How not to write a "Thank You" letter

It's the day after Boxing Day. Every Christmas present has now been opened and the wrapping paper has found its way into the outside bin. After two days of over-indulgence, Mum and Dad decide it's time for the kids to write a few "Thank You" letters before everyone forgets who gave what to whom.

This poem is a cautionary example of how not to do it, sent from a very ungrateful child - a close cousin of The Santa Trap's Bradley Bartleby perhaps?

A Gift Horse in the Mouth

To Auntie Joan and Uncle Ray,

I did say "Thanks" on Christmas day,

but Mum says you gave so much stuff,

just saying it was not enough.

She says the least that I should do

is write a note to say 'Thank you'.

Quite why I should, I do not know,

but Mum insists, so here I go:

Thank you for the action-figure;

my friend has got one - only bigger!

Thank you for the new canoe;

I'll put it with my other two.

Thank you for the Mega-Maze;

a pity that was last year's craze.

Thank you for the cuddly toy;

it's perfect - for a younger boy.

Thank you for the spinning top;

they'll love it - at the charity shop.

Thank you for the painting set;

was this the best that you could get?

And thank you for the microscope;

you still have the receipt, I hope!

Phew! I'm glad I'm done with that!

Yours sincerely,

Spoilt Brat.

P.S. My birthday - DO remember -

is on the second of September!

You can find this, along with some other unpublished poems about toys, in the Early Poems section of my web site.

Hot-Diggerty! What I thought of Mole's stage show.

I took the train down to London yesterday to see Peaceful Lion's new stage show of Bringing Down the Moon. Although it's not the first time one of my picture book's has been adapted for the stage, this was the the first time I'd been to see the show and I have to admit to having some trepidation about the experience - what if I hated it? Fortunately I LOVED it!

The show is currently running in the small "StageSpace" studio theatre at The Pleasance in Islington. I watched it with an enthusiastic audience of young children and their parents. Some of the audience had obviously read the book, as they kept shouting out what was about to happen, but that just added to the humour of what was a very entertaining performance.

In fact, if I have one criticism of the show, it would be that it's actually a little too funny; I'm worried that people might come out of it saying that it was much funnier than my book. I voiced this concern to the cast and crew afterwards and asked them if they could try to make subsequent performances a little less amusing, but I don't think they took my request seriously.

Aside from the uncomfortably high level of hilarity, it was a very enjoyable show with some great songs, lovely costumes and characterful performances from all the cast.

Here's me with the show's adapter and director, Ollie, and the cast,
John, Victoria, Fleur and Henry, after the performance.

Bringing Down the Moon Production Photos

I thought I'd share some of these gorgeous production photos of Peaceful Lion's new stage show of Bringing Down the Moon at The Pleasance Theatre in Islington with you.  They were all taken by Pamela Raith who specialises in performance photography.

Can you guess which character is which?

This character doesn't seem to have 20/20 vision.

But his friend seems to have plenty of bounce!

Who's this prickly looking musician?

This one looks a bit nutty!

It's very beautiful indeed ...

… but not as near as it looks!

You can see more photos of the show here.

Tickets are still available for many performances including the two on Saturday 15th December, when I'll be around to sign books afterwards. Click here to book tickets online.