• 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.

  • I’m staying across the valley from Aberdere in Cwmbach. This late afternoon I went for a walk up the mountainside following a trail made very muddy by horses, crossing streams by stepping stones and taking care not to slip and hurt myself so far away from civilisation!

    At the start of the footpath the hedge is made entirely of Japanese Knotweed! According to the news this morning, they have found a weevil that can get rid of it. It will probably move on to eat something else and devastate another area of wildlife if they release it.

    I’m very attracted to lichens at the moment. They seem very fractal in their design. maybe that’s what I like. I came across a dead sheep too. I’m not sure if I’m meant to report it or who to.

    turning back into the lane from the footpath I noticed the woodpecker on the telegraph pole. It turned out to be plastic! What a wonderful bit of street art!

    A lovely walk on a lovely mountainside. I don’t suppose this area is high on the tourist trail ratings, but it certainly has a lot to offer.