About bill

Bill Church is the story traveller, a former Headteacher who has a passion for sharing stories with people from 3 years up to 103 years of age. Bill loves stories; finding them (and the story’s story!), telling them and writing them! He is passionate in believing that everybody can tell stories and is keen to help people whatever their age do this. His blog ranges from his Story telling experiences to his obsessions sport, bird watching and cycling!

Soft Play

Just been with all my grandchildren to a soft play in North Devon where we are all on our holiday together. Weather not great got soaked on the beach yesterday. It is Cats and Dogs here today!.

Sounds like the Mighty Hatters were unlucky yesterday. First game in the league I have missed. Got a busy spell coming up watching them.

Blackberries

I had an enjoyable picking Blackberries today at Wick Court after I had replenished the bird feeders. I do love the Blackberry Season and always look forward to Blackberry and Apple Crumble. Also been busy with garden tasks.

Looks like I am going to be busy Story Telling now throughout the Autumn. So started to relearn some old favourites in anticipation!

Our Book Club last night had a lively exchange of views over a a glass of beer or two.

History Festival

Just back from the Gloucester History Festival where I saw Historian Michael Wood being interviewed by Janina Ramirez about his career mainly in making history programmes but also research and things that inspired him. One point both of them made was the importance of a Public Broadcast Service and both expressed their concern about the financial problems the BBC is having with its funding.

Off now to my wonderful Book Club to discuss the Code of the Woosters.

End of Summer?????

I was supposed to play my last game of cricket for the season today and although both teams assembled the rain sadly didn’t relent! We were cheered with  a cracking tea that the Gloucestershire lads  had all contributed offerings! I have now packed away all my cricket kit for the winter, always a sad moment. A thoroughly enjoyable season, with a trophy to boot!

I have realised I have quite a few bookings for the late Autumn/ early Winter on the Story Telling front to a wide range of audiences. Some of those will be me as a solo performer and some will be the Two Severn Bores.

Now cricket has finished I can devote time to developing new material. That will be both researching stories and writing some!

Catch Up

Now back in sweltering Frampton after a wonderful few days with my Book Club pals following in the footsteps of Dylan Thomas. We managed to get in several swims, cycles and epic walks. Like the whole country is was hot! Nearly all our cycles apart from into Swansea to the Dylan Thomas Centre involved some real steep ramps! Was really impressed by the Dylan Thomas Centre and well worth a visit if you are in Swansea. Talking of Book Club we have a meeting coming up on Wednesday.

Following on from our triumphant cricket there is a video of your truly collecting the trophy (click on the link) and a distant picture of me holding the vase..

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Sun and Sand – Double Triathlon????

The four intrepid cyclists had a wonderful day yesterday but a tiring one! We started with an early morning swim that certainly woke us up. Followed that with a post breakfast cycle to the sand dunes, a long walk along Rhossilli Beach to the pub for lunch. Long trek back to our bikes. A long grinding climb was part of our cycle back. Finishing with four over cooked old men having another swim! So we reckoned it was an Old Man’s Triathlon and a double because we did each part twice!!!

Picture above shows the beach we walked along we reckoned we walked about 6 plus miles.

 

Is This Summer????

What a scorcher it has been today! The weather looks set fair for a while. It is bad luck on young people going back to school that we get the good weather now. Talking of schools I am glad I am not a Headteacher dealing with the current concrete difficulties. I once had to deal with an asbestos scare which was traumatic enough!!!

Off to the cricket final tomorrow- do I bat if we win the toss? Might be one of those days when I would be happy to lose it!

The rest of this week I am cycling with friends in the Gower and then we have a Book Club Weekend following in the footsteps of Dylan Thomas.

What Is The Point of VAR?????

Until this season hadn’t worried about VAR decisions in football. There is a perception it favours the big teams and certainly one or two decisions in recent weeks certainly have gone that way. I was at a raucous Kenilworth Road on Friday watching the Mighty Hatters lose to West Ham – there was a blatant handball near the end of the game which wasn’t picked up. However. if you give away soft goals and miss chances you deserve to lose! On to the next game!

Now beginning to think about our cricket final on Tuesday the weather looks good for it which will be a relief!