Knaresborough

30 January 2013 11:30AM

Well since my last blog I feel I have lived a lifetime. Sometimes we manage to squeeze so much into our schedules it’s rather quite amazing. They do say if you want something doing ask a busy person and whilst I suppose the secret is delegation, I do seem to take on more and more. Nevertheless I would rather be busy than bored and I am grateful that I have such an interesting and exciting life.

 

So, at the beginning of the week I escaped to the movies and saw Les Miserables which was awesome, the result being I now want to see the theatrical production again. Best musical ever! And then I ended the week with the celebration party for Rainbow Childcare – 25 years in business. 
A great success story.

Some of my plans were scuppered on Saturday morning as the snow came down with a vengeance once again leaving me temporarily snowed in. All be it for half a day, until I managed to dig my car out and, until it started to melt leaving me to cancel several appointments. What I don’t understand is why there are 5 men living in my cul-de-sac and plenty of young women, and there were only two of us who made an effort to clear the snow. Lazy….and that’s a fact. They were happy to get their cars out when someone else had done all the hard work!

Thankfully the snow disappeared as quickly as it came and now half way through another week my diary just keeps getting fuller. I have just managed to make time for the fitting of a ‘bridesmaid dress.’ Woah! Never expected that at my age! Then why not? Ideas have changed and anything goes these days. Of course I’m not allowed to disclose too much, big secrets and all, but the dress is fab, the colour is terrific and as the wedding is late summer it looks as though I have my dress for the next Chavos Ball.

So what next? I am working with some musicians later this week as we continue with our plans for a children’s stage production, then a quick dash down the M1 and across country to Stoke on Trent. Mixing business and pleasure, are we supposed to do that?

Meanwhile, another busy weekend planned, followed by the first in the Yorkshire Life Bucket List….A day in the ancient market town of Knaresborough, beginning with a visit to St John’s Primary School.

Looking forward to it.

The following 5 destinations on the Bucket list are;-

Knaresborough, North Yorkshire

Clifton Park, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Burnsall, North Yorkshire

Yeadon Tarn, Leeds

Baildon, West Yorkshire

Treasurer’s House York, North Yorkshire.

Chat soon

Anna

Catch up!

20 January 2013 10:00PM

 

 

Hi everyone can’t believe this is the third week in January already and this is just a quick catch up before I take Butler and Gracie for their last walk of the day, then off to bed.

Monday morning starts with a visit to the Lord Mayor’s parlour for morning coffee and a chat. Sounds interesting, don’t you think? Well we have lots to discuss so I will keep you posted but, one thing for sure I will be giving the Lady Mayor a ‘Save the date’ card for the next Chavos Ball. Yes all booked and although I can’t wait, I don’t want to wish the time away. Heaps of stuff to do before then….

Meanwhile I hope you are all still feeling positive and believing that 2013 is going to be a special and productive year. I suppose it’s difficult for some people, especially when we listen to the news and it all seems to be doom and gloom. I always find it hard to understand why our media platforms spend so much time focussing on the negative stuff, when there are actually lots of great and positive things happening in the world. One thing hopefully is that as we hear about some of the not so pleasant things around us, and the needs of others particularly in our locality, it is that which inspires us into action.

So if you are bewildered and don’t have much vision at the moment, help someone else with theirs until you own unfolds. Everyone has gifts and talents and at the right time they will be realized. Always remember that the vision has an appointed time and, never be envious of others around you. Your time will come…

I’m still waiting and believing for so much but I won’t give in and I will always encourage those around me.

O.K. On another subject, last week I went to the movies and took my parents to see the Life of Pi. As I had already seen the movie but wanted to treat them, especially Dad who is a great animal lover, I decided that I would put on my 3D glasses and sleep. I was s-o-o-o- tired, but naturally didn’t tell them. Well it was then that I realized what a great movie it was as I sat mesmerised through the whole film for the second time. I loved the opening scene, the music was fabulous and quite frankly I thought the whole film was spiritually thought provoking and captivating. Not normally a great movie attendee myself, I expected to sit through the 30 minutes of trailers thinking I was going to be annoyed and, wishing they would just get on with the film. Surprisingly, I just kept uttering the words to Dad, ‘I want to see that one, need to see that one’. And more! So this week the top of the list is Les Miserables, though I can’t imagine how I will respond to it, being the great lover of theatre that I am, and having seen it three times in the West End – the greatest musical of all time.

Well! This weekend I have been ‘snowedin,’ conveniently so I think. Of Couse I could have gritted and ploughed my way out if I had wanted to but, it felt like a great excuse to stay indoors, relax and write. Whoop whoop! So happy as I have felt refreshed, revitalised and YES done lots of writing. So hereby follows a word of encouragement for all you ‘want to be published’ authors out there.

