SÎAN: I FEEL DEPRESSED BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY...

It's 'Agony Aunt' time again on DREAMCATCHER… and reader Sîan has a problem for Summer Tanberry to tackle. Will you agree with Summer's solution?

Sîan says:
My biggest passion is dance… I've liked it for years but only started learning properly when I was ten. I am eleven now. I take jazz classes and have an exam soon, and am hoping to start lyrical dance classes soon. The problem is, I sometimes feel depressed and I don't know why - there is never really a reason. The only things that help me when I feel this way are dance and reading. Please help me!

Summer says:
I sympathise, and as you know I have been through a very rough time myself lately because I had put myself under way too much pressure and wasn't coping. Your problem is a little different, I think. You're eleven… and right on the edge of puberty, which means that your body is changing in all kinds of ways, some visible, some not. The hormones that go along with these changes will almost certainly be causing a few tidal waves of emotion in your body; feeling low, overwhelmed or tearful for no particular reason often goes along with certain points in your menstrual cycle, so I suspect it could be that you may start your periods quite soon. Both Skye and I definitely feel more emotional and thin-skinned at this time of the month. It's great that you have worked out that dance and reading can help to lift your mood… this works for me too! Dance is wonderful because it is so expressive and also because it is a physical work-out it produces 'endorphins' in your body which create a feel-good sensation. Exercise rocks when you are feeling low! As for reading, it's a way of escaping from your feelings for a short while into a safe, secure world where you feel understood. Also a great way to handle the blues. Growing up and the mood swings that can accompany it is not always easy; but I think already you have found some great coping mechanisms to get you through the bad times.

Cathy says:
Good advice from Summer… but is there anything YOU would add? COMMENT BELOW or email YOUR questions for the DREAMCATCHER problem page via the email link on my website, cathycassidy.com and mark your email DREAMCATCHER PROBLEM. What are you waiting for?

SUPTY: A NEW PASSION

Reader Supty writes about how a passion for reading led to a dream… and a life-changing goal!

Supty says:

To most people, reading is just a hobby, a pastime. They read and enjoy books for fun. But me? Books have always been a way for me to flee from the hardships of reality, a way out from an inexorable world. I read books, felt them, and most of all I LIVED them.

I had quite a happy life, but something was missing: a passion. I started reading books when I was five, learning the basics. Life introduced me to Cathy Cassidy when I was nine. The first book of hers I read was INDIGO BLUE. I read it and felt hot tears pouring down my cheeks, and that was when it struck me; a writer who has the ability to make her readers laugh and cry, Cathy was different and unique. I started reading more CC books and they inspired me, helped me to live. At the end of a long day, when I opened a CC book, it always made me happy - it never let me down.

Round about that time, I began to realise that I didn't just want to be a reader; I wanted to be a writer, too. I didn't care if I was never a bestseller… that wasn't the point. I just wanted to bring a smile to the face of a sad and miserable person. I decided I was up for the challenge, and so I began my journey towards becoming a writer. Writing that first book was difficult - you are writing from a writer's point of view and then checking it over from a reader's viewpoint. I could feel the characters as though they were real, and I wrote as though I was one of them, living their lives. It was a hard task, though,  because I had to keep my school grades up at the same time!

No matter how hard it may be, I will work relentlessly towards my goal, moving closer all the time. I am living my life, living my dream. Thus continues life, a journey with loads of ups and downs… and a new and awesome passion.

Cathy says:
Awww… how cool? I will be looking out for Supty's books in the future… her determination and enthusiasm remind me of myself at the same age! Do YOU have a dream career? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

EL: EXPECTATIONS

Reader El writes about the strict and harsh expectations that face girls growing up in today's society…

El says:

Ever since I was small, I have known that girls have plenty of expectations to live up to. To be the prettiest girl in the class. To have the most followers on Instagram. To be flawless, to be perfect. I have even set some expectations for myself, though to be honest they are very different ones!

As a kid today, I actually do not care what people think of me. I don't care if they love me or they hate me - that's their choice. As Kurt Cobain said, I would rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not. It's true. I don't want to be loved for something I am not - it wouldn't be real anyway. Truth and honesty has to come first.

