As courteous as ever he stood and greeted her,
“Good afternoon highness.”
She gave a slight curtsey he was heir to the throne she wasn’t.
“Highness” she responded “Good afternoon”.
Her stomach was alive with butterflies and glad to be off her feet she could hardly support herself, their royal training permitted the pleasantries to go without a hitch
“I believe you want to set up a bilateral conservation programme.”
“I would like to set up a sustainable farming programme in Madagascar. Some of their native plants are believed to help fight cancer. My idea is to set up the labs locally on the island so the population can have long term benefits without destroying the ecosystem by not having the natural vegetation ravaged. They could have a new industry and anything that helps the fight against cancer needs no justification. And perhaps natural healing remedies as well. The participation of both countries would give greater weight to the project.
“Do you have any specific plant in mind?”
“I have a photo of one of my favourites and the princess with trembling hands pulled from her conference folder the postcard he had bought her at the exhibition shop on their first date. “
As he looked at the card his face darkened. Her stomach felt like she was sea sick.
“Well I don’t know what to say”. He responded as his breathing became slow and controlled,
“I suspected it might be you when the suggestion was made to meet here then I couldn’t believe my luck. Could it be possible? It seems too easy; too perfect the mystery woman is a princess. The press would have a field day we can’t let anyone know you know ever.”
The princess heart sank. The royal education and training were doing their job. However, she remembered the words of the fairy godmother.
“Stephen we know each other, we also understand each other’s background our deception was childish but we know the real people like each other.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He hissed wringing his hands,
“Do you know how much I have suffered? The lectures from my parents, the political upheaval, the difficult relationship with the duchy.”
“How could I? I thought you suspected me after the ballet. All royal mail is checked we’ve never communicated officially before so why then? I’ve suffered too; do you know what it was like thinking you would marry another woman? Not only that we would have met at the wedding.”
“That’s over we can’t just start seeing each other. It won’t take long for the paparazzi to work it out.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m still in love with you; politically our Royal status is perfect. But so much has happened and it’s too soon after the scandal. They have been like blood hounds they have never given up.”
“Not really it’s over a year and the princess from the duchy is now to marry her childhood sweetheart. If they suspect we make an official press release to state we were meeting to plan the blue prints of this project to avoid pressure and failure before it got off the ground. And blame them for pushing the situation over board. It’s about time they have their tables turned. That should alleviate things with the duchy and keep my father happy”
The princess coughed and blushed,
“He wasn’t too impressed by our behaviour. “
The prince looked at her pausing looking more serious than ever then his face broke into one of his heart melting smiles,
“Instead of a glass slipper I have a photo of a star flower!” as he continued wickedly
“We could have some real fun with the paparazzi and if they do get wind then all publicity is good publicity for our plant project” and then the prince began to blush
“I hope we get to live happily ever after like the fairy stories”
The princess’ eyes twinkled
“Well actually there’s something more I’d like to tell you”
While the couple chatted totally captivated in each other, it appeared as if they were in a sparkling cocoon radiating with happiness, the paparazzi antennae sensed something even hotter and more enigmatic. The mystery woman had become yesterday’s news; they took to their keyboards and sent into cyber space their latest headline “Once upon a time there was a princess and a prince”
jueves, 14 de enero de 2010
Barefoot Cinderella 8
“I’ve got it” The princess snapped her fingers in tune with her metamorphic smile
“There is an international conservation forum I know he’s attending as an official observer, my brother won’t mind if I replace him. Conservation and the environment are something we have in common. We can meet and talk in an official capacity about something neutral then if I drop something intimate into the conversation”
“I see you do not need me for much longer. I’ll drop by the kitchen to have a quick chat with our friend.
“The cook” surmised the princess.
“Of course I needed someone here to look after you. She’s being dying to make the wedding cake for ages.”
“Traditional I suppose with lots of dried fruit”
“Well some things do need to stay the same.”, winking one more.
The women bid each other a warm farewell as the mist swirled around them. The queen breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the gauze cloud swirl towards the palace kitchen and five minutes later her daughter burst into her chambers. She was radiant.
Bringing their heart-to-heart to a close her mother said,
“I will speak to your brother about the conference, I’m sure he will be delighted to get out of it he wants to organize the Olympics which is more suited to him. Then I will leave the details of arrangements to the royal courtiers. I will say nothing to your father until you have spoken to the prince then we will decide what and how much he should know. I am glad you have come to your senses, though no rushing and no contact with the prince until the conference. Relax, do a few more royal duties and get your spirits up.
It had been the longest wait of her life, the conference had been interesting and she had found an ideal project which also connected to the first exhibition.
“There is an international conservation forum I know he’s attending as an official observer, my brother won’t mind if I replace him. Conservation and the environment are something we have in common. We can meet and talk in an official capacity about something neutral then if I drop something intimate into the conversation”
“I see you do not need me for much longer. I’ll drop by the kitchen to have a quick chat with our friend.
“The cook” surmised the princess.
“Of course I needed someone here to look after you. She’s being dying to make the wedding cake for ages.”
“Traditional I suppose with lots of dried fruit”
“Well some things do need to stay the same.”, winking one more.
The women bid each other a warm farewell as the mist swirled around them. The queen breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the gauze cloud swirl towards the palace kitchen and five minutes later her daughter burst into her chambers. She was radiant.
Bringing their heart-to-heart to a close her mother said,
“I will speak to your brother about the conference, I’m sure he will be delighted to get out of it he wants to organize the Olympics which is more suited to him. Then I will leave the details of arrangements to the royal courtiers. I will say nothing to your father until you have spoken to the prince then we will decide what and how much he should know. I am glad you have come to your senses, though no rushing and no contact with the prince until the conference. Relax, do a few more royal duties and get your spirits up.
It had been the longest wait of her life, the conference had been interesting and she had found an ideal project which also connected to the first exhibition.
miércoles, 13 de enero de 2010
Barefoot Cinderella 7
“What do you mean?”
“Confucius told me many years ago,
“You are that old!” the princess interrupted cheekily
Winking, she continued “Well I do use a bit of magic on myself from time to time; he was a fascinating man I could listen to him for hours. Cinderella was originally Chinese you know, Could you imagine what the modern day press would have done with her slipper. I’m sorry I always digress. Things come in pairs, opposites. To appreciate one you must experience the other, night and day, hot and cold, wet and dry. Without it’s pair, you cannot understand the other.”
The princess smile emanated deep from within; relaxing from the cosseted feeling produced by this woman’s warmth and wisdom.
“I see you need to be aware of both, to be able to distinguish one from the other.”
“Precisely! I see all this modern education has done something for you. You began on a quest for happiness, in the style of your time and you found unhappiness. Look at Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty look what they went through first before they formed a relationship. And don’t for one minute think they lived happily ever after. That’s just the classic ending. What it really means is they had been unhappy enough and had become sufficiently aware to appreciate their new life when they found it”
“But they’re just fairy tales. They’re so out of date.”
“My dear they are the wisdom of all time, no one can be happy every minute of the day but you have to learn that a sunny day, a bird song, the countryside when it stops raining can make you happy. And never forget, we fairy godmothers know because of our age and wisdom even more than our magic. That also means we know how and when to use it. The problem with searching is you can never win. If you don’t find what you’re looking for it is frustrating and if you do it is often not what you expected it’s even more frustrating. The real journey is to find ourselves and finding what gives us personal peace and that my dear is inside of us.”
Pausing to take breath she continued,
“Enough of these if only’s you’ve got to stop all that nonsense and concentrate on the here and now. You both had to learn lessons; it’s all part of the journey of life. You have hurt each other by not being honest and truthful. Without trust, there can be no respect, and that has been true throughout the ages. Different times create different problems and different tests to find different solutions but real values never change and believing and fighting for love is the most important.”
“But the happiness quest I’ve been so stupid.”
“The folly of youth but you have come a long way, though as your mother has told you we woman live in turmoil until we recognise equality not as everyone being the same but everyone having the equal opportunity to find themselves then they are able to give their best to everyone else and the wider community.
“Confucius told me many years ago,
“You are that old!” the princess interrupted cheekily
Winking, she continued “Well I do use a bit of magic on myself from time to time; he was a fascinating man I could listen to him for hours. Cinderella was originally Chinese you know, Could you imagine what the modern day press would have done with her slipper. I’m sorry I always digress. Things come in pairs, opposites. To appreciate one you must experience the other, night and day, hot and cold, wet and dry. Without it’s pair, you cannot understand the other.”
The princess smile emanated deep from within; relaxing from the cosseted feeling produced by this woman’s warmth and wisdom.
“I see you need to be aware of both, to be able to distinguish one from the other.”
“Precisely! I see all this modern education has done something for you. You began on a quest for happiness, in the style of your time and you found unhappiness. Look at Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty look what they went through first before they formed a relationship. And don’t for one minute think they lived happily ever after. That’s just the classic ending. What it really means is they had been unhappy enough and had become sufficiently aware to appreciate their new life when they found it”
“But they’re just fairy tales. They’re so out of date.”
“My dear they are the wisdom of all time, no one can be happy every minute of the day but you have to learn that a sunny day, a bird song, the countryside when it stops raining can make you happy. And never forget, we fairy godmothers know because of our age and wisdom even more than our magic. That also means we know how and when to use it. The problem with searching is you can never win. If you don’t find what you’re looking for it is frustrating and if you do it is often not what you expected it’s even more frustrating. The real journey is to find ourselves and finding what gives us personal peace and that my dear is inside of us.”
Pausing to take breath she continued,
“Enough of these if only’s you’ve got to stop all that nonsense and concentrate on the here and now. You both had to learn lessons; it’s all part of the journey of life. You have hurt each other by not being honest and truthful. Without trust, there can be no respect, and that has been true throughout the ages. Different times create different problems and different tests to find different solutions but real values never change and believing and fighting for love is the most important.”
“But the happiness quest I’ve been so stupid.”
“The folly of youth but you have come a long way, though as your mother has told you we woman live in turmoil until we recognise equality not as everyone being the same but everyone having the equal opportunity to find themselves then they are able to give their best to everyone else and the wider community.
lunes, 11 de enero de 2010
Barefoot Cinderella 6
Her parents were worrying more than ever,
“Something is wrong with our little princess,” said the king
“I know” replied the queen “Her weight is see- sawing, she did hardly any official engagements and now she is leaving me redundant by offering to do so much. I knew that renouncing the fairy godmother to prove how modern she is would lead her to unhappiness. I must speak to her.”
When the queen arrived at the princess’ chambers she said,
“Well” in a tone that only mothers can use with their daughters. The princess sat in silence, studiously avoiding her mother’s gaze twisting her rings around her fingers, finally the princess spoke.
