What British summertime should be like

Had a really lovely day today at Kirkby Gala. I was lucky enough to be invited by friends...not old friends...but good friends nevertheless...Patrick Corbett and Anne...who I met through a mutual passion for Furness Abbey. You sometimes meet people who you instantly connect with and its like you are already old friends-well these are two such people. They are generous and open, artistic and talented and powerfully imaginative. Together they provide art tuition and are incredible artists-I am in awe of their work...as a Sunday painter...I can only admire. You can check out Patrick's website atwww.limnstudio.co.uk/‎

I had a pitch today next to theirs and was fascinated to watch them creating amazing illuminated letters with a captivated audience of children. I was pleased to sell a lot of books today and engaged with many interesting people. I even saw some old friends...and met children who had the books already and was even asked to have my photo with a lovely young lady called Imogen. 

The whole day was delightful with all of the traditional things you would expect...cakes and tea, puppet shows, competitions, flowers, jam, local history, stalls and so much more...and even a stray Dalek-which made my grandson Noah's day! It was a brilliant day-community based and well supported-hats off to the organisers. Additonally, we had lots of publicity over the tannoy from Jonathan Lee (NWEM) telling people about the upcoming   Medieval Fair at Furness Abbey on 31 August! Lots of interest and a nice starter for my summer tour of fetes, fairs and galas...

Noah and the Dalek

Everything you need to know about book signings...

Hello-long time no blog!-In short-completed K2B walk, got 7 year tankard,very busy, had shingles, had new grandchild, got another new job...no time management skills!

I have been back on the road today signing books at one of my favourite Waterstones-Carlise! I always feel so welcome there and the staff are very supportive. In between signing I had a bit of head space and was able to untangle a few ideas and prepare for writing again...which has been impossible recently! I couldn't help but muse about the nature of signing...

me waiting for customers at Carlisle Waterstones todayVTech Kidizoom Twist Camera Blue (Google Affiliate Ad)VTech Kidizoom Twist Camera Pink (Google Affiliate Ad)Vivitar V20 2MP Digital Camera - Black (Google Affiliate Ad)Vivitar V5119 5MP Digital Camera - Black (Google Affiliate Ad)

You are sitting (usually) surrounded by copies of your book (s) in the middle of thousands of titles written by much more famous authors than you-intimidating in itself! You look at the shelves groaning under the weight of books of all shapes, sizes and genres-wondering how all these authors managed to gain a book deal...wondering how they market themselves...wondering-as you dont recognise many of their names how they get their book out there and tempt readers to buy...when you notice your first prospective customer.

They hover, smile nervously...then walk past...
Its fascinating watching the human being in all its guises.
There's the one who catches sight of you early on...sticks their head in the air and almost runs past...
Then there's the one in the cloak of invisibilty...they pretend they aren't there and refuse to give eye contact....
or you become invisible and this customer sails past, the air rippling with the speed of their transit past your table...
The old friend approach...a smile and a nod...enought o raise hope in your breast...and then they too walk by on the other side...but on returning...give you a silently mouthed goodbye and cute wave...
The tutter...glares at you, sneers at the book as he/she saunters past tutting with derision
The "Im not taking a leaflet-it may well infect me with plague" attitude...
Then...at last...one engages in conversation...asks all about the book...enquires about the career...the success...the genre...and says either "Oh kids books/dont have anyone that age/dont like fantasy etc" or "ok thak you-well done"
Next...the roadrunner...on track to bump into your table...at the last minute...veers off to the side, back or round another display to avoid you
Of course my particular favourite is the teaser...looks interested gives you eye contact and then leaves...but just as you lose hope...comes back and gets three copies signed for little Ethel, Fred and Cynthia...
Best of all...the dear old lady who takes your bookmark/leaflet, listens to the spiel and then says..."Have you got that book on Carlisle/ Barrow/ Crewe-or wherever?" You say-"Er no I dont work here Im an author signing theses books..." "Oh well Ill ask at the desk then!"
But better still the person who chats, looks interested, takes the leaflet, gets a book and really engages with you as a person...you want to swop emails and keep in touch!

