Chavosing in Wharfdale

08 March 2013 10:00AM

Well! That’s the second school visited this week that didn’t look anything like a school. What an awesome building!

It was actually built in 1601 and adjacent to the quaint and historic church of St Wilfrids. The school has always been a school, and though extended in parts still has the original charm and character. I was fascinated with the tiny door which leads into what is now the school library, but apparently was once the home of the headmaster in the days of the borders. Click on the school website and you can see some photos, though I did take a few of my own and will put them in my picture blog later. With only about 36 children on the school register this has to be a school I will never forget. http://www.burnsall.ik.org/

I actually felt very privileged to leave my first two novels in this ancient and so very tiny library next to those of JK Rowling, Michael Morpurgo, Jaqueline Wilson and other great authors. The teacher said she would put my photo on the library wall with the best of them. The caption reading – ‘Look out for more books by these authors.’ Now there’s a challenge to keep writing, is it not?

The children had a non-uniform day in celebration of World Book Day this week and although not dressed as book characters they had chosen the theme of countries. They all looked great and I have to say the teachers excelled in their choice of outfits too. I was made very welcome but had to decline a school dinner and leave as they all settled down to eat. I wanted to explore this amazing little village whilst I had free time but I did think if I had known in advance they were going to go non-uniform, maybe I would have gone Mexican style. Sombrero and all. Now there’s a thought!

The next school visit, Grassington Primary and then homeward bound.

Anna

What if?

18 February 2013 01:30PM

 

With a busy week already planned I woke up this morning with other things forefront in my mind. Time to start this, get on with that and more! You’ve talked about it long enough girl. Now is the appointed time. Drrr…. And what do I hear. What if?

The battle for all things new is in the mind. But then I have built my life on what if’s this past few years. The most challenging of all has to be, what if I had never gone to Mexico? A life changing trip that turned out to be and something tells me I’m heading off to places that I never imagined. Whoop! Whoop!

So, this morning with a deep breath and a prayer, I’m going to make those few phone calls and start the ball rolling. Have you ever been in business and thought if I don’t get this one right I’m in trouble? Have you ever walked down a road and prayed for God’s protection because you were seriously out of your comfort zone? Have you ever been in the presence of people so much more intelligent and thought this is out of my league, and then remembered that God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Not that I’m saying I’m altogether foolish, but you get my drift.

Last week turned out to be a great week visiting Knaresborough St John’s Primary School to talk about Chavos, and then a lovely Mother’s Union group in Batley.  Steering my talk appropriately to suit the age of the clients – and you couldn’t have had such opposites – all seemed fascinated by the stories that I had to tell. The week ended working on my forthcoming children’s stage production and look forward to viewing some theatres at the appropriate time.

Staying local this week but laying the foundations for an exciting move forward for both Rainbow Childcare Yorkshire Ltd and the Chavos Brand, I face such a busy but challenging week. Next week I’m heading south and can’t wait to see everyone again at Lupita UK. Not to mention visiting more London schools and attending the launch of The Inquisitor’s Diary by Jeffrey Lewis at Belgravia Books in London after I have sampled some more of the best Mexican tacos in London. @chefmarcocuervo – love you.

So onward bound with excitement in my spirit. Watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week.

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.

14 Days in my Life (picture blog)

Sneak Peak – Released Dec 31st 🙂

Quick coffee and cake between Christmas shopping trips

My new novels arrive, well half of them.

Still making my bucket list for 2013.

I’ve been good Santa!

Grimethorpe Brass Band Live = World class

Gospel Concert – Praise the Lord!

Butler and Gracie – Mischief Makers

Awwhh! Nativity time again.

Chef Marco you’re the best: Lupita East

Every Woman loves to be serenaded!

Mexican canapes at Lupita East. Love them!

Can I have one of these for Christmas please??

A brisk walk in Hyde park.

Serpientes

08 May 2012 12:00AM

 

‘¡Serpientes! #@& serpientes. I hate ‘em.’
‘Don’t go on, amigo. Snakes indeed. You mean you saw a snake comprador. Humm, one snake. That’s to be expected here. We’re in rural Spain on top of a mountain, in the middle of nowhere.’
‘Cállate,’ snapped Nick. ‘There was lots of ‘em. Lots of ‘em,’ he repeated alarmingly. ‘They scared the pants off me.’………… Chapter 16 of Chavos 2 – The search for Helga.

A big tough guy like Nick frightened of snakes, never! Now as for me, that’s different. I let out a real shriek yesterday and it was not a shriek of delight, when I was enjoying the sunshine in rural Spain and what crossed my path near enough to touch? Yes you got it in one…a snake. It’s now 24 hours later and I’m still shivering at the thought of it, and what’s worse is that it went into the undergrowth not too far away from my bedroom window. There are bug screens on the windows here, but all I kept thinking of was, what if? Could a snake manoeuvre itself under, around, or above a bug screen? Consequently with that awful image and my mind playing games, I dreamt most of the night about flipping snakes. Dare I tell my mother that she was in the dream and she was holding one, far bigger than the one I had actually seen?  So what’s all that about? She seemed to be quite amused by the whole event and was swinging it around whilst I kept screaming at her to hold it by the neck so it couldn’t keep opening its jaw, hissing and spitting. Do snakes spit? Well this one did in my dream and it was big and fat and ugly and ……Oh my gosh. I hope todays encounters are more pleasant. But do you know what? I then started the day off thinking about the power of the mind and how what we see, and allow to penetrate our minds can affect us s-o-o-o- much. Consequently now instead of doing what I’m meant to be doing I’m researching the effects of TV programming and marketing and those subliminal messages which we download into our subconscious mind daily and don’t even have a clue what’s gone in there.

