My boy went to the game and kept me updated as the dream evaporated! We need to start doing something in the league now! I can’t put up with non-league football much more!

Just read the comments on the new history curriculum-it confirms the damage Mr Gove continues to do to our education system. How has he got away with it?

It is evening on South Island. The views  today going over Arthur’s Pass have been stunning but I am thinking of the Luton-Millwall game later today at home. Our David is going and cheering the Hatters on. We will probably be thrashed but just think of the stories if we get into the next round. Sadly I have a few from previous matches between these teams including the infamous one in 85! Talking of stories I am making a few notes for future tales over a glass or two of excellent NZ wine during the evenings in the van.

Come on You Hatters!!!!!

Not Monty Python or Fleetwood Mac today I fulfilled a long time wish and saw my first Albatross well actually 20+!  We are at Kaikoura and I went  on  a wonderful boat trip. Saw 4 different species of Albatross many other sea birds,dolphins and seals. I was in heaven!

I am also making notes for stories in the evenings which is encouraging. I am enjoying Moby Dick it seems right for this location. Just finished Winter in Madrid – an enjoyable read!

Just  short update from afar. We are moving to South Island tomorrow. Had a new idea for a story, I am hoping to put together an anthology of bird stories so this idea is for one of these stories.

On the holiday front had a great time yesterday at cape kidnappers visiting the gannet colony. Took some great shots of flying gannets as we were so close to the birds.

Hopefully will update in a couple of days. Got my fingers crossed the FA Cup game against Millwall hoping we make history!

Short blog from NZ. Greetings to any Toosie friends who may of stumbled on my web after the Toosie news article. Will be back in UK March 10th so will be able to respond better then.

Just read Alexi Sayles book 4 book club. Have enjoyed reading various myths and legends 4 free on my tablet. Could say it is for work but  is stretching a point!

Doing a big hike on Sat! Love this country and still have South Island to come! Bird count is growing had lovely s of the Kaka today.

greetings from New Zealand! Ironic that i choose to be away when i keep being asked to do gigs around world book day! That is now 4 gigs i have had to turn down.   Still cant beat this sitting with a beer looking at mountains! excuse the punctuation+ grammar using my tablet with predictive text and small keyboard to contend with!

l am now away for nearly 6 weeks so blogs will be sporadic! currently sitting in Singapore airport trying to write this on my New tablet! Continue reading →

To those people who want to read about erudite comment on books or to read about Story Telling exploits today I am sorry. The blog today is all about Luton’s historic win yesterday. I don’t know about anyone else but to me this last week has restored romance and faith in football. Bradford City’s fantastic win to get them to the League Cup final started it-a much more interesting final than having to watch Man Utd, Chelsea etc yet again! Then we get onto a fantastic weekend in the cup. Well done Oldham, Leeds and Brentford-I can’t mention that team that stole a club and won at QPR.

Dave and I set off bright and early for the long slog to Norfolk. Accompanied by Danny Baker and Fighting Talk on the radio. When we arrived in Norwich there were plenty of Hatters wandering around the city. We met old friends in the pub that was heaving, one of them John Jackson had persuaded me to watch my first Luton game when I was a lad of 13! Since that first match I have seen my team yo-yo through the leagues, win at Wembley twice, many, many lows but some wonderful high points that stand out and resonate through the years.

We joined the 4,000 boisterous Town fans in the ground were in full voice drowning out 20,000+ Norwich fans. The match went like a dream, matching our Premier League opponents for skill and organisation. Mark Tyler our keeper pulled off one superb save and apart from them hitting the post they didn’t really threaten us. We created a couple of chances and then Nirvana!  “JJ” our young sub burst through on the left to cross for Rendell to prod home the winner and all of us so-called rational men went ballistic! So for the first time in 20 years a non-league team beat a top flight club and it was my team LUTON TOWN! Although the non-league tag hurts! David said afterwards it was his best day watching the Town! He didn’t come to the League Cup win at Wembley because he wasn’t old enough he hasn’t had much to cheer in recent years!

No not the Led Zeppelin offering but I’ve just loaded the book on my tablet for reading when I am away. It is a Book Club read for May. I have put 4 books on the tablet and may add another before I go. Gradually getting used to using it and look forward to use more things on it! I may be an old stick in the mud about social media but this suits me!

Yesterday did my stint with a bird watching group from Catford at Wick Court. It is lovely to see this develop and the delightful enthusiasm of the children. The Little Owl didn’t come out!

Had an important meeting today re Children’s Centres. It was a LA meeting with the staff across the different centres. Had some positive feedback afterwards and we met as Trustees afterwards with the management team. It is good to work with such talented, hard-working and committed group. I booked Forest Green for a whole staff day on the 15th March

Fingers crossed for Saturday and our F A Cup at Norwich-there is snow forecast on Friday night in Norfolk. Our David is coming with me. Will be complicated if it is off!

Slightly silly worrying about the weather yesterday. It was ok and although I went in the car to my gig and didn’t risk the bike.

Enjoyable gig but I feel exhausted now I am at home. I was pleased with the new  stories that I had learnt especially for the themes I was asked to do. I do enjoy learning and telling new stories! Charging around with the Reception Class I think is why I’m so tired! We did cancel the Trustees Meeting tonight.

We booked a couple more things for New Zealand today including Stewart Island where we will  hopefully see more than one species of Albatross. First camp site is also booked. I’ve also now got a tablet for reading while I am away so I won’t have too much weight in the case. I’ve downloaded 4 books (2 for free) and one for 20p no I am not a skinflint! I’ve managed to get my emails on it and also the Luton website!