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Two great names were provided by the children who visited the Christmas celebrations at Manor Farm Country Park in Bursledon this weekend: Strawberry and Cream! Well done to Cleo and Phoebe. Thanks to everyone who took part in this fun competition – and sorry to the guys who came back for a second day just so they could give the same name of their best friend, Stephen (lucky escape, Stephen).

To those of you who bought your first snail books, enjoy reading them.  To the teachers I met – do get in touch about those author visits early next year and, Alison – or indeed anyone who has written a children’s story and would like to take it to the next level – do stay in touch / email me for details of my forthcoming creative writing courses.

Thanks to all at Manor Farm for organising a truly wonderful and festive weekend.  Happy Christmas to you all and here’s to more snailing around in 2014!   🙂

Manor Farm Country Park in Bursledon is holding a Christmas Market & Festivities this coming weekend Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Come and visit the historic farm, meet the animals (and Father Christmas!), enjoy mulled wine and mince pies, carousel rides, carol singing, or just come and walk your dog in the wonderful grounds.

Even better – follow the snail trail, come and join in the ‘Naming of the Snail’ competition, or just get some snail books for your friends and family! It’s a wonderful day out! Join us at Pyland’s Lane, Bursledon, Southampton SO31 1BH. Follow this link for more details of what’s to see and do at the park:

www3.hants.gov.uk/countryside/manorfarm/seeanddo.htm

Looking forward to seeing you all for some snailing around … oh, and did I mention there’ll be colouring, snail races and real live snails to hold? If you like snails, Manor Farm Country Park is THE place to be this coming weekend.

Bye for now! 🙂

What a fun morning we had at CCJS this last Saturday! Thanks to the Fabulous Breakfast Boys who kept us all going with hot bacon and sausage rolls and to the ladies in the kitchen for their endless supplies of tea, coffee and biscuits.  A big CONGRATULATIONS must go to Philippa for her winning name of Herbert for our snail. We had some really interesting entries.  Thanks to everyone who took part – even the grown-ups!  Philippa will choose the madaboutsnailbook of her wishes and have it signed all in good time for Christmas.

Thanks to Jo Mackay for doing all the organising, and to all those lovely children who so quickly offered to help carry stock from car boot to table: they are a credit to the school.

Happy snailing to you all.

Super day yesterday at the Oakwood Prep School Christmas Fair! Fabulous weather that guaranteed a great turnout. Thanks to Sally and her team for organising – and for inviting me in yet again. I saw many faces I recognised from last year. Glad to say that all the snails came home with me, so no worries about abandoned snails creeping around the school gym – though what a great idea for a story! The return journey proved to be quite an adventure: a large deer charged across the road, just past the wiggly road through South Harting – a beautiful, yet terrifying sight up-close, followed soon after by the sight of three kites flying low ahead. It was just one of those incredibly inspiring/frightening/jaw-dropping days!

See you all next Saturday at Churchers Junior School for more festive fun: 10.00 am until mid-day (I’m hoping the only deer I’ll get to see this time will be standing motionless in Santa’s Grotto!!). Cross fingers, toes, eyes etc!

Oakwood Preparatory School is holding a Christmas extravaganza this coming Saturday, 23rd November. If you are in the Chichester area and fancy a bit of Christmas shopping in beautiful surroundings, there will be a wide variety of stalls as well as mulled wine, mince pies, children’s events and activities, including a visit from Santa. Come and join our snail race, or have your books signed for Christmas presents – all in good time for the big day.

All profits from the event will go to the Friends of Oakwood, a charity fund set up to enhance standards of the school grounds, buildings and equipment. Road signs will be in place. Find your way to Oakwood Preparatory on the Funtington Road at East Ashling, p/c: PO18 9AN and enjoy some pre-Christmas fun. Please note there is a £2.00 entrance fee for adults. See you there!

There are still some concerns about whether the handling of giant African land snails is safe. Following a letter that I sent into Mollusc World earlier this year, a formal response is to be printed in its November issue, from Drs. Janet Ridout Sharpe and June Chatfield.  It will read as follows:

‘Sarah Lucas (Letter, Mollusc World 32:28) is quite right to be concerned that giant African land snails (Achatina spp.) might transmit diseases to humans. Fortunately the risk from laboratory-bred or pet shop snails in this country is negligible, and the simple precaution of washing the hands thoroughly or the use of antibiotic wipes after handling (not just Achatina but any snails or slugs) is probably sufficient to prevent the transmission of bacteria. There is no reason why children (and adults) should not continue to enjoy handling snails.’

Earlier this week I received an email from a lady who is 23 weeks pregnant. She was concerned that her partner’s giant African land snails might prove a risk to her unborn baby, by her catching either the salmonella and meningitis virus.  I was able to put her mind at rest.  With her specific concern about salmonella, I had been advised by Dr. June Chatfield that proper hand-washing here is important, as is avoiding cooked snails: raw or hardly-cooked snails could cause a serious problem to anyone, not just to a lady who is pregnant.

For all you snail lovers out there, carry on enjoying your snails.  Just make sure that you always wash your hands.

Sarah

Looking forward to talking to three classes from All Saints School in Tilford this week about books, book-writing and what it’s like being an author.  We’ll do a bit about how authors get their story ideas, how we write books and just how important the band of professionals who support us all throughout the process really are.

So, if you want to be a writer or if you’d love to become an illustrator when you are older, think of some GREAT questions to ask me. In the meantime, happy reading and enjoy the beginning of Book Week.  See you all on Wednesday!   Sarah

Mad about snails? Come and see some baby giant African land snails at Churchers Junior School Christmas Fair on Saturday 30th November, 10.00 am to midday. Why not hold one? They don’t bite and there’ll be wipes for after. Come and join our word search to win one of our prizes – a snail in a tank! Just what your mother wanted for Christmas (I don’t think!). Oh, and I’ll be there signing books with special Christmas and birthday wishes, with a special offer of 3 books for the price of 2. Come and see us: https://www.facebook.com/events/414339352002040/?context=create&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Today, Thursday 10th October is known in the book trade as Super Thursday – a day when thousands of books hit the shelves in preparation for Christmas.  You will see a massive push on new titles – and not just in bookshops; supermarkets have joined in too, some supporting famous names and their memoirs, others hitting the sporting, baking or children’s market.

And that’s where we are: celebrating all that is good about children’s titles.  

There are so many wonderful titles coming out today for the festive period so enjoy browsing in your bookshop, at your supermarket or on-line.  

At madaboutsnailbooks we have four titles lining up, including Snalien, The Lost Snail, Legend of Old McSlithers and Old McSlithers Goes Viral! Loyalty cards will be available soon.

Happy Super Thursday!