Elsie the Fishwife and I had a great visit to Maryfield West Care Home today when pupils from Albyn School were making one of their regular visits!
We heard all about the fish wife whose husband caught a magic fish and the residents and pupils loved hearing about Lazy Jack and his exploits! They clapped and sang the chorus of a couple of songs too. Elsie and I had a lovely day!
It’s a snow day today, so no Live Literature visit to Turriff Academy for me today
Instead I’ve been reading over the fantastic work done by the two S2 classes!
One of the homework tasks they’ve been set is to go off and speak to family member or friend to find out some of their own stories.
Pupils asked questions like “What’s the naughtiest thing you did as a child?”
“What was school like when you were younger?”
“Do you have any stories of petty revenge?
“What news story do you particularly remember?”
We’ve had some amazing responses which will be posted on the S2′ Live Literature Residency Blog which you can find here – blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/turriffacademyliveliterature/
After a few days recovering from coughs and sneezes, I’m catching up with my upcoming events!
Here’s one I’m looking forward to – on the 5th March I’ll be joining the stallholders at the Witches’ Market which will runs from 11am to 3pm and is held upstairs at the Holburn Bar (junction of Holburn Street and Great Southern Road).
I’ll be telling stories between 1pm and 2pm and (like the market!) all are welcome. Stories will be suitable for all ages (2 to 102. If you’re over 102, you can tell us a story!) and the theme will be “Unexpected Heroes”
Either side of my storytelling, I’m looking forward to having a look at all the beautiful, shiny and handcrafted things on sale!
Hope to see you there!
I have been totally rubbish at posting since Spectra – probably still coming down after all those Irn Bru Jelly Babies 
But I have been busy!
I’ve had two #LiveLiterature visits from @scottishbooktrust
One at Kemnay Academy – where we spoke about boulder hurling giants and other local myths and legends. Of course I forgot to get a photo!
But I did manage to get a photo at Charleston Library 
Here’s the P6s from the local school (who knew all about Gardieloo!)
Thankyou librarians, teachers and pupils for two fantastic visits!!
I am (as ever!) waaay behind with my posts!
Spectra, Aberdeen’s festival of light, was as amazing as expected. Lindsey Gibb and I wonderful time telling 35 stories over 18 hours (that’s 4 evenings!) to well over 850 people. We were the first to be in the new Burns Pavillion at Union Terrace Gardens – and a great venue it was too – allowing in about 12 adults and their children (and adults that wanted to sit on the floor!) – so usually about 25-30 people. It was officially the cosiest venue at Spectra – and we had some fantastic feedback!
I won’t go on any further, as here’s some photos from Alice Merilees who took photos while we told stories!
Lindsey Storyteller and I will be telling stories for Spectra Festival this Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday until 10pm with the first story usually starting around 6.30pm.
We will be in a new venue this year! (in more ways than one)
The Burns Pavillion is the newly constructed space half way up Union Terrace Gardens just down from the Robert Burns statue on Union Terrace. We’ll be on the lower level with access from that level only.
Union Terrace Gardens is now fully wheelchair and buggy accessible so we look forward to seeing everyone in our warm, cosy storytelling space!
SEE YOU THERE!
P.S.
Sunday evening will be a relaxed session and We Too SC045895 are working in partnership with Spectra.
They will be supporting
– A visual guide
– Sensory ChillVille spaces to access
– We Too! Ninja’s – always “seen in green” with their bright green hoodies!
– Access to sensory aids (such as ear defenders or fidget toys)
and AbleDeen will be parked on Union Terrace with
– The use of mobility equipment, manually power wheelchairs, powered scooters and walking frames (equipment will be limited)
– A safe, quiet place to relax and gather your though
More information on accessibility can be found here – https://www.spectrafestival.co.uk/visitspectra
This is just a wee selection of the amazing photos taken by Windswept Stories Photography last week doon at the beach and Fittie. (And it was really hard to choose which ones to put up!)
I wanted some photos with Elsie (she’s my wee fishwife pal) and the creel which I picked up from Fancy That? the other week.
Elsie is a right gossip and we had a yap to some of the Fittie residents and visitors – Sarah managed to capture it all so well!
It’s been such a busy week I’m just catching up with myself!
First I had a photoshoot with the wonderful Windswept Stories Photography down at Fittie with Elsie the Fishwife. Of course that will need a whole post of its own. I’ve just seen the photos and they’re amazin!! Elsie has instructed me that I should show as many showing her good side as possible.
On Wednesday I had my third visit to Turriff Academy where the S2s looked at Doric and Scots and were subjected to my awful singing – all in the interest of demonstrating how special our local languages and dialects are! (Probably more on that later too!)
And on Thursday I had SO much fun at Bucksburn Academy’s ASN unit. A few puppet pals came with me and each class had a shot at telling a story with me using the animals. Fizzy and Fuzzy took charge at various points and I’m glad to say Fuzzy was allowed some peace from his sister to take the stage and do a song and a poem. Nae bad Fuzzy. Nae bad.
A trip up Deeside yesterday!
I met with the wonderful volunteers from Braemar Castle for a storytelling workshop – the castle has been closed for a huge amount of work, and the guides will be welcoming the public soon with a wealth of stories!
On the way home, I met up with our favourite Ballater storyteller Joan, who told me so much about Tullich Kirk and its stories 
There’s never enough time for all the stories, so I’m already hoping for a long weekend’s visit later on in the year!
Look at that massive smile… :
Elsie the Fishwife is delighted because she knows she’ll now be travelling to our storytelling sessions in style!
I have been looking for an authentic fishwife’s creel for years, and finally I got one yesterday from Fancy That? in Edzell! (We enjoyed our nosey around at all the other amazing things and will have a nosey at their shop Ivy’s Emporium next time we’re in Banff)
The creel came from Whitehills near Banff and has been well looked after, so it’s perfect for another few decades use. If you would like a fully costumed storytelling fishwife for your event, please don’t hesitate to get in touch
Pauline Cordiner - Scottish Storyteller 