Toffee 'n Caramel go to Paisley

Yesterday the hamsters and I gave a talk in Glenburn Library in Paisley as part of the 'Lit Up' Festival.

My audience was Primary 5 from St Peters Primary, and we had a lovely morning. I don't think I've ever had a nicer audience.

Here we are at the end of the talk, playing the Castle Hamster Game ... and it MAY BE (see forthcoming blogs) that this was the last time this Castle Hamster will see active service ...

Quite a lot of the children from St Peters have entered the story-writing competition, the theme of which is 'The Trouble With Pets'. I'm the judge, and the prize is £10 and a signed copy of There's a Hamster in my Pocket! 

I'm really looking forward to seeing the entries!

Thanks to Moira Kinniburgh for taking the photo, and for carrying Castle Hamster (for the LAST TIME ...????)

Toffee 'n Caramel go 'Doon the Watter'!

Yes, today Toffee 'n Caramel went on their very first boat trip, when we visited Primaries 3/4 and 4 at lovely Kirn Primary, just outside Dunoon.

The event was splendidly organised by Linda Mollins, and we had a great time. The children were wonderful, and one boy gave the best definition of 'inspiration' I have ever heard (given that 'inspiration' is pretty well undefinable).

He said, 'Is it something to do with breathing in?'

Which, when you think about it, is exactly what it IS!

And here we are in full flow, demonstrating how inspiring a shadow puppet can be.

Incidentally - I must do a plug for a local restaurant: after my talk I had the best cup of Earl Grey, with the best slice of sultana cake, with the best fire and the best atmosphere and the best music playing the background I have ever had. This is Chatters. Check it out!

Wonderful new desk!

Today work on my office is finally finished and I have a wonderful new computer and a wonderful new desk, which is all ... well ... pretty wonderful, particularly considering I have been working for the last four years on the desk I was bought in 1966 to do my O-levels on, with a variety of pretty horrible chests of drawers to keep things in ...

... NOT a good look!

The man responsible for the miraculous transformation is architect Marcelo Dominguez who runs Casa Homes and Gardens here in Lochwinnoch.

Not only has Marcelo built me this ... wonderful ... new work space, he has also acted as my Spanish Consultant (part of my adult novel, The Faraway, is set in New Mexico).

Today, for example, he advised against naming a house 'Casa de la Media Luna' because apparently that really implies it's a 'house of the croissant'. Instead, I should go for 'Casa de la Luna Cresciente'.Now that is advice worth having.

And here is how the desk looks this evening - lots of smart storage space, about double the work surface, and there's even a hole for the flexes to disappear down into.

WONDERFUL!!!! Or, as we say in Argentina:




Es un maravilloso nuevo


escritorio!


Gracias, Marcelo!