About bill

Bill Church is the story traveller, a former Headteacher who has a passion for sharing stories with people from 3 years up to 103 years of age. Bill loves stories; finding them (and the story’s story!), telling them and writing them! He is passionate in believing that everybody can tell stories and is keen to help people whatever their age do this. His blog ranges from his Story telling experiences to his obsessions sport, bird watching and cycling!

One Swallow………..

Well I hope you all know the saying “one swallow doesn’t make a summer” . The picture below is of a swallow this evening on the wire near the church in Frampton. Seems apt after watching yesterday’s football where my team played their best football of the season but…… is it just a one off? Apparently that saying is attributed to the philosopher Aristotle!

As a footnote I have seen a few swallows already this spring!

Watching the Mighty Hatters

A short blog that is all football related! I have a busy week or so that has a strong football theme! I went yesterday to watch the Hatters win and play some decent football. It has been grim this season watching them but maybe we are at last developing a clear playing style. We even managed to win despite the most awful set of match officials! The referee made some howling errors and the lino missed the ball being out of play on three occasions one leading to the opposition’s goal.

I am off again on Monday to Wimbledon a new ground (it will be the 3rd different ground I’ve seen Wimbledon play the Hatters on.

Thursday we have a stadium tour booked and of course next Sunday I will be at Wembley wearing my boater cheering them on. The picture below is of our last Wembley visit (four members of the family in the picture!)

Pirate Pete and The Two Severn Bores

The Two Severn Bores met for a planning session on Monday night. We are aiming to add a bit more to our Merlin show- adding another story and a couple more songs. We are also looking to see if my Pirate Pete story (for schools etc) we can add some music and songs to. Dan has gone off to work on the music! So watch this space!

Picture below is of a female Reed Bunting I took yesterday- I usually get a picture of the showy male but I watched this one for a while.

     

 

No Stories but Birds!!!

A week with no story telling for a change! Hopefully it will be a chance to learn some new stories to tell and to write. But pigs might fly!!!

Had a lovely time with our two wonderful grandsons at the weekend but tired now!

Took Clare on our bikes to see the Common Cranes this morning and lucky to see 3 Swallows and a House Martin (first for me for this year) My pictures below are not as good as Paul’s last week! Also a Dunnock I took last week! I ended up getting a thorn in my tyre so had to walk home!

     

 

Birds and Stories

Busy few days for me! It has been as the title suggests it has been plenty of stories and bird watching.

Monday was story telling at a Care Home in Cheltenham which I hadn’t visited for a while. We all had a good time! Today was two lots of story telling. I was up near Pershore again working once more for Carters Construction- they have asked me for a couple more gigs in the near future. I then had my weekly session at Wick Court. I have next week off!

It was a bitter wind yesterday at Wick Court when I took young people bird watching. They were full of enthusiasm.

Today was the monthly bird survey and there was plenty of excitement. We had two pairs of very noisy Common Cranes, Marsh Harriers collecting nesting material, plenty of Curlews in the field and a Great White Egret. A couple of picture taken by one of my fellow surveyors below.

Cranes

From our house I heard noisy Common Cranes calling. I went out looking for them this afternoon and a possible Hen Harrier. Sadly didn’t see either but saw a Heron swallowing a frog and a couple of Buzzards. Hoping to go out a few times this week. The pictures of Cranes below I took five years ago here in Frampton.

 

One Piece At A Time!

Using a Johnny Cash song for today’s title – it seems appropriate as it has been a busy few days since my last blog.

I have travelled to watch my beloved Hatters twice – Tuesday night and today (with mixed success!)

Wednesday saw my regular volunteering slot (birdwatching) at Wick Court with young people from Swindon. It was a gorgeous day and they saw plenty of different species including three different ducks on the River.

Thursday saw me do two story telling sessions. One up near Pershore and one at Wick Court.– both very different! I also did our team quiz in the evening – we lost!

Yesterday Clare and I cycled to Nailsworth to see an art exhibition with many pictures from one of my friends- a lovely ride and great pictures!

Phew!!!!!!!!

Cycling in Different Places

Picture  below is me on an early morning cycle ride round Mumbai last month. I did mention it at the time but it certainly was an experience! Just beginning to up my mileage now Spring seems to have arrived again this week!

We had a lovely weekend visiting our Exeter family and playing with our delightful granddaughter Ellen.

Busy Thursday coming up with Stories in two different places.

Relieved Hatter!!!

I had reluctantly brought a ticket for the game at Wycombe today. The Mighty Hatters have struggled away from home- our last away win was at the beginning of November when I saw them win at Stockport. I have been to Wycombe a few times and it is not one of my favourite grounds. So today’s win was a welcome relief and we certainly looked much stronger in defence. Fingers crossed we can get some momentum now.

I did my storytelling at the Care Home yesterday and my regular slot at Wick Court on Thursday night.