Hi folks,

Time to touch base again. I've had a unlucky ten or so days. To explain, while practising my routine for our annual xmas iceskating show, I fell awkwardly, fracturing my right wrist. Bye bye xmas musicals-on-ice...can't tell you how gutted I am. Bad enough that our local trauma unit kept me starved for three days before they could opperate, but when my replacement asked if she could buy my skating costume...well that was the last straw! Isn't it amazing how much chocolate one can put away in one sitting?

Never mind, the good news is that my local library in Timperley has agreed to host my book launch for my second publication 'Children's Health- the Essential Guide' .(see recent blog post)

My book launch is to be held at Timperley Library, Altrincham on Saturday 8th December at 10.30 am.

I've decided to share my launch progress with you, so here goes:-

1- I've hand written the launch particulars on about 200 flyers. I've got a free book copy to give to my hairdressers so I'm hoping that they will give out some flyers to their customers. I'm going to ask two local chemists to see if they will put a flyer in each prescription dispensing bag too! My local surgery put two posters up in their waiting rooms so hopefully, I might be able to give them some flyers to hand out.

2- I have an A-Frame from my failed attempts at slimming world consultancy, so this will show my posters off nicely and I'll be placing my A-frame all over the local village and town.

Well, bye for now...need some painkillers and to elevate my arm.

Cathx

Hi Folks,

Hope you're enjoying the fireworks! Let's hope the bonfires don't affect the air quality too much!This can be a massive problem to asthma sufferers.

If you would like to own a very useful easy-to- read book all about asthma. Look no further. Below, you can find a link to my book 'Asthma-the Essential Guide' with Need2Know Books.

My book is written for those of you who are affected by this debilitating and sometimes serious condition. If you, your child or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with asthma, this book will provide you with practical information and advice to help gain speedy control of symptoms and in turn, improve quality of life.

This book explains the diagnosis and symptoms of asthma and looks at how it affects all age groups. You will also find a detailed section describing the differing treatment options. Another part focuses on how to use your inhalers effectvely. One chapter offers advice on how to recognise an asthma attack and how to deal with it. Understanding your asthma is the key to gaining control of your symptoms and enjoying life.

 http://need2knowbooks.co.uk/asthma-asthmatic-inhalers-essential-guide-information-info-cough-breathless-breathlessness?filter_name=asthma the essential guide


Available for order at any good book store. Also available at www.need2knowbooks.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-86144-099-0 and retails at £9.99

This book is also available on Kindle retailing at  £ 3.99

Here is a work in progress. It's aimed at 6-10 year olds (I think) and I'm having difficulty figuring out where to submit it. I would love to have any comments posted. Feel free to be totally honest :-)

 The Girl in the Peacock Dress

 

By

Catherine Short

 

5.11.12

 

Sitting on the rough wooden bench, Lily wrestled with her new, brilliant white laces. Full of disgust and frustration, she tried to kick off her ice skates but her Mum said, “Be careful Lily. You might hit someone.” With a sigh, Lily’s mum knelt down at her daughter’s feet. “Here. Let me help you!”

     Lily sat rigid, trying to control her anger; her hands clenched by her sides; fists fit for punching. She didn’t want to be here. She didn’t see any point in having any lessons. Lily and her Mum both knew that she was useless at sports; that crowds made her anxious. Plus, the constant laughter and screaming from the other skaters, mixed with the thumping pop music was making Lily’s head hurt. However much Lily wanted to go home, her Mum was determined she should stay.

     Once Lily’s skates were fixed firmly in place, she reluctantly tip-toed over to the rink edge. She would have been happy just to watch the other skaters. There was still ten minutes to go before April, Lily’s coach, would arrive to take her through her first lesson.

    Lily gazed with terrified eyes as she watched the figure skaters spin and practise complicated foot steps; amazed that those who crashed to the hard surface of the ice just brushed themselves down before skating off again.

     “There’s April,” said Mum, as Lily’s coach raced across the ice and skidded to a graceful stop, sending a spray of white ice through the air.