With her suspicions finally confirmed having heard the truth from her daughter, the queen’s parting words were you have only one choice.
“I’ll sleep on it” she replied, as they hugged each other, the princess felt the diminished tension in her mother, she finally fell into a deep restful sleep.
Bathing in peace the following morning, the princess spoke out loud to herself declaring,
“I must stay loyal to my modernity”
“Oh no you’re not. Said a voice ,
“I can’t stand watching you suffer anymore. The first sensible thing you’ve done since you began on this happiness quest was talk your mother.”
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” as the princess wrapped herself in her bathrobe while searching for the owner of the voice.
“I’m you fairy godmother.”
“Oh no”, groaned the princess. “I didn’t call you.”
She beheld a gossamer cloud. An outline forced her to focus and she became aware of the muted presence of an older woman. Beautiful and elegantly attired in a silver silk trouser suit, in the lapel was a wand shaped brooch, the diamonds sparkled, her eyes even more.
“You don’t look like a fairy godmother
“Fairy godmothers have a right to become modern too.”
She carefully removed her jacket, revealing a lighter coloured blouse of the same shimmering material; the buttons were smaller versions of the brooch.
“My shoulder pads are in fact my wing holders”,
and on cue her wings appeared as she smiled mischievously.
“Modern transport and communications make my life a lot easier. On line dating well it was a piece of cake. I need my energy to keep all you princes and princesses out of the gossip columns.”
The princess interrupted as it dawned on her,
“You mean!”she questioned,
“Yes you are an ideal match; you both wanted it to be up-to-the-minute so we got you together the modern way. The problem was neither of you had the courage to fess up you both let the play acting go on too long.
“I know, I know” sighed the princess “I’ve said if only so often “.
“All this modern stuff paf piffle”, while moving her hands like an opera diva,
“Life is much simpler. Look at your own experience. You set out to find happiness and you ended up being unhappier than you have ever been”
“And I can’t even think of a way to get in touch with him.”
“Be patient. I am you fairy godmother “
“What does that means you’ll wave your wand and I’ll be going up the aisle”
“I said be patient but you must realise some things first. To understand real happiness you must first have understood what unhappiness is”
“Something is wrong with our little princess,” said the king
“I know” replied the queen “Her weight is see- sawing, she did hardly any official engagements and now she is leaving me redundant by offering to do so much. I knew that renouncing the fairy godmother to prove how modern she is would lead her to unhappiness. I must speak to her.”
When the queen arrived at the princess’ chambers she said,
“Well” in a tone that only mothers can use with their daughters. The princess sat in silence, studiously avoiding her mother’s gaze twisting her rings around her fingers, finally the princess spoke.
With her suspicions finally confirmed having heard the truth from her daughter, the queen’s parting words were you have only one choice.
“I’ll sleep on it” she replied, as they hugged each other, the princess felt the diminished tension in her mother, she finally fell into a deep restful sleep.
Bathing in peace the following morning, the princess spoke out loud to herself declaring,
“I must stay loyal to my modernity”
“Oh no you’re not. Said a voice ,
“I can’t stand watching you suffer anymore. The first sensible thing you’ve done since you began on this happiness quest was talk your mother.”
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” as the princess wrapped herself in her bathrobe while searching for the owner of the voice.
“I’m you fairy godmother.”
“Oh no”, groaned the princess. “I didn’t call you.”
She beheld a gossamer cloud. An outline forced her to focus and she became aware of the muted presence of an older woman. Beautiful and elegantly attired in a silver silk trouser suit, in the lapel was a wand shaped brooch, the diamonds sparkled, her eyes even more.
“You don’t look like a fairy godmother
“Fairy godmothers have a right to become modern too.”
She carefully removed her jacket, revealing a lighter coloured blouse of the same shimmering material; the buttons were smaller versions of the brooch.
“My shoulder pads are in fact my wing holders”,
and on cue her wings appeared as she smiled mischievously.
“Modern transport and communications make my life a lot easier. On line dating well it was a piece of cake. I need my energy to keep all you princes and princesses out of the gossip columns.”
The princess interrupted as it dawned on her,
“You mean!”she questioned,
“Yes you are an ideal match; you both wanted it to be up-to-the-minute so we got you together the modern way. The problem was neither of you had the courage to fess up you both let the play acting go on too long.
“I know, I know” sighed the princess “I’ve said if only so often “.
“All this modern stuff paf piffle”, while moving her hands like an opera diva,
“Life is much simpler. Look at your own experience. You set out to find happiness and you ended up being unhappier than you have ever been”
“And I can’t even think of a way to get in touch with him.”
“Be patient. I am you fairy godmother “
“What does that means you’ll wave your wand and I’ll be going up the aisle”
“I said be patient but you must realise some things first. To understand real happiness you must first have understood what unhappiness is”
domingo, 10 de enero de 2010
Barefoot Cinderella 5
However the prince’s mystery woman fascinated the press. The paparazzi had followed the trail from the beauty therapy centre but had come upon a dead end. She seemed to have arisen from dust and the Cinderella idea had captured the world’s imagination.
The media in Sestonia had run online line opinion polls which showed that no one believed the official line that Stephen’s Cinderella was merely an acquaintance. The prince looked wooden on his official engagements with and without his betrothed. The official date of the wedding was still to be announced though she wasn’t popular with the people and most were sympathetic to the prince’s secret love, with or without a slipper she had to be found.
Various international papers and internet pages offered money for her to come forward or for any information as to whom she was and there was a deluge of people contacting the media from all parts of the world, a sightings blog was set up and the add your comments section outline had been designed as glass slipper.
The Duke and Duchess, parents of the princes’ betrothed announced the official suspension of the engagement. It was clear they didn’t like the nature of media attention and the implication that their daughter was made out to be a cosmetic expedient.
The princess was euphoric at the news though never ceased to be amazed at the speculation. However things remained difficult, she could not go to the papers it would be an international scandal, her parents would never forgive her, the press would have a field day and would they believe her.
The prince was beside himself. He longingly remembered his months with the princess now he had been liberated from his commitment and with the media still bursting with hypothesis he began to wonder who he really loved. As his mind cleared he recalled, she had been happy not to establish a routine, and see each other at odd times in unusual places. He himself could do nothing, who could he trust to make his own enquires. What secret thing was there between them that would give him a clue as to who she really was. If only he could speak to her again. If only he did have a glass slipper.
Places they had visited together were making it easier for impersonators to make false claims as everyone cashed in on the Cinderella speculations. The beauty therapy centre was booked to the gunnels and they were turning out clones of her in disguise. Fees had always been paid in cash. The on line dating agency had made a fortune in publishing their questionnaires and while undertaking her royal duties she too was invited to speculate
“Princess Papaver who do you think the Cinderella is? Could she be a friend of yours?”
Her reply was always the same,
“My status does not permit me to comment.”
The absurdness of the situation brought a wry smile to her face, so obsessed where they in finding her in disguise they were unable to recognise her when she was under their noses though she knew that was no surprise. The princess looked at herself in the mirror, she was unhappy with what she saw and happiness now seemed permanently out of reach. She would settle for one meeting to tell the truth anything was better than living spinning in this vortex perpetually maintained by the mental lashes of if only’s and should haves.
The media in Sestonia had run online line opinion polls which showed that no one believed the official line that Stephen’s Cinderella was merely an acquaintance. The prince looked wooden on his official engagements with and without his betrothed. The official date of the wedding was still to be announced though she wasn’t popular with the people and most were sympathetic to the prince’s secret love, with or without a slipper she had to be found.
Various international papers and internet pages offered money for her to come forward or for any information as to whom she was and there was a deluge of people contacting the media from all parts of the world, a sightings blog was set up and the add your comments section outline had been designed as glass slipper.
The Duke and Duchess, parents of the princes’ betrothed announced the official suspension of the engagement. It was clear they didn’t like the nature of media attention and the implication that their daughter was made out to be a cosmetic expedient.
The princess was euphoric at the news though never ceased to be amazed at the speculation. However things remained difficult, she could not go to the papers it would be an international scandal, her parents would never forgive her, the press would have a field day and would they believe her.
The prince was beside himself. He longingly remembered his months with the princess now he had been liberated from his commitment and with the media still bursting with hypothesis he began to wonder who he really loved. As his mind cleared he recalled, she had been happy not to establish a routine, and see each other at odd times in unusual places. He himself could do nothing, who could he trust to make his own enquires. What secret thing was there between them that would give him a clue as to who she really was. If only he could speak to her again. If only he did have a glass slipper.
Places they had visited together were making it easier for impersonators to make false claims as everyone cashed in on the Cinderella speculations. The beauty therapy centre was booked to the gunnels and they were turning out clones of her in disguise. Fees had always been paid in cash. The on line dating agency had made a fortune in publishing their questionnaires and while undertaking her royal duties she too was invited to speculate
“Princess Papaver who do you think the Cinderella is? Could she be a friend of yours?”
Her reply was always the same,
“My status does not permit me to comment.”
The absurdness of the situation brought a wry smile to her face, so obsessed where they in finding her in disguise they were unable to recognise her when she was under their noses though she knew that was no surprise. The princess looked at herself in the mirror, she was unhappy with what she saw and happiness now seemed permanently out of reach. She would settle for one meeting to tell the truth anything was better than living spinning in this vortex perpetually maintained by the mental lashes of if only’s and should haves.
lunes, 4 de enero de 2010
Barefoot Cinderella 4
“No! What news?”
“Surely, you must have heard in her circles” her friend continued
“What?”
“Are you so out of touch? Do you not read the gossip magazines?”
“You know I don’t. It would make me far too self-conscious.”
“Well you know Prince Stephen the heir to Sestonia has been having an affair with a mystery woman. The press are calling her the Barefoot Cinderella.
“Why?” asked the princess bemused.
“Because there isn’t a glass slipper! “sighed the friend,
“and as he was caught in disguise they reckon she’s some commoner he can’t marry.”
“Oh” squeaked the princess
“And you know in his country he cannot marry anybody who is not blue blood. You should have got in there he’s gorgeous a real prince Charming.”
The princess cut off her friend blaming royal duties and rushed to her chambers. Before she even turned on her laptop she knew who the prince was going to be. There on her screen on all the internet news on all the servers’ viewers were photographs of herself and the prince. She was devastated.
She called his number. “Sorry the number is no longer a subscriber”.
Dam! she should have guessed that. Her answer machine blipped
“You have three messages,
• First message. Need to speak
• Second message. I’m sorry things could get difficult.
• Third message. We can never see each other again. I love you and always will, but our destinies are not to be together.
