The title says it all. At the bottom is a link to click on of the whole cover (includes the blurb on the back) of my soon to be published book Pig The Legend -still waiting for a publication date.

On a book theme our Book Club are meeting on Wednesday to discuss Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas, I listened to the Richard Burton broadcast yesterday. His voice is wonderful to listen to, and almost musical in this broadcast.

On a sporting theme it was disappointing weekend with the anti-climax of the England football team on Friday- interesting to see one of Scotland’s effective players was deemed not good enough for my football team when in League 2 (Div4). I had hoped  to be enthralled by the Cricket’s  World Test Championship between New Zealand and India but that has been ruined by the weather. I am also supposed to play two games of cricket this week. I am hoping the body holds up, I am currently nursing a slight groin strain, so fingers crossed.

Church_FC (3)

We had a lovely visit to the Forest of Dean to the Nagshead RSPB Reserve in the hope of seeing Pied Flycatchers. We did catch some fleeting glimpses but sadly unable to get a picture. Also saw one of my all time favourite birds the Spotted Flycatcher sadly it is probably 15 to 20 years since we had them in the garden. I would spend ages watching these birds acrobatically fly up in the garden catching insects. One real highlight was watching a Treecreeper close by scuttling up the tree. No bird pictures today!

We saw a single Avocet today on the scrapes at Splatt Bridge. Apparently there were two adults and two chicks but we couldn’t see them. Interesting story about these birds from the WWT at Slimbridge. There were many birds and chicks out on the Dumbles at Slimbridge when a Fox appeared.  The birds shot for cover and many chicks were predated, one family made it to the river but were washed away by the incoming Tide. Martin from the WWT thinks it is that family that has appeared here in Frampton so it quite remarkable they survived to get here. Just hope they are not vulnerable where they are now.I am hoping the other adult and chicks were in the long grass nearby.

Sitting down now waiting for the football!

The title says everything about the blog today!

Pig The Legend – I have just signed off the final proof for the book. Really pleased with it. I actually enjoyed reading it through again and I must of read many, many times! The cover looks good including the blurb on the back. Sadly the publication date is likely to be put back two or three weeks, I was quoted mid July today. I will keep you posted about the date. It does mean that when I arrange the launch hopefully all the Covid restrictions will then be lifted-fingers crossed!

Web site has been updated but more changes will happen over the next fortnight. We had a really good meeting about further changes tonight so look out for the River Severn Podcast being added in the near future.

Finally yesterday’s cricket where I captained an assortment of Gloucestershire Seniors against Worcestershire. Although I didn’t score the runs I had planned to, my number three scored a hard hitting hundred instead and we did win the game. It was touch and go and the result was in the balance till the final couple of overs! An enjoyable afternoon!

Short morning blog before I set off to play cricket. I was 12th man yesterday but am captain today so shall I open the batting and the bowling? Will be hot!

Encouraging news my the final proof of book is arriving this afternoon! Very Excited! More news on this tomorrow.

One of the things I didn’t mention about our gig last week was how important it was for the audience to all meet up again. it was lovely to see knots of people talking and laughing together. We are social animals and the last 15 months have negated this.

Talking of crowds I did watch England at football yesterday but was often distracted by playing with my delightful Grandson! I really enjoyed the first twenty minutes where I thought we were excellent. Really impressed by Gareth Southgate and the team’s strength with all the rubbish the right wing press spout about taking the knee. Both Southgate and Marcus Rashford would be good candidates for Prime Minister! The less said about England’s cricket the better. It was very poor!

Had a lovely visit from my brother tonight first time we have met since pre pandemic!

The title is refrain you often hear at football matches sung with irony by away fans. Thought it was appropriate for today because of two of the things that I’ve been involved in this week.

The first event was The Two Severn Bores gig on Wednesday with our first live audience since before lock down last year. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening with wonderful hospitality. We both like performing to an audience, I certainly find that I react differently and will adjust my Story Telling. We are waiting to see what happens with the virus because we want to plan our next collaboration. A couple more pictures from the night below followed by the second event!

With my Where’s Wally glasses!

Yesterday I went to Edgbaston for my first live sporting event as a spectator since March 7th 2020! Wow being in a crowd again after so long was special! If you don’t know anything about cricket Edgbaston is a real amphitheatre and where I was sitting in the Eric Hollies Stand has a reputation for being lively place. It was absolutely raucous with Flintstones, Jockeys, Gareth Southgates, Matt Hancock (this one did have PPE), Bay Watch Swimmers with a shark! A wonderful day and good for the soul! Picture below I’ve tried to show the crowd in front of me as well as the field beyond.

Will write more tomorrow but the two Severn Bores had a lovely gig for Slimbridge W.I. tonight. Our first live gig together since Covid!

A couple of pictures below!

Apologies for the website being down for the last couple of days. We have a few issues to sort out so will keep you posted on developments.

Looking forward to The Two Severn Bores Gig tomorrow night. It is outside in a beautiful garden and the weather looks good!

I played cricket for the Gloucestershire Seniors today, we finished second and I got a poor LBW decision could of with DRS! Could do with some runs but it was good to play on a lovely summer’s day. Better luck next week!

Today’s title is no reflection on why there was no blog yesterday but it is another Dylan song title! I promise the last Dylan title for a while!

I cycled down  to watch my club play cricket yesterday I tend to be surplus to requirement these days! (They are unbeaten so far so must be doing something right!) I have plenty of cricket yesterday to look forward to this week. I am playing against Wales again on Tuesday and on Friday if my lateral flow test is OK I am at Edgbaston on Friday. I have enjoyed this Test Match so hopefully will be as good on Friday! It seems like Gloucestershire have hit the buffers with two successive defeats.

I have enjoyed getting back into the groove preparing for a Story Telling Gig. Once I start rehearsing  I find I add new things and give the story a different dimension. I will endeavour to get some photos taken at the Gig -need some new pictures for the website.