Don’t think I’ve had a Nick Drake song for the blog title before! We had a lovely walk by the River Severn today (we had to cycle there first). It was the area near Hock Cliff which holds fond memories of us taking our boys there when they were little to look for fossils. We met a family and they asked where to look for fossils-we pointed the way but I did warn the children there was a Tyrannosaurus around-the young boy looked worried so I had to let him know he ate a boy earlier and actually I was just being daft!  I had hoped for some birds but the tide was right up-so there was mainly a vast expanse of water and hardly a bird in sight!

I have managed to get some more done on my story-hopefully I will be able to let my critic read it later this week! I also heard some snippets of the Two Severn Bores podcast today-Dan has enhanced my stories with music in the background.

Yesterday’s Quiz answers on sporting comebacks  (no quiz today it is a Sunday!)

a) Dennis Taylor lost the first eight frames in that classic final before going on to win   b) Laxman 281 and Dravid 180 shared a stand of 376 to turn the Test Match around in 2001     c) Charlton won 7-6 after being 5-1 down against Huddersfield in 1957    d) Stephen Roche came back from looking being well beaten on the climb to only loose 5 seconds on the stage-he was in a state afterwards.      e) Leicester City gave all football fans hope by winning the title in 2016

Where has he been I hear you ask! Yesterday is only the second day since lockdown when I haven’t blogged not because I didn’t know what to write actually the opposite I have been writing my story regularly through the last week. I incorporated the new idea that came to me one night, it meant a few extra chapters (they are not that long) interspersed throughout the story. My next job is to read it through to see how it flows and then I shall pass it on to my resident critic before I start redrafting. I did get thoroughly immersed in the writing process, it helps the lack of sporting distractions and of course no Story Telling. I am going to investigate doing some virtual performances over the next fortnight.

Today I managed a social-distanced cycle ride with a couple of friends and despite the wind and getting caught in two heavy showers it felt really good for our well being to be out with friends (keeping our distance of course).

I was going to write quite a bit for the third part of the teeth saga but will try and condense it! I will take you back to that dentist waiting room a few years back and the magazine article about Fever Pitch. Well the pain of that assault was finally put to bed on a magical  April day at Wembley Stadium (old version) that Mr Hornby mentions in his book. He says it was one of the worst days of his life for some of us it was the best sporting moment.

I could wax lyrically about one of the most entertaining footballing finals at Wembley as the Hatters defeated a powerful Arsenal team but I won’t. Instead some of the bits around that day – I had called in a favour in the scramble to get tickets-I had done much work with the English Schools FA running a Stroud representative team for a few years and so i got two tickets from them for my Dad and brother right by the half way line. My friend Colin got me a ticket in the Arsenal end for a teaching mate and we had some tickets scattered at the Luton end. I had driven three of us up in my Fiesta to meet my Dad and two fellow Hatters in a pub in Acton. Everyone in the pub apart from our little group were Arsenal fans who were condescendingly polite to us along the lines about us having a wasted journey etc.etc. Six of us squeezed into the car and miraculously we found a parking slot near the stadium. We all scattered into the ground for the match. At the end of a dramatic game we had triumphed! As I stood on the terrace hoarse and emotional I smiled as the ghost and pain of 74 was finally laid.

So Nick Hornby “Your boys took a hell of a beating……..”  (Picture of winning goal below and picture of some unruly Luton supporters you might recognise one in the mid 70s!)

Today’s Quiz is all about sporting underdogs and comebacks  to continue the blog theme.

a) (snooker) How many opening frames did Dennis Taylor lose to Steve Davis before going on to win the World Championship in 1985?    b) (cricket) India were 274 behind Australia in 2001 but went on to win by 171 runs because of two great hundreds by Indian batsmen who were they?   c) (football you can guess the final score) Charlton were losing 5-1 to Huddersfield in 1957 with ten men and thirty minutes to go and they won what was the final score?****   d) (Cycling) Which cyclist won the Tour de France in1987 having had to have oxygen on a final climb when he amazingly pulled back a minute and 26 seconds on his rival?   e) (football) What unlikely  team surprised everybody by winning the Premier League  in 2016 ?

