I posted the possibility of my poor body playing 3 games of cricket in 3 days! Well with tomorrow’s game already off it will be 0 in 3! Had to get my miles in on the bike instead! Doing my training route regularly I aim for Dursley up Cam Pitch and then that steep hill up from Lister’s (a real tester) and on to eastington and Whitminster- just under 22 miles at a decent lick. Will probably do a good ride  tomorrow.

I have run a roller coaster with my football team this week. Saw them win with style on Tuesday at Kidderminster and then chewed my nails tonight watching them on the internet at Hyde-we won-just! So no stress on Saturday this week.

Book Club meal was another successful evening. We always surpass ourselves with our cooking. Was pleased with my fish stew recipe-very tasty.

The Cheltenham Literature Festival booklet arrived this week so we will decide what we will go for this weekend.

Tonight we are meeting to go over arrangements for the Cycle Ride. Route is sorted, we are camping each night and all sites are booked. Just the practicalities like getting to the start, number of tents, carrying equipment etc. Just had my bike “Sir Gawain” serviced and expensive tyres put on, actually rode my old bike “Shadowfax” yesterday and realised what a good bike is it.

Tomorrow night I get my first chance to watch the Mighty Hatters at Kidderminster always a good trip super pub near the ground and food in the ground is a cut above normal football fare!

The social whirl carries on Wednesday night is one of our themed Book Club meals (at my house)-it is on a French theme because we are reading Madame Bovary. So doing a fish stew for my contribution.

Then I could be playing cricket Thursday, Friday and Saturday and that will be it for the season because of the ride-will be interesting to see how the body is on Sunday!

I have at last finished writing my story Misty the Magician. I may think of a different title for the story. I now need to spend time editing the whole thing-this needs to be on two levels – How does it hang together and then proof reading the whole thing. Feel chuffed with the whole process and have learnt much about story writing.

Peter swapped tickets with us so we went into the Olympic Park to watch Handball. Really enjoyed being in the park-watched Bolt’s semi-final 200 metres on the big screen. Wonderful to be in such a cosmopolitan environment. The wild flowers were delightful and there was plenty of space. The volunteers were impressive. The whole thing has been done brilliantly-well done Seb Coe and friends.

Looking forward to go to the Olympics tomorrow. We are seeing Volleyball at Earl’s Court thanks to my Peter’s generosity.

Did more on my story, almost there-50 pages almost 18000 words! I will then have to work hard on editing and seeing if it hangs together. May not be able to write over the next few weeks with the cycle ride coming up and I am very busy with my voluntary work with the local Children’s Centres; we are putting in a bid as a local consortium to run them as a charity.

And finally football starts on Saturday, I won’t be watching the Mighty Hatters on Saturday but will be watching  them next Tuesday! Will hope that 4 years of hurt finally ends this season! Will write about sport at the weekend.

The soggy cricket season continues-we started our game today although pitch was very damp. We managed 19 overs before the heavens opened. It is very depressing-here we in August and I don’t feel the season has started-I think we have lost more games to the weather than we have played.

I have been clocking up the miles on the bike-feeling good on the hills-must make sure I stay fit!

Enjoyed watching Bradley yesterday-what a ride again! He has always been a hero for me mainly for his honesty, ability and being himself. I got very excited in 2009 when he finished 4th in the Tour de France -a Brit 4th-I remember Robert Millar in the 80s when he won the King of the Mountains doing well! 2010 was a disappointment but my goodness didn’t he respond well-unlucky to break his collarbone last year when he looked in with a chance. Then all this year he has looked good in all the races. Hopefully we will now see more people getting their bikes out.

Training for the big ride is going well after my ride across Ireland. (thanks everyone for sponsoring us don’t forget the Just Giving site is www.justgiving.com/brian-dimmock ) I try to do at least around 100 miles a week with some real climbs. Last night I had chain trouble on the A38  sadly no support vehicle with a mechanic in it to help. Hands very mucky-no easy way!

Playing cricket this afternoon-only just recovered from my two games at the weekend.

I went to the W.W.T. on Tuesday to see the Long Billed Dowitcher-took nearly 2 hours to spot it in amongst a flock of Godwits!

As an old cynic I found the opening ceremony wonderful and I enjoyed watching it. It made me feel proud of my country because it reflected our history/culture of ordinary people honestly; much more than Royalty and battles do.

I played cricket for the first time in ages twice this weekend. The body is now suffering! Sadly we lost on Saturday in the league and our Sunday game at Frocester today. Although fit with my cycle training- running quick singles and chasing a ball to the boundary uses different muscles! I’ll sleep well tonight!

Hope you are enjoying this spell of good weather about time too. I haven’t played cricket for 4 weeks because of the weather and being away. I’m down for 2 games this weekend so fingers crossed.

I am really looking forward to tonight’s Olympic opening ceremony. I am hoping that Danny Boyle’s ceremony is full of British humour in it and isn’t too serious there are rumours that it is tongue in cheek which will be good. My David has landed on his feet and will be watching the road race tomorrow from the bottom of Box Hill on scaffolding with cycling journalists. Come on Cav!!!!

I did an early morning training ride this morning. 20 miles via Dursley and Cam Peak in just under 80 minutes.

Apologies for not writing anything for a while-we had a few technical problems with the server for the web site-hope to update the site in the near future. Also been away on holiday! Clare and I went to Ireland to see my old mate Paul living down in the South West with Ruth. Paul and I go back almost to the beginning of time! We were royally looked after and enjoyed a great time-their garden was a delight.  Ireland is a great place and very friendly.

I then embarked on a cycle ride back across Ireland meeting up with Clare each night in our Camper (Cedric). Nothing compared to the miles covered by Bradley + Co (what a fantastic achievement ) in France but I did nearly 200 miles with lots of hills!!!!! Really enjoyed the ride; weather wasn’t great but surprised myself with my climbing ability especially when tired- the hills were a mixture of long grinds (went on for ever) and steep short hills. This is training for the August sponsored ride.

Before I went away I was still writing my Misty story (well the weather was poor) now at almost 17000 words-and I still have to add a bit to the middle part -new idea (inspiration comes on the bike) and finish the ending. So it could be around 18000 when finished -I keep revising that number if you are a regular reader of the blog you will have noticed!

Was in full costume today-I was dressed as a 18th century merchant -wig as well and breeches! Cheddar Grove School had won a competition on the Bristol Pound and they had won a special day out in Bristol starting off with me as Story Teller in costume outside the Corn Exchange. Had done quite a bit of research and had to incorporate trade into my tale which I did in role. I included the slave trade in the story.

Had a lovely time and the children were very responsive and asked some great questions. Those of you who know me well will know I enjoy dressing up and I did!

Afterwards Clare and I had great time poking around the alleys area. In the second hand bookshop (I was in 7th heaven) we both found things -mine was the Observer Book of Bird Eggs -a book I’ve wanted for a while (strange fellow that I am!)

Update on the story -still going well and little twists still keep coming to me. I have really enjoyed writing this story.

Tomorrow I am going into my old school Dursley (really the first time properly) to officially open the sculpture (the present I gave the school) in the newly refurbished garden. Really looking forward to it seeing everyone again-it is a wonderful school with a fantastic staff.