It doesn't matter if people hate me. So what? If I believe in myself, that is what matters. Why would I change to please a bunch of strangers? I will never be the kind of person who gets excited over a designer handbag. I am who I am and if people don't appreciate that - if they hate me for it - well, better that than to be adored for being a person I am not, being fake. I say what I want and I choose to hold the views I believe in. I am not going to change myself to climb higher up the social ladder. I will always be who I am.

Check out El's blog at: theramblingssofmoi.blogspot.com.au

Awesome artwork by reader Hannah - thank you!

Cathy says:
Wise words from El… learning to be being true to yourself is key to the growing up process. I don't think anyone can be happy if they are so busy trying to please others that they lose track of themselves! What do YOU think? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

HOW TO DEAL… WITH DIVORCE

Another in our regular series, reader Emma shares her tips on how to deal with divorce…

Emma says:

Divorce is not an easy thing to deal with. Our parents are priceless to us; it was them that fed us, cared for us and most importantly, unconditionally loved us. So if they decide to divorce or separate, it is by no means easy. However, with these tips I fully believe that together we can deal with divorce…

Understanding: Although it isn't easy, it's important to understand why your parents have made this choice. Sometimes, no matter how hard two people try, like irregular puzzle pieces they just cannot seem to make a fit. It doesn't mean that they love you any less, or each other of that matter; just that the kind of love they now share is different to before. A kind that may be better for all concerned in the long run.

Sharing the load: At a time like this, it is highly important to find someone to confide in, whether it's a counsellor, a close friend or a teacher. The important thing is to have someone to share the load with. You'd be surprised how having someone to talk to can help take a load off, emotionally as well as mentally.

Alone time: When dealing with such events in our lives, taking time out for ourselves can be one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Whether it's going for a walk, listening to your favourite tune or taking your pet for a walk, it's up to you. The important thing is that it's something that relaxes you.

Honesty: Don't be afraid to share with your parents how you are feeling. If you express your emotions and views you may find your parents will return the favour, and they will certainly be able to answer any worrying questions you may have. Discussion may even strengthen your relationship as a family… after all, as the old saying goes, honesty is the best policy.

Until we deal again…
Emma x

Artwork by the wonderful Lucy - thank you for the awesome pic!

Cathy says:
Do YOU have any tips for surviving a family split? COMMENT BELOW to share them, or to add to Emma's advice.

GONE TO THE DOGS...

Unwanted dogs often end up in the city dog pound… and if not claimed or re-homed, they will be put down. Reader Sophie tells us how she got involved in helping to rescue abandoned dogs…

Sophie says:

We owned a retired racing greyhound and my mum wanted advice on how to look after him, so she approached a charity called Greyhound Gap. Soon after that she started to volunteer for the charity and I started to help out too. Greyhound Gap is a rescue charity which helps save the lives of greyhounds and lurchers. We get many of our dogs from the dog pounds and if we didn't help them, they would be put to sleep as the council dog pounds can only afford to keep strays and abandoned dogs for a short time. Greyhound Gap has around 80 dogs in their care.

After a while, a four month old puppy came into the rescue, and my family decided to foster her. We ended up falling in love with her so we adopted her and named her Zelda. Since then we have fostered nine dogs altogether. At the moment, we have three of our own, called Buddy, Zelda and Luna. We also have three foster dogs, Bunny, Misty and Cardi. It's fun to look after foster dogs because they have had a rough life and I can help to make them feel loved. I like it when new dogs come in because if they are scared or naughty, with the help of our volunteers they can become really nice dogs. At the moment we are fostering Cardi, who is very ill… it really upsets me to see her in pain, but when a dog gets well again you know that all the hard work has been worthwhile.

This summer, I helped a lot at the rescue. We have had lots of trips to and from the vets, and we had to drive to Worcester to rescue some dogs. One day we went to Shrewsbury to collect 100 donated duvets for the dogs - I had to help lift them onto the van! We did some fundraising events, which was fun, and every Saturday we all met up to walk the kennel dogs. After the walk, they get lots of treats and I really enjoy that part!

There are lots of ways to help Greyhound Gap, such as fundraising or donating money, giving us things to sell or auction, helping at the kennels and walking the dogs. And adopting a dog from us, too, of course! Misty, in the picture just to the right, is one of the dogs we are fostering until she gets a home. She is a young lurcher who was abandoned and had puppies soon after; her puppies have all been re-homed, but Misty is still waiting for her perfect home, and she so, so deserves a family of her own. There is one thing every dog-owner can do… if everybody made sure their pets were neutered so that they can't have puppies, there would be far fewer unwanted dogs out there.

