Thoughts on community tonight - listening to the radio this week I heard an interview with a women who survived cancer; she described how incredibely lonely it is to have a terminal illness because no one else around you has to deal with the illness - you are the only one who can deal with the illness and grapple with your pending death.

I spent the afternoon with a good friend today whose baby is 5 weeks older than mine - we spent our time together swapping baby stories - getting them off to nap and breast feeding and talking about how we can make income whilst raising children and preparing for the next.

I am really appreciating my community since my baby arrived and I am not working - talking with other artists and friends and suddenly I have joined the great big club of mothers! Life should have more journey clubs - like being the odd one out at school; period pain club; mariage club; the journey to death club etc....

Can community arts play a role in establishing links and support between people and if so can I as an artist lead this? Will it happen as a result of my actions and words or does it just happen? Does it happen because people are communicating with art? Becuase they claim ownership? Because they are operating with a new identity in the community? I really don't know... It is scary to admit.