So...be ready for a roller coaster of emotions, hope, pleasure, irritation, surprise, gratitude...and enjoy! Human nature in all its glory!

Countdown to 47th Keswick to Barrow Walk

   

                                                                                                                                

Busy week ahead-meeting re some FAF business...all very exciting, work and writing and then sorting our wonderful K2B teams out for Saturday. This will be a challenge with 80 walkers-drinks, first aid, food and transport...and ID tags and t shirts to be given out.

K2B or Keswick to Barrow Walk is a fantastic charity event home-grown here in Barrow! Its been going for 46 years-47 this year and has raised phenomenal amounts yet is not well known away from Furness and Cumbria. I will be attempting my 8th walk and if I complete will have 7 under my belt! It sounds a long way and it is! Its 40 miles of undulating, hard lake-land terrain-taking in some of the most beautiful countryside along the way. At one point it rises over 1000 feet and we are privileged to walk the full length of Coniston Water. Its hard, tiring and sometimes painful...but it is for good causes and local charities.

The feeling on the day is fantastic-the companionship, good nature and friendly buzz is electrifying and for one day at least one can reflect on how amazing and good hearted human beings are. The rewards are as many as you want-you can raise large amounts for your chosen charity or can donate into the generic pot. 

Money is shared to help local schools, groups, charities and larger causes like the Hospice, Alice Escapes and Motor Neurone Disease-ours is the lesser known Dystonia Society-a neurological condition. Our local group has had the privilege to receive money for our cause for about 12 years and we have had walkers or teams for 10. We have raised amazing amounts of sponsorship and this year have 2 Coniston to Barrow teams and 5 Keswick to Barrow teams. Its a fantastic day and everyone gets out what they put in...but at the end of the day it is fun, challenging and hugely gratifying-which is why I keep on doing it.

Dreamers, sillyhearts and toddlers

Just when you think you won't be political any more and just when you think this government cannot prove they are any more out of touch with reality than we first thought...they prove you wrong! 

This new haridan-Elizabeth Truss...yes I know she sounds like a Roald Dahl character...but she is a Childcare Minister of our "elected" government-has announced with stunning clarity and understanding of the development of the child-that "chaotic’ pre-schools that allow children to do what they want all day long, leaving them unable to sit still and listen by the time they get to primary school". Not content with this staggering claim she added 
"many nurseries were filled with toddlers ‘running around with no sense of purpose’. 

Well pardon me for noticing-but "toddlers" are normally between the age of 2 and 3...even 4...what exactly does she think they should be doing? 

Obviously, don't take my word for it...I have only had twenty years teaching experience-a lot of it in Early Years (to Y2) -oh and have reared 3 kids of my own...and worked in Toddler groups...and now am helping to look after Noah our 3 year old grandson... However, I would hate to suggest that these things make me more knowledgeable or skilled than Ms Truss but what a load of...sheep's testicles to suggest that infants under 4 should do anything less than what they want...if you can't do what you want at 2 when can you? 

As for manners-these are developmental and require good role models at home for starters-then the nursery/school can add to it...What two and three year do you know who can get it right all the time? My grandson has been taught please and thankyou-but -being 3 has to have a gentle reminder sometimes. Unruly? Yes! Isn't that a developmental stage we all went through? Terrible twos and all that? Perhaps Truss was swaddled (tightly I hope) till she was five and made to learn tables by rote...but most kids in "child centred education" (novel idea that-wonder why that's never been tried?) learn through exploration, experience and they try out their emotions on each other, fight-learn the rudiments of sharing, fight, race round, fight, laugh, cry...they are not the complete article...that happens a lot later on...in normal kids! Obviously those with nannies, prep schools etc are not quite as lucky-I generalise...but you get what I mean!

