Big Green Bookshop - what an honour!

Two blokes, one bookshop, no idea ...

Time to celebrate - the grand opening

Tim West and Simon Key open the shop to a great fanfare!

Simon Key enters the world of Stonewylde - from which there's no escape

(All photos courtesy of the Big Green Bookshop)

This Friday 6th November I'll be spending the evening, from 7pm, with Simon Key the celebrity bookseller in his very special shop. I'm so honoured! I was telling him tonight that I'm more nervous about this event than any of the others I've attended this year. I've spoken to huge audiences at much bigger venues (we're limited to 40 guests at his shop so it's going to be one of my smaller talks in that sense) but The Big Green Bookshop is so famous and important in the bookselling world that I'm in jelly-fish mode at the moment. And by that I mean quivering rather than stinging.

You may wonder why a small independent bookshop tucked away up in Wood Green, north London, is so important. It has a very interesting history, and what Simon and his partner Tim West have done is absolutely ground-breakingly brilliant. I have such respect for what these two guys have achieved, and so it seems do many others. Which is why they're doing so well.

Simon and Tim used to work for their local Waterstone's branch. Between them they had over 35 years of bookselling experience. It would be true to say that they were pretty dedicated to their careers in bookselling. But then, in one of their rationalisation moves, Waterstone's decided to shut the shop. The local community organised a petition and protested vehemently at the closure of the only proper bookshop in the area - but to no avail. The branch shut, and Wood Green was without a bookshop.

But the story didn't end there, as it's sadly done in many other towns. Simon and Tim decided to open their own independent shop and set about it. I remember first reading about them on someone's blog on the Internet, and immediately joined their Facebook group. They chronicled their struggles - finances, premises, legalities - until finally they were given the keys to their new shop. They'd run a competition to name it, and The Big Green Bookshop was born.

They appealed for help on Facebook. They needed labour and expertise to decorate and fit out the shop, transport and tea-makers, pairs of willing hands to muck in. They found help in abundance, people enjoying the chance to support the "little guys" for once. I wanted to help but live too far away - but I watched their progress and was so glad for them.

Just 23 days after they'd got the keys, and only 7 months since the demise of their branch of Waterstone's, Simon and Tim were open for business. The Big Green Bookshop opened its doors and began trading, to fanfares, balloons and ribbon-cutting. The local community rallied around and showed their support, and have done so ever since. This was in March 2008, and despite the recession that's bitten so hard since then, Simon and Tim are going strong.

They're still proactive on Facebook, maintain a regular blog, and do a lot of Internet networking. They're the darlings of the media and get a lot of good PR this way - because we all like to see people who've refused to accept defeat, stuck their necks out and taken risks. And succeeded! One of their secrets of success is the immense amount of hard work and long hours they put in. They hold events in their shop almost every week, and sometimes more than once a week. They have all sorts of authors in, and also encourage their younger customers with regular children's events. Including a nasty ugly face competition online, where we had to vote for the ugliest child (not quite as cruel as it sounds as they were pulling the most hideous faces!). They also run four book clubs a week - so their success is certainly well deserved.

And in two days' time, I shall be there as their guest author! After following them and admiring them for so long, I really can't believe it. The Bookseller are sending a journalist to cover the event, and we've sent out a lot of invitations on Facebook. I'm really hoping for some support from my lovely Stonewylde readers too. Simon will be selling the books at a good discount, along with our greetings cards and T-shirts, and there'll be refreshments too. I shall be talking about Stonewylde, reading extracts, answering questions and signing books. I'm very excited and was especially delighted to see the photo of Simon wearing a Stonewylde T-shirt!

I hope many of you will be able to come, and bring your friends too. It's a free event and you don't even have to buy anything - just be there to give me a bit of support. Even if you've already got Stonewylde books, you may find something else there of interest as they stock a really wide selection, and we're not talking about rotten old supermarket books here! The bookshop's been in the news all this week as they've just teamed up with Gallic Books in the first known "twinning" in the book industry ever! An independent bookshop twinned with an independent publisher - a stroke of genius. I told you they were ground-breaking, didn't I?