    “Hello Lily! Ready for your first lesson,” asked April, as she beamed smiles of reassurance. Leading Lily onto the ice, April tried to take her by the hand.  Lily wrenched it away, preferring to grab the barrier at the side of the rink. Lily hated being touched.

     Next, April showed Lily how to form a “T” start position, then how to sit down on the ice and get back up again safely.  Fifteen minutes and many falls later, the lesson was over. Shaking with terror, Lily practically crawled off the ice.

    “How did that go,” asked Mum as Lily sat panting on the bench, rocking back and forth. April came over to talk to Mum. “Well, she’s not a natural but it’s a start,” and then, “Same time next week?”

     “Sure. We’ll be here,” replied Mum. Open mouthed, Lily looked at her in dismay.

    The next lesson was just as bad. Lily continued to pull away in a jerking manner every time April tried to catch her fall.  At the end of the lesson, Lily’s Mum decided that they should stay and watch for a while, so they sat in the spectators seats to get a better view.

    Feeling safer now, Lily quietly watching and marvelled at the other skaters. She caught a glimpse of a young girl in a blue and green skating dress. The skirt of the dress looked as if it was made of delicate feathers, which fanned out with every graceful movement that the girl made. Lily watched, mesmerised as the girl twirled, dipped and jumped around the rink, never faltering or falling. Lily thought the girl looked like a majestic peacock as she glided gracefully across the glistening ice.

    During the third lesson, April managed to coax Lily into the centre of the rink. As she slid about, trying to perfect a step called “forward lemons” Lily noticed the girl in the peacock dress. The girl smiled shyly at Lily and waved her hand. Lily smiled and waved back. April told Lily off for not concentrating and made Lily repeat the steps over a few more times before moving onto something new. Lily could sense that the girl was watching her.  Lily tried hard to concentrate and as she relaxed, she found herself skating more gracefully, so much so, that she began to enjoy the soft swaying motion and the sting of the cool breeze on her face .

     “Well done,” said April, obviously pleased with her coaching skills. The girl in the peacock dress twirled and jumped, clapping as she silently glided by. Lily flushed with pleasure.

    Feeling less afraid, instead of getting off the ice as quick as she could, Lily decided to stay and practice. She loved that it was so cold. She loved the cool air on her face and the hard, dry smell of the ice.

    The girl in the peacock dress came over and introduced herself.

     “Hi, I’m Sammy. Who are you?”

     “Lily. Are they real feathers?”

     “No!” giggled Sammy. “How old are you?”

     “Ten.”

     “I’m fourteen. Do you want to skate with me?” and before Lily had time to reply, Sammy spun around to face Lily and started skated backwards. She took hold of Lily’s hands and started pulling her along, quietly encouraging her and telling Lily where and how to position her feet. Lily felt like she was flying. She didn’t mind Sammy holding her hand either; her touch was cool, soft and as light as a feather. As their speed gathered, Lily could feel the icy breeze on her cheeks; it was exhilarating. A gleeful, calming sensation swept over her and for the first time in her life, Lily felt like everyone else. She had made a friend.

     When it was time to go, Lily turned around to ask Sammy if she wanted to meet her Mum, but Sammy had gone.

    “That was great, Lily. You looked like you were really enjoying yourself,” said Mum. “And how did you learn so fast? April must be worth the money after all.” Then Lily and her Mum left through the foyer, saying goodbye to Ian, the rink manager on their way out.  

    “You should have seen her, Dave!” Lily overheard as her parents discussed her recent success. “I couldn’t believe it; such a difference from last week. Maybe this is going to help Lily.”

   “That’s great but don’t go building your hopes up,” replied Dad. “It’s not going to solve all her problems. Don’t put any pressure on her, okay? Just let her enjoy it for as long as it lasts.”

   Lily hated it when her parents talked about her. It was as if they didn’t know she understood. She knew she wasn’t like other children and she hated being treated differently at school. She was afraid of her classmates. She couldn’t tell when they were teasing and she was bullied a lot. Lily knew that Sammy was different. She liked Sammy.

