A Busy Week – SC&T, Clashfarquhar and Braehead

January 27, 2024Leave a comment

I had a very busy week last week with SC&T Youth! But I also also a visit to Clashfarquhar House (where the residents joined in with the Wellyboot Song and had some fun stories from Aberdeenshire and beyond) an then at the end of the week I visited Braehead Primary School whose project this term has the wonderful title “I am a Storyteller”

I told stories to all the pupils – from the wee ones in the nursery, where we had a wonderful adventure in Seaton Park and fed a monster rainbow ice cream (after almost being lunch ourselves!) – all the way up to Primary 7, who got a couple of my scarier tales. All primaries were encouraged to ask questions about stories and storytelling – the different ways of sharing a story with an audience, what makes a good story, and what makes a good storyteller!

The drawing below is by one of my favourite artists. It’s The Nøkken by Theodore Kittelsen. He’s famous for his paintings and illustrations of fairy tales, particularly trolls!

The reason I’m sharing this here is that I told a tale of a North East Kelpie and explained to the pupils that there were other similar creatures in stories around the world. One boy was very interested and asked if I knew any – and the first that came to mind was the Nøkken who play the violin and tempt their human pray into the water. They are also shape-shifters, one of their forms being that of a horse. Just like our Kelpies!

Teaching Scots Song with SC&T Youth

January 16, 2024January 20, 2024Leave a comment

This week, and for a further four weeks, I get to do something a little different!

Rather than storytelling, I’m going to be working as a tutor with SC&T Youth (the tuition for bairns and young adults through Scottish Culture and Traditions). I’ll be teaching a different song to Primaries 3, 4 and 5 (this week it’s Ps 4, 5 and 6) and one song they’ll all sing together. Meanwhile the other wonderful tutors will be teaching them accompaniment on clasarch, guitar and whistle as well as some trad tunes.

This week we’ve been at St Peter’s Primary – and the snow hasn’t dampened the pupils enthusiasm for learning! Here’s a photo taken on Don St yesterday. A beautiful part of town affa bonny in the snaa.

The Primary 4 pupils are learning one of our old favourites –

The P4s are learning our old favourite, The Fisherman’s Lassie. Noo I wis rummaging aboot tae find a video tae show you of someone singing it – totally forgetting that I recorded a wee video of it at Fraserburgh Lighthouse Museum back in… 2016! Which seems an eternity ago

Here’s my version The Fisherman’s Lassie – more on the song tomorrow if I get a chance to post again

Elsie’s New Creel

January 11, 2023Leave a comment

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

A photo of an elderly female puppet dressed as a traditional fishwife from the north east of Scotland. She is wearing a white mutch cap on her grey hair, a cloak made of checked woollen material a white blouse and a red and white striped apron. She is sitting inside an antique woven creel which is just the perfect size to hold her.

Looking For A Storyteller? Here Are Some Dates For Your Diary

December 16, 2022December 21, 2022Leave a comment

It’s not the end of 2022 yet but in between wrapping gifts and nipping out to post my cards, I’m starting to look at my calendar for the following year. Here are some of the year’s main dates for storytelling activities – so if you’re looking for stories a storyteller to inspire your school pupils or entertain at your event look no further!

I tell all sorts of stories – folk tales, myths and legends, stories of local places and characters – including old Scots songs and ballads. My specialist areas are science, environment and pre-history and I have a number of costumes to choose from. Puppets can also be brought and incorporated into the storytelling session. I am also keen on the promotion of Scots and Doric which is not just used around “Burns Season!” I thoroughly believe that stories are for all ages and can provide storytelling sessions or storytelling workshops from age 2 to 102! (If you’re over 102 then I think you have a few tales to tell to me!)

I am on the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s Directory as well as the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature Author Directory. I am a member of Equity and can provide Disclosure certification. Make your enquiry today by emailing paulinecordiner@gmail.com !

Burns Night – 25^th January 2023

National Storytelling Week – 30^th January to 6^th February 2023

World Book Day – 2^nd March 2023

Mother’s Day – 19^th March 2023

World Poetry Day – 21^st March 2023

British Science Week 10th – 19^th March 2023

International Children’s Book Day – 2^nd April (held on or near Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday)

National Share A Story Month – May 1^st to May 31^st 2023

National Writing Day – June 23^rd 2023

Festival of British Archaeology – July 16^th to July 31^st

National Poetry Day – 6^th October 2023

Father’s Day – June 18^th 2023

National Poetry Day – 6^th October 2023

Scottish International Storytelling Festival – End Oct 2023

Odd Socks Day – Anti Bullying Week – 13^th November 2023

St Andrews Day – 30^th November 2023

Book Week Scotland – 16^th to 22^nd November 2023

National Children’s Book Week – 31^st October to 4^th November 2023

Book Week Scotland – 16^th to 22^nd November 2023

Snow Day! Turra Visit Cancelled

December 14, 2022December 21, 2022Leave a comment

It won’t have escaped your notice that there is SNOW!!

Unfortunately this means I won’t make it to Turriff Academy today to visit the S2s as part of my Scottish Book Trust Residency

The students had been collecting stories from family members and friends and I was looking forward to hearing them – but that will now be postponed until January.

Oh well… I thought I’d find out what the fairies were up to!

Peterhead Christmas Lights

December 4, 2022December 21, 2022Leave a comment

After Mallku’s party it was a quick tidy up and off to Peterhead for the Light Up Peterhead event! There was so much on and I was lucky to be telling Christmas stories in the Muckle Kirk. (Just look at those stained glass windows!!)

Of course this required a quick costume change from Viking to Christmas Tree Fairy. See I’ve got my shiny tinsel crown and aathing!

I had some wonderful audiences throughout the afternoon and had the help of Fizzy the Fairy and my wee Tomte/Nisse pal – who is insisting he is not a gnome or a gonk!

Pauline Cordiner – Scottish Storyteller

Stories, Songs, Parties, Crafts, Activities and Living History

Tag: Doric