The princess began pacing around her chambers back and forth. How could she contact him? Officially, it was impossible. He had done similar things to her, coloured lenses, had obviously used stacked heels to make him look taller, as she had worn her hair short, his had been longer. There was no way to get in touch without exposing her own deception and she wanted him to be the first to know. She must see him, if he knew the truth things would be fine. There had always been good relations between their countries they had met years ago as children but she could hardly remember. After supper she had felt even worse as her father mentioned they had been considered a possible match. Her stomach still sank as she recalled the king’s words, impossible now he had boomed.
Her disguise appeared to have remained intact. Nevertheless, somebody had watched, somebody had suspected and had chosen their moment to expose them.
Sheer exhaustion set in and at last, she slept. However the next day she awoke to heartbreaking news; there had been an official announcement. He was to be married to the youngest daughter of the Grand Duke and Duchess of Ennate. There had been a formal though discrete agreement for some time. He had only been playing with her.
Her thoughts whiplashed through her brain used, cheated, deceived slashed around then she calmed herself admitting she too has deceived. The cycles if only began again if only they had been honest with each other.
They had connected and trying to be something neither one was had ruined everything. She heard the tinkle in her ear but she resisted. She was going to cope in the modern way and began making a list of the positives.
She could go back to being herself, no more bloated lips, coloured hair or lenses. She didn’t care, she would drown herself in official engagements take some responsibilities from her mother, the press were still more interested in possible future brides for her brothers. Her happiness obsession had stopped, her feelings were frozen and she could confide in no one.
“Surely, you must have heard in her circles” her friend continued
“What?”
“Are you so out of touch? Do you not read the gossip magazines?”
“You know I don’t. It would make me far too self-conscious.”
“Well you know Prince Stephen the heir to Sestonia has been having an affair with a mystery woman. The press are calling her the Barefoot Cinderella.
“Why?” asked the princess bemused.
“Because there isn’t a glass slipper! “sighed the friend,
“and as he was caught in disguise they reckon she’s some commoner he can’t marry.”
“Oh” squeaked the princess
“And you know in his country he cannot marry anybody who is not blue blood. You should have got in there he’s gorgeous a real prince Charming.”
The princess cut off her friend blaming royal duties and rushed to her chambers. Before she even turned on her laptop she knew who the prince was going to be. There on her screen on all the internet news on all the servers’ viewers were photographs of herself and the prince. She was devastated.
She called his number. “Sorry the number is no longer a subscriber”.
Dam! she should have guessed that. Her answer machine blipped
“You have three messages,
• First message. Need to speak
• Second message. I’m sorry things could get difficult.
• Third message. We can never see each other again. I love you and always will, but our destinies are not to be together.
The princess began pacing around her chambers back and forth. How could she contact him? Officially, it was impossible. He had done similar things to her, coloured lenses, had obviously used stacked heels to make him look taller, as she had worn her hair short, his had been longer. There was no way to get in touch without exposing her own deception and she wanted him to be the first to know. She must see him, if he knew the truth things would be fine. There had always been good relations between their countries they had met years ago as children but she could hardly remember. After supper she had felt even worse as her father mentioned they had been considered a possible match. Her stomach still sank as she recalled the king’s words, impossible now he had boomed.
Her disguise appeared to have remained intact. Nevertheless, somebody had watched, somebody had suspected and had chosen their moment to expose them.
Sheer exhaustion set in and at last, she slept. However the next day she awoke to heartbreaking news; there had been an official announcement. He was to be married to the youngest daughter of the Grand Duke and Duchess of Ennate. There had been a formal though discrete agreement for some time. He had only been playing with her.
Her thoughts whiplashed through her brain used, cheated, deceived slashed around then she calmed herself admitting she too has deceived. The cycles if only began again if only they had been honest with each other.
They had connected and trying to be something neither one was had ruined everything. She heard the tinkle in her ear but she resisted. She was going to cope in the modern way and began making a list of the positives.
She could go back to being herself, no more bloated lips, coloured hair or lenses. She didn’t care, she would drown herself in official engagements take some responsibilities from her mother, the press were still more interested in possible future brides for her brothers. Her happiness obsession had stopped, her feelings were frozen and she could confide in no one.
domingo, 3 de enero de 2010
Barefoot Cinderella 3
The following afternoon the princess went to visit the cook and she smiled to herself as she saw the look in the princess’ eyes.
“You’re in love” and the princess blushed and smiled gently
“Is it that obvious?”
“It always is with everybody?” the cook assured her. Look at you, normally you come in here in a flap about something, arms flying, today you’re hugging yourself.
“I feel so different, it’s delicious the difference.
“It is a wonderful feeling like discovering a new dish that becomes a firm favourite. However will he meet the royal standards? Does he know who you really are?”
“I don’t think so”
And going on to defend her paramour, he’s intelligent very, attractive very ,very and giggling like a fifteen year old rather, rather sexy.
“Now, now” counselled the cook while wagging her finger and grinning,
He’s cultured with delightful manners we’ve visited lots of places; museums, castles, exhibitions, the theatre and had a couples of quick trips to Paris and Copenhagen, lots and lots of talking and lots of walking.
“Well, what’s the problem?”
“I just don’t seem to be able to find the right moment to come out and tell him.”
“The longer it takes the harder it gets and deception isn’t a good start.”
“I couldn’t agree more but it’s more incognito really. I mean who’s going to be themselves when they know who my royal persona is? Anyway intuition tell me he’s holding back too”
“Is that what you’re worried about? It might be your imagination playing tricks.”
“Could be but I think I’m being followed? ”
“Are you sure? Paparazzi?”
“They’re always around.”
“Do you use your bodyguard?”
“No I’ve been slipping away, you know I hate being stifled. “
“Well be careful. You’ve not done as many duties there are rumours flying around the palace as to what you are up to?
“People who always gossip have boring lives. I’m going now I’ve got a date tonight.”
The princess kissed the cook and left happy to have confided in someone. As she wandered back to her chambers, to do her royal administration before heading out to her town house base, her mobile bleeped it was an old friend.
“Had she heard the news?
“You’re in love” and the princess blushed and smiled gently
“Is it that obvious?”
“It always is with everybody?” the cook assured her. Look at you, normally you come in here in a flap about something, arms flying, today you’re hugging yourself.
“I feel so different, it’s delicious the difference.
“It is a wonderful feeling like discovering a new dish that becomes a firm favourite. However will he meet the royal standards? Does he know who you really are?”
“I don’t think so”
And going on to defend her paramour, he’s intelligent very, attractive very ,very and giggling like a fifteen year old rather, rather sexy.
“Now, now” counselled the cook while wagging her finger and grinning,
He’s cultured with delightful manners we’ve visited lots of places; museums, castles, exhibitions, the theatre and had a couples of quick trips to Paris and Copenhagen, lots and lots of talking and lots of walking.
“Well, what’s the problem?”
“I just don’t seem to be able to find the right moment to come out and tell him.”
“The longer it takes the harder it gets and deception isn’t a good start.”
“I couldn’t agree more but it’s more incognito really. I mean who’s going to be themselves when they know who my royal persona is? Anyway intuition tell me he’s holding back too”
“Is that what you’re worried about? It might be your imagination playing tricks.”
“Could be but I think I’m being followed? ”
“Are you sure? Paparazzi?”
“They’re always around.”
“Do you use your bodyguard?”
“No I’ve been slipping away, you know I hate being stifled. “
“Well be careful. You’ve not done as many duties there are rumours flying around the palace as to what you are up to?
“People who always gossip have boring lives. I’m going now I’ve got a date tonight.”
The princess kissed the cook and left happy to have confided in someone. As she wandered back to her chambers, to do her royal administration before heading out to her town house base, her mobile bleeped it was an old friend.
“Had she heard the news?
viernes, 1 de enero de 2010
Barefoot Cinderella 2
The princess was glad to leave the beauty therapy centre, the therapies had been wonderful, who couldn’t relax after aromatherapy massages and meditation, nevertheless many of the people had been tedious, obsessed with image and the latest diet craze. The fairy godmother option would have been quicker easier and not so boring however she was determined to stick to her guns.
Finally she pulled up at her town house base and without further ado checked her email. There were three possible matches. Nervously she clicked on confirm and waited for the when where details.
The first date was a pea pushing across the plate session as the chat sputtered but never took flight into conversation. The second date couldn’t stop talking on and on; he was totally in love with himself. “Kissing the odd frog wouldn’t have been so bad after all” she mused.
She had arranged to meet the third date in the museum restaurant for lunch. If things got heavy-going she would suggest wandering round the museum. There was a special exhibition she wanted to see on Fairy Folklore.
Fortunately, all the forward planning proved to be unnecessary. Conversation over lunch had been effortless. Both had found the exhibition better than anticipated and over afternoon tea which ran into supper they sat together laughing and chatting trading anecdotes and exchanging world views.
During the flowing months they blossomed in each other’s company their tastes were similar, wide and very far ranging. At Christmas saw they attended Sleeping beauty. The prince began chatting over supper after the ballet,
“That’s the first time I’ve been to the ballet. I enjoyed it more than I expected.”
“I love music and dance I always wanted to do ballet like all little girls but it never happened”
“What I liked most was it reminded me of our first date the exhibition. All those fairy princesses wouldn’t that make life easier” he teased
The princess panicked was he prying? Did he suspect’ trying to control her nerves while diverting the conversation.
“Well if you enjoyed it perhaps we could go and see some contemporary ballet.”
“What’s the difference?
The princess explained
“In Classical the same steps are always used in the same way in contemporary ballet classical steps are used in freestyle. Its more creative as it is the choreographer’s interpretation.”
“Later on perhaps when something unusual comes along, I’d love to go to Africa to do a photo safari”, said the prince
“Me too,” affirmed the princess and as always conversation flowed.
Finally she pulled up at her town house base and without further ado checked her email. There were three possible matches. Nervously she clicked on confirm and waited for the when where details.
The first date was a pea pushing across the plate session as the chat sputtered but never took flight into conversation. The second date couldn’t stop talking on and on; he was totally in love with himself. “Kissing the odd frog wouldn’t have been so bad after all” she mused.
She had arranged to meet the third date in the museum restaurant for lunch. If things got heavy-going she would suggest wandering round the museum. There was a special exhibition she wanted to see on Fairy Folklore.
Fortunately, all the forward planning proved to be unnecessary. Conversation over lunch had been effortless. Both had found the exhibition better than anticipated and over afternoon tea which ran into supper they sat together laughing and chatting trading anecdotes and exchanging world views.
During the flowing months they blossomed in each other’s company their tastes were similar, wide and very far ranging. At Christmas saw they attended Sleeping beauty. The prince began chatting over supper after the ballet,
“That’s the first time I’ve been to the ballet. I enjoyed it more than I expected.”
