The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Getting to know you
Primary teacher Coo Clayton grew up in Strathkinness and attended Madras College in St Andrews. She now lives in Edinburgh and has just penned her new children’s book, Maggie’s Monsters
Q Which explorers, alive or dead, inspire you?
A I loved learning about space explorers when I was younger. I was fascinated to hear about Neil Armstrong and learn about all the different planets. As an adult I now enjoy teaching and learning about space and like to follow Tim Peake on YouTube and Instagram.
Q What was your plan B career-wise?
A Don’t think there was a plan B. Becoming a primary teacher was always plan A and that’s been my job for 16 years. Becoming an author on top of that was never a plan as such. I’m managing to juggle both at the moment. I’m lucky to really enjoy both my jobs.
Q Last meal on earth?
A Tom yum soup, Thai green curry followed by a cheese board.
Q First thing you’d do if you won £1 million?
A Take a crowd of friends and family out to a swanky restaurant then donate the rest to local children’s charities. I’m married to a Yorkshireman so might have to put some in the bank too.
Q If you could rule for a day, what would be the first thing you would do?
A Make sibling bickering illegal – my house would be so much easier to live in.
Q Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
A My first job, age 12, was to ring the village church bell.
Q Favourite holiday destination?
A Difficult to decide between the Lake District and the beaches of Australia.
Q What was the last book you read?
A The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr.
Q If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A Crisps.
Q What is the best advice you have ever received and who did it come from?
A A good friend once told me “It’s OK to say no”. I’m a bit of a yes to everything person and this can often result in feeling completely swamped and overwhelmed.
Q Describe yourself as if you were a fine wine?
A Fruity, bubbly but not quite a vintage.
Q What are you proudest of?
A As a mum of three you are always having little proud moments. Seeing your children grow into intelligent, independent and thoughtful people is hard to beat.
Q What makes you happy?
A Children laughing, cold glass of sauvignon blanc, walk on the beach.
Q What was the first album you ever bought?
A Bad by Michael Jackson.
Q What do you do to unwind?
A Take a walk, a few pints in the pub, spot of gardening.
Q A Who do you detest?
It’s not good for the soul to detest anybody.
Q What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?
A Cope with new born sleep deprivation.
Q Hardest thing you’ve had to give up?
A Being a teacher I get six weeks off in summer. I now spend those six weeks with my own little ones but I do miss those summers… a lot.
Q Could you save someone’s life if they were dying in the street?
A I recently did an emergency first aid course so I’d like to think I’d be able to have a good go.
Q Do you give money to beggars?
A Yes but more often I give food.
Q What was the worst punishment you had as a child?
A The silent treatment.
Q What’s your motto?
A Get on with it.