Halloween at Turriff Academy.

 

 

The last readings of the day took place at Turriff Academy. Pupils were invited to take part in an informal 'drop in' Halloween session. Thank you to everyone who came along with their fantastic costumes and contributions. I didn't expect so many people to turn up in their lunch hour - very impressive!                                                                                                                                   We listened to a host of stories, jokes and poems. I read a collection of dark and spooky poems from the pen of Jack Prelutsky: 'The Dance of the Thirteen Skeletons'; 'The Witch'; and the 'Bogey Man'. We were also  treated to a fantastic reading of the 'Song of the Witches' from Shakespeare's MacBeth. A fun filled session with some fabulous young people!     

 

 

Turriff Library Reading Session.

Turriff Library was the meeting place for a large and colourfully dressed P6 class from Markethill Primary School. We shared stories and poems in English and Doric and enjoyed a lively question and answer session. Great fun!

Halloween Celebrations with children from Aberchirder (Fogie) Primary School.

I had a great reading session today with the children from Aberchirder Primary School. Lots of fun was had by all with spooky stories, poems and an array of wonderful costumes - even the teacher dressed up!   

Talk and Readings at Banchory Heritage Society.

                              
                       Some of the members of Banchory Heritage Society enjoying a chat and a 'fly-cup'.

The St. Ternan's Church Hall, Banchory was packed as members turned out in force for their first meeting after the summer break.
I was delighted to be asked along to host an 'Evening with...' style meeting where the speaker is asked to share some interesting facts with the audience outside of their specialist subject. It was a refreshing change for me and certainly a format that I would recommend to other clubs and societies.
The evening got off to a grand start with a reading from a poem penned by Aberdeenshire's Scott Skinner. What made this so special was that it was an original, hand-written manuscript that had been gifted to the Heritage Society. What an amazing find!
I then went on to give a talk and read a poem and a couple of short stories in the North-east's rich, expressive Doric dialect.
What a super evening it was - and all rounded off nicely with a fine 'fly-cup'.             

Storytelling session with Meldrum Out of School Club.

Scottish Book Trust networking day.

I had a great time in Edinburgh with the Scottish Book Trust team and the other four 'Readers in Residence' for Scotland. It was good to put faces to the names. I came away with so many ideas and felt truly inspired. I particularly enjoyed listening to the experiences of two former Readers. A really worthwhile day!   

Storytelling at the NTS Haddo House Crime and Mystery Festival.

Banchory Doric Day.

 

 

Inverurie Book Swap Club

Some members of the Inverurie Book Swap Club.

This afternoon was spent in the company of members of Inverurie Book Swap Club. Members meet monthly to discuss a book they've all been reading.
This month's book of choice was The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Author, Mitch Albom gives us an astoundingly original story that will change everything you've ever thought about the afterlife and the meaning of our lives here on earth.
The overall opinion was that this was a well-crafted, multi-layered novel that really makes you think.
We went on to discuss characterisation and read some character descriptions from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain; and The Thief of Always by Clive Barker.
We read a character bio poem written about the protagonist in Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. Everyone in the group then stretched their imaginations and tried their hand at writing their own poem about a character from The Five People You Meet in Heaven or another title of their choice.

These are a couple of the character bio poems:

The Five People You Meet in Heaven 

Eddie...
Kind, stern, quiet and brave.
Who loves his wife.
Who feel sadness about his life and thinks it's been a waste.
Who needs love.
Who shares his skills with others at the fair.
Who fears his life was a waste.
Who'd like to see his pain gone.
Who dreams of happiness with his wife.
Who ends up at peace with himself and his wife.   

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Aibileen...
Hard working, loyal and strong.
Who loves her babies.
Who feels courageous about speaking out.
Who needs to be free.
Who shares her memories.
Who fears the consequences.
Who'd like to see equality.
Who dreams of a better life.
Who ends up positive about the future.

Some more photos of Meldrum Academy and Library's intergenerational event.

 

 

Ellon Reminiscence Group

A few of the members from the Ellon Reminiscence Group.

