Melbourne Tour Day 1: Essendon Primary, Brunswick North, St Monica's Moonee Ponds

This past week has been a whirlwind.  An incredibly rewarding, lots of fun, meeting loads of children blur.  It all started at 4.20am on Monday morning when my alarm started beeping.  But I was already awake - worried that I might miss the alarm!

I met Zoe, publicist extraordinaire from Random House at the airport and we headed off to Melbourne.  The flight was packed with early morning business travellers, all of whom seemed to have their luggage on board.  We had quite a difficult time finding a spot for our banner and Zoe's little suitcase (as opposed to my monster which was in the hold - feeling very lonely I suspect!).  We had Alice-Miranda with us too.  I knew she fitted in the coat cupboard at the front.  She'd been there enroute to Edinburgh in a smaller plane than the one we were on but the flight attendants curled their lips and were unimpressed until I showed them she was really no bother at all.  Must have been the early start.

The flight left Sydney on time but as we approached Melbourne the holding pattern was invoked and we spent an extra 30 minutes circling Mount Buller.  The minutes were ticking away and Zoe and I were beginning to feel a little anxious about reaching our first event on time.

Fortunately there were no more delays and we hopped into our little Corolla and navigated through the rain to Essesndon Primary where we were met ny Natasha from Book Bonding in Niddrie and now also in Gisborne too and a very enthusiastic audience.  The event was fast - not nearly as much time as I would have liked but the children and teachers were lovely and really appreciative that we stopped by.  I signed the children's books and we were on our way to Brunswick North, where I had visited the children on my tour in 2012.  It was lovely to be greeted by a group of very excited girls and taken up to the Year 5-6 classroom.  The children proved a fantastic audience as they had previously.  Another whirlwind signing and we headed to the local park for a quick coffee and a snack (I couldn't resist the chocolate brownie) and then we drove around the corner to St Monica's Moonee Ponds, which is in a beautiful array of buildings from the very old to brand new.  I met with the children from 3-6 in the hall and had a fantastic time.  There were lots of books to sign afterwards. As we exited through the staff room it was lovely to talk to some of the teachers.

We then headed back to deliver some more books to Essendon Primary and pick up an important part of my paraphernalia we had accidentally left there, then it was off to sign some stock at Book Bonding and head into the city.

It was great to see Samantha Ellen Bound who works at Book Bonding and has just had her first book, What the Raven Saw released with Random House.  When I have some time it's on my reading list and I have seen great reviews already.

We bade farewell to Natasha and Sam and headed to Carlton for some lunch and a visit to The Little Bookroom.  As we walked in and said hello, a little girl and her mother were walking out.  The lady serving them called out to her when we introduced ourselves and they came back.  They'd just bought two Alice-Miranda books, which I was delighted to sign.

The Little Bookroom is a beautiful shop with a wonderful range of children's books.  We then headed to our hotel in St Kilda for some well earned rest.

A milestone week; a birthday, a book launch and lots of beautiful girls

This past week has been one of milestones.  I had a birthday on Wednesday - not a particularly memorable number but a milestone nonetheless.  On my birthday I had an email from Random House to let me know that the Alice-Miranda series had clocked over a significant number of sales in Australia, which was a wonderful present.  On Thursday Alice-Miranda In Paris came in at #37 on the Neilsen Bookscan charts for the week - which is amazing.  On Friday I found out that she was #9 on the Leading Edge Group Neilsen charts for the week and #1 in their Children's Chart.  I am constantly amazed by Alice-Miranda and her growing band of friends.  I wonder what it is about her that has captured so many hearts - I suspect it's her capacity to be kind.  Children often tell me they want to be Alice-Miranda or at the very least be friends with her.  They say that she's the sort of girl you can rely on and who will always be there for you.  I think they also love that she has adventures and there is lots of yummy food!

Yesterday we had a fabulous launch for Alice-Miranda In Paris with Shearer's at Leichhardt.  I know that Tony and Barb are frantically busy at the moment, having to move shops to make way for an extension of the building.  I'm sure it was really the last thing they needed, but in typical form, they were wonderful and the event went off without a hitch.  Given that I arrived home from overseas a week ago, much of the organisation (okay - all of the organisation) had been done by the extraordinary team at Random House Australia.  There were balloons, French treats galore, a beret making craft activity with glitter and sparkles and everything little girls love, posters, bookmarks and prizes.  Zoe did a great job showing the girls how to walk the runway and helping them create their berets, Sarana is a magician at marketing and food, Dot oversaw the lot - even with stitches in her forehead and feeling like she'd gone ten rounds with Jeff Fenech after a nasty accident at work, Kimberley ran around doing lots of setting up jobs, as did Chris, who also launched the book into the world.  A real highlight of the day for me was meeting Anne Yi, the incredibly talented illustrator of Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose.  It's difficult to believe we have now done ten books together and have only just met.  It wasn't deliberate - just timing and busyness.  I can tell you, she's as gorgeous (in every way) as the girls she so ably brings to life on the page.

