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My Journal |
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I must admit that my ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL Sunday session on "Writing for Children" was rather too alarming! As part of my usual pacing around, checking out the venue so I knew it well before the group of adult writers arrived, I opened a door - an unmarked door, please note - only to find I'd set off an alarm that shrieked for about fifteen minutes. At last a policeman turned up and the thing somehow got switched off. At least the noise didn't happen when the students were there, I thought thankfully.
Well, the students were great, and I hope they enjoyed the session, and will maybe develop one or other of the exercises we did in their own time. Your ideas were terrific! Their work was extra well done as the man who resets the alarm came into the building and set it off again - twice! - though thankfully for a shorter time.
However, today I have had a nice time visiting some Reception and Key Stage one children in three schools. A happy hello from me to the excellent listeners of SEVEN HILLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, ASQUITH PRIMARY SCHOOL, and SAINT FRANCIS CATHOLIC PRMARY SCHOOL, all in MORLEY, near LEEDS. I was visiting them as part of the schools programme for MORLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Hope you all had fun!
Tomorrow is an even earlier travelling morning as I am off to WAINSTALLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, near HALIFAX, for a visit I couldn't do last week because of my creaking back. It will be a three alarm clock morning, I fear!
Well, the students were great, and I hope they enjoyed the session, and will maybe develop one or other of the exercises we did in their own time. Your ideas were terrific! Their work was extra well done as the man who resets the alarm came into the building and set it off again - twice! - though thankfully for a shorter time.
However, today I have had a nice time visiting some Reception and Key Stage one children in three schools. A happy hello from me to the excellent listeners of SEVEN HILLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, ASQUITH PRIMARY SCHOOL, and SAINT FRANCIS CATHOLIC PRMARY SCHOOL, all in MORLEY, near LEEDS. I was visiting them as part of the schools programme for MORLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Hope you all had fun!
Tomorrow is an even earlier travelling morning as I am off to WAINSTALLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, near HALIFAX, for a visit I couldn't do last week because of my creaking back. It will be a three alarm clock morning, I fear!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
To tell the truth, I wasn't on Ilkley Moor, but in the town of Ilkley, though there were mists on the moor top as I arrived. Two sessions today. One was on writing SPOOKY STORIES. I heard some excellent pieces from a busy and thoughtful group of young writers. Thank you!
The afternoon session was about my own writing and stories, especially about THE THIRD ELEPHANT. Really nice audience - though I felt rather jealous of the two children who told me they had actually ridden on an elephant, which is one of my secret ambitions.
Tomorrow is my third Ilkley session, and that will be on WRITING FOR CHILDREN, which I am sure will be fun as well. This time it's a workshop for adults, so rather different to my familiar school audiences. Hope they behave themselves!!!
The afternoon session was about my own writing and stories, especially about THE THIRD ELEPHANT. Really nice audience - though I felt rather jealous of the two children who told me they had actually ridden on an elephant, which is one of my secret ambitions.
Tomorrow is my third Ilkley session, and that will be on WRITING FOR CHILDREN, which I am sure will be fun as well. This time it's a workshop for adults, so rather different to my familiar school audiences. Hope they behave themselves!!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
An annoying week. (Reminder: I must stop carting so much stuff around with me on school visits!) Monday's twinge-y back got worse and worse. Felt so stupid not being able to do anything, and even sitting to work for any length of time made it worse.
Grumble, grumble, grumble. Very cross face! Big sulky lip! Lots of hot, hot water bottles, as well as puzzling the cat by lying flat on her floor. The close inspection rather made me wish I'd done some vacuuming lrecently.
But - oh joy! - today I can report I'm in working order again - and all a great relief, as this weekend I have three sessions at ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Today I'm packing those bags again - but very carefully!
Grumble, grumble, grumble. Very cross face! Big sulky lip! Lots of hot, hot water bottles, as well as puzzling the cat by lying flat on her floor. The close inspection rather made me wish I'd done some vacuuming lrecently.
But - oh joy! - today I can report I'm in working order again - and all a great relief, as this weekend I have three sessions at ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Today I'm packing those bags again - but very carefully!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
A different direction, as I drove down the A1 yesterday, followed by miles along the M62, M18, M180 and more, to end up at MORTON TRENTSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL to begin their Book Week. Thank you for welcoming me. I enjoyed chatting to you all! Extra thanks to several strong children and helpful Mrs H, who helped carry my talk-bags between sessions.
Discovered that a friend, the author DAMIAN HARVEY, had visited the school for their last Book Week - which reminded me that THE TIN MAN, the first of his great six-book ROBO-RUNNERS series, was in the stack of books by my bed. Luckily, today's "twingey" back gives me an excuse to do some resting and reading.
Discovered that a friend, the author DAMIAN HARVEY, had visited the school for their last Book Week - which reminded me that THE TIN MAN, the first of his great six-book ROBO-RUNNERS series, was in the stack of books by my bed. Luckily, today's "twingey" back gives me an excuse to do some resting and reading.
