#aberdeen storytelling

[paulinecordiner]

This is just a wee selection of the amazing photos taken by Windswept Stories Photography last week doon at the beach and Fittie. (And it was really hard to choose which ones to put up!)

I wanted some photos with Elsie (she's my wee fishwife pal) and the creel which I picked up from Fancy That? the other week.

Elsie is a right gossip and we had a yap to some of the Fittie residents and visitors - Sarah managed to capture it all so well!

[holmdelpreschool]

Importance of Daycare In Matawan and Middletown, NJ

A young child resembles water, with its personality taking the form it has been nurtured in. The parents are concerned about the growth and development of their child, no doubt, but modern living may have both parents going out to work, leaving the young kid at home with a care provider. Enrolling the young and impressionable child in a quality nursery school in Middletown and Aberdeen, NJ, can be beneficial for many reasons.

The 3-year-old kid is sure to gain friends and begin learning many skills every step of the way. The parents are sure to be duly impressed by the progress, especially the following: -

· Social Development- The children get to know and engage with peers of the same age group. Learning to interact with others within the classroom and outside has many pluses. The children not only learn to communicate with each other, but they also learn how to resolve conflicts without active participation by the teachers. Besides, children learn to work individually and in groups, thus fostering a close bond with their fellow students. Learning to share resources and work towards a common goal is yet another way to ensure development.

· Structured Learning- There is no focused attention on the child. Instead, the environment is structured to facilitate learning in a friendly space. Following a routine is essential and inculcates discipline with a sense of predictability and security. Moreover, the foundation of academic learning is laid early on. The nursery students quickly grasp the basis of the three Rs and are curious to know more. Almost all nursery schools provide a play-learn environment to make the children learn happily without being compelled to evade work.

· Development of Motor Skills- The students are encouraged to participate in fun-filled activities that have them work with their hands. Physical effort goes a long way in developing fine motor skills, especially when manipulating the blocks or wielding a paintbrush or colored pencil. Interactive tasks help them master fine skills, whereas playing outside adds to their muscle strength and bone development. Climbing and running make them learn coordination and balance, thus improving their physical well-being.

· Unleashing Creativity & Imagination- The children at the nursery school learn through activities. Being creative is a good way for young students to give credence to their creativity and use their imagination. Sure, they will not be artistic in expression, but effort can help them build self-expression skills even during this formative stage. Apart from painting and drawing, storytelling and music are encouraged to ensure full participation. Budding talents may be discovered as the skills become more refined with age.

Enrolling an even younger child in daycare in Matawan and Middletown, NJ, can be a stepping stone to formal education, which begins with kindergarten.

[musicarenagh]

Mapping the Heart: Ruari McGrath's 'If I Knew Your Name' Ruari McGrath's debut album "If I Knew Your Name" is a cartographer's dream – a meticulously mapped terrain of the human heart, with its twists and turns, crevices and canyons. This Aberdeen native's music is a slow-burning fire that crackles with the embers of 1970s singer-songwriters like Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen, but with a unique, contemporary spark. https://open.spotify.com/album/7aAh5ZtTWwEpko1kBTccr4 The album's themes of longing, introspection, and the passage of time are woven together with a thread of quiet desperation, a sense of searching for connection in a world that's increasingly disconnected. McGrath's lyrics are a masterclass in subtlety, conveying the complexity of human emotions with a simplicity that's both disarming and profund. Take, for example, the way he captures the ache of disconnection in the album's title track – it's a gentle breeze on a summer's day, rustling the leaves of your soul. [caption id="attachment_56799" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Mapping the Heart: Ruari McGrath's 'If I Knew Your Name'[/caption] But what truly sets McGrath apart is his ability to balance the personal with the universal. His songs are like tiny, perfectly crafted worlds, full of intricate details and textures that invite you to linger. And linger you will, as the album's 12 tracks unfold like a slow-burning fire, warming your bones and illuminating the dark recesses of your own heart. I'm reminded of the way a good novel can transport you to another time and place – McGrath's music does the same, but with the added intimacy of a shared secret. Produced by Ian Schouten and Nassif Younes, and recorded in the intimate setting of East Lake studio, Perth, "If I Knew Your Name" is a triumph of indie folk storytelling. It's an album that will leave you pondering the mysteries of human connection, and the ways in which we search for meaning in a chaotic world. As I listen to it, I'm struck by the thought that sometimes, the most profound truths are the ones we whisper to ourselves in the dead of night. Follow Ruari McGrath Bandcamp and Instagram.

