Sycamore Gap Tree

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Sycamore Gap Tree – my last photo

I’m devastated. A precious part of Northumberland has been callously ripped apart. When I heard yesterday’s news about Sycamore Gap Tree, my first reaction was disbelief, then shock, then anger. Now deep sadness. The iconic tree stood proud through the centuries, a famous landmark on Hadrian’s Wall; and now, with one malicious act, it’s gone. 

It was living. How could anyone do this to an ancient tree that people love? The tree was a friend to so many, an old friend. Sycamore Gap Tree was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 by The Woodland Trust. It featured in the movie, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and in thousands of treasured photos. Sycamore Gap was a place to picnic, a place of memories. A place to be.

SYCAMORE GAP TREE

Iconic friend I’ve known you through the seasons

gentle burgeoning beauty, thick canopy of green

vibrant autumn colours and crisp winter scenes

shouldered by a wave of hills, sheltered in a bowl

majestic through the centuries you stand tall seeing all

wild windswept adventures imagining the tramp of soldiers’ feet

touching weathered rocks where your roots lace The Wall

a silhouette in sunlight, magnetic on starlit nights

picnics, proposals, photographs, family walks and joyful laughs

children playing under your shade linger and gaze in wonder

at the awe-inspiring symmetry, the dip of hills and majestic tree

a peaceful place to just be, a place for loving memories 

that remain

but not the tree

goodbye dear friend, old faithful friend 

missed by millions and missed by me

Rachel Rivers Porter

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Highs and Lows of Being a Writer

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People keep asking when my next book will be published. Now there’s a story… 

Since Kiss of the Tsunami was published in 2016, it has received great reviews and I enjoy giving author talks, but unless you have an amazing marketing strategy, it’s hard to reach ‘the next layer of the onion,’ so to speak. I love creating new characters and plotlines, and five more stories are floating around in The Cloud while I try the traditional publishing route, but there are so many obstacles to overcome to reach your goal and mountains to climb. First, you need to secure representation from an agent who is like an ambassador to the publishing houses. I’ve discovered that’s very difficult unless you happen to win a competition, bump into a celebrity who loves your book, or even better, be a celebrity!

So here’s an update on current writing. In 2020, my uplifting women’s fiction was shortlisted for Penguin WriteNow Open Day. “This was a very perceptive take on motherhood, marriage and being a woman. A lot of readers will see themselves reflected in these well-drawn out and very real characters.” (Feedback from Rebecca Hilsdon, editor of the Michael Joseph imprint of Penguin Random House.) The same story was shortlisted for David Higham Associates Open Day for Under-Represented Writers 2020 and I received this feedback: “This author ‘gets’ Commercial Women’s Fiction and has come up with a smart, hopeful idea for a book.”

I’ve just completed an adventure with elements of fantasy set in NW India. The story is aimed at 9-12 year-olds and I’ve also written three comic stories for this age-group, one from the point of view of a dog. My own dog has been very helpful in this! I have MS but I’ve been blessed with continued good health, and my energetic golden retriever takes me for walks every day. 

Deadlines can be motivating. This spring, I sent all four children’s submissions to competitions, pushing doors. I pitched one of these stories in a Mslexia event this year, and Debbie Taylor, the editor of Mslexia magazine, said, “This is a brilliant idea for a novel and a fantastic title.” Agent Megan Carroll said, “Such a fun sounding pitch Rachel, and love the idea of two rival takeaway restaurants – a platonic Romeo and Juliet! Sounds ideal for the age group and the concept is very clearly illustrated here.”

Whenever you conquer a peak like this, you think, “This is going to be it!” But as those who go hiking know only too well, there’s often another downer and a deep valley to cross before the next ascent. Another high was being a mentee in the WriteMentor Summer Programme 2021; it was a fabulous opportunity and I learned a lot being mentored by Tasha Harrison, author of Something About Lemons and Clementine Florentine.

It’s encouraging when agents ask for a full manuscript, but then you wait. And wait. Sometimes you’re ghosted and other times you get a polite rejection. It’s a tough business. Writers in my critique group are saying it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find an agent, and even those with agents are saying it’s very difficult to get a publishing deal.

So… I’ve made a decision that if a door doesn’t fully open by mid-August (which happens to be my birthday), I’ll self-publish again. Please hold me to it, because I said that last year and the year before, and I don’t want to make the same New Year’s Resolution in 2024!

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‘Kiss of the Tsunami’ – Interviews with Readers

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An ex-marine, a schoolgirl, a student, an author of Primary Science books and a dentist… what do they have in common? Check out their fantastic comments about ‘Kiss of the Tsunami’!

I read a bit of my book, too, so listen in and enjoy!

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The Battle of the Ants… and how to win

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The explorer scouts were out yesterday, climbing onto work surfaces in the kitchen. This wouldn’t have been strange if it was summer, but it was only February 20th and ants never venture into our house until April or May. For years, we’d been plagued with the daily invasion until I’d found the key to stop them. So if you are facing the annual “Battle of the Ants”, read on…

The first ants of the season aren’t there to feast, or to carry back provisions for the colony. No, these are explorer scouts. They always find a way in: a crack in the window frame or a gap under the door, and I bet when I’m not watching, they even climb through the keyhole! It’s an annual battle I always used to lose, for whatever defences I made, the ants magically appeared and started scouting around for food. And when you like bread and buns and biscuits like me, that’s a problem. I can just imagine the ant commander shouting: “Crumbs! Come on, lads!” 