This isn’t about two-year-olds doing academic work – it’s structured play which teaches children to be polite and considerate through activities which the teacher is clearly leading,’ she said. Well goodo! I actually think that this is what most nurseries do...but also they have to skip along doing the prescriptive curriculum packing their little minds with all kinds of stuff...has this woman been in a real nursery? Would she know a toddler if she met one? Should we all rethink Early Years Education?

I for one will be chastising my grandson daily and ensuring he says hello when I enter the room-maybe I can get him to doff his cap as well at the same time! I will instruct his erring parents to purchase a back brace so his posture is correct and we must immediately cure him of his spiteful left-handedness! As for all this running round with lack of purpose-well clearly we must beat this out of him! And at the same time I must prevent my son from taking him out to look at the moon and stars and him being able to identify a picture of planet earth at 2! Obviously when I drive him past Furness Abbey I must stop him shouting "our abbey Grandma! My daddy worked there and they got treasure out!" It would be best too to stop him uselessly memorising stories like the Grufallo and retelling it page by page-he might be too unruly! 

And as for those "graduate" level teachers who should be in charge in nurseries...perhaps when the government start to pay graduate level pay for Nursery leaders, teachers and Teaching Assistants. But no-what they want is subservient, dull, unimaginative teachers who toe the line-delivering something akin to the Dame School education of the 19th century to children until they reach 14. We wouldn't want them to get all aspirational and think they could achieve anything other than the basic and mundane! Starve the imagination and feed them facts that they will never use-and you will have a docile and malleable nation! Perfect! And then they can start on the NHS...oh hang on...but lets face it...a hospital is easier to run when all the patients are asleep...or dead!

Unruly use of water

Running around without purpose

a chaotic nursery setting?

Easter events and a positive future

Ive been busy today ploughing through a mound of paperwork to enable Furness Abbey fellwoship to put on a summer event somewhere very special. As with everything it requires risk assessment in triplicate, plans, rules....etc. I think I have got it covered now-but we will see tomorrow! Can't say more yet...but watch this space.

Its quite exciting because we are on the brink of lots of new ideas and activities which we hope will help to raise the profile of the abbey. We will be at the Abbey Mill on Easter Sunday from 12 and we will be selling memberships, quizzes and raffle tickets. We have some wonderful prizes worth winning-so do come and see us!

Past the sell by date?

Its been a funny old week...two years! Reaching the grand old age of 55 has been quite a revealation. In my early 30s...many moons ago when we lived in Thatcher's 80s London I remember seeing a documentary about people not quite old enough to retire who had been made redundant. It seemed a bit unreal and with the arrogance of youth I secretly thought "that could never happen to me". However, I do remember some poor chap in his 50s breaking down in tears and saying it had ruined his life losing his job and he would never work again. 

Well fast forward to 2013...here I am in my mid 50s and my worst nightmare has come true. I and my colleagues were made redundant in 2011 -victims of the first tranche of government cut backs. The Local Authority took the chance to axe us too-with little or no reflection whether ours was a service which should be kept. My principle feeling was anger, but as time progressed that deepened and became bitterness and sadness.

Naturally, I applied for many jobs, part time and otherwise, as well as going on the supply list. Two colleagues-one ten years my junior and one a youngster of 24 both found jobs fairly quickly-thank goodness. My other work friend and I did not-both of us in our 50s and female. We have worked together through a small new business we set up and although we have work it is providing us with incomes very much less than we are both used to. Additionally, it is not secure and we both top up with casual posts and part time bits and pieces.

So we have become part of the Tory brave new world of the "flexible and part time workforce" which they champion as a triumph and suggest that we should all be happy to have any work. We have to fight hard for any work and it feels like spinning gold from straw sometimes as we have been very creative and skillful in finding small contracts herand there. Better than being on the dole...infinitely better...but not ideal.

