A busy time...

Well...what a busy time I've been having as Aberdeenshire Reader in Residence. I've  been working with old and young and everyone in between.

The National Trust for Scotland has launched a new 500 word short story competition for Primary and Secondary schools. Children are invited to write a new fairytale for Craigievar Castle (including at least two facts about the Castle in the story). I'm very excited about judging this competition and also about attending the prize-giving event in September where I'll be reading the winning entries and doing a bit of storytelling.

I had a great time as a guest at the SHMU radio station in Aberdeen.  I was featured on their Saturday night Literature show and gave some readings from my own work in between some of my favourite musical tracks. It was such fun - a kind of Desert Island Discs...

I caught the train to Edinburgh and had a lovely day at the Scottish Book Trust offices with the other four Readers in Residence. Each Reader in Residence gave a ten minute presentation, and it was great to hear what everyone had been up to and to share our news. 

Aberdeen University was the venue for last Wednesday's 'Grampian Children's Book Award' celebrations. I was MC for the day amidst a lot of excitement and anticipation . The winner was Patrick Ness with 'A Monster Calls'.

Grampian Children's Book Awards.

I had an excellent afternoon compering the Grampian Children's Book Award at Aberdeen University.

Nine years ago, librarians from schools in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray organised a book event they hoped would capture the imaginations of secondary school children in S1 - S3. The aim of the award was to promote reading for pleasure and involve pupils in the process of selecting and judging books for the award. Pupils vote for the titles to make up a shortlist of six books. 

At the ceremony, pupils have the opportunity to buy books, meet and chat to the authors who in turn inspire the young readers to continue their reading habit and to develop their own creative writing.

     

The nominations were:

Dave Cousins for '15 Days without a Head'.

Barry Hutchison for 'The 13th Horseman'.

Mark Lowery for 'Socks are not Enough'.

Cathy MacPhail for 'Out of the Depths'.

Patrick Ness for 'A Monster Calls'.

Annabel Pitcher for 'My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece'. 

The winner was Patrick Ness, author of 'A Monster Calls'.  

'Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don't quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there's a visitor at his window. It's ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth...

I read 'A Monster Calls' and thoroughly enjoyed it - a worthy winner!  

Prizes were also awarded to pupils for three competitions: Best Review, Best Poster and the Best Presentation.

World Book Night

We celebrated World Book Night in grand style at Inverurie Town Hall Library. I really enjoyed playing 'Book Fairy' for the night and giving away all my free copies. My book of choice was 'Why be Happy when you could be Normal' by Jeanette Winterson.

In 1985 Jeanette Winterson's first novel, 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit', was published. This latest work is that story's silent twin. It is full of hurt and humour and a fierce love of life. It is about the pursuit of happiness, about lessons in love, the search for a mother and a journey into madness and out again. It is generous, honest and true. 

  

Comments

'Thanks, Debbie - a great session, full of humour, sadness and inspired a need to read this book when I get home.'

'Perfect combination of choice of book and reader. Evoked the emotion of the book.'

'Very good, clear speaker'. Thanks.'

'Super evening, thanks. Good listening to a lovely, clear speaker.'

'Excellent evening and presentation of  'The Book' - can't wait to read it! Thank you, Debbie.'

'Enjoyed it very much.'

'Lovely evening - when's the next one?'

'Debbie gave us a very friendly, informative talk. I'm looking forward to reading the book.'

'Excellent evening! Loved the book and can't wait to read it.'

'Excellent evening revisiting the joy of reading.'

 

'

Author visit to Meldrum Writers' Group

Members of Meldrum Writers' Group enjoyed a talk by local author Nancy Jardine.

Nancy is the author of 'Topaz Eyes', 'The Beltane Choice', 'Take me Now', and 'Monogamy Twist'. 

Comments

'Very interesting - lots to Google when I get home'.

Diane 

'Great to hear from an expert. Very daunting but will help to increase my efforts'.

Sandy

'Writing gets more complicated and less of a pleasure. I think I'll have to think it out again. I enjoyed the insight.'

