No, not Brian and I  on our bikes! Watched Mark Knopfler on the T.V. last night so hence today’s title! We are off to London tomorrow, driving up but taking the bikes so we will pedal to all our Gigs next week. So tomorrow I will be able to say Blunderbirds are go!

I had a lovely Story Telling with Cofton school on Thursday, first Telling with a school in the new Round House and with my wonderful Story Teller’s Chair! I did stick to some old favourites but had new variations for each of the three stories.

I collected some smart new t-shirts/polo shirts for performing. They look wonderful and also had logos printed on some cycling tops as well.

With luck I will blog each weekday next week -the pictures may have to be added later.

Short blog with no song title-might be the same title over the next week with part 2, 3, 4 etc to follow. I may add some photos to today’s  blog later when they arrive so please look again.

Today the “Blunderbirds” (Brain and I) set off for our first Gig to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the charity. We set off on a celebration tour that will include some fund raising -anyone who we are visiting you are welcome to make a donation to the charity!

Today we set off on our bikes to catch the train to Redland School Chippenham. I forgot to turn off my bike computer off on the train so the data on Strava looks like I possess super powers! Despite one navigational hiccup we arrived in good time. Lovely greeting from old friends on the staff who visit Wick Court regularly.

Our audience was to younger children than the material is really designed for and I think we learnt some lessons today on adapting our material. Looking forward to London next week I hope to blog daily and with pictures.

Book Club meal tonight at my house. I have suggested as the antidote to Brexit that our meal should celebrate European food! That gives us plenty of options to be creative.

I wanted to chose a record that epitomises Britain for my title today and apologies if it seems more English than British! One of my all time favourite songs as well! This is to celebrate the Tour of Britain passes through our part of the world. I cycled to the top of Selsey Common to watch with some pals. It was a wonderful carnival occasion. Although it was mayhem afterwards with a mass of bikes and cars! I then went down to Dursley to meet Clare at Edwina’s house for a lovely lunch.

Last night’s gig at Wick Court went well. I told my Mollie story for the first time (I don’t count when I was persuaded to tell it for a group of adults when the Round House was built). I am never sure how the story will go and I certainly had some ideas to develop it. I was with Brian singing his song about Wick Court and his poem about the bees. It will be the format of our London tour in ten days time.

An action packed week for me! I had two meetings on Monday afternoon/evening so had a good pedal to both. The second one was a positive one for the charity “Hill, Valley and Vale” that runs the Children’s Centres in Stroud . Really good to see Staff and Trustees coming up with ideas for the future which is uncertain because of events out of control. Would be good to see a stronger commitment to Children’s Centres from government rather than their outdated fixation with grammar schools..

It was back at Wick Court yesterday to do bird watching with the children. Sadly not many birds around! I am back there tonight to tell stories with Brian as a rehearsal for upcoming London tour.

Tomorrow  the Tour of Britain is coming through the area so we are cycling up to Selsley Common to watch it come through.

I have a busy period of Story telling coming up over the next 6 weeks and it will be a diverse range of stories to perform. Had an email today asking me if I can do Kingsholm Rugby ground for World Book Day. We be good to say I’ve played at Kingsholm!

Well the bike was  black really but “Silver machine” could be a bike! We had a great day cycling to beyond Salisbury. We did 92 miles altogether and climbed 5,000 feet over the course of the ride. A couple of navigational mistakes but not disastrous! Really enjoyed the Wiltshire hills and the approach to Salisbury was delightful through the water meadows. Great evening as well with good friends.

Diary for gigs for the next couple of months are filling up which is good.

Today’s title could be me at any time! Finding it difficult to fit everything into the next week or so! The down side of being so busy I’m not learning any new stories although Iam gradually getting to grips with my Mollie story.

Started back at Wick Court this morning although no children till next week. I worked at arranging seating for the brilliant new round house. I should be Story telling in there  next week.

I am cycling to just beyond Salisbury on Thursday with a recently retired Headteacher friend to see another pal. Weather looks OK at the moment. Just hope the body is OK!

Decided to use the old Neil Young song title for this blog! Sums up how the body was after Thursday’s cricket. Both Achilles were very sore after the game so I looked very lame yesterday morning! I did bat for a while which is a good thing but that does mean I struggle to move towards the end of the game. I do get frustrated by struggling to run because I usually love fielding!

Friday was a busy day. Lovely gig at Bream Library with a wide age range audience. Told some old favourites that are dependable in those circumstances. Good to see how the community are keeping the library going but those of you who read my blogs regularly will know of my strong feelings on libraries!

Signed off at Frocester Beer Festival where I bumped into several people from my dim and distant past! Taking it easy today!

Stupid blog today! I just wanted to experiment with a picture from my phone onto the blog! I mentioned I was aiming to cycle to Sutton Hoo so we did! Picture below is of the ship burial mound. Did inspire me to try and learn some Old English for when I next do Beowulf! Think that would be really cool! Off to play cricket later.

Well watching the Olympics felt like a watchtower at times!

We are currently with friends in Colchester. So not thinking about anything to do with Stories apart from I do need an illustrator for my book. Anyone out there who can help let me know.

Colin and I had a decent ride around nature reserves yesterday. Today hoping to visit one of my favourite places Sutton Hop.

A change over the last two days with heavy rain. It has had an impact on me, one soaking on the bike yesterday and my gig cancelled today! It does put you in a dilemma in what jacket to take with you on your bike because it is still warm-my lightweight shower jacket wouldn’t be much good today but my other jacket is probably too warm! My Gig at Bream today was cancelled because of the weather the wind and the rain both being factors!

Still Brian and I had a meeting about our London tour next month which is promising to be fun.

Football was disappointing today sounds like we missed a hatful of chances!