Girls and parents came from all over Sydney to be part of the festivities and I loved meeting everyone.  The dress ups were extraordinary - from two of the best Alice-Miranda uniforms I've ever seen, to French chic that would do any Parisian runway proud and one Millie - who was simply perfect.  I was agonising over what to wear myself - assuming there would be high expectations but last year when we were in Paris I bought a beautiful black and white dress that had been sitting in the wardrobe awaiting the right occasion.  It had to be the launch - so I wore my dress, purchased so appropriately on the Boulevard St Germain.

My mother in law excelled yet again creating an identical replica outfit for our Alice-Miranda doll to the one she's wearing on the cover.  I suspect if I started advertising she could have a whole new career in Alice-Miranda outfits - there were many requests to find out where the clothes had come from.

It was wonderful to have two school friends there too.  Lynda and Maree and I had all lived in the same street as children and gone to the same primary and high schools and it was great to see them and Lynda's lovely daughter Jess.  My mother and sister, and Emma and Hannah came along and my husband Ian, who is the most amazing man, ran around doing lots of jobs and taking photos and being his usual supportive self.

It was a brilliant day and one I will always remember.  So, now I'm packing for a week long tour of Melbourne.  I can't wait (although I'm not looking forward to the 6am flight!). 

New friends from around the World

It's been an amazing couple of days with emails coming from around the world from parents of girls who are enjoying the Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose stories and from the children who are reading them too.  It's so gratifying as a writer to know that the books are being read and enjoyed.  I had no idea that Alice-Miranda had found her way to Sweden into the hands of a little girl called Isabella, who dressed up as Alice-Miranda At Sea for her school book day.  She also sent me a photograph of her reading the book while she was on mid term break in Dubai.  I then received an email from the mother of Tess, whose school we had visited in Windsor UK.  She has been reading the Alice-Miranda books but was really taken with Clementine Rose, and despite the books not yet being released in the UK, Tess dressed up as Clemmie, complete with Lavender the pig, for World Book Day.  I couldn't have imagined any of this not so long ago. 

This morning I received an email from a girl in Southampton who told me  I ve read the first book, Alice-Miranda At School and it is the best book I've ever read.  I've now got Alice-Miranda On Holiday and Alice-Miranda At Sea...I'm reading On Holiday now. I love your description in your books...

I'm so grateful and humbled by the fact that children enjoy the stories.  It makes me want to write more and more - and tour more and more as well.  Next week I'm off to Melbourne with the lovely Zoe from Random House visiting 11 schools, two public libraries and one bookstore for an after school event.  It's going to be flat out and I can't wait. 

In the meantime there is Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco to get underway.  So, no time to blog - best get on with it.

St Joseph's International Elementary School Singapore - the last school of the tour

Yesterday Cheryle picked me up bright and early at 7.15am and we drove to St Joseph's International Elementary School.  Only five years old, the school is lovely - and very well resourced.  We met the Deputy Head, Deidre Hazlewood, a young Australian woman from Perth who has been living and working overseas in London prior to arriving in Singapore.  She welcomed us warmly and we headed off to set up for my talks.  We discussed which children I'd be seeing and when I mentioned that I'd be very happy to talk to more students, Deidre quickly organised things and I had a fabulous time meeting children in Grades 2, 3 and 4.

Deidre also told me about one of the girls, Claire, who is an avid Alice-Miranda fan in Grade 4.  It was great to meet her later in the morning.  We had a photo together and it was a pleasure to sign her book.

The children responded with much laughter  to the dramatisation activity with Mr Sparks and Clementine and one little boy was a wonderful actor, remaining in character, snoring and snorting and keeping his eyes closed the whole time.  He seemed to have a very good handle on the habits of the sleeping elderly male - I wonder if he's observed a grandparent or great grandparent snoring in the sitting room from time to time!

I had the pleasure of meeting the Principal, Louise Grant, also from Australia.  In fact she grew up in the suburb next to where we live.   Louise has been at the helm since the school began.  There is such a sense of calm and nurturing about the place.  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting and hope to return there again in the future.

After signing the children's books, Cheryle and I headed back to the city.  She dropped me off at the hotel and then Ian and I walked over to The Forum a short while later to meet her for lunch.  I had been really pleased that Alice-Miranda (the life sized version) was going to stay behind in Singapore and when we got to Bookaburra, she was already adorning the window display - and looked fabulous.  I don't have a photo yet - as it was one of the rare times I left the iPad and camera behind, but Cheryle has promised to send me a picture and I will add it when I can.

We had a delicious Chinese lunch including some of the best crispy pork I've ever eaten, among many other treats.  For any children who missed out on getting a signed book from my school visits, I then signed the shop stock.  While I was doing that, a little girl and her mother and grandparents came in.  She recognised me from my visit to UWC and I was able to sign the first three Alice-Miranda books for her. 

