Just as I turned for Frampton in the early hours of the morning I got a warning about tyre pressure on the car’s dashboard. So it has been an expensive morning sitting whiling away the hours as new tyres were fitted. I was of course coming home from football and a welcome win for the Mighty Hatters. Although indebted to our excellent goalkeeper it was a much improved performance and we were beginning to click in the second half. I am tired now after a late night and this morning’s hanging about!

It is my Book Club tonight and it a planning meeting where we decide on our books through to next summer. It will be a good night!

Apologies but I inadvertently deleted yesterday’s blog about seeing the goosanders and the football. Don’t think if you haven’t read them you have missed that much!

We got home from our weekend in Yorkshire that apart from the disappointment with the football we had a good weekend camping by the River Aire. We stopped off today at Dovestone Reservoir close to Saddleworth Moor and walked around it- you can tell we are experiencing a drought! A picture below. Also a pair of  swallows on a wire. I’ve also put yesterday’s picture of a goosander because there are great ducks!

We have just come back from watching an outdoor performance of the story of Edward Jenner in the grounds of his house, He is an amazing person and it could be argued our greatest Briton for the millions of lives that have been saved because of him.

We are off North tomorrow- we are camping near Bradford. Surprisingly The Mighty Hatters are playing there on Saturday! Fingers crossed! We will be visiting a museum, a gallery plus a bird reserve over the weekend.

Last night I went out searching for meteors as part of the Perseids Showers. Gradually as my eyes adjusted I caught a couple of flashes in the sky then I had a couple of flare like meteors directly over my head that illuminated the sky. Finally I saw one with a long tail shoot over. Not my picture below but it was just like this one!

Phew it is a scorcher! We popped out early this morning to get a ride in before it got too hot! I will do the same tomorrow. We joined my fellow Hatter Mick and his wife Kath for lunch at Stroud Brewery (originally we had planned to cycle there.)

It was a super busy day yesterday. I was story telling at the Farmer’s Yard in Arlingham first thing then umpiring for Gloucestershire Seniors (still not fit enough to play). My story telling was with a very young audience which was fun!

The title refers to football and the Mighty Hatters. They won away yesterday and although far from the finished article they looked much better. That is now two and two so will take that. We have tickets for Bradford next weekend- fingers crossed for the same result when I last visited there!

Had a lovely cycle on Friday with a friend around the Cotswolds beyond Cirencester. hamstring still niggling but managing the rides but avoiding playing cricket- I am actually umpiring tomorrow instead of playing! So a busy day ahead- storytelling in the morning and then a dash to the cricket.

It is that time of the year again when there is plenty of food for wildlife out in the fields and woods. I nearly commented after Thursday’s bird survey on how the bushes were laden with sloes. I took the picture below on Thursday of one bush- it doesn’t really do justice! I have now been blackberry twice (once a fortnight ago) so we are on our second blackberry and apple crumble – my favourite pudding! Great that it is our apples from the garden and blackberries from close by- so a cheap pudding!

I have spent today writing a story for the next Two Severn Bores show. Watch this space for details! Doing a local gig in Arlingham on Monday for young children. I then have a break for a couple of weeks from performing.

My blog yesterday forgot to mention I went to football on Friday night- ridiculous it was the 1st August and even more irritating the kick off was 8 pm on a Friday night. Sadly genuine football supporters are treated with contempt by Sky and TNT. Last year we had a few Friday night kick offs – oh for Saturdays at 3 pm!!!

Having had that moan the football was turgid and certainly not a spectacle for television. The only positive I can think of was the result! Fingers crossed that is gets better in the future! COYH!!!!!

Many apologies for lack of a blog but it has been all go for the last few days. Thursday was our monthly bird survey out by the River Severn. We saw plenty of birds out on the mud of the low tide including a returning whimbrel and black tailed godwits. Managed not to get wet as well! I did get wet going to Wick Court for my story telling session – it was with a youth group from Liverpool. The had visited the previous year and greeted me like a returning favourite old uncle!

Of course on Thursday and Friday I was transfixed by the last Test Match of the summer- what a game and a series!

We spent the weekend with our Exeter family and only got back tonight! A picture below of my granddaughter Ellen and I being flying flamingos on our way for our Sunday Dinner. She was wearing a flamingo dress made by Clare and  I was wearing a a polo shirt decorated by flamingos. A delightful weekend!

Had a wonderful ride today over the top. Testing out my dodgy hamstring! Slowly upping my miles again!

Up early tomorrow for the monthly bird survey-thunderstorms could be around so wish me luck!