• ruarden-ChurchOn Monday I had the pleasure to visit Ruardean School, up the road from me, here in the Forest of Dean. Perched on the side of a hill, the school looks out a cross to wales – a spectacular view. The weather was taking a turn, though. Autumn setting in and a distinct chill in the air. The church has an amazing, rocket-like spire that soars up into the sky, dominating the village and the countryside around.

    I had a lovely day telling stories and showing the children how to draw my characters. You can see some of them at the Ruardean website here.

    PlatypusIn the afternoon we tried to devise a story about how the Duck-billed platypus came about. My creative organisation system is meant to cut to the chase and produce something quite quickly. Eventually the magic key turned up and we had ourselves a story, but we had such a wealth of tangential ideas pouring out of years 5 and 6, that I thought we would never get to the end.

    I had to keep pointing out that we only had a short time and that we would best off not having a cast of thousands with endless red-herrings in the plot. I think they got the message in the end. When you’ve not got long to write a story, keep the characters to a minimum and follow the story, not the interesting asides.

    Its a hard lesson to learn – one I’m still struggling with myself. Do as I say and not as I do!

    Oh! Did I mention the lovely cakes in the staff room? They were all eaten up by the time I got my camera out.

  • Sold Bundle of wood - Forest of Dean
    Sold Bundle of wood – Forest of Dean
    I came across this pile of oak, while walking with my family through the woods, up the road, here in the Forest of Dean.

    I was drawn to it not just by the bright fluorescence of the writing but also the quality of the writing too. On such an unfriendly, curved surface the letters are beautifully spaced and proportioned. Even more impressive is that they have been made freehand with an aerosol. The O, in particular, is a triumph!

    Well done then man (or woman!)

  • Telling the truth can be injurious to your health!
    Telling the truth can be injurious to your health!
    I came across this memorial at the top of the main street in Haverfordwest. It has a cautionary inscription:

    On this spot William Nichol of this town was burnt at the stake for the truth. April 9th 1558. (The Noble Army of Martyrs Praise Thee)

    No one ever likes to hear the truth. It is a human failing. It is always the messenger that gets shot.

    There is a subtle art to telling people what they don’t want to hear. The secret is to let them think that they thought it up themselves. Not an easy task, but that’s where storytelling comes in. Don’t tell the blunt truth, tell a story that sows the seeds of truth in the listener’s mind. They will water it and let it grow until they have to accept the fact of this new idea in their heads.

    If only it could be bottled and we could be sure that the contents of the bottle would work every time.