The greatest storyteller who lived...

Did you watch the Great Expectations remake on the BBC over the Christmas? It was magical!
I love Dickens and being a massive fan of any type of book or story which lends itself to the theme of a fairytale or Childrens story grabs me instantly.
I loved Ali Shaw's Girl with the Glass feet and Erick Setiawan's Of Bees & Mist, Audrey Niffenegger is another big favourite of mine with her dark and disturbing tales about time travel and mirror image twins. But if i was to chose a classic writer who i would class as one of my favourites it would have to be Dickens.

Maybe it's because he grew up in Chatham and Rochester and that his final house was his childhood dream of Gads Hill in Higham, or maybe its because his stories with all their magic and wonder were based on places within my own town like Pip's Forge from Great Expectations or Peggoty's boat house from David Copperfield or the mysterious Satis house in Rochester High Street or maybe its just that he has a magical way of telling a tale, of capturing a character and painting an image with words.

When i walk or drive past these places mentioned above i try to image what they would have looked like in Dickens time, no 1920's red brick houses surrounding them or 1970's office blocks, just open space and marsh land. A beautiful and dangerous place which has been tamed and shaped by man.

The places i know and love would have looked completely different in his time but it seems the atmosphere is still there of the story he has created. The forge is still a small wonky looking building and you can just imagine the cold creeping in through the gaps in the walls as Pip lay in bed, the original Satis house is imposing and grand with wrought iron gates and ivy clad walls conjoring up images of decay and cobwebs inside. Sadly the boat house has since been demolished but thankfully the photo remains of its strange shape.

There are plans to create a museum dedicated to Dickens life in his former home of Gads Hill which should be finished this year, they are to move the children out into a new purpose built school in the grounds and re open the house as it would have been in Dickens time. I can't wat to go and visit!

This year marks the 200th Birthday of Charles Dickens and celebrations are on throughout the country for this talented English Treasure.
Above is a mini moleskin journal i have created in celebration of the occasion, it's £5.00 and has postage of £2.00, i shall be adding more Dickens themed journals soon so keep your eyes peeled for your favourite character, they would also make great presents for any Dicken's fans like myself.

It's a short week for me at work as we had the bank holiday on monday and i am off on Friday and heading to Wiltshire the home of Stonehenge and Castle Coombe, Im staying in Devizes and celebrating Ashley's grandads 70th birthday. It should be lots of fun and lovely to escape to the countryside for a night with Ash and im looking forward to our little road trip across the beautiful countryside.

Must dash got work to do :(
But have a lovely day and hope the sun keeps on shining
Gem
xxx