You can donate to GREYHOUND GAP here… or check out their website with a view to RE-HOMING a dog. THANK YOU!!!

Cathy says:
Awww! I looked after my dad's rescued greyhound after Dad died, and we have two rescue lurchers too, so I already know all about the wonderful work done by GREYHOUND GAP. I really hope that beautiful MISTY finds her forever home soon! How awesome is Sophie to help the charity? Would YOU ever help at an animal charity, or re-home a rescue animal? COMMENT BELOW to tell me more!

MY AWESOME HOLIDAY: THE SOUTH OF FRANCE!

Reader Becca tells us all about her memorable stay in the South of France on another post in our series about amazing holidays…

Becca says:

This summer I went to the South of France for a week. I went with a friend of mine, her mum and her aunt; we travelled down on the tuesday to a place by the beach called St Georges de Didonne. We stayed in a little cottage that had three bedrooms, a kitchen-living room and bathroom… it was only a ten minute walk from the beach front, which was totally amazing! That evening, my friend and I shared the biggest candyfloss I have ever seen in my LIFE… pretty impressive! The next day we just had a relaxing day, sunbathing and walking along the beach, chatting and playing games and generally relaxing. Perfect!

After a few amazing days of shopping and enjoying the beach, we decided to go fishing for crabs. I had never done this before and it was great fun! We ended up catching two - and of course then we let them go again. That evening it rained on our walk back - just a little drizzle, but still, we ran all the way back.  The trouble was that when we reached the cottage, my friend's aunt and mum had left to go into town, so we were stuck outside in the rain! It sounds bad, but it was actually hilarious… a great memory!

Later on that night, there was a night market. The stalls were beautiful! There was a street dance performance going on further down the street, so we watched that - it was awesome. The dance told a story, which I loved. The next day was the last, so we made the most of it and went into the town centre for a walk around and a final explore. That evening, I attended my first ever beach basketball match, too. It was an unforgettable holiday - I've had the most amazing summer!

Cathy says:
Wow… this sounds so laid-back and lovely! Did YOU have a fab holiday this year? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

MATHILDE: MAKE A DREAMCATCHER!

Reader Mathilde isn't just clever, creative and craft-crazy, she's willing to share her top secrets so that you can make something awesome too!

Mathilde says:

You will need:
1 embroidery hoop
1 hank of embroidery thread
1 hank of cotton knitting yarn
scissors
pen/marker

To decorate:
beads
feathers
hair accessories etc
These are just suggestions… you can tie anything you like on… collect shells or fake flowers or anything you fancy… be creative!

To make:

1. Take either of the hoops from your embroidery hoop (set the other aside for a second dreamcatcher!) and wrap the hoop neatly and tightly with the cotton knitting yarn.

2. Finish the wrapping neatly and hide the tail end of yarn.

3. To make the web you will be using a knot called the half-hitch. Google the half-hitch and practice a few times until you've got the hang of it!

4. Use a pen/marker to make six marks on the hoop, at equal distances. Tie on your embroidery thread and make a half-hitch knot at each marked point. Make sure you go in the same direction or it will look a bit odd!

5. Next, go round again, this time making knots in the centre of each straight line of thread you have created.

6. Keep knotting round and round, working inward until you reach the centre.

7. To finish off, tie five or six half-hitch knots to complete the web securely in the centre.

8. Cut three more pieces of the cotton knitting yarn and tie them at intervals along the bottom of the hoop. These can be different lengths as you please.

9. Tie your decorations to the ends of the yarn and add a butterfly hair decoration to the centre of the web. All done!

10. Don't worry if your web is a little lopsided - it all adds to the effect!

A dreamcatcher can be hung above the bed to catch bad dreams and neutralise unhappy or negative thoughts… or just used as a cute decoration. They make brilliant presents too!
Cathy says:
This is AWESOME! I love the pics and the instructions are clear enough even for me to want to have a go! Off to google a half-hitch knot right now! Are YOU the crafty type? COMMENT BELOW to tell us what your fave makes are!

SANDY: GROWING UP IN MALTA!

