As the snow falls on the North East of Scotland, here’s some photos from last night’s storytelling at Drumtochty Castle near Auchenblae.
The occasion was the night before a grand wedding – and I’d like to wish the happy couple the most wonderful day today! The snow is lying on the ground and many of the wedding guests are from considerably warmer climes!
I hope you all enjoyed last night’s stories and thanks for having me along to share some local folklore and tales!
(Pic 1 with a bonny boar – telling Tad Losgann got bumped when white stags were mentioned and I spotted a foliate head in the decor, Pic 2 outside the castle, Pic 3 – I had a good look at the decor and paintings to see how much tied in with the stories I’d prepared! Pic 4 – it was like arriving at Hogwarts! Pic 5 – I so seldom get to wear this outfit!)
Here’s Strawberry Moose enjoying a day trip on Wednesday – My two Promise Groups were enthusiastic, creative and joyous puppeteers!
Both groups started off with a story (the classic Stone Soup) and then had a lesson on how to effectively bring hand puppets to life. It really is SO tricky, when first picking up a puppet, to make it open its mouth for each syllable. We had a lot of fun with that.
Then both groups started creating their stories with me. They’re going to be very different from eachother and displayed in a different way – one will be a film and the other will be a storyboard (maybe with animated drawings!) watch this space!
Who fancies some spooky story telling at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve on Thursday? This FREE session has been funded by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s Big Scottish Story Ripple #sisfstoryripple2025
The event runs 4.30 to 5.30 – stories suitable for all ages. We can’t wait to see all your costumes and neepie lanterns!
A quick shout out to the Tarland Food & Music Festival which took place at the weekend – thanks folks for having me along to tell stories again this year – I had a wonderful time!
Wee Imp took these pics (check oot ma autumn dungers) during the storytelling inside at the Pavillion. It was a bit nippy outside!
A massive thanks to the committee for having me along and to the folks at the Tarland Community Garden and the folks at the Tarland Pavillion for hosting – lovely to see so many familiar faces from previous years! 🙂
It might be the weekend, but I’m busy busy busy planning upcoming projects!
First of all, I’ve been preparing my plan of action for the next 6 weeks with my Promise Group. We’re creating a story, working with hand puppets, making shadow puppets and filming it all before showing the film to their grown ups and the rest of the school at the end of the term!
I’ve also been planning ABC visits to care homes across the North East with funding Doric Books have received from Hands Up For Trad! The sessions will be based around Work, School and Home and will aa be in Doric – the Activities, the Blethers and the Community Singing. Three of the visits will be with Sheena Blackhall, so I’m really looking forward to that!
I’m delighted I’ve still got two visits to local schools funded by The Doric Board – working with the rhymes of Annie Shirer, a project thought up by Ewan McVicar – you can find out more about that here – https://annieshirerrhymes.co.uk/
And I’m chuffed to be covering three weeks of Scots Song with SC&T Youth – the songs have been chosen and the fun warm ups are being sung around the house!
I’m also planning the rest of the term’s stories and activities for the GREC Language Cafe. These are free weekly sessions for New Scots, those seeking immigrant status and abdy else learning English as a new language. Each session has a theme and there are often visitors who talk about what they do and what services they provide. My job is to tell a story and come up with ice breaker questions and activities for the Cafeistas. The cafe meets weekly (during school term time) at the Arts Centre on Thursdays between 11 and 3pm. Find out more here – https://grec.co.uk/language-support/
Oh! And the Guiding organisation in the UK has created some new interest badges for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers. Including… the Brownies’ FOLKLORE BADGE! So I’ve had fun planning some stories and activities for that.
A new project for a new term! When my pal Sarah and I over at Windswept Stories Photography were out for a walk the other month, she was telling me how she was working with care experienced children – teaching them photography skills, increasing confidence – and having fun!
“Cor. Someone should do storytelling with the groups! It’s what gave me confidence” was my response.