Ted

Keithhall Claikers

I had a great time at the Keithall Claikers meeting. We shared poems, stories and memories and an amazing fly-cup. 

Comments

'I throughly enjoyed Debbie's visit - it was so interesting and some of the poems and readings were just what it was like growing up.'

'A great meeting, Debbie is a natural reader and storyteller'.

'Excellent speaker. Very enjoyable afternoon - could have listened longer.'

'Excellent and passionate speaker - a joy to listen to.'

'Great afternoon, Debbie, liked all your stories. A most enjoyable afternoon.'

'Well done - hope you carry on for a long time.'

'Very enjoyable'. 

Kemnay Social Studies Group

Kemnay Social Studies Group.

I had a lovely morning with the ladies of Kemnay Social Studies Group. We enjoyed readings in English and Doric and shared lots of laughs and lively discussion.

Comments

'Dinna be sae lang or ye come back, Debbie.'

Mavie

'Fascinating morning, Debbie.'

Hilda

'Had a lovely morning, Debbie - it's helped me forget all my worries.'. 

Harriet

'Very entertaining morning - food for thought. Second time around or me. Haist ye back!'

Heather

'Uplifting!'  

Lumsden Reminiscence Group

I enjoyed a lovely, sociable afternoon with some of the members of Lumsden Reminiscence Group. We read from the Scottish Book Trust's My Favourite Place and revisited lots of memories through the Pictures to share

series. We spoke about how powerful the sense of smell is when it comes to recalling memories. I invited each member to hold my Memory Stone and to try to remember.... One gentleman in his 90s spoke about his wartime experience in the airforce and remembered the smell of petrol as he jumped from a plane and then survived three days walking in the desert with only the equivalent of a cup of water to drink; another lady spoke about the smell of exotic spices on visiting India. These stories and also the less dramatic tales of everyday life are so interesting and often quite amazing. It's all too easy to forget that older people in our communities have once had full and busy lives - we all have a story to tell...

Peterhead Academy

Portsoy Primary School

I spent a whole day at Portsoy Primary School. We listened to readings from Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach and poetry about summer from various titles. We tried our hand at a bit of creative writing and even a little artwork. One class wanted to enter the short story writing at the Buchan Heritage Society's annual festival, so we did some Doric writing, too. The children were very well-behaved and enthusiastic and produced some great work.    

Comments from  P3,4 & 5

'I enjoyed learning Doric today.'

Declan

'I had fun writing my Doric story'.

Caitlyn

'I enjoyed today and got a big scare when I saw the spider on the hat I picked out of the box.'

Leah

'It was really fun and I learned a lot.' 

Justine

'I liked writing in Doric - my story was longer than usual.'

'A brilliant, entertaining morning. I was impressed by the amount of work the children produced. I think the children were amazed at their own work, too. Thank you! 

Class teacher

An exciting afternoon. The children listened really well to all the stories - they couldn't get enough. There were requests from some of the children for me to buy Debbie's books. They also had good fun writing and reading their poems. It would be lovely if you could come back to see us again. I know the children would love it.'

Class teacher 

The run up to Easter...

I'm still loving my role as Aberdeenshire Reader in Residence. The weeks are just flying by, and the diary is well booked up with lots to look forward to.
The run up to Easter was very busy with visits to care homes, schools, sheltered housing and heritage groups. I also hosted a 'Doric Night' at Ellon Library; opened a new computer room at Ellon Resource Centre; and dressed up as a woodland fairy for a storytelling stint at Aberdeenshire's Fyvie Castle. The next few months should prove to be just as eventful. Life is never dull...

We had a healthy turnout for Ellon Library's 'Doric Night' despite the freezing weather conditions. Thank you to everyone who came along to hear the poems and stories and enjoy a glass of wine and some nibbles.

Some comments from members of the public:

"What an enjoyable, entertaining evening. Excellent!

"A wonderful evening!"

"So entertained - so glad I came."

"Lots of memories, Debbie. You brought back things I'd forgotten about."

