A Pharaoh Abroad - A Day Out

30.7.14

A Day Out! 

Today after breakfast I swam in the swimming pool with Joss again. After a bubbling hour or so in the pool, Dad, Super, Isaac, Jani and I went out for a special day. 

We visited the Sala Hotel for a drink and a little run around the beach and there to my joyful realisation there was sand! I was so happy that we celebrated with a drink yum eeeeeeh! I loved the vanilla milkshake nearly as much as my Egyptian gran with her sunken eyes and gum less jaw. Oh and those big glasses. I certainly love my Gran her name is Mrs Seawreakbottombooo. 

We slowly made our way to the Orchid as everyone was to meet there. We all thoroughly enjoyed a drink at the Orchid. Super, Bonnie and I found a very energetic toad. To my utter amusement Super kissed the toad on the lips thinking that it would turn her into a beautiful Princess however Super learned the hard way that it was not to be. We then went to Akbar an Indian restaurant. We all had our meals. Dad and I chose Tandoori Chicken, well Dad basically did all the thinking! So reluctantly I ate a smidgen of the meat however it was more of a plateful. After this we went to the Floating Markets. Dad and I however just looked around whilst Shakira and Bonnie decided to buy a beautiful necklace decorated with a Crocodile tooth. I soon grew weary and fell asleep in my Dad’s arms. When I woke up I was tucked up tightly in my bed nice and snug.

Mummi with a bit of help from Joss Abbs-Brown, aged 10.

A Pharaoh Abroad - Friends!?

29.7.14

Friends!?

For breakfast my Dad and his Dad, Ian, went to a bakery and bought some croissants and pastries. We then walked back to our villa and enjoyed them. I personally loved them. 

We had a lazy day so all we basically did was enjoy ourselves, have fun and most importantly swim! Well except for Bonnie and Super as Bonnie was locked up in her own room as she is the shyest and Super was off saving Sea Maids in distress. After a relaxing day in we all went into Choeng Mon to see friends and have dinner. 

At night we went to the Orchid and saw Ning busy and working. When she could spare us some time we caught up with each other’s lives. After we had eaten we looked around at some shops and market stalls. We learned, however, that one of our friends Joe had moved on. We found a bar and had a nice refreshing drink. Soon it was time to go home so we caught a taxi and went home.

Mummi with a bit of help from Joss Abbs-Brown, aged 10.

A Pharaoh Abroad - But a Lotus is a Flower!

28.7.14 

But A Lotus is A Flower!

After we had breakfast we got a taxi to Tesco Lotus. As soon as we got there we happily looked in the shops. Dad and I couldn’t help to peel our eyes off a really cute ginger bread man. We then looked around Tesco Lotus. We bought some food and got a taxi back to our villa. 

We went swimming for a while. I’m glad to say that I did not encounter any of the sarcastic seaweed. I remember once when I saw a bunch of them and they pointed and jeered at me shouting “Hail the Prince of Nile!” and then one would point out and call back “NOT!!!” and then they would all laugh. 

Soon it was time for dinner so we met up with Jill at Zico’s, a very expensive Brazilian Buffet. When we were seated we were showed the starter bar. Dad and I had some Minestrone soup. It was deliciously and tropically fantastic. We also had some very tender meat which included pork, chicken and duck. But I’m not really much of a meat fan. Therefore I did not eat much. We had a chat and caught up with each other. Jill soon said goodbye and departed and so did we. We waited for a taxi driver we were acquainted with very well, Kate. Kate soon picked us up and dropped us off at our villa. Dad and I had some pink milk for our bed time drink.

Mummi with a bit of help from Joss Abbs-Brown, aged 10.

A Pharaoh Abroad - The Journey Continues

27.7.14

The Journey Continues…

When we woke up we all enjoyed a bit of breakfast. Then we got a shuttle bus back to Bangkok Airport as we were catching a plane to Koh Samui. While we were waiting for Shakira, Bonnie and Ian, we looked around. We walked past many shops but the one that caught our attention was a big toy shop. This was when we had a new addition to our already overwhelming family. His name is Ollie. Ollie is a cute little whale. Soon we met up with the rest of our family who looked rosy and cheery, the heat of Thailand already affecting them. When we arrived at the Gate we showed our boarding passes and passports and boarded.

