Off to visit the Forest Row Festival...

It may be the weekend, but this Friday will see me heading back to school-  not just any school though but The International School of Storytelling! 

I can hardly believe a whole year has passed since I was there studying on their full time course "The Heart and Craft of the Storyteller", and now another cohort of budding tellers have started their adventure...

As part of the festival I will have opportunities to hear both familiar colleagues and new voices telling stories in many different settings and contexts,including stories for children by the hearth in a home, a village hall and on storywalks. 

The icing on the cake will be an evening performance by Rachel Rose Reid in the College's Story Hut. The place that became my home for those 3 months, filled with laughter, stories, music and friendship, and many performances

It will be a wonderful weekend of nostalgia, walking the woods, new tales,  networking, and a chance to spend quality time browsing the School's library shelves. 

I'm really looking forward to it, I only hope the weather is kind since I will be sleeping in my tent!  

Tonight in Winchester...

And it all starts tonight in Winchester, Wykeham Tales serves up another Pint of Stories for your delight and entertainment.

This month's theme is Trees, Woods and Forests
Join us for an 8pm start in the cellar of The Hyde Tavern, Winchester.  

Hear about The Dryad of the Old Oak Tree, The Birch and the Shepherdess and other adventures from myself, Steph and the regulars.


Then as the evening draws to a close I'll be jumping into my car and driving off to the woods of Epping Forest ready for a course in London in the morning.  "Using Personal Stories in Palliative Care" at St Ethelburga's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation led by Roi Gal-Or.

Oui Oui, Stories en Vacance in France

What an amazing adventure, this August I have been exploring the Charante region in France, near Cognac with all of so my husband's family, including my 5 nieces, 1 nephew and Megan.

Over the two weeks I was certainly put through my story telling paces, with tales told in the pool, in the car, during a power cut, round the barbecue, in chateau gardens, towers, caves, and of course bedtimes.

One of my favourite moments was when the two 8year olds' room got taken over by the others who didn't want to miss out. Fiona returned from the bathroom and with one look at her own bed threw her hands up in the air and exclaimed "and where am I supposed to sit!" Her face was a picture.

There are of course many fine true stories to be told about our fortnight including: swimming with mice (not dolphins, yes-mice!), the mysterious dead bird that turned out to be an old sock and the night the door to our bedroom jammed till 'operation rescue' in the morning. May sound a nightmare holiday to you but buy me a drink and you'll quickly come to see the funny side.

But for now it's back in the UK for adventures and new story work opportunities. I'm refreshed and ready... bring it on!