This exciting journey truly began today, as I was welcomed to Sunderland in the North of England, by the teachers and ten members of the student council.
I was spoilt rotten, being given a guided tour and tasty lunch, but what was best was meeting the apprentice Fairy-tale Hunters.
The student council had a fun time grilling me about where I had been on previous hunts, what kinds of art I had made in the past and why I was coming to their school. I told them about journeys into Ukraine, over the Arctic Circle and across Russia to China. Perhaps you can find pictures of me in the website from these journeys? The council surprised me with their wonderful imaginative ideas of how they would like to take part in this hunt. They thought of which were their Favourite Fairy Tales, about how to collect Family Tales and to have a “Fairy Tale lucky dip box” in their class rooms. They also thought about inventing new imaginary characters.
To make sure that we would remember everything we all drew funny pictures of our thoughts and the apprentice fairy-tale hunters elect said that they would tell all their friends about what to do before I returned. I’ve included some of our pictures here.
On returning to my special base behind “The Shop” I was visited by some friends who were born near Sunderland years ago. They told me about the “Lampton Worm” (I have yet to confirm this story and I must ask the students when I go back up North).
I also must remember to deliver my parcels of art materials and special Fairy-tale Hunter badges. They have only just arrived back from the far West, as those who are following me on twitter will know already. I think I might just try to land on the roof, but I’ll have to check if the carpet is up for the journey, next week.
Also it would be fun to leave a few clues and surprises for all the children to discover. Mmmmmmm? I wonder if I still have some of those magic beans or maybe my underground miner friends can spare some fairy dust. I must remember to leave a few clues on twitter too.
I hope you can join us all as I travel across the world and as I am guided by the apprentices. I wonder what they will ask me to do and where they will lead me? I will start by travelling to Kolkata in India. This an amazing place to start as it is totally stuffed full of wonder and magic. I think I will jump aboard a big metal bird as it is thousands of miles away from England.
As I sit here I remember what a friendly place Sunderland is that I saw giant bridges everywhere and new sport stadiums built on top of old mines. I must remember that I might be in need of a translator for India and Nepal.