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!!!

Busy day – early start today as I set off in the fog to do my weekly bird watching slot at Wick Court. Surprisingly we saw a good number of species!

Had a lovely time being Gramps with my two grandsons this afternoon. Great fun!

Also was asked to be interviewed on Radio Gloucestershire tomorrow morning about World Book Day and being a story teller. With my interview last week and my recent cricket experience am I becoming a celebrity?

Apologies I didn’t publish yesterday’s blog till today- I had thought  had done that! 

Today I went for my longest bike ride for a while with my friend Martin. A cracking ride with coffee and cake! I am slowly trying to get my bike fitness back. I am aiming to get a few miles in this week. I have two school gigs that I aiming to cycle to as well as my usual errands etc I hope the body lasts! A couple of pictures below  that have been in previous blogs

The title refers to yesterday’s football where once again the Mighty Hatters conceded a late cruel goal to one of the top four teams. After being outplayed in the first half by a really good Villa side we tore them apart in the second half with brave attacking football. However we keep making defensive errors that are proving costly!

This morning I heard there were waxwings in the village so we went off looking for them. We went separately – I didn’t see them but Clare saw about 20 of them. They had disappeared when I got to her! Still a picture I took last month on Rodborough below ( it was in a January blog.

Yesterday morning Clare and I went on a tour of medieval churches in Gloucester. It was good to drop into forgotten places that are absolute gems. Gloucester is a real mix some amazing buildings and parts that have been blighted by 1960s planners. It is such a shame that such an interesting historical city has been treated like this. I was pleased when our guide confirmed  The Crown as Colonel Massey’s headquarters  in the Civil War – I mentioned it in my book Pig the Legend.

One of Gloucester’s gems!

This morning Steve (our India tour manager) and I were interviewed by Radio Bristol about our recent tour- well more like a discussion than an interview! It was for a programme called Extra Time not sure when it is going to be broadcast.

Off to watch the Mighty Hatters tomorrow with my son David.