[chorusfm]

Cold Years – A Different Life

The third studio album from the Aberdeen punk band, Cold Years, called A Different Life takes a hard look at life around the band, while still maintaining a worldly view of growing up in this era. Much like their breakthrough sophomore LP, Goodbye To Misery, this album features a great blend of a sound similar to Green Day, The Gaslight Anthem, and Social Distortion. As lead singer Ross Gordon shouts along with his bandmates on “Roll With It,” “I’m dead, ’cause I want a different life!,” it’s hard to not rally around his words of wanting change. Recorded at The Barber Shop Studios in New Jersey by producer Brett Romnes (Hot Mulligan, Boston Manor, The Movielife), the mindset of capitalizing on the best/most emphatic sections of their last record, mixed with a steady eye towards the future, leads to Cold Years continuing their momentum here on A Different Life. Kicking off with the set with blazing speed on “Over,” Cold Years highlight what makes them one of the most thrilling punk bands to come out of the U.K. in quite some time. The speedy punk rock rounded out by the other band members of Louis Craighead (bass), Finlay Urquhart (guitar), and Jimmy Taylor (drums), lends itself well to the lyrical approach. On mid-tempo rockers like “Radio,” the young band put a stronger emphasis on the disdain of the world around them as Gordon mentions in the first verse of, “All the dread that I can’t shake off / All the things that I should let go of / Rotting in my bones / I smashed the screen on my telephone / My mind is running, am I getting old? / Counting down the days, when I will I leave this place behind?” The conflict of wanting to leave your hometown for greener pastures is appealing, but sometimes it’s difficult to find the right circumstances in our life. The brooding rock of “Low” finds Cold Years painting with darker colors, much like the clouds rolling in for a storm. Early standout “Youth” rocks along with a steady beat from Jimmy Taylor behind the kit, as Gordon croons with veteran ease on a song about the years rolling by a lightning pace. The first ballad comes in the form of “Goodbye My Friend,” that accentuates the improvements in the band’s storytelling aspect of their songwriting. The band’s ability to convey a wide range of emotions through different tones in their music is an underrated trait for an artist, and they make it look effortless. The back half kicks off in a way much like the opening track with “Choke” as Gordon laments, “9 to 5 just feels wasted on you / You drink a barrel and you burn through all your friends.” It’s a lyric that resonated with me since it’s easy to lose touch with the friends around us when only one person is making the effort to make those connections. “Fuck The Weather” is a Motown-esque mid-tempo track that finds Cold Years experimenting with three-part harmonies paired with their signature punk rock delivery. It helps break up some of the similar-sounding tracks, and does its job of staying in tune with their overall message of A Different Life. The acoustic guitar-driven “Other Side” is a great example of a band staying true to their punk rock roots, while still adding new tools to their repertoire, to explore the limits and depths of their sound. The band gets back to their electric guitar approach on “Let Go” that picks up steam like a train steadily gaining momentum on the tracks. A rare piano-laced ballad of “Sick,” that gradually adds in more instruments as it develops, is another example of Cold Years taking calculated risks to further distance themselves from the punk rock “clutter” and remain one of the most interesting bands in this current wave. The album closer of “Die Tonight” plays out like a victory lap of sorts, as the band know how to exit stage right on just the right vibe. There’s plenty to enjoy on A Different Life, an album about growing up in these uncertain times and maintaining the key connections with the people that make life worth living. --- Please consider becoming a member… https://chorus.fm/reviews/cold-years-a-different-life/

[celtic-cd-releases]

https://fraserfifield.com/

https://www.facebook.com/fraserfifieldmusic

https://fraserfifield.bandcamp.com/album/one-great-circle

https://open.spotify.com/album/1DPis1gCDIgqRS8WGxCJaG

[sebastianravkin]

February Book Festivals 2024

Great way to fight book banning is to support your local book festivals. Here are some of the ones happening in February. Link to details provided at end.

