Newsletter 52

Hello all and welcome. This issue marks the 52nd week of my newsletter. Having over one thousand subscribers, I sincerely thank you all for being with me. I appreciate your support and I intend to continue to share with you five points of interest that I hope will be of interest to you too.

This week I look at the benefits of reading for children, life in Italy, Truffle making and more…

Here are the five things I found interesting this week and I want to share with you all.

1. The many benefits of reading, for children – As a storyteller, I like to think that I am providing children with a window to a whole new world. I want to give them the opportunity to learn, to experience new ideas, to get new and exciting information. I find it’s best when learning comes without realising it. When children are learning valuable life lessons through hearing or reading an engaging story told with honesty, imagination, creativity and spirit.

2. Buon Ferragosto, August 15th, a national holiday in Italy. For most Italians, this marks the start of the summer holidays. This year I will join in on the celebrations, imagining I am in Italy. Something I had been planning before travel became a challenge.

3. This week my reading pleasure, for education and survival during my nature walks, Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. The classic field guide for quick identification of wildflowers, flowering shrubs and vines, by Lawrence Newcomb. A must-have if you are looking to sample the herbs and berries. The featured image is of the Holly shrub and delicious looking wild berry; poisonous to people and animals.

My pop-up karate class in the local park is gaining in popularity and I need a reference for some standing stretches. Anatomy of Stretching, A Guide To Increasing Your Flexibility by Craig Ramsay is a great resource.

For Park training where most participants do not have a mat, I utilize the standing or crouching stretches from Craig Ramsay’s book. For my home training, I go through most of Ramsay’s recommended stretches.

4. I received an e-mail from someone who I went to Jr. high school with, Northmount Junior High. This acquaintance from the past was asking if I was the same guy he went to school with.

Normally I never reminisce about my time as a student at a traditional school. Most of my time at Jr. and Sr. High school was a big haze. Something that I wanted to be done with as soon as possible. I am a Kinesthetic learner, much more interested in action.

I let my old school chum know that it was I and that this was a first for me. A trip down memory lane. I asked him to stay in touch and thanked him for connecting.

5. This week I spent some time at a Truffle making workshop with David Greenwood-Haigh an award-winning chef, chocolatier and international chocolate consultant. David hosted a virtual workshop at the Yorkshire Festival Of Story.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like my newsletter please share it with them. If you’re looking for a great children’s book, check out my book, Samba on a Snowy Day.

Please consider a contribution to our next book project by buying me a coffee, swing by Ko-fi.com. Every coffee really helps out during these crazy times.

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