Chris Piercy and His E book Fresh and Chris P

On a cold Wednesday morning, I had some magic leap into my life, provided by the fantastic Chris Piercy.
He lives in Weymouth, with his partner and young daughter and I was fascinated to hear about his work and his new E book.  He is a close up magician and hypnotist, providing entertainment for weddings, party's and functions across Dorset and the South West.

Over a coffee in the Ship on the Quayside, he performed some card tricks on myself and my son Declan, we were both gobsmacked on the outcome.  How did he do this?  It's magic of course.   He then turned the tables and I had to read his mind and think of  the number he was thinking of.  Difficult but I had a go, resulting in Chris producing the number of coins in his pocket I had given him the number of.  Clever stuff.

The next trick was with red small sponge balls.  I had to hold them in my hands tightly and move them in certain ways, this resulted in Chris removing my watch without my knowledge, holding it up like a naughty schoolboy.  The mayor of Christchurch lost his in the same way, I am sure the look on his face was a picture too.

He continued to tell me about some of the functions he has performed at.  The Charminser W.I. being one, he went along to their annual dinner providing entertainment at the tables.  Weddings and parties are another popular booking for Chris.  He has people come up to him in the street months later from these functions, asking him 'How did you do that, I could not figure it out.'  He likes to mess with your mind  us 'Muggles or 'Lay people'

With a DVD called 'Pierced' available from good magic stores and Amazon.  His new E-book called 'Fresh and Chris P' an instruction book for other magicians. 'If you want a secret hidden hide it in a book' he told me with a sly smile. I asked Chris what was next.  'to go International' he replied laughing, 'just to continue what I do and get some more bookings'  he said with an optimistic smile.  I cannot wait for his next function and  I will take a crowd of my friends and family along to add some magic to their lives too.

http://www.chrispiercymagic.co.uk/     

Friday Flash Fiction

Sorry

I boarded the train to Waterloo clutching my Coffee cup firmly in my right hand.  I heaved my suitcase up and sat in the first seat I found, manoevring the suitcase in next to my knees. Was I doing the right thing?  I began to question myself constantly, the line going round in my brain.  I was running away from all familiarity, excitement was running through my veins and my heart seemed to beat with an extra beat.

I checked my phone, the message was still there.  'I have booked you a flight to Nice, it leaves Heathrow at 14.40.  I will meet you at the airport' x

I sat back in my seat relaxing slowly, the rhythm of the train gently soothing me although doubt was still washing over me.

Arriving at Waterloo, I made my way to the Tube dodging the crowds of silent strangers.  I felt their eyes judging me, like hot pokers into my soul.  On a tube train, a mother with her child sat next to me.  I tried to avoid being sucked into her world.  I had left that behind.  I wanted a new life of adventure.

Heathrow a busy, jostling place, I checked in and made my way to the departure lounge.  This was it, the decision of my life.  I sank into a seat, an emotional trembling woman.  I couldn't do it, something was holding me back, the ties of my family were too strong to let me go.  i sat and cried, watching the plane take off.  I would never have this chance again, but I did not want it really.

I sent a text 'Sorry.'

Xmas Mouse and a cat helper.

My son chose to spend Xmas with his girlfriend this year and my husband took over the kitchen. Feeling a bit lonely and useless I decided to record my story The Xmas Mouse.

I did it on a IPad, in my kitchen. Unbeknown to me our cat Macey decided to come along and listen to the story. She really does look like a giant cat but it is fascinating to watch her listen. People say never work with children or animals and I do both and love it.

I hope you enjoy it. Happy new year.

A visit to a Oakdale Infants School

At the end of November I was invited to go into Oakdale infants school to talk about my book.  I went into two classes in the morning and one class and then the nursery in the afternoon.  I took costumes, Horace, a participation poem and some of my other work.

I started off by telling the children how I became a writer and took in my 1993 diary featured in my You Tube video   http://youtu.be/rpurx3fRGO8  We read the participation poem which encourages them to take a look inside my book.

I then read some of the poems and the children dressed up as the characters.  This always goes down well.  I tried to vary the content and showed them some examples of new ideas to inspire them to write poems.  It helped having a background in Nursery Nursing.  The children all seemed interested in the book and I hope to go back and help them write poetry on another occasion.