So how on earth did I get onto that from one grass snake? And I suppose in reality it was more frightened of me than me it!

Have a nice day.

Anna

Food, glorious food!

29 April 2012 12:00AM

 

On Friday I was invited to join friends for dinner but was not prepared for what awaited me! It was a lovely evening with great company but I don’t think any of us knew what to expect when we were told it would be an, -‘all you can eat buffet.’ 
Every type of food imaginable was available from pizza, fish & chips, Chinese dishes, Italian, hot dogs and burgers, a traditional British Carvery Roast, to mention but a few. I chose wisely starting with the salad bar and I left space for one of the delicious puds – in my case sponge & custard – but I did wonder when I looked around at the combination of mixes on some of the heaped up plates leaving the buffet queue what it might be doing to ones’ stomach. Surely something must be working overtime! S-o-o-o, I decided to do a little research when I returned to the house. Here goes;-
Digestive enzymes are secreted in very specific amounts and at very specific times. Different food types require different digestive secretions. Carbohydrate foods require carbohydrate-splitting enzymes, whereas protein foods require protein splitting enzymes. Apparently carbohydrate foods and acid foods should not be eaten at the same meal. 
In cases where there is hyperacidity of the stomach there is great difficulty digesting starches. Fermentation and poisoning of the body occurs along with much discomfort. This is because the digestion of carbohydrates (starches and sugars) and of protein is so different, that when they are mixed in the stomach they interfere with the digestion of each other. An acid process (gastric digestion) and an alkaline process (salivary digestion) cannot be carried on at the same time in an ideal way in the stomach. Before long, they cannot proceed at all as the rising acidity of the stomach soon completely stops carbohydrate digestion. The highest efficiency in digestion demands that we eat in such a way as to offer the least hindrance to the work of digestion.

Interesting….S-o-o-o,
We should not eat a concentrated protein and a concentrated carbohydrate at the same meal. This means do not eat nuts, meat, eggs, cheese, or other protein foods at the same meal with bread, cereals, potatoes, sweet fruits and cakes. Sugar greatly inhibits the secretion of gastric juice and delays digestion if consumed in large quantities and ultimately depresses stomach activity.
Do not eat two concentrated proteins at the same meal. Avoid nuts and meat, or eggs and meat, cheese and nuts, cheese and eggs, meat and milk, or eggs and milk or nuts at milk at the same meal. Milk, if taken at all, is best taken alone. The reason for avoiding eating these combinations is because each protein requires a specific character and strength of digestive juice to be secreted. Eggs require different timing in stomach secretions than do either meat or milk.
Do not eat fats with proteins. This means do not use cream, butter, oil etc, with meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, etc. Fat depresses the action of the gastric glands by delaying the development of appetite juices and inhibiting the pouring out of the proper gastric juices for meats, nuts, eggs or other protein. Fats may lower the entire gastric tone more than fifty per cent.
Fruit is digested far more quickly than other foodstuffs and should actually be eaten before a meal and not after a meal, as one usually does and so the story goes on…… Where did I get all this weird and wonderful information? Well check out…internethealthlibrary.com.

Quite frankly I’m sure that all things are acceptable in moderation but, I was concerned at the end of the evening to see the mountain of food left and as the night drew to a close and the restaurant emptied I knew that Health & safety regulations would mean that all that food would be thrown away AND there are children starving in the world.

I wonder….. I thought…. Ergh! What can I say? Thanks for a lovely evening to my special friend who paid for us all to go to the, -‘all you can eat buffet.’

Love to friends everywhere and spare a thought for those hungry children. You can always send a donation to RCC International!

Anna

Yorkshire25 Apr…

Yorkshire

25 April 2012 12:00AM

After an eventful week in London, having returned to Yorkshire, it has done nothing but rain. We need the rain I am told, and as it is expected to rain relentlessly for the next few days Butler and Gracie are not going to be happy.  It seems that my little dogs don’t like the rain. Personally I don’t mind wearing a rain mac and floppy hat, I’m quite happy to walk in the rain. Singing in the rain is most definitely out!

Speaking of rain….whilst in London I tried desperately to get theatre tickets for the new musical Matilda, but no such luck. Funnily enough they tried to offer me ‘Singing in the Rain’ as compensation and although I hear it is a great musical, my friend didn’t fancy it so we ended up in the audience of Sweeney Todd. I wasn’t sure whether  I would stomach the production because the story of the demon barber in Fleet Street didn’t appeal to me but, looking beyond the plot I was able to appreciate the amazing talent of  Michael Ball who played Sweeney  and the comical and endearing  Imelda Staunton  who played Mrs Lovett. This was undoubtedly theatre at its best and a most excellent production. The night was pleasantly wrapped up with a 10 minute ride on a rickshaw to a local Turkish restaurant for a night cap, which was a glass of champagne on the house because my friend knew the owners. How cool was that?

