Seven Stories - the National Centre for Children's Books in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Last Saturday morning before heading west again to Oswestry, Ian and I visited Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books in Newcastle Upon Tyne.  We'd spent the morning wandering about in the city centre, marvelling at the Christmas food market and the stunning architecture.  We bought a large half round of French brie for three pounds!  (At home the same cheese would cost us around $30.00 at least.  It's the most delicious cheese I've eaten in years too).  We had breakfast at Carluccios which is a chain of restaurants here.  Chains in the UK don't have near the same connotation as at home or in the US (ie not fast food) as these are absolutely outstanding.  The décor is beautiful, the food delicious and I wish Carluccio's would open in Sydney!

We stopped in to say hello to the lovely Kristine at Waterstones who we'd worked with in February and who supplied the books for Friday's school event.  She said that Alice-Miranda was selling well for them and she loved the series.  We discussed that we'd be back again in November 2014, all set for lots of events, then wandered down to TM Lewin where Ian got his shirt fix before making our way to Avis to pick up our hire car.  That was a lovely surprise, as the mid sized manual Seat sedan we'd booked had miraculously transformed into a brand new automatic Audi A4 with quite possibly the best sat nav system I've ever seen.

We drove back to the hotel and picked up our bags then made our way the very short distance to Seven Stories.  Housed in a stunning old warehouse, you access the building on the street at level three.  I had hoped to meet Lorna Duncanson who I'd emailed with earlier in the week but she doesn't usually work on Saturdays unless there is an event.  However. we met the duty manager Jane Nicholson who took my details and said that she'd pass them on.  We then met Charleene Creasey in the bookshop, who absolutely made my day, when not only did she know who Alice-Miranda was, she promptly found me a pile of books to sign.  I was so thrilled!  Hopefully they will have Clementine Rose soon too.

I was really excited to learn that the Enid Blyton Archive was upstairs as well as a Judith Kerr exhibition.  I spent the whole time smiling as we wandered through the Enid Blyton floor, recalling the stories I had loved as a girl.  The Secret Seven and Famous Five and her Faraway Tree books.  The exhibition contains some original manuscripts and art work but I was sad to read that much of her original work was destroyed.  The typewriter on which she typed her stories (using two fingers) sat under a glass case and there were school photographs of Enid and her two daughters.  I recently watched the Helena Bonham Carter biopic of Enid's life and by all accounts her relationship with her children was strained at the best of times, quite horrible at others.  I can't even imagine writing 700 books in my lifetime - and on further investigation it seems that she wrote most of them in a 30 year period.  She was certainly a woman ahead of her time - imagine if she'd had a computer!  Ian bought me the 2014 Famous Five Annual - and I felt like a nine year old again!

 

 

The Judith Kerr Exhibition is gorgeous with loads of original artwork and photographs and the most beautiful little kitchen containing a giant tiger - children would just love this place, as so much of it is hands on.  Judith is 90 now and according to Carrie and Tim from Booka Bookshop in Oswestry is one of the most charming and funny ladies you'll ever meet.  They had the pleasure a few years ago.

Up in the attic you'll find the event space with a gorgeous story chair and little nooks and crannies.  There's a whole wall of dress up clothes and I do hope that one day I can have an event here - it's enchanting and just perfect for storytelling.

Sadly we didn't have a huge amount of time as we had to get across the country to Oswestry but I know I'll be back again in 2014.  The centre is stunning - I wish there was something like this in Sydney.  Maybe one day...

Fulwell Junior School, Seaburn near Sunderland

I was so excited to be going to Fulwell Junior School.  When we were here in February we met a gorgeous family, the Sayers, who have two beautiful girls, Lilly and Emma.  Their mother Christine has been an ardent supporter of Alice-Miranda and she and the girls had often written to me about the books.  In February we met at our hotel in Newcastle for about an hour and this time I vowed that we would make a trip to the girls' school.

Ian and I caught the train to Seaburn - it was an easy journey from Newcastle Central.  The thing that struck me most was the number of horses in the fields along the train line.

We arrived in the village and walked past the shops to the school. The head teacher Mrs Carroll was very welcoming as were all of the staff.  The library teacher, Mrs Sainthouse was excited to have us there too.  It was the school's first author visit for a long time.  They do have a very famous ex student who is a writer - Terry Deary of Horrible Histories fame.  Sadly he declined an invitation to speak at the school (and apparently the letter is something to behold).

The first thing that struck me about the school interior were the stunning displays of student art.  Mrs Carroll was telling us that they were one of only three schools in the UK to achieve an outstanding for their art program.  It was amazing and they are fortunate to have a teacher who is a very accomplished artist and who has shared her skills with the other staff.

The staff and students were in casual clothes and some in pyjamas for a special fundraising day.  I spotted Lilly in the corridor dressed in the Alice-Miranda t-shirt we'd given her in February.  She smiled broadly and scampered off into class.  

Before the first session I had the honour of cutting the ribbon on the refurbished library with a group of school councillors (students elected to represent their class).  I think Mrs Sainthouse had found the largest pair of scissors ever seen.  I could have done some serious damage with those babies!

The library is a sanctuary space for the children with comfortable bean bags and the most beautiful selection of books.  Apparently the students were asked what books they wanted in the library and every single one of them was sourced and added to the collection.  I was thrilled to see Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose there too. I saw Emma and she immediately gave me a lovely hug.

 

I talked to the Year 4 students first and we had a great time.  The actors outdid themselves - some wonderful facial expressions and excellent snoring.  Ian and I then headed across the road into the village for a bite of lunch.  I had a coronation chicken sandwich - I remember having that last year in Chester and decided it had been yummy.  I think it must have some curry in it.

Emma and Lilly were both in the second session, which should have been just for Year 5 but Lilly had special exemption from swimming to come along with her best friend Carrie, who had given the girls their first Alice-Miranda book.

I decided to focus more on Alice-Miranda for this talk and chose Emma as the school's second best tantrum thrower (although apparently she's not really).  Christine came along to the talk as well - and when Emma was out the front giving me 'the look' Christine said, 'Oh I've seen that face before' - hilarious!

I loved meeting everyone and it was great to see Emma and Lilly and Christine again.  We planned to have dinner in Newcastle so after a quick train trip back to the city, there was only an hour or so before we caught up with them again and John too.  Dinner was lots of fun - and it was great getting to know everyone better.  It has been a real joy meeting the Sayers.  They are a gorgeous family and I know we'll keep in touch and see them next time we're in the UK.  They're coming to Australia for a holiday in 2015- so hopefully we'll get to see them at home too.

We walked back to the hotel along the waterfront and marvelled at the Millennium Bridge, the Conference Centre which has the most spectacular architecture and the Tyne Bridge (mini Sydney Harbour Bridge).