It’s not easy and never will be.

It demands so much time and commitment. Not to mention patience with oneself and others. You know, all those people who don’t believe in you. And there are plenty of those!

So let’s remember that dreams come a size too big so that we can grow into them and I’m growing into mine.

Kids I hope I can inspire you when I visit your school and the first school this year is, St. John’s Primary School, Knaresborough so look forward to seeing you. Praying there will be no snow of course. And by the way Knaresborough is the first of the 12 places to visit on my Yorkshire Life ‘Bucket list.’ Check out my diary on www.chavos.org for more details.

Happy Chavosing and have a good week.

Anna

A celebratory month

07 January 2013 11:15AM

S-o-o-o, made the 2013 bucket list and it sure is exciting. So much to do! Places to go, people to see, books to write and, more importantly, children to rescue.

You know, something tells me this is just the beginning and there is a lot yet to be revealed for 2013. Do you ever feel that this is the year when you will get your breakthrough? Uhm!

OK, let’s start with January. What a celebratory month that should turn out to be.

Chavos 2 – The Quest was released on 31^st December and I have 2 more books nearing completion so that warrants a party of some sorts, don’t you think? Secondly, I can boast twenty five successful years in business and the opening of a new and fabulous unit at Rainbow Child Care. Whoop! Whoop! Now that’s something to be proud of and, if you are asking does that make me feel old, the answer is definitely not!
I think I am getting younger…re-cycled teenager. Ha! Ha!
A positive state of mind, and a little faith.  A lot of faith actually!

One of the things on my bucket list is to visit the twelve destinations on the 2013 Yorkshire Life calendar, which happened to be a freebie in the December edition of the Yorkshire Life Magazine. Why? No reason, I just thought it sounded fun. I need to relax more and take time out from this crazy life and where better that to enjoy some great Yorkshire days out. I’m not sure about some of the locations on the calendar but, my thinking is to do a blog about each one as I visit it and feedback to Yorkshire Life.

So that’s my leisure time mapped out. Well some of it at least. Meanwhile, school visits book fairs, speaking engagements, a couple of trips to Mexico, a couple of weddings and more; it sounds like another busy year.

So let’s start the year off with a few words that I put in my newly released book Chavos 2, The Quest. And if you are thinking of reading it, you really need to read Chavos, The Kids of Distrito Federal first.

Happy reading and once again, Happy New Year.

Anna

I recently read a book by a very famous author of adult literature.

He said, ‘some books make us dream, others bring us face to face with reality, but what matters most to an author, is the honesty with which a book is written.’

This is the second book in the Chavos series where I believe as the author, my great love of Mexico, its culture and its people shines through.

Indeed as we say in Spanish;- ‘Conocerlo es amarlo.’ (Knowing it, is loving it.)

Mexico is a country with so much beauty and wonder to offer both its people and visitors alike. But also like many other countries in the world, a country with problems.

I believe through Dolita’s life – the main character in the Chavos novels – one will dare to dream as she does. I believe that we were all born for a purpose and have a dream or vision hidden in our hearts from childhood.

It takes courage to follow a dream and whatever your dream maybe, don’t give in when you realise it. My favourite saying is, ‘when the going gets tough, you get tougher. Let Dolita be an inspiration to you as she shows great courage in her quest to find her family – whilst supporting her friends and those around her – as she faces new challenges for survival.

It is important, even as young readers that we face up to the reality in the world today and perhaps through doing so, strive to make the world a better place, as each of us plays our part.

I am writing my stories as honestly as I can, reflecting life as I have seen it;- the great contrast between rich and poor and those who fall into the trap of drugs, alcoholism and poverty.

The books are fiction based on fact and with a mixture of real life experience and my own imagination I seek to educate and entertain the reader, whilst not offending anyone.

 Anna

2013

02 January 2013 01:00PM

 

 

So here we are again facing the challenges of another year and wondering what happened, how did we get here so fast!

What I do know is that if we allow it life will have passed us by and all those good intentions, dreams and visions may never have become reality. Why? Perhaps because we didn’t get off our butt and do something about it. Or maybe we were too full of excuses. Too old, too busy, can’t do it and more!

Or did we allow the assaults on our life over those past years to hinder us? Is it ever too late?  I think not… So if you are reading this blog and you are wondering. What if? I challenge you. Don’t look back with regrets. Your yesterdays, good or bad were a learning curve and made you what you are today. You decide how to use that knowledge and wisdom. Turn that imagination into creation. Get on with it and make 2013 count.

So here’s to 2013 and hoping that we can all be kind to one another and accomplish those God given dreams. Let’s do more than we could have ever imagined because, dreams are made too big for us so that we can grow into them you know.

 

 

 Happy New Year.

 

God Bless and may all your dreams come true in 2013.