On board Dad and I read some more of The Shadow of the Hawk as it was a great book. We were there before we knew it. The air was hot and humid like Egypt. After we had collected our luggage we were taken to our villa. It had a big swimming pool. Isaac, Shakira, Dad and me went straight away into the pool, Whoooo Hoooooooo! 

We then went to the Happy Elephant for dinner and met up with an old friend called Jill who is from Australia and she is the Godmother to my lucky father Joss. After we had chatted and told our tales we departed and announced our pleasure to be in each other’s company. We then went back to the villa and went to sleep.

Mummi with a bit of help from Joss Abbs-Brown, aged 10.

A Pharaoh Abroad - Bangkok

26. 7. 14.

Bangkok

We landed at Bangkok Airport and I was overwhelmed with happiness and joy. Once we had checked in and gone through immigration and security we had a wander and stretched our legs. We then caught a shuttle bus to the Novotel near the Airport as we were staying there the night because our flight was the day after. 

The Novotel was a grand place. There were shops and restaurants dotted everywhere. A man greeted us at the door and took our heavy luggage and allowed us to keep our hand luggage. Afterwards we checked into our room and had some breakfast. Dad and I shared a pain au chocolat. I loved it. I think the very first dish of its kind to find its way down my throat in a long time. 

After we had eaten our fair share of food we went upstairs to look at our rooms. Dad and I got a suite! Eeeeek! I was so excited. We all had a nap as we were all tired and jet lagged. 

Afterwards we went downstairs. Dad bought some macaroons as he is addicted to them. Personally I prefer sea weed soup but I didn’t add my wig worth. We had lunch at one of the buffet restaurants. Dad and I shared crab meat wrapped up in a crab head shell. NOW THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! After we had gorged ourselves on crab meat we all decided to go swimming well if Dad, Isaac, Super and me count, that’s everyone. I love water and the sea as you see I come from Egypt. You may think that I lived in a posh stuck up pyramid or mansion. I lived in the Nile well obviously I’m a Sea Monkey. Yes that’s right I’m the Prince of the Nile the 8th Wonder of the World. When a few hours were up we went back to our room and watched a smidgen of TV. 

We all soon grew hungry. So we all went down to the buffet. Dad and I had a bit of everything. Some prawns and some soup and even I dread to put this down… MACAROONS! Right I need to say sorry. I could see how my father adored them as the crispy sugary layers were so lovely and sweet and the icing inside was interestingly tantalising. Soon we needed to go to bed so we all floated off to dreamland.

Mummi with a bit of help from Joss Abbs-Brown, aged 10.

A Pharaoh Abroad - The Journey Begins

Introduction

Hello, diary my name is Mummi. I am from Egypt. Some people call me Prince of the Nile and I might even be the 8th Wonder of the World. Well enough about me more about my family. My Dad, Joss, adopted me at the Manchester Children's Book Festival. There are also my two uncles, Ned and Isaac, my only auntie Shakira and my two favourite Grandparents, Ian and Jani not to mention Bonnie and Super (the mischievous Sea Monkeys). 

25.7.14

The Journey Begins

Today we have taken a taxi to Manchester Airport. I was so thrilled and excited and so was all my family especially my Dad who has a deep regard for Thailand. 

As soon as we got there we had to check in and then to get through security, we had to get in a long queue. 

Finally we made it past security and into a big area full of restaurants and shops. We had to have some breakfast before we boarded so we went to a favoured family restaurant, The Giraffe, and I came to understand why as the food was so scrumptious. After we had filled ourselves full of food we ran quickly to our gate where we showed our boarding passes and then we were off.

On the plane Dad and I had a little nap and then set about reading. My Dad read me a book from a series called Wereworld the author is Curtis Jobling. The book we were reading is called The Shadow of the Hawk. We enjoyed reading a few chapters of it. This plane only took 2hours as our destination was Finland. Once we arrived and got off the plane it was about 3:00 in the afternoon. Our plane was set to leave at 5:10 and take least 10:00 hours.

Whilst we were waiting we had some lunch which consisted of two bowls of soup, a few packets of crisps, a baguette and a few drinks which came to a whopping £60 pounds which Dad and I thought was ludicrous. Therefore we weren’t happy! After this it was time to rush to the gate and just about managed to board the plane in the nick of time.

