Where is it ?????

You know you re getting old....when you go into a big panic, because you can t find your hot water bottle !!!!!!

The Trailblazer 4 has landed.

The Trailblazer 4 has landed.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Yellow flower.

Yellow flower.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Could England win the World Cup, without spectacular performances?

The Guardians man in Baden Baden writes....
"Football may have become an entertainment, even an art form, but it started as a contest between, and for the sole benefit of, two teams of 11 players.
Some of us choose to criticise a team who, since arriving in Germany, have won 3 of their 4 games and drawn the other. This is a performance as impressive, in statistical terms, as their predecessors of 1966 managed on their way to English footballs finest hour. As Sir Geoff Hurst pointed out this week, they were booed by sections of the crowd after their opening match, a goaless draw with Uruguay, and were torn apart in the press.
It could be that Englands ambitions will be achieved without further spectacular goals fom Cole or Rooney....or evidence that Lampard and Gerrard have finally found a way to play together. Without, in fact, the team managing to do anything other than win their matches.
In football....the result is everything."

Beautiful creature.

Beautiful creature.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Baby deer

Terence went out to the garage at about 9.00pm last night....to be greeted by a large deer and her baby, standing on the road outside our house. Minutes later we spotted them in the field....the baby deer was jumping and running around. It was so cute. I hope that they will come close to the house...so we can get a closer look at the little fella.
( I have pinched the above photo from the web....yes they really are that cute)

Bets are on.

I have 2 small bets running at the moment.
Last year I put £5 on England to win the World Cup...at 7-1.
This week I put £5 on Andy Murray to win Wimbledon ...at 50-1
If all goes well, planets and stars collide and pigs fly overhead....July 9th could be my lucky day.
Well you never know?

Stepping stones....to the silver birch.

Stepping stones....to the silver birch.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

A great World Cup so far.....

The Germans are putting on a fantastic World Cup event.
Today England play Ecuador .... its do or die.
Highlights so far.....
1. The Mexican national anthem.
2. Gary Nevilles dad...Neville Neville....partying with the WAGS.
3. Ronaldos comeback.
4. The Leonardo 'love in' at the BBC.
5. Gary Lineker ...." England have got a good team on paper....but we dont play on paper, we play on grass."

Salt n vinegar chipsticks....

I wish I was addicted to salad...or apples....or going to the gym.
I dont smoke ...or drink excessively.
But I do have a problem with those 'big' bags of salt n vinegar chipsticks (especially the ones from Spar).
I have cut down recently....but gave in to a bag on my way home from Hereford on Wed.
I could happily live without chocolate.....but if I was stuck on a desert island...it would have to be a shiny bag of chipsticks.

Interviews.

Sometimes you meet people who are willing to give you a chance. I think I met 3 of them on Wednesday morning.
I filled in an application form for a job as an Enabler...working with people with learning difficulties, a couple of weeks ago. On Wed morning they phoned up to say they would like me to come along for an interview...and they had a slot at 12.15 that day. They gave me directions to their office in Hereford ...and completely unprepared I got dressed and headed off in the car. I have since decided that this is the best way to have an interview... as you have little time to become nervous and worried.
I made it to the office on time.
The interview lasted an hour.
Yesterday they phoned me back to say they really liked me...and would like me to return next week for a "practical". I will meet a Participant and we will go to the local shops.
If I am lucky enough to be offered the position.... it would be a completely new challenge. Being out and about in the local community and supporting people with day to day matters.
I think I would like to be an Enabler. Fingers crossed.

Mum and Dad....late 1960s.

Mum and Dad....late 1960s.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Its my territory....

Wilson has a lovely new scar in between his eyes!!! He got this after a big fight with 2 other cats!!! I tried to separate them... but it wasnt easy and they chased each other up the garden to continue the scrap. I was quite impressed with him taking on 2 cats at the same time...but I don t like to see them fighting. The crying and howling was horrible. Wilson is developing a bit of an attitude....he has a bit of a mean look in his eyes. Okay...he s always had a bit of a mean look in his eyes!!

Scar face.

Scar face.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Sunny day.

