Letter from the author.

I must apologise for not keeping up with this blog. After a rather hectic Christmas and New year and Easter, I am beginning to find the time to tell you what is happening.

I still am writing and Oliver and the Little People will soon be in the hands of a new publisher. I have a new series called Tilly and Toby Investigate the Creepy Castle. This will be published at the end of the year.

A lot of people seemed to have trouble obtaining Oliver Patterson and the Model Village, in the next few weeks I hope to be able to solve this problem. Keep watching this site for the latest news.

I hope you all enjoy the Oliver blog stories. I will restart writing them in the next few weeks. Once again I am sorry I have not written the blog, if you have any questions to ask me either use the blog for comments or go to the Forum.

Keep watching for my big surprise.


R B Mountford

Oliver's Blog

Christmas was great! Ben and I had a fantastic time. When his parents arrived they made a big fuss of me and I liked that. I am sad that I did not see my mum and dad over the holidays.

I got lots of presents and I will tell you about some of them later. What was most strange was a parcel that Grandpa would not let me open. He said it could not be opened until Easter (how daft, I don’t even know who it is from). I mean what’s the point of a Christmas present that can only be opened at Easter?

Ben got a train set and I got a racing car set. We had great fun playing with them.


We are glad to be back at school (now Ben is here it is a lot better). His parents have gone back home so it is not so noisy in the house. I am sure Grandma misses cooking for everyone; our plates of food are getting bigger everyday. I will have to tell her to stop giving us so much or else I might go pop.

Grandpa lets us explore the model village on our own, now it is closed for the winter. Ben says he still does not feel safe when we are there. I told him not to be so silly, what could be dangerous in there? After all it is only a model village?


I will write again when I have more time, I must start my homework, I was meant to finish it during the holidays and tomorrow is the last day to give it in so I must be quick. Hope you all had a smashing holiday.

Happy new year to you all

Ollie

Grandma's Chat

Once again Christmas is here. Oliver and Benjamin are hanging up their stockings, ready for a special visitor tonight. They are so excited about tomorrow. Benjamin says he cannot wait for Christmas dinner! There are some very special presents under the tree for them and I hope they will be pleased with the surprises.


Grandpa seems rather busy in the Model Village, it is most strange! I hope we see him on Christmas day, something is not quite right and he will not tell me what's wrong.

Benjamin's parents arrive later today, this should make him very happy. I just wish Oliver's parents were here that would make his Christmas day complete.


Most of the preparations are over. Now it is just cooking the turkey dinner on the big day. I must say that is one dinner I do enjoy making.


Let Christmas bring you joy and happiness. I hope you get what you want on your list to Father Christmas!

May I take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.


I will write again before the new year



Grandma.

Oliver's Blog

Hello friends

Sorry I have not written for a long time but Grandpa said until I started to behave, he did not want me talking to you.

What do you think of Ben? He is my best friend ever. I am so glad he is staying with me.

I am behaving at school and the teacher says I am making good progress (whatever that means).

The decorations in the house are finished and now I am sure Santa will know where Ben and I will be on Christmas Eve? I just hope I get lots of presents.

Grandma asked if I have sent my list to Santa. I will write it after I have finished this letter. I cannot make up my mind what I want! I would like a computer game but I don’t know what the best games are. The other thing I want is a skateboard but I don’t think I will get one because Grandpa says they are too dangerous and he does not want to spend Christmas morning in casualty. So I will put it on the list and see what Santa says!

We are having a carol service today. I really love the smashing songs. It makes me look forward to Christmas Day. We break up on Friday and in the afternoon we are having a school disco. I just hope the girls will not embarrass Ben?

I am feeling a bit sad because I will not see my mum and dad over Christmas. Still as long as I have my Maggot to cuddle it won’t seem so bad!

On Saturday I am going to Holbury town with Ben and Jack. Grandpa is taking us and we are going to buy Christmas presents. I just hope I have saved enough money to buy them all?

On Sunday we are going to Jack’s for dinner. I wonder if it will be turkey. I hope not. I want to save that for Christmas Day!

Grandpa has finished the Model Village decorations. I asked him why he did it (after all the village is closed for the winter!) He looked at me, tapped the side of his nose with his finger and said, “I will explain when you are older Oliver”. Now that makes me fed up. I just wish he would stop saying it and answer me properly?

Ben does not like going into the Model Village, he says it is a bit scary. I don’t know what he means, it seems alright to me.

