tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90047896411694086422024-03-13T11:42:16.674-07:00Penny Dolan's DiaryAn occasional blog by a published children's author & storyteller. I'll be blogging about the places I've been, the things I've seen and some of the people met along the way. Together with the odd post about books and writing - with just the slightest hint of procrastination.Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-47476992821422997252016-07-30T04:29:00.000-07:002016-07-30T04:29:00.632-07:00MOVING OUT OF THE HOUSE . . .<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Times change. A writer's life changes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">I began Penny Dolan's Diary as a kind of support for my school
& library visits, and I know I’ve neglected
the poor thing lately. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Recently, sitting out
in the garden, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">battling with the keyboard of an ancient machine, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">I realised why. This Diary doesn’t feel
right for my writing now.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">So - <i>sadly</i> - I’m
packing up my few words and moving out - </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">but - <i>hooray!</i> - you can find me and my new
posts over at:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://crankylaptopwrites.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/the-cranky-laptop-speaks.html"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>THE CRANKYLAPTOP WRITES</b></span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Do visit! You’ll be very welcome.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">IMPORTANT WARNING.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;"> NEW BLOG
STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION</span></b><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;"> Hard-hats may be worn.</span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-66246247791989647292016-07-17T11:58:00.002-07:002016-07-17T11:58:40.989-07:00NIPPING IN TO THE NEWHAM BOOKSHOP<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQwy2oMXm7vpKznrc2Z_Mh86POIyNLF4hAjFtvgeyVttbyFBu3bXwak_entqL8EmWLoUaAE0_7IC1rDFLdrHEAJp3ecYjSp_Uh86oN7iRXC0FjZZRDwgbEWV9Gvhzr9nkB7YDRJQE282P/s1600/PDNightwalking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQwy2oMXm7vpKznrc2Z_Mh86POIyNLF4hAjFtvgeyVttbyFBu3bXwak_entqL8EmWLoUaAE0_7IC1rDFLdrHEAJp3ecYjSp_Uh86oN7iRXC0FjZZRDwgbEWV9Gvhzr9nkB7YDRJQE282P/s1600/PDNightwalking.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">On my <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Books To Be Read</b> shelf, there’s now a most
interesting title: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NIGHT WALKING by
MATTHEW BEAUMONT: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A NOCTURNAL HISTORY
OF LONDON: CHAUCER TO DICKENS”</i>, a book which isn’t, I think, likely to be
sitting in your local Waterstones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I haven’t
read the book yet so it’s waiting like a little treasure-box waiting to be
opened. I found the title about a week ago in an independent bookshop I’d been meaning
to visit for a long time: <b>THE NEWHAM BOOKSHOP </b>in East London.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyax5Z8sguA-fBSrDq-QsfIPBBMHW4ywkrpJJoP_vYA9wdTCbLVwvJBH51BDMNCagjexOpz8mVrQg22VBpZIf_sZ7gk0uQApgKvUADOIZ7aihU-isi28iK-L44WtDrZETTdcs08oKWKeW/s1600/PDNewhamBookshopExt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyax5Z8sguA-fBSrDq-QsfIPBBMHW4ywkrpJJoP_vYA9wdTCbLVwvJBH51BDMNCagjexOpz8mVrQg22VBpZIf_sZ7gk0uQApgKvUADOIZ7aihU-isi28iK-L44WtDrZETTdcs08oKWKeW/s320/PDNewhamBookshopExt.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">It wasn’t
the most thorough of viewings. I'd driven all the way from Oxford-shire, got caught in the late afternoon traffic and arrived way too late on a
Thursday afternoon. <i>The youthful staff were very kind and polite</i>. I’d heard good things about the bookshop from children’s author
Catherine Johnson and others and I’d been following the bookshop on Facebook for a while. I hated turning up that late in the day, not that anyone expected me. My hurriedly low-key visit took hardly twenty
minutes - but what a joy it was!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiCTV0xnPTJOUftjqRR2QolfoZTPEd5ug1cAPO3QHOwzRtkW4SFzH-ZXLK7vdCpH0RO_EKkwfVXz0HyNDMcIRM-6HF7Moa18vH1yFZwTbUPqWa6fD1wz0tnAarYI-LccNZt6cW5WOo6XB/s1600/PDColourofDarkness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiCTV0xnPTJOUftjqRR2QolfoZTPEd5ug1cAPO3QHOwzRtkW4SFzH-ZXLK7vdCpH0RO_EKkwfVXz0HyNDMcIRM-6HF7Moa18vH1yFZwTbUPqWa6fD1wz0tnAarYI-LccNZt6cW5WOo6XB/s200/PDColourofDarkness.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">One side
of <b>THE NEWHAM BOOKSHOP</b> is crammed with a wide range of children’s books. I
picked up <b>THE COLOUR OF DARKNESS by RUTH HATFIELD</b> (who I’d met earlier that week) and, planning ahead for the summer holidays, a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>pleasing and well-designed<i> Usborne Activities </i>book of <b>General Knowledge Quizzes </b>that was just the right size for a bag or pocket. I did ask
if they had a copy of the word game TABOO (because I'd played it a a couple of days earlier) but was sweetly and firmly told <i>“We
only do books.”</i><b> </b>Good for them!<b><br /></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wjsO7rGklUfI9sh5gJzRkS6PcWrYTU61i-aZw8GTe3M-e6rLKqrg-2z4e66-sM4xZ_3yS4dC9GVW_EAKlF2Tk3ARhZvn7Wo0ClSyaHAS3qdlSuOEE2IQX97YqxVnTL5vK6mj2zkxifms/s1600/PDNewhamBookshopInt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wjsO7rGklUfI9sh5gJzRkS6PcWrYTU61i-aZw8GTe3M-e6rLKqrg-2z4e66-sM4xZ_3yS4dC9GVW_EAKlF2Tk3ARhZvn7Wo0ClSyaHAS3qdlSuOEE2IQX97YqxVnTL5vK6mj2zkxifms/s1600/PDNewhamBookshopInt.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I could
have looked at the children's shelves far longer but the other side of the shop
beckoned. A curved passage from one side to the other offered an
excellent selection of teen & young adult books and was just
where such books should be, well-placed to lead the older teen through to the stacks,
piles and shelves of intriguing books on offer for grown-ups. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaV5KfcZkQa73LoEhxV9D6LfwtP50uP-fnrVZD-IupCThyphenhyphenQ8paqIXm7d_lvtprwYZWoT0uNIeVFfUgLvOTnaSrXsAxqGcI_K-mrqHVORSIJxJlbcy80zFrc8R8SakzXz4PTTModH1GF43/s1600/PDSpitalfieldsLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaV5KfcZkQa73LoEhxV9D6LfwtP50uP-fnrVZD-IupCThyphenhyphenQ8paqIXm7d_lvtprwYZWoT0uNIeVFfUgLvOTnaSrXsAxqGcI_K-mrqHVORSIJxJlbcy80zFrc8R8SakzXz4PTTModH1GF43/s200/PDSpitalfieldsLife.jpg" width="151" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I wish I
could name more of the titles spread around that small room. The display wasn’t
artistically elegant but I’m someone who finds a big generous book-hoard beautiful enough
in itself. I
glimpsed a good spread of novels I’d like to read, several (non-celebrity) cookery
books, some poetry books and a very wide selection of non-fiction books on social
issues and a host of books about aspects of the East End and London. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m
sure I spotted a poster for a book of photographs mentioned in
The Gentle Author’s <b>SPITALFIELDS LIFE </b>blog</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">For a moment, gazing around, I fantasized about sneaking in with sandwiches and a sleeping bag so I could stay there till morning. But I couldn’t. By now, it was definitely four-fifty-nine o’clock and </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">the
staff were, discreetly but unmistakeably, needing to close. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Murmuring my apologies and thanks, I
left, cursing the road-works that were holding up all the traffic around East London and left me with so little time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Yet t</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">he quick trip wasn’t entirely wasted. Now I know where the shop is and what's inside, I hope to make another visit when I’m next in the area, and in funds. <b>THE NEWHAM BOOKSHOP</b> is one of those rare and special bookshops that deserve support. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And besides, the bookshop puts on a variety of talks and events around the area,
including <b>The Wanstead Tap</b> at Forest Gate, so this is definitely more than just a shop. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Meanwhile,
here back home in Yorkshire, I'll soon be <b>NIGHTWALKING</b> the London streets alongside Chaucer, Shakespeare,
Blake and Dickens, and all from my own warm </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">and comfortable bed.</span> <b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s
enough blog for today, so bye for now. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Will
try to be back soon . . .</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(The Newham Bookshop website is
www.newhambooks.co.uk<span class="xbe"> . The shop is at 745 - 747 Barking Rd, London
E13 9ER. Closed Mondays and most Sundays. I suggest allowing time to find p</span>arking
space.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Penny
Dolan</span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-3844923652238402042016-04-30T11:17:00.002-07:002016-04-30T11:17:31.831-07:00MAY DAY WITH TIDY NOTICEBOARDS AND WORDS WORKED<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"><b>Happy May Day! </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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Today I started tidying up my workroom very, very slowly. I took down two
overloaded cork-boards, collect all the postcards, pictures and <i>Thank You
For Visiting Our School </i>cards together and put them into a filing cabinet
drawer which was quite a squeeze. The drawer is full enough to need tidying
too, but that’s for another day. <i>(nb. The noticeboard shown is not
mine but has the same spirit about it. One day I will know how to prep photographs
for blogposts! )</i> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2D_16PDYUnGDk2bZSOdLKkLi8MLkjb3jx5UTcVTHtdIAHbC786Pt4dR2Re074jnxGLKQcqz3mNaeTyfr70hBehW73-2duREFHSielZSQsacdGomRUreqXURfotwqZgmiWKUUl3XGqdjc/s1600/PDNoticeboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2D_16PDYUnGDk2bZSOdLKkLi8MLkjb3jx5UTcVTHtdIAHbC786Pt4dR2Re074jnxGLKQcqz3mNaeTyfr70hBehW73-2duREFHSielZSQsacdGomRUreqXURfotwqZgmiWKUUl3XGqdjc/s320/PDNoticeboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">Then I
unpinned the name badges and neck tags, collected them all together and dropped
them in a tin. Then I try to find a place to put the tin. <i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"><i>Oh, here’s a handy
overcrowded shelf! </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"><i> </i>I wedge the tin in there, which is, in tidying terms,
hardly better than nothing and definitely not Mari-Kondo-esque.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">My really
favourite method for tidying rooms home here is to take everything off to
another room, sort it out and then put the good stuff back again, in an orderly
way.<i> A bit like an extended IT Crowd suggestion.</i> However, this feat is
not what I haven’t time for right now, or for this month or possibly during
this whole summer. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But those two
notice-boards are now temptingly empty spaces for more stuff . I'm sure I can
find some . . .</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">I’m
partly in this clearing mood because I’m also getting my current, big
Work-In-Progress cleaned out and clarified. This WIP is a long thing with many
characters and a complicated plotline and I really need to be in the zone when
I’m working on the text. If not,
things get forgotten even if I’ve noted them down on scraps of paper already
and pinned them to the two <i>other</i> noticeboards. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cryptic Notes, yes. Unrecognisable Notes, yes. Possibly still Useful
Notes? Ah.</i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KhCeUXeOkpEVC_9EVIOdLCZVvsfhw2HlXNw8uCw5qptjZCsC6CZt319ff7q5ctaEXRTMVmhfRZevDqvePgSIcfrCgsbhIXcLAvWbE_RDprDd_1V0ETvEfLsdXoMc4rbR_9uEpMlgSpEU/s1600/PDMonster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KhCeUXeOkpEVC_9EVIOdLCZVvsfhw2HlXNw8uCw5qptjZCsC6CZt319ff7q5ctaEXRTMVmhfRZevDqvePgSIcfrCgsbhIXcLAvWbE_RDprDd_1V0ETvEfLsdXoMc4rbR_9uEpMlgSpEU/s320/PDMonster.jpg" width="253" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">I must
not, however, complain because suddenly the wretched thing – or that’s how the
WIP has often felt – has got going again. This is a
good positive feeling although there is still a very huge and scary Big Final
Section to go. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">Right now, the WIP feels more than
a bit like Frankenstein’s Monster lurching awkwardly onwards with all the joins
showing and bits in danger of falling off as it proceeds. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">Stomp, stomp, stomp
into the mist.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwt4AuGsE8OOW1d2Xebx5CXnVtYwNRiKMTHcx1XcwVCG3YRsyuPoKcFOEX0pyhtoA-xX4V2n_0zxnqyv867Ino6u_0QyJgVIMbcu90jCxQvjtR0NpHcatRo_RJwxUo4zf0slzvi4Njev_/s1600/PDDLovelyDuckling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwt4AuGsE8OOW1d2Xebx5CXnVtYwNRiKMTHcx1XcwVCG3YRsyuPoKcFOEX0pyhtoA-xX4V2n_0zxnqyv867Ino6u_0QyJgVIMbcu90jCxQvjtR0NpHcatRo_RJwxUo4zf0slzvi4Njev_/s320/PDDLovelyDuckling.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">Yesterday,
with the rain, hail and snow blasting outside, I opted for a bout of book
dreaming and came up with a few early reader book ideas. This process is so
very different to writing fiction, being much more like like a “poetry” state
of mind where you need to use an intense focus and a limited number of words.
Not sure any ideas will come to anything, although I am quite fond of one
rather surreal forty-word text. Fingers crossed, as ever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">Then,
however, all the hours of screen work suddenly reminded my poor eyes that it
was time to focus on a different activity - which prompted the sudden longing
for clean and empty spaces - or noticeboards, which is where I began this post.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">Onwards,
even if in a circular fashion.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnxeFzz95aQ00jOvlK8-qw6lO4OzQmPoRD33yq4kRSNzFeOqiHk21LHi8eSNRMrs0qFIKJZkRfd3l1EJXjjTS4a3IBazYEtNYWRrP6m5NbBrbnx4Y6mKH2lkQBUJo-QzxQcgLswyMqvXH/s1600/PDMaypole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnxeFzz95aQ00jOvlK8-qw6lO4OzQmPoRD33yq4kRSNzFeOqiHk21LHi8eSNRMrs0qFIKJZkRfd3l1EJXjjTS4a3IBazYEtNYWRrP6m5NbBrbnx4Y6mKH2lkQBUJo-QzxQcgLswyMqvXH/s320/PDMaypole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;">Have
a great May Day weekend! </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.0pt;"></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-37200968184449772742016-04-24T08:46:00.002-07:002016-04-24T08:47:22.070-07:00ANOTHER SCHOOL VISIT, COMMON GROUND AND DAFFODILS<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMvzXg6iLUXXmWavPBo_fJ26qwUvzZVmMLTFrcvJoAq5rLVym41-Dz3XyHvZWhJf3l6FWXqcImZItD-k21WHYvdNJ87iexiBftMwQ-taQMwwlFLZavguAl5vo9aAGPnBnK5qo6mQydfkz/s1600/PDBCleverLittleMonkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMvzXg6iLUXXmWavPBo_fJ26qwUvzZVmMLTFrcvJoAq5rLVym41-Dz3XyHvZWhJf3l6FWXqcImZItD-k21WHYvdNJ87iexiBftMwQ-taQMwwlFLZavguAl5vo9aAGPnBnK5qo6mQydfkz/s1600/PDBCleverLittleMonkey.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Thursday
today: a peaceful day unpacking my “big books” and talk stuff and everything
after yesterday’s school visit to <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ROSSETT
ACRE PRIMARY SCHOOL</i></b>. The day began with an assembly for all the KS1 &
KS2 classes and followed on with story sessions for the EYFS & Key Stage One
children, which were good fun. I hope the staff and children thought so too.