Last year, I tried an experiment. As soon as the first ant appeared, I super-cleaned every surface and made the kitchen a strictly “No Crumb Zone”. I did this for two days, obsessively picking up every speck; and on the third day, the ants had magically disappeared. I spotted some workers scurrying around the slabs on the patio, but not one ant ventured into the house all year — I’d won! I didn’t have to sweep them off the surfaces or brush any warriors into the dustpan and shake them free outside. They’d simply given up.

So that’s my hot tip. I hope it works for you, too, as it’s a simple and harmless method. I don’t like using pesticides, as ants have a right to live too — just not in my house! But why are the ants so early this year? Usually sunshine and warmer weather brings the troops out, however it’s still winter and we’ve had storms and flooding throughout the country. Are they waterlogged in their nest? Are there forces at work that we know nothing of? Is this some kind of global warming signal? Whatever the answer, I shall blitz my kitchen for the next few days and hopefully this will be like writing a “No Entry” sign for ants again this year!

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A Poem a Day

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Last weekend, I was looking through a box of old papers that my parents had kept and I discovered a letter that my father’s godmother had sent him about me. This was written when I was about twelve and it proved that I had been forgiven… read on to find out my crime!

I had just been reading the interesting book: ‘Singing for Mrs Pettigrew – A Story-Maker’s Journey’ by Michael Morpurgo. The acclaimed author shows how he uses incidents in his childhood to weave into his stories. I wonder if this story from my childhood might find itself in one of my children’s books one day?

My great aunt lived in a wonderful old house in Westcliff-on-Sea on the Essex coast. I loved going there every Christmas Eve. I upset her once, quite badly, but it was a total misunderstanding. When my father told me, years later, that she had taken offence at something I had said, I felt awful. I must have been seven or eight, and as soon as we arrived and said hello, I asked my father, “How long have we got until we go?” I wanted to explore her magical garden and I was checking how much time I had to wander around. I expect you can guess what my great aunt thought. Yes, she assumed I hated being there and couldn’t wait to leave. It was the polar opposite! But I never knew about this until after she had died. How I wished I’d known before, so I could have explained and apologised. It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise when she kindly left me something in her Will.

And six days ago, I was thrilled to discover this letter that I hadn’t known existed, which mentions a gift that I hadn’t known that my great aunt had given me. She said: “I intended sending the enclosed book back with you – Rachel is the only one of my ‘Greats’ to try poetry and story writing. This ancient booklet of rhymes was written by Rachel’s great-great-grandfather. I believe I remember rightly when I say that when he retired he intended writing a poem a day.”

A poem a day – sounds like a challenge. Although it’s several decades too late, thanks very much for the amazing gift, Auntie Nance! I’ve had this little book on my shelf half my lifetime, but until now, I never knew how I’d acquired it. Here is one of the poems that James Tee wrote in 1870. I love his neat handwriting, although some of it is so tiny, I need a magnifying glass as well as my glasses!

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Fairy Wings

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There is a book where my mind wanders
Deep in forests and high on mountain trails;
I can soar on a winged horse
And swim on a turtle’s back;
Adventures beckon and innocence reigns;
Free to wonder, free to live in dreams,
Where I can speak to animals
And fly with fairy wings.

 

I wrote this little poem to celebrate one of my earliest memories. I was about three and I’d begged my mother to make me a pair of fairy wings. We didn’t have those sparkly sheer mesh wings you can buy nowadays. She cut out the sides of a cereal box and I coloured in the shapes. When the elastic was fitted over my shoulders, I felt amazing and couldn’t wait to fly. I remember hopping up and down on our path by the line of red tulips. The wings flapped, but I didn’t lift off for more than a second. So I jumped higher. When I couldn’t even hover, I was inconsolable. I still believed in fairies for a little while, but they had lost their glitter.

 

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Burgers, Chips and a Dog called Barney

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I’m honoured that renowned cartoonist, John Longstaff – Cluff in the Northern Echo – has drawn these wonderful scenes after reading a chapter of my children’s book, Burgers, Chips and a Dog called Barney. John has captured the character of the popular, new burger bar, and lonely Daisy standing outside her grandad’s traditional fish & chip shop.

The inspiration behind writing this book comes from my childhood. My great-grandfather was William Holland, who founded Holland & Barrett in 1870 with Alfred Barrett.  I remember the original shop in my home town of Bishop’s Stortford: it mainly sold groceries and some clothes, but there was a small raised delicatessen on one side. I used to like stepping up to this counter as it felt you were entering a special area. Little did I know how popular the shop would become. On 26th June 2017, The BBC News reported: “Holland & Barrett, the UK’s biggest health food retailer, is being bought by a Russian billionaire for £1.8bn.” There are more than 1,300 stores worldwide. What a shame it’s not still in our family! 

