Lovely to half a dozen Arctic Terns last night on the lake by home. What a fantastic story their migration is going from pole to pole and they turn up here in Frampton! Also heard a Cuckoo this morning. I will check out if the Nightingale has arrived tonight.

The Shakespeare story is developing. Hope to pull it together this week e.g. finishing writing it and get ready to learn it for performance.

My training for the cycle up Alpe d’Huez  is going well. Climbed Haresfield yesterday, that last part is hard! Looking to do a few hills this week.

Well after some lovely days at the weekend, we now have what I call “typical start of the cricket season weather!” I should have played for the Glos old men today but was unsurprisingly washed out. Went for a cycle to drop off story telling leaflets and pay some money in. Almost 50 miles today and yesterday with some decent hills in. Wet and windy on both days! With the weather as it is it does mean I can spend some time on preparation for future gigs. I am still developing my Shakespeare story.

Book club last night was a meal on the boat-it was supposed to be linked with Wind, Sand and Stars. A jolly evening all round. I must now read the book!

Quick blog from Kent. Had a lovely day today at Dungeness bird watching. Some great sightings. Lovely reserve despite the power station close by. First Hobby seen today!

I mentioned yesterday I learnt much about a story while I was away. What I meant to say I learnt much about learning the many layers of a story. This will be invaluable when preparing a story for a performance in the future.

Clare and I pedaled into Stroud this morning. This afternoon I played cricket for my mate Ian Dixon’s leaving game at Cam. Lovely afternoon, the weather was great and the game was played  in a lovely spirit. I even managed to get some runs -72 before I got myself out. I’ve been around the block so many times I know so many people and I knew must people involved in the game.

Who remembers that dirge from 1970?  It seems appropriate as I have just returned from my week’s storytelling course with Ben Haggarty. A superb week where I learnt much about performance and have much to work on to take me to the next level. Also helped me see a story in a different light. Hoping to get back to writing later this week. I am aiming to send my Harriet story to Lisa Bingham to see if she wants to do illustrations for it.

My bike Sir Gawain came back from a costly service today so it is ready for the Alps. Did a gentle 20 mile ride today to get back into training after being away.

Currently working on learning the stories for next week away on the course. I have to prepare something from an epic so I think I will do Odysseus not sure if I do Polyphemus the Cyclops or the final showdown with suitors at Ithaca when Odysseus returns home. Also have to do a short fable so I am not sure which one I will do at the moment.

I played my first game of cricket yesterday. Only just troubled the scorers and the body is suffering today, after my first session in the field!

I am about to get some cycling tops printed with the Story Traveller logo on it.  Our team will wear them on the Alps. When I say our team I mean my boys and George who have been charged with getting me to the top!

I love saying that “Champions!” Final comment on the football for a while anyway! A delightful orange day yesterday at Luton despite a poor journey up-Easter traffic! The “Brickies” was heaving and saw many old friends to lift a glass with. On to the ground with a carnival mood everywhere. Inside the “Kenny” flags were waving and songs reverberated around the whole stadium. Very moving to see the guard of honour for the team as they came onto the pitch. The game was more like a pre season friendly lacking an edge but after a lackluster first half we swept Rovers aside. The scenes afterwards were wonderful as the celebrations were so heartfelt. Would make a good story but unless you had been on our journey it might not resonate with you!

Back now to learning stories and writing after all that footie stuff! Need to do my homework ahead of my course with Ben now!

Just playing around with some ideas for a story. I’ve been asked to do a story about Shakespeare so I am at the thinking stage. I was thinking about setting it with a young  up and coming Shakespeare in London with him suffering with writer’s block. I was going to get him meeting one or two  “characters” that eventually are written into a play possibly Midsummer’s Night’s Dream. So I am looking for a way that stimulates his writing. I will try to start putting down these ideas on paper over the next few days. I have till June! Quite looking forward to the task to see if I can make a decent fist of a story for telling!

Off next week to do a week’s course specifically on the physical aspects of performance with Ben Haggarty. I’m really looking forward to this.

Enough for the time being about celebrations for kicking a ball around!

It looks like I will be doing some touring later. Well long trips to the midlands for a couple of gigs coming up. I am also off for week on a Story Telling course with Ben Haggerty looking particularly at performance, really looking forward to it. I am also trying to negotiate a couple of gigs around Sheffield but not sure when these will be.

My new t-shirts are shall we say are eye-catching, the colours are loud! I will try to get an updated photo on the web site. I wore the orange one (for some spurious reason)on the bike to Dursley Out of School Club to see my namesake…he is a guinea-pig! I ended up telling a story at the drop of a hat. Lisa at the club has agreed to do some illustrations for my Harriet the Hippo story.

I have now re-read the Dreams story and now sending it to one or two selected people for feedback.

Sporting Section:

I have been cycling up quite a few big hills over the last 2 weeks as I build up my fitness for the Alps adventure in June. Been to two Gloucestershire veterans nets  and I have a game next week (weather permitting). Of course on Monday I will be making my pilgrimage to see the Town be presented with the championship trophy.  We have a car load of Happy Hatters travelling up for the party!

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry not Story Telling but the Mighty Hatters are back!!!! After the terrible things that were inflicted on us, we have bounced back. It is an emotional night and I am enjoying raising my glass!!