Well this is supposed to be a Story Telling Blog where I can talk about my adventures on that front and highlight future projects. Sadly events have rather taken over and because of lock down etc Story Telling has been skirmishes with the virtual world, doing a pod cast and recording stories for Gloucestershire Libraries-the next recording I am hoping to do outside.

Life changed today! I have a live gig in August with young people at Kingshill House in Dursley. (I am going to invest in a visor for performing which will be a new experience!) We also planned our annual event at Kingshill for February-this will be our fourth Story Telling Day  (fingers crossed there is no second spike.)

I did as I have previously mentioned written a new story during the lock down and I am hoping to do have  some news on that in September/October.

I am not mentioning football today because I said it is a Story Telling Blog today but I am certainly apprehensive about the R word after last night’s underwhelming performance!

An exclusively football related mini post today! Had a busy morning with a cycling with Clare followed by some physical work in the garden. Now just whiling away the time before tonight’s game. It is certainly fingers crossed so the dream can continue!!!!

I have used the old Moody Blues song title before but can’t think of a better one for today! The song says “Lovely to see you again old friend……” Well for the first time in at least fifteen years we have had a Spotted Flycatcher in the garden. We often used to get one nesting close by so I would frequently while away the time watching these charismatic birds acrobatically fly up to snaffle an insect , fly back to their perch and then repeat the process. Today was a brief appearance but fingers crossed it is nearby and will return again. It is a bird sadly in a sharp decline-this is the first one I have seen this summer! I am often asked by the young people when they visit Wick Court and we take them out Bird Watching “what is my favourite bird?” I always answer I can’t pick one! However, the Spotted Flycatcher would certainly be in my top ten.

I have a meeting this week about a potential gig in August (it has been a long time since I performed to a live audience!) I have also done another recording of me telling a story for the Library Service.

I did enjoying watching the Test Match despite the result! Sport without a crowd is certainly not the same, lacking in atmosphere. I do find it difficult to settle down as a casual spectator to watch any football these days of course I am still totally committed to watching games where I have a strong emotional involvement (only three games to go-fingers crossed!)

A blast from the past the photo below was sent to me today. As I mentioned football yesterday this photo is the college team from my last year there about 100 years ago- can you spot yours truly? Answer is at the bottom. What fantastic hair styles!

No coloured boots in those days! We were a cracking team and played some great attacking football.

Clare and I had a delight ride today along the old railway line and then up onto the Common. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world!

I am the skipper the one with the football at his feet!

Real back in time song title today with the Monkees. It refers to my hopeful dreaming that the Mighty Hatters can still do it and survive! I should say it is hopeful the odds are stacked against us. Only writing now because we kick off later. Currently watching England try and take some wickets and struggling! My club are hoping to play cricket next weekend, no teas and players will have to arrive changed! Just hope there is no rain!

Aiming to do another story recording for the libraries at the weekend. I am hoping I will improve my technique with the camera. You never know outside gigs might happen before long (I have a meeting next week about this possibility)!

Thanks to the nearly forty year old Kraftwerk “song” for today’s title! I thought the title should be something about the internet because today at long last we managed to solve the transferring of my Story Telling video to Gloucestershire Libraries. I am supposed to be doing a story a week for the Reading Challenge.

Had hoped to watch some cricket today but of course it was predictable that after all the wonderful weather during Lock Down it would rain today!

Another song from the Boss for today’s title. I wanted a song that had something about dreams having just watched my football team fail to win a must win game so the dream sadly is beginning to fade.

Long bike ride over the hills today with a few decent climbs.

Had a meeting with Jane Fryer  who illustrated my book “Don’t Look at me Like That” about doing my new story. Hopefully we may see it published in the Autumn. Still playing with ideas for a title-it is funny because some of my stories the title comes to me easily.

Book Club tomorrow night -another Zoom – I look forward to the time we can meet in the flesh.

Johnny Cash gives me today’s title and of course it refers to my feelings yesterday. Sorry it is football! I thought my team were going in the right direction and then yesterday when they forget to turn up (at least the defence did). It was painful watching. The only thing that troubled Reading was them tripping over the ribbons on all their presents!

I did a recording today for Gloucestershire Libraries for their Summer Reading Challenge. Struggling a bit on the editing (the bit when I turn the recording on and off). I am hoping to transfer it to them later (fingers crossed).

A different sort of Blog today. A poem I wrote at the height of lockdown.

Lost Words
(Based on the ideas from Robert Macfarlane’s and Jackie Morris’ Book-without the marvellous pictures or even the magical words! One new word as well!)

                  THE PUB
       Pontificating, prattling, platitudes over a pint
       Unbalanced, uncompromising, utterances
       But brilliant beer boosts Brains!!!
                Oh how I miss the Shoes!!!!

HUG
Hankering for that missing, generous touch                                                                       Uneasy absence of that warm human clutch                                                          Gripping on to one another is craved oh so much!

                                                                   SPORT
                                                        Spinning out hours after hours
                                                        Playing and watching
                                                        Over and over again
                                                        Reminiscing those great moments
                                                       Tedious for many but precious to us.

                          SCHOOL
                 Social gathering mixing with many peers
                 Crucial for future direction
                 Hubs for varied learning 
                 Objective thinking honed
                 Opportunities to light a hundred sparks
                 Looking for ways for subversion (uniform and petty rules)

                                                                                            ZOOM
                                                                Zoom tonight! So rearrange those bookshelves
                                                               Observe our many varied intellectual tomes
                                                               Optical illusion hiding the pyjama trousers
                                                              Melancholic feelings pervade for what is missed.

Bill Church April 2020

Appropriate title for today from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers-don’t think I have had a Tom Petty song before. The reason for the title our back door has been in the wars and we needed a lock smith today. Now we have a fully functioning back door that closes properly!

We are now serenaded every day by our local “Train” of Jackdaws another name is a “Clattering” of Jackdaws which with the sound might be more appropriate. I counted 70+ the other day. I have a secret admiration for these intelligent  birds who I think are quite handsome but oh my goodness they are a pain and that  incessant noise! You never know I might work a story around a Jackdaw! There is a picture of one below!

Finally I have to mention the wonderful performance by my football team last night earning a hard fought point at Leeds. It is the hope that gets you!!!!COYH!!!!!!