After two years I have finally caught it! I tested positive on Sunday so stuck inside for a few days. feels more like a brain fog and being washed out. Although I might sneak up to the lake to look for Sand Martins and avoid any humans.Clare is negative at the moment. Sadly it means our Spain cricket tour we were flying this Wednesday is now  off.Now have to see if we can get any money back.

Sadly had to miss a rehearsal for the play Between Severn Tides we are performing the weekend of April 22nd and 23rd.Believe it or not it does involve some singing which might be a surprise for anyone who knows my singing ability! The play was written by my friend Brian Dimmock and it is coming together well. Anyone who wants a ticket let me know.

Well those of you that know me know I can’t write about anything else today. No I am not talking about Italy at last winning the rugby or the rather dour cricket. It is of course the Mighty Hatters that take centre stage! I am over the moon Brian! I can’t quite believe where my football team  are! Third in the championship on our resources is remarkable. Very proud of my club with a strong ethical stance in contrast to those clubs with questionable ownership.  I keep pinching myself! I am now getting nervous about the run in!

One bird we saw yesterday I didn’t mention that had us scratching our heads it was a Canary Yes a Canary we saw this yellow bird fly towards the Severn and my friend and I said “What is that? Is it a Canary? Can’t be can it?” It turns out others saw it and photographed it! Certainly not a bird you would expect to see – we assume it had escaped.

Lovely morning birding out by the Severn -foggy to start with and then sunshine. A variety of pictures I took below. I have managed to cycle a bit this week and even did the shopping this afternoon with three panniers on my bike  ( a cheaper way of shopping!)

Male Reed Bunting

Two Common Cranes

A real surprise two Bewick Swans still around I think all of them at Slimbridge have already  left!

This Buzzard we watched for a while at first we thought it was carrying nesting material but decided it was a stick caught in its talons! Finally when I got home I saw the Blackcap in the feeder.

I mentioned last time signs of Spring and we have had some lovely days this week apart from yesterday! I did get a real soaking bird watching with young people from near Pimlico. Sadly because of the weather it did limit what we saw! I was impressed by the cheerfulness of the young people who were fairly young. I am Story Telling for them this evening and have told them I will tell the story of the King of the Birds (I make it the Queen!)

I have spent time with both my grandchildren this week on different days. Ellen (nearly six months old) is a real “smiler” with an infectious giggle and has just discovered her feet! Owen (nearly 16 months) is irrepressible as he moves around and plays hide and seek with you. I come away from seeing them with a wonderful warm glow.

I went on from playing with Owen to watching the Mighty Hatters demolish Preston with a rampant performance of attacking football. This was with a makeshift defence ( the back three were all full backs because we have four centre backs injured). It was a thoroughly enjoyable game. We have to get through Saturday’s game ( a difficult away game) and we get a break thank goodness.

Enjoying the early signs of Spring. Now hearing birds like Chiff Chaff, Song Thrush and even heard a Blackbird. I went looking for Sand Martins today but didn’t see any!  Good variety of flowers around and blossom. Our Quince Tree is looking great as it begins to go green. I am hoping to look for migrants later this week.

We had a good rehearsal for the play Between Severn Tides yesterday. I actually knew quite a few of my lines!

Was disappointed the Mighty Hatters lost yesterday – we played really well and we wos robbed!

I enjoyed telling a Shaggy Dog Story last night at Wick Court with the River Severn prominent throughout. I have told variations of this particular story before but I now add some extra layers on! Lovely reaction when the young people realised they had been led up the garden path!

We have now raised about £600 for Alzheimer’s Society with the sale of the book Pig The Legend. When I sell the book the whole price goes to to the charity when it is sold through a book shop often 40% is taken off. However, sold through Amazon we hardly make anything at all! (No wonder they make eye watering profits!)

I have tried to avoid mentioning the news in a Story telling blog but I am embarrassed by my country’s response to the refugee crisis in Europe compared to the generosity our neighbours.

Great discussion last night at Book Club where we discussed Foe by J.M. Coetzee. Although the book wasn’t well received by us it did provoke a thoughtful debate! Especially when we considered the merits of a novel. I do like the way the discussion provokes different viewpoints.

It was a busy day with bird watching with young people from Maidstone at Wick Court. I was asked many thoughtful questions. I had to find out how many pigeons in the UK! I went on to a cricket net – actually batted reasonably well. Then Book Club so it was a long day!

Another pleasing result for the Mighty Hatters on Tuesday night without playing that well. Still amazed at where we are in the table!

Story Telling later at Wick Court.

Going sound mysterious now but I have had some interesting requests in recent days which may or may not come to anything. It means my web site has people looking at from far and wide!

I mentioned I have been struggling with a trapped nerve and I have been getting pins and needles in my left hand as a result. It didn’t impact on my Story Telling but has restricted my cycling. I did manage my first double figure ride for a fortnight today as I rode into Stroud and I was pain free!

Now waiting for the football hoping my team can get back to winning ways!

Just found the picture below of yours truly in action on World Book Day on Thursday. It is me in full flow. I am telling my own Super Hero story “Fantastic Faye”. I did wear a black  balaclava and goggles to start with but found it inhibited my Telling! I did do a few of my own stories on Thursday.

Watched the last part of the film Blinded By The Light on Friday. We had seen it at the cinema before the pandemic. It is a delightful film about a young Muslim lad growing up in Luton being besotted by the music of Bruce Springsteen (The Boss). I obviously knew some of the locations and enjoy the music. So I did go to bed with a smile on my face.

Disappointed that my football team lost yesterday so leaving players out for the cup game against Chelsea didn’t work!

Off for a quiz tonight at the cricket club with friends – my quiz team won on Thursday -our third match in a row!