I must finish now or I will be late for the Carol service and I need to do my Santa list. I hope you are looking forward to Christmas, I know I am.

I will write again soon

Ollie.

Benjamin Billingham's Blog

Hi everybody.

You do not know me but my name is Ben Billingham. I am Ollie best friend. I feel so funny going to the village school and what is worse is there are GIRLS. In my other school it is all boys, but now I have to share a classroom with girls.

Ollie says the village children are quite nice. I meet Jack Timpson and I like him. I look forward to having a few adventures with him?

Grandpa says Ollie is better now I am here and we are both looking forward to breaking up from school and starting the Christmas holidays.

I have written to Father Christmas asking him for a BMX bike just like Ollie’s (only I want a red one), then we will be able to ride round the village, not the model village if we do that we will get a good telling off from Grandpa.

Grandpa has put up the Christmas tree in the house, Grandma decorated it and it looks smashing. He is putting up decorations in the model village, I do not know why because it is now closed.

I am writing this letter on the school computer. I must hurry up because they do not like us using school computers to go onto the internet and I don’t want to get caught!

We are having a carol service in the village church this Thursday and I am really looking forward to it. I love singing carols I think they are great songs and the music is good.

Grandma told me that my parents are coming to see me at Christmas. I was going home to them for the holidays but Ollie wants me to stay with him. I don’t mind that after all I will see my parents and Ollie will not see his. So as long as my parents are here I do not mind staying.

On Sunday Ollie and I explored the model village. The decorations and lights look smashing, but I would not want to go into the village on my own; I don’t know why but it makes me feel a bit scared. Ollie says it’s alright but I don’t know what to make of it?

Ollie has promised if I write the first letter he will write the next. I know he does not like doing it but when he makes me a promise he always does what he says.

Sorry but I have to go. I saw a teacher go past the door and she looked in and I think she saw me. As I said we are not allowed in here without a teacher. I hope you are all looking forward to the holidays, I know I am.

Have a smashing Christmas

I will write again

Ben.

R B Mountford's Letter

Sorry I have not added to the blog lately but this is due to the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day and my work schedule needs at least 26 hours to be able to catch up.

I hope you enjoy reading the blog from Holbury St Michael. I will soon write more of the life of Oliver and his family in the Model Village.

I hoped that by writing the blog, it would create a discussion group. However it was pointed out that if I wanted people to join in I would have to explain how to reply and leave comments.

If you look at the end of each blog there is my name, the time the letter is posted and the word comments. If you click on this word it will take you into a page to leave a comment or question. The page shows how to publish your questions or remarks.

At this moment of time the second book in the series (Oliver Patterson and the Little People) is due to be published in the New Year. If you have read the first book then I know you will be eager to read this next instalment.

I am pleased to announce that a new series of books called Tilly and Toby Investigate are well underway. The first book Tilly and Toby Investigate the Creepy Castle will be published in the early part of 2009.

If you want any information about my books please leave a message on the blog or forum which is accessed from the home page. I look forward to any questions or comments. Tell me what you want to know about the characters and I will do my best to reply.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog



Have a wonderful day

R B Mountford.

Grandma's Chat

Hello my dears.

Today I have some good news and some that is rather sad.

Now let me give you the good news first. Ben has finally arrived, (what a journey the poor boy had!). Perhaps he will help Oliver write a blog, that way he can tell you about it!


Oliver is happy at last and finally he looks forward to attending the village school. Ben says the school is great fun compared to the strictness of Highcrest.

Now it saddens me to announce that we might not be able to continue with this blog for a while. We are so busy running the model village and caring for two boys and one dog that there is just not enough time in the day to complete all our work.

Oliver has a lot of catching up to do and Ben needs to find out what different lessons he may have.

One of the problems is we do not know if anyone is interested in our story. Oliver Patterson and the Model Village. We are not aware if anyone who visits our website has read about Oliver’s adventures. Also we do not know if people are interested in the village of Holbury St Michael. We need people to ask questions on the blog or start chatting on our forum.

As you may be aware the book is about a boy in a Model Village in England. But do not forget the village contains many secrets. Read the book. Learn the secrets and enjoy the story. If you find you cannot purchase the book, please leave your comments on the Forum and we will do our best to rectify the situation. If you ask a question it will receive an answer.

The English winter will soon be upon us and days are much shorter. This is the time to curl up indoors and be transported into the world of Oliver Patterson. Although the book is written for children, our most recent fan is a seventy year old grandmother. So the book suits young and old alike.


Enjoy your day.


Grandma Patterson