The week actually turned out to be quite special, flitting between the London Book Fair, local schools and of course it began at Lupita on Sunday night eating the most delicious tacos. Although I managed to try another Mexican restaurant later in the week I soon back-tracked to Lupita where there is nothing to compare with the flavours and mix of spices served with those very earthy Mexico City Tacos. I am thrilled to be working on a very exciting project with the Lupita management team, which I’ll blog the details of when we are all ready to launch. It will undoubtedly raise considerable amounts of money for our street work in Mexico City. 

It was good to meet with some old friends – not literally old – and make new business contacts and acquaintances; some of which who will certainly become friends, of that I’m sure. 

S-o-o-o, now in the Yorkshire office for about ten days – the London highlights just a memory – there is lots of work to do, then off to Spain. Butler and Gracie have just had their rabies injections and I have applied for their passports but it seems they have to wait three weeks before they can fly. I will be based in Spain for the foreseeable future. Yes you’re probably really, terribly jealous because you’re thinking Anna’s going to have beautiful glorious sunshine every day, but it seems I’m also under pressure. I have several books nearly ready for print, and NEARLY isn’t good enough. And that’s nothing compared to the other projects that I’m involved in! They do say if you want something doing, ask a busy person!

Stay busy and when the going gets tough…Get Tougher.  

Have a nice day.

Anna

Otley

16 April 2011 12:00AM

 

Well what a surprise! So soon after my visit to Ilkley and I found myself in the neighbouring Yorkshire town of Otley. Not been there for years.

There are some obvious changes.  The outdoor swimming pool has gone. Hardly surprising with our  typical British weather. Though the afternoon strole along the banks of the River Wharfe, was as endearing as ever. My memories of a young woman living in Otley, were the huge number of pubs for such a small town. Famous in those days for the charity pub crawl.  Ha! Ha! I don\’t remember anyone who managed a drink in every one. Most crashed out half way round, unless they reverted to the lemonade of course. As for me, I never was much of a drinker, though I was partial to a martini & lemonade and something called “Wicked Lady.” Don\’t think they make that one any more!

For those of you who watch Emmerdale, Otley is the town called “Hotton.” Aye lass. A far cry from Mexico City! The views of Chevin forest overlooking the town were spectacular. The sun was shining and the Yorkshire pork pies from the local butcher tasty.

Uhm! What a lovely trip down memory lane.

 

Anna x

Still Chavosing!

31 March 2011 12:00AM

 

Actually, I think I will always be Chavosing from now on. My life to be!

 Yesterday was another interesting day in this beautiful city. But, believe it or not, I am ready for home now. Where is home? Uhm! Home is where the heart is and I wanna  get back to my family now. Can’t believe I just said that. Ha! Ha! I have exhausted the city, exhausted the book fair; which finishes to day anyway. And exhausted me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seemingly as my flight was booked months ago, and was cheap. I am stuck here. Can’t believe it. Over 1000 euros to fly back to Manchester this week. Yes that is not a typo. I repeat 1000. One thousand – unbelievable!  Airlines cashing in on the book fair I suppose. So, as I paid less than 200 euros return, many months ago, seems I am here till Saturday. O.k. What’s the plan?  Write, of course. Stupid question. And see who else I bump into today. Sitting around in these open air cafe bars leads to conversations with the most interesting of people. Speaking of which. I had dinner last night with a publisher from Scotland. What an inspirational evening. I am encouraged yet again.  After two glasses of red wine,  a lovely cocktail, and of course a very tiring day; I still couldn’t sleep. Well actually, I tell a lie. I slept for two hours and then was sauntering around the room at  2 am,  planning a new series of books for my chiquitos. 

( That’s the pre-schoolers for those of you who don’t understand any Spanish.) Brill, that done and back to sleep. Drrrr… Not so. Awake again. Now writing for my 5-9 years.

What has Bologna done to me? I have become a writing machine. Now, I am writing this blog. Help! Stop! Going for an ice cream and not blogging tomorrow. Decided. May be a tweet or two.

Anna x

Bologna

25 March 2011 12:00AM

Hi everyone, just starting this new blog on the Chavos website. Seems we still have some teething problems, but we will get sorted eventually!                                 

So, here I am en route to Bologna. Just taking a break from visiting schools-which has been fun-and now off to Italy.

Everyone say Whow!

O.K Bologna, is supposed to be a very beautiful city, so hope I get chance to look around. Basically, I am off to the biggest children’s book fair in the world. So I am told.

Let’s see what I learn, who I meet and if I am enlightened. Hey, maybe I will come back totally transformed.

Into what? You might well ask… A best selling author of course!

Well, I am full of books. Just need the time to get them on paper.

Gonna keep Chavosing, no stopping me now.

Keep in touch

Anna x