On board the plane we saw how the buildings and houses of Finland grew smaller and smaller until they were just minuscule blots on the horizon as we soared through the air. While the plane seemingly made painful progress Dad and I watched a few movies. Our favourite though was Mr Peabody and Sherman which I personally thought was hilarious. It was about a Dog called Mr Peabody and he adopts a boy called Sherman. For his birthday Mr Peabody creates a time machine called The Way Back. We also watched The Lego Movie where a boy uses his imagination to the fullest and creates a whole Lego world of his own. We also watched a few cartoons. 

When we were served dinner, Dad and I couldn’t eat it all as it was disgusting! Afterwards, Dad and I watched a few more movies and then we had a nap, one which was desperately needed as when we woke up we found that we were landing.

Mummi with a bit of help from Joss Abbs-Brown, aged 10.

Sea Monkey Raffle Raises Over £500 for ReadWell UK

Sadly, the 2014 Manchester Children’s Book Festival has come to an end. We had a fantastic week packed full of incredibly talented children’s authors at various venues across Greater Manchester. 

Sea Monkeys were donated to Manchester Children’s Book Festival by talented knitters and creative crafters, and were raffled off throughout the Festival to help raise money for ReadWell UK. ReadWell is a charity that regularly provides brand new, carefully selected, fun and interesting books to children in hospitals throughout the UK. It is a fantastic cause, of which we are lucky enough to have working hard in Manchester Children’s Hospital.

We held multiple raffles over the course of the 11 day Festival, winners are as follows:

Friday 27th June – Manchester Children’s Book Festival Launch Gala

Andrew Biswell, Professor of Modern Literature at Manchester Metropolitan University, won Frankie

Jess Collinson-Shields from Browne Jacobson won Happy

Frankie (Left) Happy (Right)

Saturday 28th June – Festival Family Fun Day

Haleh Moravej, Senior Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, won Uncle Diógo

Neil Harrison, History student and Editor in Chief of Student Press Office at Manchester Metropolitan University, won Bubbles for his children

Bubbles (Left) Uncle Diógo (Right)

Friday 4th July – David Almond in Conversation with Livi Michael

Tatyana Kartojunsky from Didsbury won Ollie

Isaac Abbs-Brown won Super, the super hero themed Sea Monkey

Ollie (Left) Super (Right)

Saturday 5th July – Cathy Cassidy, Darren Shan, Michael Morpurgo and Coope, Boyes & Simpson

Paul Davies won Zom, the Zom-B by Darren Shan themed Sea Monkey

Our second winner, ‘Poppy’, has not came forward! If you bought a raffle ticket at one of these events and your name is Poppy please contact us! You can send us an email with your raffle ticket number at r.bruce@mmu.ac.uk

Zom

Sunday 6th July – Carol Ann Duffy and John Sampson: Musical Afternoon Tea

Isabelle from Urmston won Maddy

Eleanor MacConnell of Musselburgh won Pierre

Joss Abbs-Brown won Mummi, the Secret Agent Mummy by Steve Cole themed Sea Monkey

Shakira Abbs-Brown won Bonnie

Maddy (Left) Pierre (Right)

Mummi (Left) Bonnie (Right)

Special End of Festival Raffle

Chris Connor won Cap’n Jesse Spike, the Vampirates by Justin Somper themed Sea Monkey

Cap'n Jesse Spike the Vampirate

We raised well over £500 from the Sea Monkey raffles, which combined with various other Sea Monkey money raising campaigns brings our grand total to a magnificent £1011! This means ReadWell will be able to buy a fantastic 185 books to cheer up children in the Manchester Children’s Hospital, as well as hiring a professional storyteller to read to the children. 

You can donate to ReadWell anytime you like:

Online: www.readwell.org.uk/donate

Text: READ98 £5 to 70070 (or your chosen amount)

Post: Send cheques payable to ReadWell at ReadWell, 26 Nailsworth Mills, Nailsworth, Glos, GL6 0BS

Thank you for everyone who contributed to ReadWell as part of the Manchester Children’s Hospital, and congratulations to all of our winners. If you didn’t win a Sea Monkey this time, don’t worry! We have a few select Sea Monkeys remaining and will be holding competitions as part of Manchester Children’s Book Festival in the run up to next year’s Festival.