A lovely cycle today to Howick Hall and a delightful garden to explore. Off later to look for Kittiwakes. Have seen a good mix of sea birds while we have been here. Tomorrow we are cycling to Amble for a boat trip around Coquet Island to see a mix of Arctic Terms and Roseate Terms.

Sitting now listening to the magnificent Joe Root scoring another 100! Fingers crossed for the Hatters although not that optimistic we will get anything.

I am playing around with a story idea for my next gig, more hopefully as it develops.

We cycled to Barter Books in Alnwick today and enjoyed the train running above us! I was searching for more folk tale and mythological books to build up my Story Telling Library. Tempted by Viking Myths but I had many of the tales already. I am aiming for a long bike ride tomorrow have already cycled a fair bit since we have been here. We are aiming not to move the van at all while we are here.

My pictures might have to wait till we are back home to be included in the blog!

Currently enjoying the wonderful Northumberland coastline in Cedric our distinctive campervan. I am hoping to get some thinking time for developing new stories. You might even get the odd photo to blogs this week. Good for bird watching here, saw a group of Eider Ducks today.

Had an emotional return to football yesterday. It seemed an age since March 2020. I am a season ticket holder so you know everyone who sits around you so it was good to see those faces again. Everyone had a huge smile on their face. A wonderful atmosphere built up and then we saw a cracking display by the mighty Hatters who won convincingly despite having a poor referee.

Away on our hols tomorrow so will do an update on Story Telling when back.

Book Launch of Pig The Legend is on the 27th at the Three Horseshoes (let me know if you want to join us.)

I forgot to mention in recent blogs our Bird Survey last Thursday. It was fairly quiet it usually is late July. However, once we were surrounded by curious cattle we had a flurry of bird activity 60+ Starlings and the highlight was 30+ Yellow Wagtails including several  juveniles. Yellow Wagtails are migrants and we usually get two or three nesting pairs around the whole Frampton area so to see 30 was a surprise. Picture below of one of these handsome birds.

I played possibly my last game of cricket for this season yesterday and was absolutely exhausted after running many quick runs (we put on 36 in five overs) and plenty of boundary chases and dives (dangerous at my age!) I slept well!

My sporting journey continues – I am at Trent Bridge tomorrow for the Test Match and at the real Theatre of Dreams to watch my first football match in person since Covid stopped us. It was Wigan – Luton on 7-3-20!

I did say last week was a busy week for me full of cricket and Story Telling as well as the excitement of the books arriving. I have now fixed a date for the launch at the end of August at the Three Horseshoes in Frampton. If you are interested in coming along please get in touch.

I will start with the Story Telling which ended up a mixed bag. On Wednesday I travelled all the way to Lydney Library not knowing that because of the heavy rain they had cancelled (they had left a message but I had already left (ironically it is close to be opposite to us on the other side of the river but is a good hour to get there either via the Severn Bridge or via Gloucester.) On Friday I visited my old friends at Kingshill House to tell stories based around the theme of the beach- I had written a story specially for the occasion. I am back there later this month telling stories on a Visit to the Zoo theme which will test my repertoire! I am about to pedal off to tell stories at Tuffley Library. i have to say it is good to get in the swing of performing again.

I managed to play three games of cricket over the last week twice for Gloucestershire Seniors and a Sunday friendly for my club. Ironically I am at last finding the middle of the bat as my season is nearly over I have a game tomorrow. Have to say the body is suffering now!

We are also looking after a four legged friend Jake for a couple of days, it has been  good to have a dog around for a couple of days.