A lovely day.

We got up early, and drove to Minsterworth to see the Severn Bore. There were hundreds of people there and it was really exciting to see the big wave coming down the river.On the way home we stopped at a lovely garden centre. Terence wanted to buy me a tree that we can plant in the field. We chose an apple tree...Im sure the deer will be pleased!!!! We also bought a dwarf pampas....very nice. In the afternoon we walked to The Ostrich pub in Newland....had a couple of Butty Bachs [the friendly pint] and then walked home.
We made it back just in time for Deal or No Deal......and to see Nigel Harman on The Paul oGrady show....oh swoon...it looks like hes trying to grow a beard.....A pretty perfect day really.x

My birthday tree.

My birthday tree.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

The Severn Bore passes through Minsterworth.

The Severn Bore passes through Minsterworth.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Looks like rain ahead....

Looks like rain ahead....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

River Wye.

River Wye.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Is it a trifle....or a candle?

Waitrose is very pricey. But they sell lovely fresh bread.
As I was looking for "anything" with a reduced sticker on today...I found a trifle. This is no ordinary trifle. It is a "champagne jelly with raspberries and genoese sponge below layers of soft creme anglaise and whipped cream" trifle. Its a work of art. I'm sure its low fat too!!!!!

Warm and definitely fuzzy.

Most people are buying I Pods, MP3 players....all the latest gadgets and gizmos. I seem to be in reverse and am building up a big collection of cassettes. Well ..... when theres a big tub of them for sale in Oxfam and it says "3 for £1"...I just cant resist. I am now listening to Barry Manilow, Carly Simon, The Housemartins, Now Thats What I Call Music 14, Marvin Gaye, Wings and of course Shirley Bassey. Maybe I ll look on Ebay for a groovy Sony Walkman,circa 1980s?

Spending time with Joseph.

Spending time with Joseph.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

The Water Butt.

The Water Butt.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Last weekend,we attached a water butt to the drain pipe that runs over the garage.It will catch rain water, that we can then use on the garden.Thanks to 3 days of rain in this part of the world...the water butt is now full and overflowing.Everything looked super green today...wet and milder weather will hopefully encourage the trees, plants and flowers to burst into life. Its going to be wonderful watching this happen.

Centre Pompidou.

Centre Pompidou.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Mr Squizzel says "Spring is here".

Mr Suizzel says "Spring is here".
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Whittling away.

Buddhas carved from wood.......Woodhas.

Wigan worries.

Wigan RL crashed to another defeat at the weekend...and have now only won one game so far in this Super League season.Its a bit of a worry for Wigan fans who have become used to major glory and success over recent years.Its hard not to look back and remember those amazing days in the 80s and 90s when Wigan ruled supreme....they were a team packed with charismatic superstars who played amazing rugby and terrified the opposition. When Wigan wore their blue and white strip they looked like giants....well Kevin Iro did. Hopefully things will pick up at the JJB....and todays team will get their act together.

Joe Lydon...[yes he was the most handsome man ever to play for Wigan] is under fire too. He is the attack coach for England and following a disasterous 6 Nations, it looks like he will soon lose his job. Heres an idea....maybe Joe could return to the greater code and inspire Wigan back to greatness.

I AM MORRISSEY.

I AM MORRISSEY.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Lovely photos of Morrissey in todays Observer Music Monthly. Hes looking great at 46. A true star.

Terence and Dave head up into the woods, armed with big sticks.

Terence and Dave head up into the woods, armed with big sticks.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

The Falling Man.

I found last nights Channel 4 programme "The Falling Man" very moving.The Falling Man photograph shows a man who appears to have jumped from the Twin Towers on September 11th. It is a beautiful image....which makes it all the more upsetting as we remember the horror of that day.
At the end of the programme, the identity of the man appeared to be revealed. His name was Johnathan and his family loved him and were proud of him
I wanted to reach out to catch him as he fell.

The Colour of Life. Sept 1993. Terence Dixon.

