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If you could be any Jacqueline Wilson character who would you be?
On way home! I hope little Jacob will be pleased to see me. I’ve got HEAPS of work to catch up with, but I’ll maybe take the weekend off. It’s been a tiring month – but a very exciting one. I’m so grateful to Bob who has driven me around and helped out with all the events – and a special HUGE thank you to Naomi who has looked after me splendidly.
Glasgow today – stying in the very gorgeous and upmarket Blytheswood Square hotel. I had time for a little shopping too in Princes Square. I treated myself to an amazing pair of silver shoes – and wore them to my event in the evening. They sparkled and I hope I did too!
We were driven to Dundee – it’s always strange going back there. I spent two very happy years as a trainee journalist with DC Thomsons. It seems extraordinary now that the same firm are publishing my very own magazine. I met up with the lovely magazine staff and we discussed future plans over lunch. I did my event in a lecture theatre at Dundee University.
Off to Scotland, hurray! We’re staying in a very stylish Malmaison hotel, with tarton décor and stags heads on the walls. My event was immaculately organised by Waterstone’s (I love Gary and Tessa!) at the Aberdeen Music Hall. I was tempted to break into a little song and dance routine when I came on stage, but managed to restrain myself.
We were up early and drove through the rain to get to Sheffield to start signing in WH Smiths in the Meadowhall shopping centre. I met such lovely children there; Ella and Ellen gave me a special card and present and Teigan gave me a card and flowers. I also met up with some very special friends – Alice who made me my Jacky cat and Quais (I hope I’ve spelt your name right!).
I gave a talk in Carr Hill School organised by a great librarian called Anne and Elaine who runs the splendid Silverdell Bookshop in Kirkham. By the time I’d finished signing it was so late that the hotel restaurant had closed. But Naomi, Bob and I had a tasty curry in the bar before staggering off to our beds at midnight.
I attended the Renaissance Conference in Stratford upon Avon and met many headteachers and librarians there. I did a talk, and then a special Tracy Beaker workshop and then I signed for two hours. There are going to be a lot of Little Darlings in school libraries now!
I've had a simply wonderful time at the Dubai Literary Festival. I arrived Tuesday afternoon and left Sunday morning, feeling as if I'd attended a fantastic five day party.
On Wednesday we went on a walking tour of old Dubai, wandering round the spice souk, seeing saffron, cinnamon and frankincense on sale, and marveled at the extraordinary jewelry in the gold souk, saw the Museum of Dubai and finished with a wonderful supper in a traditional wind tower house in Bastakia.
On Thursday evening we all went out into the desert. I held a falcon on my arm, had an exciting but bumpy ride on a camel and even puffed a bit on a hubble-bubble pipe.
On Friday we went on a magical bus tour and saw Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the whole world, went out to the amazing new Palm development and paddled in the turquoise sea at Jumeirah beach. We had our evening meal on a traditional Dhow boat, slowly gliding up the Creek in the moonlight.
On Saturday we went to a very special party given by Mr and Mrs Flanagan (head of Emirates Airline, the Festival's main sponsors) and chatted with all our new friends as we wined and dined under the stars.
Oh - I also did a little work! I talked to a thousand schoolchildren at the Al Mamzar Cultural and Scientific Association on Thursday, and on Saturday spoke to a lovely family audience of five hundred, signing books for hours afterwards.
I love Vivien and John who run the Newham bookshop, so I knew Sunday's event at Stratford Circus would be brilliant. I met so many special girls there – and one gold star boy, Nicholas, who valiantly sold three boxes of my Tracy Beaker charity badges. I met Suzie who wore many bangles on each arm and insisted on giving me one of her beautiful bracelets. Kalila and Zuzanna shyly gave me seashells and told me they loved my books.
Kettering was one of those events you dream about! It was beautifully organised by Shelley Hill of Waterstone’s. She’d arranged for me to talk in St Andrew’s parish church – and the charismatic vicar there, Nick Wills, was especially hospitable. It’s always such fun to do a talk in a church, especially an attractive Victorian one like St Andrews. There was a limited signing session after my talk. I particularly enjoyed meeting three friends, Amy, Courtney and Amelia, lovely girls who all confided in me they’d loved playing with imaginary friends. I think they’re all destined to be writers. I also loved meeting grown up bookseller Mary who very sweetly told me that she’d been a huge fan since she was a small girl. I love Kettering!
Day one of the Little Darlings tour – and it’s a lovely event at WHSmith. I met lots of very sweet girls – perhaps my favourite was special friends Ellie and Sophie (they had matching Best Friends silver necklaces!). Sophie had beautiful long fair hair, Ellie had cool silver boots and a fantastic Jacqueline Wilson T shirt that she had made herself. I was also taken with little Spencer, Ellie’s 4 year old brother. I always feel so sorry for the brothers stuck queuing up for ages!