A wonderful morning today at Greyhope Library with the bairns from Primary 1 at Greyhope School – parents, carers and wee brothers and sisters were invited to see the new library and enjoy some stories with myself and Fizzy the Fairy!
Well Spectra Festival 2024 is fast becoming a distant memory!
4 days of storytelling
16 hours of storytelling
Well over 1000 audience members (final numbers still to come in)
32 stories
5 bags of Irn Bru Jellybabies
2 annoying fairies
Numerous repeat visitors
And a wonderful, wonderful experience for Lindsey and I too!
Thankyou so much to the Spectra Festival team for having us along again – we loved our new location of the Cowdray Hall, our campfire and Granny’s Blankets! Thankyou to the Showsec security who did a marvellous job in all weathers, welcoming the crowds in. Thankyou of course to my storytelling partner in crime Lindsey Gibb who has joined me for her 3rd year as Guest Storyteller!
And Thankyou to all the listeners who made it all worthwhile every night!
Here are some photos 😀
(Thanks to Alice, Lynne and Adele for the kind permission to share their photos!)
For those of you thinking of booking a storyteller for 2024, I am available to tell stories on many different themes throughout the year! Obviously Easter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Halloween, Christmas and Winter… but here’s a list of some of the different literary, science and history dates in 2024. To book me to tell stories at your event, just ping me a message! Email: paulinecordiner@gmail.com
Burns Night – 25th January 2024
National Storytelling Week – 30th January to 6th February 2024
World Book Day – 7nd March 2024
Mother’s Day – 10th March 2024
World Poetry Day – 21st March 2024
British Science Week 8th – 17th March 2024
International Children’s Book Day – 2nd April
National Share A Story Month – May 1st to May 31st 2024
Father’s Day – June 16th 2024
National Writing Day – June 26th 2024
Festival of British Archaeology – July 13th to July 28th
National Poetry Day – 5th October 2024
Scottish International Storytelling Festival – End Oct 2024
Odd Socks Day – Anti Bullying Week – 11th – 17th November 2024
St Andrews Day – 30th November 2024
Book Week Scotland – 18th to 24th November 2024
It’s just over a month until Spectra Festival 2024!
I’m delighted to announce that the wonderful Lindsey Gibb will be joining me again for more tales, fun and Irn Bru Jellybabies!
We’ve been looking at the exhibits Spectra have announced and are seeing what they inspire! 
The theme this year is “Connections” and one of the art works I’m most excited to see is “Spin Me A Yarn” by Studio Vertigo which ties into a wonderful folk tale.
Fizzy and Fuzzy will undoubtedly be getting a story to themselves (as well as their own supply of sweeties)
What a great day out Fizzy the Fairy and I had yesterday at the brand new library at Greyhope School and Community Hub!
Aberdeen City Libraries had organised a visit for each of the Primary 1 classes who got a couple of stories and then received their Bookbug Bags containing 5 books, an activity book and colouring pencils. All part of Book Week Scotland and funded by the Scottish Book Trust!
The bairns had a story about an adventure and another story about a silly loon! But my favourite moment by far was….
“Jack, if someone gives you something like that, you need to carry it home underneath your…”
“OXTER!”
For those of you that dinna spik Doric, that means your armpit. It’s one of my favourite words and I was gey chuffed to have it shouted out! 
Fizzy and I had a right nosey round the new library and facilities – which are so brand new, they (along with the school) only opened on the 1st November!
In fact we were so busy enjoying telling stories and having a nosey round that I forgot to take a photo – so you’ll have to make do with an old one 
Well Fizzy, Fuzzy and I had a wonderful time last night telling stories at KCCH (Kincorth Community Centre Hub) to a wonderful group of families and grown ups!
There were crafts for the bairns first, through in Kincorth Library before an hour of stories – unfortunately interrupted by Fizzy the Fairy and her brother Fuzzy. Well ok… Fizzy did help tell a story and Fuzzy did get the chance to do his favourite poem.
Thanks so much Anne and everyone at the Community Centre and Library for inviting us along, hosting the session and for making us feel so welcome! And thanks to the Scottish International Storytelling Festival for their Big Scottish Story Ripple community funding which made the event possible! #SISFStoryRipple
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It’s been 11 days since Halloween and I’m just about recovered 
Well it was a wee bit busy!
9 locations, 13 events, 55 stories and about 10 packets of marshmallows toasted by the local guisers on the fire on Halloween itself!
I’m all set for Book Week Scotland next week and a few #SISFStoryRipple events the week after that!
And what will I be doing on Thursday? Read on to find out more! 
“Pauline Cordiner, A Scottish Storyteller is returning to Fraserburgh Academy Library on Thursday 26th of October to tell spooky stories. Are you brave enough to come and listen?
As this public event may be a little scary, it is only suitable for ages 8+ and under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult 
The event is completely free but you must sign up in advance for one of the two slots using the links below…
*Please note if you have already booked using the Microsoft Form that was sent out via school, you do not need to book again*
1pm-1.55pm:
2pm-3pm
On Wednesday, I’m heading up to bonnie Buckie to tell stories to the Moray Friendship Club! Another #SISFStoryRipple event funded by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival
I’ll be telling Spooky Tales, but my fairy pals Fizzy and Fuzzy will also be going along. They’re really excited to see the new outfits designed by club members! I’ll post some photos of the next outfits some time after the Halloween Rush!
Spooky Season event sharing continues!
On Tuesday 24th October, 2 – 3pm in the Duthie Park, I will be telling Halloween Tales at We Too SC045895‘s “ASN – Relaxed Spooky, Sensory Stories with Pauline Cordiner” – you can sign up using the link below
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/asn-relaxed-spooky-sensory-stories-with-pauline-cordiner-ages-5-tickets-728750220527?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
The Ninjas are absolutely thrilled to welcome Pauline into our October programme as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival – The Big Scottish Story Ripple!
Hunker down with Pauline as she weaves her spooky, sensory stories around your ears, feel the leaves blow around you and as the weather cools and the light fades to welcome night sky at the Duthie Park.
The We Too! “ChillVille” gazebo will be situated opposite the cafe area on the grass area so you have access to getting a nice warm drink and maybe a fine piece before we all settle down to some stories. Also this spot gives access to the cafe toilets if needed too.
This event has been made possible due to the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s Big Scottish Story Ripple initiative. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) is organised by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) and the Big Scottish story Ripple is supported by The Scottish Storytelling Forum.
Pauline Cordiner - Scottish Storyteller 