Warming up before the game at Old Trafford yesterday. Sadly an inability to clear the ball saw the Mighty Hatters fall to a solitary goal. We certainly need three points from a game- the break next weekend might mean see some of our injured players return. Much humour on the terraces from the visiting supporters about where the home support might come from.
Off to see if I can see my first Starling Murmuration of the Winter later.
We are off tonight to the Stroud Book Festival going to Glos Mythos – poetry and prose playing with mythology. Will report on Sunday.
Early start tomorrow as I catch the train to Manchester. Fingers crossed the Mighty Hatters can do something no other Luton team has done at Old Trafford and actually win! I remember going full of optimism many years ago when Manchester United were going through a similar bad patch and we had a very good team in those days – we lost 4-1 !!! So you can understand my trepidation about the game!
Finally I have had people taking pictures for me of the Blue Tractor at Wick Court- now have one from inside the cab. Just waiting on some more before I can finish the book for grandson Owen.
May find it difficult to blog tomorrow but you never know!
I visited Wick Court to tell stories tonight. I told my idiosyncratic shaggy dog story set near Wick Court where I weave a local Saxon Legend into it to it to build up some suspense. It is an old favourite and I haven’t told it for a while. I am quite fond of it. It is funny how attached you become to your stories. I do enjoy finding my old stories again.
I thought I was going out with a couple of friends today and was waiting for quite a while until I realised it was next week! So after a cycle I ended up watching the cricket which was a remarkable game!
Looking forward to Book Club tomorrow. We are having a German meal (everyone is contributing something they have cooked) then we are discussing the book House by the Lake. It is the first time we have reverted to doing a meal since the pandemic!
I went to the football yesterday with great trepidation fearing a drubbing! Liverpool are a formidable team with a great array of talent. It was a pulsating game and I had to rub my eyes when we scored. Sadly we couldn’t hang on but this performance should give the team great confidence. I am having a day out in Manchester this Saturday hoping to see us get three points! COYH!!!
I get given random OS map squares to record all the birds seen in a square. I was given one on the slopes of Frocester Hill to do, so went there this morning on a beautiful Autumn morning. I rode there and walked round the square. Saw just under 30 species and also a lolloping Hare. Pictures below of trees and mushrooms from this morning. My next square to cover is in the North of the Gloucestershire.
The title sounds like a 1950s film! However, it is my Owen’s favourite toy. See below!
I am writing a story especially for him -so I have been taking pictures of Wick Court’s tractor for the book we are putting together. They raised the bucket especially for me last week. The aim is to get the book ready for his 3rd birthday in December. It is good fun!
Busy couple of days with Story Telling on Monday and Tuesday that included considerable miles on the bike- I managed to cycle to both gigs yesterday 30 plus miles with some big hills.
Took young people from South West London on my usual weekly bird watch today. Nothing out of the ordinary but good views of common garden birds on the feeders. With them again tomorrow for Story Telling.
Taking the Neil Young song for my title today in light of my significant birthday! I am now the Old Man! Just listened to it!
I was Story Telling in Longlevens Library this afternoon- rather short on an audience hoping for a few more for the two gigs tomorrow.
I also popped into Stroud this morning with Clare on our bikes- the canal path was rather mucky! Really enjoyed the Autumn Colours on the way- think I will try and take some pictures this week. Some pictures below I took three years ago.
Well I did reach a significant age yesterday! I had a wonderful day with lots of lovely messages, cards and presents. I spent the day with my lovely grandsons (and their parents and of course Clare) going for a smashing walk on Rodborough Common followed by an ice-cream of course. We then adjourned to Stroud Brewery for lunch and of course a beer or two. It was followed by playing and tea and birthday cake at our house.
Today we shot up to Birmingham to watch the Mighty Hatters at Villa Park. Sadly it was no birthday treat for me as we were well and truly beaten. I think they were the best footballing side I have seen this season and it was the first time we have been completely outplayed.
A busy week ahead on the Story Telling front.
It has been a busy few days since we got back from a delightful weekend in Dorset with all the family. It has been a couple of Story Telling gigs although a couple have been cancelled.
I did my regular day at Wick Court on Wednesday and my self and the young people were treated to a squadron of Pintail in V formation flying over and a “desert” of Lapwings. We also had a pair of Stonechats (having never had them at Wick Court before last week and now two weeks running we have seen them!) Yesterday I did the monthly survey out by the river- highlights were 4 Jack Snipe, Curlew, Knot, Marsh Harrier, Stonechat and my first Fieldfare of this Autumn.