Trick or Treat - is it on the way out?

Last year I blogged about Hallowe'en and my aversion to kids knocking on my door expecting sweets or money. Especially sullen teenagers in a cheap mask and football shirt. I told of how one year, after several visits like this, I had armed myself with a waterpistol and had squirted the hapless callers. I thought this was quite amusing as no harm was done at all, but someone reading my blog took offence and I suspect she doesn't follow me any more.

On my community site last year there was much discussion about trick or treating, and I started to think that maybe I was just being a miserable old bag. People wrote how they bought sweets especially for the little callers, and how cute some children looked in their adorable Hallowe'en outfits. I guess my aversion was because my experiences had all been with quite threatening or at best, half-hearted, teenagers who hadn't made any effort at all with their costumes, but were quite aggressive and surly in their demands. Althought I still have problems with the idea of children out in the dark knocking on people's doors and roaming the streets - it seems to fly directly in the face of all the stranger-danger stuff we teach them.

But this year I decided to lighten up and actually bought some chocolate eyeballs. I was quite looking forward to pressing them into a small sweaty hand. But nobody came. I was on Twitter and it was interesting to see people's reports of the Trick or Treating in their street. Jonathan Ross had loads of callers - and he was holding a party as well. Another lady counted thirty visitors in total. But many people reported no callers at all, and were quite disappointed when they had to eat all the sweets themselves. These seemed to be in the majority, and it made me wonder if Trick or Treating was actually fizzling out, after seeming to be taking off in recent years.

I noticed that lots of people were holding Hallowe'en parties (obviously helped by the fact that it fell on a Saturday this year) and I saw many advertised in Village Halls and other public places. Perhaps it's recognised that both children and adults just love dressing up in Hallowe'en fancy dress, and the Trick or Treating is only to give them an excuse to do this and show off their costumes. So if a party is on offer, that's infinitely preferable to traipsing the streets, knocking on doors and maybe even getting squirted by some nasty old woman like me!

What experiences did others have this year? I'm thinking of the UK and Europe here of course - I'm assuming my US and Canadian readers had lots of Trick or Treat activity. And what about Australia and other parts of the world? It would be really interesting to hear if others noticed a decline too in door-knocking activity.

I also noticed how much more merchandise was available in the shops this year. It seems each year Hallowe'en becomes even bigger. My local Sainsbury's had the whole of a long aisle devoted to it, and had decorated the front of the store. John Lewis's staff, when I visited on Wednesday, were in fancy dress and looked splendid! The female sales assistants had all dressed as witches and I overheard a very funny thing - someone was on a walkie-talkie and said, "Children's Department Witch to Shop Floor Witch ..." It was very incongruous, especially as she was wearing black and purple striped tights and was covered with cobwebs, but trying hard to be efficient and helpful to her waiting customer.

Personally I hope that Trick or Treating is dying a death in the UK, where it's only been going a few years anyway. I think it's great if people are dressing up and going to parties together instead, children and adults together all in Hallowe'en costume. This seems to me to be a lovely return to what the festival was originally - one of the eight pagan celebrations of the year when the community would join together for feasting and fun. And not a chocolate eyeball in sight!

Dorset Volunteers Award Ceremony, Dorchester

Kit presents Leon with his prize and certificate

The five girls who volunteered to help with the award ceremony also received a book

Craig Womble, one of the Centre's managers, and Bethany who had worked so hard

The young volunteers who won awards for outstanding achievement in community work

All photos courtesy of and copyright Steve Pallant - with thanks

I was privileged to be invited as the guest of honour to present awards at the Dorset Volunteers Award Ceremony in Dorchester last week. This is a very special night when some of the wonderful volunteers who make such a difference to the community have their efforts publicly recognised. I don't suppose this makes any difference to their endeavours, because volunteers have different motivation from the "fame and fortune" ethos, but it's always good to receive acknowledgment of your hard work. The awards are made by public nomination and span the whole of Dorset.