NATIONAL

Alabama

SOUTHERN VOICES FESTIVAL (February 20 - 24 in Hoover, AL)

Colorado

FORT COLLINS BOOK FESTIVAL (February 01 - 19 in Fort Collins, CO)

Florida

READOUT FESTIVAL OF LESBIAN LITERATURE (February 16-18 in Gulfport, FL)

INDIE BOOK FAIR (February 17 in Orlando, FL)

AMELIA ISLAND BOOK FESTIVAL (February 22-24 in Fernandina Beach, FL)

F.R.E.S.H. BOOK FESTIVAL (February 23-24 in Daytona Beach, FL)

CHARLOTTE HARBOR BOOK FESTIVAL (February 24 in Punta Gorda, FL)

Georgia

SAVANNAH BOOK FESTIVAL (February 15-18 in Savannah, GA)

Michigan

DETROIT BOOK CITY ANNUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY BOOK EXPO (February 17 in Southfield, MI)

GREAT LAKES COMIC-CON  (February 23-24 in Warren, MI)

New York

SOCIETY OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS ANNUAL WINTER CONFERENCE (February 9 - 11 in New York City, NY)

Pennsylvania 

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR (February 3 in Philadelphia, PA)

Tennessee

ROSE GLEN LITERARY FESTIVAL (February 24 in Sevierville, TN)

Texas

BOOKWORM BOOK FESTIVAL (February 3 in Houston, TX)

PEOPLES POETRY FEST (February 22-24 in Corpus Christi, TX)

TEEN BOOKFEST BY THE BAY (February 24 in Corpus Christi, TX)

Virgina 

WILLIAMSBURG BOOK FESTIVAL (February 24 in Williamsburg, VA)

Washington

AWP CONFERENCE & BOOKFAIR (February 7-10 in Seattle, WA)

INTERNATIONAL

Australia

PERTH FESTIVAL (February 09 - March 03 in Perth, WA )

BANJO PATTERSON AUSTRALIAN POETRY FESTIVAL (February 17 - 25 in Orange, NSW)

VOICES ON THE COAST (February 22-28 in Sunshine Coast, QLD)

GENRECON (February 23-25 in South Brisbane, QLD)

Canada

CHERIE SMITH JCC JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL (February 10 - 15 in Vancouver, BC)

SHARP WORDS BOOK FAIR (February 24 in Hamilton, ON)

MASC YOUNG AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS FESTIVAL (February 27 - 28 in Ottawa, ON)

England

WOLVERHAMPTON LITERATURE FESTIVAL (February 2 - 4 in Wolverhampton, England )

Mexico

SAN MIGUEL WRITERS’ CONFERENCE (February 19-23 in San Miguel de Allende, GTO)

TODOS SANTOS WRITERS WORKSHOP (February 4 - 10 in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur)

Morocco

MARRAKECH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL (February 8 - 11 in Marrakech, Morocco)

New Zealand

SAMESAME BUT DIFFERENT LGBTQI+ WRITERS AND READERS FESTIVAL (February 14 - 18 in Auckland, NZ)

Scotland

GRANITE NOIR (February 20-24 in Aberdeen, Scotland)

Spain

BARCELONA CRIME NOVEL FESTIVAL (BCNEGRA) (February 5 - 11 in Barcelona, ES)

[notforthebin]

