Forty

Forty, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

I had a lovely day yesterday.

We went to Cardiff ... did a bit of shopping and had a drink on the Bay. We drove back through Caerleon and Usk. I opened some presents and cards.... spoke to friends on the phone.Later on we had a power cut and sat around by candlelight eating cake.
Thanks to Tel for making it a special day... and to everyone who sent their birthday wishes. x

"Life begins at 40 is a saying very true....

for that is when all sort of things start happening to you.

Dizzy spells and funny turns,

you cant mistake the signs.

Small aches and pains,

the odd grey hair and tell tale laughter lines.

But in spite of everything there ll be lots of fun..

and you may find at 40, life has just begun"

Lavender

Lavender, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

I feel the need to post a cheery/smiley photo to mark my last day as a thirtysomething.... it was taken at the weekend when we planted some lavender in the front garden. x

Brides bouquet

Brides bouquet, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Fuzzy bubble

In the mysterious world of the spirit level there is nothing worse than a fuzzy bubble.

Yesterday, Tel arranged for a group of neighbours to work on the posts at the bottom of the hill. It was a lovely sunny day.... and good progress was made. Many spirit levels were involved... and a persuader. Eight new posts where put in and we painted them all white. Afterwards we went to the pub with Jim and Margaret to say "job well done".

Josephs magnolia shrub ..... doing well.

Josephs magnolia shrub ..... doing well., a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Fleetwood Mac - Landslide (with lyrics)

I m a bit obsessed with the Fleetwood Mac greatest hits cd that I bought for £2 in a charity shop. I m playing it all the time in the car.

"Can I sail through the changing ocean tides.

Can I handle the seasons of my life?"

The cutest face

The cutest face a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

This 7 month old puppy belongs to one of my participants.... and is probably the cutest dog I have ever met. He is part Bedlington Terrier. He has huge paws and is very excitable.

Guy walks into an advertising agency

Guy walks into an advertising agency a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We loved episode 6 from series 3 of Mad Men. Just the right amount of comedy.

Jobs

We started early yesterday with a trip to Jewsons to buy some wooden posts. We spent most of the day in the garden.... working on the earth steps and sawing wood. We had poached eggs for lunch. It was a warm and sunny day.

Today we carried on with the odd outdoor jobs... sweeping up piles of dead leaves.... clearing the front garden and uncovering shoots. A little bit of effort and the garden looks much tidier.

I think I want to buy some lavender and plant it at the front.

ps....thanks to Chris next door for cutting back the hedge with his strimmer.

Super supermoon

Super supermoon a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Check out those whiskers

Check out those whiskers a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Edwyn Collins

Edwyn Collins a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Edwyn Collins suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2005. It left him unable to walk, read or write.... drawing was the first skill that came back to him. He taught himself to draw with his left hand and rediscovered his love of wildlife illustration and childhood fascination with ornithology.

Japan

Japan a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Beautiful sparrowhawk

Beautiful sparrowhawk a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

This spectacular bird was sitting by the kitchen door this morning... looking at its own refection in the window... and flying up and down, squawking a la crow. I wonder if she ll come back tomorrow?

The big 39. x

The big 39. x a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Tel came home early from work, on his birthday yesterday and we went out for a walk and a quick drink in the pub. It was a lovely sunny day. x

Birthday walk

Birthday walk a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Back together....

Back together.... a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

It was a lovely moment when Julian Barratt appeared as Heathcliff .

Hellebore flowers

Hellebore flowers a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Earth steps

Earth steps a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Tel started work on the earth steps yesterday..... its going to be a long way to the top... possibly about 20 steps. We are going to put some new fencing along the side too and cut back the hazel tree.
The daffodil bulbs I planted in Nov are coming up. I saw the most beautiful hellebores in my participants garden on Thursday... I ll have to plant some of those at the end of this year.

Vapour trails

Vapour trails a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

"My nan gets the telephone mixed up with the hairdryer.You may have seen her around.... wet hair, chapped lips."

Makeup

This week I have been wearing "urban princess" nail varnish... (its a nice bright pink)....and a bit of "jungle green" eyeliner.

Pancake Day fun

Pancake Day fun a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Dazzling blue sky and lilac buds

Dazzling blue sky and lilac buds a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Thermal camera .... click

Thermal camera .... click a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Doctor Doctor, I keep thinking I'm a cat
Doctor: How long have you thought that?
Ever since I was a kitten.

Howl

Howl a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We went to see Howl at the Watershed last night.... and really enjoyed it.
"Howl is simultaneously a portrait of a renegade artist breaking down barriers to find love and redemption, and an imaginative ride through a prophetic masterpiece that rocked a generation and was heard around the world."

The Birch Wood. Gustav Klimt. 1903

The Birch Wood. Gustav Klimt. 1903 a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

"You are on the right road if you re happy when you re lost"

The Wombats Moving to New York Official video

They were playing this in the Clic Sargent charity shop (prob the best one in Bristol) on Gloucester Rd yesterday.

Looking ahead

There was an article on the radio today.... looking ahead 5, 10 and 15 years. It was mostly about oil and how levels will run low and prices will go up and up. How will it affect our day to day lives? Will we travel less by car and aeroplane...that sort of thing.
But the idea of looking ahead ten plus years made me think about myself and Tel and friends and family and work and Wilson (surely he wont still be around aged 27?) What will we all be doing .... ?
I hope we are all well and happy in 5, 10 and 15 years time.

Time capsules

Time capsules
Originally uploaded by Jillian DIxon

"The remarkable discovery of two time capsules under the fallen statue of the city founder John Robert Godley, brought an uplifting distraction for local people."

Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

A very relaxed group of deer in the field today

A very relaxed group of deer, in the field today.
Originally uploaded by Jillian DIxon