Sunny day.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Penallt Village Fete

Yesterday was a perfect day for a village fete. Hot and sunny. Rhosyn stepped out in a lovely flowery outfit....and with her groovy new pram. We all sat on the grass and ate strawberries...tea and cake. All very cheap at 50p a portion. Grahams life flashed before his eyes....eating a scone with your young family, can be so dangerous!!!! We missed the Punch and Judy show...but there were classic cars, a coconut shy, stocks, a few bric a brac stalls and 2 lambs called Posh and Becks. All very civilized.
We visited the same event a year ago....as we started our search for properties in this area. Now we live here....a lot can happen in a year.

Little Monsoon girl

Little Monsoon girl
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Leonardo

One good reason to watch the BBC World Cup coverage rather than ITV....lovely Leonardo.

Its always painful watching England....lets not get on their backs too soon. Isn't it better to start a tournament slowly...and build up to a great finish? World Cups aren't meant to be easy....every match is a tough one. There is such a thing as "peaking too soon". Lets not panic just yet.

Happy Birthday Roy.

Its been a tough year so far for Roy.
Today he celebrates his birthday knowing that the leukemia is going into remission.
In July he will become a Grandad for the first time.
I sent him some liquorice for his birthday....( he loves it more than I do)...he said he's tried to hide it from himself twice!!!!!x

"I got a flat tyre down memory lane"

The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a beautiful film.
An amazing record of one mans life...and his battle with his demons.
Lovely cine film footage, old photos, interviews with family and friends and voice recordings from Daniel.
Daniel Johnston is a songwriter and an artist.

Joseph comes to stay.

Joseph comes to stay.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Ang, Richard and Joseph came to stay last night.....visitors on a Tuesday......I like it.
We had a bbq, ( Ang made the kebabs while keeping one eye on Joseph), watched some football and this morning we visited Tintern Abbey.
Richard is in training for the Iron Man competition in Germany and cycled 60 miles around these country roads today. Yesterday he cycled 112 miles.
We are very impressed.
It was great to see Joseph....he's a superstar....and my little friend.x

Blowing bubbles....

Blowing bubbles....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

"COME ON ENGLAND"

"COME ON ENGLAND"
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Dave celebrated his birthday with an England win, his new lucky England pants and a 'giant' blow up hand.

"I know that was then...but it could be again...."

Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightening Seeds....."Three Lions"...thats the one we ll all be singing if England bring the World Cup home.

Sounds of summer

There is a lot of wonderful peace and quiet in this part of the world. It takes some getting used to.
Previous summers have been noisy. They were usually accompanied by a soundtrack of Sean Paul, playing very loudly in our neighbours house, and kids playing football against our front wall. ( There was a park at the end of the street!!!!)
The soundtrack to this summer is power tools. The distant hum of petrol mowers, strimmers and the like.
The birds are also very noisy!!!! Those bloomin pheasants.....!!!!!!
Living in busy terraced streets for so long....I didnt really appreciate summer. But this one feels like a good one.

Sunset over River Wye.

Sunset over River Wye.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Poppy

Poppy
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

"The adult male has greenish-olive upperparts and whitish underparts. The head is adorned with a red crown, a black mask and a red centred black moustache. In flight the yellowish rump is striking."
He s a beauty.

Dare to dream.

England 6 Jamaica 0
David Beckham looks fit, happy, determined and confident.
Team spirit looks great.
You often need luck to see you through...but England seem to have that 'sparkle' too.
Lets get onto Noel for some cosmic ordering.

Doing the edges...

Doing the edges...
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Brushcutter Tel.

Brushcutter Tel.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

Since we moved in, back in Feb...we have been watching the grass in the field grow and grow. In places it had reached waist height. So we booked a sit on mower and spent all day yesterday cutting the grass. We felt like farmers ....working out in the field under the hot sun. Once we got the hang of the mower it was really good fun. It was a bit like riding a go cart [but with 4 huge blades underneath]. A pheasant nearly came a cropper...but flew out of the way just in time. Phew.
The field looks lovely now....I would like to freeze time so it stays like that.
But grass has a habit of growing very quickly around here...so we ll probably need to do it again in Aug/Sept.

Bargain.

Bargain.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon.

I found these 2 chairs in Save The Children this morning...they were £2 each. I think I am going to start collecting dining chairs. One day we will buy a big long dining table and put a mix and match collection of old chairs around it.I like the idea of a dining room with a sideboard etc....in a retro style of course.

'erbee.

Like the famous Beetle....Herbie, my little car seems to have a mind of its own.
It has tuned itself into 5 different French radio stations...and wont let me listen to anything in English.
Is my Citroen homesick?