Pictured right is Anne - librarian at Ellon Library

I had a lovely time on Friday with the members of Ellon Reminiscence group who meet once a month in the library. We read a selection of poetry with an Autumnal theme, followed by a couple of short stories.

The group were particularly interested in listening to stories written in their own Doric dialect. A tale (from local author Mary Munro) about the 'tattie pickin' of yesteryear provoked a lot of discussion and evoked memories of a past way of life.

We had a very pleasant meeting and a lovely 'fly-cup' to finish off the afternoon. A return visit is planned...     

Congratulations from Mark McDonald MSP.

Thanks to MSP, Mark McDonald for the vote of confidence. 

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/gd/msps/currentmsps/28043.aspx

Session with Dementia Group

I had a lovely session today with a local dementia group, comprising of members, carers and library staff. The meeting took the form of a short sensory workshop, using familiar objects to promote discussion. The result was a very enjoyable exploration of the senses (and even a burst of creative writing). I read a couple of poems and also a short story of my own.

We discussed the use of senses in literature and how it can help us appreciate the world around us and also remember past events. We then wrote a simple fill-in-the-blanks poem about Autumn. One lovely lady, delighted with her writing, commented: "I'm a poet and I didn't know it". How wonderful!

One of the poems went like this...

Autumn...

Looks like leaves falling off trees.

Sounds like orange and red leaves rustling under foot.

Smells like bonfires burning in the distance, smoke lingering.

Tastes like nuts, soup and toffee apples to enjoy.

Feels like cold nights and evenings approaching, Jack Frost round the corner.

Meldrum event comments.

Some comments (and smiley faces) about Meldrum Academy and Community Library's intergenerational reading day.   

Meldrum Academy and Community Library event.

Happy National Poetry Day.

I'm starting off National Poetry Day by reading my favourite poem from the Scottish Poetry Library's set of eight poem cards. The poem is called, 'Escape at Bedtime', by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Escape at Bedtime

The lights from the parlour and kitchen shone out
Through the blinds and the windows and bars;
And high overhead and all moving about,
There were thousands of millions of stars.
There ne'er were such thousands of leaves on a tree,
Nor of people in church or the park,
As the crowds of the stars that looked down upon on me,
And that glittered and winked in the dark.

The Dog, and the Plough, and the Hunter, and all,
And the star of the sailor, and Mars,
These shone in the sky, and the pail by the wall
Would be half full of water and stars.
They saw me at last, and they chased me with cries,
And they soon had me packed into bed;
But the glory kept shining and bright in my eyes,
And the stars going round in my head. 

Robert Louis Stevenson.

Off to reach for the stars! 

Meldrum Academy and Community Library event.

I had a fantastic morning at the Meldrum Academy and Community Library's intergenerational reading event. The morning was organised to mark their 10th anniversary also to celebrate (a day early) National Poetry Day. 

 

The event was well attended by different groups from the local community: a pre-school group, Primary School children, young adults from the Academy, and also Meldrum's own writers' group.

 

We had a wonderful 'rhyme time' with the pre-school children singing well-known action songs like 'Wind the Bobbin up' and a version of 'Incy Wincy Spider' translated into the North-east's own Doric dialect. We then had some lovely readings from the Primary and Academy pupils with everything from Dr Seuss' 'Cat in the Hat' to Wordsworth's 'Daffodils'. We also heard a poem penned by one of the children. We then progressed to the adult writers' group who entertained us with recitations and some Doric classics such as 'Coorie Doon' and 'The Puddock'. We were also treated to a reading of a beautiful poem about our own dear Bennachie by a resident of Westbank Home, Oldmeldrum.    

 

I gave a talk and read from Jessie Kesson's 'The White Bird Passes'; shared a poem about books by Andrew Rudd; delivered a Doric ditty about going to the dentist and also some poems about Autumn.  My last reading (to tie in with National Poetry Day's 'Star' theme) was Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Escape at Bedtime'.

The morning was nicely rounded off with a 'fly cup' and, with an audience ranging from four to ninety-four (and everything in between), I can safely say that the celebration was most definitely an 'intergenerational' event.