Well I am actually here not that hot although the sun shone for our first game yesterday. We lost narrowly on the last ball. Body a little stiff today I did a fair amount of running. Rest day today so off for a walk soon with my binoculars, there were swifts flying over yesterday. More cricket tomorrow and Sunday I am playing the Sunday game.
Old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song for today’s title not the Carry On film titles! Although maybe it should of been. Today’s title is because today a group of us took part in the Malvern Sportive. 53 miles and over 3,000 feet of climbing. It was a stunning ride through the beautiful Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire Countryside. I am now taking it easy!!!
My blogging might be hit and miss over the next 10 days. I am off to sunny Spain to play cricket-yes cricket in Spain! It is with Gloucestershire Seniors, I went two years ago. I am hoping the body will cope!
I am working on a couple of ideas for stories to tell later in the year.
Well a bit of mist first thing on the water! I was doing the monthly bird survey by the Severn. Sadly no migrants although I heard a Chiffchaff. With the children at Wick Court on Tuesday we saw a small flock of Golden Plover fly over which was a first for a school. I had a lovely Story Telling with the same children on Wednesday night. They insisted I told them the Mollie the Sheep story even though I had told it at their school in September.
Had to choose that title after yesterday’s disappointment at football. More about that at the end of the blog for those of you not interested in football.
This last week has been busy on the Story Telling Front and other things. I had a lovely Gig in the Welsh Valleys on Thursday at a Special School. As a Story Teller who feeds off his audience this was an interesting experience. I had full participation with some groups and for one group I was struggling for a reaction as I told “Pirate Pete”, however, midway through one young man starting singing “15 men on a dead man’s chest”, I think that moment made my day!
Our Book Club meal this week was based on “The Martian” and if you know the book or film potatoes play a significant part. Every dish had to have potato in it and once again the chaps surpassed themselves with their offerings. It was hard getting up at the crack of dawn the next day for my Gig.
I had a Trustees meeting of the charity that runs Children Centres in the area on Monday night. I do feel angry about how public services are being allowed wither on the vine and our Prime Minister’s words about a government for everybody sound very hollow. It is still the poor and the vulnerable that seem to be shouldering the burden for the country’s difficulties and I fear will get worse in the coming years.
I had a lovely cycle round Herefordshire with my Old Groynes cycling companions on Friday. Also caught up with many old pals from local schools in the evening over a beer.
Now the footie. I watched us lose at home yesterday. We didn’t play well although you could say the whole game hinged on goal keepers. Our goalie didn’t make a save and was at fault for the first goal in the second minute! The Stevenage keeper pulled off 4 top notch saves and had defenders clearing off the line when he was beaten. We do need to cope better with teams that press us high up the pitch.
Sorry but this is a mainly a football related blog with a mention of a dog, no Story Telling mentions today!
We are currently looking after Tully (David and Vic’s rescued Greyhound). He is growing in confidence and is great to watch when he sets off at speed. Forgotten what it is like to get a soaking first thing in the morning!
Had a marvellous day yesterday watching the Mighty Hatters at Yeovil. We were superb and if anything 4-0 flattered Yeovil. Some of the football we played was excellent. Two big games coming up and hopefully we will continue our good form.
One or two space stories this week in the news so the old Pink Floyd number chosen for today!
A real busy week with World Book Day with many stories told! I have one more celebration gig next week. Yesterday I was even given a Gruffalo cake-really good! Also had a lovely day bird watching with the children at Wick Court. One young lady was delighted to spot a Goldcrest.
Just finished reading Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography “Born to Run”, an interesting read. Now embarking on “The Martian” for Book Club.
Football update! An absorbing game on Wednesday night in the Mickey Mouse Trophy. We came second against Oxford but it was a far more exciting game than most of Premiership games I’ve seen this year! However, I hope our defence is better today at Yeovil. I am setting off soon!
They have arrived in Frampton at last. Waxwings!!!! We went to see them today at Court Lake. There were at least 62 birds. They are beautiful birds and they do make your heart sing! (a picture below -not great quality.)
An absorbing game of football yesterday with a good crowd a pity it was only a draw!
Cycling in the rain to my Story Telling Gig tomorrow.
Bob Dylan title for today as storm Doris is battering us! Bob’s song was about a boxer but the title is right for today. Interesting cycling up for a paper today-I flew up there but it felt like climbing a mountain coming back!!!!
Had a lovely meet up with old friends for lunch on Wednesday (I wrote that especially for one of my loyal readers!)
Busy with Gigs next week so currently learning the stories, a couple I haven’t told for a couple of years.
Ironic title today with events around the world and especially across the water! It is a great song and Woody Guthrie was singing about the dispossessed which seems to be off the agenda at the moment. Enough of that!
Had a lovely morning on Monday seeing old friends at a local Infant School. Pirate Pete went down well with the whole school. I was delighted with my Book Hunt story and will develop this over the summer. I’m currently planning for the Gigs next week.
I had a first on Friday we were in a restaurant in Piccadilly waiting for our Peter when I was recognised and asked for a selfie! Is it the Big time? We re-staged the moment when Peter arrived for effect! It was a teacher who had visited Wick Court three weeks ago so he wanted evidence for his pupils I assume; I like to think it is because I am a celebrity (sic) !!!!!!
We had been to the Royal Academy to see the exhibition on Art in the Revolution 1917-32. Art flowered in the early days of the Russian Revolution. Disillusionment set in later and then came Stalin!
Absolutely worn out tonight after a wonderful cycle ride up and down, up and down, up and down!!!!!
Well we are really going back in time for today’s title well it was the week with Valentine’s Day in! So we go back to that one time Super Group Cream You could say we marked the day and I have to say it wasn’t my idea the last part!
We went to Oxford and the Ashmolean Museum during the day we went to a really good exhibition on the development of the Impressionists called from Degas to Picasso. I learnt much on studying on how techniques developed in Paris and beyond. We went onto my old home town to visit my parent’s grave and tidy it up. Finishing off going to the Theatre of Comedy that is the home of my favourite football team. Easy win at home for a change. Clare even suggested we could go to Doncaster on Saturday! I think not as we are in London tomorrow.
I did finish my story for Monday I’ve called it “The Book Worm” and it may be the basis for a longer story in the future. Now I am trying to learn it!