• This one is quite easy, at least I think so, but then I used to draw pigs quite a lot!

  • On Wednesday I visited playshcemes in Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan and Abergele Library in the afternoon. On Thursday I visited Colwyn Heights playscheme, Colwyn Bay Library and Rhos on Sea Playsheme too, reading stories and and showing the children (and adults!) how to draw the characters. In Penmaenmawr i took some video to show all the different and wonderful versions of Viking Vik that they drew, but I’m still getting to grips with my new iPhone, so I filmed it all sideways by mistake!

    I’ve not visited a play scheme before, so wasn’t sue what to expect. I had no need to worry as I had a great time and a warm welcome wherever I went.

    I’ve stayed in Llandudno a few times, but this time I was a little East in Rhos on Sea, which seemed quiet for the height of the staycation season. I doesn’t have a sandy beach, which I suppose is what draws the crowds. I had a lovely time rootling around the rocky shoreline of the little harbour, where I found all sorts of interesting stones to bring back and add t my seaside collection. Perhaps I should a feature on it one day?

    Many thanks to Margaret and Kathryn, who looked after me and organised everything to go so smoothly.

  • This has been a very busy week for me. On Monday I visited the brand new Thame Library, near Oxford, on their opening day. I had a lot of fun telling stories an getting people to draw pictures. I had family close by, so I was a bit inundated with grand nieces and nephews, which was quite interesting! I managed to frighten my grand-nephew, Bobby, so much he had to leave! That’s the power of my Little Horrors stories, I suppose!

    The Library is squeaky new and had loads of people waiting for it to open. I believe 1 in 10 people in Thame visited!

    Thanks for looking after me and good luck to you all and I hope you enjoy the Library after you have all settled down from the move

    Quite a few people are being sent over to this post by the wonderful Peters Library Service Newsweaver, so I feel I should perhaps say some more about the new Thame library. It wonderfully open and light and airy and, most importantly, it has a really good position, a few metres away from the top of the High Street and very close to abundant parking, so it really is at the heart of the community. This is one asset that is going to be so important for individual libraries in the chilly economic future. Footfall and usage will count so much in the struggle to keep libraries open, so please make sure you go through your library’s door and take something out – preferably a book.

    I only have one complaint! Gasp! There are no posters on the walls or even a noticeboard. I didn’t quite understand the logic for this as I was interrupted during the explanation and didn’t get to follow it up. The children’s section has a small noticeboard hidden where it won’t offend or be found. It seems odd that a centre of information would want to avoid posting local information, but I suppose there’s a good reason behind it.

    The staff are all very hard-working, friendly, welcoming and very pleased with their new home. The shelves are all nicely spaced, allowing free room to wander and browse. The mezzanine floor is set up as a teen and study area and all in all, the citizens of Thame should consider themselves very lucky to have a wonderful new, throbbing heart at the centre of their community. Good luck and enjoy!

    Here is a little video I did on the day with my new iPhone. It’s a bit jerky as I was the first video I did with it. They should get better!

    [hdplay id=6 width=480 height=290 ]