Red plant

Red plant
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Irene Entata Arrente-Luritja people NT Albert and Rex painting 2003 | ourbrisbane.com

Irene Entata Arrente-Luritja people NT Albert and Rex painting 2003 | ourbrisbane.com

Carnival

Carnival
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

We walked into town and back yesterday, to spend the afternoon at the carnival...part of the Monmouth Festival 2010. It was a hot day and lots of people had turned out to see the brass band, market, carnival floats and a special drive past from over 100 Rolls Royces.
It is 100 years since the death of Charles Rolls, founder of Rolls Royce. The cars drove past the newly spruced up Town Hall and his memorial statue in Agincourt Square.
It was a lovely occasion...people smiling and cheering as the runners ran past on their way to the Kymin Dash challenge.
I smiled and cheered as I spotted 2 charity shops open on a sunday.
Tel smiled as he noticed there were no crowd control barriers along the road as the carnival went by.... children and dogs were kept under control and we all survived unscathed! Phew.

Hokey Pokey

Hokey Pokey is a cornish term for honeycomb.

Mix 100g of caster sugar with 4 tablespoons of golden syrup in a saucepan. Do not stir once it is on the heat. Place pan on heat and let it turn to goo and then bubble. Take off heat and whisk in 1 and half teaspoons of bicarb of soda. Tip onto greased foil and leave to cool and set. Break up into pieces.

No one can resist Hokey Pokey.
Watch your fillings!!!

Flight

Flight
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

I was lucky enough to catch this little bird in flight yesterday.... taking a seed from the new feeder. Wow.... I impressed myself with this shot.
Today I am thinking about Olivia and sending her lots of love on her birthday x
And also Lou and Anna.... I hope to see them soon. x

The Kane Gang . the closest thing to heaven

Mist

Mist
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

After the thunder and lightning yesterday.... we had dark skies and beautiful mist. Sometimes its like living in New Zealand.

Danger danger

Stories in the local papers this week tell of a man being trampled in a field by a herd of cows.... a "big" cat being spotted in a farmers field... and wild boar feeding from scraps left on a bird table in the next village.

Make like a branch

Make like a branch
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

This cheeky squirrel was checking out our new bird feeder (reduced in Countrywide Stores).

A teapot doesnt just pour tea. Its also pours kindness.

Bunting

Bunting
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

While Tel was was climbing his 3 welsh peaks yesterday.... We were in the garden cutting up old fabric into triangles to make some bunting. Ang brought her sewing machine and she was a whizz sewing the pieces together. We hung it up in the garden and I think it looks great. We realized you have to put a lot of effort into making something appear "random"!! I had to battle with Charlotte to have my one piece of black bunting accepted onto the rope.... I m thinking black and white bunting would look good too.
It was lovely to see them... we had a chat about our trip to Italy next year... and caught up on all the other stuff. x
Tel got back safely at about 1.30 this morning. He completed his 3 welsh peaks challenge and they have raised nearly £2,500 so far for St Peters Hospice in Bristol.

Love in a mist

Love in a mist
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Greenery

Greenery
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

We made a bit more progress on Saturday.... putting in the studs for one of the walls. We also had a secondhand door delivered. Finding old wooden windows is proving more difficult.
In the last couple of weeks we have seen an enormous beetle up there and on Saturday a huge hornet landed on my leg.... I screamed very loud... it was really scary.
The field hasnt been cut yet and the ground is bone dry.

One wall

One wall
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Pen y Fan

Pen y Fan
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

The view from the top of Pen Y Fan today was amazing.
The weather was great and the Brecon Beacons looked fantastic.
On Saturday Tel will be climbing here as part of his 3 Welsh Peaks Challenge. It will be his last mountain after Snowdon and Cader Idris. It will probably be dark as he climbs up Pen Y Fan and definitely dark as he comes down.
We kept passing and speaking to a couple with 2 dogs on the way up and back down today. When we got back to the car, they happened to be parked next to our car.... and they gave Tel a £5 donation towards the fundraising.

Brecon Beacons

Brecon Beacons
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

"Feeling groovy"

When you have been on the phone to the AA, Zurich and Claimsfast for 30 mins....and you are feeling a bit stressed.... the last tune you want to hear, when you are on hold, is Simon and Garfunkels Feeling Groovy.
This follows the £60 parking ticket I got on Wednesday... when the warden didnt spot my pay and display ticket ... clearly displayed in the window.

I think I need a bar of chocolate.

Finches fighting....

Finches fighting....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Flowers in a tin can

Flowers in a tin can
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

This is a lovely idea.
£1 at the school fete.

Black nail varnish

Black nail varnish
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Mum and Laura came to stay on Friday and we had a lovely weekend. We went to the Dean Forest Railway on Saturday and spent most of the afternoon riding on the trains. It is lovely to see the old locomotives ....to see the steam and hear the whistles.
Yesterday we went to the school fete and then down to Happa.. Laura wanted to visit the rescued horses.
Highlights of the weekend were my makeover session with Laura and her Touche Eclat make up and mascara.... Mums apple pie... Laura chopping wood barefoot in the field....the pimms.... and my meringues with strawberries and cream. x