I had been asked to present prizes and certificates to the Young Volunteers, and their prize was a copy of Magus of Stonewylde. The Mayor of Dorchester and the event's sponsor, Gerald Duke, presented the certificates to the other award winners. The event took place in the Dorford Centre in Dorchester, which was somewhat different from when I last visited back in 1985 on a playgroup observation visit! The scruffy old floorboards had disappeared and the building is now comfortable and immaculate.

It was a lovely evening, with nibbles and refreshments provided and a really big turn-out of awardees and their families and friends. The large hall was packed with people and the ceremony was beautifully orchestrated. It was amazing to see the diversity of volunteers, from little 10 year old Leon, who won his award for campaigning in Lyme Regis to save a local hotel from destruction, to elderly people from all over the county who give their time to staff drop-in centres, provide transport and refreshments, visit the sick and lonely and run library services etc. The list went on and on and it was heart-warming to hear. Three adults with learning difficulties received awards for their voluntary work, and some people seemed to be up on stage more than once for different community activities. It's good to be reminded of just how much difference a person can make to society. Many of the people receiving awards were not in the best of health themselves, and many were long-retired, but clearly they devoted their time to helping others.

I'd been invited to present a short talk about my books and Dorset roots to the audience, and was delighted to be given an amazing introduction by one of the volunteers. The lights dimmed, images of my books and the Stonewylde Goddess in the Landscape flashed onto the screen, and in a deep and theatrical voice, John introduced Stonewylde, reading quite a big chunk to give people a flavour of the books. It was lovely - and a hard act to follow. People must have expected me to materialise on stage in a puff of purple smoke after that!

Many thanks to Craig Womble, the man who has orchestrated the event and his assistant Bethany who'd put a huge amount of effort into ensuring the smooth running of the evening. She received a set of Stonewylde books as thanks, and the five girls who helped on the night also received copies of Magus. I drove back to Reading feeling very uplifted after witnessing the wonderful spirit of altruism that volunteers of all ages, shapes and sizes create.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - wow!

Publicity photo for the film

I don't normally do film reviews on my blog and this isn't really one as such because I'm not going to write clever and insightful things about a film. Or nasty and disparaging things either - that's not why I blog. But last night Mr B and I went to see a film that so "blew my mind" that I felt today I had to share it with those of you who follow my blog.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was written and directed by Terry Gilliam (of Monty Python fame) and starred many wonderful actors including Christopher Plummer, Tom Waits, Lily Cole, the late Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp (!!!!!), Jude Law, Colin Farrell and many more. Actually it doesn't really star Johnny, Jude and Colin. They have cameo parts and were brought in to overcome the terrible obstacle of having one of the very main characters die only a third of the way through filming. Poor Heath Ledger's death could have scuppered the film completely, and apparently production was halted for some time, but due to the weird nature of the story line and the cleverness of the photography, the brilliant idea of substituting J, J and C for Heath was born. And in fact it works fantastically, as if it were meant to be.

The film feels like you've entered into the mind of Terry Gilliam and have been given the freedom of the city. Strange, weird dreamscapes. I once dreamed, as a child, of jellyfish-like hydra flagellating around Earth in space. I've dreamed of this several times since and put it down to one of my more bizarre subconscious offerings. But there it was, albeit briefly, in this film. Yes, jellyfish pulsating in space. How did Gilliam know? Or do lots of people dream about this?

The storyline was simple and quite archetypal (father promises daughter's hand to nasty stranger on a whim and then regrets it) and the characters the same. But it was satisfying none the less, and what I loved was the surrealism and sense that almost anything could happen. Dali-esque landscapes, nightmare moments and that strange dream thing we all know where for no apparent reason things suddenly change into something else and you just have to accept it - this was the essence of the film. Nothing made sense and yet to my subconscious it made perfect sense, for the film was the stuff of the id.

Stunning costumes, beautiful and sometimes breathtakingly exquisite sets, great photography - and an atmosphere of wild and bizarre decadence punctuated with really nasty violence and squalor, and then a swirl of magic and a flourish of showmanship - this was The Imaginarium's appeal to me. Hell, I'm no film critic and haven't read any of the reviews, although I believe the film has been slated by many. I'm not surprised as it's an easy target, sticking its neck out and taking risks. So easy to take a shot. And perhaps so easy not to "get" this film, particularly if you lack a vivid and wild imagination.

