Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts

Monday, 19 January 2015

No Ginger Rogers

Okay, I'm resurrecting my blog for a while. It's been an age since I posted, so there's probably only three people reading, which is fine, because I want to keep a diary of my latest research project. Don't laugh, but I'm learning to tap dance.

Maybe I should be more accurate and say I'm trying to learn to tap dance. Yes. It's that bad.

I had my first lesson last week. Before that time, I hadn't even worn a pair of tap shoes. I had to rush out and buy some last Monday afternoon. The adult tap class that's local to me isn't a beginner's class though. I'll be okay, I thought. Even the head of the dancing school thought I'd be alright because I've done plenty of other kinds of dance (ballet, modern, contemporary). It did give me a slight heads-up. After all, I know what a ball change is, but other than that it was a bit like saying I'd be fine learning Chinese because I know how to order a glass of wine and a ham sandwich in French. That's what tap feels like at the moment - Chinese for my feet.

Having said that, it is great fun and the ladies at the class are lovely. I just think it would be more fun if I could do the steps instead of flailing around at the back with a vague look of panic on my face. My goal is to be able to actually complete a step combination before half term in February. Just one will do. And it doesn't even have to be a difficult one! Wish me luck. ;-)

Saturday, 19 November 2011

One of the best bits

One of the best bits of my job is getting to research and/or visit interesting places.  My next book is going to be set in a stately home, so today I visited Leeds Castle (near Maidstone in Kent) for some inspiration.  I'm not going to say much more, but just let the pics I took of this fairytale castle do the talking:

Leeds Castle

The bridge to the castle island

The Queen's bedchamber

Little courtyard in the centre of the castle




The library (I want!)

The castle from the lawn on the island

From the centre of the maze

The castle on its island

Sigh.  What more can I say?