The title sounds like I have just been outside for an illicit cigarette! Of course I refer to our trip to London. We had a super time and it culminated in a lovely anniversary meal in a French Restaurant last night. We had travelled across the City to the Excel Centre in Docklands to see an immersive Pompeii exhibition – it was brilliant! We then went across the dock on a wonderful high footbridge near to the Thames Barrier. Clare and I then fully utilised our bus passes back across the city (three different buses) which was great fun.

So we enjoyed our three different visits over the three days all very different but each was excellent. A couple of pictures below (I didn’t risk putting the one of Clare as an AI generated Roman Lady in Pompeii in this public blog!). One is the whales from the Attenborough’s “Our Story”– the other is of the London City Airport from the bridge- you might be able to see a plane landing!

Currently just South of the River in the Smoke! We are having a lovely time.
Yesterday we were at Tate Britain to see the acclaimed Constable and Turner Exhibition.  A great way to learn more about these celebrated artists.

Today we visited the Natural History Museum to the Wildlife Photographer of The Year display. We often do this and once again it didn’t disappoint. I may attempt to put a couple of photos on here in the near future. We also went into an immersive Attenborough “Our Story”. Brilliant!

More tomorrow!

Back in bitterly cold Frampton for a night. We have just been with our Exeter family for a couple of nights. Had a lovely time with our delightful granddaughter Ellen. Sadly my football team failed to turn up yesterday for the umpteenth time this season!

I went looking for the Yellow Browed Warbler this afternoon. Didn’t see it but did see plenty of Chiff Chaffs, Wrens, Stonechats, Linnets and the Black Swan again. Some pictures I took below- when i went to snap the moon didn’t realise a gull was flying across it.

Happy New Year to all my loyal followers! There are quite a few of you from all over the world!

We are currently in Exeter with family and surprisingly there is a football match tomorrow COYH! I went on Monday night and it continues to be encouraging- hope tomorrow we can make three successive wins for the first time this season!

Spotted the above on the lake here in Frampton! One is around from time to time-no idea where it escaped from-maybe Slimbridge. I went looking for a Yellow Browed Warbler- may of got a fleeting glimpse but can’t be sure that was it. Saw 75 Redwings flying over and a flock of Long-tailed Tits (a couple of poor pictures below.

Today was a chance to ride off the Christmas food and drink. My goodness it was a bitter wind to ride into! First time for a while I have climbed up some of our local steep hills close by. And it showed!  Body was feeling it by the end!

Well having mentioned my disappointment with the cricket it was a surprise to wake up and found we had won! When I went to bed we had lost a bowler and managed to drop Travis Head so it wasn’t looking great!

My youngest grandson’s (he will be 3 in February) regular refrain is “Ho,Ho,Ho” instead of mentioning the gentleman in red! We have had a lovely time with all our family over in Bishop’s Cleeve. Three delightful grandchildren the oldest is only just 5 meant it was all go and full of excitement.

Anyway wishing all my loyal readers “HAPPY CHRISTMAS“ I hope you all had a great day yesterday!

It was great to see my football team The Mighty Hatters at last play with flair great confidence to win with panache! You might notice I haven’t mentioned the cricket- it has been a big let down. Maybe I will let rip on the structure of English Cricket at some point in the future!

Well the good news is the days are getting longer! Of course it is the run up to Christmas so it is making sure everything is ready. Have done a couple of rides around the area delivering cards- it has been a good test for my bike that had a puncture a couple of days ago- a drawing pin stuck in the tyre!

Clare and I have been designated crowd control over Christmas because we will have both our children’s families and us all together so there will be  three very excited grandchildren who will need occupying and calming down while the parents are busy with the food. Should be fun!!! Having said the parents are preparing food I traditionally do the vegetarian alternative- so I am cooking tomorrow!

You may have noticed my blogs have been fairly scarce recently. I have been doing odd jobs, story telling, watching football and doing a bird survey.

Leaf clearing has been a major job- it is great for the environment we have so many trees in our garden and nearby. I have to do it in spells otherwise I risk getting backache!

Yesterday before the torrential rain we managed to get our monthly bird survey out by the Severn. A quiet morning on the bird front- still a few avocets on the river with the curlews, several species of duck, different gulls and six herons. One highlight was 60 snipe and 3 jack snipes!

Sport yesterday was  depressing! The cricket has been a real disappointment- as has my football team – who once again forgot how to defend!

I was story telling at a care home yesterday for last gig of the year. I interspersed my stories with corny Christmas Cracker jokes! They still want me back after that!

Went for a ride today because the weather forecast was good after the incessant heavy rain of yesterday. Ending up going through quite a few flooded roads- thank goodness for overshoes!

Had a stupendous Christmas meal today at Wick Court for all the volunteers and staff.

I have kept quiet about the football on Saturday it was fairly grim! I am hoping at some point that things will click but I’m not confident!