Page 22 - link magazine

22
Swiedol Wide
Literature festival author success
puts town on literary tourist trail

During the fortnight of literary
delights, the Swindon Festival
Sunday 22nd February 11am - 4pm of Literature, 1 - 15 May, organ-
at Blunsdon House Hotel, Blunsdon iser Matt Holland is pestered with
& on Sunday 21st March at the same question every year.
He answers it here and makes THE eUR I KUS
DeVere Hotel, West Swindon
some bold predictions. INCIDENT
• Over 40 wedding exhibitors at each event
• FREE show entry What is the highlight? I have never OF THE DOG
really felt able to choose one. Eve-
• Bridal competitions IN THE NIGHT TIMn
rything in the festival has merit and
For further information, visit the website
pleases me. but for different rea-
www.weddin^g-fayre.co.uk sons. So. my answers have been
or call (01793) 840000 evasive, suggesting that there are
many highlights, that every author,
performance and event is a high-
light of sorts. MARK HADOON
theblack&whitemorltgagecompany But this year is different. Even
though I am very pleased that we
Buying a new house, re-mortgaging have famous names coming from The way he tells his story offers
the world of poetry. politics, chil- the astute reader an opportunity
or just looking to reduce costs? dren's books, comedy, law, and not only to be entertained, enlight-
even television, like Benjamin ened. and informed but also to
With access to all major Building Societies and Banks, the can say YES' to ... Zephaniah, Tony Benn. Anne Fine, increase their chances of winning
First time buyers Self employed Buy to let Barry Cryer, Helena Kennedy, and a car rather than a goat, under-
Fixed rates 100% mortgages CCJ's or arrears Clive James, there is one author stand Occam's Razor, learn the
Cash hacks Commercial mortgages Let us find the right and his book, coming to the Arts exact layout of Swindon Railway
Re-mortgages Right-to-buy schemes mortgage jor rou' Centre on 5 May, who represents Station, and discover all sorts of
the unquestioned highlight of this things about themselves. This is a
Call WENDY MATTHEWS on 07967 740178 L'' year's Swindon Festival of Litera- truly funny, serious, and insightful
The Black & White Mortgage Co., Finance House. Towers Business Park, ture. work of literature.
Rugeley, Staffs WS 15 I UZ The author is Mark Haddon and It is very likely, I predict. that in
Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage j the book is The Curious Incident of years to come, at least three sig-
or other loans secured on it. , the Dog in the Night-time, the win- nificant things will happen with and
ner of this year's prestigious as a result of this remarkable book.
Whitbread prize for adult fiction
1. It will be required reading
announced in January. on the school syllabus.
CONSERVATORIES
S WINDOWS & DOORS who lives in Swindon. His name is 2. It will be made into a film.
It tells the story of a teenage boy
Christopher and he finds a dog,
3. Its readers world-wide will make
with a fork sticking through it, newly-
pilgrimages to Swindon.
UPVC FASCIA &
Thanks to a brilliant book about
INSTALLATIONS GUTTERING dead on the lawn. He sets out to a boy struggling to make sense of
find out who killed the dog, while
also, among other things, working life and living in Swindon, our town
for his maths exams, trying to find is now well and truly on the literary
his mother, pondering prime num- and world map!
bers, appeasing his secretive fa- Read it, and see if you agree.
ther, protecting his pet rat, reflect- For further information about the
ing on the mysteries of the uni- festival or to go on its mailing list,
verse, and getting to London with- telephone 771080 or mail:
out money. litfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk
Give your heart vitality for Valentines;
visit the countryside

The importance of good food and exercise can't be stressed enough
and down at Roves Farm we have the perfect solution for the whole
family. an opportunity for children to have fun, let off steam and
experience the countryside, writes Rupert Burr.
We have a variety of different nature walks to exercise those muscles
or you can take one of the more leisurely tractor rides and watch the
countryside springing into life from the comfort of the trailer.
If the weather is less favourable, let the kids explore the full range of
indoor play areas guaranteed to tire them out. And then there's the
animal barn which is so teaming with new life that you can really sense
that Spring is round the corner. In February expect to see new born goat
kids in need of bottle feeding, lots of fluffy yellow chicks and cute
bundles of piglets that demand constant attention.
Roves farm opens again on Saturday 14 February and will be open
Wednesday to Sunday and daily during school holidays from10.30am-
5pm. For details call 763939 or visit www.rovesfarm.co.uk