We have been visiting Porthleven for years now (10 to be precise). It is so stress free and although it sounds boring, I really can’t be bothered with airports, foreign languages and dodgy food. You know where you are with a good old pasty.

I have friends though who love to travel and visit areas of culture or have activities booked for each day they are away. (Lord!). But we are all different aren’t we, and that is what makes the human race so interesting.

So here I am. Raring to go with loads of ideas on my mission to motivate the nation. Spurred on by the fact that my new book  Smutty Putterhouse (all about a lovable dyslexic window cleaner, modelled on Mr Tipping, of course) is now launched in the shops and on Amazon and KTP website. It is an amazing feeling to see your book in print. Although John’s book, Go Play in the Sand, John, has been out for a while now, it is different when it is your own.

The book is about acceptance that we are all different and that we should embrace diversity.  the first story is about Smutty himself as a boy and how he realised that you don’t have to be good at the written word to be a hero. Smutty two and three have been written and are currently with Frances for editing and then we need to arrange for the illustrations to be done. Lots to do.

If you do buy a copy, please let me know what you think. xx

I couldn’t wait to tell John! The good news for dyslexics out there is that they have different types of brains to the average person. Their brains fire off all over the place making them perfect for lateral thinking and great at problem solving. Years ago they would have been the leader of tribes and communities. The problems started as the written word came into play and that was when the rot set it for so many budding leaders and entrepreneurs who suddenly, at the age of 6 or 7, were labelled as slow, stupid or at best ’special needs’.

This could not be further from the truth, as many dyslexic entrepreneurs have proved, but it is certainly a struggle.

But now, we are starting to understand so much more about how the dyslexic mind works and it is totally capable of coping in this age of print – it just needs to be supported and guided differently from an early age. The dyslexic brain is not generally slow – just different.

Margaret Malpas is the Chair Person of the British Dyslexia Association and is passionate about getting this word out there so that children can get the specific support they need and learn the coping strategies that will allow them to lead fulfilling and successful lives with just as much confidence and self esteem as their peers.

It was great to learn about my husband’s brain is wired and explains so much.