Using the Neil Young song for the title for today’s blog. I watched him last night on TV playing at Glastonbury. He certainly still can rock even as an old man. I remember at parties and gatherings in my youth we would often play “After the Gold Rush”. I am listening to it now as I write!

I managed to get through my club game of cricket yesterday and even managed a sprightly innings of 24. I have always  felt more comfortable batting against quicker bowlers than the slow bowlers we face in old man’s cricket.  Almost took what would of been a great catch to a ball that was certainly travelling! I have been anxious about my hamstring particularly running between the wickets. On to Tuesday and a game against Kent for the Seniors!

The week has mostly been taken up with birds and stories (well what should a story telling be doing!)

Had a delightful day on Wednesday with young people from Streatham (two schools combined) at Wick Court. We saw quite a bit and I was bombarded by many thoughtful questions on birds and their lives. We didn’t melt in the heat like the young people did the previous week. They were excited to see two different species of woodpecker. (there is an old picture of a green woodpecker I took on our lawn below).

My other bird activity was the monthly bird survey out by the Severn. We were lucky the tide came up while there so we could see avocets, oystercatchers, curlew and 100+ shelducks that were moved up into the air. Otherwise it was a quiet morning with few small birds.

I told stories last night at Wick Court and I am off cycling to a nearby Care Home this afternoon for another session.

What a wonderful Test Match that finished on Tuesday. Proving you can’t beat Test Cricket for drama and fluctuating fortunes! My own cricket was non existent- we travelled all the way to Sussex to find a complete mess up with the host club so we didn’t play at all- a long way to go for nothing! Better luck tomorrow I am playing for my club and then again on Tuesday next week for the county seniors.

For a moment after I wrote the title I very surreal image came to mind!!! I refer of course to my efforts on the Dartmoor Classic on my bike. It is a really testing course over Dartmoor – it was 66 + miles and 6500 feet on climbing. The weather out on the moor was testing driving rain and a strong wind. My son David and his friend (on one of my bikes) of his did it. Also a good friend of mine Martin rode with me and was patient waiting for me at the tops! The good news was we all got gold medals for our times in the different age categories (not that I saw many on my age group!) Three pictures below not the words on my cycling jersey!

Short blog today. I am sitting in our camper van in deepest Devon.  The journey down wasn’t too bad – quite a bit of traffic south of Bristol.

i have seen my pal who is supposed to be cycling with me across Dartmoor- he is a few miles from me tonight. I also saw my son Dave who is also cycling tomorrow but being younger and fitter he will leave me in his wake!

A tough few days with the heat. The children at Wick Court on Wednesday found it hard going. We had to curtail our normal session because they were wilting! They were delighted to see a moorhen on her nest and saw her get up revealing her eggs. They enjoyed my story telling session last night.

Thoroughly enjoyed captaining a Gloucestershire  Seniors cricket team in a friendly on Tuesday. I even managed four overs and surprise, surprise guess who got two wickets ( I am not a bowler!)

I am planning to travel down to Devon tomorrow to take part in the Dartmoor Classic on Sunday ( a cycling sportive) I am hoping my recent hamstring problem is ok!.

Made my first attempt at climbing a hill on the bike since my hamstring injury. All went well and fingers crossed I am ok for cricket tomorrow. I have been vey careful over the last fortnight because I am hoping to ride Dartmoor Classic on Sunday and hopefully it will be all systems go!

Finally a lovely picture of me with the grandchildren on Saturday, (and one set of parents as well)

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.