It was very kind....

....of Jim and Margaret to pop in to feed Wilson while we were away. Yesterday we went for a walk with them... and bought them a drink in the pub to say thankyou. The views from the top of the hill had disappeared in the mist and the river was still frozen in places.

Misty walk

Misty walk
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Frozen river

Frozen river
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Christmas

Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

We enjoyed being in Manchester/Wigan for Christmas this year.
On Christmas Eve we had breakfast with Mum and Uncle Peter.... and then went over to see Ros and Roy and Auntie Edna. It was very busy at the nursing home and Auntie Edna seemed very confused and distant. I will always remember the fantastic Boxing Day celebrations she put on for us every year.... the cold turkey and the celery in a jar of water and the trifle and the arguments with Uncle Jack.x
We were at Jennys on Christmas Day.... we took Murray for a walk in the snow and then Mum and Paul came over for Christmas dinner. Laura dressed the table in purple and gold.... bows and candles... and it looked lovely. Jenny and Richard did a great job with the turkey and the meal was very tasty. Lovely roast potatoes.
We said goodbye to everyone on Boxing Day and then went over to Ros and Roys for some hotpot and mushy peas. It was nice too see Mike and catherine and the kids... before we headed home. Roger popped in too.
Lovely to see everyone this christmas x

Happy Christmas.

How beautiful are the deer that have been in our garden today? Playing in the snow.... rooting around for food.... we are so lucky to see them from the kitchen window. I love taking photos of them. It is very christmasy seeing them in the snow.

I have painted my nails in silver...one hand very neat... the other a bit smudged.
Wrapped all the presents.
Got the mulled wine ingredients ready.

Happy Christmas. x

The eyes and the ears.

The eyes and the ears.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Snowy face

A perfect christmas image
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Snow shower

Snow shower
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Funny birds

Funny birds
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

The beautiful chaffinch.... and the mean and moody blue tit.

Starsailor - Four to the Floor

Minus double digits.

Its a bit extreme up here today.
The dual carriageway and main roads could hardly be seen this afternoon.... I did a great skid and recovery going round a roundabout that I couldnt see!!! And then drove home in second gear.
It was -9 when Tel left this morning.
We ll be ok as long as we dont have a power cut and our oil delivery arrives soon.

This could be our christmas card for next year?

This could be our christmas card for next year?
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Front....

Front....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

...and back.

...and back.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Windscreen

Windscreen
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

The Moon Boot

....was first created in the early 70s and became a notable fashion trend in the 80s. The boot has no distinct left or right feet. Pretty cool?

Tintern Abbey in the snow

Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

"Sofalising"

" is people socialising with family and friends through on line social network sites....usually lounging on a sofa rather than meeting up in person"
There are 11 different ways to connect with family and friends each day... including email, text, twitter, skype, facebook.

I m pretty glad that when I was young I wasnt distracted 24 hours a day by a mobile phone, or the internet and I didnt have to watch X factor and ring up to vote people in or out every week.
I m glad I saw my friends in school and then waited a whole evening before catching up with them again the next day.. and I m glad I wrote in a diary and took photos on my dads camera....then waited weeks before he would get them developed for me.

People dont like to wait for anything these days.

Grizzly Tel

Grizzly Tel
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

It was beautiful up at the top of the field today.... the snow arrived last night. Tel was checking out his summerhouse, the new tree and the dead hedge.... we are pleased to report all are still standing.

Snow in field

Snow in field
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

View

View
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Wonderful

Wonderful
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Charley Harper

Charley Harper
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

I have a calendar for next year featuring the paintings of Charley Harper (1922-2007).
Bold, stylized, colourful, beautiful, simple images.

Cinema

Tel and I went out last night.... to the cinema to watch "Another Year".
Its very rare that we go out in the week.

Deer lights

Deer lights
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

I found these deer christmas lights in a charity shop today.... they are so cute.... I love them.

Light tunnel.....

Light tunnel.....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

We really need to rake up those leaves.....

We really need to rake up those leaves.....
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Alphabeat - Fascination

Trees

Trees
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Frozen

Today was a great day for taking photographs.
In nearly 5 years living here... I dont think I have seen the countryside looking more spectacular.
Every tree and hill and field was white and frozen.... this looked amazing... and then when the fog came in and the sun came out.... it was like we had travelled to another world. It was minus 6 all day. The bus journey I went on with my participant today ...along the country lanes was spectacular....£3.20 well spent.

Sheeps

Sheeps
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Beautiful

Beautiful
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Friends.

Friends.
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Nice hats...

100_4871
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Declan finally made it .... after an epic train journey from London on saturday morning. It was so lovely to see him and to show him around our little bit of countryside.
We went through the woods, heard a very loud gunshot and steadied ourselves with a drink at the pub. We looked at the village christmas tree..... had some food and watched the final episode in the series of Mad Men.
We also got the old photo albums out and looked at the photos from 91 and 92. It was quite moving looking back and reminiscing about all the things we did back then. We talked fondly about John and Rachel and Robin.
Declan is funny (especially when he put his card behind the bar in the pub and we made up stories about all the regulars using it to buy things on Ebay )..... he is giddy (this is not a bad thing ) and he is very kind (giving me advice on what to do with my paintings ).
We decided that we are old fashioned in a lot of ways. x

Charity shop decorations

Charity shop decorations
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Slippy roads

Slippy roads
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

The Prince. The Politician. The Player.

The result. The shock. The questions.

Photo Booth fun

Photo Booth fun
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon