• I woke up feeling quite exhausted this morning. I tried to to some writing, but didn’t seem to get anywhere. I’m staying at my Father-in-law’s in Poole, as I’m doing sessions at the new Hamworthy Library opening tomorrow. He’s off on holiday, so I’m here all on my own with Jaffa the very old ginger cat. Jaffa sleeps most of the day, but when he wakes up he wanders around the house meowing his head off, looking for someone to make a fuss of him. It’s quite endearing, but not at three in the morning!

    I decided to walk the beach this afternoon. It was glorious – almost warm. Well, not cold. I found one or two shells that I liked. The razor shell had a pattern on one end which I thought made it look a bit like a Viking carving. I also found a complete oyster shell, which is really rather beautiful. There were lots of lumpy shells on the waterline. They seemed to be lots of shells stuck together. I found one I really liked. I was about to put it in my pocket, when one of the shells moved. Most of them were still alive! From one angle they looked like a paw or a fist. I’ve got a pocket full of other stuff. I was going to photograph them, but I was distracted by a cup of tea and a slice of cake!

    If you are near Poole, come along for a story tomorrow lunchtime at the fabulous new Hamworthy Library.

  • I spent the morning in Tavistock Library being Viking Vik for Whitchurch and St Peter’s School. I’ve visited the library a few times now and always have a good time there.
    We had a lot of fun being vikings, telling Vikig Vik stories and teaching the children a few words of Norwegian – “hi” alway goes down well!

    After lunch, Library Manager, Jude Jeal, who had organised my visit and I drove up to the high moorland of Dartmoor to Princetown school. The school is at the other end of the village to the prison which dominates the scenery for quite a distance.

    The school has the most beautiful hand-painted and gilded sign. so nice to see real signwriting for a change. We had a load of fun but my outfit was criticised because I wa sswearing glasses – not historically correct – It was suggested I should have gone to Viking Specsavers!

    Thanks everyone for a Vikingtastic day! I headed off across Dartmoor on my way to Poole in Dorset. It was a beautiful journey, bright and clear. I’ve not been acrosss south dorset before. It’s very beautiful.

    Starlings in Poole
    As I came into Poole I was held up at the traffic lights. I saw everyone else looking o9ut of their windows at a flock of starlings wheeling around above us. My camera was on the seat next to me and I took this shot as they flew past and before the lights turned green.

  • I’m often asked if I’ve met any famous authors. I usually ask who the questioner would like me to have met. It’s usually Jaqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo or one of the invented commitee authors who write things like Beast Quest or Animal Ark. But I was flumoxed this week when I was asked if I knew Katie Price!