Thanks, Rossett Acre, for inviting me in as part of your current “Let’s Get
Reading” initiative. That’s my title – though it may also be an official title
somewhere too. Encouraging more reading is a Very Good Thing, in my mind. Well
chosen, Rossett Acre!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Midday meant
the long playtime and as the sun was out yesterday, the children were galloping
and playing out on the school field over lunchtime too. I imagine there have
been far too many wet “indoor” days recently, which is not good for the growth
and health of young things. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Or for older things, come to that!</span></i><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";"> Today, as it’s sunny again, I’m away
up to <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HARLOW CARR GARDENS</i></b> to wander
among the trees and spring flowers, and to see what the RHS has begun setting
up for the summer. Nigel Dunnett, the designer for the Olympic Park, is now
involved up there, helping with developing a masterplan, which could be
interesting, although I wish my thoughts weren’t of gigantic plastic statuary. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No, please, no! Let the garden be a garden,
please! I have only observed the skyline of the park from a train so maybe this
is an unfounded Kapoor-fret?</i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">However, I’m
wondering if I should be pacing through the other end of Harrogate,
away to the east in the once-village of Bilton.</span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";"></span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";"> I’ve just reached the end of <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">COMMON GROUND</i> by Rob Cowen</b>, a “nature
and landscape” writer. <i>(There must surely be a neater category term for such a
genre group?) </i> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Over a year, first as an unemployed journalist and then as an expectant
father, he spent much time walking through a small area of “edge-land” just
beyond Bilton, observing the animals and living creatures and musing on the
history of this unclaimed but apparently protected “common ground”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH4ux44ysajnO8T8vE73P4RWsBPkwhmGipJrehoRXCE73hxjaJeG9hJhWgjvlbQ6tN7d1WJJGsQ3jaTb421qij7kDDrYPExM8L69IIe3gFaXUUclqROCSac4wCbLn2EnskCJ4KexGmDEX/s1600/PDCommonGround.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYH4ux44ysajnO8T8vE73P4RWsBPkwhmGipJrehoRXCE73hxjaJeG9hJhWgjvlbQ6tN7d1WJJGsQ3jaTb421qij7kDDrYPExM8L69IIe3gFaXUUclqROCSac4wCbLn2EnskCJ4KexGmDEX/s320/PDCommonGround.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Cowen writes both as himself - the observer, the
witness - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and from the viewpoint of some
of the living creatures inhabiting the area. I’m not a natural <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"natural landscape</i>" reader, although I
have read Macfarlane and similar authors so I felt, at first, that the text demanded the acceptance of a different
pace and rhythm. Or was it that this was a familiar landscape, not the wildness
of the Hebrides or mountains? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Yet, after a
while, I found I was welcoming the pages; by the end I thought that <b>COMMON
GROUND </b>had been a valuable piece of reading. Cowen even manages to make some
sense of the council-installed tarmac-surfaced cycle path that cuts across the
very ground he’d been exploring. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Besides, I’ve found that Cowen is talking at
Harrogate Library in June, probably for the
paperback</span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";"> publication, so</span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style";"> I’m planning to go to hear what he has to say a year or
two on from the writing of this book - especially with all the development planned around many of the edge-lands of the town.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Past noon now,
as I write, so I’m off to spend some time with the daffodils.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_xlUddtwlbVNLBYAWWiPSYxe-dAb3kVC1p9FCacxLa3FiNIajC4St2BdPh4avmECnyA2kue3t4RZ9RCd3rf30X68q3rQNKhCw2awv-228EE9I785CKFcAAwHd9MkB_I0hD-Lz0JHZKLU/s1600/PDDaffodils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_xlUddtwlbVNLBYAWWiPSYxe-dAb3kVC1p9FCacxLa3FiNIajC4St2BdPh4avmECnyA2kue3t4RZ9RCd3rf30X68q3rQNKhCw2awv-228EE9I785CKFcAAwHd9MkB_I0hD-Lz0JHZKLU/s1600/PDDaffodils.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style";">Ps. Thursday's was a more than fine visit of discovery, followed by a busy Friday and a Manchester Saturday - which is why this post's only just appeared. Oops!</span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-92098859939423952272016-04-12T06:46:00.000-07:002016-04-12T06:46:18.961-07:00AFTER EASTER, AFTER THE BUG.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tuesday
12th April 2016.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib21nB8lmgY3bu2OegWJ6-LbKQv_5WvHlV8p1k7xIr3-a1YS7VPC_C_TfkxnjwDf19fUP7e1FWY8eYI6ypig2Ww8B5msnW-SEY5Qqwim5ZX1wJsrrqk2xgI2HbNoO6TJ6HRxyYD1r6NB-k/s1600/PDEaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib21nB8lmgY3bu2OegWJ6-LbKQv_5WvHlV8p1k7xIr3-a1YS7VPC_C_TfkxnjwDf19fUP7e1FWY8eYI6ypig2Ww8B5msnW-SEY5Qqwim5ZX1wJsrrqk2xgI2HbNoO6TJ6HRxyYD1r6NB-k/s1600/PDEaster.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here
I am again, behind on seat.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I had a <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>wonderful</b></i></span> time
over Easter, which was full of dressing-up and happy smiles and confetti and
good food and meeting nice and interesting people, followed by idle lazing,
egg-hunting and walks in Wanstead Woods. Yes, Easter was blissful and good and
such a joyful time after all the wedding preparations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then, getting home, we hit
pause, as they say. We went down with A Bug. I have to say that I didn’t really
care: to have had the wedding go merrily and without any hitches was more than enough for me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, the horrid cold
laid us low. Worse, it filled the brain with thick mists of stupidity and the chest
with nasty stuff. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Groo!</i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k-iK9pBv-GRkxn3JeUK9chaR0HgkBDjTWBid38qUdnpJMDQZfDqRWu-Olo5zl7BrLD9bqGlsz_10top4MKT_WhJ4UcnHjKts4Q85pk60F-V7XPOvxm6bJXj0jWFSAjpVys6Q-h1cx3i6/s1600/PD7DialsbyBoz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k-iK9pBv-GRkxn3JeUK9chaR0HgkBDjTWBid38qUdnpJMDQZfDqRWu-Olo5zl7BrLD9bqGlsz_10top4MKT_WhJ4UcnHjKts4Q85pk60F-V7XPOvxm6bJXj0jWFSAjpVys6Q-h1cx3i6/s200/PD7DialsbyBoz.jpg" width="165" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUoqf4LAASn1oh_6uidGkyUn50jXGwbvLZWHpBOwx6Dh7M9Q_3h_yeuatNqV7LHQ7_Et4I_k-xsgTj8R2HUOtA_k2u6ZvgmtVT9TrlPElkhV_DIwvdR84Kd8LQF5VSKGnT94paePGrvHB/s1600/PDGhostMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUoqf4LAASn1oh_6uidGkyUn50jXGwbvLZWHpBOwx6Dh7M9Q_3h_yeuatNqV7LHQ7_Et4I_k-xsgTj8R2HUOtA_k2u6ZvgmtVT9TrlPElkhV_DIwvdR84Kd8LQF5VSKGnT94paePGrvHB/s200/PDGhostMap.jpg" width="134" /></a><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Was I surprised? Not really. I have a half-belief
in The London Miasma – an invisible airborne soup of bacteria and germs and
suchlike - that dwells within the London Underground and seeps out of grates
and drains to attack all passers-by. The constant Londoner is, of course,
immune to this onslaught, but visitors are swiftly invaded and felled. </span></i></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">
</span></b><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Even though the original Miasma theory may have
been refuted by Dr Snow back at Seven Dials, as explained in THE GHOST MAP, I am keen on my current interpretation, especially when hacking and coughing
in a feverish bed. As for the “air” circulating not in trains but in planes . . . </span></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnN_JGV4LlvLDZ6VtlP_7ZaJ_MwqFU_-dEES0FvWM06Etes9dQCk9puPyytxwaEj0Dp43G2SOFy_9eS8ciAusYNYH5hkxl77AqNKAjCBIKXEelmrb2wbQlKzbOqDh4vr_dL92GrQnHsN2k/s1600/PDLondonUnderground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnN_JGV4LlvLDZ6VtlP_7ZaJ_MwqFU_-dEES0FvWM06Etes9dQCk9puPyytxwaEj0Dp43G2SOFy_9eS8ciAusYNYH5hkxl77AqNKAjCBIKXEelmrb2wbQlKzbOqDh4vr_dL92GrQnHsN2k/s1600/PDLondonUnderground.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But this week – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">and aren’t you glad of a change of subject?</span> - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>I’m moving on. The nasty coldy thing has
cleared and I can do now more than waft about like a gloomy grey shadow. Moreover,
I am feeling a teeny bit optimistic, a bit more able to handle things, which I
seriously doubted back in the dark clouds of last week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So here I am, back at the desk and blog-face, keying these words in as a sign of good faith for
the future. More, I hope, anon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Onward!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Penny </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs8Eg1XHm9beqtTgv4y2t7-7fdXZXkeUNEefNKZjoZvrYT_16O02pErcYixXMQBX7KTW7Zr9a2Zksz9yMCB4S7lGr7-lThQ_QrdNWD7ZkgmpvxwCCvl90M0FF7TKd_S6a7DrgSpE8vhk7/s1600/PDMurdstoneTrilogy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs8Eg1XHm9beqtTgv4y2t7-7fdXZXkeUNEefNKZjoZvrYT_16O02pErcYixXMQBX7KTW7Zr9a2Zksz9yMCB4S7lGr7-lThQ_QrdNWD7ZkgmpvxwCCvl90M0FF7TKd_S6a7DrgSpE8vhk7/s200/PDMurdstoneTrilogy2.jpg" width="130" /></a><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11.0pt;">Have just read THE MURDSTONE
TRILOGY by MAL PEET. An interestingly satirical angle on the writing of
best-selling fantasy “nobbles”. There is Philip the pathetic author, other
slightly overblown characters, a powerful amulet and an added Faustian pact,
all enthusiastically written and enjoyable. However, alongside the romping plot,
Peet is very pointedly “ouchy” about the writing life and the publishing world.
