Thought having talked about Raymond Briggs in yesterday’s blog I will continue with cultural references!

So we will use Jonathan Swift’s book for today’s title although this blog had a political theme because I am so angry which is why I am referring  to Lilliput today.

I mentioned I have visited both my grandchildren this week and have listened to the news as I have travelled to see them. So I have heard plenty of the narrow, stilted and quite frankly off the wall leadership debate to become our prime minister. Where for my grandchildren’s sake is any reference to the climate change, restoring our crumbling public services, improving public transport, looking after the most vulnerable in our society? My conclusion is we have been led by little people (Lilliputians) who can only talk about tax cuts!!!!! (Churchill and Attlee will be turning in their graves!)

The title of course refer to the passing of Raymond Briggs. His wonderful books featured prominently throughout my teaching career- I ordered many copies for the different schools I worked in and enjoyed sharing them with children and adults!. I still vividly  remember that first showing of the Snowman just after I became a Dad.  His books were of course wonderfully illustrated and tenderly written. He has made me cry many times! Looking forward to sharing them with my grandchildren! “Blooming Christmas!”

Talking of grandchildren we visited Owen today. Another delightful day. He was as irrepressible as ever and entertained us  We are both exhausted from our travels of the last two days!

Marvellous picnic by the River Exe today with our delightful granddaughter Ellen. We were entertained by Ellen as well as a Kingfisher and a Common Sandpiper. Distant and not brilliant pictures below!

Weather has meant my Words in the Wild has been postponed which I am relieved about – I think walking around with young people in 35 degrees would be foolish!

Picture of the Mighty Hatters doing their equivalent of Taking the Knee on Saturday at Burnley. Great day out we camped at Clitheroe and caught the bus to Burnley. Found a wonderful pub with a good selection of ales where fans from both sides could mingle. Thoroughly enjoyed the football that hopefully augers well for the season.

I also managed a challenging cycle over the moors in the beautiful Lancashire Countryside on Sunday.

Now busy learning and researching stories.

The title is my Story Telling/ Nature Walk at the  Tewkesbury Nature Reserve next Friday. It will be a mixture of stories and enjoying the natural world with a walk around the Reserve. So playing around developing the stories to fit the venue.

Tomorrow we are travelling North for Hatters on Tour! Never visited Turf Moor (Burnley’s ground) before, although I am not that optimistic but you never know! Also aiming to do some Bird Watching and I hoping to cycle some Lancashire hills.

I had to travel up to Berkshire to look after my Grandson Owen today. We had a lot of fun with plenty of laughter in the local park.  It is a real privilege to be a useful grandparents!

Possibly played my last game of cricket for this season yesterday with the Gloucestershire Seniors (I can’t play in the knock out game in a fortnight). there was some amazing batting from my team- there was some brutal hitting in a 179 3rd wicket partnership with local gardens being peppered! I ended up pulling a thigh muscle making a forlorn dive trying to stop a boundary (you would of thought at my age I would know better!)   My team mates now face a long car journey to possibly Sussex for that knock out game!

Have to knuckle down on some story learning now!