The blog title sounds like it should be a book or poem title! It refers to my early morning venture doing the monthly bird survey out by the river. It was pretty awful first thing heavy rain and buffeting wind.. Ground was like  paddy fields and the scrapes were full. In one or two places had to be careful that the water didn’t come over the tops of my wellies! I was delighted to be assailed by the wonderfully evocative marshland sound of warbling Curlew to cheer my spirits. However, soon the weather improved and saw big groups of birds like 150+ Golden Plover, 70+ Pintail and 75 Lapwings. I love watching Lapwing in flight especially when the sun is out. I was lucky to see 2 Jack Snipe much to the annoyance of one of my fellow birders  when I told him. He had spent a couple of hours earlier this week looking for them and although he saw Snipe he had no Jacks!

Sent the final edited draft of Pig the Legend back today so hopefully I can concentrate on new stories.I am recording a couple of stories at the weekend for my friends at Syston who I have visited the last couple of World Book Days.

Yesterday’s Quiz answers on Crime

a) Marshalsea Prison was where Dickens’ father went.   b) The Scream by Edvard Munch is the picture that was stolen – there are four versions two in paint and two in pastel   c) The Hole in the Wall is the pass that was a hideout for outlaws like Butch Cassidy  d) Costa Nostra is another name for the Mafia   e) Speakeasy were  the drinking clubs during prohibition

Today’s Quiz is on Pigs!

a) Who wrote The Sheep Pig?    b) What was the name of the Pig in Charlotte’s Web?  c) Two pigs famously escaped from the abattoir in Malmesbury in 1998  what breed of pig were they?  d) Which Pig was Supreme Commander in Animal Farm?  e) Which country has more pigs than humans?

Pintails in flight

I want to report a blond incompetent buffoon who has broken lockdown on numerous occasions often seen wearing a white coat or white shirt sleeves. He was in Wales today, Scotland recently and many other places. These flagrant breaches of lockdown for unnecessary trips need dealing with! How come he can move around? Surely he can do zoom like the rest of us?

You can tell I don’t have a high opinion of him!

I had a delightful “exercise ride” today and saw snowdrops, daffodils, primroses and an impressive blanket of crocuses outside Painswick Church.

I have spent the last couple of days doing a final proof read of my Pig the Legend Story.

Disappointed with the football last night. It was as expected a physical battle with little fluent football. I hope we bounce back for Saturday.

Today’s quiz I nearly did on Conmen! Instead it is on Crime

a) Which notorious prison was Charles Dickens’ father sent to in 1824 for a debt to a baker (Charles was 12)   b) Versions of what famous painting were stolen from the Munich Museum in 2004 and the National Gallery Oslo  in 1994?   c) Which mountain pass in the Big Horn Mountains Wyoming, lent its name to an American Wild West Gang?   d) Which alternative name for the Mafia means “our thing” in Italian?   e) What is the name given of illicit establishments that sold alcohol during the prohibition era  in the USA ?

We had the delight of doing a tip run today at least it is something different! It is amazing the stuff you accumulate over the years.

Got a glimpse of a Marsh Harrier near the Severn. It is encouraging to see one at this time of the year. You may remember last Autumn I mentioned that I saw three of these birds in the same area. I am hopeful that we may get breeding birds in Gloucestershire in the near future.

Fingers crossed my team win tonight. When we played Cardiff away we were bullied out of the game. I’ve just seen our team news and we have certainly picked a physical side! It isn’t likely to be pretty!

Yesterday’s Quiz answers

a) Italy is the first country to have motorways.   b) Michael Moore directed Fahrenheit  9/11   c) Captain Oates first name was Lawrence   d) The National Diet is the parliament of Japan  e) Phenol is also known as Carbolic Acid

No Quiz tonight because I am watching the football!

Title refers to my changing attire on the bike. My ride at the end of last week I was wearing balaclava, thermals, winter gloves and I was still cold! Today I was wearing shorts and had to take my jacket off after my first climb! You do meet many walkers out on the lanes which is great to see but occasionally taking evasive action can be difficult when a car is overtaking.

The cricket is disappointing I hope they can put up some sort of fight tomorrow- I won’t risk getting up early! talking of cricket my club Slimbridge are holding a raffle at the end of the month to fill in the hole in our finances that Covid  has made. If anyone wants to supports us please get in touch -there are some great prizes including a story from some Story Teller Bloke (virtual or live)!

As I’ve mentioned a raffle and the luck that goes with that Today’s Quiz is on Pot Luck!

a) Which country was the first to build motorways?    b) Who is the director and producer  of the 2004 documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11 c) What is the first name of Captain Oates who left his tent on Captain Scott’s ill fated expedition?  d) The National Diet is the parliament in which country?  e) Phenol is the common name for which acid?

I did say it was Pot Luck!

Well the cold spell has ended with a vengeance today because as I write it is currently Cats and Dogs outside! We managed to get a walk in before the rain-phew!

Spent quite a bit of time on screen today going over an edit of my new story so the eyes need a rest so this blog is a  short one.

Yesterday’s Quiz Answers on Smiles (I don’t think it was that difficult it was probably more difficult thinking up the questions!

a) The Cheshire Cat of course is in Alice    b) Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel sang “Make me Smile”    c) The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci -it is supposed to be the “most written about, most sung about, most parodied work of art in the world!”   d) Helen’s face launched a 1,000 ships -one of my favourite stories to tell!   e) Mark Lester was the innocent looking Oliver

No quiz on a Sunday!

