Rock and Roll

Dumbarton Castle, the prison of William Wallace and the home of the Britons for many years before that, was resplendent today. There are many legends about the place, one of which is that the Ark of the Covenant lies hidden in the rock. I’ll get a closer look tonight as we attend the Dumbarton F.C. grounds for a night of fun and fund-raising.

Sam Wilding and Kate Humble

Kate Humble and Sam Wilding
Yes, it was a long drive south to listen to vets and country folk enthuse over a new cure for sheep, but there was a fun night and a chance encounter. Carden Park is in the beautiful Chester countryside where, not far away, Kate Humble was filming ‘Lambing Live’. Manged a quick chat and a look at some of the local sheep. Baaaa! Spent much of the day signing books and chasing editors. Book 3 of the Denthan series is in its final throes. The sad thing was, I missed my Emma’s birthday, so I organised a trip in a hot air balloon for her.

Hawick - Young at Heart

It all started with a the search for the historic Hawick Library building, built by Andrew Carnaigie. Parking sorted, I got myself ready and chatted to event organiser, Cameron McAulay. As usual the kids were fantastic and asked some brilliant questions. They also came up with some great ideas and suggestions for their own stories. – “I just wanted to thank you again for your very insightful and enthusiastic workshop with the pupils from Wilton Primary School this morning. I am positive all the kids went away with a whetted appetite for reading but even more so for writing. The drawing exercise made them feel part of the book writing process (beware BEWUL) and it helped stoke their imagination. I won’t hesitate to recommend your name for future visits and I wish you luck with the publication of the final book in the Denthan Series.”- C McAulay – Young People’s Services. Couldn't ask for much more than that. It’s great to get positive feedback, and when people ask “what age group is the Denthan series aimed at?”, I always say 9-90. Today I got another pile of lovely letters and drawings from Stoneywood Primary School in Aberdeen – Part of the Arts Across Learning Festival). I also received a fantastic email regarding a senior citizen that read – “Hi Sam, I thought you might like to know that my 85 year-old Mum has just finished THE MAGIC SCALES and has sat engrossed for 48 hours. She has just asked me to order vols. 2 and 3 on Amazon. My daughter and I heard you talk & read at the canal centre in Linlithgow (I was also there as an author.) My daughter then bought me a copy of THE MAGIC SCALES for Xmas but Mum has got around to reading it before me.” - Linda Gillard. http://www.lindagillard.co.uk/
All fantastic stuff.
See the website for the children’s drawings, letters and stories.
http://www.sam-wilding.com/
Oh! Finally I finally finished Return to Denthan…

Off I go - NOT!

Fear soon replaces excitement as I skid off the A9 and almost hit the barrier on the way into Kingussie. EEK! The snow is falling in big clumps and my bed is a few more hills further on.

However...

One and a half feet of snow fall during the night and I am completely covered in. No chance of driving. My car looks like a big Ice Lolly.

Some Library Visits

Well, I'm a bit rusty but I'm still looking forward to some really great library visits with the help of Christine and the Scottish Book Trust. Arriving at at the library, I get organised and greet some 50 kids plus teachers and librarians. The Imagination session goes well with an array of fantastic questions at the end. Their drawings were tops and they behaved so well. You get the odd wee chestnut like - How much to do you make? What age are you? etc. These were fantastic children who seemed motivated and were very talented. I then speed on to the next spot where the children are equally enthused. I am particularly blown away by a boy called Lewis, who cannot see at all, but is totally part of the whole event, answering questions and showing his sense of fun and excitement during the reading section. I cover my usual Asthma Awareness section and am completely surprised to receive a gift from the Hecklegirth Primary School class. Lewis has written out the first few pages of The Magic Scales in Braille and the rest of the class have made an artistic collage of the front cover. I am totally lost for words. Sign posters etc and make my scary way north.

The Dumpling and the Frozen Loch

Okay, so it's now well and truly the weekend. I've not done the chores I've promised yet, and I need to spend some time outside. It's a crisp,sunny,fresh, afternoon and I've already finished 2 paper rounds and made everyone breakfast. I suggest a walk in the air, but soon realise we'll have to drive to get anywhere a bit exciting. A few seconds after setting off I notice that I only have 20 miles in the tank so this comfortably restricts our movements. 'The Dumpling!' I say.

"Ohh, daaaaad! Not agaaaiiin!"

"Yes, again," I confirm, and we are on our way.

The Dumpling, a 200ft lump of granite stranded a few yards from Gartocharn (pronounced - Garto-Harn), is the perfect viewpoint to see the partially frozen Loch Lomond. Now, the last time Loch Lomond was frozen over, my Mum did this Viking, survival of the fittest thing and pushed me, in my pram, like a lump of blue hone granite, towards the middle of the loch, and presumably the thin bits. I would either be consigned to the depths or... Well. I'm still here, so I presume the gods looked on me favourably. By the way, the view from the Dumpling is 'to die for'.

After trudging up with Betsy, our flat-coat retriever, nutter, dog; Joe, Emma, Justine, Ruthy and the Tiny, we all decide to go for a swim etc at Cameron House.

First changed, Ruthy and myself venture out to take some rare pics of the Frozen Loch. It's fairly solid, all the way from the Cameron House jetty to Balloch Park,

Go home, listless and ready for some rocket, sun dried tomatoes and Parmesan salad.

Look in the hall mirror - still fat - oh yes - the 9 ferrero rocher might have something to do with that, but I was so hungry after all that swimming and stuff.

Playing Journey and walking in the fresh air

A gig. A concert, 'a booking for musicians', as the dictionary puts it. I hadn't picked the guitar up in earnest for over two months and I think it showed. We arrived at the venue, small and more pub-like than club-like. Everyone was very friendly and we were offered chicken curry on arrival. I always find it's better to sing on an empty stomach, though. It avoids the odd burp invading the lyrics at a crucial point. The audience ranged from 20 to 78 and all seemed to enjoy our eclectic mix of everything from Journey's - Don't Stop Believin' to Tony Bennett's - 'San Francisco'. It was 1am when we finished and almost 2am before I locked the car and crawled into the spare room. It was good to catch up with Craig, the drummer, and go over the children one by one, discussing their teenage messiness, deciding whether or not we were Hypocrites and stuff like that... my son, Ryan, went for his interview with the Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. I hope he gets a place, he practices guitar 5 hours a day and deserves a break.

Saturday went by in a blur and now it's Sunday, mid-day. The sun has cut a neat hole in the powder-blue sky and it's time for a walk.