I visited Wick Court today for the first time since lock down. For those of you don’t know Wick Court it is one of three farms run by the charity Farms for City Children and is  fairly close to me here in Gloucestershire. Young people mainly from London spend a week on the farm doing activities on the farm. The charity was set up by Claire and Michael Morpurgo  just over forty years ago. Under normal times I volunteer there taking the young people bird watching and at the end of their week I am Story Teller in Residence. I love my time at the farm. Sadly it will be some time before we see children at the farm again. All charities are struggling and I do worry about the future. Picture below is me with some young people at Wick Court (it is a web site picture).

First time because of circumstances that I was able to go for a decent ride today over the hills today. It was hot! Really enjoyable to stretch my legs again! Did have to ride by a raging barn fire with many fire engines in attendance!

Currently reading a book by one of my former pupils from Dursley Rosie Price. She is a talented up and coming writer.

Still struggling with a swollen hand following my game of cricket at the weekend there is a lesson there – I should of caught it and perhaps at my age I should know better!

Can tell we have been to Lincoln- the Imp in the cathedral is famous and is the nickname of the football team. There is a picture of the Imp below-not sure if I can use the “Lincoln Imp” for a story but maybe some idea might germinate from it and develop over the next months. Currently contemplating what project to work on over the next few weeks -do I go back to one of my past stories or look to start something new? Clare is currently proof reading my recently finished story based in Gloucester-still not sure about the title!

We have a four legged friend “Jake” staying with us this week. He enjoys sitting on our laps (see the picture but he is not watching the cricket like I am!)                           I have played two games of cricket this week and the body is battered and bruised from yesterday’s game and boy was it hot! What a cracking Test Match. We were getting updates while playing and when we heard it was 117 for 5 we thought that was it! Amazing recovery!

Actually been away for a couple of days so that is why I haven’t posted recently. We have been in Lincoln enjoying visiting a city we know nothing about. We also have a four legged visitor for a week-more about this later in the weekend.

Playing cricket tomorrow where I am likely to be the oldest player taking part!

Today’s title refers to this morning here in Frampton. Clare and I were hosting a walk around the village for some friends of Clare’s wonderful group SP3. We chose a route that would avoid any stiles. Couldn’t believe it when I was taking some of the walkers back to their cars that within an hour of us going past a stile with an opening that we have used for years that some panels had been put up blocking the gap you could walk through and avoid climbing the stile. So I then had to help some people over the said stile! Despite this we had a lovely walk.

I captained my cricket club yesterday in a friendly match (there are many things you have to do in recreational cricket since it restarted including sanitising every six overs!) The whole ethos of friendly cricket is to get everyone involved and my team had many young lads playing. Chuffed to say we won the game and everyone did something including one sixteen year old getting his highest score. Those of you who know my cricketing skills will probably fall off your chairs to know my three overs saw me take two wickets for six runs . I also took three catches! Life in the old dog? I was certainly aching in many parts of my body last night.

Finishing off my busy social few days we visited my son Peter and his wife Nicola on Saturday which was delightful! Of course Red Kites abound there -one of the  many photos I took below!