I wasn’t sure whether his humour boosted my hopes exactly, but I’m glad I read
it – and when I was feeling a bit brighter too: all too true in places.</span></i></span></b></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-41582376893132875952016-03-13T07:38:00.004-07:002016-03-13T07:38:56.406-07:00MY LAST WORLD BOOK DAY VISIT, and a cheering "Aside". <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another great day on
Wednesday at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">KEIGHLEY ST ANDREW’S
PRIMARY SCHOOL.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I
was very glad there was no snow this week, as I had to drive across the moors
to tell stories, share books and have a good time with all the Nursery,
Reception and Key One classes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Big thanks, as ever, to all the people involved with arranging the
visit, including <b>AUTHORS ALOUD.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlYJK7xlIW0a5Nj18Ufjwe8rqGWZ5EBx5KYT4GJNuBC8I2uzM-itwq4XlF9LI7vzw8tdWaVy4vu_tb1US7MUjbk38j0t6MoTSR4jFANaaIhl6BSsqKwZxU_3_C-W6O4N9PkG942mcsrH2/s1600/PDDLovelyDuckling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlYJK7xlIW0a5Nj18Ufjwe8rqGWZ5EBx5KYT4GJNuBC8I2uzM-itwq4XlF9LI7vzw8tdWaVy4vu_tb1US7MUjbk38j0t6MoTSR4jFANaaIhl6BSsqKwZxU_3_C-W6O4N9PkG942mcsrH2/s320/PDDLovelyDuckling.jpg" width="227" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">An aside: I haven’t seen
any animals in schools for quite a long time and - although I’d state that any
“pets” must be looked after carefully, regularly and well – I do feel children should
have real experience of living creatures and of the outdoors world, especially
with the hours that many parents have to work these days. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, these last two weeks of
visits have cheered me up. I’ve seen hints that schools might have moved towards
some “natural world” learning. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I’ve been shown duck eggs quietly hatching -
constantly monitored by a webcam – which fitted very well with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THE LOVELY DUCKLING</b>. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIf6W1FaYkX9PbZOzErLuzLiDYUm9qiTLvFe4YDgwqpPbZBL-xN5zX3K7ZjWvgx24hBBp-mkGK6cBH6ddeWRSEgIfvbUr3RtK3noiziXb0NGNvlz1N6yGsb3Woa7GDswO1TWigUsu9s6H/s1600/PDDGuineaPigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIf6W1FaYkX9PbZOzErLuzLiDYUm9qiTLvFe4YDgwqpPbZBL-xN5zX3K7ZjWvgx24hBBp-mkGK6cBH6ddeWRSEgIfvbUr3RtK3noiziXb0NGNvlz1N6yGsb3Woa7GDswO1TWigUsu9s6H/s1600/PDDGuineaPigs.jpg" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I also came across two
handsome and well-cared for guinea pigs in a Reception area – <b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iggle and Piggle</span> </b>– and that was on top
of hearing about outdoor discovery walks, pond-dipping and veg-growing for KS2
pupils last week. If schools are moving towards a more hands-on and less screen-centred
view of the environment, that can only be good news for the children? Of
course, the real world can mean extra work, so hooray for the grown-ups
involved in such fine schemes.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></i></div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3dabMka8noA8bI1wNMBe7OL-b0gQDqMVtU-RJx7Fi_mzkGObDZEAz8OEO7VFa8NiuZw_UUoksCpZQbW40uHZF3Trxn868kx1FZ_mQ-wYfXt3hL95ti8yN6Cpm-qVcGesHfFPADOhhEE6/s1600/PDDRailheadReeve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3dabMka8noA8bI1wNMBe7OL-b0gQDqMVtU-RJx7Fi_mzkGObDZEAz8OEO7VFa8NiuZw_UUoksCpZQbW40uHZF3Trxn868kx1FZ_mQ-wYfXt3hL95ti8yN6Cpm-qVcGesHfFPADOhhEE6/s320/PDDRailheadReeve.jpg" width="228" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>The week ahead?</b> There are no
bookings and unusually little admin to do, so I’m hoping for a few days of real and much-needed
writing time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I will have to be very strict with myself, so that I don’t get lured into some of the new books I’ve just bought. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Railhead</b> by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Philip Reeve</b>,
that, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i>, means you! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Temptation, temptation!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>I'll let you know who and what wins! </b></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bye for now . . . </i></span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-74297047993308492522016-03-04T07:44:00.003-08:002016-03-04T07:47:13.829-08:00WORLD BOOK DAY 2016<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I'm here, back at my blog to post about two
lovely school visits I've made for World Book Day 2016. What a pleasure they were!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDG2b3CxvVeUlPn1hVM45rFEfJusfPQnHQnuWaJ-2CyFHuh6gxzXPddbvom212ZDdIyCuz2zO6tzcALQZyiyZeb755JtDz6oqH2JofAhLRNEJhfcAvhlVWYMyfB9DefIqCmgXMTIl2SCg/s1600/PDWBD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDG2b3CxvVeUlPn1hVM45rFEfJusfPQnHQnuWaJ-2CyFHuh6gxzXPddbvom212ZDdIyCuz2zO6tzcALQZyiyZeb755JtDz6oqH2JofAhLRNEJhfcAvhlVWYMyfB9DefIqCmgXMTIl2SCg/s1600/PDWBD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDG2b3CxvVeUlPn1hVM45rFEfJusfPQnHQnuWaJ-2CyFHuh6gxzXPddbvom212ZDdIyCuz2zO6tzcALQZyiyZeb755JtDz6oqH2JofAhLRNEJhfcAvhlVWYMyfB9DefIqCmgXMTIl2SCg/s200/PDWBD.jpg" width="160" /></a></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
first, I’m thinking about an Author Visit back from very late last year, when I
went to <b><span style="color: red;">ALANBROOKE PRIMARY SCHOOL</span></b> near Thirsk in North
Yorkshire. That felt a very fine visit too, but a
particularly busy Christmas came straight afterwards so I had no time to open this blog up at all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Apologies! </i></span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I am sure Alanbrooke will have had a very good
World Book Day week indeed, despite the snow, as the school, staff and pupils had </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">plenty of links to people and places around the world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I recall being very impressed by the inclusive and
encouraging way that Alanbrooke used computers within the curriculum, and
rather wanted to know more about how and what and why and more, but during the
day there wasn’t time. Having a still-professional nosiness about classroom
practice can be quite frustrating at times. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I heard that the school had, fairly recently, been without any IT for
more than a year. </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">An earlier
round of York
floods</span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> meant the school had to move into "un-wired" premises and the teachers had to get used to teaching without
electronic back up. Perhaps that break was why they were able to use IT in such
an easy spirit? I know they had an enthusiastic mentor-and-mechanic there most days which must have helped things
along.<i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><i>Thank you, Alanbrooke Primary School, for a good day and one that restored my confidence about the
use of computers within education!</i></span></span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy4iAXDpDxL6RjRtp9EO1av6ctWTITEArkGDBik0meq6GYZSY3rmsLTd3zaZB__vaieD2m0vJu8oiB_ljKHtjFWA5mrcP3vF4c_XEyqjXNE7BhjJoHr9k22mbLauiVCQ2WvkNlv9Z9ALb/s1600/PDDaffodils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy4iAXDpDxL6RjRtp9EO1av6ctWTITEArkGDBik0meq6GYZSY3rmsLTd3zaZB__vaieD2m0vJu8oiB_ljKHtjFWA5mrcP3vF4c_XEyqjXNE7BhjJoHr9k22mbLauiVCQ2WvkNlv9Z9ALb/s1600/PDDaffodils.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now,
on to March and the start of World Book Day celebrations for 2016.</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Wednesday was an early start, with a drive down the
M1 and across to <span style="color: red;"><b>OVERTHORPE
C.E PRIMARY
ACADEMY</b>, </span>high above
Dewsbury. The school was very welcoming, the children and staff friendly, and the
whole day so competently arranged. Although everyone was dressed up, the fun
was balanced by a nicely calm atmosphere, and there was even a book stall at
the end of the day. What a joy! </span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAihjDdr7bJ8HxiTnpqKjDuNT3rsJ8gQBy9JI420Jz2GiA9O6xAd-YW0jpKt6CgP1Gd4jedkKYI086M1csysoloUEX_wy2WRgoDwtu4jC_4X9YJdqHWSGiZMzb2mx4CtV4Jo6N_cLVXBK/s1600/PDtomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAihjDdr7bJ8HxiTnpqKjDuNT3rsJ8gQBy9JI420Jz2GiA9O6xAd-YW0jpKt6CgP1Gd4jedkKYI086M1csysoloUEX_wy2WRgoDwtu4jC_4X9YJdqHWSGiZMzb2mx4CtV4Jo6N_cLVXBK/s200/PDtomatoes.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There was some extra excitement when thin snow
started falling outside and even more when thunder boomed at just the right
moment in my story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">By lunchtime the storm had gone and I peered out at
the sun streaming through the brisk clouds, lighting up the grounds. This was
when I heard all about the outside life of Overthorpe, and the double ponds and
the grass and the bulbs and the tree-planting and the poly-tunnel and other gardening
plans. I always feel so cheered when schools make the natural world some part
of their pupil’s own lives. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Once, I was told, you’d see slag-heaps and pitheads
from the top of the hill but in between there were green places to play and
roam. I felt glad that Overthorpe was able to open up some sense of space and
freedom for their children.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
destination on Thursday was a bit closer: I was at <span style="color: red;"><b>HUNSLET
CARR PRIMARY
SCHOOL</b></span> in Leeds. The travel
went well – still no snow – but my satnav was in a crotchety mood. It delivered
me accurately for the postcode but into a series of cul-de-sacs and dead-ends
where streets that once joined up, leading through to the school gates now
didn’t. In the end I and my car and talk-bags got there, got parked and got
into the school itself. Phew!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">From then on, the morning improved. I was very
impressed by my glimpse of a rumbustious Book Character assembly, with lots of
laughing and dancing and dressing up, both staff and children. Then came my
sessions, and even a moment for a quick nursery storytime, and I hope that
everyone at Hunslet Carr enjoyed the visit as much as I did. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0afG1B2P1S-shc4RuvTj5kcDiFFYHECNK_Qd7yqJisvyrI6iKVsQoItJL82nSxu_lUaP8X2Wo219F3fGB0bYmX5gGC9lwRHII6MN79W4GQNz_WgPbj_GguKb-xl-z1Fxa4bkeYibtn-U/s1600/PDDollsPram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0afG1B2P1S-shc4RuvTj5kcDiFFYHECNK_Qd7yqJisvyrI6iKVsQoItJL82nSxu_lUaP8X2Wo219F3fGB0bYmX5gGC9lwRHII6MN79W4GQNz_WgPbj_GguKb-xl-z1Fxa4bkeYibtn-U/s200/PDDollsPram.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">At Hunslet Carr, I was so focused on the getting-in with all my talk stuff , on the glass-fronted entrances and reception area
and the bright new look of the school interior that I hadn’t really noticed the
place. Then, pausing in the hall as I set up, I suddenly saw the beautiful
beams holding up the roof and there, on the mezzanine corridor – a hanging
banner from the long ago Hunslet Labour marches. This was a school with, despite
all the paint, a fine sense of history. All the way up the main staircase – and
it delighted me to see them – were objects from the school’s past life and a
collection of playthings from the last centuries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The most poignant was an old slightly faded photo,
showing the victorious Hunslet Carr AFC team 1910- 1911. I looked at the faces
off all those young players and their Headmaster, and saw the words <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Unbeaten Team”</i> and a list of their
winning matches and goals scored. Then, uneasy, I stared at the dates again and
realised those boys may well have been among those sent to the battle fields of
Flanders a couple of years later. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I couldn’t help wonder if those lads had stayed
unbeaten?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The second delightful thing was the library area: a
small but cosy room, with carpets, cushions, a gentle light and plenty of new
and inviting books. Thankfully, one teacher has time out to look after the
library stock and to run library sessions, as well as support from Leeds
Schools Library Service. All this care showed in the very atmosphere of the
room; I could almost feel the sense of pleasure the children gain during their
sessions there. <i>Thank you, everyone at Hunslet Carr, for making the day such a
good visit.</i> Thoughtful architecture – and I don’t mean vast atriums – really
does affect the feel of a school building. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Thinking
over these descriptions, I’ve realised that each of these three schools offered
something extra, something beyond the rigours of the National Curriculum. Each
school, and members of staff within, had planned for a wider view and so enriched their
pupil’s lives: a thing to be very happy about.</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">(There may, of course, be other things I didn’t
notice because my attention <u>was</u> mainly on my work. If so, apologies for
anything or anyone I’ve missed out.)</span></i></span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQpRooQiF6EQ2s-N2cOxwc-E3S6Z1fsOc6OigWn194rNo2XiZmBR_UWHPeZuMeEDhzxCb1BK3Wh1kiKJQWi-KKsWUwlZAArrHcAat-XrcZtBvPDXZ0kg9B8rX5J9i9HXaHpF2H0BaJr06/s1600/PDSnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQpRooQiF6EQ2s-N2cOxwc-E3S6Z1fsOc6OigWn194rNo2XiZmBR_UWHPeZuMeEDhzxCb1BK3Wh1kiKJQWi-KKsWUwlZAArrHcAat-XrcZtBvPDXZ0kg9B8rX5J9i9HXaHpF2H0BaJr06/s1600/PDSnow.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It's Friday today, and I’m hoping the greyness outside
will mean I can do some writing inside during this weekend, as well as looking forward
to next week’s visit to a school in Keighley. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Should be interesting getting there as one route across has been
closed all summer because of a rock fall and another has been blocked by the sudden
white stuff. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I must look and see if there's another route will be open, and trust to my AtoZ of West Yorkshire as well as that tricksy satnav . . . wish me luck!</span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Meanwhile, many good wishes to all of the
children’s writers, illustrators, librarians and book-people travelling around the land, Have a happy
World Book Day day/week/fortnight or month, and I hope the snow and cold of March doesn't stay to haunt your fun.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><i>Bye for no</i>w! </span></span></b>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-71284942018192576622015-04-02T12:29:00.002-07:002015-04-02T12:29:32.934-07:00VISITING TIME AGAIN : SPRING 2015<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhmJhNSBGepfly_wLs3q_CNUy91oXxhMaaAvlSm_pqGhPrYvc1Ffzz9I9tIVL88aYWtUkUlJrKS7k3dW0TphQh0r8R85nsdfEC6U9BK2JzY1bUDFmyGIj_hihAYYDb1cY2vOrdzdgVpgR/s1600/PDWBDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhmJhNSBGepfly_wLs3q_CNUy91oXxhMaaAvlSm_pqGhPrYvc1Ffzz9I9tIVL88aYWtUkUlJrKS7k3dW0TphQh0r8R85nsdfEC6U9BK2JzY1bUDFmyGIj_hihAYYDb1cY2vOrdzdgVpgR/s1600/PDWBDay.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLirr6KaLywZ1zQqOTWPX5JrsegLhanGNudFFqJYjuXft8h7oargwk3UgXOnUTmuJAUnwtQCfHwG7Mt29lrynVRrZtCw1tpmcY0EKD2aggNVi5iHpCLU9o0Xq4iIpLcJMXTTa-LAg4YlQ/s1600/PDChappatiChase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLirr6KaLywZ1zQqOTWPX5JrsegLhanGNudFFqJYjuXft8h7oargwk3UgXOnUTmuJAUnwtQCfHwG7Mt29lrynVRrZtCw1tpmcY0EKD2aggNVi5iHpCLU9o0Xq4iIpLcJMXTTa-LAg4YlQ/s1600/PDChappatiChase.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
buzz of World Book Day Week - <b>no, fortnight! -</b> is over. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an exhausting time – admin and maps
and worry about traffic and weather especially - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but each visit brings something memorable or
different.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are my Spring 2015 visits. </span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> My
first visit was to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Oatlands Infants
School</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traditional stories work
well with Reception & Key Stage 1 children, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this time I had fun sharing a favourite
telling tale, <b>The Great Chappati Chase</b> and showing them the story now exits in a book form,
with beautifully coloured illustrations. (See above!)</span></span><br />
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI-Or775ZIXFNARswiwdppJ8qk_Cu0XMNdlTSzQu6vlhKsT005kfRMOdTBGMhHhyTItFjzHajfqQJkEKOgcz66INV1bPpii-F2KHpt532DJPVX1DyquX0FPYDEvVWpHJC2sG4Iq-YRtjX/s1600/PDChicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI-Or775ZIXFNARswiwdppJ8qk_Cu0XMNdlTSzQu6vlhKsT005kfRMOdTBGMhHhyTItFjzHajfqQJkEKOgcz66INV1bPpii-F2KHpt532DJPVX1DyquX0FPYDEvVWpHJC2sG4Iq-YRtjX/s1600/PDChicks.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
next day - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">World Book Day</b> - I spent
at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Richard Taylor Primary School</b>.
Over four sessions, I shared stories, talked about where I got ideas from and
how I’d shaped those ideas, as well as reading from various books etc as well. WBD
itself was so spring-like that I went out for a quick lunchtime walk <i>(a useful way of warding
off midday slump)</i> and discovered a “sticky bun” shop nearby. Such days are definitely
days for giving yourself treats.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
alongside my sessions, I got a chance to see the chicks just hatching out of
their shells – some damp, some fluffy -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>as well as the happy smile of a newly appointed Lollipop Man and a
staff room of teachers learning a dance! (<i>As they’ll have done their dance for
Red Nose Day by now, I can put that in this blog.) </i></span></span><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtXKlWzMiIJnAB1pe_lQBtOOmm8ZFQSiQSfjJJz7wZkoWh7DlKOacmYzw2ZucFACR1MChhkpGVNwE8uaM1E78pulSRhVd0u-0fg1n6opcCVLJJtck2NG8eyKbKXdn9hdBrGiq1cXmsVN5/s1600/ABBADaffodills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtXKlWzMiIJnAB1pe_lQBtOOmm8ZFQSiQSfjJJz7wZkoWh7DlKOacmYzw2ZucFACR1MChhkpGVNwE8uaM1E78pulSRhVd0u-0fg1n6opcCVLJJtck2NG8eyKbKXdn9hdBrGiq1cXmsVN5/s1600/ABBADaffodills.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Friday
morning was a doubly busy day, The morning was spent with Year 3 &4 at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thorpe Willoughby Primary</b>, where, after
a hasty “Author Talk”, I spent time in each class drafting up class poems. The
staff and children were also busy celebrating poetry by decorating each door to
illustrate a poem. In passing, I noted a ”<b>Daffodils</b>” door, a “<b>Ning Nang Nong</b>”
door, and the start of a <b>Kit Wright “Box” poem</b> door. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Moreover, each class was
learning their poem to share it at the afternoon’s assembly. It was an inspiring
rush of time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Additionally, as I sped away, I’d been given a crust of the kind cook’s
most delicious bread! </i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Just
as well: my afternoon at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carlton-in-
Snaith Primary School</b> was a big “Author Assembly” for Years 2 to 6,
followed by a Reception and Year 1 “Storytime”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the school, teachers included, had dressed
up! The afternoon ended with parents arriving to see the school’s annual <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Book Character”</b> procession. As rousing
music blasted out, the line of characters wound around the school, each class-load
pausing in the hall to “twirl” for the audience, collect prizes, and then
reappear for a single <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grand Finale
Parade</b>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magnificent!</i> As I was
standing by the Reception Classroom door, I had a very good view of all the costumes
and the children’s faces as they passed by. Very enjoyable!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcC-oOVstmy-tDQ7dDVkiKNRs_L0Psz7_G3OC1Ea_9HyO4qM-Vtao8miDg-QEitPmqeLHxlGQu3YGfnrAJvz1ENDjo0nw4rZ3eqvYiZT0CDW1TKqPuiyyHv2hB0aKGbyjj84BQuynkjdl/s1600/PDMouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcC-oOVstmy-tDQ7dDVkiKNRs_L0Psz7_G3OC1Ea_9HyO4qM-Vtao8miDg-QEitPmqeLHxlGQu3YGfnrAJvz1ENDjo0nw4rZ3eqvYiZT0CDW1TKqPuiyyHv2hB0aKGbyjj84BQuynkjdl/s1600/PDMouse.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
things got complicated after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
of all, my sat-nav went rogue, showing a map of Germany
when we were driving through in Leeds, and
then getting stuck on my home location and not shifting. The machine continued
treacherous the following week, when I was booked as part of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kirklees and Calderdale Page-Turners
Festival</b> school visit programme, only showing arrow junctions. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(I ended up dragging out my old A-Z of West Yorkshire and a pile of Post-It Notes.)</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">My
first stop was the school library <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(large,
impressive, and complete with a school librarian - always a joy in these times)</i>
at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Moor</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> End Academy</b>,
where I talked to two groups about my writing and particularly my novel <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A BOY CALLED MOUSE. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Over
lunchtime, the sat-nav took me along all the cobbled country lanes between <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Huddersfield </b>and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rishworth</b>, both with and without grass in the middle, around hairpin bends,
across between reservoirs and more until - eventually - I reached <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">St John’s</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Primary</b> for a lovely session with
Reception and Key Stage One. </span></span><br />
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegb6SKcHjGuJZSzHuZ-1Exx83fbJLTz0jpjgUETHLpP7oOfa04RQzztU-Znal2P_vVgYRK-OsgmLLOMA0Nn8vbM8rYe_tWbRtVyfpNi4FRzyfllZF90tjla8fRKY208sp6QqwK47PzbCn/s1600/PDFlu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegb6SKcHjGuJZSzHuZ-1Exx83fbJLTz0jpjgUETHLpP7oOfa04RQzztU-Znal2P_vVgYRK-OsgmLLOMA0Nn8vbM8rYe_tWbRtVyfpNi4FRzyfllZF90tjla8fRKY208sp6QqwK47PzbCn/s1600/PDFlu.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Unfortunately, that evening, I came down with a
horrid bug that knocked me out for far longer than I could imagine. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(One dire day reminded me of childhood attacks of
tonsillitis before I lost my tonsils! )</i><i> </i>It
wasn’t until the week after – the day of the eclipse - that I managed to visit
the wonderful library at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scissett Middle
School</b>. What a lovely morning that was – and such a joy to see all the art
on the walls! In the afternoon, sustained by DayNurse, I visited <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Almondbury Key Stage Two School</b>. Although
one of the class teachers was away too, the children still made it a very good
time! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So
hooray for World Book Day, and everyone involved with all the organisation and administration
during these times of cuts. Thank you all!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BdQM-BF8wwF5eMhBVxOkZr6b_etllG7o-gBK7DVIBt0dWfAAvWa11eUO56Fw6R6b7HbXe4Wa3oFktdxDQtK1D7k5QU0QZzohW3_hpeb3-P_kg12RtXR3mjZCxAMh4-KsBpXkrv2Jk4xD/s1600/PDEaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BdQM-BF8wwF5eMhBVxOkZr6b_etllG7o-gBK7DVIBt0dWfAAvWa11eUO56Fw6R6b7HbXe4Wa3oFktdxDQtK1D7k5QU0QZzohW3_hpeb3-P_kg12RtXR3mjZCxAMh4-KsBpXkrv2Jk4xD/s1600/PDEaster.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Afterwards,
at home, I gave way to a second round of flu. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So annoying!</b> However, I can’t be grumbly about that because of the
joy and relief when you start to feel healthy again <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(and I had done all the school visits after all!) </i> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides, this week I’ve just finished and submitted a very small project - and this weekend it’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Easter</b> – so I’m looking
forward to some happy family times, some good egg hunting and some good reading!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Hope you have a Happy Easter too! </b></span></span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-90015898871637589842015-02-21T09:45:00.000-08:002015-02-21T09:45:11.262-08:00HAPPY FACE! SAD FACE! Or Today's Visit to the Library.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><b>Today,
returning a book to my local library, I caught the end of the current book
sale. Happy face!</b></i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqs_YNJYDOqMggQfkXySxtOQp6sxjQkw1oKlcWKs0MnuMc5qUXhtWWfaY3loP7uj5Fu_OMkuFTPJ-rvDWzEaeHbFIWmtstS-c85YpbN8k4hMWJcioGdiG5svpWFjPpL5hgxOyHeAIE8Qfs/s1600/PDHappyface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqs_YNJYDOqMggQfkXySxtOQp6sxjQkw1oKlcWKs0MnuMc5qUXhtWWfaY3loP7uj5Fu_OMkuFTPJ-rvDWzEaeHbFIWmtstS-c85YpbN8k4hMWJcioGdiG5svpWFjPpL5hgxOyHeAIE8Qfs/s1600/PDHappyface.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’d
bought a batch of books two weeks ago, when the sale started, and now I’ve
picked up another batch of non-fiction titles. Today’s cache included several
history books, a trio of cookery books (one healthy and two cake!) as well as a
“research” book by a reformed medium and finally a score for the musician in
the house. I felt smug and satisfied with this haul and am looking forward to
reading and using them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">And yet,
and yet, I also felt sad about how rapidly libraries dispose of book stock. The
drive to make libraries popular with the general public means that books are taken
off the shelves within very few years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">(Nor is such “popularity” truly saving the library services
from local authority cuts, alas!)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Such rapid
culls seem to me to dismiss the work involved in the writing and making of the
books. In addition, each “removed title” shrinks the author’s (small) Public
Lending Right payment. If that title disappears from every library, that income
is over. And if there are less libraries, and less purchasing of books - not
the happiest thought for the future. Much as my clutch of books excites me, those
stacked tables do represent a quiet loss of income for many writers. In
addition (or subtraction?) within the proposed “community library” world, PLR
payments are still to be agreed, as far as I understand. <i>If you </i></span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">know
differently, I apologise, and I’d be glad to hear. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4zxLmWh9em501qtblWAtTFY65yr-Cr-WMc9kp_qR1FF9l8uC7UwdSAx8NJg3P3bLJ6MGrhz3yWcJ0hJlH2z7-9_pgugWxI9BS2Sn-CEiBNs0igsAClgax1NRqee1p6EHwn-a3qFd-pBe/s1600/PDUnhappyface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4zxLmWh9em501qtblWAtTFY65yr-Cr-WMc9kp_qR1FF9l8uC7UwdSAx8NJg3P3bLJ6MGrhz3yWcJ0hJlH2z7-9_pgugWxI9BS2Sn-CEiBNs0igsAClgax1NRqee1p6EHwn-a3qFd-pBe/s1600/PDUnhappyface.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Library
re-organisations do seem to give an excuse for book culls, big and small. Famous
names have been protesting about the reference stock missing from Manchester’s refurbished Central Library. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Specialist collections disappear too: one nearby library used to display a
collection of early Victorian children’s books. However, during another re-organisation,
the collection was boxed up, taken away and is now lost. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Once upon a time, I’d imagined that, deep
within library headquarters, qualified staff checked that all the archives were
conserved. <i>Unfortunately, those qualified librarians have been and are being packed off as at
great a rate as the books. I'm certainly not getting at them.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I bought
my happy stack of “history reference titles” because I wasn’t sure I’d ever get hold of the
books otherwise. Recently, asking about a specific educational title, I heard
that the public library is not really there to help higher level academic
studies. The web isn't the well thought out, well-reasoned answer to everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Another book I'd asked about was too expensive to buy – and the inter-library loan
system no longer seems to work. So I wander around, and try not to notice the slebs
and tv titles filling the biography shelves, pushing other names out and away. Ah well. I
know we can’t keep every book forever, but we live in confusing times . . .</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I had
originally gone to the library to kick-start a halted project but after trying
a line or two, I gave up and walked home. Seeing so much written effort discarded,
and some titles bearing the names of people I know, I suddenly didn’t feel up
to writing after all. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Still, those
“Removed from Loan” cookery books will help me make some comforting cake, won’t
they? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Enough dismal muttering and
lamentation. Enough crabbiness. I hereby declare that I’m reaching for my timer and putting my
mind on my stilled project for thirty minutes. Onwards.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Penny</span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-48848250191811008232015-01-24T09:09:00.000-08:002015-01-24T09:10:43.188-08:00NEW YEAR, NEW STORY!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ah yes, that resolution I made
about this blog at the start of January? </span></i></span></b><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’d meant
to start again, honest, but there wasn’t a moment of spare time, or spare
brain, come to that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> intending to re-start blogging here
right after the tidying away of the tree and decorations on Twelfth Night . Then
a horrid bug crept in – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lots of groo and atishoo
all round the house </i>– followed by a week of scary tax accounts. I had a local
library meeting to go to, and a couple of urgent blogposts needed elsewhere. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, I
think almost all the catching up’s done now so today’s a day for a small
celebration. Today’s post brought my five author copies of a new book: <span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><i>The
Great Chapatti Chase. </i></b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh494ipUoIPCwxUn9KJcq4BtEbbV8rhgQp7o3b0Doi3AFoKyGxkHC228bKPE8KcFJH-vx7XzaylZfUyUn91ELlgI5y1j7ysmcOfz7GNsvMsSmHo0kCCKMk71_NrOyqStGWsrOWi4QEyI5/s1600/GreatChapattiChase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh494ipUoIPCwxUn9KJcq4BtEbbV8rhgQp7o3b0Doi3AFoKyGxkHC228bKPE8KcFJH-vx7XzaylZfUyUn91ELlgI5y1j7ysmcOfz7GNsvMsSmHo0kCCKMk71_NrOyqStGWsrOWi4QEyI5/s1600/GreatChapattiChase.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s my
version of a familiar story format – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
no, I’m not going to tell you which! </i>– and one I’ve enjoyed telling on
school and library visits for quite a while. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve even told it at the
Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival in Delhi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the cheerful cover: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank
you, <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">artist </span><b>Laura Sua</b></span>, for all of the brilliant and clever illustrations between these pages. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Happy sigh. Yes, the nice times of 2015 have begun. Happy New Year, everyone!</b></span></i></span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-24739728966643396832014-09-18T11:04:00.000-07:002014-09-18T11:07:54.685-07:00THE LUNCH THAT GREW<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, it’s over, and I
have begun sleeping well again. </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, not today’s great happenings in Scotland –
<i>though I have felt sick with worry over that </i>- but the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scattered Authors North Day </b>last Saturday, which had been a long time in
the planning.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ004shyphenhyphentnl046-JHhi6xKhc1-PJUkUAp4A4zn05BVoWky2SazH3W7JzQsF0gUSi-S_ypGjVFMP0mSNjO5tIsWtE3eFras1HwuYXCTPx8p7xdvlLCK1DcfkL0AHFhBUtXTm3-uQxOCJF7G/s1600/PDFlavin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ004shyphenhyphentnl046-JHhi6xKhc1-PJUkUAp4A4zn05BVoWky2SazH3W7JzQsF0gUSi-S_ypGjVFMP0mSNjO5tIsWtE3eFras1HwuYXCTPx8p7xdvlLCK1DcfkL0AHFhBUtXTm3-uQxOCJF7G/s1600/PDFlavin.jpg" height="200" width="137" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Way back in February,
I met a bright and inspiring writer and illustrator, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teresa Flavin</b>. She’d recently moved from Glasgow
to Leeds, and I’d heard nice things about her from writer friends in Scotland. As we were chatting over
lunch, somehow the gentle grumble <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Why do
all the writer’s lunches seem to happen in the South?</i>” changed to “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wouldn’t it be good to set up one for
children’s writers in Yorkshire?”</i> And so,
bit by bit, last Saturday’s event at Leed's West Yorkshire Playhouse was born. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We did begin by thinking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Lunch”. </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">However</span>, restaurant tables aren’t
always easy to hear across and all that lively ordering and eating does interrupt the chat somehow, which is a problem if you’ve
travelled for a couple of hours to get there. So our “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let’s have a lunch</i>” grew from “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maybe
a session before</i>?” to a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Maybe a session
