Beautiful dress

Beautiful dress
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

by Stella McCartney

Burning bracken and brambles

Burning bracken and brambles
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

We had a very productive day yesterday. While Tel was working on the summerhouse, I cleared a big area of bracken and brambles with the sickle and built a fire. It was a lovely sunny day.... but cold.

Cherry tree at 5pm

Cherry tree at 5pm
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Fire

Fire
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

"There are 2 options....."

This has been Tels catchphrase for the week.
He has been using it a lot when talking about the summerhouse.
Where to put the windows and a door along the front... that sort of thing.
We ve had a nice week off work.... catching up on lots of small jobs that we are always going to do tomorrow. We went to the Cotswolds for a day, found out about a local art group, bought an enormous bag of bird food, watched some Mad Men episodes, made a stir fry from our Nigella cook book, started work again on the summerhouse, built a fire and booked a holiday in Cornwall for the summer.

Kazoo

"The kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a players voice when one vocalizes into it."
They cost £1.69 in the music shop. The nice young musical man in there said that some people have brought them back and said they dont work properly.... they were just blowing into the kazoo instead of humming or singing.
Everyone should have a kazoo in their coat pocket for comedy moments.

The little bird

The little bird
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

The big bird

The big bird
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

If you look close enough.....

Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Very smart x

Very smart x
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Busy Burns Night weekend

We had booked 8 tickets for Burns Night in the village hall.
Jenny Richard and laura arrived first on Friday afternoon.... followed by Paul and Emma with Mum about an hour later. Paul and Emma had booked a room in the pub..... to help ease the squash here... and I think they enjoyed having some time to themselves.
We all sat round the table later and had some food.... and hatched a secret musical plan!!!!
On Saturday we went into town for a couple of hours. We had a walk up the field when we got back and took some photos... then we got ready for the Burns Night evening.
There was haggis and whiskey and scottish dancing and a bag piper.
We were all a bit tired on Sunday morning as we said goodbye.
It was lovely to see everyone. x

When Tel got home on friday there was an ambulance outside our neighbours house.... and shortly afterwards we found out that our 93 year old neighbour Tom had died in the afternoon. Tom was due to do a reading at the Burns Night supper and it was very sad that he wasnt there. Margaret said a few lovely words about him and how he had supported the school and village hall over the years. We have realised that when you live in a small village you become quite involved in what your neighbours are doing... and they are the people you see nearly every day. It was very sad to think that Tom had died on Friday.

Haggis, neeps and tatties

Haggis, neeps and tatties
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Village Hall

Village Hall
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Electronic - Get The Message

Big sky

Big sky
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Aims

Today was a good day in work.
Its easy to go off track sometimes.... and a gentle reminder and a look back at the aims and outcomes can really help.
But when your participant has just got a beautiful 3 month old puppy and it is running around the house .... it would be really easy to be distracted and spend all morning having too much fun. Woof woof.

Jumping lights

Jumping lights
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Gabriel Orozco

Gabriel Orozco
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

"La DS" 1993
"From the side the citroen looks normal, but from the front and back it has obviously been narrowed. Orozco sliced the car in three and removed the middle section, exaggerating its aerodynamic design."

Gloaming

The time after sunset and before dark.

Clouds

Clouds
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Party

I went to see a man about a hog today to discuss size and prices etc.... unfortunately he wasnt there so I will go back next week.
I have started a box and am collecting balloons and bunting and streamers to put in it.
Hopefully our neighbours will lend us their party tent and gazebos.
Of course there is a list of names... people we want to invite to the party. And a list of things to do.
I am really pleased with the invitation design and I'm taking it to the printers this week.

So it looks like we are going to have our first ever proper party in the summer. I really hope lots of people come and the weather is nice.

Rowing

I am back on the rowing machine....in an attempt to improve my podgy waistline... and get a bit fitter before I turn 40. It is great to have a rowing machine in the house as I wouldnt get into the car and drive to the gym especially at this time of year....in the cold and dark.
There are 2 draw backs with exercising though. One is having to get changed into jogging pants and trainers.... and two is feeling really hungry afterwards.

Blue

Blue
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

The Mighty Boosh/And That's Why I Can't Go For That

I miss The Boosh ... and Noel in his sparkly silver all in one.

Rachel and Robin

Rachel and Robin
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Bob Dylan on cassette

Bob Dylan on cassette
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Video memories

This week we dusted off the vhs and plugged it in.... and then dusted off a pile of videos and watched really old recordings from when we were at Tec and just afterwards (1991/1992).
Its all really grainy but really lovely too.
In one bit we are all at Declans house in Carlisle.... listening to "tapes" of Bob Dylan....Tel and Robin are cooking rice in the kitchen... then we play a game where we have to name different weather in alphabetical order.... and then we go to the pub and play pool. There is a lot of laughing. x

Oak tree. Snowstorm. Ansel Adams

Oak tree. Snowstorm. Ansel Adams
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

"Aging is a physical and mental process, a unique thing, mostly unplanned.
We have only the ehoes of our own steps and sounds to remind us of life and living"

Bruce Parry

I like Bruce Parry and the way he communicates with people in his TV shows. He travels the world meeting indigenous people and tribes in far flung corners of the world. Through his genuine enthusiasm (and sometimes the help of an interpreter) he communicates with people by using facial expressions, hand gestures...and is not afraid to reach out and place his hand on a shoulder or offer a hug in friendship.

Lux Aurumque (Light and Gold) - Eric Whitacre

Wilson

Wilson
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

He s doing quite well for nearly a 17 year old cat.
There are good days and bad days.
Sometimes he keeps a low profile.... sleeping a lot in a quiet corner. Other times he wont leave us alone.... sitting on us all the time.... making strange noises and smells!!!
Hes a lot skinnier and scruffier now... and I think his eyesight and hearing are slowly getting worse. He doesnt go very far from the house now. He'll probably perk up in the spring/summer. x

Greenfinch

Greenfinch
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Don, the dog and ducks

We watched mad men series 2 episode 6 Maidenform last night.
It was another great episode.... beautifully shot.
We got very excited when one scene featured 3 flying ducks on the wall in Duck Phillips office.... pretty much the same as the 2 flying ducks we bought in a second hand shop in San Francisco.....wooden bodies and metal wings.
The furniture, the characters, the hair and make up.... wow. We love our Mad Men dvd s.

Pomegranate

Yesterday I went to Bristol.... the aim was to have a haircut and buy a dress (with my Debenhams vouchers).
Instead of those 2 things i came home with a pomegranate, a book, a Big issue, some balloons and very sore feet.
I had a lovely bowl of soup in the cafe at the Bristol Museum

Queensland floods

Queensland floods
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Lovely Honey

Lovely Honey
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Cold but fun bike ride

We went out on the bikes with Pete and Gill and their lovely dog Honey yesterday. It was really really cold even though we were on the move most of the time. It was nice to be out in the "fresh" air. We had a glass of a portugese almond licqueur when we got back to their house.... it helped to numb the pain of our aching legs and other bits!!

Hat, scarf, gloves, jumper and jacket

Hat, scarf, gloves, jumper and jacket
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon

Cycle path

Cycle path
Originally uploaded by terry Dixon