Spent today cycling my brother’s sponsored ride for a children’s cancer charity in Cardiff. So body is tired tonight (I had to get up really early to get to South Wales.) A lovely ride mostly by the River Taff with some climbs out of Brecon.
Books have dominated my week. We held our planning meeting for my book club “Beer and Books” on Wednesday night. We have put together a diverse programme of books to read. We are also going to have an evening where we talk about our favourite character from literature- these slightly different nights are always good fun!
Yesterday we had a lovely day starting with a visit to Cirencester. We spent a long time in the wonderful children’s bookshop “Octavia’s”– it is great to see so many books aimed at young people! We then had the afternoon with our grandsons and did the baby sitting so their parents could go out.
Well I have had an action packed couple of sporting days. It started with football on Monday night. The least said the better! Best description was it was men against boys- certainly our defence was young and naïve! The journey home I did manage to see three meteorites and a barn owl- not sure if it eased the pain that much!
Yesterday I led my band of brothers (ancient ones) to near Wolverhampton to play cricket against Staffordshire. We won comfortably and has pushed us into knockout cup instead of the vase competition we won last year so it is progress! We now face a trip to Wales!
Book Club tonight – will be interesting one as we plan our programme for the next 12 months.
I write before I set off to football – ridiculous though that sounds on such a hot day! My son sent me a message that the Mighty Hatters have lost every game they have played on the 12th August! We also haven’t beaten Burnley at home for ages!!! Add to that the continuing injury crisis in our threadbare defence that has spilt over from last season it makes one feel confident! (tongue firmly in my cheek) COYH!!!!!!
Spent all of yesterday playing with my two grandsons which is a joy!!!
I ended up playing young man’s cricket with my club today. Amazingly I was asked to open the batting. It was a lively pitch and I had to fend off many deliveries. Still I stuck at and was run out by a superb piece of fielding. We won as well! I am aiming to open the batting for the Seniors on Tuesday up in Staffordshire.
On the Story Telling front bookings are beginning to come in for the Autumn in a variety of places and audiences!
This week has seen another cricket match – we had a friendly against the Seniors 50s (3rds and 4ths) which my more senior team won in the last over! We play our last league away to Staffordshire next Tuesday, I am also turning out on Saturday – where I will be the oldest by a country mile!
We pedalled down to WWT Slimbridge this morning. It is a quiet time of the year for seeing birds but a few pictures below. I did see a greenshank and a green sandpiper. We enjoyed seeing a a young crane with both parents. First picture is father and son( or possibly daughter).
Lapwings landing below!
Delighted to see an immature green woodpecker in our garden this morning. We haven’t seen one for a while in the garden (the great spotted is a much more frequent visitor) Some pictures of our visitor below. I do remember being thrilled when I first moved to Stroud seeing this bird regularly on a nearby school field. I had meant to put out a sign in the garden for them saying “Plenty of delicious ants here for yaffles!”
I have just finished reading Circe by Madeline Miller. An interesting and certainly different viewpoint on the Greek hero Odysseus . Not quite as good as her Song of Achilles but a good read and I was gripped reading it!
The classic Neil Young song is today’s title. Guess who the old man is? I played cricket today for my club. I was the oldest player by a country mile! We lost- it is my second heavy defeat in a week! The main thing is I didn’t disgrace myself! The good news is my son David scored 96 not out today.
I went to Wick Court story telling tonight. My goodness it was hot! and one lad fell asleep (it is the way I tell them!)
Well it has been hot few days! My week has been some time in the garden, a couple of medium distance rides and reading! I also played cricket yesterday and I did the first part right and won the toss- obviously with the heat we batted. We managed to post a decent score that was demolished by a powerful Oxfordshire batting side. It will be my last year as captain (I have done three years)- we have one league game left and then the cup competition.
I was at Wick Court this morning bird watching with a youth group from Walton in Liverpool – a wide range of ages! I am story telling for them tomorrow.