Reader Sandy looks back on her teenage years growing up on the beautiful island of Malta… find out what it was like!

Sandy says:
I come from Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean sea. I grew up in a fishing village in the south, and lived with my parents and my sister, who was three years older than me. I'm an animal lover, but unfortunately I was never allowed to keep a pet at home. I attended primary school until I was ten, a mixed school, and I wasn't very happy as I was bullied back then. My secondary school was girls

only and things changed for the better. I passed my exams and went to college, and those days were awesome… so much fun. I started studying drama and never looked back. I still study theatre studies and sometimes appear in local theatre productions and TV drama shows… it was the best thing I've ever done.

Maltese people are Roman Catholics, and we are famous for traditional village feast during the summer. My village has two feasts, the Feast of Our lady of Mount Carmel, and the Feast of St Catherine. Months of hard work go into each event, which is a week of celebrations including masses, brass bands, fireworks and more… and the statue of the saint is carried around the village while everyone prays.

Traditional Maltese food is amazing! Maltese bread is baked in a unique way… and then we have Pastizzi (cheesecakes) which wonderful. The most traditional food for me is a dish of snails… you might think it gross, but it's delicious. Other typical foods are Patata l-forn (potatoes, meat and vegetables baked in the oven); Kosku (pasta with broad beans, egg and begetables); Bigilla (Maltese bean dip); and Imqaret (dates wrapped in pastry).

Like many countries, Malta has its own traditional costumes which these days are worn for folklore shows for tourists. The most famous costume is the ghonella, a long, loose black gown. Our language is
Maltese, a semitic language derived from Arabic. It's unique, and is only spoken in Malta. English is also widely spoken now, and is overpowering Maltese so that we are now losing some of our Maltese words. Often foreign students trying to learn Maltese find it very difficult to learn and to pronounce.

As Malta is an island, we are surrounded by sea and from a very early age Maltese children are very good swimmers. In summer, the beaches are full of people enjoying the beautiful sunny weather. It is not a huge island to get around - you can drive from north to south in just 45 minutes, but we do have a great many cars which causes congestion. These days, I am grown up and married, but I still live in my childhood village with my husband and our two pets, a rabbit called Pumpkin and a canary called Nenu. Wherever I travel, I am always happy to return to this beautiful place - it's home!

Cathy says:
Malta sounds wonderful! I have never been, but plan to visit one day… maybe soon! The descriptions and photographs look idyllic! Do YOU live outside the UK? COMMENT BELOW to tell me more and to let me know if YOU would like to write about it for DREAMCATCHER!

GEMMA: MY FRIENDS HAVE DITCHED ME...

It's problem page time again on DREAMCATCHER… and reader Gemma has a dilemma for Cherry to solve. Will you agree with the verdict?

Gemma says:
I have just started secondary school. My best friend moved away last year and I was hoping to make new friends at secondary, but I'm shy and it hasn't happened. I know people must think I'm stuck up or snobby. The girls from my class at primary have ditched me and don't even bother to try to include me in what they're doing. I am starting to feel really out of it. I don't want to get stuck with the losers and the loners. What should I do?

Cherry says:
I'm shy too, so I know how hard it can be to break the ice. It's impossible to do when you're all hung up on how anxious you're feeling or what others will think of you… so let go of those thoughts right now. Instead, think about the people you are talking to - be genuinely interested, open, willing to listen. Slowly, you will make friends. You assume others will think you're 'stuck-up' or 'snobby' - well, smile, be friendly to everyone and dare to make the first move when meeting new people and they won't have the chance to think that. Equally, don't judge people so harshly yourself - how do you know the people you've labelled as 'losers' and 'loners' aren't just shy, like you? Give everyone a chance… you might just be dismissing the people who could be the best friends you've ever had. Cathy's book LETTERS TO CATHY has some really useful chapters on building self confidence, so that will help too. It's worth joining a few school clubs, too… see what's on offer and get involved! You'll soon feel part of a team or group and make new friends in the process. Good luck!

Cathy says:
Good advice from Cherry - what would YOU add? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

ROSIE: CC BOOKS CHANGED MY LIFE...

