It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, in that uniquely Taiwanese way. Some of our favourite haunts in Tainan which have Christmas decorations up all the year round are feeling suddenly in season. And outside the big shopping centres, families are posing in front of fake snowy landscapes, while nearby speakers play jaunty muzak versions of Jingle Bells. It’s all very cheery—despite the disappointment of not yet having found a single mince pie anywhere here in Taiwan.
And, in keeping with the season, next weekend, I’m going to be up in Taipei, working with the folks at House of Story Wear in beautiful, historical Dadaocheng, as a part of their Great British Christmas Festival. I’ll be running two workshops, one for children—telling stories from my picture book The Snorgh and the Sailor—and one for adults, sharing some stories from Tâigael: Stories from Taiwanese & Gaelic, and inviting participants to share stories of their own. Both workshops will be interactive, and will focus on how we can tell stories that warm the heart and inspire the spirit of adventure. I’m told there will be whiskey at the latter event (but not, obviously, at the former event). And I’m still holding out for those mince pieces.
The events will be bilingual—or multilingual, as I’ll be inviting people to write and share stories in any languages they choose—and will be lots of fun. You can find out more by going to the event page.