*****I once played in a game for Brimscombe in late 70s and we were losing a cup tie 5-1 with twenty minutes to go and the opposition had a penalty-they missed we ended drawing 5-5 and winning on penalties!

I have just had a marvellous Thursday morning We were resuming our monthly bird survey out by the river (we missed last month because of lock down etc.) The weather was perfect and eleven Little Egrets got us warmed up. The explosive sound of a Cetti’s Warbler drew our attention to the reeds and we saw him darting in and out. Two cuckoos were spotted (sadly not in our patch to record) but easily visible. Four Avocets were flushed by the rising tide. Then magically a Bittern flew over and circled above our heads-a real rarity! This was followed by two Marsh Harriers! I don’t think you can get better than that (well maybe a flamingo!)

The second part of the morning Clare and I had a super walk on Rodborough Common finished with a legendary Winston Ice Cream!

The Teeth (part2)  (Part 1 was in yesterday’s blog)

I am now in a North London hospital looking a mess (what’s different I hear you say). The doctor tells me I will need to see a dentist there is nothing they can do. Two policeman were waiting for me and asked me what I recalled about the incident. I wasn’t helpful because I didn’t know what had happened! I was then driven round North London in a police car looking to see if I could spot anyone (there had been a crowd of more than 30,000!!!!!), one policeman then actually made a derogatory racial comment about one young man walking past and suggesting it must of been him! It was 1974 but I was shocked to hear that from a policeman. Eventually they dropped me off near Finsbury Park Station. At that time my sister Liz was living in student accommodation near there so I went to her place. In her house were a couple of Australian lads who when they saw what happened to me said “That’s not on, come on we will get our cricket bats and go find these Arsenal guys and give them what for!”  it took some time for Liz and I to persuade them it wasn’t a good idea! I had to go back to college on the following Monday with my teeth still in a state (the emergency dentist at home thought they would have to come out).

I got a phone call from the divisional police commander a couple of days later asking me if I recalled anything about the incident! I couldn’t he was really sympathetic. I think in later years I suspect this sympathy and follow up might not of been there possibly your own fault going to football.

My teeth were later saved by a dentist who painfully straightened them (I’ll spare you the gory details!) But all those years later they were needing attention hence me being at my dentist with the magazine (see part 1)  (part 3 tomorrow)

Quiz answers

a) Danube flows into the Black Sea   b) Vladivostok is on the Sea of Japan (you can have Pacific)  c) The Tasman Sea is between Australia and New Zealand   d) The smallest and shallowest ocean is the Arctic   e) The Straits of Hormuz is the passage out of the Persian Gulf.

No quiz tonight -promise I will do one tomorrow!

Today I am recalling a painful experience from a few years ago. I was having my two upper front teeth significantly repaired because they had never recovered from an unfortunate incident that happened in my youth when the world was certainly a very different place. As I was waiting for treatment I started to flick through a magazine. I found an article on Fever Pitch the film. You might or might not know the film was based on Nick Hornby’s book of the same title about supporting Arsenal FC.

It seemed that that my teeth had come full circle following the “incident” of  September 1974! I was at Arsenal watching my beloved Hatters and in those days there was no segregation at grounds. Throughout the first half the Arsenal “hard man” Peter Storey was consistently battering our “fancy Dan” Australian forward all over the pitch! I think I may of been a little loud in voicing my opinion that Mr Storey was really a gorilla! At half time with the Hatters a goal down I left my mate Paul to get our half time refreshment  “hot dogs” while I visited the Gents. To this day I don’t know what happened but I found myself on the floor with blood pouring out of my mouth. I sought help from a policeman whose comment was “Good grief did you meet Mohammed Ali?”and I was dispatched in an ambulance with flashing blue lights I was with an unfortunate victim who had been hit by a brick! Paul meanwhile was back standing on the terrace with two hot dogs (remember no mobile phones) He ate one and then as the second half progressed he ate the second one! At the end of the game he caught the train home without me! He thought I had possibly met a friend  from college! I was having my bloody mouth examined-my two middle upper front teeth had been knocked back and was now at a horrible 45 degree angle. and I was in agony! (This story will be continued tomorrow and Friday-wait till you hear some of the responses!)

