I was sitting in the hide yesterday with young people from Baguley Hall Primary School Manchester when I briefly saw a bird flying across the river towards us. “It couldn’t be could it?” I told the children “It’s a cuckoo!” I yelled with excitement! As it disappeared behind some  trees I began to have doubts- was it?  I told the children “Just wait and listen!” I was hoping the bird hadn’t disappeared and was a cuckoo. After what seemed ages we heard that evocative Spring sound that sadly is slowly disappearing from the countryside. None of the children had ever heard one before! A special moment!

I had a lovely story telling session with them tonight telling two old favourites – the shaggy dog story about the Saxons and the river and of course Mollie! 

Had a lovely ride over the tops yesterday. l went up beyond Randwick, including  Painswick Beacon and Bull’s Cross. I am pleased with my climbing legs at the moment as I continue to prepare for the Dartmoor Classic later next month.

Back at Wick Court tomorrow to take young people from Manchester bird watching there is a rarity forecast for tomorrow-RAIN!!!!

I am looking forward to Book Club tomorrow evening where we are discussing Skinny Legs And All by Tom Robbins. A fascinating read full of humour and it was certainly provocative. Be good to hear what others think.

Don’t think I can ever recall a Spring/early Summer that has been so long without rain- we even missed the thunderstorms of last week- never made it to Frampton!

Strange pattern of life here at the moment. Looking after Clare, popping out for the odd ride or bird watch and trying to make sure the plants don’t completely dry up! I also manage to watch the Giro d’Italia probably the most captivating of the cycling Grand Tours because of its unpredictability.

Birds in the garden have been good in recent weeks with occasional visits from siskins, blackcaps,  song thrush, great spotted woodpecker and goldcrest a welcome additions to our regular visitors. Add to that we often can hear from  the house –oystercatchers, cuckoo, common terns, barnacle geese and of course occasionally the booming bittern. 

I ventured down to Bristol yesterday to meet up with the India cricket tourists for the World Premiere of our tour video. Great to meet up again with everyone and remind ourselves what a great time we had – I am still pinching myself on the dream that came true! The video was very professional!

The patient is doing well and we had a delightful visit from our two grandsons (with their mum ) carrying little presents for their Granny! They are very entertaining and good for morale!

Is it Australia?

No it is Frampton- on-Severn! I went looking for a reported black tern on the Sailing Lake which I saw in the distance but too far for a picture. Took this one of the black swan instead. They do occasionally turn up in different parts of the country escapees from collections. Also heard the bittern booming tonight.

Sunset tonight over the river.

The pictures above is not from our garden – I took them a couple of weeks ago when Clare and I visited Hidcote Manor. 

I chose the pictures above because I have just written a poem for her and it reminded me of our visit. She has had a new hip today! I hope to bring her home tomorrow.

Short blog today. I turned out today for my cricket club and yes I was the oldest player on the pitch. However, the “Old Man”  thoroughly enjoyed himself in the field with a diving stop to a fierce drive. His big moment came when the batsman thought they could take a quick single to the “Old Man”. I came running in and picked up the ball dived forward to hit the stumps with an underarm throw. I was delighted and my team mates mobbed me afterwards. We won as well!

We had a lovely walk yesterday morning on Cam Peak. At this time of the year it is festooned with bluebells (they are just going over but still delightful). Some pictures below.

I went on a training ride yesterday – I am clocking up the miles because I doing the Dartmoor Classic in the middle of June.

I have been looking for hobbies over the last couple of days with no luck. Plenty of common terns on the lake. One picture below.

The title refers to the disaster of Saturday where my football team surprisingly capitulated! It was a painful day and we all left feeling numb after a second relegation in successive years. It is still raw but hopefully we will bounce back straight away.

Travelled down to Devon yesterday to be 12th man for cricket. I managed to filed for the whole 45 overs so was aching afterwards! I am turning out for club side on Saturday where I am almost certain to be the oldest player in the game.

Did my weekly volunteering session bird watching with young people at Wick Court. Sadly the birds were thin on the ground

Tonight I went looking for Hobbies who have arrived recently but no luck. I did see that incredible traveller the Arctic Tern in amongst some Common Terns.

The title might sound like one of my story telling gigs! It of course refers to my football team the Mighty Hatters who travel to the Midlands hoping to continue their good form and avoid successive relegations. I am a complete bag of nerves as I get ready for the game. There are so many permutations so my fingers will be firmly crossed.

Changing the subject I did hear the bittern again this morning. I did go looking for Hobbies earlier in the week but didn’t see one but have now heard a cuckoo. A couple of pictures below of a blackbird, a heron and my first common tern of the summer (a distant speck!)