after as well?”</i> and then someone suggested more speakers - and before we
knew it, a whole day had been planned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How thankful we were for
the <b>West Yorkshire Playhouse</b>, a modern venue not far from the central railway
station, especially when cheap pop-up arts venues also had a habit of popping
down just as quickly too. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, once things were arranged, how thankful we were for all those
Scattered Authors who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">said</i> they’d
come and then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i> come! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Money matters can be very scary . . .</i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguH1wuy9BCuZGMwPInS4iCp6m3myh6bKa70ciuE7Evfbor8uh6W2ObH6_NpgnjxHXSE4wobY_j8jLPFI3NkA_9uVVxdknLkD5TAuqbz8MULgsRwelBbDiwawxqBSA3SC0hwI_NuhCERzli/s1600/PDPatronReading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguH1wuy9BCuZGMwPInS4iCp6m3myh6bKa70ciuE7Evfbor8uh6W2ObH6_NpgnjxHXSE4wobY_j8jLPFI3NkA_9uVVxdknLkD5TAuqbz8MULgsRwelBbDiwawxqBSA3SC0hwI_NuhCERzli/s1600/PDPatronReading.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDGsmZw-kqcnMS8kzvq6SWXeRi0DicsIDBRepJBoKn4zbIkB9WXzY1hIJxsUpwqBvTlZWTEcS8jYNTDLF7U-uvzj4TlNLsXLLejRoHibu5mPqT88w0HW4FPLW4Zw7I1cqNmchGhWAs5-t/s1600/PDHelena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDGsmZw-kqcnMS8kzvq6SWXeRi0DicsIDBRepJBoKn4zbIkB9WXzY1hIJxsUpwqBvTlZWTEcS8jYNTDLF7U-uvzj4TlNLsXLLejRoHibu5mPqT88w0HW4FPLW4Zw7I1cqNmchGhWAs5-t/s1600/PDHelena.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And a Grand Day it was,
the thirteenth of September! We started with two wonderful speakers from Leeds
Libraries Services - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Debbie Moody </b>and<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Pauline Thresh. Then came</b><b>
</b>CWIG Past Chair <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Helena Pielichaty, </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span>passionate
about our fast disappearing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Schools
Library Services </b>and about the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Patron
of Reading”</b> scheme.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Teresa Flavin</b>
herself talked about the social networks that she finds useful – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a well-planned wise and informed “do it if
it works for you” approach</i> – before we all went in for the task of trying to identify what his within
the plates of sandwiches on their dark and gloomy table outside the Congreve Room. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Teresa and I have since suggested that WYP
Catering put clear labels on their serving plates!) </i>The sandwiches themselves,
by the way, were very nice. So, <i>the actual </i>lunch, and more chatting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD8krL7hRvKBemD2IfnpIbHTnq4R3DHR-HZkVXSxYd7Xj9m-nLjzEFDGQ-rX6BbLV1NSPQS_08whkuAp3hQgFF0gE3E7iPXnh6h-fcO-4MTPJQWmPCZmFyz4v1f_qN8cWeo_TqnaijT6X/s1600/PDJasonsbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD8krL7hRvKBemD2IfnpIbHTnq4R3DHR-HZkVXSxYd7Xj9m-nLjzEFDGQ-rX6BbLV1NSPQS_08whkuAp3hQgFF0gE3E7iPXnh6h-fcO-4MTPJQWmPCZmFyz4v1f_qN8cWeo_TqnaijT6X/s1600/PDJasonsbook.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The afternoon brought <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jason Beresford</b> with an entertaining
account of his life so far, his “The Fabulous Four Fish Fingers” books and a
burst of ukulele playing as a conclusion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last speaker of the day, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hilary Robinson</b>, talked about working in BBC radio and setting up her
Strauss House Productions company. Hilary decided to maintain control over her
own work and ideas by independently publishing her new picture books in
collaboration with Mandy Stanley (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">illustrator
of The Copper Tree series</i>) and Martin Impey, whose detailed illustrations
add so much to the highly praised picture book, “Where the Poppies Now Grow”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW0NxoOsOIGqQGAtk8CHURHacKKwDI189pdsqpUWH74GvkaLqYB3FAVjc2RjHpGZ5Je-EEzuAZUL6-M2B9UHXPIzFivxEu1InW9u6DCfQJw9MWh_EUCVH06l0rxJvlX-yWLmiAPgEkUFM/s1600/PDPoppiesNowGrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW0NxoOsOIGqQGAtk8CHURHacKKwDI189pdsqpUWH74GvkaLqYB3FAVjc2RjHpGZ5Je-EEzuAZUL6-M2B9UHXPIzFivxEu1InW9u6DCfQJw9MWh_EUCVH06l0rxJvlX-yWLmiAPgEkUFM/s1600/PDPoppiesNowGrow.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, braced by tea and
cookies, the roomful of writers chatted until one by one they had to leave: for Wales, for Derbyshire, for Scarborough, for Birmingham, for Cumbria
and Northumbria, or simply for
a closer home somewhere around Leeds. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, the hours were over so soon, and I got to speak to far fewer people
than I wanted to. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even so, I was so pleased
that all those months of administration led to a happy and satisfying day for
so many. Teresa and I had a private cheer afterwards and plan to celebrate sometime soon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nevertheless, although Sunday 14<sup>th</sup>
September was definitely a day filled with numb and lazy rest, I kept recalling
voices talking about a Christmas lunch in Leeds
sometime, maybe December. This idea will – <i>I am promising myself</i> - stay as a simple Scattered Authors <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lunch!</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fCYoISghdTkWSGcbPi2Qwc4peOzbz3iJVpJmDLop8ERDD8csP7S3_ZqTJE257_ZPVAhHcG9_9ivRtRPIKD9f-AXeZT4ROGhh_DpBQchU0J1orw44A-M-zhBYNXKFCM1Q3xMbyknKi4Bg/s1600/PDpenandink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fCYoISghdTkWSGcbPi2Qwc4peOzbz3iJVpJmDLop8ERDD8csP7S3_ZqTJE257_ZPVAhHcG9_9ivRtRPIKD9f-AXeZT4ROGhh_DpBQchU0J1orw44A-M-zhBYNXKFCM1Q3xMbyknKi4Bg/s1600/PDpenandink.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><i>After all, I do have some writing work to do . . . </i></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><i>Have a happy weekend. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<br />Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-58870012040244065502014-09-14T23:40:00.003-07:002014-09-14T23:41:37.757-07:00TALKING TO LADIES<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So Wednesday
evening went well. Phew! Whenever I’ve been away from “Showtime!” a while, I get
anxious. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5o_vMvy9I703_pZPS-mo2jlzujc7LzPioAFqnyx3YKuaIV9_Yw-ucwJ6Eezk60J4Ay4fJjMmK_vDkq_ZRpSPeZOMAKp8wK4Bqi21awIjbTT4TOirUbFjve2lxaROqlrGIAEypEsHlxlL/s1600/PDShowtime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5o_vMvy9I703_pZPS-mo2jlzujc7LzPioAFqnyx3YKuaIV9_Yw-ucwJ6Eezk60J4Ay4fJjMmK_vDkq_ZRpSPeZOMAKp8wK4Bqi21awIjbTT4TOirUbFjve2lxaROqlrGIAEypEsHlxlL/s1600/PDShowtime.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My own showtime is not Brucie’s bright lights and dancing with big teeth and lots of twirls and "Ta-da!". Mine is
much more modest - just dressing in presentable clothes, adding a bit of slap and
going out smiling to give a talk. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even so,
having collected my notes and various “exhibits”, there ‘s always the fizzy fear
that things might not work this time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last Wednesday was a different audience: it wasn't a school or library or "family" session but a talk booked by a local Ladies Group. On the programme, my name was
down as <i>“Author and Storyteller”</i> but beyond that my talk was a mystery.
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Would I have turned out for so little
information, especially on a “Bake Off” night?)</i></span> Anyway, I was very glad to see the
earliest ladies arriving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Empty, that
hall seemed quite large.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I always worry that the “children’s books” topic can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seem</i> a touch demeaning – <i>of course it
isn’t, at all -</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but sometimes adults can
feel bristly. I began by talking about “how I got into children’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>writing” – both my teaching career and other
more personal issues as well as showing a couple of very old children’s
books I’d owned when I was little. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q0PogTTubdJbXecgeBipAp5ChXe5j-9fQpauVuT7I9YPaGhSTi6m4oFyUwMDPgkaLQeOl4ZZaKN3FvSYlt2pF7vuSTuj6YsiFxbndtUSWq4BtzLMsEqGmqKCMjq0NL6h5X3PpnlNkSuv/s1600/PDBTheWrongHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q0PogTTubdJbXecgeBipAp5ChXe5j-9fQpauVuT7I9YPaGhSTi6m4oFyUwMDPgkaLQeOl4ZZaKN3FvSYlt2pF7vuSTuj6YsiFxbndtUSWq4BtzLMsEqGmqKCMjq0NL6h5X3PpnlNkSuv/s1600/PDBTheWrongHouse.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After that I talked about where some of my ideas came
from, some made more meaningful as the audience knew the local
settings I’d used and a cute cat story. Then there was a quick run through some more amusing aspects
of the book process, illustrated with a few “interesting” pencil roughs and short readings. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, there was a “popular children’s book characters”
picture quiz to fill the gap while tea was brewing.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Afterwards –
as ever – I wondered why I’d been anxious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an audience, the Ladies Group were warm and friendly and interested.
Best of all, it seemed, the evening gave them a chance to reflect on children’s
books and remember books they’d read as children in the past, the pleasure of
reading books with their own children and even the pleasure of sharing the same
books with their own grand-children or other small friends. It felt a very happy talk. <i><b> </b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Thank you, Ladies!</b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile,
last Thursday was a quick trip to the West Yorkshire Playhouse to check the room and the details for a gathering of children’s writers on Saturday. </span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of which more
- as some say - anon. When I recover.</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-82417190939464495242014-09-08T07:44:00.001-07:002014-09-08T07:44:46.917-07:00LOOKING AT CLEAR WORDS AND SPACES<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Today I’m casting harsh glances at my muddle of an office,
full of books, papers, ironing baskets and a very persistent cat – but I will
refuse to take in these daily surroundings.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead I am imagining myself in a calm white creative space
that is definitely not my own. At the weekend I went to a small private
gallery, surrounded by farmland, where a landscape painter and a ceramic artist
were holding an Open Studio event. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4R28tfmuOpIbxlasdex01d9kP-8QhKzhtbJSu22ekiQb_AwZguAHJFkxBNdHgdqQwrRoTZ2aRMBVetvkLHI1W-2FuQLXuXnyHgd6eHmG4VGeigTa1ap9OOLcu2ovH7xtT1cZv1Zt28iM/s1600/PDFossils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4R28tfmuOpIbxlasdex01d9kP-8QhKzhtbJSu22ekiQb_AwZguAHJFkxBNdHgdqQwrRoTZ2aRMBVetvkLHI1W-2FuQLXuXnyHgd6eHmG4VGeigTa1ap9OOLcu2ovH7xtT1cZv1Zt28iM/s1600/PDFossils.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">The paintings and prints – from the small to the very large
- captured the wild movements of the weather, trees and grasses against the wide
Yorkshire moors, while many of the finely
detailed ceramic pieces echoed the shelled creatures and fossils found on the Yorkshire shoreline. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It was an enjoyable visit,
particularly – in that selfish writer way- as I came away with two aspirations.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaP0D_GxLZSzjye9iE-kGYrElrE83xxNf3UVkQJRuf_0-GsUas6t75NUzphf48DWFtCsQoMuQMOWaypUHcd8doNOuMpQHaRztaJsLh8hi2Q9KF69MTPzeo-RtQP19WLHzSc6T6sGdfQia/s1600/PDpaints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaP0D_GxLZSzjye9iE-kGYrElrE83xxNf3UVkQJRuf_0-GsUas6t75NUzphf48DWFtCsQoMuQMOWaypUHcd8doNOuMpQHaRztaJsLh8hi2Q9KF69MTPzeo-RtQP19WLHzSc6T6sGdfQia/s1600/PDpaints.jpg" height="142" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><i><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span>The first was that peaceful gallery space.</span></span></b><span style="background-color: white;"><span> </span></span></i></span><b><span style="background-color: black;"></span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It was calm and "empty" - although more people
were arriving as we left – but it also felt alive, particularly because one end was the painter’s
studio. The gallery was a place where work happened: a good, creative space. <span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Around
the huge desk were paints and brushes. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ah,
breathe in!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The faint scent reminded
me of long-ago art-rooms in schools and college and that life-saving escape of art
lessons within an academic curriculum. Being in the gallery was such a pleasure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Heavens, why don’t writer’s studies have such beauty
about them, I wonder? Right now, I want to empty my room, sort the contents, throw
out the accumulated rubbish, tidy and clean until I have a simple space
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if I do, that’s my writing
time gone and broken for far too long, and right now I can’t afford that.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQUstrwu4pHnuKVUo2MQ1lM0kUCbWx7DfZOKCLvdDy88TYVLEO2VBoG9S-3cI72Zr6bUikrOpK2y8g2TN942VngSh2I6vElujUETzUdW5UnEuq3ZsIcJ2nZLA6FYmxONk93vtO4ud590S/s1600/PDpaintbrushes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQUstrwu4pHnuKVUo2MQ1lM0kUCbWx7DfZOKCLvdDy88TYVLEO2VBoG9S-3cI72Zr6bUikrOpK2y8g2TN942VngSh2I6vElujUETzUdW5UnEuq3ZsIcJ2nZLA6FYmxONk93vtO4ud590S/s1600/PDpaintbrushes.jpg" height="200" width="147" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>The second
joy was an invitation to sit and spend time with the ceramic artist’s journal.</i> </b>The
book was full of her sketches, prints and experiments, the pages covered in samples
and collages with briefest of comments alongside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Occasionally there were more
words: short, beautifully hand-written passages. These recorded the working
process: the ideas, the developments, the halts and the persistence needed so that
the work moved forward, exploring again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I valued the way the journal offered fragments
of conversations with fellow artists and mentors. We all need support or
sounding boards during moments of uncertainty or crisis. Thank you, my own "writing friends".</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">But alas,
another contrast! My personal pages are not things of beauty at all, just scatter-brained
notebooks carrying cryptic clues like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“p
53.Does P go on too much about this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ Ch. 23. Canal
boats? Engine or horse? Check dates!”</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What
does Zk want? Is he needed? Delete?” </i>And so on. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">For ten
seconds , I daydream. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Could I, perhaps,
begin to make such a wonderful journal?</i> The answer comes promptly. No, right
now I haven’t the time. My scribbled yellow “Morning Pages” will have to serve. Sometime you can, but not now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">I'd read one phrase that seemed to catch - for me - the
eternal conflict between the making of any art and the too-swift passing of
time. Here it is,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">half-remembered:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The idea is in the head before it is in the hands</i>.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Oh, the hands
can take such a long time to get the work done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt;">Onward!</span></div>
Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-58373218796575065602014-08-23T06:07:00.002-07:002014-08-23T06:07:34.438-07:00ONWARD!<span style="font-size: large;">It is the August Bank holiday weekend, and there are berries on the trees and a feel of autumn in the air - together with that word sitting a week away on the calendar: <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>SEPTEMBER!</i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I rather love this time of year. I like the feel of new beginnings, of exciting things that might <i>just</i> happen, of possibilities. It reminds me - </span><span style="font-size: large;">even after so many years - of getting things in order, of </span><span style="font-size: large;">buying new stationery, of starting a brand new unblemished exercise book, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoSp57g-0wlMrbeF88ULWjurBSZ0TPQGc73h8AME_O75If8jazA-H8WQjOvi6CTK24ZEKc0cyOY0SYBfKBOUTDKRTznfuN8zviC55xmT613lPWh70SUJ6a2zqtRXuY7DlURE3uHFVtz_p/s1600/ABBAArtistsWay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoSp57g-0wlMrbeF88ULWjurBSZ0TPQGc73h8AME_O75If8jazA-H8WQjOvi6CTK24ZEKc0cyOY0SYBfKBOUTDKRTznfuN8zviC55xmT613lPWh70SUJ6a2zqtRXuY7DlURE3uHFVtz_p/s1600/ABBAArtistsWay.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;">By chance, I am staring at a clean blank page today: a page of yellow paper. This is the A4 book I will be used for my "three pages a day" writing exercise, an activity taken from Julia Cameron's famous if cult-ish <i>"The Artist's Way"</i> approach. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mildly taken, t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he practice does help me: somehow it skims the top layer of everyday worries and frets from my writing head and I start to get a clearer picture of what I should be doing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>But just how picky can you get?</i> I stare at that new page but I am already slightly disgruntled. <i>Why?</i> My last three yellow page notebooks came from Paperchase a few months back. Writing in them was a comfortable pleasure. The paper was just the right feel under the hand - slightly rough so the pen never seemed slippery - and just thick enough so that my beloved green ink did not seep through. <i>Yes, I write my three pages with a fountain pen.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwu01AqLN2B0FwwBDj-i93HbqTYM5bhlB6SIfkqnGHQoupRwmqfSljQ3MGN9UExxA5uNOHNjqB0LRVcG6gGCq4pnIUFAxLXP56iFh9giTZ8Nyz1pi1ddcQKJCFii_PqeyR8zd9dzhAXwC/s1600/ABBAyellowpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwu01AqLN2B0FwwBDj-i93HbqTYM5bhlB6SIfkqnGHQoupRwmqfSljQ3MGN9UExxA5uNOHNjqB0LRVcG6gGCq4pnIUFAxLXP56iFh9giTZ8Nyz1pi1ddcQKJCFii_PqeyR8zd9dzhAXwC/s1600/ABBAyellowpaper.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> However, this new notebook - also bought from Paperchase, but with another logo - is not quite as nice. The paper is thin and very slightly shiny. The pages don't feel satisfying and I'm thinking they may not stand up to being written on both sides. I'm even wondering if by now the shop might have restocked with better book stock.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm also wondering if I should rename this blog "The Pedant on the Page" . . .</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_W9eZo8F0WHJPxbYht509YkPW6uN_Pc2TrvUNP6Rf6yWAp5KFF7MKV01epNvo9TIAGFXChxowPcNf6RpiKDlV6gsJBe53mbbQux3c-JUS_N1Jym1oPVBLcKOtpmGfacE6n-UcsKUS_ik/s1600/PDSweetnessPi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_W9eZo8F0WHJPxbYht509YkPW6uN_Pc2TrvUNP6Rf6yWAp5KFF7MKV01epNvo9TIAGFXChxowPcNf6RpiKDlV6gsJBe53mbbQux3c-JUS_N1Jym1oPVBLcKOtpmGfacE6n-UcsKUS_ik/s1600/PDSweetnessPi.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">But, hey, can't stay here all day. Other things to do: house stuff, various and<i></i> tech-y things to battle: <i>see below</i>. Although I might be tempted </span><span style="font-size: large;">to finish reading</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><i>THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE</i>.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's an adult crime novel that's an interesting blend of "I Capture the Castle" as told by an engagingly vindictive young Marple. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or a chemistry-obsessed Harriet Vane? Flavia de Luce, the eleven year old heroine is a cunning piece of work and all the better for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, sorry, yes, apologies and all that. I know this blog has been quiet for a long time, even after all my last time promises. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I dropped into a not-very-good writing place for a while, <i>blah, blah, blah, ignore this . . .</i> but I also got very cross when all the blogs I love <i>and thought I'd linked to</i> did not - somehow - connect here. </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My own Penny Dolan blogging was meant to be an easy way of reading all sort of interesting other blogs and something <i>blooming well</i> did not work! Grrrr! Will I let that defeat me? <i>Ha! Only for a six months or so</i> . . .</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But I'm back here now so all I can say, quoting A.L.Kennedy, is <b>ONWARD!</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-7632123015944263732014-03-02T03:32:00.003-08:002014-03-02T03:32:43.585-08:00WORLD BOOK WEEK 2014! A BIG HELLO!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’m creeping back to this “Diary” with some embarrassment. I
often <i>think</i> “I <b>must</b> update my own
blog!” or “That’d be a <b>such good idea</b> to blog about!” </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That’s when I realise the first of a new month is coming up
and my blogpost is due for <b><span style="color: red;">Awfully Big Blog Adventure.</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Or I have a book to read and a review to write for <span style="color: red;"><b>Awfully
Big Reviews</b></span>, maybe with a new ABR rota to compile and send out to keep the whole thing running.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Or - suddenly - it is almost mid-month so my very own post for <span style="color: red;"><b>History Girls</b></span> must
be done & scheduled to appear on the 17<sup>th</sup> of the month. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Or else there's something else that uses up words urgently waiting, like a
revision deadline, or a particular talk to prep, or just <span style="color: red;"><b><i>getting on with some
real writing . . .</i></b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All of this is enjoyable stuff so, please, this isn’t a moan. However , I'm left with so little time to visit and feed - let alone primp or pamper the pages of this poor neglected Diary. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Except for a
moment like this - <span style="color: red;"><b>WORLD BOOK DAY WEEK 2014 </b></span>- when I feel the need to wave to a few people and schools.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So here's </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A GREAT BIG WORLD BOOK DAY WEEK HELLO</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> to everyone at </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">OATLANDS INFANTS SCHOOL, </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">ROECLIFFE
PRIMARY SCHOOL, </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and APPLEGARTH PRIMARY SCHOOL</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">as well as </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">SKIPTON INGS</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">&
CHRISTCHURCH PRIMARY SCHOOLS! </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Looking forward to meeting you all soon!</span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg1I2SREi-EK2tWqqV1MDeWHEGxjvlSBHXhnMfx1nrNaFMaefCUIIKy8OWLldw3kuRFiJyKBeRFQmmLsO29IH6kCZtBGxFxvHrznhsDnBgYQNJEHf8xKfdeRUmvsjRdvDFF3C3Ra5c8cg/s1600/HGDaughtersofTime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg1I2SREi-EK2tWqqV1MDeWHEGxjvlSBHXhnMfx1nrNaFMaefCUIIKy8OWLldw3kuRFiJyKBeRFQmmLsO29IH6kCZtBGxFxvHrznhsDnBgYQNJEHf8xKfdeRUmvsjRdvDFF3C3Ra5c8cg/s1600/HGDaughtersofTime.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Ps. I’m also looking
forward to calling in to my local Delivery Office sometime tomorrow. I need to
pick up the parcel that couldn’t be delivered because whoever called used the
door-knocker but did not try the bell afterwards, alas!) The parcel contains my
author copies of this beautiful anthology, and I’ll be back to write about it
soon</i>.</span></span></div>
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Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-70569294726553785602013-10-02T09:44:00.002-07:002013-10-02T09:44:17.536-07:00PUBLISHING MOONLIGHT!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A good diary day today, because a pretty card arrived,
signed by all the lovely people of the Stripes Team, aka Little Tiger Press.
<b><span style="color: blue;">Thank you, everybody! </span></b>Today is the official publication day for <b><span style="color: blue;">MOONLIGHT TALES</span></b> and I have
written one of the ten stories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oZsyRvA2MRkfM05QPPvUjBmhQGJ4SBQyrAVCBEdLe4RuOMX-k5YA1fc0PLVsc9j5_qBiJRBAWCfIEorAmQpl7y6OnXiA3s1d8IvIM7oyjX-TaoLjEMmNmOjTORL5vxVbruaCUFIGqequ/s1600/MoonlightTales.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oZsyRvA2MRkfM05QPPvUjBmhQGJ4SBQyrAVCBEdLe4RuOMX-k5YA1fc0PLVsc9j5_qBiJRBAWCfIEorAmQpl7y6OnXiA3s1d8IvIM7oyjX-TaoLjEMmNmOjTORL5vxVbruaCUFIGqequ/s320/MoonlightTales.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">MOONLIGHT TALES</span></b> is a "seasonal anthology". It’s a collection
of stories that can be read by grown-ups to five to eight year olds but a book
that can also be read by older junior (KS2) children on their own. I have
written stories for several of these winter anthologies and always find it a
pleasure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For a start, wintry weather always makes for a wonderful
setting, filled with uncertainties. <span style="color: blue;"><i>Will it, or won’t it, snow? Will the snow
bring peril or pleasure? How dangerous will the dangers be? Will everyone reach
journey’s end? And will all the preparations - for whatever kind of feast or
event – be done on time?</i></span> It’s also a season where a writer can include moments
of beauty or delight or kindly feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> However, as a writer, there’s also the fun of not knowing what<b> </b>the other stories will be. You know there will be this or that animal.
Early on, when you send in an idea or two, the editor will tell you that
“owls” or “kittens” have been taken so could you go for your other
suggestion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But even then, you don’t know what genre that other animal’s story will
become. <span style="color: blue;"><i>A real-life story? An animal fantasy? A retelling of a tale or
legend?</i></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or more? <span style="color: blue;"><i>(No need to be afraid:
these collections never include horror and I can’t recall any ghosts either.)</i></span>
While I'm writing the story, I remember the bright faces of the seven and eight
year olds I meet on school visits, all eager to tell me about their pets and
favourite animals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There’s a second kind of curiosity about the finished anthology. Being included in these
winter anthologies feels like being at a secret party: each anthology
will have stories written by authors that I know. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPwn7Y4qL4b6_a3nT5_XYJeskzRhMYAzAoYtYSRTxhrnWau6nTdgYQNHk2nB8fK0-oAeMtQialAxQVE28d7rK-sPVS8vGbSRSUv_4VfGa2V8VGjdq4HdXclGFV0xpoKRMh85XKjdUo9cc/s1600/CarolinePitcher.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPwn7Y4qL4b6_a3nT5_XYJeskzRhMYAzAoYtYSRTxhrnWau6nTdgYQNHk2nB8fK0-oAeMtQialAxQVE28d7rK-sPVS8vGbSRSUv_4VfGa2V8VGjdq4HdXclGFV0xpoKRMh85XKjdUo9cc/s1600/CarolinePitcher.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEgN71QfPVwtBF0At9sgm-asVrUzpFBRj9FPd8v9kA3YrCIDUya4_6btkGpL0DdTdklwArHuywDf1UmyJyDvDrbbgoMAlmhrs48sGZOdr5aZqltlZJuh9BupptyyuHr5X_76kgF1RaoI0/s1600/LindaChapman.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEgN71QfPVwtBF0At9sgm-asVrUzpFBRj9FPd8v9kA3YrCIDUya4_6btkGpL0DdTdklwArHuywDf1UmyJyDvDrbbgoMAlmhrs48sGZOdr5aZqltlZJuh9BupptyyuHr5X_76kgF1RaoI0/s200/LindaChapman.jpeg" width="107" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As soon as my author copies
of <b><span style="color: blue;">MOONLIGHT TALES</span> </b>arrived about a fortnight ago, I turned to the index and looked down the list of names. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Aha!
I spot Linda Chapman, Caroline Pitcher, and quite a few more</i>. </span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"></span> Not very, very, very best
friends, of course, or I’d have known they were working on the anthology already, wouldn't I? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But
certainly really nice writing friends that I meet once or twice a year, and
sometimes email. Now I can discover how they angled their story and what animals they choose.
<span style="color: blue;"><i>What a pleasure!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Finally, there's one last thing that makes writing for these
anthologies such a delight. The stories are rarely specifically "Christmas" tales, in a religious sense, but the anthology is probably bought for children around this time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I like to imagine <b><span style="color: blue;">MOONLIGHT TALES</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <i><span style="color: blue;">with my very own story, hooray! </span></i>– being posted to faraway
young relatives, or given to nieces or nephew or grandchildren or next-door
neighbour’s children. I think about the anthology being slipped into stockings or pillowcases </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">as an
extra surprise</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> on the Big Morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I do know <b><span style="color: blue;">MOONLIGHT TALES </span></b>won’t be the Most Stupendous Gift
Ever but I do like to muse on the book bringing its own precious reading
moments. I imagine the stories being read to calm a child after a too-busy day,
or the book being used as a read-together after hours of screen-time, or a one-more-story alongside a mug of hot
chocolate after a winter walk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">MOONLIGHT TALES</span></b> won’t bring me
writing glory. <b><span style="color: blue;">But being part of something nice to enjoy when all the fuss of
the holiday is over? That’s fine by me. </span></b></span></div>
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Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-41024015606664335862013-08-29T07:01:00.002-07:002013-08-29T07:01:34.456-07:00SURE AS EGGS IS EGGS! The Story of a School Visit<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Ah well, Bank
Holiday Monday’s over and done. My head and notebook are still full of
everything I saw when I was visiting London last week. But that’s for another post.. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v_qRzfeMZrOikTMMBfmR1HJG5gBaatasohXx7Jbghfr9bQEB60SnHRZrH9Q0wtOw_Eus7msWltlXuwSyWCQZ_HtxauiX5cEUbGfqTBoVO8NvAf8UTneijkejIvpLodWmXSVK2Ig5L01Q/s1600/PDDEggs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v_qRzfeMZrOikTMMBfmR1HJG5gBaatasohXx7Jbghfr9bQEB60SnHRZrH9Q0wtOw_Eus7msWltlXuwSyWCQZ_HtxauiX5cEUbGfqTBoVO8NvAf8UTneijkejIvpLodWmXSVK2Ig5L01Q/s1600/PDDEggs.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Instead </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">because the Big Back to School Week is almost here,</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"> I’m
looking at diaries. So this post seems a good space to mention the good eggs. <b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"><b>Eggs?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"><b>Yes, eggs! Read on!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"> I rarely
write in detail about any schools I've visited as an author - for a mix of reasons - but I've decided I must
use this resurrected blog to tell you about <b>the good egg school,</b> and how very pleased and
hopeful that author visit made me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">For a start, the
school buzzed with busy, happy learning. It was a village school, tucked deep
within the Yorkshire Moors. <i>Sounds idyllic? Y</i>es, but rural schools can have
their own particular problems. Village school children often
return to isolated homes, where they spend long hours on video-games or in
front of the tv or computer. A child’s only company may be their siblings.
Busy working parents may not have time, travel-time or money for the range of outings
possible in cities. Additionally, rural children may grow up meeting very few
people outside their own small and remote community, yet that is unlikely to be
where their twenty-first century life will lead them, or even their secondary school years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Yet, because this particular school
recognised the need for enrichment, for widening the children’s interests and
experiences, they involved the children in music, art and craft. </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">They brought in all sorts of speakers and activities.</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"> This school staff
chose to give their children the real experiences – not just “interactive
white-board experiences” - of the wider world. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">E</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">ach year, the
children were taken to the theatre in the nearest seaside town and the oldest
children went down to London by train for an overnight stay. The staff saw such outings as a way
of developing the children’s future independence and knowledge. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FDsnZzeITe-etDiahgheOXRnOvPNphZ8KrmqGGbhs_FUrcZtNeBScBQaokTcp_j8ylPQQkIR8n5XYYa1v7mh5MwbBLnRUwcPSpBaEbfap-qnkNpD-ENdFJSjmL0CyFycAxs_MxnkRwwh/s1600/PDDguineapigs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FDsnZzeITe-etDiahgheOXRnOvPNphZ8KrmqGGbhs_FUrcZtNeBScBQaokTcp_j8ylPQQkIR8n5XYYa1v7mh5MwbBLnRUwcPSpBaEbfap-qnkNpD-ENdFJSjmL0CyFycAxs_MxnkRwwh/s1600/PDDguineapigs.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">During the school
day, as I was rather busy, I didn't have much time for idle observation. However, I did see something I haven’t seen for years: school
pets! <b>Happy school pets.</b> Those three guinea pigs were the most charming, socialised and
well-cared-for pets I’ve ever met, totally comfortable in the children’s arms..