“I love music and dance I always wanted to do ballet like all little girls but it never happened”
“What I liked most was it reminded me of our first date the exhibition. All those fairy princesses wouldn’t that make life easier” he teased
The princess panicked was he prying? Did he suspect’ trying to control her nerves while diverting the conversation.
“Well if you enjoyed it perhaps we could go and see some contemporary ballet.”
“What’s the difference?
The princess explained
“In Classical the same steps are always used in the same way in contemporary ballet classical steps are used in freestyle. Its more creative as it is the choreographer’s interpretation.”
“Later on perhaps when something unusual comes along, I’d love to go to Africa to do a photo safari”, said the prince
“Me too,” affirmed the princess and as always conversation flowed.
jueves, 31 de diciembre de 2009
Barefoot Cinderella
“And they lived happily ever after, that’s all she wants to hear!”, the princess’ voice began to echo as she stormed through the door into the palace kitchen, startling the cook who was planning the following days menu.
“Now, now, now”, Beckoning from the corner she used as an office, her voice soothing the vexed vibrations.
Confidante of the princess ever since she was little, the royal cook loved this wilful creature, she had fought for the chance to go onto further education no royal princess had done so, it had been decreed not necessary. She had anticipated that no good would come out of giving her a taste of freedom, taking it away would be re caging a bird
The princess paced back and forth, her arms whirring like a humming bird as she continued,
“I’m to be marriage fodder, married off to some dimwit for royal agreements and deals since goodness knows when.”
“Using a Fairy Godmother would avoid all that as it always had done”
“I thought you were on my side”
“Of course I am in that I love you and only want the best for you”
“You don’t understand! All my friends are starting careers, making choices, having flings even marrying, but what am I to do, sit around and wait for my handsome prince to come and rescue me after he has done his trial of errors?”
Before the cook had a chance to reply the princess transformed in front of her, stopping on the spot while straightening her arm and snapping her fingers,
“That’s’ it”
“Ok” said the cook
“Spill it out” delighted by split second metamorphosis in the princess.
“That’s it” she repeated “I shall remain true to my modernity I will be proactive and do my own search!”
“How do you intend to do that?” inquired the cook.
“When I was a student to avoid publicity I used to go out in disguise. I’ll prepare a new one with a little help from the beauty therapy centre then voila I’ll go online dating.”
And with that she bent down and kissed kiss the cook on the cheek and bounced out of the kitchen while pinching a couple of her favourite cheese crunches as she went on her way. The cook relaxed the argument between mother and daughter, queen and princess had been hanging over the palace ever since the princess had completed her studies.
The princess sat on her balcony overlooking the palace kitchen herb garden as she drafted her online profile. Trying to get the profile to reflect her true self without revealing her identity was proving to be rather tricky. Dwelling on the beauty of the flowers, musing about the security created by their endless life cycle yet no two plants were identical. She asked herself had she been too hasty in renouncing the fairy godmother. Princesses had it much easier in times gone by. They had had to wait passively until the king thought up some silly trial, then handsome princes would appear from all over to try and win their hands. All this new role stuff was confusing because she was still expected to conform, to maintain appearances.
On her arrival at supper the king and queen caught each other’s eye as they saw the upturn in their daughter; by tacit telepathy agreed by a glance they did not push their daughter at the table capturing the mood the princess casually dropped her planned trip to the beauty therapy centre into the conversation. King and queen agreed that their daughter in the right match would rise to any challenge however both were very well aware as headstrong as she was bright unhappiness could lead to disaster at the highest levels. They had been stunned by her rejection of the fairy godmother. The king blamed the queen, the queen felt powerless.
Toi be continued
“Now, now, now”, Beckoning from the corner she used as an office, her voice soothing the vexed vibrations.
Confidante of the princess ever since she was little, the royal cook loved this wilful creature, she had fought for the chance to go onto further education no royal princess had done so, it had been decreed not necessary. She had anticipated that no good would come out of giving her a taste of freedom, taking it away would be re caging a bird
The princess paced back and forth, her arms whirring like a humming bird as she continued,
“I’m to be marriage fodder, married off to some dimwit for royal agreements and deals since goodness knows when.”
“Using a Fairy Godmother would avoid all that as it always had done”
“I thought you were on my side”
“Of course I am in that I love you and only want the best for you”
“You don’t understand! All my friends are starting careers, making choices, having flings even marrying, but what am I to do, sit around and wait for my handsome prince to come and rescue me after he has done his trial of errors?”
Before the cook had a chance to reply the princess transformed in front of her, stopping on the spot while straightening her arm and snapping her fingers,
“That’s’ it”
“Ok” said the cook
“Spill it out” delighted by split second metamorphosis in the princess.
“That’s it” she repeated “I shall remain true to my modernity I will be proactive and do my own search!”
“How do you intend to do that?” inquired the cook.
“When I was a student to avoid publicity I used to go out in disguise. I’ll prepare a new one with a little help from the beauty therapy centre then voila I’ll go online dating.”
And with that she bent down and kissed kiss the cook on the cheek and bounced out of the kitchen while pinching a couple of her favourite cheese crunches as she went on her way. The cook relaxed the argument between mother and daughter, queen and princess had been hanging over the palace ever since the princess had completed her studies.
The princess sat on her balcony overlooking the palace kitchen herb garden as she drafted her online profile. Trying to get the profile to reflect her true self without revealing her identity was proving to be rather tricky. Dwelling on the beauty of the flowers, musing about the security created by their endless life cycle yet no two plants were identical. She asked herself had she been too hasty in renouncing the fairy godmother. Princesses had it much easier in times gone by. They had had to wait passively until the king thought up some silly trial, then handsome princes would appear from all over to try and win their hands. All this new role stuff was confusing because she was still expected to conform, to maintain appearances.
On her arrival at supper the king and queen caught each other’s eye as they saw the upturn in their daughter; by tacit telepathy agreed by a glance they did not push their daughter at the table capturing the mood the princess casually dropped her planned trip to the beauty therapy centre into the conversation. King and queen agreed that their daughter in the right match would rise to any challenge however both were very well aware as headstrong as she was bright unhappiness could lead to disaster at the highest levels. They had been stunned by her rejection of the fairy godmother. The king blamed the queen, the queen felt powerless.
Toi be continued
Barefoot Cinderella Intro
I haven’t uploaded anything onto the blog since the end of the summer for no specific reason other than sorting out life. This year I finally completed the editing of a a short story which I submitted to the Bridport competition but did not gain a mention however there were over 14,500 stories entered. I had to wait for the results so as not to violate the competition rules as I had decided to publish on my blog if unsuccessful which I will upload in sections.
Way back in the spring of 2001 I found out about Bridport and it inspired me to write a short story on fantasy theme. Ever since I became interested in the role of fairy tales and their significance, discussed in an earlier entry, I wanted to develop a series of stories based on modern issues. This one questions the role of modern women, great progress has been made though too many women still run themselves ragged trying to juggle family, homes and career and that perhaps ancient wisdom still has a lot to tell us.
I found it a challenge and was fascianted by the metamorphisis from original to final drafts. It was a positive and building experience to do the editing, developing my skills and more specifically my increased awareness of the process as a result of this not forgetting the satisfaction of completing a manuscript and submitting despite the result.
Way back in the spring of 2001 I found out about Bridport and it inspired me to write a short story on fantasy theme. Ever since I became interested in the role of fairy tales and their significance, discussed in an earlier entry, I wanted to develop a series of stories based on modern issues. This one questions the role of modern women, great progress has been made though too many women still run themselves ragged trying to juggle family, homes and career and that perhaps ancient wisdom still has a lot to tell us.
I found it a challenge and was fascianted by the metamorphisis from original to final drafts. It was a positive and building experience to do the editing, developing my skills and more specifically my increased awareness of the process as a result of this not forgetting the satisfaction of completing a manuscript and submitting despite the result.
lunes, 24 de agosto de 2009
Quoting Einstein on Imagination
During the past week I have been catching sight of fragments of a quote above the door to one of the many box offices at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival. Finally on Friday 21.08.09 I walked passed to take a closer look and they are the words of Albert Einstein. The quote is wonderful
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited while imagination enriches the world.”
I found these words especially poignant as for the past ten days I have spent a lot of my free time recovering work that I did about fifteen years ago. Being unable to access the material I had assumed it was because of the age of the files. I had tried using data recovery programmes, but with no luck. Then the other week clicking about with the toolbar I discovered that I could access them via note book possibly as the result of a recent Vista upgrade. I discovered that many of the files were empty except their names, victim of some type of virus one supposes so I went into my collection of old 3½ discs and found 3 with the corresponding file names.
The following day I went to the internet café and used an external floppy disc reader which until then didn’t know existed. And voila in front of my eyes were my old files. There followed a personal marathon of several hours over four days between the library and the internet café converting all my files manually one by one into word 2003 which I can read on my latest computer without difficulty. It has been a wonderful sensation after months searching for old documents trying everything I could think and click. I’ve moved on a lot since all this work was created some of the developed concepts have appeared in other work so one wants to go back and track down the original ideas which until last week I have been unable to do. However the mere thought of having to either scan the documents or input them again had me well and truly blocked the relief is most uplifting. It has been a fun refreshing and curious visit down memory lane. The original floppy records are also safely in the hard disc, memory stick and read only CD. What I did find amazing was the files that had been wiped clean were all creative teaching work, publication proposals, manuscripts and teacher training sessions, strange how virus work. All ideas are fodder for the creative mind though the investigation of the type of virus and if in fact it was something other I’ll have to leave for my amateur detectives who belong to another time in my imaginative space.
To celebrate the recovery of this material and in line with fantasy and fairy stories I’m publishing in this blog some of the theory and principles of my teaching ideas. The introduction to an infant course on the use of fantasy in the classroom and the introduction from Playground One @ Julie Ann Thomason 1996.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited while imagination enriches the world.”
I found these words especially poignant as for the past ten days I have spent a lot of my free time recovering work that I did about fifteen years ago. Being unable to access the material I had assumed it was because of the age of the files. I had tried using data recovery programmes, but with no luck. Then the other week clicking about with the toolbar I discovered that I could access them via note book possibly as the result of a recent Vista upgrade. I discovered that many of the files were empty except their names, victim of some type of virus one supposes so I went into my collection of old 3½ discs and found 3 with the corresponding file names.
