You’re never too old to be a princess…
…. or be silly!
A dream I didn’t even know I had, came true today.
I had my face painted for the very first time by the brilliant Kerry Jackson.
When I was selling my books at St George’s Church in East Boldon’s fundraising fair to create a garden alongside the main road, I was watching children getting fantastic face paint designs all morning from unicorns to dinosaurs, butterflies, bees and everything in between. I thought I would love to have mine done. So here we are!
Kerry did me a ‘butterfly festival’ look which I am absolutely over the moon about and will never wash off, or go to the local pub wearing, to be fair …
It reminds me of when I was tiny and I would dance around my parents’ bedroom with chiffon scarves for hours on end pretending to be a fairy. The moral of this tale is pretty face paint and sparkles spread joy. Everyone at the fair smiled/laughed at me. Canny result. I also sold 17 books so what a morning!
My new book about three women who share an allotment has been sent off to the brilliant Stephanie Butland, who is going to give me advice on how to make it the best it can be. This process, for people who don’t write, is very scary and you’re willing it to be alright but know it will need work. Luckily, Stephanie is a great mentor and kind with advice, but I’m still braced.
On Friday there was another first when I visited the Harrogate Flower Show. It was stunning and made me realise how much I love gardening and the gorgeous colours and shapes you get. The plan is for this inspiration to feed into my new novel somehow…
I’m getting loads of pleasure from doing work for Northern Arts Review and have posted my views on Hairspray and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In PR my opinions had to be kept firmly out of the limelight so it feels weird to be posting them on-line but quite liberating at the same time.
Both shows got five stars. I particularly loved Hairspray and one of the reasons was the star, Katie Brace, who plays Tracy Turnblad, comes from Sunderland, so hats off to her. She was superb and well done for succeeding in such a hard sector.
Next week I’m reviewing a show I know nothing about but am intrigued by – Kim’s Convenience, from a Netflix series about a family-run Korean store. Will report back.
I love Swedish band called Ghost, which can be described as a mash-up of Metallica and Abba. They played Glasgow and we had a family trip to see the whole spectacular gig which had actual fire, huge costumes, drama, set changes and the whole shebang. BUT, that wasn’t all. There was phone ban, not due to copyright but to encourage everyone to enjoy it together and wow was it a different experience.
The whole OVO arena was pitch black for a start apart from the stage lighting and there were no distractions from people around you, or you own phone going off with messages. Totally recommended for other bands if they are reading this!
Back on the theme of North East female successes, I really enjoyed seeing Naomi Kelsey at her book launch for The Darkening Globe at The Bound in Whitley Bay. She is Newcastle-based and is blazing a trail. She’s won awards and been short-listed for major prizes all while working as a teacher and having a family. Her book on the wife of an Elizabethan explorer sounds very dark and nicely spooky.
I promised to feed back on two more novels – The Villa by Rachel Hawkins was great, very twisty and thought-provoking. And The Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell was a super page-turner. It was set in Sunderland where I grew up and I enjoyed all the local references and gutsy female protagonists.
On TV I’m loving the new Race Across the World. I went to China 40 years ago and it is amazing to see how it has changed. Here’s me at the Summer Palace, a beautiful lake and place to visit.
The Piano is also a favourite programme and it is going to be showing an episode from Newcastle shortly so that will be interesting to see. I love the piano playing and the human stories behind it all. The new judge, Jon Batiste, is great fun and is even more high voltage than Mika, which I didn’t think was possible.
If anyone is free and North East-based, I’m speaking about The Stand Up Mam at The Word, Spring Writing Festival on Monday, 28 April at 1.30-2.30.
Thanks very much for reading this. I appreciate it. Have a lovely rest of your weekend.
xx