Health food & brain-dribble

I admit it, I’m knackered. Any nutritionists reading this will be glad to know I’ve been boosting my energy levels whilst on the road with only the healthiest of snacks…

Three talks were on the schedule for Friday. The first two took place at Chantry High School in Ipswich, where I met another librarian who’s a whirlwind of energy, enthusiasm & expertise, Sandra Johnson. Sandra, assisted by her colleague Louise, had prepared brilliantly and everything was set up waiting for my arrival. I spoke in the library, which is stuffed full of tempting stock (later Sandra gave me a tour of the manga section, as I know nothing about manga, but I love Japanese animation films & am keen to learn…).

At Chantry I spoke to two groups – the first a mix of Year 8s and 10s, the second a group of Year 9s, and they were both brilliant audiences.

Me with some of the wonderful Year 8s

Then, after lunch with Sandra, she kindly drove us (that’s me & my trusty supporter Liz Scott) to St Albans RC High School where I was due to be interviewed down the phone line by Radio Suffolk. Finding a quiet spot to take the call was tricky during the lunch hour, but School Manager Alison Turner kindly gave up her office for quarter of an hour for the purpose. Apart from the fact that, in answer to the first question, my command of grammar failed me utterly (Interviewer: “How’s it going?” Me: “It’s going lovely!”) I did manage (I think) to hold a sensible conversation about VIII. But I must admit, by this stage in the week, my brain felt as if it was dribbling out of my ears.

Then it was into the hall to talk to around 170 students (some visiting from another high school) – my final gig of the week.

It was another fab audience – thanks everyone! And thanks, too, to librarian Amanda Park, who’d organised everything we needed, & who gave us such a warm welcome. Big thanks also to Ipswich CBG’s superstar Jayne Gould, who kindly came along to lend her support.

The talk went really well – it was a hall full of focussed & enthusiastic students, yay! By the end my last drop of energy was spent & I really needed to be scraped off the floor, dumped in a wheelbarrow & wheeled home. Given that South West trains curiously don’t offer that service, however, there was nothing for it but to go to the station to start the journey back home to Bristol.

Four hours later, the sight of my home front door was a lovely one…

Now there’ll be a brief break in this diary, as I’m home for the weekend. I think I could do with lying on a sofa for the duration, but I have a feeling my kids won’t let me…

And then it’ll be back on the road again on Monday morning for Week 2 of the tour! Come back & see what happens & whether the knees, the voice & the plimsolls hold out…