Whizzpopping renovated Roald Dahl Museum is scrumdiddlyumptious

From a battered armchair in a hut tucked away in the English countryside, author Roald Dahl dreamed up worlds that have enchanted youngsters (and adults) across the globe.

Stuffed with hundreds of weird and wonderful mementos, the garden hut was where the children's novelist wrote his fantastical tales.

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, including a recreation of the hut, in the same village of Great Missenden where Dahl lived, has reopened to the public following an extensive renovation triggered by a flash flood. "You can get the books and movies around the world, but we are in the place where the stories were generated. That's the magic of coming here," says museum director Steve Gardam.

British novelist Roald Dahl (1916 - 1990 Getty Images

The space offers visitors a glimpse into the man and method behind some of the best-loved stories of the 20th century, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and James and the Giant Peach.The novels written by Dahl, who died in 1990 aged 74, have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide and have been turned into blockbuster films.

He invented hundreds of words and terms, such as whizzpopping, Oompa-Loompas, gobblefunk, snozzcumbers and scrumdiddlyumptious.

Born in Cardiff in Wales in 1916 to a Norwegian family, Dahl’s writing career began with weekly letters home from boarding school, creatively circumnavigating his unhappiness. He went on to work for oil giant Shell in Dar es Salaam, in what is now Tanzania, then served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Though an air ace, he was badly injured in a crash-landing in Libya in 1940. Later in the war, he worked for British intelligence in Washington.

A sculpture of Roald Dahl character Matilda is seen next to one of US President Donald Trump at the newly renovated Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre AFP

The museum, set in a former coaching inn on the village high street and the home of Dahl’s complete archive, is a combination of his real and fantasy worlds. At the entrance, visitors walk through giant Wonka chocolate bar doors and are assailed by the smell of cocoa. Inside, they can find objects such as his RAF flying helmet, logbook, binoculars and annotated map of Egypt. Dahl needed back operations due to his war injuries and kept a vial of his spinal shavings in his writing hut – plus the ball of his replaced thigh bone.

The interior of the hut was transferred to the museum from the family home in the village. The replica also contains family pictures, cigarette butts, his glasses and cane, plus a heavy ball of foil made up from chocolate bar wrappers that he added to daily. Even dust from the spartan hut – years of pencil shavings and eraser fragments – was transferred across.

Matilda versus Trump

The revamped museum aims to show how Dahl was inspired by the village in which he lived from 1954 until his death. Many of the landmarks of Great Missenden appear in the author's novels. The village contains the high street of crooked houses that the BFG marched along; the petrol pumps from Danny, the Champion of the World, plus Matilda's orphanage and library.

Dahl is buried in the churchyard, along with a snooker cue and a favourite power tool. Well-wishers often leave pencils.

To celebrate this year's 30th anniversary of Matilda, The Roald Dahl Story Company – the family firm that owns his copyright – surveyed fans on who the forthright schoolgirl would be taking on nowadays. United States president Donald Trump topped the list and a cartoon fibreglass statue of Matilda facing down a blustering Trump now stands in the museum's courtyard.

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Reading Dogs UAE aims to help children who may be shy of reading out loud

UAE parents should embrace technology to get children reading more, experts say

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Brief scores:

Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)

England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)

Result: Scotland won by six runs

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”

Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank

How to help or find other cats to adopt

There are many that often look for volunteers or other types of assistance. They include:

Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi

Sandy Paws

Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter

Feline Friends Abu Dhabi

Animal Action UAE

Yanni Animal Welfare

Middle East Animal Foundation

Rescue Animals in Need United Arab Emirates

Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Centre

UAQAC Umm Al Quwain Animal Care

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

DUBAI CARNIVAL RESULTS

6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m

Winner Dubai Future, Harry Bentley (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).

7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

Winner Dubai Love, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.

7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m

Winner: Equilateral, James Doyle, Charles Hills.

8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m

Winner Laser Show, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor.

8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Glorious Journey, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance

%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

In post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, hope turned into despair – but wheels are beginning to turn again

Bristol statue provides UK with a 'Saddam Hussein moment' in Black Lives Matter protests

Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.