The following day I went to the internet café and used an external floppy disc reader which until then didn’t know existed. And voila in front of my eyes were my old files. There followed a personal marathon of several hours over four days between the library and the internet café converting all my files manually one by one into word 2003 which I can read on my latest computer without difficulty. It has been a wonderful sensation after months searching for old documents trying everything I could think and click. I’ve moved on a lot since all this work was created some of the developed concepts have appeared in other work so one wants to go back and track down the original ideas which until last week I have been unable to do. However the mere thought of having to either scan the documents or input them again had me well and truly blocked the relief is most uplifting. It has been a fun refreshing and curious visit down memory lane. The original floppy records are also safely in the hard disc, memory stick and read only CD. What I did find amazing was the files that had been wiped clean were all creative teaching work, publication proposals, manuscripts and teacher training sessions, strange how virus work. All ideas are fodder for the creative mind though the investigation of the type of virus and if in fact it was something other I’ll have to leave for my amateur detectives who belong to another time in my imaginative space.
To celebrate the recovery of this material and in line with fantasy and fairy stories I’m publishing in this blog some of the theory and principles of my teaching ideas. The introduction to an infant course on the use of fantasy in the classroom and the introduction from Playground One @ Julie Ann Thomason 1996.
Fantasy Introduction
Fantasy THE COURSE
*has been developed in response to a need- children need to learn children's language through children's activities.
*It offers a new technique for the pre junior 4/7 classroom.
Fantasy is exploited as an educational concept in the young learners' foreign language class because it has world wide appeal –
"Fables and folklore from around the world provide an excellent starting point for work on cultural variations. Whatever the country of origin, the same personal qualities of honesty perseverance courage and consideration occur."
from "multicultural approaches to reading." 2.
Young learners are able to identify with similar basic principles and values already familiar in their own culture making English culturally more acceptable.
*As a technique it has been designed developed and used by the author in REAL teaching situations.
*It is essentially an enabling technique which facilitates the introduction and exploitation of play, total physical response and task based activities into the young child's foreign language classroom.
WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE?
As a technique it has been tried and tested by the author and has proved to be very effective in the young children's classroom because-
*it exploits and stimulates the children's imagination letting them discover the language they want to know and use-in effect using the child's imagination as a resource in the language classroom.
* it is flexible and adaptable to different classroom settings especially those with limited budgets and resources.
*it bring structured meaningful play into the classroom.
*it helps overcome difficulties encountered by foreign children with English phonics.
*it facilitates input and helps generate output which is real and meaningful to children.
*it makes the doing and using elements of the course- task based activities. T.P.R. and play -now recognised as essential in primary EFL -more interesting and motivating therefore more effective.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
BY MAKING USE OF THE YOUNG CHILD'S ABILITY AND DELIGHT IN CREATING PLAYING AND LIVING IN A WORLD OF MAKE BELIEVE. learning English in part becomes a make believe game-"Let's pretent to be....../ we are in....." says the teacher. Young children know it's not true but are prepared to suspend their disbelief to enjoy themselves. The classroom can then become anything you want it to be, without the need for elaborate visual aids, with THIS tecnique children are usually happy to make their own.
LEARNING TO READ IS An IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT achievement for a young child
Learning to read
* is a big step forward
* it makes them superior to younger brothers and sisters
* is appreciated even rewarded by parents and teachers
* is a skill to perform when confident
It is only natural young children learning to read in their own language are keen to learn to read "anything" especially this new thing mummy and daddy think is so important.
These young learners of English as foreign language need to be given strategies to deal with the new English words they encounter few course books currently on the market tackle this realistically. Instinctively they will test their growing knowledge of their first language grapheme/phoneme rules. Yet more difficulties are added to the learning of English and its grapheme/phoneme correspondence rules notorious for their complexity.
This course takes a positive firm approach to the teaching of reading employing phonics which are made child friendly through the courses exploitation of fantasy. Phonics are recognised as integral to the structure and effective progression of the course meeting the demands of the pre-school infant learner as their grapheme/phoneme grows and develops. Fantasy also permits varied and creative use of storytelling. Various techniques are used to stimulate reading for meaning and pleasure thus consolidating the work on the mechanics of reading
* ABOVE ALL IT IS FRESH AND EXCITING AS IT GOES FURTHER THAN ANY OTHER EXISTING COURSES IN ITS APPLICATION OF FANTASY, not only in the literary sense but develops and extends FANTASY into a teaching medium exploiting the child's imagination as a resource in the classroom.
*has been developed in response to a need- children need to learn children's language through children's activities.
*It offers a new technique for the pre junior 4/7 classroom.
Fantasy is exploited as an educational concept in the young learners' foreign language class because it has world wide appeal –
"Fables and folklore from around the world provide an excellent starting point for work on cultural variations. Whatever the country of origin, the same personal qualities of honesty perseverance courage and consideration occur."
from "multicultural approaches to reading." 2.
Young learners are able to identify with similar basic principles and values already familiar in their own culture making English culturally more acceptable.
*As a technique it has been designed developed and used by the author in REAL teaching situations.
*It is essentially an enabling technique which facilitates the introduction and exploitation of play, total physical response and task based activities into the young child's foreign language classroom.
WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE?
As a technique it has been tried and tested by the author and has proved to be very effective in the young children's classroom because-
*it exploits and stimulates the children's imagination letting them discover the language they want to know and use-in effect using the child's imagination as a resource in the language classroom.
* it is flexible and adaptable to different classroom settings especially those with limited budgets and resources.
*it bring structured meaningful play into the classroom.
*it helps overcome difficulties encountered by foreign children with English phonics.
*it facilitates input and helps generate output which is real and meaningful to children.
*it makes the doing and using elements of the course- task based activities. T.P.R. and play -now recognised as essential in primary EFL -more interesting and motivating therefore more effective.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
BY MAKING USE OF THE YOUNG CHILD'S ABILITY AND DELIGHT IN CREATING PLAYING AND LIVING IN A WORLD OF MAKE BELIEVE. learning English in part becomes a make believe game-"Let's pretent to be....../ we are in....." says the teacher. Young children know it's not true but are prepared to suspend their disbelief to enjoy themselves. The classroom can then become anything you want it to be, without the need for elaborate visual aids, with THIS tecnique children are usually happy to make their own.
LEARNING TO READ IS An IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT achievement for a young child
Learning to read
* is a big step forward
* it makes them superior to younger brothers and sisters
* is appreciated even rewarded by parents and teachers
* is a skill to perform when confident
It is only natural young children learning to read in their own language are keen to learn to read "anything" especially this new thing mummy and daddy think is so important.
These young learners of English as foreign language need to be given strategies to deal with the new English words they encounter few course books currently on the market tackle this realistically. Instinctively they will test their growing knowledge of their first language grapheme/phoneme rules. Yet more difficulties are added to the learning of English and its grapheme/phoneme correspondence rules notorious for their complexity.
This course takes a positive firm approach to the teaching of reading employing phonics which are made child friendly through the courses exploitation of fantasy. Phonics are recognised as integral to the structure and effective progression of the course meeting the demands of the pre-school infant learner as their grapheme/phoneme grows and develops. Fantasy also permits varied and creative use of storytelling. Various techniques are used to stimulate reading for meaning and pleasure thus consolidating the work on the mechanics of reading
* ABOVE ALL IT IS FRESH AND EXCITING AS IT GOES FURTHER THAN ANY OTHER EXISTING COURSES IN ITS APPLICATION OF FANTASY, not only in the literary sense but develops and extends FANTASY into a teaching medium exploiting the child's imagination as a resource in the classroom.
Playground One Introduction
PLAYGROUND INTRODUCTION
Description of the course
is a 3 level course for children from 7 to 10 years of age.
It uses a VAK Visual Audio Kinaesthetic approach to children's teaching.
The course components
Students book
Exercise Book
Teacher's book
Class cassette.
What is VAK Visual Audio Kinaesthetic?
As it's name suggests targets all the senses and how they are used by the language learner .
Why VAK Visual Audio Kinaesthetic?
Studies in Neuro Linguistic programming have shown people learn and acquire language using all their senses. However the senses are not used equally in individuals while in the process of learning; some people have a strong visual sense , others audio while other prefer the kinaesthetic. An approach which targets all three sense areas meets the needs of the differences that are found among language learners.
A VAK approach therefore requires a variety of techniques, activities and topics. As a result Playground is a holistic integrated course making it cross curricular implicit rather than explicit by nature.
Aims and Objectives of the course
children should enjoy their learning experience
to develop an interest in learning languages
that there is a relation between language and communication
to promote realistic child interaction through Play and other child activities.
to give the young learner expressions he /she will realistically want to use.
to help build and develop their confidence as language learners.
to stimulate their curiosity about language
The Syllabus
is lexical with the emphasis heavily focused on meaning. The children are not expected to produce actively the whole lexical content. It is now accepted children need to have a lot of language 'thrown ' at them for a little to stick.
Grammar is not actively taught though certain points are highlighted, when it has been felt appropriate through awareness raising and in the exercises to pave the way for studies in later years
The Lesson Content
Each unit has four lessons explained in notes in the teachers book.
Lessons one and two are the input stages when new vocabulary and structures as lexical units are introduced.
Lesson three is called do you know ? This section's principal function is for children to become aware they can learn through English, it is not just something to learn, it is a vehicle for learning .
It does this by using the language introduced in lessons one and two in a different topic setting, letting the children to see the vocabulary in a different lexical context. At times well known stories are used at others awareness raising techniques and other formulaic expressions related to the topic are introduced.
Lesson four is called Playtime. It recycles the language of the unit using interactive Play. Here the children are taught games, some of which may be familiar to children as games children play have common elements worldwide. The games reflect the four areas of child play traditional, street games, fantasy games and competitive games. Games introduced here are then later used in the course in the other lessons. When this occurs a cross reference system is in operation. It states as at 3.4..vi. This means the activity was first used in unit three , lesson three point six.
There is sufficient material in each lesson for 60 min. . If you teach in 45 min. blocks do not rush the material but split the lessons in two. All the lessons have logical half way stopping points
E.g. lesson two , unit two, the logical split point would be after point iv the speaking Game. When the class is ready to continue with the lesson use the speaking game as the warmer for the lesson.
TECHNIQUES USED IN THE COURSE
The practical application of the techniques highlighted in lesson plans, and are recycled in various ways as mentioned at lesson content lesson four ,however some background knowledge can found to be useful.
T.P.R. Total Physical Response
was first used by James Asher in Southern California.
The principal is based on how babies and very young children learn their first language. They respond to commands given by their mother in a physical non verbal way. In an L2 situation learners can respond without having to produce spoken language as well as developing their listening skills from day one. Classical T.P.R traditional child's games such as Simon Says and integrated it with other EFL techniques are used in the course.