Yesterday’s answers

a) Spitfire was powered by a Merlin engine  b) Concorde first flew in 1969 and the final flight was 2003   c) Charles Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St Louis  d) A Vickers Vimy was the plane Alcock and Brown flew over the Atlantic.

Today’s Quiz – On Seas

a) The River Danube empties into which sea?    b) Vladivostok stands on which sea?   c) Which sea is between Australia and New Zealand?  d) What is the smallest and shallowest Ocean?   e)  Which straight provides the only sea route out of the Persian Gulf? 

I changed the spelling of this well known song by the Byrds because we have had screeching Common Terns flying over the last few days. They are wonderful birds to watch twisting and diving over the lake near our home. I keep hoping that we might get Black Terns flying through they occasionally turn up at this time of year.

Short blog today as I have done a considerable amount of  writing today.

Yesterday’s answer to the quotes on leadership (if you want to check the actual quotes look at the previous blog)

a) Martin Luther King   b) Abraham Lincoln (although there is some doubt about this)  c) Napoleon Bonaparte   (I couldn’t really give you a clue without giving it away!)   d) Mark Twain (that was his pen name!)   e) Dalai Lama

Today’s Quiz is all on planes as I had to do some research on a particular plane earlier.

a) What type of engine powered the Spitfire (the famous engine not the one on later planes)?   b) (two parts) What year was the first flight of Concorde and what year was the last?   c)  Who famously flew the Spirit of St.Louis?  d) What type of plane did Alcock and Brown fly across the Atlantic?

Well thought we  to have the above as a title while we have the super weather. I know some parts of the country are not so blessed at the moment. Our garden is really dry and our water butts could do with a top up!

I thought I would follow up with yesterday’s comments that I finished the first draft of my latest story. Well I woke up this morning with a new idea!!!!! What is wrong with me! If it works it will allow a new strand to run through the whole story. So I think it will mean some new chapters to be added throughout the story. So I will keep you updated on progress if there is any!

I have thought throughout this awful virus how relieved I am that I am no longer a Head Teacher with this looming decision about when to return to school. It would be good to see some of the science published to help people make this tricky decision. It did prompt a recollection of a crisis early in my management career in school which might bring a smile to your face. It was late April 1986 and I was Deputy Head of a large Junior School in Cheltenham and the Head Teacher was away for a week. so for the first time I was in charge (remember no internet or mobile phones then) I still remember that Monday morning. I walked into school and made my way to the spacious Head Teacher’s Office. I tried out the black swivel chair, swinging around in it, then in my rather pompous way I tried out my responsible thoughtful look (I still had a mop of curly hair then), I can do this!. Whereupon the door abruptly swung open and in swept the School Cook who “didn’t suffer fools gladly” (not much hope for me then!) Her opening gambit “What are we going to do then?”  For a moment I was at a loss about what she was going on about. Then I twigged “Chernobyl”. There was a major concern about milk and lamb at that time. I knew she wouldn’t of stormed in if the Head was there so I knew I had to be on the ball. She wanted to know was it safe to use milk, so I thought no milk would of been contaminated yet by any cloud coming over the UK  so I remember playing for time by saying “We should be OK for today”. I then quickly checked on what the Local Authority were advising and then went and reassured her with the advice, it all seemed to work!  The lesson was take your time and think; also pretend you know what you are doing on the outside even if like the swan you are paddling like mad under the water!!  It does seem to reassure people if you are calm, Captain Mainwaring !

Today’s quiz is therefore quotes on leadership who said the following.

a)  “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus” (A great American of a 20th century)  b) Whatever you are, be a good one ( an American President)  c) “A leader is a dealer in hope!” (no clues for this one or it will be too easy)   d) “You can’t depend on your eyes when you imagination is out of focus. ”  (love this quote by a famous American writer of late 19th century better known by his famous pen name)  e)  “If you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito!”  (a world religious leader)

Pleased with today’s title -it could be referring to the Bob Dylan song, or could be the Egyptian Goddess or is it one of the answers to yesterday’s quiz! I will tell the truth -decided on the title when I looked at yesterday’s quiz questions!

I do think Desire (where the Dylan song comes from) is a great album. I do often tell the story of Isis and Osiris where schools are doing Egypt.  I do enjoy the stories of the Egyptian gods.

