A busy day starting with an early morning bird watch- I was hoping to see an active bittern. However no such luck but I did see  redshank, greenshank, bullfinch (a real surprise for by the canal), greenfinch and chiffchaff. Later when in the garden a parakeet flew over despite them being all over London and the South East fairly rare in our part of the world. A poor picture of the chiffchaff and also one of the greenfinch.

Had a cricket net this afternoon which was good fun.

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for the football tonight. It is a vital game for the Mighty Hatters just hope we can get something from the game!

We had an exhausting week and weekend! So it was taking it easy this afternoon! It has been really rewarding being with our lovely grandchildren. Have spent the weekend playing a whole range of imaginary games with Ellen.

I was encouraged with the football on Saturday. The Mighty Hatters certainly are playing much better at the moment – just wished we had started playing like this much earlier. Sadly it might be too late but still ever hopeful.

Back in sunny Frampton after a week away. had a lovely but exhausting time with our family, three youngsters under 5  keep you very busy! I do wonder how did I manage to be a parent and do a demanding job. The answer of course (sadly) is age! We now have our granddaughter Ellen staying with us while her parents have a deserved break so next week is likely to be a rest!!!

A few pictures from Pembrokeshire from my camera.

Below is my attempt to photo the partial eclipse last week when there was a brief gap in the cloud! Look carefully and you can just make out the crescent shape of the moon!

Apologies the preceding blog to this one was written on Sunday. As I am using my phone I forgot to press the magic button!

We are still away but now with all our family so it is all action with three little ones!

I have quite a few gigs coming up during the summer months – a real mixture of audiences and venues!!!

We are currently in St. David’s  Pembrokeshire. You could say in my role as consultant!!! Farms for City Children where I volunteer (Wick Court) have two other farms and one is here Treginnis. There are thinking of doing bird watching with the children so have asked my advice. So I have spent the weekend bird watching around the area to get a feell for what is around. Ironically 30 swallows appeared when we arrived I hadn’t seen any at home yet! Stonechats aplenty and saw some choughs performing their distinctive acrobatics! The weather has been superb so it has been great being out and about.

i even managed to watch the football yesterday in a pub. I persuaded them to put the Luton match on! Delighted with the result and the comical goal- it was about time we had some luck!

Even managed a cycle ride this evening! It was an adventure ended up pedalling across the old airfield. Some coastal pictures from my phone below. Tomorrow we link up with all the family to enjoy a holiday together!

I was performing in South Cerney this morning on a specially commissioned gig!   Carters the construction company asked to to do a story about safety on building sites. I played with a story they had sent me. Felt slightly uncomfortable doing something that wasn’t really on my terms. Still I think I managed to get the message across. (I may have pictures later so will put a couple on the blog.

Telling stories later at Wick Court with young people from Croydon there are Y8 to Y10. It is then a rush to be quiz master for the quiz league (we are doing it because we are not on tonight.).

I had my first cricket net today. I had to do two sessions altogether so two and a half hours on my feet bowling and batting! The body is aching now! Still good to hold a bat again!

We have been busy the last couple  days with odd jobs and appointments.

I have also been working on a storytelling on Thursday morning for a project I have been commissioned for- will write about it later this week.

Looking forward to doing my usual bird watching session at Wick Court tomorrow. especially with this good weather.

Where has he been the last few days you ask! Well it has been action packed on many levels. I mentioned in my last blog the perfect weather for my cycle ride. Well I followed that up with a pleasant storytelling at Wick Court

I had a further storytelling at a care home on Friday. I am certainly now on that circuit – this one was a first in a  lovely home in Leonard Stanley- I managed to cycle there.  We rounded off Friday night with babysitting stint for our two grandsons- we stayed over and the youngest Robin who is only two had a disturbed night with a cough so it was up down a few times in the night!

On Saturday i was serving behind the bar at the Village Hall for the Community Play (a matinee and evening performance) written and directed by my friend Brian- Clare was on the ticket desk. A delightful play with lots of laughs and some real poignant moments. You might remember I performed in the last two plays.

The coming week also looks busy!

What a glorious day! Certainly got rid of the bite in the wind of earlier in the week! I went for a super ride over the  tops with my friend Martin. Heard  plenty of chiffchaffs and on the top and we were serenaded by many skylarks trilling. Also saw yellowhammers on the ride. To cap it all I had a chiffchaff in the garden this afternoon. We have had a couple of swallows in the village but I am yet to see one.

Following on with this spring theme I had a lovely time bird watching yesterday at Wick Court with young people from Camberwell. We saw a chiffchaff then as well! I am storytelling with them later this afternoon.

Pictures below – my picture of a skylark from last year and a chiffchaff (not my picture)

A busy sort of day here. A lovely Spring day as well. Did some jobs in the garden, some writing (more about in future blogs) and a special visit to Wick Court to say goodbye to the Chief Executive of the charity Farms For City Children.

I will also be there tomorrow (bird watching) and Thursday (Story Telling).

Just off to Book Club to discuss Jules Verne!