Recovering...

Three of the intrepid Dystonia team

Well it's Wednesday and I am still recovering a bit from the after effects of the Keswick to Barrow Walk...a sprain and shin splints and I don't even remember hurting myself! However it was a very good day! A fantastic day weather-wise and as usual a feel good day too. Lots of people turned out for lots of charities and causes, including 5 dystonia teams and one for Bluebirds Study Centre. There will be pictures on the K2B website and in the NW Evening Mail soon which captures the essence of the day. We will hopefully raise a substantial amount for our charity and will have raised awareness too.

Headaches and sore feet

Final sorting out of the teams for the Keswick to Barrow Walk-it has been a nightmare to be honest! Quite a headache!People changing their minds, pulling out, adding in, needing bus seats, I feel quite dizzy with it all. But then organising nearly 70 people was never gonna be easy! 5 teams for Dystonia and one for Bluebirds Study Centre-So Friday-I give out tags, t shirts and bus tickets and then we are sorted! Our bus leaves promptly at 4am Saturday morning and we should be tagging through the barriers at 5-30-ish at Keswick. Weather forecast looks ok-maybe a little shower in the afternoon-but hey we've had worse!


So back to the preparations-buying copious amounts of water, compede and snacks for the support cars-and then there's Sarah and Wendy's Snack Shop which provides out bacon and sausage butties at Dunmail Raise. So I will blog on Sunday when I'm nursing my sore feet (hope not) an will have photos of the action along the way. Oh and I am still available to sponsor on the link below-go on you know you want to!!!
http://www.keswick2barrow.co.uk/sponsor/welcome.asp?ID=60

Abbey treasure, hoards, signings and walks

At signing at Preston Waterstones with happy customer

Getting the next few weeks sorted out some kind invitations to do signings for new book "Guy the Grumpy Gargoyle" and "Out of Time" and  more school bookings. Just at the right time because I felt a bit worried that things were stalling somewhat. However I still need to get my marketing strategy right and I recognise this is not my forte! I need a PA -preferably who would do the phoning for love and get me a serious touring calendar  sorted! I know it is crucial and I will have to address it and not keep getting distracted!

Exciting days ahead-we have the viewing of the fantastic abbey finds and the viking hoard (Dock Mseum)...I can't wait and will be at the abbey first thing tomorrow! I will be down there at the Abbey Cafe too-Jackie has kindly agreed to my signing copies of the book in conjunction with the exhibition so hopefully a few visitors from further afield will show an interest!

Some of the Dystonia teams 2011 K2B

However, I will be squeezing in a short practice walk for the Keswick to Barrow walk which is next weekend. Sponsorship has gone well-but if anyone would like to sponsor me do get in touch-I'm walking in aid of dystonia and am in charge of 5 teams this year plus one for Bluebirds Study Centre. So next week expect a blog about the experiences on the day and hopefully pictures too! Its special too because the first walk I did in 2006 was on 12 May-which was my dad's birthday and the first one after we lost him...which made it quite emotional...and its the 12th again this year...so this one is for him (he would be gob smacked at me doing this because I was always very sport and exercise averse much to his disappointment). If you're about next week look out for the lovely green dystonia t shirts and give us a beep or a wave! This week is...

Even more visits...

Busy week again-which is nice. The first half of the week we were interviewing new students for Bluebirds Study Centre and then I had a spectacular visit to Lindale Primary School near Grange over Sands.The children were extremely inventive and imaginative and we had a great time. So much so that I am returning in February for another day-working with KS1 and Reception as well. I will take photos of the views next time-they were quite breathtaking! The phone and internet were off this week which made communication difficult-but it didn't stop some more bookings coming in-so it looks like  will be busy over the next few weeks! I registered our teams for the 40 mile Keswick to Barrow walk this week-we will have 5 teams for Dystonia and 1 for Bluebirds Study Centre (in memory of a little chap called Cameron who sadly died at the age of 6). So the training begins in earnest-I can't wait-been out a few times but we need to stretch it to a longer walk now-a trip over Kirkby moor beckons I think!

New book on its way

Finished the final illustrations for Guy the Grumpy Gargoyle and will be packing them up to go off to the publisher on Monday. This book has already been tested out on the Foundation and Key Stage 1 at a local school-Dalton St Mary's-the verdict was very positive so all that remains is to get the publicity right! I will be preparing to visit schools, this time younger pupils and I am looking forward to it.


At Bluebirds Study Centre we will be welcoming some more students to the Teaching Assistant course later this month. There are some other projects in the pipe line so it looks as though we are getting back to where we were-even if its a slow progress. We still need significant funds and donors but this will have to be a gradual improvement-but at least we can see that we have a small growth in business!So lots more hard work ahead...oh and writing too. 

                                     Guy the Grumpy Gargoyle looking sad

tis the season to be jolly

Not a lot to report -busy chasing my tail. Bluebirds Study Centre looks as though we will have some more opportunities in the new year to follow up. Hopefully we can get back to full strength over the next few months.
I have a growing list of bookings for my diary for new year too which is good news. I have just about completed the pictures for Guy the Grumpy Gargoyle-just a couple of tweaks! Then its off to Troubador Publishing to be sorted. Next job finish off the last chapters of Raven's Hoard-job for the holidays. A weekend of partying this weekend-family and friends celebrating my daughter's 18th birthday! Then some hard work over Christmas-ringing stores and writing and of course-blogging!

new projects

Wow!Ages since Ive blogged but Ive been busy, busy ,busy! The BlueBirds Study Centre@ Barrow AFC is taking off slowly but surely-but we are definitely seeing light at the end of the tunnel! Long may it go on! Ive been planning, writing and creating educational packs to go with the book. And its bee a bit worrying this week as our grandson Noah was very poorly requiring a hospital visit. Glad to report hes fine again now-but nevertheless it was a scary few days.
Ive got on well with the education pack and its nearly finished-and will become available very soon! Written more of Ravens Hoard and because Im visiting Dalton St Marys

www.daltonstmarys.cumbria.sch.uk on Wednesday and working with ALL year groups Ive had to create a little story more appropriate to the younger age group. Its called "Guy the Grumpy Gargoyle" and the prototype will be tried out on Wednesday! If it goes down well I will need to look into getting it published! The hubby liked it...so hopefully the youngsters will too!lol

Visits upcoming: tomorrow 2pm at Trinity church centre Barrow  in Furness www.urc.org.uk/church/view?church  a talk to the Civic Society www.barrowhistorysociety.org.uk a bit scary but looking forward to it! Next week on Monday 3rd at 7-30 at the Dock Museum, FOR www.furnessfhs.co.uk
 a talk-on a previous book which I wrote about the history of Victoria Infant School Barrow and obviously Out of Time. Wednesday Im at Dalton ST Marys for the whole day and a book signing afterwards! Busy week but thats how I like it!

Weekend busy too with Uni visits for my daughter Freya! And Saturday Im at The Coronation Hall Ulverston www.corohall.co.uk/events/community-events/2011-coffee-mornings.aspx   AT the Rotary Fair where Im having a stall for Dystonia. Three new prospective members this week! My book will soon be on Dystonia Society website-and Im donating £1.99 per book to the society. Dnt know what dystonia is? Check out http://www.dystonia.co.uk/ my husband has suffered with this for 15 years and we have made many friends through the great support network the society provides. Well that just about covers it for now-any spelling errors due to a small Baileys to celebrate 32 years of marriage today!

what a week!

Still reeling from the 2 bits of bad news-first about the fire at Dowdales-a local school and then about Crooklands Garden Centre, Dalton where a fire broke out next door and damaged the Garden centre. Really sad news-but glad nobody was seriously hurt. Hope Crooklands gets up and running quickly.
Some good news(for me) is that Out of Time is now out on Kindle etc! Thats quite exciting really and I hope sales will be boosted because of it!
Bookings still coming in and these will be posted on the website soon I hope.Sadly the Eskdale Show is cancelled due to the weather forecast-which is a shame, but some others coming up soon to replace it.
Writing is coming along nicely and I now have a working title Time Lapse, Raven's Hoard! Think thats ok-but may change it.
Good piece in the Evening Mail tonight about the Bluebirds Study Centre re-opening. We are off the ground again-but still need a large cash injection to make us more viable. Few items in the pipeline and feeling positive! Just as well because it seems Mr Gove is spending Pupil Premium on plugging the deficit and on his new 2 weeks holiday scheme to help "disadvantaged" pupils...sound familiar? Rebranding of the worst kind!
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happy days

love days like to day. Started really positively and just got better and better. Our first real session at Bluebirds Study Centre At Barrow AFC began with 7 Teaching Assistant students and we had good news re the new funding streams-thank goodness! So everyone was happy. Then I got a phonecall with more good news-which will become apparent at a later date! Add to that a bit of baby sitting for our grandson Noah, and you have an almost perfect day. Then a call to order 7 copies of Out of Time! Can't be bad! Certainly lifts my mood being gainfully employed:)
Interesting piece on C4 News-about the difficulty new authors have in getting their work into print. A new idea called Unbound where authors can put their proposed story/book to be judged by readers, who subscribe to allow it to be published! Good idea! I'm a bit ahead of this and can't fault Troubador Publishing Ltd. They've been second to none and have been brilliant at marketing. However, I still need to increase my reach and marketing beyond Cumbria. I've said before that I find this aspect of authorship hard-but onward and upward. There is movement and certainly the book is selling well. I can't wait until Out of Time is out on Kindle etc-very exciting and think this may well increase sales in an arena as yet unexplored. Tour dates are developing and I have 2 signings at Waterstones soon...so it's watch this space!

busy and moving forward

Interesting day-bit of movement on the Bluebirds Study centre front! We will be starting a Teaching Assistant course and a History Detectives course this month...watch this space.
Sadly another story which proves that the understanding of dystonia is still a long way off. We met a lady who has just lost her job because she has dystonia! We were incensed that such discrimination can exist-and this in a company apparently who is an"equality" provider! Seems we must carry on trying to get people to recognise dystonia-check out http://www.dystonia.org.uk/ for more information
With regard to book news...-Walney library on 28 October, author visit and talk, queries from 2 schools and interest from a couple of outlets! Looking forward to it:)