Tag Archives: story

The Rise of Digital Babysitters Is Helping Stretched Parents Cope With Lockdown

Posted on by

little big moments Stretched UK parents are increasingly turning to family members and carers as ‘digital babysitters’ as they struggle to cope with jugging workloads and childcare during lockdown.

A survey from Ladybird children’s books has found that 81.6% UK parents with nursery age children said they had, or were looking in to, arranging a few hours of digital babysitting a week with a family member such as a grandparent, uncle or aunt, or a non-family carer to help them out with the childcare, giving parents valuable time to deal with their increasing workload, or even have uninterrupted time just to mop the kitchen floor or make the beds.

The activity most parents (52%) said their children would benefit from most was online storytelling, with arts and crafts second (26%), and spelling practice third (10%).  With 61% parents admitting they are struggling to balance work life with homeschooling their youngsters, enlisting the help of family members to help takes some of the burden off each week whilst helping children with crucial skills in their developement.

Ladybird commissioned the survey to discover how they could best help parents in these difficult times.  

This week they launch an initiative, Little Big Moments, to help connect children with those family members who they can’t see right now: whether that’s an isolated grandparent, a cousin, aunt, uncle, a parent who lives in a different home or a key worker family member.  Every day, Ladybird is sending a pair of matching books to a separated duo so they can still settle down for storytime together, over the phone or on a video call.

All people need to do is head to www.ladybird.co.uk/littlebigmoments and enter their child’s name to be in with a chance of winning a story, and thereby creating a virtual hug with a loved one, even when apart.

 

Bridport Story Slam III by Penny Deacon

Posted on by

Here’s the scene: an old pub/coffee house that winds backwards and upwards (beware the stairs!) with a wood burning stove and wooden floors and tables (presently pushed to the side) and rows of chairs with settles against the available wall space, all full of people laughing and talking until one of them walks up to the microphone squeezed into the front window and begins to read.

judgeandwinnersStory Slam

Judging a short story competition doesn’t take a fraction of the nerve it takes to stand up in front of an audience, many of whom know you, and read your story aloud – especially when three judges are sitting under your nose and making notes and trying to look inscrutable. I had the fun job, I decided, watching the tremor in more than one entrant’s hands.

When I was approached to help with the judging of the third Bridport Story Slam I had to ask, ‘What is a Story Slam?’. It’s an exercise in insanity where people agree to stand up and read our their work. Time allowed: five minutes only. After that, the alarm (kitchen timer in this case) goes off and you have to stop mid-sentence. Our entrants were extraordinarily well organised. To one or two murmurs of disappointment, (Shame!) no one was cut off, although one woman ended her story to the sound of the buzzer on the last word. Cue rueful laughter.

richardandlauraStory Slam

The range of stories was wide: comedy, anecdote, a sweet tale of an old lady at Christmas, a poignant glimpse into a childhood in care, an uproarious Irish childhood, local traditions brought to life, dread in the peaceful  suburbs. I was glad there were three of us judging. Kate Kelly (http://scribblingseaserpent.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bridport-story-slam-iii.html) and Laura James (http://www.lauraejames.co.uk/?p=2621) and I had much to discuss after we had listened to all 12 entrants.

Choosing the top three did, eventually, prove possible, although there was some lively discussion about the order. In the end we all agreed that Wendy Breckon’s funny and lively story, A French Tale, was our winner. This story of a girl (‘Seven, not quite eight’) in rural Ireland trying to find out what her Grandma’s French phrase (Voulez vous couchez avec moi?) meant  was more than a comic tale of naïve misunderstanding. What made it a winner was the effortless evocation of place and character. The Grandfa, ‘skinning a rabbit for supper’, who came in ‘smelling of cow  manure and wet grass’ and the Grandma who clearly had had a lively youth were evoked through the child’s innocent perception and Wendy showed us the relationships between all three characters without once having to tell us what was happening. The voice in this story was remarkable, and well-sustained. The performance of the author – because, in a Slam, the telling carries a lot of the weight of the tale – was outstanding.

Story Slam

Comedy tends to be squeezed out when ‘literature’ is being discussed. It was therefore a delight to be able to award second prize to Richard Green’s  outrageous and uproarious story (Health and Safety, I Presume). His performance as the old-fashioned army ‘buffer’ who has murdered his wife and left her body with a tidy neighbour who promptly returned the corpse to its proper place (the killer’s wheelie bin, where else?). Was a tour de force. Somehow it was just so right to realise that we had Colonel Mustard (with the candlestick) telling us his side of the story. We asked ourselves, ‘Is he like that in real life?’ only to meet Richard later and realise how wrong we were.

Just squeezed into third place was Gill Smith’s Hide & Seek. This story had a deceptively ordinary suburban setting where ‘Bill was at the bridge club’ and the narrator watched the neighbour’s children play outside or run to the Wendy house. The use of pacing and foreshadowing, however, built the atmosphere of suspense until we knew something terrible was about to happen but didn’t know what. That the final revelation let us down a little, was what made this story slip into third place but the author is to be congratulated on her ability to create and sustain mounting tension.

It was a great evening and I felt privileged to have been invited to share in the judging.

I have to finish with thanks to Frances Colville who organised the event (she’s been asked to do another next spring, go to www.Dorsetwritersnetwork.co.uk in the new year for details), especially since she has generously donated all the profits from a really excellent evening to Words for the Wounded a charity which raises funds through writing to support wounded service personnel. Next year’s competitions open on November 11th, so check out the website (www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk) for details.

