Wales, that mythical country west of England have just beaten Belgium 3 -1 in the European Championships to pass through to the semi finals. As they weren't expected to qualify, I'm rather pleased for them. Will they go all the way? I don't know as I think Germany and Italy are still there, but it would be a real fairy tale ending if they did. Cymru am byth, as we say.

Sorry folks, been trying to do a short story for this weekend's Gabycon. I haven't written anything Gaby for the past year so it was a longer process than usual and I didn't have time to do any writing for Bike, episodes of which may be a bit sparse over the next few days as I help to entertain the Gaby fans who turn up here in darkest Dorset. The good news - the weather appears to be improving; the bad - my cycling isn't.

Fishermen traditionally have stories of minnows the size of blue whales that got away with no evidence to prove or disprove the stories. Today, while helping with a survey to find some dormeece for a Mammal Society course, two managed to escape from a box I was checking. The first one shot out the hole in the back of the box and up the tree it was on before dropping onto the ground - behaviour, neither of us surveyors had seen before. It then climbed up a piece of stick where it posed blinking, for us to photograph it.

An extract from a new book, not quite sure what I thought about her father from the portrait painted, but then people who survived the Second World War in eastern Europe dealt with some terrible experiences which were bound to have an impact on their lives. From its narrative the author doesn't pull any punches about her relationship with the complex and at times dark natured man who, eventually became a woman. Interesting.

and my head feels like a metal bucket stuffed full of cotton wool - in short, I feel like poo warmed up and only then because I had to put the heating on I felt so cold. I didn't sleep very well last night for the stupid tickly cough which kept waking me up, so an early night with a good book and an even better cat, is called for. Florence Whizzingale will be pressed into service.

I hope I shall feel a bit better tomorrow and I can add extra episodes of the story that Waif hates so much or is it just the author?

From the Guardian, the tale of how Ambrosia Starling caused suspension of Alabama's chief (and bigoted) judge over his refusal to allow gay marriage in the state.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/22/alabama-gay-m...

Sadly it stops at chapter 24 which is a pity because it's a good story. However, I'm not so worried about the story but curious as to what happened to justme, I know there were some domestic problems but has any one heard from her or know what happened to her?

I hope you enjoy it and there aren't too many typos.

Angharad

I am so close to committing murder I've had to sit down and scribble this to distract myself. I hung a line of washing out at 2.00pm at 4.00pm I notice my next door neighbour's tenant has lit a bonfire and is burning garden waste - it's like a scene from Sink The Bismark. I knew if I said anything and he answered back I'd be over the hedge and stuffing him on top of his stupid bonfire. He's a bit bonkers anyway but I shall speak to my neighbour when he comes back from holiday.

My washing is mostly dry but smells of smoke - bloody men(well some of them).

Writing Bike enables me to explore the realities of being transgender/transsexual as well as flights of fancy from time to time. While a shorter form would also enable some of this, it doesn't allow the depth of exploration, my soapy serial does. In the most recent story arc, we have a new transgender staff member who doesn't know Cathy's history, but who latches on to her like a younger sister or even daughter to learn the skills she doesn't have as a woman - things as diverse as homemaking and dealing with male attention.

It's been one of those days when I ran late pretty well all day and got home after 8.00pm after eating and doing a couple of other things it's too late to write. Hope to do better tomorrow.

Apart from some disturbing gen on poultry farming, this is thought provoking.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2016/apr/13...

to The Ambassador's Wife which I hope ties up some of the loose ends. I will not, I repeat not, be doing a further one.

Tried to post Bike last night but the site was down so I'll hopefully manage it tonight.

Being Christina Chase by Admiral Krunch. If you haven't discovered it yet, do try it, it's a jolly good read and well written. I thoroughly recommend it.

http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/2978/being-christina-c...