However, it does seem a catch 22 situation as on one hand we are being told we must work longer...and on the other we are evidently superfluous in the jobs market because of age! So tell me...how does that work? I can see youngsters must have jobs, but actually we oldies would quite like one too! And what about the qualifications-hard earned over years, skills and experience? Do they count for nothing? Are they not useful in the employment arena? Obviously not! So its onwards with the self driven, self employed "career"-what other option is there? Can't help thinking though that our talents are being squandered and that this is a big mistake!

An appealing story

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/furness-abbey-supports-may-be-removed-by-2015-1.1039208?referrerPath=home/2.3320

 There is some good news for Furness Abbey as identified in the above article. Work is continuing to repair and support the structure and it is necessary to save the integrity of the abbey. English Heritage have done a magnificent job over the last few years and must have spent bucket loads of cash to do so. They often come under a lot of criticism for various reasons-some possibly justified, but their efforts to preserve Furness Abbey have been amazing and entirely necessary and do them credit. 

Our poor old abbey has looked increasingly dilapidated and shabby over recent years and it has not been helped with the mess made by flooding. Hopefully, with the ongoing conservation work it will improve and return to its beautiful self. 

So why is it important to secure the future of the abbey and what problems face it in the future?

Its important because it is one of the most significant abbeys in the UK. It was the second largest and richest abbey after Fountains Abbey. It was extremely powerful and influential politically in its day and made its mark on how Furness grew and developed. It was additionally the first of the large abbeys to be targeted by Henry V111 for Dissolution-he saw its financial potential and lost no time in liquidising the assets; from the lead on the roof to the furnishings and plate and of course selling off the huge tracts of land belonging to Furness Abbey.

Aesthetically, it is breathtakingly beautiful, spiritual and inspirational. It was written about by Wordsworth and painted by Turner-what more of an accolade could it have? 

There is a school of thought that supports the gradual decline and decay of such buildings-returning it to the natural state. There are some people who believe it to be a waste of resources and time conserving such a building. However, locally, it is very important to the people of Barrow. Everyone you speak to has a story about their connection with the abbey and judging by the numbers of people who take the Green Way path up in to the valley where the abbey sits, it is still a popular place to walk to. 

However, fixing the infrastructure is not enough! Why? Visitor numbers have fallen dramatically over the years and in comparison to other local attractions it does not seem to have held its "kerb appeal". Except...it does...the biggest problem is that visitors remain outside of the fence, because as anyone who knows the abbey will tell you-you don't need to go inside to view it. Dozens of amateur...and not so amateur photographers hang over the fence at weekends when weather permits and snap happily away. So what's the  problem? Well-if you're outside, you're not paying to get in. If you're not going in no visitor number is recorded. If you aren't going in, you aren't paying. Add to this residents of Barrow who can apply for a yellow exemption card to get in free-then again-no payments. All of which means that EH are losing essential revenue to help to restore the site. Again calculate the massive revenue cut back they have suffered and you don't have to be a mathematician to see that they need help!

This is where we come in. Furness Abbey Fellowship were established to support the abbey and reverse the decline by promotion, events and improving the visitor experience. We are on the job and have a few events planned already-but we need the public's help. If everyone who reads this joined FAF, donated £1, bought a quiz, came to the Easter event at Abbey Mill, we would be on our way to improving things.

We have also launched a new large appeal to help to fund a special and secure display unit for the abbot's treasure when it returns. We initially want to raise £6,000 but are hoping to raise enough for the whole gallery and the security which is needed to protect the artefacts. This in itself will attract visitors from far and wide-just as it did in the weekend last year when it was temporarily displayed. Numbers for that weekend were an amazing 1,500. 

We are planning events and activities and want to add to the resources in the abbey to make it a pleasant and more stimulating visit. We want to buy golf umbrellas-because most of the site is outside. We aim to produce interpretation boards to show people more clearly what they are looking at. We hope to integrate activities like a Herb Trail so visitors can interact with the site. The list goes on to be honest and this is a long term task, without a quick fix. We can only do this with funding, donations and support from the public!

If you wish to contact us please email us at furnessabbeyfellowship@gmail.com

or by phone - 07527 996 432 or find us on twitter and facebook