• The days are getting longer and longer and the sun was shining this afternoon so, having got the lie of the land yesterday, I went for a walk up the the mountain above Cwmbach this afternoon. I think it’s called Tyle Robert. Either way it provides stunning views across the Cynon Valley. I can see all the schools I’m visiting this week from up there.

    I think I’m falling in love with Lichen. It’s something you don’t normally take any notice of – it’s just there – but it’s much more interesting and beautiful when you look closely.

    I was surprised by a vista that appeared through an avenue cut through the trees. I really was on the top as the view is of Merthyr Tydfil on the other side of the mountain!

  • I had a wonderful day with Cwmaman Infants today. The school is hidden way up at the top of the valley. I almost felt I was coming to the top of a fiord in Norway. Cwmaman is the home of the Stereophonics and this was the school they went to!

    I read Little Horrors to year one and then we tried to come up with a new idea the the children could write after I’d left based on the Little Horrors stories and characters. I’m not going to share with you the idea we came up with, because I think I might see if I can develop it myself!

    I did painting a d drawing with reception and the Just so Stories with year one. I managed to get most of them to get up and dance the hornpipe, as does the man of infinite resource and sagacity. As ever, my small, but very useful penknife was much admired!

    Afterwards the year ones were making Welshcakes to take on a school trip to St Fagins on Friday. Everytime I’ve had Welshcakes before,they have been at least a day old and probably older. I was allowed to sample a fresh cake, straight off the “hot stone”. It really was delicious and the best I’ve ever tasted. Just as they should be eaten, still warm. They are cooked on a very low heat, slowly turning them and moving them around until they are cooked. Yum!

    Thanks everyone for a wonderful day.

  • I was very confused when I arrived at Blaengwawr Primary School this morning. I was greeted with a, “welcome back.” I didn’t recognise the school. I’m normally very good at remembering schools I’ve been to before. But this morning I came in a different entrance.

    I’d just started talking to Yrs 5 and 6 when it all came flooding back to me and I remembered when I last came. I was won in a Read a million Words in Wales competiton!
    I remembered sitting exactly where I was and had a strong feeling of deja vue and was worried they had heard it all before – I hate repeating myself to an audience. But it was okay.

    I was being filmed for the RAISE project too, which is slightly distracting. Anyway, we got an iidea together for a Viking Vik story and I left them to get on and write it while I felt my way through my first Monster Boy session. At the end we came up with a great idea for a story involving a shark living in a lake in the Forest. it has a taste for meat rather than fish fingers. so Monster boy got him a job flipping burgers – fun.

    At the end of the day I got to read the new Viking Vik stories. All ere based on the same plot, but fascinating in their subtle differences in both plot and style. A great day fro me – thanks to all at Blaengwawr.