I have had the most wonderful week with Cheryle.  She is so passionate about books and children and I know I have made a new friend.  Ian and I bade her farewell to head back to the hotel and finish packing before the overnight flight to Sydney.

There are already plans afoot to return to Singapore - on my way back to the UK, where Clementine Rose is set to make her debut later in the year.  I can't believe that the five and a half weeks flew by so quickly - and I can't wait to be back again soon.

Newton Square Food Centre - fabulous food markets

 On Thursday night we met up with some friends of friends who live in Singapore and have two boys who attend the school I was visiting on Friday.  Jackie and Suresh picked us up at the hotel and we drove to the Newton Food Market, sometimes known as Newton Hawker Market and otherwise, apparently, Newton Square.  Jackie and Suresh have been in Singapore for four years and previously lived in Sydney.  They are great fun and it was terrific to go to the market with locals - the fact that Jackie speaks the language was a great bonus as she was able to ward off the hawkers so we could have a proper look at the range of food on offer.  Given that I am highly allergic to shellfish and crustaceans I was planning to stick with the chicken, beef and duck stands.  Ian and Jackie were on the lookout for some of the local seafood and Suresh stayed behind to make sure we didn't lose our table.

There is an amazing array of food. Stingray is popular (not for me) and the prawns were enormous.  There was chilli crab and pepper crab, crispy duck, pork everything and satay skewers by the dozen.  We ordered some satay sticks first up then headed to the reputedly best duck stall - Jackie had done some research earlier in the day.  Ian and Jackie then made a beeline for the seafood and within fifteen minutes or so we had all of our dishes - a veritable feast.  Ian and Jackie had ordered prawns and pepper crab and something else that had noodles and prawns and other things I didn't recognise in it.

There are plenty of drinks stalls as well and the alcohol is much cheaper than in the hotels and bars.  Probably the reason why the market attracts a lot of younger people.  Ian and Suresh had Asahi beer - which came in 1 litre cans for $16 SNG.  Jackie and I had sugar cane juice - a sort of watery syrup - I was trying not to think about my sugar-free diet at the time - it was delicious.

We had a lot of fun getting to know Jackie and Suresh over dinner.  It's great to hear about how things work in Singapore and I'm fascinated by the exhorbitant cost of some things and the relative cheapness of others.  Housing is incredibly expensive and cars - which I'd mentioned before can cost up to $180,000 for a Camry!  Food at the markets and grocery stores is quite affordable.  Apparently there are some bargains to be found with clothes too - I hadn't found many of those shops yet.  The prevalence of Prada and Chanel had put me off the larger malls.

It was a great night and I would definitely recommend the market for a bit of fun and a different dining experience in Singapore.

 

Chatsworth International School Singapore

Thursday was a busy day.  After we finished up at Eton House and had some lunch we drove back into the city to visit Chatsworth International School.  It's literally right in the centre of town, a stone's throw from where we were staying in Scott's Road.  I was excited to visit the school - especially as it shares its name with my favourite English palace - Chatsworth House in Bakewell.

We were greeted warmly yet again - everyone in Singapore is so friendly and I was looking forward to meeting the children.  The library staff had made lovely welcome and thank you displays and there were three little girls in the library who were putting the finishing touches to a very glittery poster.  They giggled a lot when I arrived and later it was a pleasure to sign their books and bookmarks.

I met with the Grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 students.  They were so enthuisastic and I was wishing for longer than the allotted 30 minutes each.  The children loved the drama activities and responded so well.  My final session of the day saw a return visit from Grade 1 who had recently had their own book published.  They had fabulous questions for me - it was their opportunity to do an 'author interview'.

The school is again much smaller than some of the others but has a great atmosphere and feels like a big family.  The Principal is Canadian and as always there is a diverse mix of students and staff.

I had a great day, although it had been particularly warm and I was really looking forward to a swim back at the hotel - so I abandoned my blog posts for the afternoon and did just that.

Eton House School Singapore

I had a great time visiting Eton House school.  The children were enthusiastic and the teachers laughed in all the right places.  The school is much smaller than some of the international schools I've visited this week.  In a tree lined suburban street, surrounded by lovely homes, the school boasts a great diversity of students from all over the world.  They had recently participated in ArtExpress - not the Australian HSC exhibition but their own creative time, where the children produced their own art works.

I talked with the P-2 children in the first session and then to the 3-6 students.  The only small challenge was that in the hall, although there was cross ventilation, there was no airconditioning and so if I look a little warm in the photos, I was.  Apparently the AC is coming soon :)  I'm sure that the locals get quite used to the humidity but I really struggled.

I signed lots of books for the children and hope that Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose have found themselves some more new friends at Eton House. 

Cheryle took me to a great little sandwich shop for lunch.  Nearby in one of the smaller shopping strips it was nice to be out of the giant malls.

After lunch we headed back into the city and I took some more photos of the incredible Marina Bay Sands resort which looks like a ship sailing into the city - albeit from many storeys up.