Finn Nichol

Finn Nichol is a recent graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design, where he was awarded student  of the year. He's participated in a number of group shows nationally, including the RDS visual art awards, in which He won the prestigious Taylor Art Prize. Nichols exhibition history also includes two solo screenings, and he's had work shown in Aberdeen, Barcelona and Tokyo.  Nichols practice is a mutli-disciplinary inquiry into storytelling which appraises the absurdity of life in the anthropocene. Ideas from surrealism and the theatre of the absurd are brandished to negotiate meaning in a time defined by mass extinctions and man made climate change. He seeks to construct an alternate set of images for understanding and engaging with such existential ideas.  The work is characterized by cross disciplinary pollination. Sound, animation, painting and sculpture form visions of gothic psychedelia in highly detailed videos while,  in mimicry of how stories reoccur across forms in folklore,  ideas migrate across songs, illustrations and live performances. Nichol currently facilitates projects in Youth Reach centers across offaly on a Youth-Arts commision and is collaborating with music generation Laois/Offaly to mount a multimedia children's opera. 

[scottishdreams]

Festival brings together region's storytelling tradition with tale-tellers from around the world | News

Aberdeen ^ | The University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute in partnership with the Grampian Association of Storytellers (GAS) will host the Aberdeen and ... http://dlvr.it/SwhLQZ

[readingforsanity]

The Secret Book of Flora Lea | Patti Callahan Henry | Published 2023 | *SPOILERS*

When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spend in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.

In the war-torn London of 1939, 14-year-old Hazel and 5-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kindle Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone - a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.

But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister's disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby's. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel's future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora's disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?

As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.

Hazel and Flora Linden are 5 and 14 years old when they are removed from their home by the Britain government, telling parents all over that it is best and safest to send their children to smaller towns in the countryside to avoid the ravages of war. WWII is happening all over Europe, and so Camellia Linden sends her children off to the countryside of Oxfordshire, where they billet with a single mother, Bridie and her 14 year old son, Harry.

They live there with the Aberdeen's for a year as the war rages on around them. They meet new friends, and begin to love their life. Flora, being so young, doesn't quite understand why they needed to leave, so Hazel had adapted a fairy tale world, just for the two of them, to escape to when they need it, a magical land called Whisperwood. But, when Flora disappears, believed to have drowned in the River Thames, Hazel understands that Flora was looking for Whisperwood in real life without her, and Hazel believes that Flora did so because Hazel had left her alone while she and Harry kissed nearby in a hollow part of an oak tree. Hazel is upset, and swears to never see the Aberdeen's again.

As an adult, Hazel has majored in literature, and works for a rare bookshop called Hogan's. She has never stopped looking for Flora, and she believes that she is still out there somewhere. Hazel has even kept in touch with the police inspector who worked Flora's disappearance all those years ago. For 20 years, Hazel has never stopped searching.

On what was supposed to be her last day of work at Hogan's, having accepted a job at a larger rare bookshop called Sotheby's, she has preparing to log new books into the ledger when she comes across a fairytale written by a young American author named Peggy Andrews, called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. This stops Hazel in her tracks, as it is her story. Without thinking or hesitation, Hazel slips the parcel inside of her bag and returns home, looking through the book for any details that her sister was alive. While much of the story is changed, Hazel begins to wonder if this Peggy Andrews could possibly be Flora, having somehow made it to America and has turned their story into a real fairy tale for all the world to see.

Hazel gets in touch with the publisher, who refuses to give out any details about Peggy so Hazel can reach out to her, but on the illustrations that came with the book is the number and address for Peggy. Hazel calls and explains why she is contacting her, going so far as to give her her return number but Peggy doesn't believe a word of this, as she was always told that it was her and her mother's story, told to her after the death of her father at Pearl Harbor in order to keep her calm.