I think I heard rumours of giant snails elsewhere, but I didn’t go searching . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now for the main thing!</span> </b>What I really want to mention was their whole-school initiative., known as <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>"Forest
School.”</b></span> <i>You can find out about it, in general, <a href="http://here./">here at the </a><a href="http://www.forestschoolassociation.org/what-is-forest-school/">The Forest School Association</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Each term, every
school year group makes visits to a designated wooded area nearby, and follows a seasonal
programme. This was not just a lazy walk in the woods. During their
primary years the children would be involved with such activities as:</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Story-making</span></i></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv4bObkX_IHLVm1SddFDEyY6sb592ttVpPyFNJXpG4xTcSM1mA64aNfcemadJI7ZxGbKN5hfPXumSM6zN4mlYeQmbqn8pXLorlKWexFGEtoJEBXyreHSkHISZtvQWB09eShsq3VyFxa_e/s1600/PDDForestschoolfire.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv4bObkX_IHLVm1SddFDEyY6sb592ttVpPyFNJXpG4xTcSM1mA64aNfcemadJI7ZxGbKN5hfPXumSM6zN4mlYeQmbqn8pXLorlKWexFGEtoJEBXyreHSkHISZtvQWB09eShsq3VyFxa_e/s200/PDDForestschoolfire.jpeg" width="193" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Constructing
“fairy houses”.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Identifying
natural materials</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Story boarding
using natural materials</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Using natural
materials to make art.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Tracking in
small groups.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Studying the
living creatures and animal inhabitants.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Constructing
dens</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Constructing
experiments</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Identifying
plants and trees</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Studying maps
and landscape features</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Cooking
outdoors, from marshmallow kebabs to making and lighting fires.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Reading Books,
both non-fiction and fiction, on related topics - from the Gruffalo to Stig of the Dump..</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Record-keeping,
as well as various forms of account and diary writing.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">And real LOG BOOKS – made of split logs, string and laminated paper entries.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Wish I could have taken a picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">And there was much more I didn’t
have time to find out about. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"><b>Think amplified Andy Goldsworthy with much much more attached! </b></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTnKLuyjuubG6o04JGl5IoF8hvXM2xXgSY1apb0s_vZ6VWbMV6C9iaGl4sA3Puaow7HOM9MTUYDH1CnTL9f7TYKFhCa8Phod_M8-TtiV1xv5uhxj620CnD0n2jAhs9LNvw7jtDsppItro/s1600/PDDForestschoolgirl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTnKLuyjuubG6o04JGl5IoF8hvXM2xXgSY1apb0s_vZ6VWbMV6C9iaGl4sA3Puaow7HOM9MTUYDH1CnTL9f7TYKFhCa8Phod_M8-TtiV1xv5uhxj620CnD0n2jAhs9LNvw7jtDsppItro/s320/PDDForestschoolgirl.jpeg" width="239" /></a><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">What I
particularly noticed was the effect on the children’s body language and
behaviour. The children seemed friendly, confident and generally at ease within
the school and classrooms. They did not seem to jostle for territorial space
and for teacher’s attention. They did not “agg” each other. They did not seem full of stress..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">When I commented
on this, the teacher explained that the Forest School programme gave children
opportunities to show and value a wide range of skills and abilities, far more than those
required by a restricted classroom setting. I also felt, as the day went on,
that the Forest School fitted in with the school’s whole philosophy of education.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Certainly, such
stuff costs, so the school is constantly fund raising to help the pupils. I felt
very honoured to be the chosen “author experience”, and hope the children and
staff enjoyed the sessions as much as I did. It is also a brave stand at a time when many schools are cutting out anything but OFSTED requirements - yet this programme had been closely matched against those needs. Yes, it was a very very good day!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd9VeMxipraWBV77UXp4l1y7xz35BVvzcQO_4AqBvvMiiaZxYL6s5MquR5y0Ytge6uLQRrXmphopC3WivhrOV53BN0fHvX7RMdbZTaN0M1N8O6_xse43N8WdRBt8xtB97W7bpr6B3jBir/s1600/PDDhens.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd9VeMxipraWBV77UXp4l1y7xz35BVvzcQO_4AqBvvMiiaZxYL6s5MquR5y0Ytge6uLQRrXmphopC3WivhrOV53BN0fHvX7RMdbZTaN0M1N8O6_xse43N8WdRBt8xtB97W7bpr6B3jBir/s1600/PDDhens.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Over lunchtime, I
watched the children playing in “their” field and clambering on the climbing
frames. I was told about the school garden and observed the fat brown hens
running about in their grassy pen. I must admit it
was wonderful to be there, and I almost wished I wasn’t working just to spend
more time observing and finding out about this hopeful style of education. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">However, teachers, school staff - and children - are all busy people and the day
passed and as I left I was presented with a dozen eggs, laid by the school’s
hens. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WeEqHNvHIv2uCmN7rz1sOHa4JGQ196YK5xjLyQfdLBjoydC4KKPxOu_XIurk9z5NHhv3GQpsKKnFGUEJMPB1SbId3IrUlM5nZtaiet023hreE9wDESK7R2AvK_tleH-SX4QZmp7-912G/s1600/PDDFFRiver.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WeEqHNvHIv2uCmN7rz1sOHa4JGQ196YK5xjLyQfdLBjoydC4KKPxOu_XIurk9z5NHhv3GQpsKKnFGUEJMPB1SbId3IrUlM5nZtaiet023hreE9wDESK7R2AvK_tleH-SX4QZmp7-912G/s1600/PDDFFRiver.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">And over the next few
days, as those twelve good eggs turned into an omelette and more, they reminded me of
a really cheering day, one that I’m smiling about again right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Wishing you all a
good September,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Best wishes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";">Penny</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Bright";"><i>P<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">S.</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">. Rather sadly,
I’ve heard of urban schools who might have been just as interested if their
nearest woodland hadn’t been dangerously full of drug-taking detritus and
similar health hazards. So very, very sad! Nevertheless, it’s
good to share the happy stories too, despite everything.</span></i></div>
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Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-34102268484604987082013-08-19T07:09:00.002-07:002013-08-19T07:09:13.644-07:00HELLO AGAIN!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Yes, hello again! </span></b></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now my holiday's over, I’ve checked my diary - and it's mid-August already. It's almost <i><b>SEPTEMBER
2013</b></i>, and <b><i>the start of the new school year. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_U1Xpke1pnLLzbtJZgJIXrr5fCTVHDiKxS-aTGe_ZSPxlKl8YqczKKugUdTUb_CAsEDOo67dK0sG1c7C1ggZlQYNQVQ1Ygdxy-YH7so8ryUuTIkuHkmRsuZYiHqsbLjpdh8t-rwN-2eu/s1600/PDDCompass.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_U1Xpke1pnLLzbtJZgJIXrr5fCTVHDiKxS-aTGe_ZSPxlKl8YqczKKugUdTUb_CAsEDOo67dK0sG1c7C1ggZlQYNQVQ1Ygdxy-YH7so8ryUuTIkuHkmRsuZYiHqsbLjpdh8t-rwN-2eu/s320/PDDCompass.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Suddenly I feel a shudder of anticipation, a tingle of tension. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Suddenly I feel an odd need to rush out and find a new geometry set, one with all its plastic
pieces and a working compass and a pencil with what seems like poor quality lead for drawing with, or so it seems.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Even though I haven’t used a geometry set for decades, and may not have been able to, even then.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The glorious end of August
teases with its Bank Holiday weekend, but the days call for urgent positive action. <b><i>Yes, come on, come on, you! Hurry up! The lazy days are almost over!</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is a time to take stock, to get
organised, to make plans for the year ahead. The days grow bracing, invigorating and
purposeful, and so on. If you let them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I admit that I enjoy this fortnight almost as much as I enjoy January's New Year. It's a time for pretending that the purchase of new stationery will bring a whole personality change.A time for hoping that the
emptying of cupboards and re-ordering of filing cabinets might bring a clear, creative, psychic
space. These are days when one can half-believe in the resurrection of dreams and intentions. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, in this cheery postive spirit,
I dared to glimpse at my long-ignored Penny Dolan Diary once again. <i><b>Aaaagh!</b> </i>I saw a Silent Blog, an Unattended Page, the Very Ghost of a Social
Presence. <b><i>How had so much time passed?</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If this was a real world diary, I could blow away dust and dried-up spider skins and maybe a crushed petal or
two. But the blogosphere doesn’t carry such
mementos, not yet. Yet the diary’s pages are opened, and here I
am, staring at the blank screen again. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUC_c1oTgUBnURS4jx063c7pv5aYV1WkQUhYwDrkFs7c2bx1KD0HASMjpDoZFDZVyA_p4rHaAuSw9V5XpVZG50bLiN_P3YBykToF1WO5FAnSuJfmJVogxY7_cvwKqw0sI0hSk3a6qf0xUp/s1600/PDDshoes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUC_c1oTgUBnURS4jx063c7pv5aYV1WkQUhYwDrkFs7c2bx1KD0HASMjpDoZFDZVyA_p4rHaAuSw9V5XpVZG50bLiN_P3YBykToF1WO5FAnSuJfmJVogxY7_cvwKqw0sI0hSk3a6qf0xUp/s320/PDDshoes.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I haven’t been totally idle, people. I’ve been busy
with writerly projects and visiting various schools, from Stockton to Sussex. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I’ve even spent time away in
India, storytelling and talking about books at the wonderful Bookaroo
Children’s Literature Festival in Delhi. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I’ve been blogging elsewhere, too: posting
on the History Girls blog, writing for An Awfully Big Blog
Adventure.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've been looking after the rota for Awfully Big Reviews, ABBA’s partner
blog, and reviewing there, of course. Not totally silent, not quite.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But now I’m back here, standing in my
uncomfortable new start-of-term shoes, with some hopes of getting the <b>Penny
Dolan's Diary</b> rolling again, even if in a rather random way - so watch out for a few thoughts, grumblings and mumblings.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a few good friends often say:<b> "Onward!"</b></span></i><br />
<br />
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Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-72997388960810217982012-03-15T05:08:00.000-07:002012-03-15T05:08:22.815-07:00WORLD BOOK DAY GREETINGS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D2FAEMskB7bNibGrXDSNFXJsGrdtZ7_4rIMMZh8rAQzxu3gD3hZWgoBbwm4HOqU8FUygcYh5bLAwfff3atN6NbIunKMEaevDlX2GFYF5rToUKybk5LaC-2fXD8K8tJtQE8M-hCZ3BEph/s1600/2012Mousepbkcover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="278" width="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D2FAEMskB7bNibGrXDSNFXJsGrdtZ7_4rIMMZh8rAQzxu3gD3hZWgoBbwm4HOqU8FUygcYh5bLAwfff3atN6NbIunKMEaevDlX2GFYF5rToUKybk5LaC-2fXD8K8tJtQE8M-hCZ3BEph/s320/2012Mousepbkcover.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
I am currently rethinking this old blog of mine but will not bore you here. However, before the big and as yet unknown shift, I want to say hello to some of the lovely people and places visited over the last month and a bit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So here – ta –da! - are the hugest of greetings to everyone at:<br />
<br />
<b>Armley Library!<br />
<br />
Farley Junior School, Leeds!<br />
<br />
Christ Church Primary School, Upper Armley, Leeds!<br />
<br />
Waterloo Primary School, Pudsey!<br />
<br />
Holy Trinity Primary School, Cookridge!<br />
<br />
Barmby Moor Primary, Pocklington!</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bolton-on-Swale St Mary’s Primary School, Scorton, Richmond!<br />
<br />
St Roberts Catholic Primary School, Harrogate!<br />
<br />
St James Primary School, Allerton, Bradford!</b><br />
<br />
I've had lots of nice World Book Day times and hope you all did too. Thank you for welcoming me, looking after me – and I hope you enjoy my books too.<br />
<br />
Happy Reading!<br />
<br />
www.pennydolan.comPenny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-41653433057467225822011-12-04T13:14:00.000-08:002011-12-04T13:15:17.050-08:00Musing and Ranting: The Bright Light of Technology?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc0-Tj2JeNMgFJlzELugrFmIGmN8eaOzj9gDWZNNN3f3kBdB3Ez6HpXFRx_MEyE9jEn7QpSmQk6nB1a0IsLfoxhuh8zv3QWqZZLL6TSo3vyELGU6MR3zCxBarNgL3FfZJB37xsff5Q5q6/s1600/lightbulb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc0-Tj2JeNMgFJlzELugrFmIGmN8eaOzj9gDWZNNN3f3kBdB3Ez6HpXFRx_MEyE9jEn7QpSmQk6nB1a0IsLfoxhuh8zv3QWqZZLL6TSo3vyELGU6MR3zCxBarNgL3FfZJB37xsff5Q5q6/s320/lightbulb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<i>“Use Powerpoint!”</i> That was what I’d heard from so many people: writers, teachers, artists and various publicity people.<br />
<br />
So I set to work. I collected an interesting set of images to act as background to some of the moments in my book, A BOY CALLED M.O.U.S.E. <br />
<br />
The set included photographs old and new, landscapes and people, coloured pictures and black & white drawings. A whole variety of visual images, in fact. I wanted to illustrate, through the range of source material, how many different moments can be gathered together to inspire a book and to show that these were mine. <br />
<br />
When I talk about my book, I don’t – <i>honestly!</i> - just show the slides and drone on. And on. I stop to ask questions and involve the children. I narrate some parts of the novel and read short extracts most dramatically. If there’s time, I play a game or two. When the whole thing works clearly - and it has, it has - the sessions are very good. <br />
<br />
However, when - once or twice - this hasn’t worked, the feeling of disappointment is for more than myself. I get cross too, especially as the “not-working” has never been because of a faulty memory stick or problems with the computer itself. It’s been a problem that I hadn’t expected, not in schools now, and it has inspired this rant: the quality of the available light<br />
<br />
Travelling around, even with advance notice to the organisers, I have at times ended up with projector lamps and lenses so grimy with age that any subtle or complex images seem faint. How do the schools and the pupils manage, now that so much is done via the interactive white-board? Is this wealth creation for the opticians? <br />
<br />
I an sure this is definitely not the bright white light of technology. It is the ageing, uncared-for end when the projector beam seems to be drenched with nicotine. <br />
<br />
Not only but also there is the matter of the screens. How they vary! I have met vast wonderful double-screen systems as well as some opposites: a narrow section of grubby off-pink wall or a screen made up of paper taped together. And this is without any conflict caused by daylight streaming directly in to the space. <br />
<br />
Get a mix of these factors – say, a dim light plus a tiny blemished screen and a large dining hall and the Powerpoint just doesn’t work. It is not wonderful. My carefully illustrative images end up too faded for the audience to see. This is not quite the cutting edge of modern technological provision I’d expected. <br />