One piece of good news I finished the first draft of my story today!!!!!! I shall leave it for a day or two before reading the whole story through. I know it will need redrafting several times!

I am going to spend the next few days thinking about revamping the web site. I know I will need to put in a section about The Two Severn Bores.

Yesterday’s River Answers (new quiz tomorrow)

a) Cologne is the largest city on the Rhine    b) The Swan River flows through Perth Australia (you often hear them talking on Test Match Special when in Perth about the river and the wind the Freemantle Doctor!)   c)  Isis is the alternative name for the Thames near Oxford  d) The county for the source of the Thames is Gloucestershire   e) The longest River in New Zealand is the Waikato River.

It is a while since I had a song title from The Boss! One of his powerful ballads and as relevant now as when he first recorded it. Thought I would have that as the title as all the quiz questions today are on Rivers. The River Severn dominates much of the Gloucestershire landscape and today I have been on  two cycle rides and seen the river from two different perspectives. I went out this morning up onto the Cotswolds and the river does look like a gigantic silver snake twisting across the Vale with the sun reflecting off it. A late afternoon ride with Clare saw us riding alongside the river which looked surprisingly tranquil today! What I do like living so close to the river is that you appreciate the subtle differences in its appearance. Last night I went out to the River to Bird Watch so I watched the sun setting (Beautiful) but saw few birds!

Picture below is of some old Story Teller about to go to his first gig in London a few years ago!

Yesterday’s Wildlife Quiz Answers:

a) The largest species of penguin is the Emperor   b) A group of giraffes is a tower -what a great collective noun that is!   c) A young pigeon is a squab  d) The three species of snake in the UK are Adder, Grass Snake and Smooth Snake   e) An Ant has the  biggest brain in proportion to its body

Today’s River Quiz

a) What is the largest city on the Rhine?    b)  What river flows through the Australian city of Perth (often gets mentioned on TMS)   c) What is the Thames sometimes known as near Oxford?  d) What English county is the source of the Thames?  e)  What is the longest river in New Zealand?

There does feel like there is a certain amount of repetition in the days at the moment. The garden, exercise, writing and bird watching walks fill up much of the days.

We had a lovely spring walk around the lakes this morning; plenty of Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and a couple of Whitethroats.

Managed a decent chunk of writing and getting closer to finishing that first draft.

Yesterday’s Greek Mythology answers

a) Polyphemus was the Cyclops blinded by Odysseus    b) Prometheus stole fire from the gods   c)  Epimetheus was Pandora’s husband   d)  Cerberus was the three-headed dog  e) Midas had the golden touch

Today’s Quiz is on wildlife

a) What is the largest species of penguin?   b) What is the collective noun for a group of giraffes?  c) What is a young pigeon called?   d) What three species of snake are found in Britain?  e) Which creature has the largest brain in proportion to its body?

Thought I would use the winged horse from yesterday’s quiz for today’s title. I was fascinated by Pegasus as a child, and often would doodle pictures of what I think he would look like (I wasn’t a van Gogh!) I of course occasionally I tell tales with him in. I found a picture of a wonderful sculpture of Pegasus it is outside the  Merville Barracks in Colchester so it is the picture below.

Still working hard on my pig story and still getting new ideas to develop and I am currently enjoying the writing process. I did think I was close to finishing the first draft but those new ideas mean the story continues to grow!

We had an excellent Book Club discussion last night via Zoom about the book On Beauty by Zadie Smith. We have now planned to do the next three months virtually (sadly)

Horse Quiz Answers

a) Gringolet is Sir Gawain’s Horse-one of my all time favourites of stories to tell is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight     b) Copenhagen is Wellington’s famous horse    c) Shadowfax is Gandalf’s horse in Lord of the Rings   d) Bucephalus is Alexander the Great’s Horse   e) Pegasus is the winged horse

Tonight’s Quiz is definitely being set by a Story Teller!    It is all on Greek Mythology!

a) Odysseus (a real super hero with a brain!) outwitted a Cyclops-what was his name?  b) Which Titan stole fire from Olympus? c) Who was Pandora’s husband?  d) What is the name of the Three Headed Dog that guards the gates of Hades? e) Who had the Golden Touch?