Peggy finds solace in her friend and neighbor, Wren, who tells her that it is okay to question why this woman has reached out to her, to not trust what her mother believes to be some crazy stalker coming up with stories claiming the story of Whisperwood belongs to her. When Wren comes up with the idea that they should travel to London in order to meet Hazel, against her better judgement, Peggy agrees and the two whisk off to London.

On the day that Hazel and her boyfriend of a few years, Barnaby, are meant to leave for Paris, Kelty, her closest and dearest friend arrives with a telegram that tells her that Peggy is in London, and would like to meet with her the next day. Leaving an angry Barnaby behind, Hazel returns home to prepare for the meeting with the American author, in hopes that Peggy will show up and be Flora, having been gone for nearly 20 years to return to them.

But when they do meet up with Peggy, she isn't Flora. Her mother soon arrives, having followed Wren and Peggy to London in the hopes of protecting her daughter from the truth. But when Camellia appeals to her as a mother, Mrs. Andrews, tells the truth: her sister had been sent to London to work as a babysitter and teacher for children who had been taken away during Operation Pied Piper. Whisperwood was told to her from a child, and she returned to America with that story and told it to Mrs. Andrews and her daughter, Peggy, in order to help with the loss of her father too soon.

Peggy wishes to be of more help, but is also damaged by what her mother and aunt had done to the poor family standing before them. However, she forgives her mother, who becomes much more accepting of Wren and that Peggy has her own life to live as well.

Hazel returns to Binsey, finally accepting that she needs to speak to a reporter by the name of Dorothy Bellamy in order to help track down more information. Hazel had been avoiding Ms. Belllamy, who was trying to reach out to her in order to write an article about the River Child, Flora, as she had done on countless other stories of the children of Pied Piper. Dorothy agrees to meet Hazel in Binsey, and when she arrives, Hazel realizes that the person she was avoiding for so long is in fact her long lost sister.

Dorothy, who goes by Dot, is shocked to learn this news, but it becomes apparent that it is true, that she is in fact the lost child of Operation Pied Piper. A story she was chasing for so long was because she felt a deep connection to it, but didn't understand why. Camellia also comes to Binsey, and instantly recognizes Dot as Flora.

They ultimately learn the truth: an American nurse, by the name of Imogene Wright, saw Flora that day all alone at the river's edge, spooked her so that she fell into the river and was able to save her. Believing that she could protect her better than Hazel and Bridie could, hid her away inside of a hidden room in the church before taking her to live with her sister, who had recently lost a daughter to consumption. Imogene then became Dot's aunt, whom Dot adored, but as it turns out, she ultimately ruined a lot of lives. Imogene is arrested for the crime and will stand trial for what she had done.

Dot begins to reconcile her old life with her new one, but she won't hurt another family because of someone else's mistake. Though she does begin to have a relationship with her sister and mother. Hazel eventually returns to work at Hogan's, before eventually moving to St. Ives with Harry, who is now her husband and the father of her unborn child. They are opening up their own rare bookstore where their able to create original illustrations for books. Peggy and Wren attend the grandopening, informing everyone that they are now engaged. It is a happy ending for what had been a terrible nightmare that spanned over the last 20 years.

Discussion Questions

Hazel and Flora Lea's childhood experience was inspired by Operation Pied Piper - a real life event in British WWII history in which over three million children were evacuated from their homes to live with volunteer families throughout the English countryside. Were you familiar with this piece of history prior to reading the novel? It has been quite some time since I was in any sort of history classes, so I do not recall ever learning about this, although I'm sure that I have heard of it at least from at some point in my past. However, for the sake of the question, I enjoyed not recalling the story as this led to more of a shock value seeing it/reading it for the first time as I couldn't imagine what those poor families went through to be told that it was best to send their children away to billet with other families, some of whom may not have been good people like the woman who chose to billet Kelty.

