Felt I needed a Spring title so going back 50 years to Pentangle for today! Talking about 50 years this July sees 50 years since the first Moon Landing so look out for space themed titles round then!

We have just a cracking couple of days up in Lancashire in the Forest of Bowland what a beautiful part of the world. Had a lovely walk up onto the moorland saw plenty of great birds Sandpipers and Dippers in the water and Crossbill in the conifers. I am planning to cycle in that area over the next year or so.

Late afternoon we went to Accrington Stanley to watch the mighty Hatters consolidate the position at the top. It was warm on the terrace! Great away following considering it was live on TV.

Don’t forget the Two Severn Bores are performing our “Severn Songs and Stories” over the next ten days-Folk Tales at Bristol on Wednesday, Frampton Village Society on Friday and the Star Pub Wotton on Tuesday 30th.

Radiohead’s song seemed appropriate for today’s title-first time I’ve had one of their songs for a title!

Had a cracking morning doing the monthly bird survey near the River. We saw some great birds (more than just the Magpie!) Male Marsh Harrier very active which we took to be an encouraging sign. Great views of male Redstart and the colours were fantastic. A couple of Peregrines flew by and loads of migrants passing through Sand Martins, Swallows, a Willow Warbler and for all of us our first Whitethroat of the year. Still buzzing as I write this! I did forget my camera being the only downside.

Been able to get my number one bike out in this sunny spell so clocked up a few hills! Even had an outdoor cricket net this week!

Clare has done a brilliant job on revamping the Bird Watching Books for Wick Court. They look really good and we have expanded the number of birds in the book for the children.

Blurry picture of yours truly below at the Velodrome on Friday. Full of admiration for the professionals who race, the bikes are fixed wheel with no brakes so handling isn’t as easy as a normal road. Back on my road bike tomorrow!

Thursday at Tuffley Library was aided by great weather so I was able to point out birds to the children and told bird stories as we walked around the local park. Important places Libraries and are important to local communities.  A break this week until my busy spell with Two Severn Bores, a reminder of our dates-Wednesday 24th April at Folk Tales in Bristol (8.00 p.m. Benjamin Parry Scout Hut), Friday 26th Frampton Village Society (7.30 p.m. welcome to anyone) and Tuesday 30th at Wotton Arts Festival  (7.30 Star Inn Wotton).

Finally it had to happen my fantastic football team lost a match ending our record breaking unbeaten run. So it was some adjustment to the normal smiling Saturday night We were a bit short on numbers certainly up front and we didn’t take our chances in the first half. Fingers crossed we will get back to winning ways next week.

Not sure that title has ever been used by anyone before! Currently staying with Peter and Nicola in Maidenhead. Yesterday we went to see the Edvard Munch exhibition at the British Museum. Really enjoyed it and it was well curated. Afterwards couldn’t resist going to see the Sutton Hoo Helmet I decided it was for research to give texture to my Saxon story that I tell as part of Severn Stories and Songs! We are lucky to have excellent museums and they are free. Pity about the decline of libraries over the last few years!

Later we met Pete at the Velodrome in the Olympic Park. He had treated me to an hour on the track! Brilliant! Terrifying at first as you cycled round on the banking especially on bikes that don’t have brakes. Had a great time and grew in confidence over the hour. Might add a picture on next blog. Will also blog about Thursday’s Story Telling in Tuffley next blog when home.

What a super day! We cycled over the top to visit an old friend Alex who lives in an old converted mill near Nailsworth. She had promised us views of Dippers. The Dipper is the bird that got me in interested in birds all those years ago when I lived in Stroud as a young teacher. The Dippers were busy but not particularly photogenic. Some pictures I took of the birds we saw below.

My first Swallow sighted today as Clare and I cycled to Hill for their legendary cakes and tea. The cakes were once again up to their high standards with much choice. Cyclists were arriving from all over to sample the cakes! Going back to the Swallow it is a later date for me than I have had for the last three years.

I forgot to mention last week while we cycling out one evening from our Dorset camp site we saw a white deer. It was a Stag. Not sure if this was mystical moment but never seen anything like that before except for albino Blackbirds!

Football was a topsy-turvy affair mainly because of a very weak ref1 Enough said! But despite that we managed to set a club record of 28 games without defeat. Fingers crossed for the next five games!

Well she didn’t sing this last night! It just shows what an extensive repertoire of songs Kate Rusby has in her catalogue. A smashing evening with many new sensitive beautiful songs. We really enjoyed it.

Had a lovely gig today telling stories to residents with dementia in a Care Home. Had to be visual in my telling and as always I learnt quite a bit doing it.

Next week doing something completely different taking young people at Tuffley Library for an event called “Words on the Wing”. I am telling bird stories while walking round spotting birds. Hopefully will be fun.   Will be interesting how many birds we see.

Thought a famous “Boss” song would fir for today. We have just come back from a couple of days in Dorset in Cedric our fantastic camper van. As we camped close to the River Frome hence today’s title.

We always try and visit Dorset in April mainly because it is a good time to see Dartford Warblers. Only one really good sighting and a few fleeting glimpses at the delightful RSPB Reserve at Arne. Many other great birds were spotted. We also called in at Durlston Country Park with great sea views and sea birds.

Tonight we are off to see Kate Rusby in Cheltenham not sure if there is a support act but not sure if it will beat Robert Plant last week!

Short blog today!

Delightful visit to the Care Home in Cheltenham on Friday to tell stories. One of my audience was 103, I have now told stories to several Centenarians over recent years. I am visiting another Care Home this Friday.

A great day out yesterday in Bristol! I was watching the Mighty Hatters at Bristol Rovers. I met several friends both Rovers and Luton supporters in the wonderful micro brewery pub The Drapers Arms which was an enjoyable start. I went full of trepidation to the stadium not a happy hunting ground for us. We were smiling at the end with another three points in the bag. Happy Days!

I suppose the title could be me, I know my family would say that!  However, I chose this one after being in Cheltenham last night to see Seth Lakeman and the support group was fronted by Robert Plant formally of Led Zeppelin fame! So an old Zeppelin song for the title! Marvellous concert and the Town Hall was rocking! Plant’s group are called Saving Grace and were bluesy gospel Americana and were certainly different, some superb musicians. Seth was on the top of his game (well he had to be coming on after Plant), and a good mix of ballads and rock.We are seeing Kate Rusby next week.

Had a lovely bird watch with children from St Johns and St Clements on Tuesday, the weather was great. The children saw 28 species through the day equalling the Wick Court record. I enjoyed telling stories to them yesterday afternoon, changing slightly my shaggy dog story about the Saxons on the River.

This afternoon I am performing at a Care Home in Cheltenham, may throw in one of the stories I am doing with Two Severn Bores.

Talking about Two Severn Bores we have 3 gigs at the end of April hope to see you at one of them.

Wednesday 24th April   Folk Tales (Ben Parry Scout Hut near Thekela, Bristol 8 p.m. It is £5 entrance. (free coffee, tea and biscuits!)

Friday 26th April         Frampton Village Society (Frampton Village Hall) 7.30 p.m. It is £3.50 for non-members (a glass of wine will be provided)

Tuesday 30th April  Wotton Arts Festival (The Star in Market Street ) 7.30 p.m. Free but a collection at the end of the evening.