3D Three dimensional presentation.
is a new and refreshing way of presenting dialogues to children. The students of Playground observe and listen to the characters of the course talking about concepts which are concrete for them. In book one the course characters are seen talking, describing , asking questions , about the circus. The students of the course are able to see and hear the new language in a context that is familiar and real to them. The result is easy to implement speaking activities such as role play, surveys and dramas as they can pretend they are the children of the course and repeat the dialogues which the children use.
The Skills Listening Speaking Reading Writing
The main focus in book one is on listening and speaking, with a gentle introduction to reading and writing . Theses will be developed in books two and three
They are taught either by a specific individual focus e.g. the listening activity put your hand up when you hear focusing on listening with T.P.R. or integrated. Integrated skill activities focus on a combination of listening speaking reading and writing.
Making things
Children learn quickly however they also forget quickly. They require some type of personal records. at this stage in their foreign language it would impossible to produce a written record. Their record therefore are more creative and artistic. They make things from simple drawings to play games to more complicated activities.
Awareness Raising
As adults we forget what it was like to be children the no return road of innocence and experience we cannot inexperience what we know. In consequence adults try to make children's language learning easy. The tendency in the past has been to do this not only through have simple vocabulary and structures but by simplistic activities. However, activities must interest and stimulate the child at the same level as they would in their mother tongue. What needs to be simplified is the language, encoded in child friendly concepts E.g. adjectives are defined as describing words and an awareness raising activity in unit 12 lesson 3 do you know describing words. They can classify, be stimulated without knowing the grammatical terms and increase their vocabulary.
Games and Play
are part of the underlying principal of the course. Playing is an everyday activity for children. When they play they experiment, they take risks. Studies have shown that good language learners take risks experiment with new language. By providing them with real play forums, the children can experiment with the new language in a risk taking environment that is comfortable to them. The result is two fold, they can interact in English as part of the game practicing is fun and an a deeper level they are being encouraged to experiment with their new language laying the foundations for a life long confidence in their ability to learn languages.
Supplementary Materials
Pictures are an essential when teaching children. Flashcards can easily be made by cutting pictures from magazines and sticking them on to card. Different coloured card fro different areas e.g. people blue things green, actions yellow is a simple and straightforward coding system to follow.
Use of L1 in the classroom.
L1. Is the abbreviation used to refer to language one, the mother tongue. The use of L1. how much? how often? if? when ? is a contentious issue. However, it is the author's opinion that L2 i.e. the foreign language being learnt, in this case English should be employed when it is realistically possible. Nevertheless there are occasions when it is quicker, more effective and in the long term more beneficial to use L1.e.g. Explaining the rules of a game, in L1 the explanation may take a few minutes, both teacher and pupils are clear what is expected of them. The children play the game, practice their English have fun and feel a sense of achievement. However, if rules are explained in l2, it will take longer, the rules may not be fully understood, resulting in the game being played badly. The children are demotivated because they feel they don't understand the game or the language. My yardstick with children is - if the activity is underlined by a concept it is more beneficial especially in the early stages, to use L1. This philosophy is recognised in Playground. The language required to function, to explain, to play in L2 is actively taught, unit 2 in the classroom, unit 8 game expressions. After they have been introduced it is expected they are incorporated where they would occur naturally in communication. The final decision though will always at the discretion of the class teacher.
Description of the course
is a 3 level course for children from 7 to 10 years of age.
It uses a VAK Visual Audio Kinaesthetic approach to children's teaching.
The course components
Students book
Exercise Book
Teacher's book
Class cassette.
What is VAK Visual Audio Kinaesthetic?
As it's name suggests targets all the senses and how they are used by the language learner .
Why VAK Visual Audio Kinaesthetic?
Studies in Neuro Linguistic programming have shown people learn and acquire language using all their senses. However the senses are not used equally in individuals while in the process of learning; some people have a strong visual sense , others audio while other prefer the kinaesthetic. An approach which targets all three sense areas meets the needs of the differences that are found among language learners.
A VAK approach therefore requires a variety of techniques, activities and topics. As a result Playground is a holistic integrated course making it cross curricular implicit rather than explicit by nature.
Aims and Objectives of the course
children should enjoy their learning experience
to develop an interest in learning languages
that there is a relation between language and communication
to promote realistic child interaction through Play and other child activities.
to give the young learner expressions he /she will realistically want to use.
to help build and develop their confidence as language learners.
to stimulate their curiosity about language
The Syllabus
is lexical with the emphasis heavily focused on meaning. The children are not expected to produce actively the whole lexical content. It is now accepted children need to have a lot of language 'thrown ' at them for a little to stick.
Grammar is not actively taught though certain points are highlighted, when it has been felt appropriate through awareness raising and in the exercises to pave the way for studies in later years
The Lesson Content
Each unit has four lessons explained in notes in the teachers book.
Lessons one and two are the input stages when new vocabulary and structures as lexical units are introduced.
Lesson three is called do you know ? This section's principal function is for children to become aware they can learn through English, it is not just something to learn, it is a vehicle for learning .
It does this by using the language introduced in lessons one and two in a different topic setting, letting the children to see the vocabulary in a different lexical context. At times well known stories are used at others awareness raising techniques and other formulaic expressions related to the topic are introduced.
Lesson four is called Playtime. It recycles the language of the unit using interactive Play. Here the children are taught games, some of which may be familiar to children as games children play have common elements worldwide. The games reflect the four areas of child play traditional, street games, fantasy games and competitive games. Games introduced here are then later used in the course in the other lessons. When this occurs a cross reference system is in operation. It states as at 3.4..vi. This means the activity was first used in unit three , lesson three point six.
There is sufficient material in each lesson for 60 min. . If you teach in 45 min. blocks do not rush the material but split the lessons in two. All the lessons have logical half way stopping points
E.g. lesson two , unit two, the logical split point would be after point iv the speaking Game. When the class is ready to continue with the lesson use the speaking game as the warmer for the lesson.
TECHNIQUES USED IN THE COURSE
The practical application of the techniques highlighted in lesson plans, and are recycled in various ways as mentioned at lesson content lesson four ,however some background knowledge can found to be useful.
T.P.R. Total Physical Response
was first used by James Asher in Southern California.
The principal is based on how babies and very young children learn their first language. They respond to commands given by their mother in a physical non verbal way. In an L2 situation learners can respond without having to produce spoken language as well as developing their listening skills from day one. Classical T.P.R traditional child's games such as Simon Says and integrated it with other EFL techniques are used in the course.
3D Three dimensional presentation.
is a new and refreshing way of presenting dialogues to children. The students of Playground observe and listen to the characters of the course talking about concepts which are concrete for them. In book one the course characters are seen talking, describing , asking questions , about the circus. The students of the course are able to see and hear the new language in a context that is familiar and real to them. The result is easy to implement speaking activities such as role play, surveys and dramas as they can pretend they are the children of the course and repeat the dialogues which the children use.
The Skills Listening Speaking Reading Writing
The main focus in book one is on listening and speaking, with a gentle introduction to reading and writing . Theses will be developed in books two and three
They are taught either by a specific individual focus e.g. the listening activity put your hand up when you hear focusing on listening with T.P.R. or integrated. Integrated skill activities focus on a combination of listening speaking reading and writing.
Making things
Children learn quickly however they also forget quickly. They require some type of personal records. at this stage in their foreign language it would impossible to produce a written record. Their record therefore are more creative and artistic. They make things from simple drawings to play games to more complicated activities.
Awareness Raising
As adults we forget what it was like to be children the no return road of innocence and experience we cannot inexperience what we know. In consequence adults try to make children's language learning easy. The tendency in the past has been to do this not only through have simple vocabulary and structures but by simplistic activities. However, activities must interest and stimulate the child at the same level as they would in their mother tongue. What needs to be simplified is the language, encoded in child friendly concepts E.g. adjectives are defined as describing words and an awareness raising activity in unit 12 lesson 3 do you know describing words. They can classify, be stimulated without knowing the grammatical terms and increase their vocabulary.
Games and Play
are part of the underlying principal of the course. Playing is an everyday activity for children. When they play they experiment, they take risks. Studies have shown that good language learners take risks experiment with new language. By providing them with real play forums, the children can experiment with the new language in a risk taking environment that is comfortable to them. The result is two fold, they can interact in English as part of the game practicing is fun and an a deeper level they are being encouraged to experiment with their new language laying the foundations for a life long confidence in their ability to learn languages.
Supplementary Materials
Pictures are an essential when teaching children. Flashcards can easily be made by cutting pictures from magazines and sticking them on to card. Different coloured card fro different areas e.g. people blue things green, actions yellow is a simple and straightforward coding system to follow.
Use of L1 in the classroom.
L1. Is the abbreviation used to refer to language one, the mother tongue. The use of L1. how much? how often? if? when ? is a contentious issue. However, it is the author's opinion that L2 i.e. the foreign language being learnt, in this case English should be employed when it is realistically possible. Nevertheless there are occasions when it is quicker, more effective and in the long term more beneficial to use L1.e.g. Explaining the rules of a game, in L1 the explanation may take a few minutes, both teacher and pupils are clear what is expected of them. The children play the game, practice their English have fun and feel a sense of achievement. However, if rules are explained in l2, it will take longer, the rules may not be fully understood, resulting in the game being played badly. The children are demotivated because they feel they don't understand the game or the language. My yardstick with children is - if the activity is underlined by a concept it is more beneficial especially in the early stages, to use L1. This philosophy is recognised in Playground. The language required to function, to explain, to play in L2 is actively taught, unit 2 in the classroom, unit 8 game expressions. After they have been introduced it is expected they are incorporated where they would occur naturally in communication. The final decision though will always at the discretion of the class teacher.
domingo, 9 de agosto de 2009
Steps on a Path to Writing 3 Fairy Stories
Having decided to discuss wider influences on my writing I thought I’d continue by looking at fairy stories as the structure of the story is of vital importance. Strangely enough it was teaching children that was to lead me to a whole new field of personal investigation into the Fairy Story. Despite having limited language skills and vocabulary I found my pupils loved hearing stories. When I first began teaching children EFL there was a dearth of didactic material, nowadays there are myriads of resources most of which include to varying degrees teaching based on stories. The Oldest known fairy story is dated 1250 BC on Papyrus in Mesopotamia.
Today most of us reach the fairy story via Disney or something similar. And while one cannot detract from the quality of the production and the work of the graphic artists the modern interpretation has lead us to associate it with simplicity and happy endings. However my intuition told me there was more and my first investigations brought me to the attention of the work of the psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim (1903- 1990). His work “The Uses of Enchantment” is his study on the motives, symbolism and deeper meanings in fairy tales on the human psyche. The reading of the book has had a profound effect on me as writer and a person.