Hazel takes great care of the rare books while employed at Hogan's Bookshop, wearing white gloves and logging items meticulously. IN passing, the owner, Edwin, has mentioned the enormous value original illustrations can add to a book. What is revealed about Hazel's character in the decision to take the copy of Whisperwood and the River of Stars along with the illustrations? What about when her initial denial of taking them is factored in? I don't think her rash decision to take the copy of Whisperwood says anything of her character. She saw something that rightfully belonged to her and her sister, and made a terrible judgement call, of which she eventually opened up and confessed was her doing just the following day. Her first denial of taking them was her hope that she could come up with some answers before returning them. But her relationship with Edwin and the store itself, showed that they still trusted her despite her horrible judgement in that moment.

When Hazel makes the phone call to Peggy Andrews seeking information about the book, she gets an unexpected answer about the origin of Whisperwood and the River of Stars. What does this broadly say about the creation of storytelling and mythmaking? Can someone ever own a story? Oh yes, someone can own a story. It's why there is a thing called plagiarism. However, Hazel never did anything with Whisperwood in order to fully claim the story, she even says that she doesn't want to claim it as her own to Peggy when it is believed she is wanting to take the story back; she only wanted to find her sister. But, the ability for the story to be twisted into something different is the magic about storytelling. While the written story can't be taken away, the vision of the story can be twisted in order to create an entire new story with similar aspects. It has happened before in novels.

Bridie Aberdeen, as a character, is presented as extremely warm and nurturing yet with some eccentricities. The town gossips about her practices and the mysterious disappearance of Henry's father. What was your first impression of Bridie? Did that change at any point during the book? My impression of Bridie never changed; she was put in a very difficult position, having to bring in two more mouths to feed during a very scary war time. While she originally wanted to bring in a male child to help out in the fields around her home, she instead chose to bring the two sisters home with her, and she loved and cared for them like they were her own children. In order to protect her own child, she let the town believe that she was a witch of sorts, though I don't think anyone truly believed this either.

Hazel and Flora's mother had several opportunities to take her daughters back to London but ultimately made the decision that they were safer and better served in Binsey with Bridie and Henry. Do you have a positive or negative opinion of their mother? Would you have made a different choice? Camellia was only doing what the government had told her was the best thing to do. Take for example Kelty and her mother. Kelty's mother sent her away to protect her, though this led to Kelty living with a terrible person and she went back to London, where eventually the threat of war made its way to them and Kelty's mother passed away. I don't feel negatively toward any of the parents who were doing what they thought was best; if I had been in this situation, especially during uncertain times like that, I would have done the same thing to protect them.

Only through an honest conversation years after the fact do Hazel and Henry discover their shared guilt over what happened to Flora. Would that silence have lasted as long if Hazel and Henry were older when Flora first disappeared? (Henry should read Harry...not sure if this was my fault or the question was written wrong). I don't think so - I think it would have lasted even if they had been older when it happened. Hazel's reaction would have been the same.

Barnaby is supportive of Hazel's desire to reach out to Peggy Andrews and even encourages to get in touch with Dorothy Bellamy, thinking a reporter may be able to help, yet he eventually struggles with Hazel's never-ending quest and its effect on their relationship. Does Barnaby's ultimatum change your view of the character? Did Hazel take her quest too far? I didn't really care for Barnaby since his first appearance in the book. While the two of them had agreed together that they weren't ready for marriage, especially after the death of his own child and the dissolution of his first marriage, he just seemed a bit too...bougie, for lack of a better word. They didn't seem to fit together; they were too different in the end. And in my opinion, Hazel did exactly what she felt was the right thing to do. She wanted answers, and she received them in the end.

How did you feel about the reveal of Dorothy Bellamy's past? Did Dorothy's Aunt Imogene have justification in her decision to remove the child the way she did? There is never any justification for kidnapping a child. Unfortunately, she did have a mental health problem because of what she witnessed during her time in the war, but this still does not excuse what she did in the end. She ruined a family in order to save her own and give her sister the child that she had lost. In her mind, her intentions were good but in reality, it was not the right thing to do.