<br />
Add in another few crinkles in the circumstances. Now I once believed that the organisers know and understand the space they have given me, as the venue may not be free for me to enter until the last moment. This can be when the technology person rushes in to set things up and I glimpse something of what my audience will be facing on the “big” - not the laptop - screen. It can also be the moment when the eager audience is arriving and the point when the Show Must Go On.<br />
<br />
When there’s clear, bright light projected and a good wide screen ahead, my collection of images works very well. When there isn’t, both heart and eyes fail. <br />
<br />
I have had the wit, at such times, to revert to Plan B and step out of the Powerpoint. Yet it’s not always easy to slip in a flash of light from a talk with a fixed running order into the freer form of author talk.<br />
<br />
But, unless those bright lights start shining, it’s back to my old, bold style of session I’m heading.Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-71684294218072083172011-11-17T07:44:00.000-08:002011-11-17T07:49:51.257-08:00Greeting & Musing : A School A Shop and Alice.Odd drive on Tuesday morning as something was wrong with the car - now happily sorted - but by heavens, not what you want in busy traffic on the way to a school ooking.<br />
<br />
So thanks to everyone at Norton Primary School, Malton, North Yorkshire, for welcoming me and for making the day enjoyable after all, and to Mary Marlowe who arranged the day and let me tell stories o=in the lovely library too.<br />
<br />
Lovely drive in the sunshine today to the Little Ripon Bookshop, collecting a box of books for an author event I'm organising and very much looking forward to: Emma Barnes talking about her book "How (Not) To Make Bad Children Good".<br />
<br />
Also ended up collecting several lovely and longed for books for myself, including an "Alice" with Mervyn Peake's illustrations. Excuses? One: I don't like the nasty, dingy look of my own childhood copy. Two: I can't find the alternative: our copy of "The Annotated Alice". Three: It's the next but one title for my grown-up Book Group. But I just wanted the pictures really. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PnNzZ70KfGXu5_posJStpA4DFJiFprbe1QcGf4jxzJlYPGV2TstJ6o16WXtQz88c4OYNMwH7Pw7HvRcT2Nq-wAknwfVaBT2iykY-PVNcgpi6ieXN-rFsSZT-5StyCrr_euoXPvtPpoDs/s1600/Alice2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="283" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PnNzZ70KfGXu5_posJStpA4DFJiFprbe1QcGf4jxzJlYPGV2TstJ6o16WXtQz88c4OYNMwH7Pw7HvRcT2Nq-wAknwfVaBT2iykY-PVNcgpi6ieXN-rFsSZT-5StyCrr_euoXPvtPpoDs/s320/Alice2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
In fact, Lewis Carroll did lodge in Ripon for some of his life and enthusiasts have claimed that the twisting tunnel below Ripon Cathedral was the inspiration for that famous rabbit hole. <br />
<br />
I now have a deep and mysterious hole in my bank account.Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-29746765441673866992011-11-14T15:19:00.000-08:002011-11-14T15:19:30.501-08:00Greetings - And a Transformation SpellLast week I had a most interesting Writing Day at East Ardsley Primary School, working on writing on the theme of Ancient Egypt. Many thanks to everyone involved, especially the children. <br />
<br />
Here's something that Year 6 and I made, based on an Egyptian myth. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH3cT2RjOsULeLzTtAW0eKE8Kk2qLtvMDBTSjvkn3Y8IBzwPrfnmnRehCc9hnSCo8ArSnjHwd98gyC650uH3OCePGNUtvEiTqwER4DsDDUD5zXfpViTFN0dzssx5-FX-XZIjBhwBn0QpA/s1600/Hathor.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="260" width="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUH3cT2RjOsULeLzTtAW0eKE8Kk2qLtvMDBTSjvkn3Y8IBzwPrfnmnRehCc9hnSCo8ArSnjHwd98gyC650uH3OCePGNUtvEiTqwER4DsDDUD5zXfpViTFN0dzssx5-FX-XZIjBhwBn0QpA/s320/Hathor.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
THE SPELL OF AMUN-RE<br />
Spoken to transform the gentle Cow Goddess Hathor<br />
into the Goddess Sekhmet the Lioness.<br />
<br />
O GENTLE HATHOR!<br />
May your soft breath steam with vengeance!<br />
May your teeth turn sharp as spears!<br />
May your tongue long for the taste of blood!<br />
<br />
May your eyes blaze like rubies with rage!<br />
May your paws lash like a crash of<br />
thunder!<br />
May your claws slash like swords in battle!<br />
May your skin shine as bright as the burning sun!<br />
<br />
May those who spy you approaching - <br />
O GREAT SEKHMET! <br />
Scream with FEAR! FEAR! FEAR!<br />
<br />
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www.pennydolan.comPenny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-19803754126740774912011-10-16T02:22:00.000-07:002011-10-16T02:43:58.562-07:00Greetings - Travels South & NorthVery happy to be at home at my desk this Sunday morning, catching up on some oddments of admin before going out to bring in the poor houseplants in case the frost arrives. (There's a nasty dark sky gathering out there, despite the sunshine.)<br />
But before ticking off the last items on the list, I have some thanks to shout out about.<br />
<br />
As I've been travelling between Wiltshire and Yorkshire, I've added two white horses, one for each county.<br />
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Distant "thank you!" waves to some lovely schools in Wiltshire: to PINEWOOD SCHOOL, Boughton; to ST. MICHAEL'S CofE PRIMARY SCHOOL, Aldbourne and to ST GABRIELS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, Newbury. Thank you all for being such great audiences and listening to me chatting about my books. Extra special cheers for all the school ibrarians and to the wonderful people of ALDBOURNE CHILDREN'S BOOK GROUP who helped with the whole week, as well as to KAREN HELLEWELL for supplying my books for the book stalls. (I was able to sneak a happy day out to meet up with some writing friends too!)<br />
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This week was busy too, so author greetings to the Year 3 pupils and staff at EAST ARDSLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL, Leeds where we all had a brilliant STORYTELLING DAY with some African and Australian tales, and also to BRAEBURN JUNIOR SCHOOL, Eastfield, Scarborough - a bit of a dash through all the classes but I hope you all enjoyed the moment!Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-41202203197702455902011-10-09T05:24:00.000-07:002011-10-09T05:24:59.391-07:00Musing: The Archers - an Everyday Story of Literacy Attack.Dum de dum de dum de dum . . . Every Sunday morning, my dear mum listened to “The Archers” as she busied herself in the kitchen. Even though my housekeeping is not in any way as timetabled, I often find myself listening to the Archers Omnibus, possibly as a gentle way of hanging on to long gone moments. <br />
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" 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" /></a></div><br />
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I’m not an addict of the Archers and the programme and the characters annoy and amuse me in less than equal measures. Yet as a writer, I love playing the “predict-the-plot” game and musing on what is being set up for future episodes. <br />
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However I’m always angered by the script-writer’s apparent anti-book scenes and sniping about readers and reading.. There’s a kind of recurring sub-text that suggests “how stupid is it for anyone to spend time reading” and often adds a bitter note to the programmes<br />
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I’d endured boring David & Ruth’s choice of boring books for their children which never seemed to move beyond moaning about having to read a boring Postman Pat book over again. “Get to the mobile library van, fools!” I’d shout, although now we’re all in Austerity Ambridge, that’s no longer a likely scene.<br />
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Besides, why do only the most self-obsessed snobs like Jenny & Linda & Jim Lloyd seem to have the reading habit? The rest fret about any hint of reading, and truly worthy characters prefer cooking and baking and growing flowers. Although Usha the good lawyer reads, she is such a token character that it hardly counts. <br />
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Reading is hard and mysterious. Someone makes up appalling rhymes that are regarded with awe. The script for any village panto is mocked until the good folk “make it their own” by changing the words to make it easier to read. Computers are machines of wonder, literacy for all. All comedic but – harrumph!<br />
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Just at the moment there are three especially annoying Book Threads.<br />
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The Village Book Club is one. I’m sure this Club has never chosen a book that people have simply enjoyed. Books mean angst over catering or unsuitable or tactless content. The most recent book of choice was Mistress of the Paddock – a title that tells all. Yes, Book Groups are a pretentious & misguided waste of time for all involved. And a good chance for some anti-book moaning.<br />
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Then there are authors and their awful presumption. At the moment, this is exemplified by two dreadful yuppies – Leonie and James – who rish into scenes now and again, loudly setting up photo-images for a book they are writing about the village. So not only are books irrelevant and silly, so is anyone who is involved with books & writing. They are likely to cause an unwelcome stir. More moaning.<br />
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Then there was today’s kick-a book example. The broadcast included middle aged but youthful Kenton moving into his boxes into beloved barmaid Jolene’s pub. <br />
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So we had the “aghast at too many books” moment followed by the “grumbling about space on the bookshelf” moment. Cheery Kenton’s okay, though. Some of the boxes weren’t books after all! They were comics and magazines after all. Ho ho! Kenton’s a regular guy after all! Grrr!<br />
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I’m now waiting for the imminent “Hey, I got me a Kindle!” scene. Can’t be long coming. Oh, Ambridge script-writers, what have you got against reading?Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9004789641169408642.post-47331983517814138212011-09-19T10:37:00.000-07:002011-09-19T10:37:10.748-07:00Greetings: Back from a Big & Busy Book TourIt's definitely a Greeting Post today. In fact a whole heap of greetings and thanks to staff and children and librarians and booksellers. I spent last week touring <i>A BOY CALLED MOUSE<b></b></i> across Yorkshire and Lancashire.<br />
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On <b>MONDAY</b> I had an extremely windy journey on very windy roads (any points for that clever word usage there?) across from Yorkshire to <b>LYTHAM ST. ANNE’S,</b> where the sand swept from the dunes across the coast road. All I saw of the sea were glimpses of choppy grey waves. <br />
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I was there because Katie & Carolyn Clapham of the lovely children’s bookshop <b>STORYTELLERS INC.</b> had set up a morning visit to Year 6 at <b>HEYHOUSES C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL</b> and an afternoon visit to Years 5&6 at <b>ANSDELL PRIMARY SCHOOL.</b> What a nice time I had - and such cheerful audiences! The A59 was scattered with broken branches, twigs and scurrying leaves but I got home safely. Thank you, Storytellers Inc and everyone at both these schools!<br />
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On <b>TUESDAY</b> I went down the A1 to <b>ROTHERHAM</b>, where I was welcomed with huge (and flattering) enthusiasm by the staff and Yr 6 children of <b>WATH C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL</b>. A really brilliant morning! Then down the MI a bit to meet the excellent Yr 5 classes at <b>ANSTON HILLCREST PRIMARY SCHOOL</b> for the afternoon. Greetings all, and thanks to Gemma Books for supplying the bookstock.<br />
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I wasn’t even trudging around by myself as usual. Emma Bradshaw, from <b>BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS</b> came to make sure the week started well for me, although she’d already done masses of arranging by phone and email. It was great chatting to Emma, but on Tuesday night she set off south to catch up at the office work and get ready for the YLG Conference. Emma is a mightily busy person!<br />
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On <b>WEDNESDAY,</b> I was much nearer home in Leeds, visiting <b>GREENHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL</b> in the morning and <b>IVESON PRIMARY SCHOOL</b> in the afternoon – a huge wave of thanks to you all! Over lunchtime, I had a sneaky peek at the various books on the School Library Service shelves. Many thanks to the lovely librarians for arranging this day for me and to Rory of <b>RADISH,</b> the eco-bookshop in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, who brought along copies of my books for children to buy.<br />
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I had to wake up bright and early on <b>THURSDAY </b>as it was a three-venue day. At 9am, I arrived at <b>ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE</b> in Stockton to cut the yellow ribbon and open <b>SPARC</b>, the new library & resource centre that Mrs Bellwood the Librarian had worked so hard over the summer getting ready. Some of the Yr 7 pupils were there and I read a quick extract from Mouse and was presented with a huge bouquet of flowers. What a nice surprise and almsot as nice was hearing the news that A Boy Called MOUSE would be one of the Library Reading Group titles later this term. Wonder what they’ll think of my book?<br />
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It was definitely as day of two halves, IT wise, although both were enjoyable. My first session about MOUSE wasn't in the Library which is being renovated but in <b>STOCKTON LIBRARY LECTURE HALL.</b> A bright new room it was, with two screens to show my powerpoint presentation either side of the room, and a tiny pen thingy I could click for the next slide. Even the chairs impressed the children, with the mix of toning purple and deep purple upholstery. The Year 6’s of <b>ST BEDE’S RC PRIMARY and OXBRIDGE PRIMARY</b> made such a great audience!<br />
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Then on to <b>THORNABY LIBRARY</b>, a sixties building in the shopping centre which is quite iconic for authors. This - pre-austerity - was where the <b>Public Lending Rights</b> Offices were based. Despite best efforts by the library team, daylight blazed in though the library’s plate glass window, bleaching out all the slides. So I went back to my usual method of Voice Only, plus a few pics and props and a good time was had by all, I think! The Year 6's from <b>THORNABY C of E PRIMARY</b> and <b>CHRIST THE KING RC PRIMARY </b>were excellent fun!<br />
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FRIDAY was the last day of my BOY CALLED MOUSE tour. There I was on the A59 again, driving over towards Preston once more. In the morning I met a crowd of Year 7’s and visiting Year 6’s at <b>CORPUS CHRIST COLLEGE,</b> and in the afternoon I was over at <b>OUR LADY’S HIGH SCHOOL</b>, talking to the Year 6 pupils from nearby primary schools. Many thanks to Mrs Lavelle & to Mrs Pomford who arranged the school sessions.<br />
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Thanks also to the last bookshop on my tour, the wonderful <b>SILVERDELL BOOKSHOP</b> in Kirkham, who not only supplied copies of my MOUSE book but also an essential tub of their award-winning and delicious ice-cream for my lunch - admittedly at my beseeching. <i>I had a sudden and tough case of Talkers Throat, don’t you know?</i><br />
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Then it was Friday night at last. I had survived, so out for a lovely end-of week celebration with Them Home Here, walking not driving. Yes, on Saturday I rested mightily. Huge thanks to everyone for a most memorable week!Penny Dolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16386668303428008498noreply@blogger.com2