So a couple of months down the line, here I am working with my first group for We Care Aberdeenshire https://thepromise.scot/ #KeepThePromise #ScotlandCares
We’ve planned to
1) create a new story
2) learn to use hand puppets
3) make shadow puppets
4) film our story for the pupils ‘ grown ups, friends, and school to see.
I was so excited I had to have a lie down in the library carpet afterwards
Coming up this Sunday! I’ll be telling stories at the Craigston Carnival from 11.30am!
The event is taking place at Craigston Castle walled gardens near Turriff and runs from 10am to 4.30pm. I’ll be telling tales of bees, seeds, gardens, naughty fairies and thirsty frogs!
There’s loads more going on though – have a look at the Facebook event here https://fb.me/e/5RaPcQhgz 🙂
“Family Fun Day in the Walled Garden in the grounds of Craigston Castle! In aid of Crudie Playgroup Join us for a magical day in the beautiful Walled Garden at Craigston —packed full of activities for all ages!
What’s On? Live storytelling with the wonderful Pauline Cordiner at 11:30am An all-day scavenger hunt to keep curious minds busy Traditional games for kids (and grown-ups!) Local arts & craft stalls – perfect for finding a unique treasure Hands-on craft experiences – get creative with clay, painting & more Hot food with The Cod Father available throughout the day
Special Touches: Buzz by the on-site bee hives Access via gravel and grass. Three lengths of beautiful woodland walks ready to be explored, open all year. Portaloos available on site
Please note: no disabled toilet facilities available
We open at 10am – come early and make a day of it! More exciting details coming soon…
please note; the Castle remains private property and we ask that all visitors and vendors respect the privacy of the castle and it’s occupants.”
I’m delighted to be back at Tarland Food and Music Festival telling stories at three venues on Saturday 20th September! Food and Music must been good themes, because over the years I’ve found heaps of new stories to tell at Tarland and they’ve stayed in my repertoire – often becoming some of the most popular tales!
The storytelling sessions are all free, but I’m sure a donation into the donation bucket wouldn’t go amiss! 🙂
Here are the details –
SATURDAY 20 SEPT 11–11.45am | Upper Hall | Free 12.30-1pm | Community Garden 1.30-2pm | The Pavilion
For the lady on the last Guided Tour of Peterhead, an answer for you!
I was telling the tour about a couple of skeletons which were unearthed during the site clearance of the old Peterhead Music Hall following its fire in 1936. The Peterhead Trail suggests that they may have been militia men – maybe even deserters – who came to a sticky end at Clockie’s Hoose (full story here https://www.peterheadtrail.co.uk/the-peterhead-trail/blade-2 )
The question was – what happened to the skeletons? Where were they buried? I was half way through writing an email to the Aberdeenshire Burial Admin and thought I’d attach a newspaper clipping or two for context. Re-reading this one from the Buchan Observer and Aberdeenshire Advertiser (21st June 1939) it seems that the skeletons were unceremoniously “dispatched to the refuse tip at Keith Inch” !!
“No competent authority had the opportunity to study them as they were found, and in the surroundings in which they lay, with the view of passing judgement on their origin and probable antiquity.”
Can’t see that happening these days! Surely archaeologists would be called in?
Wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic time I had today at the Tall Ships! I had three sets on the Family Stage at Blaikies Quay and despite a rainy start, there was soon a super audience for my first set! Elsie the fishwife joined me to tell the story of a grumpy fishwife and there was time at the end for a tale from the Arabian Nights of a fisherman and a genie!
Then for the second and third sets, I was joined by Sam Stephen, Makaton interpreter extraordinaire! Fizzy the Fairy had to get a story in there of course – with her help (and Sam’s!) we told a version of Mark Fraser’s Flotsam Fairy which went down very well! After that it was… plain sailing. And we had a whale of a time. (And many other fish related puns)!
Thanks to The Tall Ships Aberdeen for having us along to perform and to WeToo for organising Sam’s interpretation for the audience!
Pauline Cordiner - Scottish Storyteller 