Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Another One for the Kids

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  • David Haywood,

    Sorry for slowness of response -- we have a sick baby over here, alas. And it looks like (quite seriously) we're all too sick to have Christmas this year.

    Isabel Hitchings and Paul Litterick: very glad that your young 'uns enjoyed the story. Likewise glad that Sofie Bribiesca enjoyed it for herself.

    Evan Yates portrait of King Albert Otter is sheer genius.

    Hope everyone has a lovely NZ Christmas!

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And it looks like (quite seriously) we're all too sick to have Christmas this year.

    First it was "oh not enough of you bought our book so we had to eat gravel", now its "ohmigod we've got the plague".

    I'm suspecting you just don't like Christmas.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    And it looks like (quite seriously) we're all too sick to have Christmas this year.

    Oh no! And sick babies are such pathetic little things. My commiserations to all three of you.

    I'll be adding Albert Otter to our night-before-Christmas-reading. Anything to distract les filles from what they are rapidly finding to be the very longest day of the year.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    Yay! Bob-the-baby much better this morning. Christmas un-cancelled as of 10.02am GMT!

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    Critics' report

    I have just read it to my daughters. Herewith their comments.

    "I liked the bit where they all went, 'Oh Al-__bert__!' "

    "I liked it when everyone got cheap fish dinners."

    "I like it, but I couldn't figure out whether it was he was a cat or a dog until he jumped into the lake."

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Yay! Bob-the-baby much better this morning. Christmas un-cancelled as of 10.02am GMT!

    Excellent! Merry Christmas all.

    I got a Circulon wok. It is precious.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I got the Ironclad gloves (for all the tough jobs) and a rather tall pottery sculpture that sways in the breeze and tinkles. Not sure who the Artist is, though I will find out. Cool. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Bob Munro,

    I got a gardening spade.

    Ditto: an orange one.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 418 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    I got a book with the standard mezzo-soprano musical literature, complete with sing-along CDs. That will be nice for the neighbours. And I got Stephanie Alexander's Cook's Companion, 2nd edition, which I have coveted ever since it came out.

    The children didn't wake us up until 6.05am.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I vote "otterly" as the new awesome.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Chapman,

    And I got Stephanie Alexander's Cook's Companion, 2nd edition, which I have coveted ever since it came out.

    Ooh, good score. I used Stephanie's advice for glazing the Xmas ham.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    And I got Stephanie Alexander's Cook's Companion, 2nd edition, which I have coveted ever since it came out.

    Cartoon Modern for me. Which is nice - I've been a fan of the 'blog for ages!

    http://www.cartoonbrew.com/

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Hmmmm I got an Oven glove. Babybloke got a front tooth and a cold, however he thought enough of the story to bash the keyboard gleefully with a desert spoon (toy of the week).

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Ian MacKay,

    Have printed the Otter triumph and will give it to teacher friends to trial. If it is a success I will only extract 50% in royalties. Spike would be very impressed with the story but he is dead so its up to us to soldier on and chuckle. (If you know how.)

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • Julie Fairey,

    I got a Circulon wok. It is precious.

    Ah, one wok to bring them all and in the darkness bind them? Just what do you have planned for PA in 2009 Russell?!

    I got the complete Black Books on dvd which I am quite excited about as I've only seen two episodes so have a lot of fresh enjoyment to come. Wriggly got a ridiculous number of toys and was quite delighted with himself and the day in general, not least the shiny cameras and wrapping paper all around.

    I shall try your marvellous Otter story on him but fear his extreme youth may make him a poor critic at this time. We'll get back to you in about a year I suspect ;-)

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    Ian MacKay wrote:

    Have printed the Otter triumph and will give it to teacher friends to trial. If it is a success I will only extract 50% in royalties.

    Oh, I'd be quite interested to hear the results.

    Although I should point out that Jolisa's agent (a certain Gemma Gracewood) only charges 0% in fees, AND she has managed to secure a movie deal.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Thanks David. That story was enjoyed by young and old. But please could I make a request for the future. One day would you write about manatees? There are not many stories featuring manatees even though they are cuter than otters, way more endangered, and related to mermaids.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Easterbrook,

    The Triumph of Hugh Manatee, perhaps?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report Reply

  • Heather W.,

    Which Triumph? Can't see it being a bike. Though one would think from some reports that all humanity went around in Droves e.g. "Left the country in droves"

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Thanks for the Manatees? Unfortunately, (possibly) the most disturbing manatee-related book title isalready taken.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • David Hamilton,

    My favourite Manatee related youtube video:

    Awww

    Hamiltron • Since Nov 2006 • 111 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Awww

    Awwwww!


    Least favourite. Excuse the shonky Squigglevision.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    www.savethemanatee.org

    tells you all about manatees and you can even 'adopt' one and get a photo and reports of sitings as they roam around the shallows of Florida avoiding dangerous boat propellers.

    Emma - I've just borrowed that book 'Naked came the Manatee' from a friend who bought it at one of the Wellington Public Library's sell-offs. It is a 'wickedly funny Florida suspense thriller, written serially by thirteen of the state's most talented writers' ! Not sure how the manatee features but apparently Fidel Castro makes an appearance.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Anna I,

    Fantastic as always David!

    On an entirely unrelated note, I bought 'My First Stabbing' as a Christmas present for my boyfriend, who is now a Southerly convert. We both loved it; his only comment was that he finished it too quickly! Looking forward to the second book.

    Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are feeling better. Happy new year all.

    London • Since Jul 2008 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    Anna I wrote:

    Fantastic as always David!

    On an entirely unrelated note, I bought 'My First Stabbing' as a Christmas present for my boyfriend, who is now a Southerly convert. We both loved it; his only comment was that he finished it too quickly!

    .... Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are feeling better.

    Delighted that you enjoyed the story and the book, Anna. And may I say that your purchase is a wonderful example to all PA readers...

    Bob and I much better, thank you, but Jennifer still coughing like a clapped-out coalminer. It seems the whole of Newcastle has the bug (hope it hasn't reached you down in London)

    Hilary Stace wrote:

    Thanks David. That story was enjoyed by young and old. But please could I make a request for the future. One day would you write about manatees?

    Curiously, I have a very old story (overlong and badly in need of re-writing) about a dugong -- which is quite close to a manatee.

    Rudyard Kipling in The Jungle Book has a story called 'The White Seal' that features manatees in an important role (although they were called 'sea cows' in the book). He seems to have been underwelmed by their cuteness, alas.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

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