I am not talking about the snow today! I spotted our first blackcap this winter on the feeders. I am sure the birds we see on the feeders are the continental birds that come here for the winter that are almost becoming a different species to the birds that are here in the summer. Occasionally catch a glimpse of one in the summer and hear them often. The pictures below I took this morning (yes I know I have posted pictures of blackcaps in my garden before!) I will try and take some better shots during the winter months!!!

Well after all that rain last month we have certainly had some today! I did manage to get in a ride before it came! Looking at the forecast it looks like we are getting a cold blast tomorrow so will need to find my winter gear!!

Finally below is a poster (click on the link below!) for our now traditional Beer and Books Christmas Entertainment. This year we are at the Ship at Framilode. Please join us – I will keep reminding you readers!

Ship 5th

Not from storytelling!!! We have been looking after our granddaughter Ellen for the weekend. As well as the family dog. We are jiggered!!! Great fun and a privilege but hard being on the go all the time!!! She plays lots of make believe games and we are expected to participate fully!

Not such a busy week ahead on the story telling front but busy with some varied gigs coming up. Will list them this week.

I took the young people from South London bird watching at Wick Court yesterday. The sunshine after many grey days was welcome. Despite only having two groups go out instead of usually three we saw 29 species. That equalled the record set last week! We were delighted to see a deceit of nearly two hundred lapwings. The other pleasant surprise was seeing our first bullfinches for five years at Wick Court.

I have just come back from story telling for this group.

Even managed to do my tax return today that has been hanging over me!

Book Club last night we discussed The Moon’s a Balloon by David Niven– an interesting discussion. A different world!

I am busy constructing a telling of a well known mythological story for our pub entertainment next term.

The pictures below are not mine.

We took our lives in our hands this morning doing our second winter bird square! There was no footpaths in the square we were given in Upleadon in the north of the county. So had to record birds from the side of a busy road (not easy). A lovely old church (picture below) was one of the few places I could bird watch safely!

This afternoon I went for a walk with an old friend catching up. I took her to see the starling murmuration -numbers are building up!

We enjoyed the film on Sunday although the subject matter was depressing – it did keep true to Claire Keegan’s beautifully written book.

Had a good ride into Gloucester yesterday to meet a friend. I am clocking up the miles for November!

I think I have mentioned before that we are giving two map squares in different parts of the county every November to do a bird survey. This year we were given Soudley Ponds in the Forest of Dean. 

We had a brilliant start down by the actual ponds where we had 24 mandarin ducks and 4 nuthatches! Sadly there wasn’t that many birds later but we had a super walk through the last of the Autumn Colours. A few pictures below.

We are off to see the film Small Things Like These based on the book by Claire Keegan which we read for book club.

The title refers to the disastrous football result today! The Mighty Hatters once they fell behind could of waved a white flag they were so poor!

Enjoyed story telling at Wick Court on Thursday evening. We also won our quiz league match comfortably afterwards.

Had a surprisingly bumper time bird watching with young people from Charles Dickens School South London. With the mist and mizzle I wasn’t expecting too much but we spotted a record 29 different species including a rarity for us a nuthatch. The previous best I had with a school was 28. Saw plenty of winter thrushes as well. I am story telling for them later.

Talking birds I have been looking out for starling murmurations over the reed beds near the canal. Numbers are building up hopefully we will get some good displays in the coming weeks.

I travelled up with my friend Mick to watch the Mighty Hatters last night. Good to see us win even if the football wasn’t great. Once again a referee missed a stonewall penalty! Resigned to watching Saturday’s game on TV as we have yet another ridiculous kick off time.

I had hoped to be able to have a lovely Autumn picture today of the trees near Cranham (usually wonderful at this time of year) but sadly a lingering mist ruined that! Had a good pedal up the Slad Valley (of Cider with Rosie fame) but couldn’t escape the mist (needed lights all the time). I went with my friend Martin who has to wait for me at the top of a climb (he is younger!)

Busy learning a story to tell in the pub- hoping to dop an adult version of Merlin and the dragons (I have told a child friendly version many times.) I am currently influenced by the version in  Amy Jeffs’ book Storyland: A  New Mythology of Britain – I like her slant on Merlin’s conception.

Many apologies for a gap in my blogs. last week was incredibly hectic. Three successive days for the library fun days which was exhausting- I also did my regular slot at Wick Court on Thursday evening so it was no wonder I was tired!

We travelled up to Luton on Friday – I went to watch the Mighty Hatters while Clare read back at the hotel. A pity we couldn’t get the win despite hitting the woodwork and being denied a stonewall penalty but encouraging signs!

On Saturday morning we made a nostalgic visit to  my home town of Hitchin paid respects to our parents at the cemetery. The Town has changed but many landmarks remain.

It was on to Colchester to visit our good friends Colin and Cee (loyal readers of this blog). Good to see them both after a traumatic few weeks for them.

So recuperating a bit now after our adventures! A long cycle ride with a friend planned for tomorrow!