Short blog again today. We went last night to Cheltenham to see Show of Hands. Brilliant night they are superb musicians who never stand still and always try out different angles on songs etc.

After a soaking this morning taking stuff to the tip I settled down to watching  a young dynamic England team thrash Iran in the World Cup. Great stuff! Tonight I watched Wales – always jealous of their National Anthem always sung with great passion. Sadly our National Anthem isn’t about our country and is underwhelming in comparison!

Lovely pedal up the Slad Valley this morning. It is a beautiful valley and of course it is  synonymous with Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie. As I was pedalling up the hill I was remembering my early days in Gloucestershire when I arrived as a young teacher fairly wet behind the ears!

I may of written about this before but my first teaching job was in Stroud I applied for the job because I had read Cider with Rosie (I had never been to Stroud before my interview.) The first two weeks I lived at the School Secretary’s House who it turned out had been at school with Laurie Lee – I did ask her if she was Rosie- she just laughed!

In those early months in Gloucestershire I didn’t know anyone so I went on long walks on Sundays  often in the Slad Valley and I would call in at the Woolpack- Laurie’s local. He was often in there sitting by the bar.

Finally I just got home before it poured down!

Starling numbers are increasing at Splatt Bridge. There were 3,000 plus who came into the reed bed to roost tonight. I did take a video which if I can I will put on here this week (I struggled last time I attempted to put a video on here)

It has been a productive day – mended yet another puncture ( third one in fortnight on my number 1  bike that hadn’t had a puncture ever before in six years!) Hope it is now sorted! Also put together a special sewing table for Clare (it took most of the morning!)

Sad day today I attended the funeral of a friend who I first new as a mother of pupils at my last school. Several of my former pupils were there who of course have grown into fine adults and although a sad occasion was good to catch up on what they are all doing. I began to feel very old!!!

Changing the subject I need to get down to work on learning stories for my December gigs and get writing for The Two Severn Bores for hopefully our Spring Gigs.

Had an action packed week and been doing a variety of things.

Every November and February we do a random OS map square for a bird survey – I did the first one this week the square we were allocated was near Hartpury College. It is always an adventure going to a place you don’t know and wouldn’t of considered birding. Saw over 30 species including plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares – even spotted a Kingfisher which I didn’t expect! The next square possibly this weekend will be near Staverton airport and the motorway!

Had a delightful time at Wick Court yesterday taking young people from Wimbledon bird watching. We saw plenty and I was asked some really thoughtful questions and they  tested my knowledge! We saw  20+ Meadow Pipits only been recorded a handful of times at Wick Court.  

i am looking forward to Story Telling with them later tonight.

Been busy sorting out technical issues on my bikes- fingers crossed I have sorted at least one of them out!

My football team have appointed a new manager today so fingers crossed he will carry on the progress of recent years!

I had to send some pictures today for publicity for Christmas Story Telling. Always hard doing this because I am poor at getting photos of me in action (I forget to ask someone to do take them). The one below is me at my Book Launch last summer which is one of the photos that I sent!

Talking of forthcoming events my Book Club will be doing our annual Christmas Entertainment at the Three Horseshoes Frampton on Wednesday 14th December. It is always a good night with old fashioned entertainment! (that includes a story from someone!)

I said I would mention sport today. Have to start with the cricket and England being World 20/20 Champions after a tense well fought contest yesterday morning! My finger nails have disappeared!  It was a brilliant team effort and Ben Stokes once again was there to see us home!

Saturday was emotional at the Theatre of Tattered Dreams seeing a Hatters legend Mick Harford taking charge of the team for the day after his battle with prostrate cancer. ( we have just lost our manager) The team responded well and gave everything. We wait to see who will be our new manager in the near future.

Pictures are all from Sunset at Splatt Bridge tonight. I think there were 3,000 plus Starlings – will hopefully see better Murmurations in the next couple of weeks.

I will blog about the weekend (sport will be prominent in my musings!) tomorrow.

I went to Wick Court yesterday for my usual bird watching slot with young people. It was our old friends from Old Oak School- I did visit them at their school about five years ago -telling Mollie the Sheep there!

There were several highlights throughout the afternoon – a Deceit of Lapwings on the mud of the River- first ones we have seen for a while with the children and great views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker through the scope. However, for me it was seeing several Crowds of Redwings over- migration always fascinates me! Will be looking for other Winter Migrants myself over the next couple of weeks. I’ve included a picture of a Redwing I took last Winter below.

We had a wonderful Book Club last night with our first meal since Covid hit. In the past we used to do a “research meal” in the month preceding our discussion of a particular book (the meal was always themed on the book and we all used our culinary skills!) Last night we discussed the book over the meal (an Italian theme as we were discussing Stanley Tucci’s book Taste-My Life Through Food.)

Football is a depressing subject having just seen our manager leave for the riches of the Premier League with two other members of the management team. He has done a super job for the Mighty Hatters and is a big hole to fill!

I thought the England Cricket Team  were awesome in the 20/20 semi-final this morning! Roll on Sunday!!!!

We got back to Frampton after a couple of days up North followed by two days down in Exeter having a wonderful time with my delightful granddaughter Ellen (and her parents of course!) Some pictures below from the birding on Saturday before the football (on reflection I should of taken a photo from the football!) Pictures of Wren, Long-tailed Duck, Pintail Duck and a Rainbow over Leighton Moss. I also took pictures of Starlings coming into roost but light was poor so the pictures are not great- will try and get some Murmurations over Frampton this Winter.

Playing catch up today. The big news is the impending departure of the Mighty Hatters’ manager. After Saturday I was optimistic we might be close again to the top of the table now I am glancing apprehensively at the bottom end of the table! Fingers crossed for tonight’s game so I am  not optimistic we will get a result with all the hullabalo going on!

Busy day tomorrow with Wick Court and Book Club in the evening.