Dr Bettleheim was a survivor of the Nazi Concentration camps, and in his barracks they began telling childhood tales at night before curfew and when they could the idea was passed on though the camp grapevines. Moving to the Unites States after the war Bettelheim was to find those who survived contact him and he made an amazing discovery; the people who had told the bedtime stories had survived in better mental health than those who hadn’t. He then dedicated his life’s work to the importance and significance of the story as a healing force working with damaged children.
What he discovered though his investigation and treatment of others confirmed what Jung had said that that symbols and motifs in stories were common to the collective human psyche. Reinforcing universal ethics values, respect your parents, don’t rob, don’t steal, work hard behave with dignity.
Fairy Stories deal with two principle concepts
Deal with inner integration of person at spiritual, emotional and psychological level.
Child’s striving for maturity and independence in a healthy fashion.
However I quote Bettleheim’s own words from the conclusion of
The Meaning of Enchantment
"Each fairy tale is a magic mirror, which reflects some aspects of our inner world and of the steps required by our evolution from immaturity to maturity. For those who immerse themselves in what the fairy tale has to communicate, it becomes a deep quiet pool which at first seems to reflect only our own image, but behind it we soon discover our inner turmoil of our soul- it’s depth, and ways to gain peace within ourselves and with the world, which is the reward of our struggles."
Since Bettleheim I have gone on to read other works in the field and I quote
The fruitful darkness Joan Halifax
“Stories are our protectors, like our immune system, defending against attacks of debilitating alienation. They are the connective tissue between culture and nature, self and other, life and death, that saw the worlds together and in telling the soul quickens and comes alive
“Troublesome Things” A History of Fairies and Fairy Stories.
Diane Purkiss.( fellow of Keble College University of Oxford)
“Firstly common humanity: there are universal cultural archetypes produced by common psychic pressure in every culture.”
“A ceaseless reshaping of old stories to fit new contexts”
“To enter fairyland is to be born again, to go through birth as an adult who is conscious of the dreadful process.”
“They came from deep misery. People whose lives are a perpetual struggle to survive and suddenly faced with one burden too many.”
“A fairy story is about reaching rock bottom, in that sense a story about dying, but it is also a story about finding a way out if only in a story.”
“The stories rich complex often elliptical because to their teller their meaning is very plain because there were always inner stories.”
“If so they could easily become what Haaken calls transformative memories, memories whether authentic or not, that make sense of a life that turns its disorder and fragmentation into meaning.”
Fairy stories like their cousins Myths have a defined structure and order of things and the imposition of a structure like rhyme in poetry in fact guides the creativity, it is the recognition of the structure on behalf of the reader or the listener that gives security and satisfaction. And each person takes from the story what they need and want and that may not be the same on every encounter with the story. The storyteller has existed in all cultures in all times only the form has changed from the medieval ballad minstrels to the author of the novel as a consequence of the printing press to the cinema to the video game. All are stories
While returning to my older notes to prepare this blog entry I discovered reference to my bite plate mentioned in the previous entry. On the same day my bite plate was fitted I came across a web page for creative people whose name I can’t remember something like Get Out There but it was my first awareness as to how important the web was to become for creative people. Quite inspired by what I had discovered I began work on my first modern fairy story I was able complete the first draft in a few days to sustain momentum as I was pain free. It has since gone through various drafts and quite transformed from the original and I have developed and improved my editing and revising skills.
First drafts are curious things it is necessary to leave then and come back later as after a period of time one is aware of the functioning of the subconscious. I have always refered to my first drafts like potters clay, having finally something to work with and the realisation while editing and revising is a much more concentrated and conscious effort to express yourself rather than the outpouring of ideas. You find yourself in your first drafts. I have found them to be cathartic and therapeutic as well as raw material to sculpot with words. Fortunately the importance of stories as a therapeutic tool is becoming greater the work of Jorge Bucay in Argentina in his works such as Cuentos para Pensar (Stories to think) and Deja me te cuente (Let me tell you) and his Camino (paths) series. Though we must acknowledge the greatest and most effective story teller of all time was Jesus Christ who employed the simplicity of the story to embody the greater meaning.
Finally I would like to honour and thank my parents in this entry. As a child Brian my Daddy who I have already named in this blog told me stories from when I was very young, Ann my mum passed on her love of reading she had me enrolled in the library when I was three and her wonderful ability to cook. Thank you I love and miss you both so much
lunes, 3 de agosto de 2009
The Power of Peace
Like a grain of sand
It began.
A painful slow growth,
Taking root,
Forming anchor.
A nurtured irritation,
Connecting with instincts,
Caressing talents.
A warm silk sensation,
Penetrating pain,
Calming the storm.
The light on the inner journey
Blinding even on
The darkest night.
The right of passage
Hard and long, Though peace
Propelled away from wrong.
The essence of power,
A point of return,
A haven safe.
The ecstasy of peace,
Like a bright pearl dawn,
It opens the days,
Guiding through divergent ways
Logroño January 2002.
It began.
A painful slow growth,
Taking root,
Forming anchor.
A nurtured irritation,
Connecting with instincts,
Caressing talents.
A warm silk sensation,
Penetrating pain,
Calming the storm.
The light on the inner journey
Blinding even on
The darkest night.
The right of passage
Hard and long, Though peace
Propelled away from wrong.
The essence of power,
A point of return,
A haven safe.
The ecstasy of peace,
Like a bright pearl dawn,
It opens the days,
Guiding through divergent ways
Logroño January 2002.
The Seeds of Happiness
1.Impressions, instincts, embedded.
The strength of decision
At once made at once taken
Rekindling the seeds of clarity.
2. Impressions instincts embedded.
The fleeting of moments
Mentioned maintained
Reviving, the seeds of memory
3. Impressions instincts embedded.
The lack of doubt
Visit booked visit made
Confirming, the seeds of security
4. Impressions instincts embedded.
The glimmer of frustration
Again yet again, yet
Germinating, the seeds of feeling.
5. Impressions instincts embedded.
The return of something
As yet unfound undiscovered
Unfelt, the seeds of awakening
6. Impressions instincts embedded.
The sense of humour
Instantly appreciated, instantly understood,
Stirring, the seeds of fun
7. Impressions instincts embedded.
The strength of something
As yet not realised not
Felt. The seeds of happiness
8. Impressions instincts embedded.
The flight of the arrow
Immediate impact, profound permanent.
Penetrating the seeds of the subconscious.
9. Impressions instincts embedded.
The caress of a finger
At first a doubt, later
Confirming the seeds of tenderness
10. Impressions instincts embedded.
The bubbling of butterflies
At first gentle then
Overflowing the seeds of realisation
11. Impressions instincts embedded.
The joy of realisation
Fearless consequences
Following, the seeds of intuition
12. Impressions instincts embedded.
The security of feeling
No doubt no pain
Laying, the seeds of peace
13. Impressions instincts embedded.
The waves of pleasure
Caressing stimulating
Flowing, the seeds of ecstasy
14. Impressions instincts embedded.
The decision to enjoy
The moments the pleasures
Settling, the seeds of maturity
15. Impressions instincts embedded.
The set of mind
Acceptance possibility
Preparing, the seeds of strength
16. Impressions instincts embedded.
The series of visits
Confirming convincing
Laying, the seeds of foundation
17. Impressions instincts embedded.
The change of appearance
Provoking stating
Visualising, the seeds of change
18. Impressions instincts embedded.
The caress of a voice
Relaxing soothing healing
Penetrating, the seeds of harmony
19. Impressions instincts embedded.
The lightness of touch
Confident reassuring caring
Announcing, the seeds of gentleness
20. Impressions instincts embedded.
The shock of the shyness,
The face, the pain, the panic
Transmitting, the seeds of challenge
21. Impressions instincts embedded.
The significance of the message
The expressions the meaning
Conveying the seeds of solution
22. Impressions instincts embedded.
The verification of impressions
Conversation comments commitments
Highlighting the seeds of similarity
23. Impressions instincts embedded.
The knowledge of how
Direct daring clear but careful
Exploiting the seeds of courage
24. Impressions instincts embedded.
The knowledge of when
Long or little the waiting
The arrival of the seeds of permanence.
The strength of decision
At once made at once taken
Rekindling the seeds of clarity.
2. Impressions instincts embedded.
The fleeting of moments
Mentioned maintained
Reviving, the seeds of memory
3. Impressions instincts embedded.
The lack of doubt
Visit booked visit made
Confirming, the seeds of security
4. Impressions instincts embedded.
The glimmer of frustration
Again yet again, yet
Germinating, the seeds of feeling.
5. Impressions instincts embedded.
The return of something
As yet unfound undiscovered
Unfelt, the seeds of awakening
6. Impressions instincts embedded.
The sense of humour
Instantly appreciated, instantly understood,
Stirring, the seeds of fun
7. Impressions instincts embedded.
The strength of something
As yet not realised not
Felt. The seeds of happiness
8. Impressions instincts embedded.
The flight of the arrow
Immediate impact, profound permanent.
Penetrating the seeds of the subconscious.
9. Impressions instincts embedded.
The caress of a finger
At first a doubt, later
Confirming the seeds of tenderness
10. Impressions instincts embedded.
The bubbling of butterflies
At first gentle then
Overflowing the seeds of realisation
11. Impressions instincts embedded.
The joy of realisation
Fearless consequences
Following, the seeds of intuition
12. Impressions instincts embedded.
The security of feeling
No doubt no pain
Laying, the seeds of peace
13. Impressions instincts embedded.
The waves of pleasure
Caressing stimulating
Flowing, the seeds of ecstasy
14. Impressions instincts embedded.
The decision to enjoy
The moments the pleasures
Settling, the seeds of maturity
15. Impressions instincts embedded.
The set of mind
Acceptance possibility
Preparing, the seeds of strength
16. Impressions instincts embedded.
The series of visits
Confirming convincing
Laying, the seeds of foundation
17. Impressions instincts embedded.
The change of appearance
Provoking stating
Visualising, the seeds of change
18. Impressions instincts embedded.
The caress of a voice
Relaxing soothing healing
Penetrating, the seeds of harmony
19. Impressions instincts embedded.
The lightness of touch
Confident reassuring caring
Announcing, the seeds of gentleness
20. Impressions instincts embedded.
The shock of the shyness,
The face, the pain, the panic
Transmitting, the seeds of challenge
21. Impressions instincts embedded.
The significance of the message
The expressions the meaning
Conveying the seeds of solution
22. Impressions instincts embedded.
The verification of impressions
Conversation comments commitments
Highlighting the seeds of similarity
23. Impressions instincts embedded.
The knowledge of how
Direct daring clear but careful
Exploiting the seeds of courage
24. Impressions instincts embedded.
The knowledge of when
Long or little the waiting
The arrival of the seeds of permanence.
domingo, 26 de julio de 2009
Steps on a path to writing
My first love and ambition is and always has been fiction. However the first creative piece of work I ever wrote was after I had decided to convert to Catholicism in the final year of my studies. I was returning to university in Wales after having visited my parents. The decision had not been not well received especially by my mother. My relation with my faith has been a complex one, though I always feel a sense of belonging every time I enter a Catholic church, the same feeling ever since I first visited a small church in Paris in 1989.
