Just back from visiting our Peter and Nicola up in the smoke. We made a first visit to the Globe and saw “946 The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips” based on the Michael Morpurgo book. A really enjoyable and lively family production. It is a moving story based on the tragedy of American soldiers preparing for D-Day at Slapton Sands and those of you who do know me will know what a sucker I am for this type of story! The fantastic band that accompanied the performance played the old Steppenwolf classic at the beginning hence today’s title. The band’s front man Adebayo Bolaji was a charismatic performer and semi-narrated the story. “Born to be Wild” was certainly a soundtrack to my formative years and it is a long time since I heard it.

I loved the Globe and we nearly had sunstroke sitting at the top in the sun! It chimed well for me with our recent Shakespeare tour around his anniversary.  I look forward to seeing Shakespeare performed there in the future.

Now preparing for tomorrow’s gig going over some old favourites. Later today I am meeting Brian to sort out our London tour in mid September, logistics as well as performance.

I think I finished cricket for the summer on Tuesday and the injury hit old body is grateful!

Thought the old Byrd’s classic might be a good title after seeing the dressage today at the Olympics. I have to say I am enjoying the cycling once again and was riveted to the men’s pursuit on Friday night, what a race! I was pleased that Usain Bolt won last night he is exceptional and appears to be clean! Changing sports I think the Pakistan cricket team have to be congratulated on the way they played the Test Series displaying skill, spirit and sportsmanship.

I am storytelling at Bream Flower Show this weekend. Probably bring out some old classics like the Japanese story “The man who loved Stories” which goes well with a mixed adult and young person audience.

Finally almost tidied up the Mollie the sheep story but looking for a sheep/lamb type puns to add!

You can tell by the title this is today a non story telling post on my blog!

What a wonderful performance by the mighty Hatters to beat Aston Villa recently of the top flight! Surprised the BBC persisted with the Olympics! We played some good free -flowing football, so fingers crossed for the rest of the season! Roll on Saturday!

Well a bit of surprise how many hits I have had on my last blog. Maybe the Supertramp song title helped.

I had an unexpected gig on Friday night. I got a call at Edgbaston on Wednesday from Heather asking me to tell some stories to the volunteers who have been building the magnificent round house at Wick Court. Strange the calls you take at cricket! It turned out to be a delightful evening in what is a great setting. Good to do some adult stories again. The children are going to love the Round House-I feel we need a name for it.

My sporting odyssey this week has been wonderful but I am tired now. Great day at the Test match in what is a compelling series. Fingers crossed for today. The cricket trip to Devon wasn’t so good the Gloucestershire old men came second and my body was a wreck afterwards. I think my Achilles need a good rest.

Finally the footy season kicked off yesterday and I went to Plymouth with a friend supporting the home team on the train. What a result the Mighty Hatters winning 3 0, brilliant! Maybe this will be the season! It is the hope that gets you!

We made our annual visit to Stratford yesterday. It seems appropriate this year with the 400th anniversary and especially after our Shakespeare Tour around his birthday. We saw Cymbeline one of the Bard’s lesser performed plays. I have to confess it is a play I didn’t know. When I read the review in the Guardian I was interested that this production had changed Cymbeline into a queen, for someone who didn’t know the play I couldn’t have any view on how it changed the play! It was certainly a lively and different production, someone I heard at the interval comment it was like Mad Max on steroids!  They certainly added a comic touch to the play and I appreciated that. The supporting music was excellent and I enjoyed the performance. I now need to read up about it.

My next live event is the Test Match on Wednesday. I am very excited about this so I am keeping my fingers crossed that the weather is kind.

We had a good couple of days in Brecon over the weekend, I had forgotten how beautiful the hills are.

Thought I should explain yesterday’s comment about my Story Telling being mixed last week. There was a lot happening in the school hall and I even found myself distracted by it and I was telling the story not trying to listen! However, on the positive side when I was looking at my Harriet the Hippo story before I performed it I had an idea on how to develop it further.

I did go to the Physio this morning, the good news is he said cycling was OK which is a relief because I was beginning to feel down about it all!

Listened to a Marc Bolan interview on my way to cricket today it was one of those radio 4 programmes that are always interesting especially when you are driving. That is a rather long-winded explanation for today’s title!

I did manage to win the toss in last Tuesday’s tropical heat but sadly we came second. I didn’t even bat myself! What a lousy captain! We had return game with Worcestershire today and we won I am still troubled by my Achilles problem. Need to have it looked at.

My Story Telling last week was mixed. There was a lot going on!

Short blog partly in response to the many of you who have read the blog today-thank you!

Have been busy on the bike with a good quick ride on Saturday. I wasn’t needed for cricket I think they have decided I am past my sell by date! They might be right! Although tomorrow I am captaining the Glos old men (mainly because I am last man standing!) the forecast looks fantastic-I had better win that toss!

I had forgotten I have one more Gig this week on Thursday. It is a leaving present to a good friend.

Today’s song title reflects the way the body is feeling! It has been a busy week with some “so-called ” relaxation a part of it! I now have a decent break from Story Telling unless something comes up and a chance to learn new stories properly and hopefully write-I have several projects on the go. My final Story Telling for a while took place on Wednesday evening and I was pleased with a couple of adjustments I made to stories I know well.

For someone who never has punctures I’ve had three over the last fortnight. I had to repair one in a pub car park after my Hatter’s pre-season meeting with fellow Hatter Mick. I can think of worse places to mend a puncture! I have been busy on the bike clocking up miles and hills. I cycled back from the cricket at Cheltenham on Wednesday at a reasonable lick to get back for my Story Telling.

To further punish the creaking body I had a long day yesterday driving to Cheshire to play cricket for Glos Seniors. We lost but my Achilles problem continues to plague me-perhaps it is trying to say something to me!