Currently we have a four legged friend with us – “Jake” my friend Terry’s Jack Russell. So it means you go out at different times so saw a Hobby when out with him yesterday and 50+ Linnets this morning.

Off later to the Theatre of Tattered Dreams for my first home game of the season. Looking forward to seeing what the stadium looks like after £13 million spent on getting it up Premier League standard. As always feeling very apprehensive about the game. West Ham have made a good start to the season and look really impressive on the counter attack. So I will be biting my nails tonight!!!

I apologise Story Telling news is thin on the ground at the moment but since The Two Severn Bores gig at Bo-Ho Bakery there has not been much to report because the end of August is traditionally quiet. Things should pick up after we go away in September.

I managed to lead my cricketing Gloucestershire Old Men to another win yesterday in deepest Warwickshire, this game was a friendly because we missed playing them in the league season because of the weather. I got clobbered on the knee while fielding so ended up with quite a lump- lots of icing of it so I am fully fit for our final on Tuesday.

While on sport the Mighty Hatters won a game this week! OK it was our second string in the League Cup. Off tomorrow night to watch our first game at home in the league. Look forward to seeing the changes that have been made to the stadium.  Fingers crossed although West Ham having been looking good so far. COYH!!!!

Out on the River at the crack of dawn doing the monthly bird survey. Got soaked through but saw the Bore and some good birds.

Since the sponsored  ride a week last Sunday I haven’t had any time to do a bike ride. So I went out today on a ride over the top.  I was careful not to do too much as I have another game of cricket on Wednesday. I was incredibly stiff after last week’s game! The cricket final will be next Tuesday but won’t know location (has to be a neutral ground) until after some games tomorrow but it will either be at Cropedy or near Bagshot in Surrey. Let us hope the weather is ok!

We are now back in Frampton after time in London, one part of our family staying and a further wider family occasion in Cardiff today.

Yes it is Pelicans in the picture above- taken in St James’s Park London. We had a lovely three days in London visiting galleries, museums, parks as well as going to see the show Hamilton and of course the Mighty Hatters. We visited Barnes WWT on the way up as well (an oasis of wildlife in London.) Always good to visit the city for some culture occasionally but always good to get back to Gloucestershire.

Despite the result I was very proud of my football team on Friday and their amazing passionate support, the noise from the away end throughout was amazing. Picture below before the game.

We had the pleasure of our Bishop’s Cleeve family with our two delightful grandsons  staying with us last night so we could all go to Cardiff today.

I refer to my marvellous old man’s cricket team that i captain who won through to the Vase Final yesterday against Middlesex. It was a good all round team performance especially when one of my main bowlers got injured and I had to smuggle through some overs. Body is feeling it today! We now play Hertfordshire on a neutral ground a fortnight yesterday.

We have just driven up to London calling on the bird reserve at Barnes WWT. Good views of Green Sandpipers. Visiting galleries tomorrow and a show in the evening! Friday I will be cheering on the Mighty Hatters at Chelsea.

Proper blog later. Currently on grandparent duties in Exeter. Yesterday I took part in a sponsored cycle ride in Wales organised by my brother Mike.for his local children’s cancer charity. To keep carbon footprint down he decided a local ride would be best. So it was up local hills calling on

Don’t forget the two dodgy characters above calling themselves the Two Severn Bores above are performing at Bo-Ho Bakery King’s Stanley at 6.00 this Friday 18th. It is free!!! Hope we can see you there!

A personal first occurred when we were in Sussex at the weekend. I saw my first Stork in this country (have seen them in other countries). Of course there is a well known rewilding project at the Knepp Estate that wasn’t that far from where we were bird watching at RSPB Pullborough Brooks and we spotted two Storks in the distance! I was thrilled especially as I missed the Stork that flew over our village earlier in the year. The picture below was taken by a friend of mine as the bird flew over Frampton.

Just a reminder about Friday! The Two Severn Bores are in action! It is free  (but you might want to bring some cash as a donation to the performers!

6pm on 18-6-8-23 at Bo-Ho Bakery, Kings Stanley! Please come along!!!!

What a handsome pair!!! I will keep reminding readers this week about Friday!

Lovely day in Sussex after yesterday’s disappointment at football. Not sure if I mentioned I cycled over Ditchling Beacon twice to get to the football and back. It was the right decision not to go on the train because apparently it was chaos afterwards. One of the many downsides of out of town football stadiums apart from soulless atmosphere is access both to and from!

We cycled to Sussex Prairie Garden. Lovely couple of hours walking around this delightful garden. Picture below and above doesn’t do it justice!

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