The highlight for me was seeing my Nephew who attends the Nursery.  He seemed amazed to see me and was delighted to be given Horace to cuddle.  'Your Aunty is here' one of the staff told him.
'No' he replied  'Not Aunty, just Fifi' he told her.    I then read toddler tales and he informed his friends he was the monster.  I just hope when he is bigger he will forgive me as the monster is a snotty one.

I really enjoyed going into the school and hope to return in the spring.

Halloween Competition Winners

I had great fun on Halloween, I dressed up as a witch and called myself Hagatha or Hag for short.  My friends daughter came dressed as Lola a character out of my book.  The weather was really bad and every time I tried to do a reading the rain hammered down, maybe our magic spells went a bit wrong.  

In the morning the children were younger and I read the extract from the book and we acted out some of the poems.  In the afternoon there was an older crowd and we wrote a poem together.  There was a bit of apprehension at first but we soon got into the swing of it and I think most were pleased with the result.  

By 3pm I was started to get very tired but a young lad came and asked me when the next reading was and I told him it had finished.  He was so disappointed that I offered to write a poem with him.  We sat together and completed one, which I signed for him.  


The winners of the competition were announced at 3pm Eloise won the under 12 section and Roddy won the under 7, they both were there at the time and I presented them with their prizes.  They were both well deserved winners and seemed delighted with their prizes.  Great to boast to their teachers anyway.

The staff at The Value Stores,www.valuehousestores.co.uk in Weymouth were so helpful and I cannot thank them enough for having me there, to help create a Halloween Spooktactular for the children and parents.  We even mad the local press.  http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/localnews/10024738.Ghostly_goings_on_for_Weymouth_youngsters/

Half Term Spooktacular

On Wed 31st October I will be at the Value House Stores in Weymouth.  I will be reading and signing copies of my book 'Down The Plughole' from 11am to 3pm.  There is a prize for every child in fancy dress and there will be pumpkin carving all day.  

The Value House store have been very supportive in my suggestion of a Poetry Competition on the subject of Halloween.  There are two age group's under 7's and under 12's.  The closing date is Oct 26th and it will be judged by Sue Simms who owns Poetry Space who published my book. www.poetryspace.co.uk

There are two prizes for the under 7's a copy of my book and for the under 12's a copy of Moira Andrew's Wish a Wish www.moiraandrew.com  I have some entry forms at home or they are available from The Value House, in Weymouth. http://www.valuehousestores.co.uk

I hope to see as many children and parent/gran's and grandadad's, aunt's and uncle's as possible and show them that poetry is not boring and it can be great fun and help with learning.  

Aunty Don't Touch

Aunty Betty had white hair, big teeth and odd strange large glasses that sat on the end of her pointy nose.  She was my Grandad's sister and she also lived in Blackpool.  When my sister and I were dragged to her house for a visit, she greeted us both with a horrible wet slimy kiss.  'Come in, come in' she enthused, her eyes widening with the joy of visitors.

Her house was in a terrace 
near the lovely Stanley park, two up and two down, with a small garden at the back which had many plants in pots.

We both entered nervously as she was a bit of an odd ball to us.  She made my Grandad a cup of tea and my sister and I two glasses of orange squash, which she brought to us on a silver tray with a doily on.  'Drink up' she urged rubbing her hands together with glee.  We did as we were told and drank it one, replacing the glass back on the tray.  She never took her eyes off us, watching our movements like a hawk.

My sister who is younger than me and easily distracted, spotted an unusual ornament on a sideboard nearby.  Her tiny hand moved slowly towards it, but before she could reach it Auny Betty bellowed 'DON'T TOUCH.'  My sisters hand shot back into her lap and she gave me a look, rolling her eyes in fear.

'Victoria' she said, your Grandfather tells me you have a lovely voice and can sing like an angel.  'Please sing for me' she demanded.  My Grandad patted her arm in encouragement and she stood up promptly.

'Fiona' she croaked. ' You can go outside and water my plants, whilst your sister sings.'  'Don't touch anything you are not supposed to.'  'The watering can is in the sink ready for you.'

So off I went as commanded by Aunty Betty.    As I was watering away, I could hear my sister singing in the background.  I didn't mind though, it was peaceful in the garden and no more commands from Betty.  

From that day onwards my sister and I call Betty Aunty Don't touch.  A strange odd lady, but she always pressed a shiny 50p in our hands, when we were leaving, so we did as we were told to get our reward.