   The following week, April was very impressed with Lily’s progress and suggested that Lily try and come for more practice sessions. Whenever Lily went skating,  Sammy was always close by, almost touching Lily as she flew past, but Lily never felt afraid. On the contrary, Lily’s confidence grew all the more for knowing that Sammy was there for her.  Sammy would be waiting patiently, ready to show Lily yet more intricate steps and moves.  Lily hardly ever fell, she started to learn to do forward and backwards cross-overs. She could skate backwards very well. Her favourite position was the spiral and using her outside edge, just as Sammy had shown her, she could do it on a curve. It made her feel like a graceful aeroplane. She could get her leg really high and loved to see Sammy’s happy face as she smiled in encouragement. Sammy never lost her patience. She constantly coached and encouraged Lily to try even trickier moves.

     April was very pleased with Lily’s progress and happily took all the credit. Lily’s Mum beamed with pride every time she watched and would tell anyone who asked how Lily was doing, that her daughter was astounding. She was so proud that Lily was overcoming her difficulties. As Lily became more agile and co-ordinated, even her school games teacher had remarked on Lily’s transformation. The teacher had said it was as if someone had touched Lily with a magic wand, the progress was so incredible.

    Before long, Lily had managed to move up all the steps of the beginner’s classes. Now she was training for her level ten badge which required her to perform a simple step sequence.

    Lily trained continuously. Every scrap of spare time she had, she begged her Mum to take her to the rink and every time she went, Sammy was waiting for her with a smile and a wave and never ending encouragement. On the day of her test, Dad came with Mum to watch. They hugged her (which she hated) for good luck. Her parents watched at the rink side, their fingers crossed, holding their breath.

      At the end of the session, all the children raced across the ice to tell their parents if they had passed and Lily was no exception. She glided towards them, gracefully stopping; a huge smile on her face. She waved her certificate in the air. This was the first time that Lily’s parents had ever seen their daughter so elated. Tears flowed down Mum’s cheeks while Dad cleared his throat.

    A short while later, April came over to congratulate Lily and her parents on Lily’s achievement. “Well done, Lily. I have to say that I’ve never seen anyone learn to skate so quickly as you. It’s like magic.”

     “Thanks, April.”

     “No really,” and then she turned to Lily’s parents. “I’m not just saying it. I’ve never seen anything like it!”

     “Well, I’ve had lots of help from Sammy.” Lily added.

  April turned and looked at Lily with a puzzled expression. “Sammy? As far as I know there is no Sammy here.”

     “The girl in the peacock dress. She’s my friend and she’s called Sammy!”

    April’s mouth dropped open, as if to say something but the words got stuck. Her face turned as white as the ice. She looked first at Lily and then at her parents before rushing off.

    “Wonder what that was all about?” said Dad. His wife was equally puzzled.  “Come on. Let’s go home,” and Dad led the way to the main entrance. Ian, the rink manager, called for them to stop. He hurried over to offer his congratulations and to express his delight that Lily had done so well.

    “Thanks,” said Mum. “But she won’t take all the credit. She said her friend Sammy helped her mostly,” and she beamed at her daughter with pride.

     “Sammy?” said Ian.

     “Yes. The girl in the peacock dress,” replied Lily. She was getting sick of having to repeat herself.

     “I...I don’t think that can be right,” said Ian. “I only know of one girl called Sammy. She was April’s star pupil; a lovely girl who we all hoped would go to the Olympics one day. It can’t have been her. You see, she died eighteen months ago in a car accident!”

    Lily’s Mum knelt down and cupped Lily’s face in her hands, forcing Lily to make eye contact. “What are you talking about Lily?”

    Lily decided not to answer. Right at that moment, she wanted to be invisible too.  She wished now that she had kept Sammy a secret; to have Sammy all to herself. Anxiously, she looked over to her friend who was watching near the kiosk. Sammy smiled gently and then waved goodbye. Lily watched as her special friend slipped through the door, in search of her beloved ice.

 

Word count 1891