Had to choose this title after reading about the Octopus that escaped in New Zealand that sounded like a film scenario! Hope he is enjoying his freedom!

Have had two days enjoyable Story Telling this week. I was particularly pleased on Wednesday with the Slavic Folk Tale “Kingdom under the Sea” which I told for the first time. The audience including the adults seemed to enjoy the story.  It was a lovely school and the children were really responsive.

I also managed to see my football team win a match-Yes!!!! More encouraging today saw the plans for the new ground  in the centre of town. Awesome!

It was sad to read about cricketer James Taylor being forced to retire because of a heart condition at 26. He had just got himself in the Test side to. The memory of those wonderful catches in South Africa with his cheeky celebration run this winter now seems particularly poignant. Good luck to him.

Now working hard learning a couple of new stories that I will be telling this week after a busy social weekend. Arrived back late on Thursday night from Northern Ireland (a long drive). Our camper van “Cedric” was buffeted by gales on the Wednesday night nearly blowing our awning to the Republic! Even wondered if we were going to take off in Cedric!!!!!!

A short Story Telling on Friday afternoon was followed by a delightful meal and late night with old friends.  Sadly went to watch my football team come second on Saturday which means another season in the Fourth Division ugh! Foolishly a couple of us decided to ride our bikes around the Severn nearly 80 miles and some cruel hills in the Forest of Dean. I slept well last night!

Our last day in Northern Ireland and we have now walked in the footsteps of Finn. I could say the whole trip has been Story Telling research but that would be stretching things! The Visitor Centre was impressive but I was annoyed with the cartoon image of Finn McCool. He certainly doesn’t fit my idea of Finn, their image was of a clean-cut handsome young warrior style of giant. My Finn is a rough and ready sort of character who is hot-headed and a real chancer.  I suppose that is why I am a Story Teller and not an illustrator ( having the ability to draw might be a factor of course!) I did enjoy the Causeway especially from the cliffs above. I also have managed to cycle 50+ miles along the coast.

Currently on the North Coast of Northern Ireland expecting bad weather tomorrow! Had a good day in Belfast and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Titanic Centre (if that is the right word). A superb visitor centre on a par with the Mary Rose Museum for innovation. I will certainly use the visit to enhance the Titanic Story I’ve told on a couple of Gigs. We are now camped near the Giant’s Causeway we are aiming to visit on Tuesday. Should help with any future requests for Giant Stories especially Finn McCool!

Irish themes for today’s short blog.

Christy Moore was superb on Wednesday night. Mixing his set list between romantic Ireland and passionate songs about the vulnerable and dispossessed. Many of these songs move me to tears they are so tender.

We are currently camping outside Belfast. We are spending tomorrow in the city then heading north to the coast and the Giant`s Causeway. Hoping to cycle some of the coast roads. Also hoping to catch the cricket in a bar on Sunday come on England!!!!

If you want to contact me about story telling I might be slow to respond over the next week.

Well the boys did it! It was a privilege to be a part of it. It was a real family event with the runners being supported by a host of friends and family members over the three days. The team work from all was great.The weather presented a few challenges especially Day 2 (Saturday) and a good part of Day 3. The Saturday especially from North Nibley onwards was driving heavy rain and wind so they were exposed on the tops. So far they have raised over £7500 for Southmead Hospital they have Facebook page “To hell and back” if anyone wants to contribute.

I took young Alfie and his sister Esther bird watching this morning -we managed to dodge the showers! Great to see a couple of hundred Sand Martins and a Swallow-Spring is almost here!

Off to see Christy Moore playing at Cheltenham tomorrow night.

Only chose that title because I managed to slice a chunk of my finger while gardening! Yes I know silly old fool!!!!!

Now I have a break from Story Telling for a couple of weeks or so. It has been a real busy time for me and I am encouraged by the responses to my many performances. I have learnt much and have extended by repertoire of stories.

We are currently waiting for Peter our youngest son come home to run 3 marathons in 3 days along the Cotswold Way; he doesn’t choose the easy option! He is raising money for Southmead Children’s Hospital with his good friend Luke Sellers (they are on Facebook.) It means we are logistical support; we know how to live! Will blog about the adventure next week.

Big news I have a new bike coming with Peter an all carbon frame! A long story why I have added yet another bike to my collection! I have been clocking up the miles and the hills this week!

Today’s title is because for some strange reason I seem to have that old song from my own primary school days as an earworm at the moment!

I had a lovely day yesterday doing poetry at school which was outside of my comfort zone. I worked hard on doing story poems and also read a good selection of poems many of them old favourites.

Today I was at Wick Court doing my voluntary Bird Watching. The children really immersed themselves in the activity and for quite young children did really well at spotting birds. They got great views of a Nuthatch!

What a cracking Spring Day! I am hoping the weather is good for tomorrow too because I want to cycle to my Gig (not far away) but not have to bother with cycling kit (so I don’t have to carry too much.) I am being fairly ambitious tomorrow-Poetry is the theme so I am doing both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as well as various poems.

Nothing special on the Bird Survey on Thursday looking forward to seeing my first summer migrants could be any time now!

On Friday I met our MP on behalf of our local Children’s Centres trying to point out to him the devastation the cuts are making to the vulnerable families in the area. It is hard work and he doesn’t really understand the impact but we have to keep reminding him.

The rest of the blog is sport related. What a fantastic game of cricket on Friday between England and South Africa. The shots are both amazing and unbelievable! We do need to improve our bowling now.

Yesterday I went with my David to watch the mighty Hatters win again away at Plymouth. We do look a well organised now and we have a group of talented players. I think it is too late for the Play Offs but you never know we have just had 5 wins out of 6. We did look comfortable yesterday and really should have scored more than one.

A short midweek blog. I was going to say it was a quieter week but apart from sitting watching the cricket this afternoon it has been fairly busy. That is with only one Story telling this week.

Hot press news I’ve just purchased a new bike! A long story but it was a great offer via my Peter that I couldn’t refuse. Need to look at the garage before it arrives!!!!!

Last Saturday I went to watch the Hatters and despite the result was really encouraged by the football we played. We was robbed!!!! If continue to play like this the club will start to climb back to where we should be.

An early start tomorrow for the Bird Survey out by the River.