Saturday night is always better when your football tem wins. Have to say it wasn’t a great game and the pitch wasn’t conducive to great football but hey!

It was a bitterly cold walk today but you have to do it!

Yesterday’s Quiz on Medicine

a) Edward Jenner of course discovered the Smallpox Vaccine. He is of course local to our area – I used to be able to see “Smallpox Hill” from the second floor of my old school.    b) MMR is Measles, Mumps and Rubella   c) Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin   d) The Femur (thighbone) is the longest bone  e) The Sperm Whale has the largest brain it is about 8,000 cubic cms in size compared to ours at 1300 cubic cms!

Today’s Quiz is on Smiles and Faces (I am struggling to think of themes-well I was smiling!)

a) Which character in Alice of Wonderland is known for its smile   b) Which band sang Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me )  c) Who painted the Mona Lisa?  d) Who’s face launched a 1,000 ships?   e) What boy actor (ML) with an innocent face played Oliver in the musical film?

Amazingly I had my jab today, I thought I might have to wait till March. Brilliant organisation with great volunteers almost tripping over themselves to help you! Shows just what happens when you allow public services to get on with things as opposed to how Track and Trace has operated!

Cold on the bike today a bitter wind and ice in places but good to get out!

Yesterday’s Quiz on Water

a) Mary Rose sank in 1545 and is well worth a visit to Portsmouth when we are allowed to see the exhibition.  b) Columbus sailed with the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina   c) Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Ocean   d) The Waikato River is the longest in New Zealand  e) The Ribble flows through Preston

A Sort of Medicine Quiz following my jab!!!!

a) Who discovered the Smallpox vaccination?    b) Which three diseases does the MMR vaccine protect you from?   c) Who is credited with the 1928 discovery of Penicillin?  d) Which is the longest bone in the body?  e) Which cetacean has the largest brain of any mammal?

More ice breaking duties today so the birds can get a drink! My goodness it was cold today especially with the wind chill. I was well wrapped up on the bike!

Apologies the blog is a short one today been on Zoom for a long time! I’m sorry but the pictures today are more birds! I saw many Redwings yesterday -picture at the bottom and also the Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeder today  where the Blackcap was yesterday!

Yesterday’s Comedy Quiz answers

a) Connie Booth played the waitress in Fawlty Towers   b) Oxfordshire was the setting for The Vicar of Dibley   c) Holly was the computer in Red Dwarf  d) The Office was set in Slough  e) David Walliams and Matt Lucas created Little Britain

Today’s Quiz has a loose Water theme as I mentioned ice breaking!

a) What year did the Mary Rose sink?   b) What were the names of the three ships that sailed with Columbus on his first voyage?   c) The deepest part of any Ocean is an area of the Pacific at 36,161 feet what is it known as?  d) What is the longest river in New Zealand?   e) Which 75 mile long river flows through Preston?

Well not quite a gun fight more a dust up! I was watching a Blackcap this morning in the garden and decided to take a few photos. The Blackcap was in the feeder and I was just taking a picture when a Robin tried to get in. There was a real disagreement and I captured it in the first photo below as the Blackcap saw off the Robin. The Robin is more a blur but you get the picture!

One more photo of the Blackcap by our frozen pond. I was then sent out to break the ice for all the birds!

I’ve just come off our Book Club zoom where we discussed Cold Comfort Farm. There was much laughter and we all agreed it was just the right book for a pandemic! It was a funny satire and we all enjoyed it. We are optimistic that by June we might be able to at least meet outside.

Yesterday’s Bob Dylan Quiz

a) Dylan was waiting for the Aust Ferry (we did mention in our Two Severn Bores show on the River Severn)   b) Zimmerman was his surname   c) Dylan did the music for Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door was the hit released from the film  d) President Obama gave him the Presidential  Medal   e) It is thought Dylan was the Jester in American Pie although Don Mclean has never admitted that.

Following on from Cold Comfort Farm -Today’s Quiz is all on comedy more TV than Book!

a) In Fawlty Towers who plays the waitress?   b) In which English county is the Vicar of Dibley set?  c) What is the name of the ship’s computer in Red Dwarf?   d) Where is The Office set?   e)  Little Britain was created by which two comedians?

Have to start with England’s marvellous win over India in the cricket. If you read my comment yesterday – “What do I know?”   A superb all round performance and what an amazing  Jimmy Anderson’s over! You might think Bob Dylan’s song “Forever Young” was written about the Burnley Express! Great that it was terrestrial TV again.

I have started emailing one or two local schools offering some virtual Story Telling just to help out. We will see if the offer gets taken up.

As the cricket finished early I went for a decent ride. My goodness it was cold that wind was bitter. I changed my route because the weather looked threatening on the tops. Some might question my sanity! I did see quite a few birds while out including an enormous Raven close up. Saw many raptors out as well not sure if that was because of the weather or just luck!

Yesterday’s Quiz on India

a) Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak   b) Assam was the state in NE India   c) Peacock is the national bird  d) Bindi is a red dot on the centre of the forehead  e) India is 5 and a half hours ahead of GMT

Today’s Quiz is as I mentioned him is connected to Bob Dylan

a) Where in the UK was Dylan waiting for a ferry in an iconic photo?   b) What is Dylan’s real surname?  c) Which 1973 “Western” film did Dylan write and play the music for and appear in ?   d) Which American  President bestowed “The Presidential medal of Freedom on Dylan?  e) How is Dylan indirectly referred to in Don Maclean’s “American Pie“-was it The King or The Jester or One of them “Two ole boys” or “The man at the sacred music store”?