I spent yesterday with young people from Maidstone bird watching at Wick Court. It was something of an endurance test as we endured snow, sleet and later rain throughout. Any self respecting bird was hunkered down behind a hedge etc. Surprisingly we saw a Song Thrush which have been an increasingly rare sighting at Wick Court. The children were brilliant despite the wet and the cold. I of course got even wetter and colder pedalling home afterwards! Off later to Story Tell to these young people.

Tomorrow I am off to Wiltshire for another World Book Day gig, visiting a school just outside of Trowbridge for the first time.

Thought I would put the poster for the community play I have mentioned see below- click on the link! I need to learn my lines now!

Have managed to get out on the bike the last couple of days and it is cold!

Arthur_Penn_Rabbit_Final_Artwork

Well at the end of a busy week (as mentioned in previous blog) the weekend has been fairly full. Went to watch the Mighty Hatters win a hard fought game (it would help if we started taking our chances!) Some tough games coming up especially next Saturday- fingers crossed!

Today was a long rehearsal for the Community Play “Arthur Penn-Rabbit “. I have been added an extra  part——A Dog!!!!!! Not sure how much I am allowed to ham it up! A real contrast one minute I am Charles Dickens then a dog!

It has been a long week! I have had three Story Telling gigs this week. I pedalled to Thrupp Primary School on Tuesday to spend the morning telling stories for an early World Book Day.  I had a lovely morning and response from the young people. I didn’t travel up for the football that night because I knew I was going to have a hard week so watched the game on TV.

On Wednesday in the middle of my Story Telling I did my weekly volunteering at Wick Court taking young people bird from Churchill Gardens London bird watching. It was certainly a bitter wind! I rushed off afterwards to drive to Leicestershire to stay with old friends Alan and Liz. It was good to see them both and helpful they were close to my next gig.

Thursday saw me at old friends at St. Peter and St. Paul Primary Syston for a World Book Day gig. I have been visiting them for a good number of years- they keep asking me to go back! Managed to tell a couple of new stories I had learnt.  I thoroughly enjoyed my day and the young people asked me some great questions. It was then back to Gloucestershire to meet Clare and to go to a beer tasting at Stroud Brewery followed by a meal. Wonderful!!!

I finished off the week with a final Story Telling at Wick Court today.

Busy week this one for Story Tellers so I have been busy learning stories all day for my school visits this week. It was interesting to hear parental views on the Radio 4 news about dressing up for it. The views were mixed! Think the concept of World Book Day is important for promoting a love of literature etc but maybe schools might need to think how they approach it (of course making sure they have visits from Story Tellers!)

Had a lovely weekend. I went with my little brother to watch the Mighty Hatters win at Birmingham despite some “robust” challenges from the home team! Two of our key players were injured by these! Big game on Tuesday now sadly because of the work I will have to miss and watch it on TV.

Sunday was a delight seeing my new grandson Robin Eric Church along with his now big brother Owen. I felt very emotional! Granny and Gramps were exhausted after spending all day with them!

Hope I may have some pictures from this week to share in future blogs.

The title says it all! We are currently floating above the clouds with the news our third grandchild born this afternoon. It is a boy who like his father was born in Gloucester Hospital and weighed the exact same weight 7lbs 9 ozs. All well – we now wait for the name!

There has been two large Bores on the River Severn yesterday and today. I watched it a Framilode Church yesterday and again today while on the bird survey this part the river is much wider so the wave doesn’t look so big. A picture and a video below click on the link P1030332 below the picture!

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As well as the Bore my birding group had a good bird survey this morning. The highlight was a Water Pipit amongst the Meadow Pipits. 

Had a lovely Story Telling with young people from Liverpool at Wick Court yesterday lunch time.

finally Clare and I braved the biting North Wind to pedal into Gloucester to see the Knife Angel – very impressive- picture below. The colours change!!!

We went to the cinema last night to see All Quiet On The Western Front. Can’t say it was enjoyable because of the brutality of war. The book made a significant impact on me as an adolescent. Think all politicians should read the book or see the film. If I have a criticism  they could of lopped a good fifteen minutes off the length.

I did manage some work on my story for the Two Severn Bores up and coming show.

I now have a busy time coming up in schools with three gigs in the next couple of weeks as well as my normal Wick Court visits. So it is now down to some serious learning!

I am talking about penalties in football and this is a biased  viewpoint! My football team have been given one penalty all season which we missed! This is despite seeing our players on a number of occasions being wrestled to the floor and the occasional handball. The other side is the last three matches the opposition have been awarded penalties. Two for handball  both of which seemed harsh. Yesterday’s was particularly galling when playing the run away league leaders and being the better team! The penalty decided the game. Still onwards and upwards!!! I can look forward to seeing my granddaughter later today – a real treat!

Good news I have managed to get writing to develop the story I am hoping to tell with the Two Severn Bores when we next perform. Hopefully I will finish it over the next ten days. It is a good feeling when the words flow!

Last night we went with friends for a talk on Owls. What was really interesting was the speaker’s view that land should be left rather than managed and then the wildlife will come back.

Pleased that I have upped my mileage on the bike. My best week in 2023 in terms of miles rode!

Had an email from a pal who is currently travelling in Vietnam. His words “….I didn’t expect to read about Bill Church opening a mud kitchen in Slimbridge while travelling in Vietnam!” Apparently he went onto a local paper website and found the report- I’ve put in a couple of the pictures that accompanied it below!

Disappointed my team only drew last night having dominated the game. Just think if we started taking some of those chances created where we would be COYH!!!! Big game on Saturday!!!