A couple of last-minute bookings for gigs next week in schools. One is on the 21st so I am sure a midsummer theme might run through the day. At the moment I have a free hand so some old favourites may be resurrected, I’m sure I will touch on some Arthurian themes to go with the time because magic is sure to be in the air!

Tuesday I am giving the gift of a story to an old pupil of mine at his school. He is now a Head (how old does that make me – 365!) so I offered to come and tell some stories. Just had the suggestion could the stories be on a desert island theme-no pressure then! I can adapt a couple easily to fit round that but I was thinking what about the older children and what material I have. I did immediately think of Odysseus a real super hero of his time and his encounter with Polyphemus (has plenty of blood, gore and of course cunning). Circe or his return to Ithaca would all fit as well-will give Calypso a miss for obvious reasons!

I am starting my research on World War 1 want to include the Christmas Truce, my grandfather’s diary he went with BEF in 1914 so I need to find more about his war. I also want to include Ivor Gurney for the Gloucestershire connection. Poetry needs to be within it.