Module Load Warning
One or more of the modules on this page did not load. This may be temporary. Please refresh the page (click F5 in most browsers). If the problem persists, please let the Site Administrator know.
Notepad

Current Articles | Categories | Search

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Oooh, it's been a lovely few days here in London, starting back on Friday, when we had Milly's school show (yes, I cried, but then I always do), and then a snowball fight in the street, with flakes flurrying down, hot drinks outdoors and fish and chips from the chippy around the corner to warm everyone up! Since then it's been a whirl of more snow, 'Oz on Ice' show up at Ally Pally ice rink and building snowmen. Excellent!
Though I know some friends did get stuck in snowstorms last night, and took hours to get home. Weirdest story I heard – lots of customers apparently got stuck in Brent Cross Shopping Centre here in North London, and the staff of John Lewis store told them to let their children snuggle up in their bedding department. How cute is that?
Hope the snow is delicious round your way!
Karen McCombie :c)

posted @ 22 December 2009 13:15 by Karen

Orange snot

posted @ 25 November 2009 02:55 by Karen

If you're ever in London...

...you have just GOT to go to Camden Market. I've always thought it's a fun and fascinating place to visit (I've mentioned it in several of my books), but it's just got even more amazing!
I remember when I first visited, it was just a rambling collection of old canal-side buildings teeming with great shops and quirky stalls. Over time, it's expanded and expanded, but I went there today for the first time in a couple of years and couldn't believe how vast and incredible it's become!
An area called the Stables has been excavated – it was originally a huge series of stables (duh!) for horses used in Victorian London – and it's mind-blowing. There's all the history, there's a gazillion more stalls selling a gazillion more crazy and beautiful things, plus a whole bunch of completely awe-inspiring, full-size bronze statues of horses everywhere.
It's nuts, but good nuts!
That's all for now – I'm still a bit tired and trying to catch up on stuff after my very nice trip to Suffolk last week doing book talks. Oh, and a big hi to everyone I met while I was there!!
Lots of loveness,
Karen McCombie :c)

posted @ 17 November 2009 14:45 by Karen

Ker-BOOM!!

Did everyone have a good Bonfire Night? I'm mad on firework displays (though NOT mad on random idiots setting them off in the street), and had a great time at TWO events.
First up was Milly's school firework party on Friday, which was ace, even though it rained (boo).
Second was the mega-huge display up at Alexandra Palace right behind our house. They had some stunning new fireworks I'd never seen before, like clusters of chrysanthemums. Gorgeous!!
By the way, as Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Night or whatever is a British thing, I'd just like to apologise for boring anyone reading from another country – and say a big HELLO to you guys to make up for it!
Must scoot – going to do book talks in Ipswich and Lowestoft for the next three days and need to pack my toothbrush and jammies!!
Lots of loveness,
Karen McCombie :c)
PS Love and get well soon to Sophie Kelly and Lottie 09, and well done to Chloe Tompkins for getting top marks in her school project (about my books!).

posted @ 09 November 2009 03:58 by Karen

How was your Halloween?

Mine was a lot of fun – we had a party for a dozen (seven-year-old) witches, ghosts and vampires.
Mind you, I think it'll take a week to recover (and two-weeks to find all the trick-or-treat sweets that are scattered all around the house – I've washed the floor three times, but it's still sticky!).
Our road was awash in ghouls and monsters out spooking. It was an all-round brilliant time – except for Dizzy going missing. We thought our daft little cat had had the sense to disappear into a cupboard or somewhere to escape the partying kids, but instead, she'd wandered streets away (maybe she'd been following someone dressed as a black cat?). Luckily, a really nice couple found her and brought her back, quite late at night.
Hopefully, she'll be more sensible now. Though I doubt it – I had a bath earlier, and she clambered onto my knees (which were sticking out of the water) and tried to cosy down on them!
Yep, she's nuts...
Must scoot – I'm in need of an early night, as I'm a bit tire... Zzzzzzz...
Lots of loveness,
Karen McCombie :c)

posted @ 02 November 2009 13:47 by Karen

Happy half-term!

posted @ 28 October 2009 13:06 by Karen

"What are you doing?"

posted @ 13 October 2009 12:14 by Karen

I just remembered...

...what I forgot the other day! It was to post my favourite entries from the 'What Makes You Smile?' competition that ran back in July, to celebrate the publication of 'Smile! It's Meant To Be Fun'. So here they are (at last!)...