Reader Rosie writes about why CC books mean so much to her… and why she believes they have changed her life…

Rosie says:
I love Cathy Cassidy and her books. Cathy has been an inspiration to me for nine or ten years now; each time a new book came out, I was there in the bookshop to buy it, and I'd always email Cathy afterwards to tell her what I thought. My favourite CC books are INDIGO BLUE, DIZZY, MARSHMALLOW SKYE, LOOKING GLASS GIRL, SWEET HONEY, GINGERSNAPS and ANGEL CAKE. Check them out - they're all amazing, as well as the rest of Cathy's brilliant books.

I struggled with school and didn't have many friends, and I got teased quite a bit growing up. Cathy's books provided help, motivation and moments of escapism for me, and I honestly cannot thank her enough for that. Over the last five years or so, I wrote and emailed Cathy many times with questions and feedback, as well as chatting on about how much I adored curling up with her books and a cup of tea! She has always replied, with lovely messages and great advice, and I see her as a kind of mentor.

Cathy Cassidy is someone who has honestly changed my life. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't discovered that dog-eared copy of INDIGO BLUE in a garage sale all those years ago. Cathy is an inspiration to me; her books are amazing, she's a lovely person and gives fab advice. Cathy is just one of the people who have inspired me in my life, but she definitely changed the way I think and, ultimately, who I am today. So… thank you, Cathy, for replying to my letters and emails, for writing incredible books, for giving the best advice, for letting me write for your blog and of course, for being yourself.

This feature was originally published on Rosie's brilliant blog,  http://rosieauthorwriting.blogspot.co.nz/

Cathy says:
Awww… I'm blushing now! Thank YOU, Rosie, for being so lovely. My readers mean the world to me, always. Have YOU ever had a role model or looked to someone for inspiration and advice? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

EVERY GIRL'S GUIDE TO SECONDARY SCHOOL...

Reader Heather gives the inside story on how to survive secondary school - and come through with flying colours!

Heather says:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I remember going into Year Seven… it was an adventure, and I was scared but optimistic too. You have to find people in your lessons to buddy up with - that's what I did and the girl I spoke to on that very first day is my best friend now! Although it may take a while to settle in and get used to your surroundings, you will settle eventually. My tips for Year Seven would be to work hard and build yourself a good reputation. Stick with people who bring out the best in you and make you happy! Try not to go 'off task' in class - concentrate, answer questions and get involved. Teachers like students who are dedicated and passionate about a subject!

HANDLING PEOPLE: You may get days where school is the last place you want to be, but always try your best - it will be worth it in the end. Never feel you have to impress your classmates by wearing the latest fashions or caking on the make-up. You don't - just be you! Be friendly  to everyone - if someone is on their own, try to include them if you can. Settling in on your own is hard, so be a friend and give them a helping hand. If you are being bullied at any point, tell a teacher. You do NOT deserve to be treated badly - tackle the problem quickly and don't let it escalate.

SUBJECTS: Time will fly past, and in Year Ten you will have to pick your GCSE options… the subjects you will take as exams at the end of Year Eleven. It can seem a daunting process, but the previous three years will have helped you to sort out which subjects you like and which you don't. English, maths and science are compulsory (at my school, anyway!) but other than that you get to choose. Pick subjects you enjoy and are good at and try not to be pressured by others into taking options you know you may regret.

TEACHERS: Some of the kindest people I know are teachers. They put in so much hard work behind closed doors to make your lesson - and your school career - a success. Respect your teachers and try to learn from them as a person as well as learning the subject. If you clash with a teacher, try to avoid arguments and feuds… teachers are only human and we won't get on with them all, but they don't have to be enemies. A pleasant smile and a polite comment or two will go a long way.

LOOKING BACK: I'm now in my final year of secondary - Year Eleven - wow! I wish I could turn time back and be that little eleven year old in the photo with shiny shoes and two neat plaits, but I have learned so much. I've discovered my potential and know I would like to be a writer or an English/Drama teacher in the future. I have GCSEs in seven months, so this next year will be non stop study for me. I've come this far because of good friends and great teachers - I've been pushed to the limit, but with very good reason! High school is not as scary as it seems… you just need to take each day as it comes and work hard. It really is that simple!

Cathy says:
I love Heather's top tips on secondary school… I wish I'd known them back when I was eleven! Have YOU just started Year Seven? Are you struggling to find your feet? Or are you older now, and wiser? COMMENT BELOW to share your views!