It’s Behind You!
31 December 2007
Shakespeare wrote that the world is a stage ... I think it's more like a pantomime. Got to have some laughs, rude jokes, and bags of energy - and lots of love of course.
2007? It's gone. Forget about it. The only thing that matters is right now and what you're going to do. Then tomorrow might work out. And the day after. Finally this time next year you'll be really glad you forgot about this last year - and that you got on with your life - so I hope it hasn't been too dreadful for any of you.
As you can probably guess I am no fan of end-of-year reminiscing. Thinking about what you should or shouldn't have done is a waste of time - if mistakes were made, promise yourself not to do it again and move on. And one day I'm sure I'll manage that myself.
Me? I'm itching to get started on all kinds of new things for this New Year. I'm no party pooper, and I'll probably be having a dance along with Jools and his mates at midnight, but can we please stop all this newspaper/media garbage about the year just gone. These people are earning a lot of dosh just to tell me what I already know.
The highlight of the telly over Christmas was the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. That's how science should be taught to young people and grown ups. Dr Hugh Montgomery gave a great series of lectures and I was thrilled to see so many young boys and girls embraced what he was saying with such enthusiasm. Everyone loved it (except the dead bloke who had been cut in half), and Dr Montgomery says that genetically boys take more risks than girls. The girls think the risk through while boys often volunteer for really scary things.
Maybe that's the crazy fun of being a boy.
Doom and gloom then for 2008 according to a lot of people. Rubbish. Keep it personal, do whatever you do with passion and help each other. Someone once said that you should reach for the stars and even if you don't get there you'll be high enough for a nose-bleed. Make sure you carry a handkerchief - failing that wear something with dark coloured sleeves.
I had a busy 2007 thanks to Puffin who published The Devil's Breath - and to everyone who read it - but I had the most fun visiting boys and girls in their schools, so I hope to meet even more of you in 2008. And the year ended nicely with a very interesting interview with Sam from Dulwich College, which he published in the Dulwich Despatch.
So I hope there are surprises - good ones - in store for you all. And if you have a dream, go for it. Nothing is impossible.
And whatever you do - have some fun - before grown ups make life even more miserable.
Happy New Year.
The Ice Claw cometh!
PS: I came across a great reading competition set up in New Zealand (I think) so here's a link where you'll find other boys and girls having fun with their reading.
2007? It's gone. Forget about it. The only thing that matters is right now and what you're going to do. Then tomorrow might work out. And the day after. Finally this time next year you'll be really glad you forgot about this last year - and that you got on with your life - so I hope it hasn't been too dreadful for any of you.
As you can probably guess I am no fan of end-of-year reminiscing. Thinking about what you should or shouldn't have done is a waste of time - if mistakes were made, promise yourself not to do it again and move on. And one day I'm sure I'll manage that myself.
Me? I'm itching to get started on all kinds of new things for this New Year. I'm no party pooper, and I'll probably be having a dance along with Jools and his mates at midnight, but can we please stop all this newspaper/media garbage about the year just gone. These people are earning a lot of dosh just to tell me what I already know.
The highlight of the telly over Christmas was the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. That's how science should be taught to young people and grown ups. Dr Hugh Montgomery gave a great series of lectures and I was thrilled to see so many young boys and girls embraced what he was saying with such enthusiasm. Everyone loved it (except the dead bloke who had been cut in half), and Dr Montgomery says that genetically boys take more risks than girls. The girls think the risk through while boys often volunteer for really scary things.
Maybe that's the crazy fun of being a boy.
Doom and gloom then for 2008 according to a lot of people. Rubbish. Keep it personal, do whatever you do with passion and help each other. Someone once said that you should reach for the stars and even if you don't get there you'll be high enough for a nose-bleed. Make sure you carry a handkerchief - failing that wear something with dark coloured sleeves.
I had a busy 2007 thanks to Puffin who published The Devil's Breath - and to everyone who read it - but I had the most fun visiting boys and girls in their schools, so I hope to meet even more of you in 2008. And the year ended nicely with a very interesting interview with Sam from Dulwich College, which he published in the Dulwich Despatch.
So I hope there are surprises - good ones - in store for you all. And if you have a dream, go for it. Nothing is impossible.
And whatever you do - have some fun - before grown ups make life even more miserable.
Happy New Year.
The Ice Claw cometh!
PS: I came across a great reading competition set up in New Zealand (I think) so here's a link where you'll find other boys and girls having fun with their reading.