How do the specific time periods - WWII and 1960 - affect the way that the case of Flora's disappearance was handled? Would the outcome have been different if set in present day? When Flora first disappeared, the Blitz first happened and this overtook Flora's disappearance in the media. People had other things to worry about other than a child that had gone missing; entire families were being decimated during the war; men and women losing their lives daily. Plus, the resources back then were not like they are today, regardless of it being 1940 or 1960.

[paulinecordiner]

Traditional Family Story Telling with Pauline Cordiner - THIS SUNDAY!

Banff Castle is delighted to host a special afternoon of traditional family storytelling on Sunday 1 st September 2024, featuring the popular storyteller Pauline Cordiner.

This magical event will offer two sessions at 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm, promising to delight audiences of all ages with a rich array of Scottish tales.

Pauline Cordiner shared her excitement about the event, saying, "I'm going to be telling tales of frustrating Fairies, Lucky Loons and Contermacious Coos!"

Known for bringing a wide variety of stories to life, Pauline’s storytelling repertoire includes traditional Scottish folklore, fairy tales, creation myths and her own original works. Her performances are further enriched by her passion for science, history and the environment, making them not only entertaining but also educational.

A celebrated storyteller with deep roots in the fishing and farming traditions of the North East of Scotland, Pauline is known for her engaging and interactive style. She often incorporates

traditional Scots songs and bothy ballads into her performances, using music, puppets and costumes to create a dynamic storytelling experience that encourages audience participation and leaves a lasting impression. A spokesperson for Banff Castle remarked, It's going to be a wonderful interactive experience and we positively encourage our audience to come along dressed as their favourite fairy, wizard, or witch."

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, 1st September 2024

Time: Sessions at 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm

Location: Banff Castle, Banff, Scotland

Tickets for this family-friendly event are on sale now and can be purchased here:

https://tinyurl.com/2ud98z7e or at the door.

Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the magic of traditional Scottish storytelling at Banff Castle. For media inquiries, please contact: info@banffcastle.com

About Banff Castle: Banff Castle is a historic venue located in the heart of Banff, Scotland. It hosts a variety of cultural and community events throughout the year, offering a unique setting that blends history with contemporary activities.

About Pauline Cordiner: Pauline Cordiner is a storyteller with over two decades of experience, known for her engaging and interactive performances that draw from the rich storytelling traditions

of the North East of Scotland. She is passionate about sharing tales that entertain, educate, and connect with audiences of all ages.

[bakersimmer]

🥰

It's a fitting post because it's my wedding anniversary today 😃

[mybeingthere]

Andrew Cranston (born 1969) is a Scottish painter.

Andrew Cranston once described himself as a storyteller of sorts, though without a clear story to tell. He draws on a variety of sources including personal recollections – family histories; his circuitous route to art school via an initial, unsuccessful, foray into carpentry; and his 25-year association as both student and lecturer at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen. Interwoven with passages culled from literature, anecdotes, jokes, and images from cinema these elements combine to make his idiosyncratic, intimate, and often dream-like, paintings.

[scotianostra]

December 12th 1902 saw the birth on the island of Barra of Nan MacKinnon, who became a traditional singer and storyteller on the island of Vatersay.

Born Nan Eachainn Fhionnlaigh to Mary MacPhee. and her fisherman husband at the age of four she moved with her family to the island of Vatersay where she lived the rest of her life. 

Nan spent the 1930s and 1940s bringing up the children of her late sister.She was known for her apparently inexhaustible memory for the traditional folklore and songs of Vatersay. She was also the last surviving link with the songs and folklore of the nearby island of Mingulay, whose population had fallen from 135 in 1901 to nothing at all in 1912. 

Nan MacKinnon was first "discovered" by Donald MacPherson of Barra. The University of Edinburgh's School of Scottish Studies recorded her singing 600 songs, and relating over 1000 stories, anecdotes and proverbs she knew by heart. Her singing voice was very unusual, and debate continues to this day as to whether she simply had a unique personal style, or represented the last survivor of a now lost traditional style. 