 

 

The Life And Times of Nelson Mandela

Posted on by

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

The people at Ad-Rank were greatly saddened by the passing of Nelson Mandela. His struggle is a true inspiration to us all, having spent 27 years in prison, Mandela emerged from prison as a leader of men who would inevitably take down the apartheid regime and become the first black president of South Africa.

Mandela’s story is a fascinating one that everyone can learn from. Despite terrible treatment, Mandela never treated racism with racism. His dedication to equality, democracy and education will no doubt cement him as one of, if not the most important figures in modern history.

His struggle has undoubtedly made the world a better place, and for this we are forever indebted. Being such an important historic character, we thought it would be a great opportunity to create an infographic to highlight his amazing life story.

mandela-infographic

Scotland’s Islands autumn & winter 2011 events

Posted on by

Celebrate island culture and heritage this autumn and winter with an action-packed line-up of exciting events as part of the Year of Scotland’s Islands festivities.

Royal National Mod

Lewis

14-22 October 2011

Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival returns to the Outer Hebrides in 2011, providing opportunities for people of all ages to celebrate Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, including Gaelic music and song, dance, instrumental, drama and literature.

Although the focus of the Royal National Mod is on competition, the event also offers a wide and comprehensive programme of non-competitive events which include performances from some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians and Gaelic singers.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/64/royal-national-mod

Scottish International Storytelling Festival (Summary of Island-Based Events)

21-30 October 2011

An ideal place to discover Scotland’s treasure-trove of stories in a lively celebration of storytelling performance exploring the links between Scotland’s rich storytelling heritage and other cultures. These island-based events take place on Bute, Fair Isle, Iona, Cumbrae, Mull, Skye, Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Herbrides.

This year the Festival is all about exploring and pursuing the island experience through story, myth, music, song and dance. Greek and Roman myths mix with sagas of the Celts in this ten day festival. Enjoy the traditions of Scotland’s Islands alongside Mediterranean tale spinners and musicians from Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, Greece and Cyprus.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/502/scottish-international-storytelling-festival-(summary-of-island-based-events)

Comedian Ed Byrne

Shetland mainland (24 October 2011 )

Orkney mainland (25 October)

As an observational stand up Ed Byrne, has played in major comedy venues across the UK and Ireland, including the Vaudeville, Riverside, and New Ambassadors theatres in London, and the Gaiety, Olympia, Ambassador, and Vicar St. theatres in Dublin. His UK tours and regular TV appearances are always hugely popular and well received by the critics.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/447/comedian-ed-byrne

Night Time Tour of the Spectacular

Mount Stuart

Bute

27 October 2011

Mount Stuart is claimed to be Britain’s most astounding Victorian gothic mansion. An opportunity to experience the house at its most peaceful.

By candlelight and torchlight, your guide will lead you through the house on a specially devised route, taking in many private areas of the house.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/507/night-time-tour-of-the-spectacular-mount-stuart

Shetland Food Festival

Shetland Mainland

5-13 November 2011

A celebration of mouth-watering Shetland produce, including some more unusual specialities such as seawater oatcakes, Shetland Black potatoes and more-ish fudge!

Food lovers’ events include cookery demonstrations, producers’ markets and Christmas craft fair. There’s also a ‘Ready, Steady, Shetland’ cook-off, where Shetlanders present their take on the popular TV programme, Ready, Steady, Cook.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/440/shetland-food-festival

Harris Tweed – Past, Present and Future (celebrating the centenary of the Orb 1911-2011)

Lewis

18 November 2011

This one-day event marks the centenary of the orb by reviewing the history of this vitally important and distinctive island industry with a variety of engaging talks, poetry, film, story-telling and discussion sessions.

Arranged by the Island Book Trust in conjunction with the Harris Tweed Authority, the event will bring together people from different backgrounds to celebrate the island’s successes and achievements and reflecting on the current and future challenges it faces.

The Ba

Orkney mainland

25 December 2011

Traditional street rugby, played by the Uppies and Doonies with a much prized locally made leather Ba’ (ball).

The Ba’ is thrown up outside St. Magnus Cathedral and the game ranges through the town. This game is played annually on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Spectators are welcome but be careful!

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/491/the-ba

Up Helly Aa

Shetland mainland

31 January 2012

Shetland’s biggest fire festival, Up Helly Aa, celebrates Shetland’s history with a series of re-enactments, culminating in a torch lit procession and Viking Galley burning.

Considering it’s held in mid-winter on the same latitude as southern Greenland, Up Helly Aa has never been cancelled

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/434/up-helly-aa

Papay Gyro Nights 2012 Art Festival

Pap Westray, Orkney

6-13 February 2012

Papay Gyro Nights is an international film and video art, contemporary art, music and architecture festival based on folklore and tradition of Orkney. The Festival takes place in unique and remote settings on the island of Papa Westray. The idea of the festival has originated from the ancient Papay tradition of the Night of The Gyros. The Festival is also a reflection the island’s landscape and heritage as well as interpretation of tradition and ritual.

http://www.scotlandsislands.com/festivals-events/info/274/papay-gyro-nights-2012-art-festival

For more information on the Scotland’s Islands initiative visit: www.scotlandsislands.com