I can recall writing the poems. I was travelling between Edinburgh and Wales on a train when I felt the urge to write not my best work but my first not as an academic exercise. I remember I was sitting on the right side of the carriage looking at the countryside as it sped by. I took it to be a sign from above that my decision to become a Catholic was correct as was my desire to write. And when I am at peace with my faith and direction of my life I write more. This morning while contemplating this commentary I decided to do some statistics. Prior to coming to Spain from the first published here I wrote 9 poems, from arrival in Spain in Sept 85 until the period of Easter 88 I wrote 16. From Easter 88 to May 2001 I only 9 poems though I did work on educational material at that time creative though emotionally neutral itserved as an apprenticeship in working with publishers. The period since May 2001 has been my most prolific 34 poemas half inspired by love, the greatest motivator in all poetry in all the world’s languages and the other in self exploration and understanding my life’s journey. I have found when I am at peace with my faith I write more and better. I have also completed the first drafts of two novel manuscripts which am planning to take a sabbatical to revise edit and complete in the near future and over 50000 words of the La Rioja Book in its fifth draft two extracts I have already published on this blog.
However contrary to what people believe writers don’t compose when we are really down, we do it on the way up. Research shows that creative people have personalities that function outside normal parameters with wider ranges of moods. However the very same creativity is the greatest resource as it can function as therapy to push us forward to happiness and understanding especially that of our feelings, is a great key to personal peace.
Even though it is a topic of modern psychological research the great poets have always been aware of this. Here I quote Robert Graves and T S Eliott. Reading writers on writing I have found always gives many new perspectives helping inspiring while at the same time remaining grounded with your own. This is why I have chosen to add some of my favourite thoughts by great poets on poetry because this year I read Chekov and Vargas Llosa quoted http://www.venaliteraria.blogspot.com/ so I’d like to thank Manuel for uploading these quotes as they helped me unb lock and finally complete another writing project I had been working on.
The poems add today are my first two here mentioned about becoming a Catholic and Dreams after I received my first letter from a publisher interested in my work.
I can recall writing the poems. I was travelling between Edinburgh and Wales on a train when I felt the urge to write not my best work but my first not as an academic exercise. I remember I was sitting on the right side of the carriage looking at the countryside as it sped by. I took it to be a sign from above that my decision to become a Catholic was correct as was my desire to write. And when I am at peace with my faith and direction of my life I write more. This morning while contemplating this commentary I decided to do some statistics. Prior to coming to Spain from the first published here I wrote 9 poems, from arrival in Spain in Sept 85 until the period of Easter 88 I wrote 16. From Easter 88 to May 2001 I only 9 poems though I did work on educational material at that time creative though emotionally neutral itserved as an apprenticeship in working with publishers. The period since May 2001 has been my most prolific 34 poemas half inspired by love, the greatest motivator in all poetry in all the world’s languages and the other in self exploration and understanding my life’s journey. I have found when I am at peace with my faith I write more and better. I have also completed the first drafts of two novel manuscripts which am planning to take a sabbatical to revise edit and complete in the near future and over 50000 words of the La Rioja Book in its fifth draft two extracts I have already published on this blog.
However contrary to what people believe writers don’t compose when we are really down, we do it on the way up. Research shows that creative people have personalities that function outside normal parameters with wider ranges of moods. However the very same creativity is the greatest resource as it can function as therapy to push us forward to happiness and understanding especially that of our feelings, is a great key to personal peace.
Even though it is a topic of modern psychological research the great poets have always been aware of this. Here I quote Robert Graves and T S Eliott. Reading writers on writing I have found always gives many new perspectives helping inspiring while at the same time remaining grounded with your own. This is why I have chosen to add some of my favourite thoughts by great poets on poetry because this year I read Chekov and Vargas Llosa quoted http://www.venaliteraria.blogspot.com/ so I’d like to thank Manuel for uploading these quotes as they helped me unb lock and finally complete another writing project I had been working on.
The poems add today are my first two here mentioned about becoming a Catholic and Dreams after I received my first letter from a publisher interested in my work.
Poets on Poetry
The nucleus of every poem, worthy of the name, is rhythmically formed in the Poet's mind, during a trance, like the suspension of his horned habits of thought, by the supra logical reconciliation of conflicting emotional ideas. The poet learns to induce the trance in self-protection whenever he feels unable to resolve an emotional conflict by simple logic.
ROBERT GRAVES
For last years Voice belong to last years language,
And next years words await another voice
the sentence that is right
where every word is at home
taking its place to support the others
the word neither different nor ostentatious
an easy commerce of the old and the new
the common word exact without vulgarity
the formed word precise but not pedantic
the complete consort dancing together.
TS Eliot Little Gidding
Poetry creates a bridge of feelings between the material world and the world of creativity and spirit. Poets by definition, get to the raw feelings behind the masks we wear.
Quoted from “I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye” a book Dealing with Sudden Death.
ROBERT GRAVES
For last years Voice belong to last years language,
And next years words await another voice
the sentence that is right
where every word is at home
taking its place to support the others
the word neither different nor ostentatious
an easy commerce of the old and the new
the common word exact without vulgarity
the formed word precise but not pedantic
the complete consort dancing together.
TS Eliot Little Gidding
Poetry creates a bridge of feelings between the material world and the world of creativity and spirit. Poets by definition, get to the raw feelings behind the masks we wear.
Quoted from “I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye” a book Dealing with Sudden Death.
Safe, Imparting, Dreamt Dreams 3 more poems
SAFE
Oh Oh - Shining star
Shining more and more but hard to see
But deep down thou art
In my heart. I can feel
right through to the glowing of my skin
And with sin Original and mine take pity
And save a lamented soul
An ignorant fool like me
that spirit precious as a dove
Came down to save us all
After the fall - Save came at birth
Save late even after vile hate
But shining than lovest all
And given us faith and strength to see
Thank you for saving an ignorant fool
like me. Jan 1981
IMPARTING
That blessed day it came at last
When I had the courage to say
That I had found my faith
Not sad but glad
Not ashamed but proud
Not trying to convert by
Verbal violence or persuasion
But by showing by the actions of my like
that by being a Christian
Life can be fun and happy
Through sacrifice and caring
For not only the ones own love
But desire to hate also. Jan 1981
DREAMT DREAMS
Distant Dimmed Dreams
reach to rescue to resuscitate
the victim lonely lifeless and limp
Garrotted in the woven web
Cold careless and colourless
Sullenly situated amid stagnating still sadness
A closed cramped calm
quietly killing care and creativity
Bare brittle barren houses
Hollow and homeless
A pained powerful prison
Dreaming now desperate
Memories now urgent
push permit and plan
Desirous draining decisive discovered
way through way forward way out
Relaxing rising resurgence
happy helped hopes
Merry merged memories
Daring driving dreams. Summer 1991
Oh Oh - Shining star
Shining more and more but hard to see
But deep down thou art
In my heart. I can feel
right through to the glowing of my skin
And with sin Original and mine take pity
And save a lamented soul
An ignorant fool like me
that spirit precious as a dove
Came down to save us all
After the fall - Save came at birth
Save late even after vile hate
But shining than lovest all
And given us faith and strength to see
Thank you for saving an ignorant fool
like me. Jan 1981
IMPARTING
That blessed day it came at last
When I had the courage to say
That I had found my faith
Not sad but glad
Not ashamed but proud
Not trying to convert by
Verbal violence or persuasion
But by showing by the actions of my like
that by being a Christian
Life can be fun and happy
Through sacrifice and caring
For not only the ones own love
But desire to hate also. Jan 1981
DREAMT DREAMS
Distant Dimmed Dreams
reach to rescue to resuscitate
the victim lonely lifeless and limp
Garrotted in the woven web
Cold careless and colourless
Sullenly situated amid stagnating still sadness
A closed cramped calm
quietly killing care and creativity
Bare brittle barren houses
Hollow and homeless
A pained powerful prison
Dreaming now desperate
Memories now urgent
push permit and plan
Desirous draining decisive discovered
way through way forward way out
Relaxing rising resurgence
happy helped hopes
Merry merged memories
Daring driving dreams. Summer 1991
lunes, 20 de julio de 2009
The mystic of the muse.
Over twenty years ago I went to teach in Spain for nine months to support my application to do a postgraduate teaching course. I had always dreamed of living abroad and inspired by the Durrells felt drawn to Greece, I visited twice the second to work and left disillusioned. Quite unexpectedly I fell in love with Spain the people, their character, the country and stayed for 23 years.
Spain has been vital to my writing, inspiring me to work both on my prose and poetry and opened this blog with one of my own personal favourites “In Wine Lands” having been privileged to live most of my Spanish life in La Rioja the World Famous Wine Region. Though less well known the food is as good as the wine. Being Scottish I was assured that I would love the verdant Rioja Alta, I do. However, having been brought up with every green under the sun or rather rain, it was Rioja Baja that took my breath away. Seeing it for the first time in a scorching summer slowly revealing itself from beneath the heat haze. This was the first poem I ever wrote to try and capture, understand and record my feelings my reactions to a place. It did bring tears to my eyes and it is fundamental for me as a poet that is why it is remains so important to me and it had never happened to me before or since. The place is beautiful in spring with the cherry trees coquettishly covered in the white blossom, though I was to see this much later.
Today I add two extracts from my book on my anecdotes about Spain which had been a labour of Love over many years.
Spain has been vital to my writing, inspiring me to work both on my prose and poetry and opened this blog with one of my own personal favourites “In Wine Lands” having been privileged to live most of my Spanish life in La Rioja the World Famous Wine Region. Though less well known the food is as good as the wine. Being Scottish I was assured that I would love the verdant Rioja Alta, I do. However, having been brought up with every green under the sun or rather rain, it was Rioja Baja that took my breath away. Seeing it for the first time in a scorching summer slowly revealing itself from beneath the heat haze. This was the first poem I ever wrote to try and capture, understand and record my feelings my reactions to a place. It did bring tears to my eyes and it is fundamental for me as a poet that is why it is remains so important to me and it had never happened to me before or since. The place is beautiful in spring with the cherry trees coquettishly covered in the white blossom, though I was to see this much later.
Today I add two extracts from my book on my anecdotes about Spain which had been a labour of Love over many years.
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