All I would say is this: I have a low boredom threshold. In most films I either find myself nodding off like an old biddy, or mentally wandering off into making lists of what I have to do the next day, or fidgeting and looking at my watch. But last night whilst watching The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, I actually forgot I was in the cinema. I was there, inside the film, and when it finished I had that strange disorientated feeling of coming back to the Real World with a bump. That to me is the mark of an excellent film.

Naughty authors - Roald Dahl and Maurice Sendak

I've read two interesting stories this week that got me thinking about the whole political correctness thing involved in writing for children. As many of you will know, I brought up three sons and was also a school teacher, so I've had quite a bit of experience with books and kids. My boys had literally hundreds of books because I discovered early on, when George was just a baby, that children's books at jumble sales were ridiculously cheap. Sometimes only 1p, but at most 10p. I'd come home with the buggy laden with books, practically buckling the struts and tearing the hood with their weight. As both their father and I were avid readers ourselves and they were surrounded by mountains of books, all three boys grew up loving stories as well as non-fiction.

One of their very early favourites was "Where the Wild Things are" by Maurice Sendak - they all loved it and we can still quote the whole book practically word perfect even now (George is 26!). He was scared of the teeth of one of the monsters but loved the wild rumpus, Oliver identified with Max because he was always being sent to his room for "making mischief of one kind or another", and William felt sad that Max had to leave the monsters behind after they'd begged him "Oh please don't go! We'll eat you up, we love you so!". The book, simple and with so little text, appealed to them all in different ways but on a very deep level. I got through several copies as the three of them grew up, because the books simply fell apart from so much loving use.

Not being scared of big, frightening things, being brave and standing up for yourself, proving that you can overcome adversity and make bad things good, knowing that at home you're loved more than anything else in the world, and that your room (and supper) will always be there waiting for you - all very primeval and important things for children to learn. At the nursery where I helped once a week when the boys attended, I always had to read this book to the children first, before any other would even be considered. They all loved it.

So I enjoyed reading an article this week about Maurice Sendak's attitude towards complaints that his book was too scary for children. He said he'd tell the parents to go to hell - and the kids to go home and wet their pants. This made me laugh! I thought "A children's author can't say that!" and then I thought "But why not?". We're all so careful to be polite and non-offensive, especially if we work around children, and I found it refreshing to read about an old man who doesn't care about this but speaks his mind.

Later I discovered another article on a similar theme but this time about Roald Dahl. Now here is someone who's perhaps one of the most read children's authors of all time, and prolific too. Again, my boys enjoyed his books very much, as did the primary classes I taught. His books had something for everyone, from nasty grubby little boys who loved Mr Twit's disgusting beard and the boys' bare bottoms where the glue had worked, to dainty little girls who identified with Matilda and the divine Miss Honey. And of course every child in between these two extremes - all found something they loved in Dahl's books.

But as the article says, he was incredibly politically incorrect in much of his writing, which makes me wonder if he'd get away with it nowadays, if he were a new author trying to get published. I suspect his work would be instantly rejected as unsuitable for children. Luckily it's already out there and can't be altered.

On a final and naughty note - I remember in my first year of teaching at a very nice, middle class church school, I read lots of Roald Dahl to my Year 3 class (seven year olds). I think this happened in James and the Giant Peach - one of the aunts is described as having a mouth like a dog's bottom. As I read this and it dawned on them just what this would look like, the entire class of 36 children (this was many years ago, and it really was 36!) just fell about laughing. As did I. And for the next week all any of them wanted to draw was a close up of a dog's bottom. I don't think you'd get away with that now!

Lisa meets a lama

Guess which one's Lisa!

I've never done a guest blog thing before, and I don't think this is quite in the spirit of that anyway. This is more to do with the fact that one of my lovely Stonewylders wrote such a hilarious account of her time at Gorton Monastery (see my last post) that I just HAD to share it with everyone. We use "LOL" freely, but on this occasion I really did!