I’m sure my great-grandfather would be sad to see the decline of many of our High Streets today with boarded up shops and For Sale signs. High Streets used to be busy, vibrant places. I loved the annual carnival floats that the local shopkeepers used to decorate; it was a magical time for a child, watching the colourful procession roll past and hearing the joyful music.

I was recently invited to be part of a discussion about the High Street on BBC Radio Newcastle Alfie and Anna at Breakfast (04/12/18).  The programme researcher asked my views on the High Street and I mentioned that I’ve written a children’s book where the children try to save their local shops. When I joined the discussion on-air, I was asked for the title of my book and to explain what tactics the children use to save their High Street. Their quirky slogan wars gain media interest, then a question about chips goes viral. I’ll ask this chip question in a future blog! It was encouraging to hear Alfie Joey say that the book sounds great. Apologies to those who have tried to find Burgers, Chips and a Dog called Barney – it’s not yet published. The book is aimed at 8-12 year-olds. Here’s an extract where the shopkeepers are discussing whether their shops can survive…

Grandad lifts his chin and places one arm over his chest. “The florist’s and the ironmonger’s may have fallen, but the fish & chip shop and the cafe will stand firm. The High Street will face up to every challenge thrown at us!”

Everyone’s smiling and I have a vision of Grandad firing chips into the street. Old Annie’s face is glowing. “We will compete against the out-of-town retail parks.” 

Grandad punches the air. “We shall battle against the unfair business rates. We shall survive the rise of online shopping. We shall never surrender!”

 

 

 

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Cuddly Toys

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When I was a child, I once threw my teddy out of my bedroom window in a fit of temper. We went on holiday the next day and I totally forgot that poor Teddy was lying in the garden. It rained a lot that summer. When I got back two weeks later and saw my soggy teddy looking so sad, I felt very guilty. My mum put him in the washing machine and this was almost worse, seeing him whirling around and around. This is my only surviving photo of my teddy when I was young.

I’m now feeling guilty again as I put Teddy in the loft years ago. A friend has just mentioned that her daughter left her cuddly toy outside and it’s reminded me; so I’ve been searching for my lost toy. I’ve found lots of my children’s old cuddly toys and puppets from my teaching days, but not Teddy, my constant companion when I was a toddler. Later on, he even came to uni with me: something to remind me of home. He had lost a lot of fur and was squished quite flat from being cuddled, but he was mine and I loved him.

Where is he now? It reminds me of Toy Story when poor Woody is discarded in favour of Buzz Lightyear; or when Mr Bean is looking for his teddy, then he is so overjoyed when he finds him, that he gives Teddy a new eye! 

When I taught Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE), I’d often lead a discussion about what three items pupils would save in a disaster, if they had time. A lot of pupils mentioned technical gadgets, but others realised that these could be replaced.

I remember one lesson when a teenage boy bravely mentioned that he would save his cuddly toy. There were a few giggles from other kids which I quietened down. Then he explained that he was given the teddy by his grandma who had passed away. No-one teased him after that. Many of the boys and girls also admitted that they loved their cuddly toys and they were treasured possessions, as they had been through so much together. You can tell your hopes and dreams to a cuddly toy, you can share your fears and worries and disappointments, and they still smile.

 

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Indian Ocean Tsunami

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I’ve taken a long while to write this post. It was a shock and a very humbling experience to meet a student whose family had been caught up in the Indian Ocean tsunami. When I heard that the teenager’s family came from Banda Aceh, scenes of devastation filled my mind. I remembered the TV coverage after the tsunami had hit the shoreline: whole villages annihilated. All you could see from the horrific aerial photos was thick debris.

Fearing the worst, I asked if any of her family had died in the tsunami. I was told that her grandparents, her uncle and cousins, and all her mother’s village had died.

“I’m pleased that you wrote Kiss of the Tsunami, because I don’t want people to forget,” said Sascha. “My family and so many other people were killed; and although it was over thirteen years ago, some people are still coming to terms with what happened.”

Then Sascha opened the file she was carrying and showed me a heart-breaking painting about the loss of her family in the 2004 tsunami. I felt very honoured when she said that I could use it. The following poem was written by Sascha during the workshop after I had read extracts from my novel. It is especially poignant now that I know her background.

The sea roared and crashed and wailed,
In its midst a small child flailed;
But this beast is unrelenting, it has no mercy to spare,
And at last the child takes his last breath of air.

This dark, angry beast was hungry and tall,
Even the strongest opponents did fall;
Man, building and animals alike,
A huge ominous wave their final sight.

Homes, villages and towns torn apart,
Families split breaking the heart.
This one huge event caused so many to cry;
This one huge event caused so many to die.  

On the left of Sascha’s picture is a song which she grew up listening to. The lyrics of this part of the song are translated below.

Tak Bisakah – Peterpan                                           

Could you please wait for me
Still waiting until then
Could you please guide me
Be with me in my life
I walk through the times
Hoping I can find the remains of your heart
Understand I want you to be like that
Understand you are inside my heart

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