Had to be the “Boss” for today as I sit watching the Day/Night Test. I am there tomorrow but forecast looks iffy. It certainly looks different!

It has been a long day as I was up at the crack of dawn to do the bird survey. Had a wonderful cycle in Herefordshire with a pal yesterday so the combination of both activities means I am feeling tired!

Off to Norfolk in the van at the weekend via a wedding.

Following the weekend’s meteor showers thought we would have a space song title, nearly went for Telstar, but Steve Miller will do! I did go out on Saturday night but didn’t see anything perhaps I should have gone out later.

I visited my old friends at Bream Community Library on Friday for a gig connected to the Summer Reading Challenge. I have done a couple of community libraries recently and the volunteers do a great job but you do feel we should be valuing our libraries more.

Cricket went well last week and Gloucestershire had a convincing win in Devon.  Sadly the same cannot be said for the football, I went to Barnet and saw a poor game where we were out fought on the pitch.

I’ve started doing some research for a new story that is slowly germinating in my head! Hopefully the ideas will flow and I will update my readers on my progress.

I hope those of you who have looked at the updated web site have been impressed. Any feedback will be welcome. There will be a couple of tweaks in the near future.

Sorry it has been a gap since I last posted. On Saturday I was in London for the athletics at Stratford instead of watching the Hatters start the season. We were to see Usain Bolt’s last race. Sadly he didn’t win unlike the Hatters who hit 8!!!!! Enjoyed being at a wonderful event in the magnificent London Stadium. I was impressed at how quickly we got away considering there were 60,000 people.

We went onto Suffolk for a couple of days for birding and gardens. I saw a Bittern flying, several Spotted Redshank as well as Hobby.

We came back via football at Luton to see the Ipswich game.

I hope you readers have noticed the web site has been revamped. My friend Dave has done a super job. Please have a good luck. A couple more things will be added in the near future.

I’ll start with cricket hence today’s title. Those of you know me will be aware of how much I pride myself in the field and how I still have been holding my own with the young whippersnappers I play with at my club. Well when I play Seniors Cricket for Gloucestershire I arrogantly regard myself as the top cover point fielder. Well talk about becoming a cropper in this week’s game against Warwickshire, I didn’t bat so wanted to make my contribution in the field. Two dropped catches, one came down with ice on it! The other was a simple one! I compounded my embarrassment in the bar afterwards by knocking over my beer to the amusement of everyone else! Changing to real cricket what a lovely moment watching Moeen Ali get his hat trick against South Africa.

I have had a good social spell seeing old friends over the last week or so. Still clocking up the miles and hills on the bike. Coast to Coast and back at the start of September!

Got some good news on the Wick Court story to share later. May be able to give a publication date in the new future.

I was at Stratford yesterday and saw Julius Caesar by the RSC. It is always a great treat seeing live theatre at Stratford.

Forgotten what an excellent play it is; especially relevant today. The famous Mark Anthony speech had many echoes with one or two current world leaders and situations. The production was superb, I thought Brutus was really well cast. Ended up recalling the film from the 1950s and my Dad playing Shakespeare speeches on our old record player!

A new band for today’s song title. On Sunday I went with my mate Terry to the Hammersmith Apollo to see Midnight Oil, Terry’s favourite band. Superb concert and fairly easy for us to get to. Peter Garrett was an impressive figure on stage. I also thought it might be a good title to celebrate the England Women’s Cricket Team winning the World Cup on Sunday. Wonderful game and great to see Lords packed out. Hopefully the men will give a better account of themselves on Thursday.

We have managed to have a good go in the garden over recent days and plenty more to do! Things grow quickly with sun and rain!

Managed to clock up some miles on the bike, yesterday we did 50 + miles in an area that I haven’t cycled before. I also met up with my fellow Hatter Mick this week to discuss the forthcoming season. Can’t believe it starts Saturday week!

I have chosen a song from Dan Everett who performed in our local on Wednesday for today’s title. It was a super evening with Dan enchanting us with his music, supported by the Blunderbirds duo (Brain and I). Dan is a talented guitarist and wowed his audience. I was pleased with my story “The Hand of Glory”  a macabre story I found and developed.

I am now planning to give myself some space after a really hectic spell. Lots of sport to look forward to I am seeing Usain Bolt on Saturday and a Test Match in August. Will continue to cycle and play cricket as well.

I hope to write a bit over the summer, haven’t been able to over the last month because I have been so busy!

The picture is of me working with adults at Cymmer Library near Port Talbot last weekend. I had a lovely two days working with volunteers on the Friday and performing at the fete on the Saturday.

.

The Doors and Jim Morrison for today’s blog title!!!!

I’ve just met with Terry a good mate for the lay out of my Ghost Story ready for publishing. I have some great pictures drawn by Jane Fryer to be included. You never know we may see it in the Book form later this year.

Just getting ready for tonight’s gig in the Horseshoes. Haven’t quite nailed the story!

Bookings for September coming in at the moment, one is certainly adventurous (more later when everything is in place).

A fair break since I last blogged. I seemed to be on non stop Story Telling wheel! I am currently staying at my brother’s because I am between gigs in the Welsh valleys. Voice has been tested with a performance every day this week. Today I am performing at a fund raising fete for the community library. It is sad what has happened to libraries in recent years they are so vital for people.

After today I almost finish for the summer only the pub gig on Wednesday and one more library in August.

Anyone reading this I am organising a special musical evening in the Three Horseshoes in Frampton  on Wednesday 19 th July called “Dan and friends” it features Dan Everett a talented musician and a couple of other performers including Brian Dimmock the other half of that super duo “Blunderbirds”  guess who is the other half? I am trying to learn a new story to tell. So please come if you want a good evening of old fashioned entertainment. Dan is worth seeing!! No charge but we will have a collection for Farms for City Children Charity. See you there!

Has to be the Kinks for today’s title as the sun as shone all day. I had the car parked in the Shopping Centre where I was working, my goodness the steering wheel was hot to touch when I left. Been a busy spell on the Story Telling front. A couple of Gigs last week and work today and tomorrow in Swindon for the National Literacy Trust. After tomorrow I go straight to Wick Court for my residency. I might be exhausted by tomorrow night!

I have even played league cricket and held my own with the youngsters. Well 20 + year olds! I even squeezed in a 30 mile ride on Monday.

I do need to do some writing got a couple of projects that are waiting to be fully developed.

Now have to pack for tomorrow maybe a next blog near the weekend.