It has been a busy few days for me. Story Telling gigs on Thursday and Friday. Friday I was in Bath working for the National Literacy Trust. It was at a school I had visited before that reminded me of my last school as a teacher.

We had our lovely granddaughter Ellen and her parents staying for the weekend. We were joined by her cousins (and her parents yesterday!) So you can imagine how tired we are now! Friday’s travels and the performing contributing to my exhaustion!

The dragon in today’s title is my dragon who lives with us and Ellen adores it. The spider is my tarantula puppet that she enjoyed playing with! We went with her to Slimbridge today which is where the Bluethroat in the title comes in! I managed to sneak off to see this rare visitor. I did take a picture but it was too far to be any good.

There are a mix of pictures from today below. One is certainly different!

The picture is by Ellen and the top figure is Granny, the middle is Ellen  and the bottom figure is Gramps sitting down (I didn’t do that very often over the weekend!)

Ellen and parents getting ready for the canoe safari at Slimbridge!

Reed bunting and heron from Slimbridge below.

Female great spotted woodpecker has been very busy on our feeders and now we know why we have seen a young bird with her or have heard it calling from the trees behind our house. My next task it to catch them together and get a photo. I am also keen to catch a starling in the right place with sun on it to catch that iridescent shimmer.

I thoroughly enjoyed the T20 international at Bristol yesterday a picture below (it is Joss Butler batting).  Amazing hitting by both sides!

I have been busy learning stories for my gig on Friday in Bath for the National Literacy Trust.

I am off in a little while for T20 international at Bristol. Tickets arrived through contact with one of my fellow Hatters (a convoluted route!)

It has been a blur of activity this morning with family staying overnight and then rushing off for their swimming lessons.

Two woodpeckers spotted in the garden by the boys one must be a juvenile. Both boys have been indoctrinated and can name most of the birds in our garden! Grandparents have their uses!

Short blog today.

Had a lovely story telling with the young people from Friars Primary on Thursday night. I told The Running Companion which I haven’t told for a while. Lovely audience! I need to prepare some stories for next Friday in Bath so that will be my focus for the next few days.

I have spent a bit of time rewriting my Harriet the Hippo story and need to edit it properly now. It is now watch this space!

Clare continues to recover well and is getting further with her walking and only on one crutch.

I paid for Monday’s  cycle ride yesterday at cricket. I was playing cricket in Staffordshire and batting, running quick singles when AGHHHHHHHHHH my hamstring went and eventually I had to retire hurt! It meant I was useless in the field. Now I am worried about the Dartmoor Classic later this month! So no cricket for a while.

Despite my injury I was walking with young people at Wick Court doing the weekly bird watching. Lovely young people from Friars Primary School Southwark Picture of a swallow we saw a few today!

My Story Telling was cancelled today there was a sickness bug at the home so isolation was the order of the day! I took advantage with a decent cycle ride with two major climbs – Frocester Hill and Lampern Hill (this one is an unforgiving one). If I had cycled to my gig in Nailsworth today the route  is mainly along the flat and I am conscious of keeping my climbing legs in good shape ahead of Dartmoor later this month.

Yesterday’s blog was about the sport at the weekend I forgot to mention I watched most of Joe Root’s magnificent innings – what a player!

Had a lovely weekend. It started with me cycling to meet my son Peter who was cycling to us. We pedalled back together (Both of us getting miles under the belt.) He assisted me yesterday morning as I cleared my gutters) He pedalled back to Bishop’s Cleeve while I went to play cricket for my club who completed an emphatic victory.

I got back in time to watch the Giro d’Italia highlights which was sensational! What a race! I glanced at the TV Guide to see there was a whole evening of Bruce Springsteen on the TV. He is a superb song writer on a wide variety of issues and a fantastic performer. We have been lucky enough to see him on three occasions – each one was brilliant!

Today has been more gutter clearing (this time at a much safer level)!

I am off story telling tomorrow at a Care Home which will be my sixth visit since December!

Woodpecker has once again visited – the pictures are from today!

The title sums up my week so far. Yesterday was our monthly bird survey by the Severn. It was sadly underwhelming with few birds- the strong wind didn’t help – any self respecting bird was taking cover. The high tide wasn’t due till later so it was quiet out on the river.

Had a wonderful cycle over the hills on Wednesday with plenty of climbing. Got to get those miles in the legs!

I played cricket in a memorial match yesterday playing with plenty of people who I have either played against or with over the years. I am actually turning out for my club tomorrow.

I have been revisiting my Harriet the Hippo with the idea I might try and get it published.  It is one of my favourite stories to tell. Story Telling next week again.

At last the garden has had some rain- it needs it and making sure the garden doesn’t completely dry out is time consuming.

The bird feeders in the garden are very busy and i am filling them up frequently. Have enjoyed watching the starlings feeding their young this week. One welcome visitor that we have seen regularly over the last few weeks is the great spotted woodpecker. Old pictures below  from a couple of years ago on our crab apple.

An action packed weekend for me! It started on Friday when I went for a long cycle ride with a mate nearly 50 miles with quite a bit of climbing thrown in. Slowly increasing my miles and climbing for the Dartmoor Classic in three weeks.

Saturday our two delightful grandsons were left with us early on Saturday morning for the weekend. Clare of course is still recovering so much rested on my shoulders. We had a lovely time with the boys but  I am absolutely exhausted now