Meeting people is so much fun, it is one of the things I enjoy the most; and over the next few days I have a few opportunities to chat with people.

Tomorrow I am visiting a couple bookshops in Bath: Toppings at 10:45 and Mr B’s Emporium at 11:30.  If you see me in Bath please do say hello.

On Saturday evening we are very honoured that Sherston Community Choir are giving some of the proceeds from their Christmas concert to Teach Us Too.  Do come along and support them if you can; I will be there and will bring some books with me to sell and sign.  Christmas sorted: music and present shopping in one!

Earlier this week I was astonished and honoured to find out that my work for Teach Us Too has been shortlisted for the Rising Star Award from the Directory of Social Change.  The Rising Star award is for young people who have had a major impact in their organisation / community by achieving positive change themselves or by engaging others to bring about concrete results.

Having Teach Us Too acknowledged in this way as a recognition of what we are striving to achieve is an amazing endorsement.   Please read the amazing stories of the other people shortlisted for this award and vote for one of us here

What an incredibly moving and highly charged performance of War Horse yesterday in London. What a way to commemorate 100 years after the armistice. As the bells tolled and the poppies fell on the cast, we stood to remember all that the play stood for; the horror, terror and waste; but also our common humanity and hope in the face of adversity.

Poppies falling from the sky, remembering all lives lost in the First World War.

Susannah and me at War Horse

Image from War Horse Facebook page

Before this year I hadn’t been to a book launch – now I’ve  been to two in three months! On Thursday I was honoured to attend the launch of In This Light, a book compiled of thoughts for Christmas by the archbishop of Canterbury and 49 other contributors (including a small piece from me).

Reading my copy of the book has been inspiring – stories and messages of kindness, hope and peace abound within its pages from a diverse spectrum of people ranging from celebrities to a man acquitted from death row.

It is indicative of the kind of person Archbishop Justin is, that in a room of household names, he chose the unknown non-verbal 12 year old to say something.  Indicative of the principles of the baby born that first Christmas that the weak are elevated, those on the margins of society given a voice, those excluded enabled to contribute.

Along with Eye Can Write, this book would make a perfect Christmas gift.

Here is a prayer I wrote for the launch:

Father,

Thank you for bringing us together, as we celebrate the publication of this empowering book. May it help spread the love that you instil within us all, through the beautiful messages of hope, peace and your great unfathomable love demonstrated in sending Jesus.  Within these pages we are also made aware of those in need: the lonely, those caught up in conflict and the broken-hearted.  Draw near to them Lord so that your light may penetrate their lives this Christmas.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen

Mummy reading my speech

deep in conversation

the contributors present at the launch