffs comes in for some advice and comfort, mt =y nheart went out to her when she told me her story. An older guy asks me where im from and i say Cardiff, this gives him the chance to tell me about once when him and some comrades went to Cardiff Castle, climbed up and unfolded a big Animal rights banner…back in the day he told me.

And a girl, in her early twenties, came and sat down next to me and asked if she could ask some questions. I agreed, she wanted to know why and how regarding my dressing, did i have a girl or boyfriend, a common question…as to confirm whether im gay or not. But it was how delicately she asked, aware that i may get prickily…and hey, i dont need a second chance to be able to talk about myself. I asked her the questions she asked me, i wanted to know about her. I enjoyed her company very much, moments like that kind of make me forget im wearing a wig, that ive changed gender…i feel i was being me.

So, in a wee timeslot of about five hours, i watched, i furthered my ideas on such places being able to exist. Okay, someone owns the building, blahblahblah…stop making it a criminal action, a negative action…and action that can bring serious consequences to the people who propose some postive action, peaceful action…that space was empty…and now, tomorrow, will revert to being  a waste of space.

I havent even discussed the people who ran the Cwtch, the people who took the chance, the intiative…who had the balls to open that space up to the people of Swansea.

The Cwtch was a success.

The people who i saw using The Cwtch, what will they be doing tomorrow, the old lady, the vetarern activist, the girl who was so kind to me…all those people i saw and said hello to on Saturday, must have been a turnover of between 150-200 people…what will they be thinking now, where will they tomorrow??

Nowhere now!

Until…another empty space is utilised, opened…i saw plenty of empty buildings in Swansea.

I heard that the Judge actually made a positive statement concerning The Cwtch and the good people who made it work…just words though…how about a little more thought. Im not saying just hand over the Dolphin Hotel just like that, i do appreciate someone has the legal ownership, im talking about the realisation that The Cwtch was a success, this is beyond debate for sure now…so give the space for such positive activity.

There is no going back now…another building will be taken, this is the reality, i have no information regarding such matters,

All i know is that i am one of a few hundred people who were lucky enough to experience of The Cwtch, of Swansea…and the are a few people now scratching their heads and thinking…

                                                                             ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

~ by Zola de Cwtchi on February 14, 2012.