Lisa is a member (a very active member) of the Stonewylde Community, making many posts, blogs and chatting in the chat-room a lot. I met her at Olympia a couple of weeks ago - she's one of those lovely larger-than-life characters that you just take to instantly. She wrote a really funny blog about that weekend, and then she came along to the MBS event at Gorton Monastery this Saturday. There were a huge number of Stonewylders there, all having previously arranged to meet up. Bear in mind these are people who "chat" and converse with each other on the Internet every single day in most cases - and yet they've never met in person. So now they're all trying to meet up at every opportunity, and last Saturday was one such occasion.

Lisa posted this blog today, but unless you're a member of our community (and please do join if you like - there's a link on the side) you wouldn't be able to see this. She's very kindly given me permission to post it here - enjoy!!

"Now for those of you who have met me, on or off the forum, this blog will come as no surprise. My life consists largely of incidents such as this strung together. Willow thought i should share this one LOL .... so ......

On Saturday, I ventured off with some dear and lovely friends to Gorton Monastery. It isn't too far from me: about half an hour, so a few of us "airy fairy" types from Bollington headed off to sunny Manchester, to avail ourselves of purchases and spiritual top ups. The usual chaos ensued ... just as one friend arrived at my door, I turned around to find all 4 hens in the kitchen, merrily shredding a FULL binbag that I was going to put out on the way down the path. The traitors were EATING A CHICKEN CARCASS!!!! Now, it could have been the shock of eating one of their kin, but the kitchen was now decoratively adorned with chicken poos, dotted in an artistic manner amongst the debris.

A full roll of "Plenty/ Bounty" later ... and we were off! I won't need to mention how we tittered all the way in an excitable manner ... most of you will take that for granted! I was taken aback by the beauty of the building, shining out from such mundane surroundings (apologies if anyone comes from Gorton). I have a bit of a "thing" about those pointers: you know the ones? People in high vis vests who direct you to a car parking space? There is scope in that job for much artistic content and imaginative arm choreography, but these didn't even point which direction to head in! Feeling sorely peeved, as this constitutes a large part of the enjoyment of any car parking experience in my view, I demanded imperiously of one that he must point to the door of the monastery.
"Come on then ... now's your chance to point!" I cried.
Looking vaguely scared and bewildered, he feebly waved a hand over my shoulder and said "It's behind you?"
Doesn't take much to make me happy :-)

As Vikki and I walked towards the doors, we both stopped at the same time. I had goose bumps down both arms. The energy of the place was amazing! I'm going to skip most of the day, apart from to say that the venue was stunning, and all the exhibiters seemed to gel with it. It was as though they had been hand chosen for the place. The only puzzling one was "Suzie's Fashion bags and accessories for all occasions" ???????? Maybe I was missing something there, but we felt that it should at least have been "Suzie's MYSTICAL handbags etc"

It was just so lovely to meet all those fellow Stonewylders in such a lovely place, and I hugged and hugged Willow, as we talk on here almost every day, and it was the first time we had met in person. We did the compulsary alarming of Kit and Mr. B, LOL and took loads of piccies. Some are on here, I think most of us posted a few. Anyway LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY to meet you all xxxxx

We all split up and headed off to various workshops:- I won't go into details as I'm sure you've all done some similar and fabby ones. I can't NOT mention Scott Jasper from Dragonfly Moon though ... I have never met anyone with such bubbling and infectious energy. If you ever get chance to attend his drumming workshops, please do. It will lift your spirits for the day. We all managed to meet up in the monastery gardens for more hugs and photos and lunch.

During lunch, I choked spectacularly on a strand of grated cheese. I felt that I was in just the right place for this "Near death experience," but managed to avoid going towards the light by making some alarming and very high volume roars and vomit style noises. This turned into an attack of guffaws, which brought the choking on again ... which brought the guffaws on again ... are you getting it yet? LOL The WHOLE of the manastery garden was now looking at me in awe and horror.

