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
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.
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!
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
I caught Fizzy the Fairy last night getting ready to head out to the Fairies Yule Party. She was in a very festive mood and was almost set to head out to the Cauld Hill o Fare.
Now! If you know your Aberdeenshire stories, you’ll know that the fairies once lived in the Seeley Howe on the Laird of Blelacks Land. They were then dislodged by John Farquharson (a reputed magician) and sent to the Hill o Fare which wasn’t a patch on the Seeley Howe!
They cursed Blelack of course, stating
“Dool, dool to Blelack,
And dool to Blelack’s heir,
For drivin’ us frae the Seely Howe,
To the cauld Hill o’ Fare!”
And that was him cursed. Fizzy assures me that the Hill of Fare is actually very nice these days (the fairies having had a few centuries to spruce it up a bit) but aye that it is a bit chilly.
So! I decided to give her Christmas present early. When we went to Ellon a few weeks ago, we met Elsie who said that Fizzy could do with a nice warm ganzie. So I’ve got the old knitting needles out and have managed to knit Fizzy a lovely jumper to keep her warm. She’s delighted – especially considering my lack of knitting skills!
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 – 25th January 2023
National Storytelling Week – 30th January to 6th February 2023
World Book Day – 2nd March 2023
Mother’s Day – 19th March 2023
World Poetry Day – 21st March 2023
British Science Week 10th – 19th March 2023
International Children’s Book Day – 2nd April (held on or near Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday)
National Share A Story Month – May 1st to May 31st 2023
National Writing Day – June 23rd 2023
Festival of British Archaeology – July 16th to July 31st
National Poetry Day – 6th October 2023
Father’s Day – June 18th 2023
National Poetry Day – 6th October 2023
Scottish International Storytelling Festival – End Oct 2023
Odd Socks Day – Anti Bullying Week – 13th November 2023
St Andrews Day – 30th November 2023
Book Week Scotland – 16th to 22nd November 2023
National Children’s Book Week – 31st October to 4th November 2023
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!
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 