Short blog today because we are currently in Exeter with our family.
This is after a lovely couple of days bird watching and football in Lancashire.
Plenty of birds and otters were spotted- might add some details in later blog because this blog is written on my phone. The picture below is from Leighton Moss.
The football was enjoyable the injury hit Mighty Hatters winning at Blackpool with a tremendous team performance.
Fingers crossed all bikes are just about OK on the puncture front. I didn’t lose my temper repairing the puncture on Gringolet (also the name of Sir Gawain’s horse!) – it is a difficult one because the rims on the wheel are deep so getting the lever under the tyre is a challenge!
Tried to watch Starlings going into the reed bed by the Canal tonight but once the heavy rain started – I beat a hasty retreat! Will try again next week. We are birding in Lancashire tomorrow and Saturday watching the Mighty Hatters at Blackpool – hoping we might have some defenders fit after the robust game on Tuesday night! We certainly had a makeshift look in the second half because of injuries!
Just heard that the former Health Secretary is going to be a “celebrity” in the jungle. Can’t believe these politicians can be paid and not do their job – it is incredibly insensitive at the moment. Mind you the former prime minister took a holiday when he is being paid as a MP! Parliament has longer enough as a recess. Many of these people often accuse British Workers as being lazy! Rant Over!!!!!
Enjoyed watching the cricket this morning as England managed to win! Hope tonight’s football is equally enjoyable for a Hatter to watch- not able to make it tonight. COYH!!!!
I had a super ride today 30 plus miles before it rained but noticed my back tyre is now flat. Ironically I had put a new inner tube in before I set off!. I had replaced an inner tube on the back tyre on one of my other bikes a couple of days ago. My back won’t take much more of this!
The picture below is my number one bike the one with today’s flat on the Tourmalet five years ago (have put this picture in the blog before!)
Many apologies that I haven’t written a blog for a few days but much has happened.
Delightful day with young people bird watching on Wednesday at Wick Court.
Also did our monthly bird survey out by the Severn on Thursday morning for Frampton Estate. Plenty to see including 1500 Starlings flying out of the reed bed- should be some good murmurations during the next month.
Thursday’s Gig went well although numbers were sparse! I think publicity needs to improve for the event. Also did
I had a special day Friday. It was my birthday and my Grandson Owen came to play – well we went to Slimbridge. Picture below of us playing stomping along the path! He was fascinated again by the Otter that he had super views of.
I also told stories at Wick Court on Friday morning (the school this week were from Syston they are old friends and they know me well as I have visited their school many times to tell stories.)
Enjoyable game of football yesterday which ended in a draw which I think was a fair result. The Mighty Hatters just need to start winning these home games!
Not sure who was having the most fun!
Pedalled into Dursley with my panniers full of props for a Halloween Story Telling for young people. I seem to be asked to do a story telling there every half term. You have to be careful not to frighten your audience so I add plenty of humour and participation! Voice is feeling it now!!!
Don’t forget I am telling adult stories on Thursday at Kingshill starting at 7 please come if you can (the bar will be open). Last time today the poster is on the blog!
As I am about to have a busy week with three Story Telling sessions this week thought I would share thoughts on last night’s gig a few of us went to. I mentioned we were going to the Prince Albert pub in Stroud to see Lady Nade (with my friend Dan* in her band). What a superb night! Lady Nade and her band were top performers – great musicians. The support act was also top quality. The atmosphere in the pub was reminiscent of how folk clubs used to be with great vibrant audience participation including good humoured repartee with the performers. Realised how important live performance is to both performer and audience!
As a complete contrast to last night cycled to Pitchcombe Church this afternoon to meet Clare and watch poetry performance of two local poets and a musician. A delightful afternoon.
We didn’t get that wet watching our Pete in a couple of places in the Stroud Half Marathon.
The less said about the football the better- very painful to watch but despite the score it was decided on small margins.
I am at that stage where I am busy working on learning my stories for next Thursday. I always feel frustrated at this time because I feel very awkward and certainly not fluent! I do need the audience. I think I am over my technological hiccups (I have added some music!) so fingers crossed.
Tomorrow we are off to watch my son Peter run the Stroud Half Marathon in the rain! Also have the small matter of my football team playing the local derby I am very apprehensive about this one because surely we can’t upset the odds again this week- can we? To finish off the day a group of us are going to watch Dan Everett (the other half of Two Severn Bores) play with a singer song writer Lady Nade in Stroud! A busy day!
We travelled up to London yesterday to visit the Imperial War Museum because one of Clare’s friend’s son designed the newish Second World War floor. It was impressive and it was good to see it considered the whole world and represented ordinary people well instead of just through the normal European lens!
To use the well worn humorous quote “I was Over The Moon Brian!” on Tuesday night with the superb win by my football team the Mighty Hatters at Norwich on Tuesday night. it was certainly a gritty performance but well deserved! We have our local derby on Sunday can we make it a third win in a week? Not sure it is possible but fingers crossed!
Today I went for a ride with an old school friend who until recently I hadn’t seen for fifty years. A great ride despite the rain.
Finished up Story Telling at Wick Court tonight. I told the Wishes Of Savitri for the first time since the pandemic – I do often see stories as old friends!
Super ride this morning enjoying the sunshine on a wonderful wide ranging display of Autumn colours. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Saw a Crow mobbing a Raven which is different!
Fingers crossed for tonight as the Mighty Hatters go to Norwich not sure I expect us to get anything but you never know!
Finally I am putting the poster for next week’s story telling at the bottom- I need a crowd!