Willow had been for a blessing with a lama, and I had booked in on the last minute as there was a place left, with my other friends. I was incredulously looking at the bit of red wool around her neck which was the result of the blessing. I knew nothing or the event except that Willow assured me it was a great opportunity, and I should go. She did warn me that the ceremony was very solemn and serious, and was looking a little doubtful as I spluttered and giggled my way towards the room containing said Lama....

On arrival outside the room, we were told that the Lama was running very late. VERY late. I had by now deduced that each ceremony was for 15 people, and lasted approx 45 mins. I knew nothing of the Lama himself, as I had not read any of the information, having last minute booked. Now, I can JUST about manage 45 mins of sitting still, but it is very difficult for me. And sitting quietly ...... say no more! All I knew was that I had read some of the books written by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, and thought he was a really splendid bloke. Right up there! Willow kindly told me AFTER the event that it was a Healing Puja and Blessing by the Geshe Lama Ahbay Tulku Rinpoche. And the gist of it is ... he is a very very high ranking Lama, and people wait in line for hours just to see him .... chummy as it were with His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Please excuse my ignorance, as I know practically zilch about Tibetan Monks.

Now ... if only I had known this information, I would have sat right at the very back or something ... however ... We parked ourselves right in from of the makeshift altar. Facing the Lama. He had decided to combine us with the last group, due to the time limits. Hence 30 people and one very high ranking Lama in a tiny room. Mucho chair shuffling ... and we started. The Lama was in his full saffron and maroon robes, and looked stunning. He looked about 20, but was probably 102. I have no idea, but his face was serene, beautiful and calm.

He settled himself in his chair, and asked for water and green tea. His assistant obliged. He declared "Muchas, muchas gracias" when she produced said tea, and his face transformed first into the most beautiful and infectious smiles I have EVER seen (Not unlike H.H.The Dalai Lama). It truly was like the sun coming out. So much so that everyone was smiling and laughing purely at the joy on his face. He captivated his audience by the force of his personality. Everything was spoken at approximately a quarter of the speed at which I speak, with lengthy pauses, thus ensuring everyone was hanging on the edge of their seat to see what he would say next. I could learn a lot from him.

The talk was perfect, the gist of which being if we all practised love, tolerance and compassion instead of hatred, jealousy and intolerance, the world would be much healed. The problem started when he leaned right back in his chair. The hem of his robe lifted slightly to reveal bright purple socks and brown suede shoes. I confess to a small smirk at this point. I then noticed stacked up behind him packs and packs of Tesco Value Malted Milk biscuits. I mean, there were PACKS and PACKS! I concealed my surprise that such a man would have an eating disorder on such a scale, and a slightly larger smirk appeared. I'm not sure of the technicalities, but the next part was the actual ceremony.

He had extended his talk, and we were apparently going to double the time of the whole thing. It was by now going dusk (!) and he requested the lights be turned out. He looked alight with a golden aura of candle flames. He started to read the ceremony in sanskript, whilst all the time incense was burning and he repeatedly rang a temple bell. It lasted a very long time, but the feeling in that room was of great peaceful energy. All were sitting with their hands in the Namaste position. I opened my eyes and peeked ... it looked magic! We were all lulled and swaying slightly, as he was semi chanting ... the bell ... the incense ... then there was a significant pause. Aha! I thought, a new bit is coming! Still a pause, then a swallowing sound ... then a gentle belch. I started to quake in my seat with surpressed giggles, desperately trying to squash them. Unabashed, he continued ....

He did a particularly big ding with his bell, which signified the Blessings were to start. In a nutshell, he chanted the words, which we dutifully copied, as we approached him individually. The "Blessee" stood before him with bowed head and hands in the prayer position. Very solemnly, he tied a knot in each Blessing cord (Willow's red wool LOL) and as we chanted, and blew the Blessing into the knot as he pulled it tight. The cord was then laid over your hair or wrists, depending on where you wished to have it tied. He then inserted a Tesco Value Malted Milk btween the 2 palms of your hands and you walked to a helper, who tied the cord. The Blessed knot was to rest on your pulse point to sent the Blessing into your circulation, and you were then to eat the T.V.M.M.Biscuit to carry it through your digestive system. AHHH! So that's what they were for ...