"You painted and amazing picture with your words." 

Easter Sunday at Fyvie Castle.

Children from all over Aberdeenshire had a great time on Easter Sunday at the National Trust for Scotland's Fyvie Castle. They enjoyed an Easter egg hunt (sponsored by Cadbury), a puppet show, face painting, and some storytelling from the woodland fairy (below).   

Cutting the ribbon at Ellon Resource Centre.

Ellon Resource Centre

The staff and service users at Ellon Resource Centre were proud to unveil their new computer room. The rows of brand new computers and Smart Whiteboard were kindly donated by Ellon Rotary Club. The mood was upbeat as refreshments were enjoyed by invited guests. Having worked at the centre on a number of occasions, I was delighted to be asked to come along to 'cut the ribbon', declaring the centre's brand new computer room well and truly open.

                                                              Cutting that ribbon.

                        

                                                          Saying it with flowers.

Pitmurchie Care Home, Torphins.

I spent a nice afternoon reading and chatting to the residents of Pitmurchie Care Home, Torphins. Aided by the lovely Vivien and her band of carers, the residents listened to some readings and even had a go at writing a collaborative poem of their own. Residents chatted about their memories of shopping and we  looked at two of the wonderful books from the 'Pictures to Share' series: 'Shopping in Pictures' and 'The Countryside in Pictures'.

One of the poems that complement the artwork (a spring scene of a ewe with her new-born lamb) in 'The Countryside in Pictures':

A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by,
One after one;
the sound of rain and bees

Murmuring; the fall of rivers,
winds and seas,

Smooth fields, white sheets
of water, and pure sky;

I've thought of all by turns,
and still I lie

Sleepless. 

Quotation from 'To sleep' by William Wordsworth

We rounded off the session with a humorous Doric poem, 'A short Cut te Siller', by the late Ian Middleton. The poem tells the story of a young farmhand who marries for money instead of love.  


   

The residents collaborative list poem went like this...

These are a few of our favourite smells...

...A puppy's belly
Roses and daffodils
Violets
A newly-bathed baby
A nice cup of tea
Lavender
Clover
Going to the baker's shop
Posh soap
Fresh air
Pine needles
Home-baking - straight out of the oven
Cinnamon and Christmas
The smell of the sea - salty seaweed
Roast dinner on a Sunday
Honeysuckle and freesias...   

 

Comments

 

"More memories remembered."  Aileen

 

"Entertaining, well-presented and very engaging." Barbara Hookey

 

"Enjoyed the readings very much." Elma Ewen

 

"Liked the smells game." Davie Brand

 

"I knew most of the 'auld shoppies'. I remember painting a line down my leg to look like stockings." Isabell

                                                                                                                                        

"I liked remembering the sea air smell." Ben Thomson 

 

"I liked the smells quiz." Jimmy McKenzie

 

 

 

Nethermains Sheltered Housing.

I had a lovely, relaxed session with some of the residents of Nethermains Sheltered Housing Complex at Echt. There was lots of laughter, a few tears and a great 'fly cup'.

Some comments:

"You fairly spik my language." Geordie

"I enjoyed your time with us at Nethermains so much - stories and poetry to reach the heart." 

"Great to hear our own tongue spoken for a change. It's very seldom we hear the Doric nowadays." Rosie (manager)

                                                                 The 'Fly Cup'.

Mintlaw Primary School Readathon Event.

First stop of the day on the Aberdeenshire Libraries mobile library Readathon was Mintlaw Primary School. P1&2s heard about plans for the Book Bus visit to Zambia and then enjoyed African-themed readings and some other stories, too. We heard about Cardwell the Giraffe who got his neck in a knot; we read about A Rumble in the Jungle by David Wojtowycz (accompanied by a host of soft toy jungle animals); and then we laughed at the animal antics in A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson. We also shared a Doric poem from the Aberdeenshire Reading Bus publication Fit Like Yer Majesty. The children were wonderful and really enjoyed joining in and making all the animal noises - a lovely, lively and extremely noisy session.