Nev and Crazy Keith

Nev and Crazy Keith
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Things to do....

Smile.
Be enthusiastic.
Make eye contact.
Remember peoples names.
Be nice about other people.
Help out.
Let it go.
Ask questions.......ask people how they are and what do they think. I was out shopping recently with a participant who is in a wheelchair. Somebody they hadnt seen for a while stopped to say hello.....they then looked down at the wheelchair and said " no need for me to ask how you are then?"

Residents association.

We went to our first Residents Association meeting this morning at the local pub. It was the first one in 3 years. Items on the agenda were resurfacing of the road, having mains drains and gas put in and the deer "problem". Almost every household on the hill was represented at the meeting which was good to see. It was nice to see people. There is a man who lives at the bottom called Tom... he is in his nineties and had a lot to say. We will get together again before Christmas when Dean has got some figures together on how much things will cost. The view on the deer was that even though they cause damage in our gardens...we wouldnt wish them any harm and will just have to live alongside them. Obviously the right decision.

Kingfishers

Kingfishers
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

We went on a lovely walk yesterday....it was misty along the river but sunny too. I was busy fiddling with our camera (which is sort of half working now) when Tel said he saw 2 kingfishers on the water.

The Black Cab Sessions. Chapter Six: Daniel Johnston

"if I cant be a lover then I ll be a pest"

Weekend

Tel went canoeing on the river with a big group from the sailing club on Saturday. He was in a canoe with Hugh and Andy and things were going well until they went through some rapids and capsized. Unfortunately, Tel had the camera round his neck at the time... it hasnt worked since and is now drying out in the airing cupboard....we dont hold out much hope for it coming back to life. He also saw his jumper and a bag of licorice floating away into the distance. Hugh damaged his leg too.
We had invited people back here for a cup of coffee.... not expecting 20 people to come walking up the hill carrying bottles of wine. We enjoyed showing them around the house and field... and as the weather was nice we sat outside. As everyone was chatting..... an air ambulance helicopter came in to land on the football pitch in the village....passing very close to the house. It was quite a sight. It took off a few minutes later ...and as we were trying to work out what had happened, another helicopter came into land. We later found out that someone in the village had had a heart attack.
Sunday was much less eventful... but really enjoyable as we got stuck into lots of gardening. Tel gave me the stanley knife to cut through some rope...and within seconds I had sliced a chunk from the top of my thumb.....ouch. We planted a couple of shrubs in the border and had a fire on the track. The weather was amazing.

Misty in the morning.

Misty in the morning.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Mum on the Nintendo

Mum on the Nintendo
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Terences Mum came to stay at the weekend. It was good to see her on her own and to catch up. We went to the Onion Fayre in Newent.... made apple pies and scones....did a Brain Age check.....and did some gardening. Terences Mum is in good health for 76....she drinks green tea...goes dancing 3 times a week....walks the dog. She left her sweeteners and honey behind... we ll put them away until her next visit.

Mum collecting apples.

Mum collecting apples.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Windswept at Albert Dock.

Windswept at Albert Dock.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Magical

Magical
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

La Princesse

La Princesse
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

"Something that was free, something to bring communities together and something that wasnt about football or The Beatles. Something that was cultural and powerful and on a scale that nobody could imagine"
It was so exciting to be in Liverpool on Saturday. Ang, Charlotte and I had arranged to get together at the weekend, months ago..... not realizing what would be going on in the Capital of Culture. I was watching events unfold on the La Machine website during the week. When we arrived La Princesse was resting by the Liver Building...and a huge crowd was gathering. The artists were talking to the crowds in French...explaining that the spider would be waking up at 3 o clock.
Musicians sat high up on forklifts, started to play and the spider started to move. She then set off on her walk around the streets with thousands of people following her. We cut up a side street and into the shopping centre of Liverpool. It was jammed packed with people waiting to see the spider. Just as we were heading back to the car we heard the music again and saw the spider coming round a corner...it was a fantastic sight....she was raised up high and looked enormous. It was like being on the set of a film....the grey skies and old grey buildings made it all very dramatic.
It was street theatre at its biggest and best.
"This is Liverpools 'blimey' moment ...its memorable moment for 2008"
I loved it.

Deer emergency

Deer emergency
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Our neighbours called out the RSPCA yesterday...after some guests they had staying with them, spotted a young deer trapped in the fence at the top of the field. They were out walking their dogs and tried to help the deer. It ran/hopped away with a dodgy looking leg. The RSPCA man couldnt find it. We hope it wasnt this little fella who was in our garden last weekend.