I approached the Lama and bowed my head. He tied my knot, and made his T.V.M.M. biscuit insertion. I made the mistake of glancing at him ... and caught his eye. The corner of my mouth began to twitch. As did his. We both grinned at each other ... and both began to giggle. And giggle. And giggle. By now he had got my Blessing cord stuck around my malted milk, and this made him slap the table and rock to and fro with glee. The chants petered out ... and the Blessing Ceremony with the Lama tittered to a halt ....... oh dear .......

Anyway, he managed to compose himself and Bless the other 24 or so Blessees. Part way through, he stopped and beckoned a young gent to the front. Honoured, he bowed his head, awaiting some important duty. The Lama paused dramatically and uttered the immortal words ...
"Do you think you could open another packet of biscuits, please?"
We then all had to chant for a while. The lady next to my friend Vikki was by now in some sort of Chi Gung style frenzy, clapping the palms of her hands together frenziedly and "washing" the energy over herself. She was rocking back and to, and stamping her feet rapidly in a running on the spot style. Vikki began to shake with giggles. The lady next to me , who had previously been doing the only operatic style chanting in the room, let out a large snore. This finished me off, and I too sat quaking in my chair. The final "OM" was totally mind blowing. The vibrations just resonated throughout your whole being.

Today I was on chat with Willow and Lizziefaerie, and Willow was asking how the Blessing went.The chat went a bit like this....

W: It was a lovely, solemn and special occasion, don't you think?
Me: Errrrr...Solemn?
W: Oh yes.. (explained fully on chat just who the Lama was)
LF: Sounds great!
Me: Horrified typing silence
W: How did it go?
Me: Well, I stopped the ceremony because we both had the giggles.
W: O.M.G.
LF: LOL LOL LOL
W: You realise how long people queue to see a glimpse of him????
ME: Um well, I do now you' ve said ...
W: O.M.G.
Me (Brightly) but it was OK! He was fine at the end when I hugged him!
W: O. M. G. Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You HUGGED him!?!?
Me: Well he was nice!
LF: LOL LOL LOL
W: You aren't allowed to TOUCH a Lama!!!!!!
( Mortified vibrations run through the type)
LF: LOL LOL LOL
Me: Well, he was holdiing my finger repeating "You very funny" over and over
W: While you were hugging him?????
Me: Yes
W: Would you hug the Queen???
Me (Yes, but I daren't say so): Er ...
LF: LOL LOL LOL
Me: Well, they should put a sign up then
ALL 3 TYPE SIMULTANEOUSLY: "Do NOT hug the Lama!"

So there you have it ... how I made a tit of myself with the very very Top Lama .... It was an occasion that I will always remember, for its peace, loving vibrations and the giggling Lama with the smile that could light up the world."

Thank you, Lisa! I bet you made the lama's day, and the world would be a happier place if there were more like you about! And for those who'd like to know a bit more about the lama, Willow kindly enlightened us:

Geshe Lama Ahbay Tulku Rinpoche is a very very high ranking Lama born in India in 1973 and taken away from home to join a monastery at age 7 years. He became fully initiated into monastic life aged 9 years. When he was 13 His Holiness the Dalai Lama identified Ahbay as the reincarnation of a great teacher and hermit Lama Lobsang Tenzin. the Tibetan tradition is that after a reincarnation has been recognised then you must attain the educational level of that person.... and then beyond.

Ahbay then spent several years as a hermit in a cave. people queued for hours to see him and to have a blessing from him. 24 years after the Dalai Lama recognised his reincarnation Ahbay completed his eduction and is now Geshe, Master Of Tibetan Philosophy. Geshe Lama Ahbay Tulku Reinpoche is in sole charge of Yega Choling Monastery in Tibet and its monks. He also has 4 students in India.

Ahbay is currently visiting the UK from India on a mission which has been endorsed by the Dalai Lama, to raise funds to feed and clothe the Tibetan people and ultimately, to build a monastery in Tibet for the education and enlightenment of young monks. The Healing Puja and Blessing are a very solemn ceremony and amazing experience not just for those with health issues but for those wishing to receive spiritual enrichment.