"The viewer exists in a limbo...with an image of the subject so alive, such proof they existed, a 'certificate of presence' and yet confronted with the fact that this is an image of something that is 'no longer there'.
The photo leads us along and lets us peep for one hundredth of a second [the speed of the shutter] at what has been. We can never hold open the shutter and immerse ourselves completely in the past of the photograph.We encounter only absence,stillness and silence. The subject becomes indeed a 'reality one can no longer touch'."

Big earrings.

Big earrings.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Classic or reliable?

We are becoming slightly obsessed with Ebay at the moment. A few years ago we sold our classic Citroen GSA through Ebay, and it is a great way to search for and buy cars. I havent had my own motor for 5 years but now we have moved out of the city I need one to get around.
I would love a Citroen Dyane or another GSA..something colourful and funky. Terence thinks we need to be sensible and practical, and is looking for a Peugeot 306 Estate with a towbar!!!!! Yawn .I think hes forgotten that it will be my car...and he says we need a car that can tow his Enterprise down to Looe in July....and an estate that will be great for moving stuff around.

While searching in the car sections...I became distracted and wandered into the Vintage Jewellery section. Oh dear...before I knew it I had entered bids on 5 pieces of jewellery..and lucky me, I have won 4 of the items so far!!!! Luckily the most I have spent is £4.00 so its not too scary. 2 items arrived this morning....the earrings looked quite small on the screen, but are enormous in real life...you might call them a statement piece , and Pat Butcher would love them!!!!

Other items we are watching..include Funky Kitsch Retro Pelican Lamp Light and Eames 1970 Orange Plastic Lamp. Nice.

34 today...looking good.x x

34 today...looking good,x
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Sunday morning...winter wonderland.

Sunday morning...winter wonderland.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

ouch...thats hot!

Little old ladies who work in charity shops, should be informed that Lava lamps for sale in their shop windows, have been plugged in all day,get very hot and should not be picked up by the glass. I tried to help...but it was too late.

On the swing....

On the swing....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Knobbly tree.

Knobbly tree.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Jill loves John.

Jill loves John.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Here I am in my bedroom, around 20 years ago....with my number one heart throb John Taylor. I ve still got a t shirt with his face on from around the same time...I can just about squeeze into it now!!

Wilsons world.

Wilsons world.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Wilson has had a lot to deal with in the last month. His 3rd {and hopefully final} house move, has brought a few problems for him to deal with. The 3 cats who used to live here, have only moved next door but one with their owners...and still spend a lot of time at our front and back doors, looking at us with sad eyes..."please let us in". Then they see Wilson and there is a lot of hissing and howling!!! There have been a couple of big scraps in the garden...Wilson now sports a scar near his eye. He is doing his best to claim this as his territory but its not easy.The other cats are called Alfie, Sacha and the big one.... Parsley. As well as having 3 new "friends", hes also had a close encounter with a pheasant...played in the snow....tried to chase a squirrel up a tree...and legged it across the field when he saw the deer. His little mind must be whirring....its a lot for a 12 year old cat to take in.Its been a bit overwhelming for us!!!!

MAD for it.

Hes a cheeky chappie from Manchester.
He looks like Gazza.
Hes called Daz Sampson and hes going to Greece in search of Eurovision glory for the UK.
Move over Chico?

Where are we?

Where are we?
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

The Offas Dyke Path passes through the village of Redbrook....and more or less past our front door. We walked along it for an hour yesterday, up hill mostly to The Kymin Tower. Now looked after by The National Trust..the tower was built in 1793..and gives great views over Monmouth and beyond. Thanks to some ace o/s map reading by Tel, we walked back through Wyesham and along the river.

Cheese butties and a flask of coffee....

Cheese butties and a flask of coffee....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Nigel Harman in the flesh....

Nigel Harman in the flesh....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

....all singing, all dancing.
Gail and I went to London yesterday to see Guys and Dolls at The Piccadilly Theatre. It was a great show....the sets, the songs and the costumes. Nigel played Sky Masterson. He did a really good job. There were lots of screaming girls in the audience...but we managed to contain ourselves.Our pre ordered interval drinks were waiting for us in The Tunnel of Love....unfortunately Nigel didnt join us in there.

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Happy St Davids Day.x