Friendship is the wine of life (Edward Young)

Rather apprehensive today...only two days until the Furness Abbey Fellowship Medieval Fair. Its taken lots of work but at last its here. However its make or break as we really need to attract lots of people to help raise visitor numbers.
We shouldn't have an issue with this because the fantastic crozier and ring are returning for the day!

It is going to be amazing...we have lots of things planes-activities for kids adults -everyone. I wont tell you what...come and see for yourself!

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
― C.S. Lewis

It has made me reflect because since I have become so involved with the abbey through writing my books,I have made so many new friends-both real and virtual. I have seen amazing generosity and the less pleasant side of human nature too...but mostly have come into contact with amazing people who I may never have met.


I love the variety of friends that I have... new and old, pragmatic and eccentric, creative and practical...just a huge array of interesting humanity. When you feel a bit despondent about human beings its nice to reflect on those special individuals who make life special. Real friends demand nothing, listen to all your moans and worries, don't worry if you don't ring, pick up instantly where you left off and are ... just there.


Then there are those who are family...but are some of the best friends you can have...because they understand you and accept you (maybe cos they have to) warts and all! So here's to friends we have had in the past, those we have now and those we have yet to meet!

 

Lynn-a friend posing as a customer and fan

An old friend and teaching colleague Wendy-been through tough times together

a rabble of interesting friends-old and new

Summer events-Medieval Fair at Furness Abbey

I've been busy with writing new chapters of Out of Time 3:The Cistercian Conspiracy and working for my new Press Officer post too. I am sending the books off to agents as well as I think I need some help in taking writing to the next level. But mostly...I have been organising along with colleagues from Furness Abbey Fellowship the Medieval Fair at the end of August in Furness Abbey.

Some of the FAF Committee

It should be a good day and we have finalised most of the details for the day. The big event is the Abbot's crosier and the ring returning for the day. However we have a fantastic array of re-enactors, artists, performers, craftsmen and activities for the day. It is well worth a visit and all we need now are the visitors and the good weather.

The Cloister Range

Entry is the usual English Heritage fee of £4 for adults £3-40 concessions and £2-60 children. For this you have full access to the Medieval Fair and all activities and visits as well as seeing the crosier and ring and having tours of the building.

Medieval Fair at Furness Abbey 31 August from 10am to 4pm

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!