Gorton Monastery, Manchester - super Saturday!

Kit chats to a visitor at Gorton Monastery - note the Stonewylde banner near the old altar!

A Stonewylde fan finally gets to meet up with Kit and has her books signed

An amazing line-up of Stonewylde fans showing all four T-shirts at Gorton Monastery
Photo courtesy of Lisa

I did it! After all that worry about not being well enough to make it to the Mind/Body/Spirit event last weekend in Manchester, and with Mr B still trying to dissuade me, we left Reading on Friday and drove all the way up north. I still wasn't feeling right after the horrible virus that got me immediately after Olympia and had kept me in bed for ten days. But I was determined to do this show. It was to be my last visit up north this year and maybe for some time, and I knew that many of my lovely fans were planning to come.

We arrived nice and early (for once!) and found that the Magik Thread Bookstall had the most brilliant pitch - the entire chancel, which is the large elevated area between the altar and the nave. We looked down on the whole of the beautiful monastery (deconsecrated I believe) which was buzzing with MBS stalls. Crystals twinkled, incense wafted and spiritual music filled our ears - but the monks wouldn't have recognised it!

Mr B and I set up our Stonewylde table, with the now familiar Green Man, the labyrinth, the hare and of course our big poster of the Wheel of the Year. But where to put the new Stonewylde banner? Lee of the Magik Thread hopped over the altar rail and positioned it right in front of the altar! It was so visible - and then Mr B put our dear old crow up on top. I really wasn't sure about all this, and looking up, saw a giant effigy suspended overhead and hanging by a chain. I had superstitious visions of the whole crucifix falling on top of me and smiting me dead for being so cheeky as to put my banner in the place of honour. I think I spent far too many teenage hours singing in the church choir not to feel a little uneasy at this apparent sacrilege!

We had the most amazing day. As soon as the doors opened the first Stonewylde fan arrived, and from then on it was non-stop. Many had come dressed in their T-shirts, and others bought new Green Labyrinth ones from us, then dashed off to the loo to put them on! The photo above shows some of the fans who'd come along displaying the four different Stonewylde T-shirts. What a lovely bunch - and they weren't all in this photo either!

I had been worried about giving my talk because I was still feeling a bit odd and was scared of coming over all faint. As I was sitting fretting about this, a lovely lady called Pat who organises the Health and Healing Festivals at York and Leeds offered to help. She spent about fifteen minutes giving me some healing and then helping me to balance my chakras. Afterwards I felt so much better - calmer and focussed, with the panic feelings gone. Thanks, Pat - you were wonderful!

I was told that my talk was fully booked very early on, with people being turned away. So many people packed into a room, with ones who'd sneaked in standing at the back. I had hoped that maybe only a few readers would turn up and we could just sit and have an informal chat. Fat chance! There were no Stonewylders at my talk and only one person there had read Magus of Stonewylde. The whole audience apart from her had come because they were so interested in the concept of reconnecting with nature. It seems this subject really resonates with people, and I ended up enjoying giving the talk very much.

One lady told me that she'd been feeling very dissatisfied with her life of late, and saw the flier advertising my talk. She felt this was what she needed - this was the change that she should make to her life. She loved my talk and said she would definitely be focussing on living closer to the earth in future, difficult though it is for people living in cities and working long hours. She also bought the set of Stonewylde books and so did many others! It's lovely because immediately after every event I do, there's always a flurry of extra activity on the forum as new members join us, and also a sharp increase in hits to the website and subcribers to the newsletter.

Mr B and I stayed on until the very end, especially as we were only at the MBS fair for one day. One of our promo-pixies kindly took over the Stonewylde stall so we could have a break, and the rest of them hung about helpfully just in case. We're very lucky to have such support; many thanks to all the fans who turned out on Saturday, to Angie for organising such a brilliant event, and to Lee and Peter of the Magik Thread for hosting us for the last time this year.

Next event: The Big Green Bookshop in London at 7pm on Friday November 6th - an evening of Stonewylde magic. See the News and Events page of the main website.