Not Goldilocks! I was watching an Osprey today circling over my local lake here in Frampton– I missed it catching a fish (I was told it had caught a fish about 20 minutes before I arrived. I have  seen Ospreys in Frampton a few times now and I always get a thrill when I see them here. Wonderful birds and so good to see them now in Britain. At the bottom of the blog you can see my distant grainy picture and also a professional photo (I am sure you will be able to tell which is which!) I may pop out early tomorrow to see if it is still around.

Thoroughly enjoyed watching the Mighty Hatters yesterday. We played really well and should of won. Hopefully we will get three points on Saturday!

Just for a change now I am back from holiday with my lovely family, where we were windswept and soaked I will talk about Stories again. I have mentioned previously I have a busy Autumn/Early Winter ahead of me. I start back with weekly residency at Wick Court next Thursday.

Late October sees me doing a number of gigs for the Library Service of Gloucestershire linked to the Halloween season. So I will be doing Spooky Tales for young people of 9 plus (same stories at several different libraries) and two adult gigs reprising my Tales From The Dark Side. I will put all the dates for this in the near future . I am now researching and learning stories. In November the Two Severn Bores will be performing our Destiny or Fate show.

Now all my cricket kit is packed away I can concentrate on football and hoping the Mighty Hatters start to get some points on the board! I am going with Clare tomorrow to a home game against Wolves and next Saturday to Everton. My third game of the week is with my eldest son David watching them in the cup at Exeter. Fingers crossed it is a good week!

A large unusual gull seen chasing two smaller gulls on the beach in North Devon yesterday!!!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Pleased to see this visitor to the garden today. Sad that these creatures have declined in numbers significantly over recent years so it is to be celebrated when they turn up! We had quite bit of bits of branches on the grass so there must of been plenty of insects for the Hog to feed on!

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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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.