“I went on a school trip to Iceland and my suitcase didn't arrive, so I had to have new T-shirts bought by the school, borrow PJs and go without a duvet (or, argh, eyebrow tweezers – I looked like a yeti by the end). I gave up hope of ever seeing it again... then as I was waiting for the others to get their bags back at Heathrow, there was a shout and my teacher held up the suitcase! The entire group cheered and clapped and everyone else started asking what had happened – even the teachers were sure it was a miracle!”

Alice

 

“What made me smiled recently is when I was moving house and I turned to have my last look at it forever – cue the soppy violin music – and I smiled. I smiled because I was so thankful my little room had been so good to me for all those years!”

Daisy

 

“Today on the trampoline I did a back flip and it made me happy that I could do them.”

Charlotte Bailey

 

“The other day, I picked my sister (4) up from the childminder, and when we were coming home we had a weird surge of randomness. Um... yes, we started skipping down the road singing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ at the tops of our voices and couldn't stop laughing. It was the most fun I’ve had in ages!”

Kimmy

 

“What makes me smile is a clear blue  sky with not a cloud in sight; an ice-cream van with a single tune, and my mum laughing at a stupid  joke of mine.”

Karen

 

“Cats make me smile. And dogs. And spending long hours on the phone to my best friend who is *sniff!* living in a different country to me. Eating egg in bread. Getting glitter stuck to my fingers.”

Úna

 

“The thing that got me smiling was watching my rat and kitten eating out of the same bowl. They used to hate each other, but in the last few weeks they follow each other around, and Perry (the rat) even sleeps on top of Cleo (the kitten)!!”

Harpreet

 

“I have been in hospital since 5th January. Being allowed home for the weekend makes me smile. Acting and dancing makes me smile. My brother makes me smile. Reading books by Karen McCombie makes me smile.”

Sophie

posted @ 30 September 2009 04:47 by Karen

Stuff!

OK, first of all, a big, belated HELLOOOO!! to everyone I met in Bridge of Allan and Dunblane a week or so ago, when I was in Scotland (yes, again!) for Stirling's 'Off The Page' reading festival.
Second of all, someone just told me that the 'Booked Up' DVD is live on their website now (www.bookedup.org.uk - and click on the DVD option on the left). For those of you who missed my previous mention, 'Booked Up' are a lovely bunch of people who give out a free book to every Year 7 student in England. There are 12 books to choose from each year, and 'An Urgent Message Of Wowness' was included in the list this time round. And so there I am, squinting in the sunshine, waffling about my book – if you'd care to look! (I looked, but only through my fingers. Watching yourself is way too weird!!)
Now, there was a third thing... but it's getting late and I can't think what it was. I'm probably still so much in shock from watching myself on the 'Booked Up' DVD that my brain has stalled.
Bear with me, and I'll blog again as soon as I remember!!
Lots of loveness,
Karen McCombie :c)
PS There's a little rambly blog by me on the 'Booked Up' site too, with room for comments! (Feel like writing a comment myself, saying "Why were you squinting so much, and when did your voice get so squeaky?!?")

posted @ 28 September 2009 13:13 by Karen

A big thanks...

...to everyone who came to my talk at the Edinburgh Book Festival last week! Big hellos in particular to Daisy (thanks for the crisps and the bookie!), Kate & Suzanne (sweet photo!), Innes (cool name!), and of course my wee pal Andrew (age 7), who you might have seen handing out Chuba Chups alongside my daughter Milly!!
One other Edinburgh hello... a big hi and THANK YOU to my old schoolfriend Susan (Snoo!), who lives there and gave me an unexpected birthday tea on Saturday night, with balloons, cards (drawn by Catherine and Jenny xxx) and curry (mmm... my top three foods: crisps, curry and Brussels sprouts, but not all at the same time).
And thanks to everyone who entered the 'Smile!' competition on the day. I'll choose my winner this week and let you know as soon as possible!
Right, I'm off to get Milly's school stuff ready for her starting back tomorrow (she's so nervous - bless!). Good luck to anyone else starting back with butterflies in their tummies!! (You know it's going to be OK, don't you? Hmm?)
Big lurve,
Karen McCombie :c)

posted @ 06 September 2009 13:23 by Karen

Previous Page | Next Page


We are in-between competitions at the moment, one will be along shortly so stay tuned.


JOIN FREE NOW! or LOGIN!
to be added to my mailing list and to get free access to Quiz, e-cards, freebies etc... but also get the privilege to leave comments, add photos, send me letters & write reviews!!