We had a super Book Club on Wednesday night in our idiosyncratic local. We all enjoyed their renowned Three Shu Pie before we started our discussion. I mentioned we were discussing Demon Copperhead and we all acknowledged it was a good provocative read. We spend much of the time looking at the parallels with David Copperfield which Barbara Kingsolver used as her vehicle to highlight the opiate crisis in the States. We all agreed that Dickens himself would of appreciated her story of a  poverty crisis with a powerful message. It has made me want to read some more of her books.

I was summoned to give some grandparent support to my two grandsons in nearby Bishop’s Cleeve yesterday morning. We both went over again today and had the delight of a bus adventure with Owen age 3, he insisted on both journeys that we go to the back seat! Great fun!

I enjoyed my Story Telling stint at Wick Court last night with our charming visitors from Brunswick Park Primary School London.

I also survived my first cricket net back in England (regular readers of the blog will know I had one in India before our games out there.)

Finally today’s picture not mine is of a Marsh Harrier – we currently have a lot of activity from a pair in Frampton! Fingers crossed that the mating is successful.

If you click on the link (Destiny or Fate Performance) below you will get the poster for the Two Severn Bores gig at Newent Library. You do need to get a ticket but it is flexible if you pay or not. Hope to see some of you there.

Will update my last couple of days in tomorrow’s blog. Off to Story Tell in a little while.

Destiny or Fate Performance

After a couple of lovely days in Exeter with our lovely family it was back to Frampton life today. It was mainly routine jobs.

Looking forward to tomorrow- Book Club in the evening where we are discussing Demon Copperhead. A book I have mentioned previously and how much I got thoroughly absorbed in it. Will be interesting to see how the others enjoyed the book. Our discussions are usually wide ranging.

I also have Wick Court tomorrow for our regular bird watching slot. I also have my first cricket net of the year in the afternoon. Think I might be tired after all that! As I am netting tomorrow a team picture of us before our first game in India at Shivaji Park – can you spot me!

Had a delightful day in Exeter playing with our wonderful granddaughter Ellen. She is following in the family footsteps and enjoying riding her bike (a balance bike).

Proud of the effort the few fit Mighty Hatters  put in yesterday to earn a deserved point. Another two players got injured in the game!

The title refers to the meltdown on Wednesday night for my football team. Both my sons have phoned to check I had recovered from the aftermath of the defeat! Sadly the players are running on empty and we have 12 players out including our outstanding forward and most of our defenders. Still hoping they have recovered from Wednesday night’s scars and they bounce back tomorrow! I am going with apprehension! To cheer myself up I’ve put the picture of the Church family celebrating at Wembley last May! It was a joyous occasion!

Had a lovely meet up with team mates who went to India yesterday.

I had a delightful story telling with my friends from Baguley Hall Primary School Manchester at Wick Court last night. I told a couple of old favourites!

A delightful day bird watching with Y5 children from Manchester at Wick Court. I managed to catch a glimpse of the 5 star Bore on the River. Amazing to see the far bank got completely swamped – I’ve never seen that before at that part of the River Severn. We saw plenty of different species although nothing unexpected. We didn’t have much bird action with the afternoon group so I took them on a vole hunt (well looking for evidence of voles!) We had great fun and I had some great nature detectives with me! Amazing how much evidence there was!

On the book front I finished Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver a couple of days ago. I found it thoroughly engaging and I think Dickens would be pleased by the book! I have just started reading Camouflage (about Indian Soldiers in the two world wars) it was one of the books I was given in India.

Fingers crossed that my injury ravaged Mighty Hatters get a result tonight at the rearranged game at  Bournemouth– it will be an emotional game following what happened in the original game when our captain collapsed on the pitch.

Having had two weeks in sunshine in February I certainly have caught up with the rain with a couple of soakings. I pedalled to the dentist and boy did it rain on my way home! Everything is drying off now!

Still catching up on admin!

Anyone who wants to see the Two Severn Bores in action we are at Newent Library on the 17th April. You can get tickets from the Library Service website (it is free!)

Finally a picture from a Severn Bore a couple of years ago I took – it was a five star one today! This one was probably a three star!

After all the activity of last week it was good to have a calm day and the chance to catch up on admin jobs- I also mended a puncture again! In fact this week is much quieter all round! I did go for a medium cycle this afternoon and went at a good lick! Only one story telling this week at Wick Court.

A five star Severn Bore is expected  tomorrow and Wednesday so a couple of pictures of the Two Severn Bores in action. We have a gig next month. Also a picture of me in action last year on World Book Day! The last picture is our India adventure again one of our two games under lights.

I said it was a busy time! Friday was another World Book Day gig followed by me rushing to a wake in the village. So was I was really exhausted by the time i got to Friday night.

We headed off to South London on Saturday morning forgetting how difficult it can getting round the London area in a car! Eventually Clare dropped me off in a pub in Thornton Heath to meet friends before the football (the Mighty Hatters were playing Crystal Palace.) Clare fought the traffic to visit Wisley Gardens.  The injury ravaged Mighty Hatters a with the fans at the end. although not playing well somehow managed a last minute equaliser. The picture below is the players celebrating, There are a some Indian pictures at the end.

Just to prove I actually played cricket in India!

Waiting for a lift after the Test Match!

Talking birds near Rajkot!

Busy day so a short blog!

It was an early start with an interview with Radio Gloucestershire about World Book Day. Then it was on my heavily laden bike to cycle to Cam Woodfield Infants for a story telling morning. I told some old favourites today and had a lovely response from the youngsters.

My second gig today was at Wick Court with young people from Granton Primary School Streatham. I did the Sleeping King as preparation for tomorrow’s gig at Hartpury.

Think I will be tired tomorrow!!!