Currently we are dog sitting for Dave and Vicky (they have got our camper van Cedric). So Tully a rescued greyhound is often sprawled out chilled in our living room. Wonderful watching him hurtle across the field in the early morning after rabbits. Picture below is his regular drink spot on our morning walk.

Story Telling slowly easing down, I told stories to adults at a charity event on Sunday and I am at Hygrove House working with adults on Friday morning. I need to work on our 2019 project that Dan and I have talked about. more on that as it develops.

Bird survey tomorrow morning to look forward to although don’t expect to see that much.

I have to comment on how ashamed I am about the fact our government invited Trump to our country and rolled out the red carpet. He is an abominable man who displays all the traits of a badly behaved playground bully who by his actions  doing irreparable damage to  our precious planet and displaying a poor example on how to treat fellow human beings. RANT OVER!

Talking of tyrants, we went to Stratford yesterday to see Macbeth (Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack as Lady M). The witches were played by young girls which was certainly different! It is an all action production! Not sure when Birnam Wood will come to the White House but surely they will get rid of him won’t they before he does too much harm?

Pity about the football, a missed opportunity but sadly for us the best team won.

Short blog on the afternoon of the World Cup Semi!

My plan for the next few hours

• Fingers crossed,
• legs crossed
• making sure I avoid cracks in the pavement,
• avoid walking under ladders
• Don’t drop any mirrors
• Make sure I get my timings right for this evening’s Story Telling! We have altered timings to fit the football in!
• COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!!

My goodness it is hot! I played cricket yesterday and we arranged to wrap the game around the footie. Good to report we won at the death and of course England did. First time I opened this season and started really well to slapped a short one to a fielder, so sadly I missed out. My old team mate Nigel saw us home (we are the only two players over 30 in the team!)

I capped off a really busy week with another book at a local school. Pleased to say this week looks like being quieter! Hopefully will clock up a few miles on the bike.

One absolutely wiped out Story Teller here! Three successive mornings telling stories in Nottingham-I even managed to see the football in an interesting local pub! How stressful that was! I camped in our camper Cedric. Also called on some old friends near Lincoln.

On Wednesday afternoon even managed to visit a Leicestershire school (St. Peter and St. Paul Academy)  who visit us at Wick Court to promote my book. What a treat visiting our friends there. I was unexpectedly asked to do a story in assembly. Sold many books as well! Thank you to a lovely school.

Finished up with telling stories this morning in Nottingham and doing my usual residency back in Gloucestershire this afternoon. No wonder I am feeling it-will try do a more coherent blog tomorrow or Saturday.

Followed up on last week’s busy week with a Story Telling Workshop with adults at Hygrove House on Friday that went well. I later pedalled to see fellow ex Headteachers at the wonderful Old Spot. It is a great pub.

Final bit of Story Telling for me and the end of a busy week was at Lakefield School Fete on Saturday. I nearly baked in the sun! We then drove down to our Dave’s in Exeter later that afternoon to meet up with all the family.

A ridiculous early start saw the three Church boys set off on the Dartmoor Classic. Fearing that we would melt in the sun we smeared on the sun cream made sure our water bottles were brimmed to the full. However we got a real soaking in persistent torrential rain! Still 67 miles and 5,300 feet of climbing was eventually negotiated and wait for it I was award a silver medal for my age related time! Picture of Pete and I below with my time above!

Likely to be unable to blog for the next three days. I am on Story Telling Tour to Nottingham. Just finished packing!

Well this week is all go! Just blogging before tonight’s football-COME ON ENGLAND!!!! It has been a full and busy week.

I am easing back on the miles on the bike because I am doing the Dartmoor Classic on Sunday 67 miles up and down Dartmoor – wish me luck!  I did try out the new tyres on my bike climbing Frocester and Stouts Hill and I have also got a bigger ring on the chain to help me climb. It did make a difference! I did take my time climbing up to Nailsworth for today’s Story Telling Gig on my steel framed bike Shadowfax!

I visited my lovely friends at Thrupp Primary school yesterday to promote the book with a Story Writing Workshop. We had a lovely hour working together. Afterwards Clare picked me up and we went to Asthall Manor to walk amongst the sculptures, it was delightful.

Today  I had two Story Telling Sessions in two contrasting venues with very different audiences.

Finally last week Dan the wonderful guitarist I have mentioned before when we have worked together and I had a meeting to plan future work together, we have come up with an exciting and ambitious project. As it develops I will let you know.

A short sporting blog! Just back from a superb game of cricket at Old Trafford. The game ebbed and flowed with England just getting over the line thanks to the amazing Jos Butler. The atmosphere was wonderful,  I didn’t see the football but heard the cheers from the back of the stand, I will watch on Thursday!

A delightful day yesterday. Started with our monthly Bird Survey in Frampton. Highlight being a couple of Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and a Marsh Harrier.

I then spent the morning supporting Clare getting ready for their Patchwork and Quilting Exhibition, I put up many stands!

The afternoon was Wick Court’s 20th birthday party -well since it became a Farm for City Children! Michael Murpurgo and Adam Henson were special guests. It was lovely to see all the people connected with the farm over those 20 years. Brilliant

It was rounded off with a superb performance by the cycling Handlebards doing a wonderful anarchicTwelfth Night-hilarious! Picture below of their slap stick humour. There are certainly talented actors.

I did do two Story Telling sessions today-one in Nailsworth to young children and followed this up with my residency at Wick Court. Normally this is on a Thursday but we have a special birthday celebration tomorrow at the farm with some special guests will blog about afterwards.

I also pedalled to both gigs today! A little tired now after all that!