Just listening to her speak sounds poetic, the song she sings here is a Waulking song, These are Scottish folk songs, traditionally sung in the Gaelic language by women while fulling cloth. This practice involved a group of women rhythmically beating newly woven tweed or tartan, this particular song is called  Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda

Alasdair Mhic o ho Cholla Ghasda As do laimh-s' gun o ho Earbainn tapaidh trom eile Chall eile bho chall a ho ro Chall eile bho chall a ho ro Chall eile huraibh i chall a ho ro 'S haoi o ho trom eile As do laimh-s' gun o ho Earbainn tapaidh o ho Mharbhadh Tighearna o ho Ach-nam-Breac leat trom eile 'S ged 's beag mi fhein o ho Bhuail mi ploc air o ho Chuala mi'n de o ho Sgeul nach b'ait leam trom eile Chuala mi'n de o ho Sgeul nach b'ait leam o ho Glaschu a bhith o ho Dol 'na lasair trom eile Glaschu a bhith o ho Dol 'na lasair o ho 'S Obair-Dheathain o ho 'N deidh a chreachadh trom eile

Translation

Alasdair, Son of Gallant Coll Alasdair, son of exile Cholla In your hand I would entrust deeds The Lord of Ach-nam-breac would be killed by you He would be buried at the edge of the loch And although I would get a bow, I heard yesterday a sad story That Glasgow was going down And Aberdeen is being pillaged

[shemakesmusic-uk]

Heff VanSaint releases nostalgic synth bop ‘Early 2010s’

East London based alternative pop artist, Heff VanSaint releases her second track 'Early 2010s'. The former one half of synth-pop duo Miracles has gone back to her roots with a song that fuses old-school storytelling, with a contemporary lo-fi indie sound.

'Early 2010s' is a tale of youthful excess set during the halcyon days of the early part of the last decade. It is a love letter to the people and desires that drove an all consuming time of discovery and euphoria. It is somewhat bruised and haunting in terms of vocal delivery and there is a certain melancholy that carries the whole song. There is a yearning feel to the synth sound that forms the main structure of the song, which is married with a catchy chorus that celebrates the pulsating feeling of a crowded nightclub dance floor.

Coming from Aberdeen where musical outlets were hard to come by, VanSaint has received a musical education in the creative spaces in and around East London. Her sound is ripe for the times and reminiscent of artists including Hyyts, La Roux and King Princess.

[siarven]

Song Title URL Game

I was tagged by @pheita​ and @kittensartswriting​ (some time ago) so I will finally do this now XD I really like this tag game, I think I’ve done it 2 times so far? :D So thanks for tagging me <3

... I was incredibly tempted to just do all of them with The Mechanisms songs but they don’t have one for “V” so you get other music too, as a treat

S - See (AURI) AURI

I - It’s Alright (Dance and Cry) Mother Mother

A - Aberdeen (I’ll Get By) Avi Kaplan

R - Reclaim (For Now I Am Winter), Ólafur Arnalds, ft. Arnór Dan

V - Venus (Atlas: Space), Sleeping At Last

E - Elysian Fields (Ulysses Dies At Dawn), The Mechanisms

N - Nature Boy (All My Demons Greeting Me As Friend), AURORA

(I really wanted to include The Amazing Devil but couldn’t ;w; So here’s a link, they’re great)

(If you don’t know the Mechs, check them out, they’re a “storytelling musical cabaret” neo-folk concept band singing concept albums and I will forever be mad that I found them after they disbanded; they’re basically a group of immortal steampunk space pirates and their albums are reinterpreted versions of public domain stories (with really cool genres mixed in, the arthurian legend is a space western, for example) + songs about their character backstories, it’s incredible.)

I tag @lynnafred @ettawritesnstudies @raiswanson @tundra-tiger @romenna @nanaschreibt @corishadowfang @fatal-blow if you want to :)